Community Council Meeting - May 2026

Minutes of Meeting

Tuesday 5 May 2026, Carnbo Village Hall, 7.30pm

Attendance

Community Councillors (CCllrs): Angus Cheape, Mark O'Bryen, Graham Pye, Karen Morrill (Chair), Anya Bacon (Secretary)

Apologies: Gary Whittington, PKC Councillor Willie Robertson; PKC Councillor Dave Cuthbert; PKC Councillor Mike Williamson; PKC Councillor Neil Freshwater

In attendance: Community Police Officers Ben Samson and Ash; 13 members of the public.

Note on Recording

The recording of each public meeting was adopted with effect from 3rd February 2026 as standard practice. GDPR will be adhered to. The recording will be securely deleted once the minutes are finalised.

1. Community Police Report & Road Safety

Community Police Officers Ben Samson and Ash attended in person. Since the last report, approximately 20 calls were made to Police Scotland from the Fossoway area. Fourteen crimes were recorded on police systems, thirteen of which were road traffic offences. There were no crimes of note.

1.1 Traffic Offences

• 12th April -- Carnbo: two speeding tickets issued (43mph and 44mph in a 30mph zone).
• 13th April -- Carnbo: further speeding tickets issued.
• 15th April -- Blairingone: driver reported to the Procurator Fiscal for travelling at 38mph in a 20mph zone.
• 20th April -- illegal registration plate: driver referred to the Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme.
• 22nd April -- Carnbo: three speeding tickets issued.
• 28th April -- Crook of Devon, A977: two tickets issued for driving whilst using a mobile phone.
• 5th May -- Carnbo: roads policing returned to the area; two further speeding tickets issued.

1.2 Community Engagement

Officers visited a local children's home in the last month to maintain positive relationships. The community policing team has begun posting monthly updates on the Neighbourhood Watch Scotland website. Residents can sign up to receive alerts covering local crime trends, scams and updates from community police across Kinross-shire and Allan & Earn.

1.3 Points raised with the Police

• Speeding Audi reported through Crook of Devon at an estimated 80mph in the 20mph zone.
• Seamab School alarm activations were noted; police confirmed no criminality reported
• A977 traffic calming proposals, community police were not sighted on the proposals.
• A van long-parked in the Powmill public car park was raised. Advice : register the vehicle as abandoned via the PKC online portal so that the formal process is initiated
• Parking concerns at Moss End Green and the Mowbray Hall car park were noted.

2. Approval of Previous Minutes

The minutes of the 7th April 2026 meeting to be approved next month.

3. Progress and Matters Arising

3.1 Ongoing Speeding Concerns

Speeding concerns in Carnbo, Drum and Crook of Devon were addressed under the Police Report (Section 1).

3.2 Seamab School

On 24th April 2026 a meeting was held between representatives of FDCC (Karen Morrill, Angus Cheape, Mark O'Bryen) and Seamab trustee board members Gerard Eadie and Chris Stewart. Neighbouring residents were not in attendance.

FDCC raised the following concerns on behalf of the community:

• Asbestos management: trustees confirmed this is being managed by the appointed lead contractor in line with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) requirements
• Student care and safety: trustees outlined that Seamab supports a small cohort of up to 25 young people, where care and behaviour matters are reviewed at monthly board meetings. Residents may direct specific concerns in writing to Seamab CEO Stuart Provan, or where appropriate to Police Scotland.
• Access road and drainage: trustees confirmed that funding is allocated and that road improvements and drainage works will be carried out as part of the final stage of the development project. Trustees indicated a willingness to engage directly with affected neighbours to agree the scope of those works.

Members of the public raised continuing concerns about the road management, verbal abuse experienced by neighbouring residents, and the absence of a written response from Seamab to a road-resurfacing proposal residents had submitted. FDCC encouraged residents to write again to Stuart Provan, referencing the public commitment given at the 24th April meeting that written concerns will be considered at Seamab's monthly board meetings and replied to.

3.3 LDP3 Engagement

The community engagement event will be held on Saturday 16th May 2026 at the Crook of Devon Hall, 2pm--6pm. The event will feature display boards for each village/area alongside a master plan, with discussion boards for residents to record their views. Leaflets have been distributed to households.

Parcel 207: the Chair confirmed that limited additional information has been obtained since the April meeting. If any parcels of land have been earmarked for housing development they will feature in the LDP3 plans, with a further opportunity to raise questions at the 16th May event.

4. New Business

4.1 Crook of Devon steps: PKC raised a works order to repair the riverbank steps following reports of wear and tear. Repairs have now been completed and the steps have been returned to safe usage.

4.2 Wildflower Planting Programme: PKC has confirmed that work in Perth and Blairgowrie has been completed under the Grow Wild programme.

5. Consultations

5.1 Burleigh Lodges -- Second Public Exhibition

The second public exhibition for the proposed spa and holiday lodge development at Burleigh was held on 8th April 2026 at Milnathort Golf Club. Revised plans were presented in response to comments received following the first exhibition; the number of lodges has been reduced from c.104 to just over 70. The deadline for comments to the developers was 22nd April 2026. The developers expect to submit their formal planning application to PKC in July 2026, at which point a further opportunity to submit comments to PKC will arise.

5.2 Sustainability Group

Two meetings are scheduled in May at the Soho Green office, Milnathort:

• Wednesday 13th May 2026 -- with E Power Ltd. The intention is to work constructively with E Power towards a Memorandum of Understanding, including a community benefit of £6,000 per MW capacity constructed (index linked) and a construction fund to compensate the communities most affected during construction. Anya Bacon will attend on behalf of FDCC; Sarah Bruce-Jones will attend on behalf of the Fossoway Community Development Trust.
• Wednesday 27th May 2026 -- with Galileo. Mark O'Bryen will attend on behalf of FDCC; Sarah Bruce-Jones will again attend on behalf of the Trust.

5.3 A977 Mitigation Measures

PKC's Traffic & Network team has shared early-stage proposals for traffic calming in three villages along the A977: Crook of Devon, Powmill and Blairingone. The proposals include road-width ramps at village entry points and rubberised cushions within the villages. Three illustrative sketches were reviewed; Drum is not currently included.

Concerns were noted that cushion-style measures are easily straddled by larger vehicles, and that the omission of Drum and any A977-style mitigation in Carnbo risks exacerbating displaced traffic. PKC has indicated that engagement with residents will follow via a maildrop with a letter and supporting drawings; no timescale has been received. Residents were encouraged to respond when the maildrop arrives.

5.4 Green Knowes Wind Farm Repowering

The deadline for comments was 17th April 2026. No comment was submitted by FDCC.

5.5 PKC Memorial Safety Programme

Correspondence was received from Pitlochry & Moulin Community Council regarding PKC's Memorial Safety Programme, in which headstones assessed as unsafe are being laid down across cemeteries in the region. FDCC will respond that no issues have been observed locally at this time.

6. Community Council Business

6.1 Funding application for meeting administration - administration costs would be drawn for FDCC funds

6.2 Kinross High School partnership: follow-up on the senior student project remains ongoing. The engagement will resume after exams conclude.

7. PKC Business -- Councillors' Reports

No PKC councillors were in attendance and no reports were received this month.

8. Planning Matters

8.1 Planning Applications

New

• 25/01838/FLL -- Part change of use of domestic garage to injury rehabilitation consultancy and gym (in retrospect) at Acer House, Drum. -- No comment.
• 26/00381/FLL -- Extension and revision of SUDS at Land 80 Metres Southeast Of Cottage, Gartwhinzean Farm, Powmill, Dollar (Gartwhinzean Hotel developers). A modest expansion to capacity. -- No comment.
• 26/00480/FLL -- Erection of a dwellinghouse and garage with ancillary accommodation at Land 40 Metres Northwest Of Dunollie, Fossoway. -- No comment.

Ongoing

• 26/00102/FLL -- Siting of 2 holiday accommodation units, erection of maintenance building and solar array at Coup Steps, Powmill. FDCC has formally lodged an objection citing lack of clarity on the proposed use of the maintenance building (which appeared capable of being used as accommodation or for events such as weddings), waste management arrangements, and overall viability of the project.
• 25/01468/FLL -- Erection of children's play area (for a temporary period), formation of 36 car parking spaces, 4 EV chargers and bicycle rack and associated works (Seamab). FDCC requested an update from PKC by email on 20th April 2026 and was referred to the PKC 'Simple Search' platform, where the status remains 'decision awaited'.
• 26/00351/FLL -- Lendrick Muir Conference Centre. FDCC's letter of support has been submitted.
• 26/00389/FLL -- Easter Muirhead Cottage, Blairingone. FDCC understands the application has been refused on the grounds of the resulting disparity between the three cottages and the impact on the streetscape, rather than on water-supply grounds.

8.2 Planning Decisions

• 25/01273/FLL -- Static caravan (for a temporary period) (in retrospect) at Land 250 Metres North Of The Farmhouse, Easter Muirhead Farm, Blairingone (Ochil View Canine and Equestrian). FDCC objected in October 2025. Approved, subject to a long list of conditions to be satisfied within a short period; FDCC will monitor enforcement.
• 25/01805/FLL -- Erection of agricultural storage building and formation of hardstanding at Land 30 Metres Southeast Of Cairnfold Cottage, Blairingone. Approved. Mark O'Bryen and Graham Pye recused themselves as neighbours; other neighbours consulted raised no objections.

9. AOCB (Any Other Competent Business)

9.1 Travellers Site, Crook of Devon (Angus): no contractor has yet been secured to remove the abandoned vehicle. Two meetings have been held with SEPA and PKC; follow-through has been limited. The greater concern is the litter and waste still scattered on site. Work continues.

9.2 Kinross Local Place Plan (LPP) 2026--2031: FDCC has received an invitation from Kinross Community Council to review the draft LPP, informed by 775 survey responses, 341 representatives attending an open day and 25 stakeholder conversations. A copy can be requested by email to contact@kinrosscommunitycouncil.gov.uk using the subject 'LPP Representation'. Feedback should be sent by 2nd June 2026.

9.3 Powmill Hall Car Park: a member of the public reported that the public car park is consistently congested by long-stay vehicles. FDCC will write to the ward councillors requesting consideration of measures (e.g. a maximum stay limit and/or marked bays) and inviting their proposed solutions.

9.4 Possible third standing stone at Orwell. Historic Scotland has been notified and is expected to investigate. FDCC noted the potential link to the local heritage trail.

9.5 Planning matter raised by a resident regarding Powmill Cottag, Powmill (an application connected to the Chair). The Chair declared an interest at the start of the meeting and took no part in any FDCC discussion or decision relating to the application. The resident was advised that, as the public consultation period for the application has closed, redress for any breach of conditions on previously consented works lies with PKC Planning Enforcement, and that ward councillors should be asked to assist.

Action List

10. Date, Time and Venue of Next Meeting

Tuesday 2nd June 2026 at 19:30, Powmill Hall.