Focus Winter 08

specia

Focus

STIRLING

L ANNUAT REPOR l

for everyone living in the Stirling Council area

winter 2008

Give us a twirl!

win tickets to our

Hogmanay Ceilidh

School placements &

enrolments

Dunblane, McLaren and St Modan’s bright new beginnings

all the information you need

Your web, your way sign up for our ‘My Stirling’ service

the road ahead

our five year plan

for the Stirling area

delivering quality services 0845 277 7000 stirling.gov.uk

In this issue we’re reporting on the opening events for the refurbished McLaren and the new-build St Modan’s and Dunblane High Schools. Each school is reflecting in its own way the personality of its pupils, staff and community, and each has captured the excitement of a new beginning and bright prospects for the future. We also visit Deanston Primary to see the Curriculum for Excellence come to life on the dancefloor (!), and there’s important information for parents about enrolments and school places.

Elsewhere Suzie Vestri from the national ‘see me’ campaign writes for us about what we can all do to help get rid of the stigma around mental illness, there’s a look at long-term improvement plans for our area’s roads, information from the money advice team, a focus on new developments on our website, and much more.

Finally, Stirling’s first Winter Festival is getting into swing. For more details about all the fun events and the chance to win free tickets see p2.

Contact us For access to all Stirling Council services phone the contact centre on:

& 0845 277 7000 text: 07717 990 001 www.stirling.gov.uk 8 To:

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For the second year we’re including a summary of our annual report in Focus. It gives you a snapshot of how we’re achieving our vision for the Stirling area and its people and what our plans are for the coming year. I hope you find it interesting and useful.

[

STIRLING FOCUS

HELLO

+ Councillor

Tel 01786 443360 email stirlingfocus@stirling. gov.uk or write to Stirling Focus, Communications and Marketing, Old Viewforth, Stirling FK8 2ET.

Graham Houston

focus facts Stirling Focus is published by Stirling Council and delivered by the Royal Mail’s Door to Door service. It costs approx 24p per copy to print and distribute.

Copyright © Stirling Council 2008. No article or photograph in this magazine may be reproduced without the consent of Stirling Council. Details are correct at the time of going to press.

If you need this information in large print, Braille, audio or in another language please contact 0845 277 7000 and quote reference number 7555.

0845 277 7000 0845 277 7000 0845 277 7000 0845 277 7000

Read and Recycle

Winter 2008

Our repairs by appointment service is more Regulars

convenient for tenants - and it’s helped to cut

2 What’s on

costs too”.

4 Out and about

(see page 31)

33 Your councillors 34 Roads report 34 Past times

Contents

32

1

Housing hopes

13

8

28

Annual Report

Help us keep compost clean

07-08 A special 8-page pull-out. Our promises, our performance.

10

Strictly Deanston Primary School

Improved wellbeing see - p16 Supporting people with mental illness

Feature Stories 6 5 year roads plan

25 Our new flooding officers

11 Employability’s new base 12 Social work inspection 22 School enrolment 24 My Stirling - our new online service

Cover photo: Improving our area’s roads: Maurice Cunningham from Stirling Council’s Urban Roads Team.

26 See Me - supporting people with mental illness 27 Commit to climate

change

For a selection of attractions in the Stirling Council area visit www.stirling.gov.uk/whatson

Tolbooth

Box Office 01786 27 4000 www.stirling.gov.uk/tolbooth

2

Fri 14 Nov, 8pm

Catriona MacDonald The Blazin’ Fiddles’ Catriona comes to the Tolbooth as a major force in her own right. £12/£10 Sat 15 Nov, 8pm

Elgin Piano Trio An evening of beautiful chamber music. £12/£10 Tues 18 Nov, 8pm

Benny Gallagher Solo debut for one half of hit makers and songwriters Gallagher & Lyle. £15 Thurs 20 Nov, 8pm

Barbara Morgenstern ONLY SCOTTISH DATE with support from Remember Remember and Beth Wilmhurst DJ set in bar at 7pm Germany’s electro pop songstress. £12/£10 Sat 22 Nov

De Rosa Doors open 7.30pm / DJ til 8pm Explosive energy punctuated by moments of intimate beauty. £6 Sat 29 Nov, 10.30am - 4pm Knitting Workshop Café Bar Aimed at knitters who can already knit/purl with confidence and would like to try something new. Refreshments and yarn provided - just bring your own needles and hooks. £10/£8

The Bee Gees Story

STIRLING FOCUS

✽ ✽

✽ What’sOn

✽ ✽

Thurs 4 Dec, 8pm

Sun 23 Nov, 7.30 pm

The Scottish Flute Trio

The Alexander Brothers

(Pre-performance talk with composer Sally Beamish at 7pm) The trio is joined by cellist Robert Irvine and percussionist Rhian MacLeod. £12/£10

Join Tom & Jack on their 50th Anniverary tour. Tickets £10.

Fri 5 Dec, 8pm

Support local and national charities and buy from a wide range of cards and gifts.

Admission on door.

King Creosote (DJ set in bar 7pm) A welcome return to the Tolbooth. www.kingcreosote.com www.myspace.com/kingcreosote £14/£12 Fri 12 Dec, 8pm

Davie Scott’s Pop Special, with special guests The Pearlfishers, Karine Polwart (Christmas DJ’s bar at 7pm with mince pies and Christmas punch) Celebrate and sing along. www.pearlfishers.co.uk £14/£12 Sat 13 Dec, 8pm

Tommy Smith’s Youth Jazz Orchestra Seeing is believing... but hearing them is even more amazing. £8/£6 Thurs 18 Dec, 8pm

Koshka

✽

From Russia - with a seasonal flavour. www.koshka.uk.com £12/£10

Thurs 27 Nov, 1.00 pm

Charity Christmas Card Sale

Sat 29 Nov, 7.30 pm Paul Daniels A fabulous evening of magic, music, special effects and glamorous entertainment £12/£10 Children £7 Fri 5 Dec, 7.30 pm

✽

Voulez Vous – So Long Tour

Say ‘thank you for the music’ to Voulez Vous after 17 years. £16/£15 Family 2 adults, 2 children £42

Have Hogmanay on

us!

We’ve got 4 tickets for one lucky winner for Stirling’s Hogmanay Ceilidh up for grabs. Simply answer the question below.

Box Office 01786 473544

Where is this year’s Hogmanay Ceilidh being held?

www.stirling.gov.uk/alberthalls

The draw will take place on 11 Dec.

ALBERT HALLS

Fri 14 Nov, 7.30 pm

Country Legends Solid Gold Show – Part 2 All your favourites from Randy

Answer:

Ryman and the Outlaw Country Band. £14/£13

Name:

Sat 22 Nov, 7.30 pm

Jive Talkin’ – The Bee Gees Story The highly acclaimed smash hit show based on the musical life & times of the Bee Gees. £14.50/£13.50

Address: Tel no:

Send your answer to: Hogmanay Competition, Communications and Marketing, Room 24, Old Viewforth, Stirling FK8 2ET.

✽ ✽

Winter 2008

n

wi Enter our competition to Ceilidhs

tickets for the Hogmanay Ce

ilidh.

Winter festival HOT OFF THE PRESS

For full details of the Winter Festival and event highlights have a look in this year’s leaflet available from the Thistles, libraries and other venues.

And remember to look in this year’s Stirling Festive Guide for all things festive including gift ideas and what’s on information

Sat 22 Nov, 12noon Santa Parade with Real Reindeer and Christmas Lights Switch On 12pm - 5 pm Stirling city centre

Sat 29 Nov, Christmas Farmers’ Market Stirling city centre.

Fri 28 Nov, 8 pm St Andrew’s Ceilidh Albert Halls Celebrate in true Scottish style with the Ian MacCallum Scottish Dance Band. £5

Sat 29 Nov, 8pm Celebrating St Andrew’s Day Tolbooth Ross Ainslie and Jarlath Henderson (Piping and whistle workshop for intermediate players, 3pm, £5) www.myspace.com/ rossandjarlath £12/£10

3 Sun 14 Dec, 5.00 pm 12th Aberlour Annual Christmas Concert Albert Halls

Sun 30 November

St Andrew’s Day free entry Stirling Castle

£9/£7

RNLI Reindeer Run

The seasonal knees up is back! Family ceilidh 3-5pm, £6 each or 4 for £20.

Evening ceilidh 8pm, £8 each or 4 for £27

Sat 20 Dec Christmas Ceilidh Tolbooth

Stirling University

6th and 7th Dec 2008 Christmas at The Monument 10.30am - 4.00pm each day A special weekend for all the family. Includes the Monument Mastermind Quiz!

Tue 9 Dec, 7.00 pm National Youth Choir of Scotland Christmas concert.

pm

The Singing Kettle presents Christmas Toy Shop Albert Halls Songs and fun – remember to wear your Santa hat! £10.50/ Family of four £38 Schools £7/ Group 1 in 10 free

Albert Halls Tickets available on the door.

Wed 10 December, 11.30am-12.15pm Parade by Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Stirling city centre

Sun 14 December, 12.30-3.30pm Christmas at the Castle event Stirling Castle

Sat 27 and 28 Dec, 12 noon & 3.00

Wed 31 Dec, 8.00 pm Hogmanay Ceilidh Albert Halls Moira Kerr is our host once again.

Dance the night away, enjoy a twocourse meal, and welcome in 2009 with a glass of bubbly. £40

Mon 26 Jan Chinese New Year

opping a Sunday

To help with Christmas sh

service Park and Ride will be available on December 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th.

Sunday service times are 10am- 6pm.

STIRLING FOCUS

Out & about

River teith A questionnaire is sent to over 400 anglers who have bought season permits for the Rivers Forth and Teith. It covers management issues and ideas about how to enhance the sport while conserving salmon and sea trout. www.stirling.gov.uk/countryside/fisheries.

in the Stirling Council area

4 Tyndrum

Killin Crianlarich Lochearnhead Balquhidder

Strathyre

Callander

Thornhill

Aberfoyle

Mugdock MUGDOCK COUNTRY PARK Mugdock Country Park celebrates being awarded a 4 star (excellent) grading

by VisitScotland. The Park is located on the cusp of the Stirling border with East Dunbartonshire, and is jointly managed by both councils.

Buchlyvie

Kippen

Balmaha Balfron

Drymen Croftamie

Fintry

Killearn

Strathblane

Killearn

Children from Killearn Primary School create a wall hanging of Bonnie Prince Charlie out of recyclable materials as part of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Creative Curriculumâ&#x20AC;?, which gives schools, teachers and pupils the opportunity to work with artists.

Gargunnock

WINTER 2008

Raploch

Doune

Dunblane

Bridge of Allan

STIRLING Fallin

Bannockburn

Cowie Plean

A strange triangular stone carved with the letters ‘A N E E’ and the date 1666 is discovered by Council employee Alex McGrandles while excavating a culvert near Cowie. It commemorates an important date in the lives of Alexander Nairn and Euphan Easson of Easter Greenyards. The stone has been donated to the Stirling Smith.

cowie

ve Stirling keeping fit with Acti e St Ninians at the mayfield centr

Heard about our halls?

Map: © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Stirling Council 100020780 (2008).

This chess board treasure map is part of the Raploch Urban Regeneration Company’s (URC) creative spaces project on Raploch’s Riverwalk. The chess pieces were originally designed by Peter McCaughey in 1990 as part of Glasgow’s Year of Culture for the Burrell Collection. Peter, from the Glasgow School of Art, has now kindly donated them to the Raploch community. The URC hope that the pieces, funded by the Scottish Arts Council, will be put on public display in Raploch soon.

Our Communities team runs ten community centres mainly in the urban area. All bustling with groups and activities - mothers and toddler groups, over-50’s clubs, sports organisations, art activities, keep fit classes and lots more.

All the centres can be hired, so whether you need a small room for a meeting or a large hall with space for events and activities we can help. To find out more details about what facilities are on offer or to make a booking call 0845 277 7000 for visit www.stirling.gov.uk/community-centres

Get active this winter ... with Active Stirling Our adult Health and Fitness classes offer everything from mind and body-calming Pilates, Yoga and Tai Chi to vigourous Body Training Systems (BTS) classes like BodyPump and BodyStep that will keep you fit and heat you up!

Check out our Walk About Stirling programme, with a range of interesting walks across our area. Walks go from 45 minute strolls to longer 90 minute outings. Or get in touch with one of ClubSport Stirling’s affiliated clubs and join today.

There are sports and activity clubs in your area ranging from swimming and rowing to contact sports such as judo and rugby, and you can get running with our athletics club.

Visit www.activestirling.org.uk or tel 01786 432323.

5

STIRLING FOCUS BETTER SERVICES

6

Roads: five year plan A five year funding boost to improve the quality of Stirling’s roads was agreed by the Council earlier this year.

In total an extra £2.185 million has been added to the roads maintenance budget each year for the next five years, bringing spending each year up to £6.34 million. This allows the Council to meet national guidelines that recommend 4% of the road network should be resurfaced each year.

The way the extra cash will be spent has also been changed. In the past the busiest roads in the worst condition were repaired first, which meant that less busy roads deteriorated. Now all road types have been allocated an increased budget, so investment in our road network is spread more evenly.

A five year plan identifying road repair and improvement projects has been produced and the first year of the plan is well underway.

This year we will meet the target of resurfacing 40km or 4% of our roads.

We consulted with community councils over the summer to find out what their priorities for road repairs were, and this will have an influence over the repair plan for years two and three.

As well as resurfacing roads we will use this extra money to make our roads safer by repainting white lines, renewing road signs and replacing catseyes. We’ll also spend more money improving

roads and pavements in residential areas.

For an update on current repair projects see our regular Roads Report on the back page of Focus.

This year we will meet the target of resurfacing 40km or 4% of our roads.

We will also spend more on improving roads and footpaths in our residential areas.

WINTER 2008

Winterroads Don’t stop moving... on Stirling area roads this winter We will be working with you to keep our area

Road Priorities Road priorities: 1 major roads, bus routes and roads providing access to emergency service centres and almost all schools are treated for snow and ice 24 hours a day. Precautionary treatments are also carried out between 5.30 am and midnight if required.

2 main roads to housing and industrial areas and some rural roads are treated when a thaw is expected before noon.

3 major housing and industrial areas and some rural roads are treated if conditions are likely to last for 48 hours and no thaw is likely in the next 48 hours.

4 other public roads are treated only in extreme weather and when resources allow.

Pavement priorities:

• places with a group of three or more • • • •

essential premises, such as food shops and post offices. steps and ramps to underpasses and bridges. pavements connecting shopping areas to nearby public buildings. outside individual essential premises in towns or village shopping centres. at sheltered housing and residential homes for older people.

Pavements are normally only treated during working hours, unless there is a build-up of snow.

moving this winter come snow, ice, hail or sleet.

7

Stirling Council will…

• provide a prioritised winter service on the local road network.

• make as large an area as possible

accessible as quickly as possible.

Sometimes this will mean treating the pavement on one side of a road only.

We ask you to …

• plan your journey carefully. Check weather forecasts and avoid using minor roads if possible.

• travel early or the day before if heavy snow is forecast.

• consider not travelling if roads are likely to become blocked. slow down! Avoid sudden braking, and use dipped headlights if visibility is poor.

• keep wheelie bins out of the way of snowploughs.

• use salt bins as necessary to help make minor roads and pavements safer.

• remember neighbours who may be older or have a disability.

We’re not able to …

• keep all roads free from snow and ice all the time.

• prevent ice from forming. When it rains, salt already laid will be washed away. If the temperature then falls suddenly, ice will form. It will then take several hours to treat all roads. Even after the salt is applied, it takes time for the ice to melt.

• stop snow from lying. Even if we are ploughing a route continuously, snow will build up until the plough gets back again.

• clear roads blocked by stranded vehicles.

• treat roads blocked because of inconsiderate parking.

to Details about disruptions

services or road

closures will be posted on the front page of our website under Disruptions/Closures”

the chapel that is adorned with three

BETTER SERVICES

STIRLING FOCUS

A key feature of the building is

8

new stained glass windows and a new lectern and altar designed by a local craftsman.

Headteacher frank lennon in the school’s chapel

Ambitious plans for

St Modan’s The opening of the new building at Royal Stuart Way, Forthbank signals the start of an ambitious new era for the high school.

(ABOVE) the new St. Modan’s

Pupils attend St Modan’s, Stirling’s only Roman Catholic high school, from Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire council areas ....

As a result of the improved teaching, recreation and social space the school is embarking on a School of Ambition programme that gives every pupil access to more creative, physical and enterprise education.

To kick the programme off an extra teaching session has been added at the end of the school day on Mondays and pupils from S1 – S5 can choose up to four new activities, each studied over an eight week block. The choice of activities includes digital photography, Italian, orienteering, samba band, textiles, dance and curling.

Once the new sports village opens next year extra teaching sessions will be added and the range of physical activities will be extended even further.

Eventually all S1-S5 pupils will have

access to between one and half hours and four hours of additional physical/ creative/enterprise activities each week.

“This exciting addition to the curriculum could only have been made possible by moving to our new school building,” says Head Teacher Frank Lennon. “Our location near to business and industry, as well as the new sports village, means that we can develop successful and mutually beneficial relationships with our new neighbours. By February next year all S4 pupils will have had the opportunity to visit five local businesses, something we would have found difficult to do before.”

The new school was officially opened exactly 75 years to the day that the original St Modan’s building was opened at St. Ninians.

WINTER 2008

I am delighted and honoured to be back at Dunblane High to open the new school. It holds very precious memories for me and for Andy.

Jamie Murray

(ABOVE) Jamie Murray and dunblane high school Headteacher dot white.

focus facts

9

• work on all three schools was

New Dunblane High is a smash hit

carried out by Stirling Gateway Ltd (Ogilvie, FES and Stewart Milne) on behalf of the Council as part of a £100m schools rebuilding and refurbishing programme

W

• pupils and staff were involved in

hen pupils at the new Dunblane High School were asked to vote on who they would like to officially open their new school it was game, set and match for local hero and Wimbledon mixed doubles champ Jamie Murray.

“Jamie is an ex-pupil of Dunblane High, and he was delighted to come to visit the new school, meet everyone and cut the ribbon to declare us officially

open,” Head Teacher Dr Dot White told Focus. “It was a great day, and a great message for our young people - that through hard work and a focused approach anything is possible.”

the ideas and designs from the start.

On a guided tour Jamie was shown all the new facilities, including the external art deck, rooftop science teaching space, and fitness and dance studios.

pils

hool pu

e High sc

dunblan

NEW-LOOK MClaren Headteacher Peter Martin welcomed pupils and staff back from the summer holidays and into a completed ‘new look’ McLaren High School in August.

The school became a major construction site for around 30 months as it underwent a refurbishment and extension programme, but McLaren’s 682 pupils and 88 staff managed to keep learning and teaching.

Mclaren

headteac

Peter told Focus: “We’ve now got first-class learning and teaching spaces and attractive social areas. All the hard work and careful planning over the past two and a half years has been worthwhile, and everyone’s delighted with what’s been achieved.

The modern appearance still retains recognisable elements of the old building, and the physical environment will help motivate and engage our young people.”

her pete

r martin

high Mclaren

school

e

entranc

STIRLING FOCUS BETTER SERVICES

10

on! es...strictly deanst

Take your partn

It’s great doing dancing with all of the members of the community. It was really fun doing the test and getting our medals. ....

Hannah Ritchie P7

uses!

spect o r p t h g i r B

E

ach of the Stirling area’s primary schools has a prospectus on the Council website. They give a flavour of the life of the school, facilities, achievements and how it interacts with its local community. Read all about Deanston at www.stirling.gov. uk/deanstonpsbrochure.pdf

Strictly Come

Deanston

Pupils from one of the Stirling area’s smallest primary schools

pulled out all the stops ‘Strictly’ style earlier this year when the entire school passed an introductory ballroom dance exam.

The Deanston young people caught the dancing bug two years ago when some older local residents asked if they could hold their tea dances in the school hall. Over time the school children began joining in the fun ... and there was no stopping them.

Teacher Beverley Donald told Focus, “The ballroom dancing classes have had a huge impact on the children, which is then carried through into the classroom. The infant class joined the dancing classes for the first time last year, and now they have completed their first medal.

As their expertise grows each week the children become more and more confident. Their interaction with people in the community and with

each other has benefitted, helping them to be aware of others and to become responsible citizens.

“Our Primary 2-4 children have become so good at the waltz they are even helping Robin, our dance teacher, teach it to the new Primary 1s!”

We’ve had to learn

some hard stuff and now we can do it really well. It’s fun to dance with each other. My favourite is the waltz.

Kyra Gibson P6

Winter 2008

A move for the Employability Team The address may have changed, but the aim of Stirling Council’s friendly Employability Service stays the same – helping people overcome different kinds of barriers to getting a job and being able to lead an independent life.

“Our new base is on the second floor of the Wolfcraig building in Dumbarton Road in the centre of Stirling,” says Service Manager Matt Duncan, who heads up the team.

‘Curriculum for Excellence’ Dance lessons are one way that Deanston is bringing the ‘Curriculum for Excellence’ to life.

Curriculum for Excellence is all about helping children develop as successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.

As well as dancing lessons, Deanston Primary School encourages themed play in the infant activity room to develop the children’s confidence, ability to play with each other and awareness of their environment.

And in the classroom an ethos of success is always being promoted.

“Children are encouraged to work independently or in groups, and to praise each other for their achievements,” explains Beverley.

“You can see the effects in the way they really enjoy trying new things and working together.”

health-related conditions,” explains Matt.

The service came together in June 2007, and has close links with local employers and partners including Jobcentre Plus and NHS Forth Valley.

Visit the team at: Employability Service Wolfcraig Building 2nd Floor,1 Dumbarton Road Stirling FK8 2LQ Phone 01786 432141. email employability@stirling.gov.uk

“It’s great because it’s so easy to pop in any time you’re in the city centre. Just ask at the Resource Centre on the ground floor and someone from Employability will come down to say hi and take you up to our new offices.”

The team gives advice and guidance and organises assessments, training, work experience and employment opportunities.

“Everything is focused on clients’ individual needs, and many of the people we work with have disabilities, learning difficulties, mental health problems or other

focus facts Since June 2007 the Employability Service has

• registered over 225 clients • supported over 125 people into employment, training or further education • supported over 100 local employers.

MATT dUNCAN (BACK, 2ND FROM LEFT) AND THE eMPLOYABILITY TEAM.

11

STIRLING FOCUS

When

the inspection is completed a

b

Performance Inspection Report will be published.

12 BETTER SERVICES / participation & responsibility

Child

b

Protection

b

STIRLING Council wants our area to be a place where all children and young people are safe, enjoy good health, and have access to a wide range of positive experiences and opportunities to achieve their potential.

Social Work Inspection bThe safety

The Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA) is to carry out a Performance Inspection of the Council’s Social Work Services functions. SWIA have responsibility for inspecting Social Work Services in all 32 Scottish local authorities.

The Council welcomes the opportunity to work closely with SWIA throughout the inspection process to make sure that our Social Work Services continue to develop to meet the needs of local people and communities who use them.

Performance inspections: • tell the public how well people are being served by their local Social Work Services • help these services improve • help safeguard the interests of people who use services, and carers and • work with councils to develop their own approach to improving services.

survey of service users, carers, staff and other stakeholders, a team of SWIA inspectors will visit our area on January 19 2009 for two weeks. They’ll meet people who use Social Work Services, carers and people who are responsible for planning and providing the services.

The inspection team will also meet elected members and chief officials of the Council and representatives from a range of organisations and groups.

When the inspectors have completed their inspection they’ll publish a Performance Inspection Report on their findings in June 2009. The Council will then prepare an action plan to meet any recommendations made

by SWIA and to make sure we are continually improving our services.

For more information visit www.swia.gov.uk

of our children is everyone’s responsibility.

If you have any concerns for a child or young person, seek advice and support from:

During the day: Social Work Initial Assessment Team 01786 471177 Child Protection Co-ordinator 01786 443493 Police 01786 456000 Health Contact your local health centre and speak to your health visitor or GP. Reporter to the Children’s Panel Authority Reporter 01786 476400 Out of hours: Emergency Duty Team After 5 pm and at weekends

Social Work After examining a wide range of 01786 470500 or 0845 277 7000 material about the Council formation at in ce an rm o rf e re p Police and its Social Work Services, Read mo 01786 456000 www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingper and carrying out a questionnaire forms

Stirling Council

Annual Report

07 08

Our vision

13

This report presents a summary of our performance over the last year: what we said we would do in 2007/08 and what we have done towards each of our strategic priorities, which are to make the Stirling area a place: ■ that is open for business ■ with jobs and opportunities for all ■ where lifelong learning is valued and encouraged ■ where improved wellbeing adds years to life – and life to years ■ with a high quality environment.

Three themes run through everything we do: making services better, encouraging participation and responsibility, and making Stirling more sustainable.

If you would like to comment on this annual report or would like further information on our performance, please contact the Performance Team on (01786) 443486, email stirlingperforms@stirling.gov.uk, or visit www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingperforms You’ll find more information about our plans and priorities for the Stirling area at www.stirling.gov.uk/shapingstirling.

DELIVERING A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THE STIRLING AREA

Our area T

he Stirling Council area stretches almost 2,200 square kilometres from ancient Stirling - now Scotland’s newest city - and its surrounding towns and villages to the shores of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, and from Crianlarich, Tyndrum and the southern Highlands to Killin, the shores of Loch Tay and the Eastern Villages of Plean, Cowie and Fallin. It is home to around 88,000 people.

This annual report lets us give local people a snapshot of how we’re performing.

delivering quality services

stirling.gov.uk

STIRLING FOCUS 14

Vibrant economy Stirling is Scotland’s sixth and newest city. We want to make sure that the area continues to be a location of choice, with a growing population and a vibrant economy that is open for business.

What we are doing in 2008/09 ■ Developing research and development links with the university and college and giving support and assistance to rural businesses and business associations.

■ Conducting a pilot project on safer transport for people leaving the city at night.

■ Increasing available business space, including retail and leisure spaces.

What we said we would do in 2007/08

■ 67% of planning applications

Continue development at

route are due for completion in the

we receive are dealt with within 2

Forthside, including opening a

autumn. The public transport route

months. Our target is 80% so although

multi-screen cinema, building 214

has been temporarily opened to

we are improving, we need to do

homes, beginning work on the hotel

traffic throughout 2008 to give access

more to meet this target.

and offices, opening a footbridge

to the main car park for cinema and

providing pedestrian link between the

restaurant users while the pedestrian

■ 79% of consumer complaints we

city centre and Forthside

bridge and Forthside Way are

The cinema and associated restaurants

completed.

are open and trading successfully.

Construct a western park

There has been a delay in opening

and ride facility to improve

the bridge due to some redesign and

accessibility and ease congestion in

extra testing.

the city centre.

Complete Forthside Way, the

We opened Castleview Park and Ride

public transport route allowing

in August this year. Two buses now

easy access from Forthbank through

run directly to the city centre every

the Forthside development to the city

12 minutes, and in the first weeks of

centre.

operation the usage averaged 100

Forthside Way and the public transport

passengers per day.

receive are dealt with within 14 days, which is above our target of 75%.

■ We deal with 92% of business advice requests within 14 days, exceeding our target of 90%.

We are developing links with universities and colleges to improve our business research.

Winter 2008

Jobs and opportunities We began the design and construction of two new hostels for homeless people and reviewed our Allocations Policy to give greater priority to those without a home.

Middlemuir Road Hostel is now open.

More accommodation is needed to meet the national target of providing settled accommodation for all unintentionally homeless people by 2012.

What we are doing in 2008/09 ■ Planning and developing the creation of a new community with 2,500 new homes at Durieshall.

■ Continue to build houses in Raploch; work on the 900 planned new houses began in January 2008 and will be completed in 2018.

■ Conducting a study of how the

We want our area to be a place with jobs and opportunities for all.

We will make sure that people across the Stirling area have access to a range of core services, and take action where poverty, cultural differences, vulnerability or geographic isolation may make it harder for people to access opportunities.

emerging Scottish Rural Development Programme can be used with available funding to diversify the rural economy, and then carrying out an action plan.

■ The length of time we took to

What we said we would do in 2007/08

complete our duty for people who are homeless increased from 10

Develop activities at the new

Develop ways to give tenants

weeks to 18 weeks. This was due to

Hillpark Community Centre.

more say on future council housing

a change in how we calculate this figure and a shortage in available

We have introduced a range of community

service delivery.

activities, including ones for young people

We set up the Housing Advisory Group

organised by the Youth Team and local people.

to let tenants discuss the development

■ We take on average 24 days to

Work with the Compass for Life

of the service with elected members

re-let a home. This is less time than

initiative and Forth Valley College

and developed our network of “tenant

most other councils take.

on a wider range of courses to help young

voices”.

people into work and training.

Review the needs of people who

We have created a searchable database

are homeless and evaluate the best

of sources of support, and introduced

way to provide temporary homeless

the 16+ Guarantee to help young people

accommodation across the Stirling Council

move on after school.

area.

properties.

■ The Council continues to have the highest proportion of females (over 50%) in the top 2% and top 5% of earners compared to other Scottish councils.

15

STIRLING FOCUS 16

Improved wellbeing We will continue to work to make Stirling a place where improved wellbeing adds life to years, not just years to life. This means providing support for those who need it,encouraging healthier lifestyles and helping people to reach their potential and to live as independently as possible.

What we said we would do in 2007/08 Extend the community warden scheme to create a mobile team.

We have recruited additional wardens and introduced a new team that patrols a number of communities, working closely with the Police.

Share information across organisations to better tackle antisocial behaviour.

The Forth Valley information sharing system has been developed and launched as OASIS (Online Anti-Social Information Sharing).

This will be used by Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Falkirk Councils, Central Scotland Police, and Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service.

Reorganise care management services to speed up care assessments and access to care services.

We carried out a full review of the care management structure and how we deliver care services.

This has led to a reduction in the waiting time for assessment. The percentage of care assessments

done within 7 days has increased from 65% in 2005/06 to 71% in 2007/08.

Increase the availability of home support services to meet the growth in demand.

Recent inspections have recommended that we increase our provision of homecare. We are working on how we commission services for older people and home support so that people get the support they need. We are also working with the NHS, to make sure that people in rural areas have access to these services.

Work with partners to review personal care, support and housing services for people with very complex needs.

We are planning for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;core and clusterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; style homes. This is accommodation based around one building, the core, with a staffed office, accommodation for a limited number of residents and communal facilities. Clustered around the core are self-contained flats in which residents can live more independently than in the core but still receive support from staff.

Winter 2008

We are developing links with universities and colleges to improve our business research.

Prepare for HMIE inspection of child protection arrangements.

The inspection of our child protection arrangements was carried out between January and March 2008. It found that overall Stirling performed well; however some areas needed work, including our ability to recognise and assess risks and needs. We have developed an action plan to take this work forward.

Develop Stirling’s response to the national ‘Getting it Right for Every Child’ proposals to improve and join up services for vulnerable children.

We are working with our community partners to look at the best ways of doing this.

Explore the best way of meeting the needs of vulnerable children with very high care requirements.

There has been a large increase in the demand for children’s social work services in the last couple of years.

This demand has placed a huge strain on the budget and following a scrutiny review, we set up a project team to determine the best way of improving the following areas: information management, budgeting, forward planning, procurement, balance of internal and external provision of residential care. This work is an important priority for the Council.

Introduce a reward scheme for young people in secondary schools to encourage uptake of health school meals.

The reward scheme has now been introduced into all secondary schools.

Students register on-line and earn points whenever they make healthy school meals choices; these points are then converted to prizes.

What we are doing in 2008/09 ■ Implementing the improvement plan resulting from the 2008 HMIE Child Protection Inspection.

■ Carrying out the action plan resulting from the 2008 Multi-Agency Inspection of Older People’s Services in Forth Valley.

■ Reviewing the role of community wardens in the effective management of open space.

■ Considering the use of Safer Design, CCTV usage in planning for open spaces.

We’re encouraging the uptake of healthy school meals.

■ We submitted 48% of requested Children’s Hearing reports to the Reporter on time. This is a slight improvement on last year, and above the average in Scotland (39%).

■ 86% of children were seen by a supervising officer within 15 working days. This is a big drop from the 98% we achieved last year and the decrease is due to more children requiring a supervising officer (up by 25%) and arranging meetings with families taking longer than the 15 days to book a suitable time.

■ The number of homecare hours provided (for every 1,000 people over 65 years) decreased slightly from 354.3 to 353.8 hours.

■ Attendances at pools fell this year, from 2,631 to 2,034 (per 1,000 population). This is due to the closure of Rainbow Slides in December.

■ The number of attendances at sports facilities increased from 102 to 411 (per 1,000 population). This was due to the opening of the Raploch Campus and The Studio.

17

STIRLING FOCUS 18

lifelong learning We want Stirling to be a place where lifelong learning is encouraged and valued. This is learning for all people at all ages. Stirling is already a high performing education authority, with good schools and high overall levels of attainment. We want our schools to continue to provide a high quality education, and to increase the opportunities for learning after school so that people can achieve their personal, community and economic goals throughout their lives.

What we are doing in 2008/09 ■ Improving performance in all schools and nurseries, with specific focus on the lowest attaining 20% of young people.

■ Delivering the new Community Learning and Development Strategy.

■ Carrying out the recommendations

What we said we would do in 2007/08

from the review of our inclusion policies for children with additional

Develop learning and teaching

Complete the schools PPP

support needs, including support

in line with new curriculum

programme and continuing the

for children and young people in

framework, focusing on science,

rolling programme of primary school

mainstream schools through curriculum

numeracy and literacy.

refurbishment.

flexibility and alternatives to exclusion.

New guidance called Building the

Raploch Campus, Stirling High School,

Curriculum 3 was issued during the

Dunblane High School, Wallace High

year that sets out the curriculum for

School, St Modan’s High School and

all stages of learning (ages 3 – 18

McLaren High School were all completed

years). We have also implemented

by August 2008. A significant part of

a new policy for learning, called

Cowie Primary School was refurbished,

Making the Difference, that was

and a four-classroom extension was built

developed with children, young

at Cambusbarron Primary School. Other

people, teachers and parents.

improvements to the buildings have

An improved quality assurance programme for schools and nurseries.

We have now developed an improved quality assurance process based on self-evaluation and external inspections. This process has been introduced in all schools,

been made to Riverside, St Mary’s Cowie, Doune, Strathblane and Bannockburn Primary Schools.

the support required to take forward any areas for improvement identified.

and improve the progress of children moving to primary 1 in all schools.

■ Planning ways to help people learn English when it is their second or other language.

■ The number of visits to libraries for every 1,000 people in the area decreased this year, from 6,357 to 6,104. This is a trend seen by the majority of libraries in Scotland; 11% of the population are using the

Establish new Parent Councils.

computers and using them more

98% of schools now have a parent

often.

council. We are currently recruiting for a Parental Involvement Officer post, who will support these new parent councils.

■ Children who are looked after by the council are attaining more, the percentage attaining at least one SCQF level 3 has increased from

and allows schools to identify areas for improvement and then provides

■ Setting out how we can support

98% of our

54% to 73% (any subject) and 39% to 47% (English or Maths). We are

schools have a Parent

aiming to achieve targets of 95%

Council

Maths).

(any subject) and 75% (English or

19

Quality environment We know that the quality of the local environment is a key reason for living in the Stirling area. We aim to protect and enhance the built and natural local environment.

What we said we would do in 2007/08 Open Raploch Community Campus.

Officially opened in May 2008, the £17 million Campus is a partnership between Stirling Council, Forth Valley College and Active Stirling and the project is part of the wider regeneration of Raploch.

Restore and enhance Stirling’s Old Town cemeteries below the castle.

We awarded the contract for the £1.7million refurbishment of the cemetery’s stonework and ironwork, restoration of monuments, and landscaping. Work began in August 2008 and is due to be completed by July 2009.

Upgrade selected ‘C’ class roads.

Following consultation with urban and rural communities we identified 12 schemes for resurfacing. All were completed by April 2008.

Continue to promote recycling and carrying out trials on collections for all types of plastic bottles.

Following a successful trial of recycling plastic bottles, we bought the necessary collection cages for our trucks and rolled out collection of plastic bottles in the urban areas.

Plastic bottle collection is currently being extended to rural areas.

Open the new Household Waste Recycling centre at Lower Polmaise.

We are making sure that Stirling area parks and other open spaces are effectively developed and maintained.

We opened the new centre at Lower Polmaise in May 2007 and we have had a very positive response from people using the centre. Recycling levels of the materials brought to the site have reached almost 70%.

Develop an Open Space Strategy to ensure that Stirling’s parks and other open spaces are effectively developed and maintained.

We have finished consulting communities on this strategy and the final version will be decided by the end of 2008.

STIRLING FOCUS 20

Quality environment What we are doing in 2008/09 ■ Looking at ways community wardens can help tackle litter problems.

■ Launching the recycling incentive initiative pilot “Winning from Waste” in June 2008.

■ Collecting all plastics from all council areas and rolling out recycling collection in the city centre by June 2009.

■ Bringing forward our “Towards Zero Waste”waste reduction strategy.

■ We have invested more money into repairing roads in recent years, but more still needs to be done.

48% of the road network in the area is estimated to need repairing, compared to the average in Scotland of 38%.

■ We recycled 39% of the waste collected, an increase from last year’s figure of 36%.

■ The cost of refuse collection is still higher at £105.82 (last year it was £101.28) than many places in Scotland.

■ The number of waste collection complaints is 109.6 for every 1,000 properties. Work is being done to address this.

Better services W

e aim to make our services better, more effective, and more efficient. We want our services to be designed with customer needs in mind, and we aim to ensure that information about our performance is readily available. In 2007/08, we made £4.5 million in efficiency savings (primarily from asset management and reducing bureaucracy). This is 2.5% of our budget and higher than the 1.5% target we set ourselves.

Encouraging participation and responsibility Citizens and local communities play a vital role in shaping our services and we want to encourage your participation. As well as the Residents Survey we encourage community involvement and community based activities.

Making Stirling more sustainable

Embedded in all our activities and work is a commitment to sustainable development, including reducing our Our total budget for 2007/08 was carbon emissions and ensuring the just over £176m.

Stirling area adapts to the Where we spent the money: (millions) effects of climate change.

Chief Executive’s Office £1.4 Corporate Services £11.1 Children’s Services £77.2 Community Services £35.4 Environment Services £18.1 Trading Operations (underspend) -£0.8 Police, Fire Service and Assessor £14.5 Other Budgets £2.7 Loans Charges £14.3 Total £173.9 Full details of our audited accounts are available through our website www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingperforms or contact Jim Boyle, Chief Accountant, on 01786 442899.

Talkback We welcome your feedback to help us improve all our services.

Talkback lets us know how local people feel we’re doing – the good and the bad. Talkback leaflets are available at all Council offices and libraries. You can also phone 0845 277 7000, or go online at www.stirling. gov.uk/talkback. For social work complaints please phone 01786 443231.

Winter 2008

Sixteen Days of Action Wear a white ribbon to support the Sixteen Days of Action for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Children

Stirling Council

Residents Survey Revisited Words into action In the last Focus we reported on the early results from our 2008 Residents Survey. Here’s more about what you told us and the actions we’re taking to increase local people’s satisfaction with the Council.

about our new My Stirling service on page 24 explains more.

You said

website to keep you up to date. We are also working on ways to make all our communications clearer and more effective.

You want to have your calls answered promptly when you phone the Council.

We will ...aim to answer 90% of calls first time.

You said Our website is one of the top ways you prefer to receive information about our services.

We will ...increase the number of things you can do online. By 2012 we’re aiming to have all Council services capable of being delivered electronically available via our website. We’re also providing more personalised information. The story

e

Contact centr

You said You would like more information on key things the Council is doing.

We will ...use Focus magazine and our

focus facts • 1,300 people were surveyed • the survey showed that overall satisfaction with the Council has increased from 54% to 60%

• we are involving local people more in service design.

• you can read the full results at www.stirling.gov.uk/residentssurvey

This major international campaign’s message is that violence against women is a violation of a woman’s human rights. In the Stirling area the campaign’s focus is being expanded to include violence against children.

Events and activities will include:

•

•

•

•

•

a white ribbon march in Stirling on the evening of Thursday 4 December a Stirling Multicultural Partnership conference on forced marriages on Wednesday 26 November poster exhibitions in Stirling Council offices, libraries and sports centres themed reading groups in libraries activities in high schools led by Stirling Student Forum, including charity events, the sale of white ribbons and themed assemblies.

More from Anne Salter, Lead Officer Child Protection at saltera@stirling. gov.uk

21 participation & responsibility

25th November-10th December

Making enrolment easy at Borestone Primary

A partnership between school, parents and children

STIRLING FOCUS BETTER SERVICES

22

“Starting school is a huge event in the life of a child and his or her family, and we want to help it go as smoothly as possible for everyone,” says Borestone Primary Headteacher Jessie Wojciechowski.

“The more information parents are offered, and the more involved they are in the process of transition to school, the more settled and confident the children will be when they join us.”

The school invites parents of soonto-be P1s to a transition meeting, organises visits to classrooms, dinner hall and playground, and sends out regular newsletters.

“We’ve also created a special folder for parents and children to read through together,” adds Jessie.

“It’s a collection of photos and

“Because the children are involved in the whole

process they are more

sie. settled and confident,” says Jes

comments from teachers, parents and children, all about what starting school is like. We keep it in the nursery, so the whole idea of moving to the school can become familiar to the children and something they feel comfortable about.”

Primary 1 teacher Aileen Russell makes a point of visiting boys and girls who will be in her class while they are still at nursery. “It means a lot to the children,” she says.

“They do remember my visits, and sometimes say ‘you came to see me’, which is lovely.”

“We also encourage children in the nursery to talk about what they would like their classroom to look like, and work with them to bring their ideas to life.”

Borestone Primary School Headteacher Jessie Wojciechowski and Primary 1 teacher Aileen Russell: a real partnership with parents.

“We invite parents in to see P1 teachers teach, and stay on for lunch and a discussion in the afternoon about how they can help their children learn at home.

“One parent commented afterwards that she had never realised maths could be such fun!”

The information for children and parents in the school’s Transition Folder was very useful when my child was about to start Primary 1. Thanks for all your help and support.

Comment in the folder from a Borestone Primary School parent.

School enrolment

WINTER Winter 2008 2008

Primary and Secondary 2009

23 The 2009/2010 school year starts on 18 August 2009. This is the only date for beginning primary school education for that year.

All children who are five years old on or before 18 August 2009 are of school age and must start their primary school education on that date.

Children who are five years old between 19 August 2009 and 28 February 2010 may start their primary school education on 18 August 2009 for the above school year.

If you want your child to start school in August 2009 you should enrol him/her by 23 January 2009. For details on school catchment areas, or for further information on enrolment procedures, please contact your local school or Children’s Services, Viewforth, Stirling on 01786 442648 or visit www.stirling. gov.uk.

As part of the enrolment process Stirling Council now checks the residency of all parents wishing to enrol their child at their catchment school. To avoid delay when you attend your catchment school please bring with you your child’s birth certificate, child benefit book/award letter and a recent council tax bill.

Gaelic Medium Provision Gaelic Medium Provision is available at Riverside Primary School, Forrest Road, Stirling. If you would like to find out more please contact the school.

You can find out more If your child is due to transfer from primary to secondary school Children currently in P7 will transfer from primary to secondary education in August 2009. You will receive notification of transfer arrangements through your primary school.

Enrolment at a secondary school other than your catchment school will need a placing request even if your child already attends an associated primary school of your chosen secondary school.

Placing Requests for Session 2009/2010 Parents or guardians who wish to make a placing request for the school session 2009-2010 need to do so in writing by no later than 20 February 2009. This includes requests that your child be placed in a school other than the school which normally serves the area in which you live. Application forms and guidelines are available from Children’s Services, Viewforth, Stirling on 01786 442666.

It is essential that you enrol your child at the school that serves your local area even if you are making a placing request for another school.

Please note that if your placing request is successful school transport will not be provided for your child.

and check our full list of schools, addresses and phone numbers on the website at stirling.gov.uk/schools.

Schools Information Information on local authority schools in Stirling Council and placing request arrangements are available from Planning & Performance, Children’s Services, Stirling Council, Viewforth, Stirling.

Information on individual schools is available from the schools themselves.

Parents wishing to apply for enrolment to Our Lady’s RC Primary School, St Mary’s RC Primary School, St Margaret’s RC Primary School, St Mary’s Episcopal Primary School and St Modan’s High School should contact the school to discuss enrolment policy.

Remember to enrol

your child by 23 January 2009

STIRLING FOCUS

events information weekly or monthly, or generate a handy list of

24 BETTER SERVICES

We can email you

your nearest bus stops, local libraries, council offices or recycling centres.

My Stirling Your choice Sign up for our new information service delivering the emails or texts that matter most to you want to know what’s on at albert halls? sign up with My Stirling and the info arrives in your living room or on your mobile

Need to find out if your child’s school or nursery may be closed because of heavy overnight snow? Or want to know when there are any road closures in your area before you leave work and head for home?

MY STIRLING ONLINE INFO THAT FITS your LIFESTYLE.

Register at www.stirling.gov.uk/my

Perhaps you want to check when and where your councillors’ surgeries are being held? Or maybe you’d like to receive instant text alerts if there’s extreme bad weather on the way.

Stirling Council’s award-winning web site has a new online service, My Stirling, that lets you do this and much more. It’s quick, free and easy - simply register at www.stirling.gov.uk/my Just choose the items you would like

to subscribe to (news, severe weather warnings, service disruptions, road and school closures, events/concerts and much more) and tell us how often you would like to receive these messages (daily, weekly or monthly). Choose from emails or SMS text messages to your mobile phone –and leave the rest to us! It’s a free service.

My Stirling is all about putting you, the customer, in control and letting you

winter 2008

Claire and Alayne: monitoring river levels

at Bridge of Allan

Meet our new Flooding Officers and your family

choose what information you want to receive, when, and in which format.

For example, we can email you each month with upcoming music events, or send you an instant text message if there are schools closed due to severe weather or any other disruption. You can receive the latest job vacancies and find out information on Council facilities near to you by adding your address.

You only need to register once. After that, just log in with your password each time you re-visit My Stirling. It’s now quicker and more convenient to get the information you want. Register now!

Claire Thomson and Alayne Findlay joined the Council as Assistant Flood Officers earlier this year to help improve our response to flooding.

“Our job involves working with transport and bridge engineers, looking at current flood hazards and risks and helping with future planning and development throughout the Council catchment area,” Claire told Focus.

“It’s a great challenge, and we both enjoy getting out and about around the Stirling area, looking at flooding problems and helping to prepare and protect residents, businesses and infrastructure.”

climate change and our community ■ The Council is working in partnership with Going Carbon Neutral Stirling, which aims to reduce carbon emissions from communities in the Stirling area. Find out more at: www.goingcarbonneutralstirling.org.uk/ ■ The Scottish Climate Change Impacts Partnership (SCCIP) was established to increase the resilience of Scotland to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by the impacts of climate change. You can find information on climate trends and impacts at www.sccip.org.uk

sustainable stirling

25

STIRLING FOCUS

point in our life.

Support from family, friends and colleagues

26 participation & responsibility

ntal will have a me s u f o r u fo in One health problem at some

>

can make all the difference for people with mental illness.

sUZIE VESTRI, ACTING DIRECTOR OF See me, the national campaign to stop the stigma and discrimination which surrounds mental ill-health, WRITES FOR FOCUS ABOUT HOW JUST BEING THERE - AND BEING YOURSELF - IS THE BEST WAY TO HELP. Mental ill-health has been considered one of the last taboos.

We don’t talk about it, we don’t even like to think about it. How can that happen when one in four of us will have a mental health problem at some point in our lives?

One in four means that mental ill-health probably touches every family, every workplace, every classroom, every school staff room, every bus queue and every football team.

If mental ill-health is so common, how is it that most of us just don’t seem to know what to do when it affects someone close to us? Most people genuinely want to be a good friend and a supportive family member. It’s just that…. things seem to get in the way of our good intentions.

Perhaps we feel, faced with a family member in crisis, that we just don’t know

enough to be any real help, that we might make things worse? Perhaps we feel, when our friends are struggling with their mental health, that we just can’t cope with seeing them in that way? Perhaps we think, when faced with a colleague or an employee or a boss who’s struggling, that we just don’t have the time to get involved?

The above thoughts are all based on decades of misunderstanding and myths about mental illness, topped off with a helping of just being human and not knowing what to

do. Faced by the fear that we night make things worse, we say nothing at all. Anyone who’s experienced the isolation that comes with bereavement; when people don’t know what to say and end up saying nothing, will know how hurtful that can be. It’s the same for mental ill-health. ‘see me’ is Scotland’s own national campaign to end the stigma and discrimination of mental ill-health.

We’re letting people know that it’s not that hard to ‘do the right thing’ by your family members, friends and colleagues.

keith yates, (left) john swinney and graham houston sign the declaration

The Climate’s Right for Change In July, Stirling Council’s Leader Graham Houston renewed our commitment to tackling climate change by signing Scotland’s Climate Change Declaration at a ceremony in the Council Chambers.

He was joined by Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney, and the Council’s Chief Executive Keith Yates.

• For more information about the campaign visit www. seemescotland.org • Stirling Council and eight other Forth Valley organisations are supporting see me.

A first step in reducing the Council’s contribution to climate change is to measure emissions from our own activities, such as heating buildings, running machinery, driving vehicles and producing waste.

We will then find creative ways to reduce demand for fuel and electricity while continuing to deliver quality services to our communities.

Sustainable stirling

Carry on talking, asking, listening, including, inviting and generally just being yourself. Being there is what matters. Support and friendship really does help people with mental health problems to recover. Just by keeping on asking someone out for a coffee or a drink, by taking a minute to stop and ask someone how things are, you will be making a world of difference.

27

focus facts With a system as complex as the world’s climate it’s difficult to be precise in predicting the results of a warming planet, but future scenarios for central Scotland include: • an increase in peak summer temperatures • an increased frequency of severe winter gales • an increase in the frequency and intensity of heavy rains, leading to more surface water run-off and the likelihood of flash flooding.

n with the Carbo g in rk o w e ’r e W Trust to reduce emissions by at least 15% over the next 5 years. st.co.uk Visit www.carbontru

STIRLING FOCUS Sustainable stirling

28

Clean

s t n u o C t s o Comp

THE WRONG WASTE IN THE COMPOST BIN CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD FOR POLMAISE STAFF

gRASS CUTTINGS, LEAVES, HEDGE TRIMMINGS, WEEDS AND CARDBOARD (MINUS STAPLES AND TAPE) ARE WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE GREAT COMPOST.

message across.

A

“The Polmaise team and everyone in Waste Services would like to say thanks to all the Stirling Council residents who are recycling correctly. Please continue to help us by spreading the word to your neighbours, friends and family.”

nything else in the mix can pose a real safety hazard to the Council team who sift through brown bin contents on the conveyor belt at Lower Polmaise, and ruin the quality of our compost for everyone.

“Green waste – the stuff that breaks down and turns into good quality compost for the garden – is all that should ever go in the brown bin,” Sandy Murphy, Stirling Council’s Compost Controller tells Focus.

“Other kinds of waste that might be around the garden or shed, for example old garden hoses, plastic plant pots, plastic paddling pools, bits of rope, punctured footballs and so on, should always go in the gray bin for general waste, not the brown bin.

“Plastic contaminates compost, and

when non-compostable things are put into brown bins they have to be removed and sent to landfill.

Between April and September alone the Council has had to pay over £17,000 to landfill 255 tonnes of contaminants from Stirling area brown bins.

“But there’s also an important safety issue here. Some of the items which have ended up on the ‘picking line’ conveyor belt at Polmaise could damage the machinery and cause an injury.”

Waste Services Manager David Hopper is hoping local people will help get the

winter 2008

BROWN

BIN

grass, le aves, sm all branches and cardboard with tap e and stap les removed

GREY/GREEN

BIN

black ba gs of rub bish, plastic sh eeting, extensio n leads, plastic wading p ools, hos es, plastic tu bs and p ots

Better Recycling For Balfron Balfron’s new-look Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) in Dunkeld Court is now open and offering a much wider range of recycling opportunities for local people.

The number of skips has been doubled, and there’s better access with wider fixed walkways. There are skips for garden waste, wood and chipboard and mixed metals, as well as one for mixed household waste.

This site also has signposted areas or collection banks for:

• electrical items • tvs and monitors • computers • fridges and freezers • bicycles • car batteries • engine oil • gas bottles • cardboard (tape and staples removed) • Tetrapak food and drink cartons • textiles • shoes • handbags • cans • glass bottles and jars • paper of all kinds • CDs • books • DVDs • VHS tapes Balfron HWRC opening hours: Monday – Friday 5 pm – 8 pm Saturday 10 am – 2 pm

focus facts • Callander’s upgraded recycling centre is set to open in 2009.

• Stirling Council residents currently recycle 39% of all waste collected – one of the highest recycling rates in the country.

Trading standards round up

tips at More hints and stirling.gov.uk/tradingstandards

Measure by measure If you’re buying drinks this

festive season the glasses

you’re handed could look a

bit different from the usual.

“There’s been a recent change in the law, and now European Union metric measures are being used instead of the UK crown measures we’ve had traditionally,” explains Trading Standards Officer Lindsay McNeil.

“This will affect pricing, descriptions of drinks, quantities and labelling.

Our Trading Standards team is working with licensees to make sure everyone knows about the changes and that the new measures are accurate.”

Trading Standards Officer Brian Wilson (below) VISITS Woolworths in Stirling. the store is helping promote the importance of buying toys with the correct quality marks.

Toy safety The Trading Standards team have some advice if you’re toy shopping for presents. By law, toy packaging must display the CE mark and manufacturer’s or importer’s details. Also look for the BSI Kite and Lion quality marks and make sure that toys come in the original sealed packaging. “Always buy from reputable stockists. A bargain isn’t a bargain if it breaks the first time your child uses it – and you can be sure that the trader won’t have hung around to give you your money back,” says Brian.

EYE KEEPS AN LINDSAY

REs

EW MEASU

ON THE N

29

STIRLING FOCUS better services

30

Housing Hopes

including ...

Young people with a disability and their parents and carers told us there was a lack of information – and of suitable options – for disabled people who want to leave home.

So earlier this year several events were held for the young people and their carers to find out what they think their future housing and support needs will be. The research was funded by Supporting People and carried out by the Children and Disability Social Work Team in partnership with Stirling Council’s Research Team, Community Care, Housing Services and the charity PLUS.

“Now we’ve done this research we’ll be working on a report which will help Stirling Council plan services and housing in the future,” says Tony Cain, Head of Housing. “There are also plans to publish a leaflet early next year so young people with a disability have information about what their options are, how to get support and how to apply for housing.”

Young people from 11 to 25 took part in activities and filled in questionnaires about their housing needs. There was also an event at Stirling’s Riverbank Centre to give parents and carers an opportunity to discuss the issue while the young people went bowling, supported by PLUS.

Better renting If you’re a private tenant or landlord the Scottish Government’s Better Renting Scotland website is for you. It’s packed with information about rules, rights and responsibilities, as well as the latest news about private rented housing. There’s also a section for neighbours. www.betterrentingscotland.com

focus facts You can download leaflets on all these housing issues from our website at www.stirling. gov.uk/housing/ leaflets

• Paying your rent: How can we help?

• Gas repairs • What can I do?

I just think it’s great that we have all been

given the chance to come and talk about our sons’ and daughters’ ideas and hopes about housing.

Comment from a parent.

• • •

Homelessness and domestic violence • A guide to condensation Heating advice Beat the freeze Tenants handbook

For more money advice and information k

u eyscotland.gov.

visit www.mon

31

ointments make

Pre-arranged app

er.

repairs visits easi

Repairs by appointment Housing Services’ repairs by appointment system has been a hit with tenants since its launch in April.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve the quality of our service to local people, and the feedback from our 5,500 tenants was that they would like repairs carried out in their homes at a time they could choose in advance,” says Tony Cain, Head of Housing.

“Now when a tenant reports a repair to their home that requires access, we offer an appointment (Monday to Friday). The appointment can be either in the morning, between 8 am and 12 noon, or in the afternoon, between 12 noon and 4.30 pm (3.30 pm on Fridays).

The day before the tradesperson or technical supervisor is due to call, we’ll text our customer a reminder.

If the appointment is no longer suitable, we’ll arrange a new one that’s more convenient.”

Please remember to always ask for I.D. before letting a tradesperson into your home.

Now we only have to return to 3% of repair jobs because no-one was in to give us access. Last year we had to return to 30% of jobs.

focus facts The new appointments system has

• improved customer satisfaction rates • helped reduce the cost of repairs from an average £174 per job last year to £118 per job this year • reduced waiting times • cut costs.

Find out more at www.stirling. gov.uk/housing

Dear Santa...

Are you worried about how you may cope with the financial pressures around Christmas time this year?

Is it a struggle to manage your money with the increase in prices for gas, electricity and food?

Do you feel you now have less money to live on and bills to pay but no money left to pay them?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions please call Stirling Council’s Money Advice Service on 01786 442460 for free, confidential and impartial advice.

Our team are here to give you information and assistance on all kinds of money management matters. www.stirling.gov.uk/ money-advice www.nationaldebtline. co.uk/scotland tel.

0808 808 4000.

STIRLING FOCUS participation and responsibility

32

Community Service

by Offenders

Can we help your community?

by Helen Grinly, Stirling Criminal Justice Service In the past year offenders managed by Stirling Criminal Justice Community Service team have done thousands of hours of unpaid work in the Stirling Council area for the benefit of local communities.

Research shows that people who are sentenced to Community Service are less likely to re-offend than people sentenced to a prison term. It is also an option which costs the taxpayer considerably less than prison does.

In Stirling, most of the work we do is environmental - not only in urban areas, but also in the National Park.

We’re always interested to hear of any community projects that we can assist with. For more information, please call Helen or Norrie on 01786 463812.

Council tax rebate and housing benefit - do you qualify?

Finding it hard to pay your Council Tax or rent? You could get benefit to reduce your Council Tax bill or to help pay your rent - even if you’re working.

How is Council Tax and Housing Benefit worked out?

It depends on what money you (and your partner) have coming in and any savings you have. Other circumstances such as your age and whether anyone else lives with you are also taken into account. It’s easy to quickly check if you might be due some Council Tax or Housing Benefit. Just fill in our online benefit calculator at www.stirling.gov.uk/ benefits_calculator or call into your local office to get help with this.

You can still get Council Tax Benefit if you own your own home.

in where you live as you can find out how much benefit you might get before you rent a property. You’ll get the same amount as other people in the same circumstances.

As this allowance is paid directly to you, your landlord need not know you are on benefit.

Local Housing Allowance If you rent from a private landlord you might be due Local Housing Allowance (LHA). This is based on the number of rooms you need for your household. (Your income and savings are also taken into account.)

The LHA will give you more choice

How do I apply for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit or Discount?

ation phone

For more inform

01786 443210 or 0845 277 7000

Council Tax Discount Your Council Tax bill could be reduced if you are the only adult in the household or if you have other special circumstances, for example a disability. You won’t be asked for your income details.

• phone 01786 443210

8.30 am - 5.30 pm or 0845 277 7000 at evenings and weekends • e-mail finservices@stirling.gov.uk • visit www.stirling.gov.uk • ask at your local office or visit or write to: Customer Services Stirling Council Viewforth Stirling FK8 2ET

are you getting all the benefits you’re entitled to?

Your Councillors

Ward 1

Trossachs and Teith

Ward 2

Forth and Endrick

Cllr Tony Ffinch

Cllr Alistair Berrill

Conservative

Conservative

ffincht@stirling.gov.uk

berrilla@stirling.gov.uk

Ward 3

Dunblane and Bridge of Allan

Cllr Callum Campbell

Conservative campbellc@stirling.gov.uk

Cllr Paul Owens

Cllr Graham Lambie

Labour

SNP

owensp@stirling.gov.uk

lambieg@stirling.gov.uk

33 Cllr Colin Finlay

Labour finlayc@stirling.gov.uk

Cllr Fergus Wood

Cllr Colin O’Brien

snp

Labour

Cllr David Goss

woodf@stirling.gov.uk

obrienc@stirling.gov.uk

Lib Dem gossd@stirling.gov.uk

Ward 4

Castle

Ward 5

Stirling West

Cllr Graham Houston

snp houstong@stirling.gov.uk Cllr John Hendry

Cllr Neil Benny

Labour

Conservative

hendryj@stirling.gov.uk

bennyn@stirling.gov.uk

Cllr Graham Reed

Cllr Scott Farmer

Lib Dem

SNP

Cllr Ian Brown

farmers@stirling.gov.uk

Lib Dem

reedg@stirling.gov.uk

Ward 6

Stirling East

browni@stirling.gov.uk

Cllr Jim Thomson

Cllr Andrew Simpson

snp

Labour

Cllr Corrie McChord

thomsonj03@stirling.gov.uk

simpsona3@stirling.gov.uk

Labour mcchordc@stirling.gov.uk

Ward 7

Bannockburn

Cllr Steven Paterson

snp patersonst@stirling.gov.uk

Cllr Margaret Brisley Labour Cllr Alasdair MacPherson SNP Cllr Gerard O’Brien Labour brisleym@stirling.gov.uk o’brieng@stirling.gov.uk macphersona@stirling.gov.uk

(currently not in Council Labour Group)

phone

0845 277 7000

Callander - the first planned new town in rural scotland

The roads maintenance budget for the next five years will rise to approximately £6.25m each year. The increased funding will help tackle the backlog of road repairs.

by local resident Ken Dunn

T

he vision of the Duke of Perth,

Callander was laid out to his plan of 1739. The Square and broad Main Street remain as his legacy. The Drummonds of Perth were Jacobites in the 1745 Rebellion, so it was left to the Commissioners of the Forfeited Estates to complete the layout we see today. The old Parish Church was moved from its riverside position to the North Square in 1773, and 100 years later was replaced by the present St Kessog’s building.

34

t 2008 Date: Augus ayhead Road, Causew Place: Alloa ing Job: Resurfac

Recent road works and works under construction in the Stirling Council area.

• C5 Touch Road - resurfacing £37k • C11 Abbey Road, Riverside • • • • • • • • • • •

resurfacing £70k Sherriffmuir Branch Road resurfacing £25k Pendreich Road - resurfacing £19k Borrowlea Road, Stirling £54k Middlemuir Road, Stirling £66k Milton Crescent, Bannockburn £22k Newpark Crescent, Whins of Milton £49k Randolph Road, Stirling £80k Ballengeich Road, Stirling resurfacing £26k Clark St, Bannockburn - resurfacing £31k A907 Craigmill - permanent patching £31k A872 - footpath upgrading £8k

• Duke Street, Whins of Milton £30k • Melford Drive, Stirling - footway • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

upgrade £25k Burn Drive, Stirling - footway upgrade £25k A873 Easter Tarr - resurfacing£55k A873 Burnbank - resurfacing£61k A873 Boghall - resurfacing £30k B829 Aberfoyle - resurfacing £60k C107 South Loch Tay - resurfacing £65k B822 Frew Toll - resurfacing £58k B826 Drumore Far - resurfacing £70k B822 Netherton - resurfacing £52k B8031 Coldoch - resurfacing £34k A821 Glenbruiach - resurfacing £50k B822 Kippen Firs - resurfacing £44k B837 Balmaha - resurfacing £40k Lyon Road, Killin - resurfacing £15k Southview Road - Strathblane, footway/carriageway £60k

Stirling Council, Viewforth, Stirling FK8 2ET phone: 0845 277 7000 email: info@stirling.gov.uk text: 0771 799 0001 web: www.stirling.gov.uk

The War Memorial column in the South Square was dedicated in the early 1920s and designed by Archibald Kay, a well-known local artist. The story is told of the workman who crafted the Scottish Lion on top of the column.

He made it with cross-eyes – one on the Parish Church clock and the other looking towards the bar of the former Ancaster Hotel (representing the musings of the local worthies who sat in the Square waiting patiently for their next carousal in the bar at midday!) Look up and check it out on your next visit to Callander.

Edited and designed by Stirling Council’s Communications and Marketing Team, Oct 2008.

STIRLING FOCUS

Past Times

better services

Roads report

Learn more about your history onuments .gov.uk/sitesm g in rl ti .s w w w at S C O T L A N D’S

HEART

SCO