LANGBANK COMMUNITY COUNCIL
MARCH 2025 - Minutes
WEDNESDAY 12TH MARCH 2025
Meeting to be held in the
LANGBANK COMMUNITY CENTRE, MIDDLEPENNY ROAD @ 7.30pm
Start and welcome
Present:
Jacqueline Doherty, James Hunter, John O’Brien, Julie Gilmour, Caroline Bryce, Neil Barrington,
Carly Deheer
Also in attendance:
Lesley Fairlie, Iain McDougall, Caroline MacLean, Susanne Andrews, Cllr James MacLaren
Apologies:
Cllr Fiona Airlie-Nicolson, Cllr Colin McCulloch, Maggie Hancock
Acceptance of last meeting minutes - WEDNESDAY 12th MARCH 2025
Proposed: John O’Brien Seconded : Caroline Bryce
Police Report (if applicable)
No police report
Constable Stewart Sutherland, K186, Local Problem Solving Team not in attendance
Email Constable Sutherland
CD will call AGA cleaning company
Village website and Facebook updates.
No major issues. JMcL FB flooding post.
Village Groups Updates
Village Hall
Approached 3 companies regarding purchasing a screen for use in Hall – using winter connections grant. No replies to 3 enquiries.Also looking at addition of WIFI, broadband
AGM Friday the 28th March 2025
LSR / MUGA
Noted how busy session is this evening.
SW – Rotary suggestion for bench at MUGA ; Erskine Rotary still exploring possibility.
Muga may need a bit of maintenance prior to summer
Church redevelopment
Scaled back proposed development - inside improvements, level hall for more general use. Need to sell the Manse. Church would be out of use while improvements
Winter Connections Grant
Village Hall – see above
Pickle Ball @ MUGA, JG met with Scottish Ambassador today – PickleBall Scotland. Paddle, plastic balls, smaller courts and lower net. Nets, Paddles and ball with grant. He would offer `’training” sessions. Grant money would pay for equipment.
Musical Bingo Night on 27th March – Claire Lyle
Soup & Sandwich
GALA Day
Village hall venue. Dates proposed Saturday 14th June , Hall available
Actions -apply for licence, publicise date to village
Environmental matters
FLOODING
SUNDAY 23rd Main Road, Burn between Hunters and Shaws, near High Tide residents had to clear the drains manually. Drains don’t drain for a couple of hours, JH called floodline – 2 operatives attended. Following Tuesday roadsweeper attended. Followed up by pavement sweeper. JMcL gets notification when sweeper is attending, could be announced on Facebook. JoB attended a RC presentation in summer, “why is Langbank not included in presentation” planned maintenance better than reactive measures. JoB suggesting a sump for extreme events. Recent storm debris may have contributed. Culvert and drains CCTV survey suggestion JH. Flood operational plan – JMcL requested inclusion of 3 areas in Langbank, added to gully hotspots. Eg Mechanical lifting grate in operation at a burn near railway in Port Glasgow.
Planning
Parking
Approach Ross Nimmo of Mission Clyde at Greater Glasgow follow up John Smith contact re land / possible car park at Coast
Local Place Plan
Contact RC planning to ask an officer to attend a meeting to layout requirements for Local Place Plan
JMcL advised Autumn for submission to RC
What is a Local Place Plan?
Though they should ideally be prepared collaboratively, Local Place Plans are community-led. They include proposals from communities about how land is developed and used within their local area and can describe the types of changes that local people want to see and be taken into account.
A Local Place Plan is an expression of community's aspirations and solutions which can influence the local planning policy. It sets out priorities for future development in an area, as well as helping communities to develop and deliver their own projects.
Local Place Plans are proposals from communities about how land is developed and used within their local area. It can describe the types of changes that local people want to see and be taken into account in the local authority development plan.
Local Place Plans include a spatial vision – a plan – for the community that sets out where changes should happen, and a map which shows where. they ca also contain an action plan laying out how changes will be delivered.
Transport Concerns
Speeding
Main Road speeding still a concern
A8 roundabout
No specific accidents, Reported on FB turning left out of village, car scratched. Safer one lane right, one left
Public Transport
Train service to be replaced by bus for 4 days
A8 path clearance
Cleared of fallen trees and undergrowth, TRANSPORT SCOTLAND or AMEY must have been responsible.
Bollards need to be replaced at bottom of Hatton Brae.
Local Cllr updates and monthly reports
Reports attached : Cllr James MacLaren & Cllr Colin McCulloch
AOB
Potholes
JoB Potholes on Dennistoun Road x 2 @ Speed bumps. Larger speed bump further down Dennistoun Road breaking up.
Langbank Community Council 12 March 2025 Cllr C McCulloch • The Council met on 27th February to set its budget for 2025/26. After spirited and heated debate, the Council proposed and won a motion proposing a 9.5% increase in Council Tax and a 5% increase in other charges. The Labour Group amendment of a 6.5% increase in Council Tax and other policy priorities in spending was rejected. It was really disappointing to see some independent and Conservative group Councillors abstain altogether on the biggest decision the Council makes. • The Council budget agreed includes: o £571.512 million total budget, which is made up largely of £469.069 million received as part of the Scottish Government grant o £2.5 million to allow borrowing of up to £90 million investment in the roads network across the next 10 years o £2.5 million as an initial contribution to allow borrowing of up to £170million over future years for major investment in schools o £700,000 for existing school pitches to improve outdoor sport and exercise opportunities o £450,000 more for the Fairer Renfrewshire programme, helping people with the cost of living and continuing to tackle inequality and poverty o £550,000 for the local environment, including the award-winning Team Up to Clean Up campaign, and an additional £180,000 for a dedicated community environment team o £200,000 for parks and open spaces o £800,000 to encourage community ownership of council land and buildings o £500,000 for town centre regeneration projects o £6.094 million for the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership o Maintaining Council reserves at a minimum of £10 million o Garden waste collection charges were increased earlier this year to £57 per year. • The Council also agreed a three-year rent strategy for Council house tenants in Renfrewshire. This brings with it nearly £300 million in much-needed investment in new build housing and upgrades to Council homes. Rents will increase by 7.5% in 25/26, 7.5% in 26/27, and 7% in 27/28. This budget also includes £600,000 for a YouDecide Fund for tenants to decide on local environmental improvements. • SPT is consulting on local bus provision and plans for the future. You can have your say at the consultation, which is open until 29th May 2025. The consultation can be found here: https://www.spt.co.uk/about-us/what-we-are-doing/regional-transport-strategy/bus-strategy/
training events for community councils. They are online and start this Wednesday. Further information is available at - https://www.communitycouncils.scot/events
Local Plan drop-in session. Monday 26/02/2025 & 03/03/25 at 5pm on Microsoft Teams
Langbank March CC Report from Councillor James MacLaren
Roads
Pavement Parking: - Renfrewshire parking attendants will begin enforcing the new pavement parking laws from 1 April 2025.
Potholes: -
Hatton Brae, Greenock Rd: - A pothole previously repaired next to Laigh Hatton Farm is breaking up again. I have reported this for repair.
OGR, Finlaystone Bridge: - I have reported potholes close to the bridge but there is some dubiety as to whose responsibility it is to fix them.
Finlaystone Rd at the bottom of the road: - FS-Case-689288186 – Instructions have been raised for repairs.
Village Hall, Hole In Pavement: - This will be assessed and repaired.
Temporary Road Closure, West Glen Road: - From West Glen Farm to Mid Glen Cottages. Reason for Restriction: Openreach Works. Alternative Routes: High Street, Finlaystone Road, Old Greenock Road, Gallahill Road and vice versa. This notice will be in force from Thursday 13th March 2025 to Monday 17th March 2025.
iv) Flood Operational Plan : - Confirmation has been received that Station Road, Main Road and Old Greenock Road at Finlaystone Bridge were added to the grids and gully hotspots. So, I was disappointed to see recent flooding on Main Rd. However, Council were aware of the impending bad weather last Thursday, 20th February and they arranged to have the Priority Gully List and Priority Grid List to be checked and cleared. These actions were carried out once over Thursday/Friday and then again on Sunday where they deployed all resources available district wide to minimise the disruption due to the extreme downpour. They said, “It is unfortunate that the geographical situation of Langbank means that with such extreme weather debris is washed down the hill and causes blockages.”
v) Station Rd, Wall: - I have asked for the sandstone wall at the back of the station to be repaired. Council are trying to identify ownership.
Middlepenny Rd Traffic Lights: - I reported a stop light not working and this has been repaired. 3 dark lights were replaced.
Storm Damage, Trees & Road Sweeping, Refuse, Fly Tipping
Fallen Trees: -
Middlepenny Rd: - A leylandii tree blew down in the recent storm and this was cut up but was left blocking the pavement. I arranged for its removal. It also damaged the streetlight and has been cut to stump. This column has been added to the replacement list.
OGR: - A tree came down near the Gallahill Rd junction causing some damage and snagging a telephone cable. I reported this, but the tree resides behind the boundary line, it would be assumed here the landowner will have responsibility to remove the tree and stump in order for the roads department to make surface repairs.
Finlaystone Road: - I reported a tree at the side of the road causing vehicles to drive around it. Roads have since come back to say that the Roads/Footway Inspector visited the fallen tree which they say is within private land and not affecting the Road.
Road Sweeping: - I requested sweeping of the Station Rd pavement and Main Road and this should have been done on Tuesday 25th Feb.
Middlepenny Rd: - A property is a cause for concern regarding the amount of rubbish around the property. The waste was seen blowing across Main Rd. I have asked for officers to visit.
Removal of bollards by contractor, Hatton Brae: - I have expressed concern as to the whereabouts of the wooden bollards. Hopefully they will be replaced soon.
Ivy Hedge Station Road: - I requested that the hedge be cut back. Legal services are to carry out a land search to ascertain ownership of the ivy hedge at the bottom of the road.
Streetlighting
Westferry: - In relation to the ownership of the lighting at Westferry Interchange, Council are waiting on a meeting being arranged between them and AMEY/Transport Scotland. I am still chasing this.
Middlepenny Place: - I requested repair of the streetlight between nos 7 and 9.
Village Hall Wi-Fi
Council had pledged a few years ago that all halls would soon have Wi-Fi. I have asked about this as the hall does not have this yet. Langbank Village Hall is a self-managed hall which belongs to the community and is managed by a committee. Use of this facility is therefore organised through the committee rather than OneRen. On this basis (i.e. a self-managed hall), this facility was not included within the scope of the Wi-Fi rollout because it is not classed as a Council asset and therefore is not part of the Council network (i.e. it does not have a “wide area network circuit”). Provision of Council public Wi-Fi in this building would first need a WAN circuit to connect this to the Council network, prior to the Wi-Fi installation.
Cycle Path A8
Transport Scotland said they would install a fence alongside the footpath next to the A8. While the fence has not happened, I’m pleased to see the path has been scrapped and swept.
Council Tax/Charges
Council tax: - Renfrewshire Council has agreed an increase in council tax of 9.5%.
Service Charges: - There will be a 5% increase in service fees/charges.
(Housing Rents: - Council housing rents are to increase by 7.5%. )
Scottish Water are to increase their charges by 9.9%.
Brown Bins: - The garden waste permit cost will increase to £47. Current permits run out at the end of April. 1. Cycle Path A8: - I will keep chasing for a fence here. 2. Road Sweeping: - I will request that the council provides dates in advance of future road sweeping so that vehicles can be moved off the carriageway, where possible.
3. Flooding: - I will ask for cameras to survey the culverts leading under Main Road and the dual carriageway to ensure they are clear. If branches get washed down and lodged in a culvert then this is likely to cause a blockage.
4. Local Place Plan: - I will ask for a Planning Officer to attend a future cc meeting to give guidance on preparing this.
5. Potholes, Dennistoun Road: - There are potholes next to the speed bumps on this road. I will get these reported.
6. Community Council Forum: - I will ask about the process for cc members joining this.
7. Hatton Brae Fly Tipping: - A vehicle was seen beyond where the bollards would be, with its boot open. The supposition being that fly tipping was taking place.
7. SPT Draft Strathclyde Regional Bus Strategy
SPT wants to attract more people to use buses and ensure buses are providing essential access for everyday travel. You can go to https://www.spt.co.uk/about-us/what-we-are-doing/regional-transport-strategy/bus-strategy/ to access the draft strategy and supporting documents. The deadline for responding is 5pm Thursday 29 May 2025.
12/3/2025
Feedback from Meeting
Please email me with your updates and requests as I cannot guarantee to see your comments on Facebook. Likes are always welcome.
My next Langbank Surgery will be in the church on 7th April at 6.30pm.
Councillor James W.H. MacLaren, Conservative & Unionist Party
Ward 11, Bishopton, Bridge of Weir & Langbank
Tel. 03003001291 Email cllr.james.maclaren@renfrewshire.gov.uk
www.facebook.com/councillormaclaren