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SAUCHIE COMMUNITY GROUP MINUTES - AUG 08 - (42)
Registered Charity Number SC025832
Present K Turner N Pollock S Pollock T Mcintosh S Munro M Comrie M Lindsay C McDonald E Fraser G Fraser E Rodgers M Horne R Kane A Fleming S
McKean C Wright C Weld S Ross M Freeburn L Speedie C Taylor E Lindsay I Wright E Conner S Gruar A Airnes G Cummings A Robertson N Archibald M Gove M Michie A Tapsfield E Tapsfield J Gallacher A Graham G Rennie
J Cameron
Apologies D Stewart G Womersley F Mackenzie H Mackenzie M Duffy J Allan D O'Donnell W Hunter E Davies M Graham M Mitchell
Council Cllr Rev Sam Ovens John Gillespie J Murie M Flynn Police Pc G Hastie
Matters Arising None
Minutes Proposed G Rennie Seconded E Conner
Police Report P.C. George Hastie gave the following Report.
I spoke with the Community Safety Officer Gordon Wilson as this is a busy time and with the dark nights approaching, People should leave lights on or use timers
and make sure properties, Sheds and cars are secure.
Anyone wanting a visit to have their house given a police check, This can be done.
To conclude there was a mobile phone operation last week and 5 people were caught using phones while driving this results in 3 points on a license and a fine of
£60.
A reminder to pass on any information regards to drugs crime, antisocial behaviour, youth disorder,
Guest Speaker John Gillespie - Head of Housing at Clackmannanshire Council.
John thanked the Group for the invitation and went on to say that the key to local co-operation was joined up working between the council, police and community
representatives.
He said that back in 2004 all councils were discussing whether or not to keep or sell off their housing stocks, In Clackmannanshire when tenants got their say the
majority wanted the council to stay as landlord.
In 2006 the Government said the Council could stay as landlord but that their houses must meet with the national standard, There was also concern that if councils
did not have their own housing stock then they could not take part in national housing strategies.
Certain conditions applied to council stock in terms of high standards and although we are not quite there, we are on that journey.
For example - door, roof, new heating, insulation, window, re-wiring, new bathroom programmes plus general planned maintenance.
There is more money being spent on housing now than ever before with 10 million over each of the last three years.
With demand for rented housing going up with younger families and people living longer all these things have to be taken in to consideration.
SAUCHIE Specific. Estate management is the way forward with constant monitoring of properties and areas, For example the Lochbrae tenancy management team,
Staff pick up on repairs, dumping etc though even with this in place this area is still a victim of dumping, Tyres in particular.
There have also been incidents involving the throwing of bottles from Flat windows and youths riding on dirt bikes.
If you see this dumping then contact the local tenancy team at Lime Tree House.
Branshill Park - Staff report an improvement in this area with less dumping this is also helped by increase monitoring from the wardens, The other issue is students
from the college hanging around, Wardens have moved them on and reports have been made to college staff.
Main Street - This area is a concern to the council and police, This area will continue to be monitored this situation has been helped by the two cameras.
It is also noted that some of the gardens are a disgrace.
QUESTIONS # Q - Why does the council put up obstacles to house builders in terms of green issues, A - This is a tough area but positive examples are turning
green belt former schools in to housing areas.
Q - Why does the council have two tier charges for dumping a) if you have a trailer to empty its £35 b) but if you have five tyres in a trailer its £5 per tyre which
seems unfair.
c) If an un-marked van goes to dump its free but if it has writing on it it's a charge of £35.
A - This is something that John said he would be happy to look at.
Q - Is there a time scale for the removal of the right to buy.
A- None yet.
Q - Why is the charge for an up-lift £26.80 even if its just one item IE: a fridge.
A - Try phoning ACE as they might take it to recycle.
Q - Why ruin Flats by putting problem causers in time and again which results in anti-social behaviour.
A - Unfortunately Government rules apply however there should be safeguards in place to prevent or reduce anti-social behaviour.
Q - When a window is broken why does the council not cover it with a cover that closely matches the building so as not to make it stand out.
A - This could be looked at.
Q - Why does it take so long to deal with problems - filthy gardens - cluttered landings - scrap cars/junk in gardens etc.
A - Stronger missives are being issued with stronger enforcing although staff can't be present 24/7.
Q - Why are so many young people being given tenancies when they don't seem to keep up to the standard of tenancy expectation.
A - More young people than ever are applying for housing, either by starting a family young or in some cases coming from problem parents and needing to break
free from them.
This said there is a tenancy support team who are available to help them, There is also Broad Horizons at Broad Street that works with young homeless people.
Q - If Main Street is in a poor state then does this not reflect badly on the council.
A - Yes and it should be better.
Q - A phone call was made to the council with regards illicit dumping, The person on the phone refused to deal with the issue as it was anonymous, Yet we are told
the council will accept anonymous calls with regards illicit dumping.
A - Disappointing to hear this, In future ask for the name of the person you are talking to on the phone also take a note of the day, date and time, Contact someone
higher up to complain.
Q - How long should it be to sort a broken window, Three in one Flat Branshill have been broken foe over 6 months.
A - This is way too long and I will check this out.
Q - Why are the Council installing new boilers in bedrooms, is this not a safety risk. (Roundlewood).
A - I will look in to this.
Q - Sprotwell Terrace, When the painters painted the houses they very kindly painted over the house numbers, Could these numbers and names be made visible
again.
A - I will sort this out.
Councillors Report Cllr Rev Sam Ovens gave this Report.
As the Councillor responsible for the housing portfolio I have over the last few years insisted on continued high investment in our stock and an increase in the
determination of our staff to strive for higher standards.
Five years ago the housing situation was disgraceful 3-400 houses empty County wide with 47 of these in Lochbrae.
1.5 million spent on housing five years ago now 10 million with 1.5 million in bank.
Council continues to review all its 700 houses with 300 deemed for demolition, None of these will now be demolished, instead we will invest heavily in upgrading
these properties with new security and better monitoring.
Sam says he regularly walks the patch and takes note and reports anything he sees that is in need of attention.
As part of his housing stewardship he has insisted the wardens must now tick boxes to say where they have been to ensure that all areas are being checked properly.
On a visit to Lochbrae he saw rubbish dumped outside a Flat and when visiting six weeks later the same rubbish was still lying there, This is unacceptable so now
when rubbish is reported its is checked to make sure it has been removed and not just assumed its been removed.
There will be pilot projects for Flat upgrades similar to the Craigview initiative for Main Street.
There have also been improvements in social work in Clackmannanshire, The next set of improvements will be based on lock - up garages with a phased
programme of upgrades.
Questions - Q - Are the Flats in Branshill going to be upgraded.
A - Yes .
Q - Ten Acres Paths are crumbling away, The lane has not been swept for some time and Could white lines be painted at the driveway entrances as people are
parking over drive ways.
A - Sam would inquire in to these issues.
Q - Why is the Equestrian Centre still empty despite the council allowing it to be run by a private company.
A - Sam will look in to this.
Q - Can the council not cut back the shrubs in Main Street as they are unsightly and in some cases preventing drivers from seeing children approaching roadside to
cross.
Also the height of the Trees are obstructing the Camera across from the Bedroom Centre, Could these be cut back.
A - Sam said that he would speak to Land Services to see if this could be done.
Leisure Report George gave this Report # Bus Trip to Gretna went well, The next one is the outing to the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 9th October, There
was a suggestion for a Trip to waltzing waters at Newtonmore with a visit to Aviemore combined, This will be looked at as a future event.
ABBA MANIA on Friday 17th October Tickets are £7 on the night there will be a Bar and raffle, The show starts at 8pm and ends at 11pm - doors open 7.30pm.
A review of recent events show that a number of cancellations to tickets or in some cases a no show on the day are causing the bus trips to run at a loss, Dance
tickets are also subject to this, It is therefore recommended that all tickets whether members or non-members must be paid in advance, No money - No ticket, This is to allow us to keep the cost of tickets down it is also to stop people from missing out if the Bus/Hall was full and people not able to go and then on the day or night of event there were spaces, These people could have been able to go.
Future Events Confirmed, Christmas Dance is 12th December in Sauchie Hall, The Alexander Brothers are on 20th February in Sauchie Hall.
Committee Update Keith put 2 proposals to the Group, The first was to ask for permission to use back up Key Holders for the Centre, Could general members
be asked, This was passed unanimously.
The Second Proposal was to seek approval for general members supporting Committee Members with their work load, This was passed unanimously.
A Conference for tenants in Stirling had details read out, There were no takers.
Members were asked if anyone was interested in representing the Group at the Tenants and Residents Federation, Cathy McDonald already does, Margaret Horne
is our second Representative.
Resignation Our Secretary Martin Ketchion has resigned due to work commitment from his new job, We wish Martin all the best for the future and we thank him
for his time as our Secretary.
This job will be advertised to all members and must be filled at the October meeting.
A.O.B. Alan Graham gave an update on his Groups Fun-Day in Alloa.
Sandra thanked Jane Murie for all her help and hard work with the new Sauchie Activ8 Group.
Armistice Service Sunday 9th November, Our Committee will discuss this years event with our partners, The Parish Church, United Free Church, The Cadets,
Scouts and Guides etc.
Next Meeting 23rd October 7pm in Sauchie Resource Centre.
K - V.P.
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