Meetings & Minutes

Present: Tom Kelly (Chair), Martin O'Malley, Rita Blair, Jim Osborne, Aaron Paterson, Hilary Long.

1. Welcome from Chair

2. Apologies received:  Sarah (Treasurer),Pat McGrory and Alison Jeffrey (SR), Councillor Maureen Burke 

3. Acceptance of and issues arising from 21/11/23 meeting notes 

4. Signage:  Tom has undertaken to get back to the committee well in advance of the next committee meeting in March

5. Royston/Cumbernauld Roads junction – Tom to confirm whether the original plans to create a roundabout remains or has been shelved. 

Post-meeting note: Tom has sourced original LRA notes relating to that proposal in the LRA archive (thanks Pat L and Marie).

Current enquiries (discussion with original plan consultants, McInally Associates) confirm that the original plans for a roundabout were dropped in 2018 after Barratts withdrew their involvement in discussions around the proposed road layout change (that would have lost half of the bottom grass triangle). The change plans are to widen the RR/CR junction a little to manage the traffic in and out of the new development and both Hogganfield estates. All plans relating to the new development can be found here. 

6. Treasurer Update (Tom on behalf of Sarah)

Have received a number of outstanding fees which has improved the balance on the account. Final reminders being issued to a number of addresses.

7. Social media update (Tom on behalf of Sarah)

All going as before.  No further update 

8. Secretary Update (Tom, pro tem):  

Working with Sarah on sorting out wording of reminder letters to residents with outstanding fees from the past few years. 

Post-meeting update at 300124 – All letters delivered by Tom.  Owed fees are now coming in and some repayment plans ageed. 

9.  Grounds Update (Martin/Jim)

 Jim to do a clear up on Royston Road and elsewhere. He will send request for payment to Sarah.

Post-meeting note: Jim has since repaired RR fences and cut up large tree on pathway near Molindinar, brought down by storm Isha (and possibly storm Jocelyn).

10. AOB

Hogganfield House – Appears to have been purchased, apparently by the new owner of the Broomfield Road care home in Barmulloch.  It has been said that their attempt to establish a homeless/halfway house was recently thwarted by objections from local residents.  There is concern that they may be planning to now use Hogganfield House for the same purpose.  

GCC identifies:  Planning permission is a change in the use of land or buildings. What amounts to a material change in the use of the land depends on the facts and circumstances of each case. If in doubt clarification should be sought from the Planning Development Management Team. The 1997 order groups similar types of use together into separate classes. Where a building or land is used for a purpose which is included in a particular class, the use of that building or land for any other purpose in the same class shall not be taken to involve development and therefore would not require planning permission. This is subject to conditions in certain circumstances. A change in the use of land or buildings is considered as development and therefore normally requires planning permission. Relevant use classes in the case of Hogganfield House, if use was to change form a nursing/care home ot a hostel would require a change of use licence from class 8 to class 7.

Post-meeting note: There are no live or decided planning applications to change use class from class at 1791 Royston Road. Tom has established contact with Maureen Burke, Councillor, who is making further enquiries on any plans for Hogganfield House premises.

Present: PC Leslie, Tom Kelly, Martin O’Malley, Rita Blair, Sarah Davenport, Jim Osborne.

Apologies:  Councillor Kelly, Maureen Burke, Sharon Greer, Hilary Long, Alison Jeffrey.

1. Welcome from Chair

2. Guest, PC David Leslie

• One of 2 policing sgts for the area leading two alternating teams. 

• Cover a large area including Baillieston, Glenboig, Easterhouse.

• Officers move around dependant on demand

• Looked at our estate for recent incidents and to see if they could identify any specific patterns to be concerned about - nothing to raise.

• Be vigilant about locking doors - houses, windows, cars. Housebreaking is very opportunistic.

• HIgh value cars are being targeted with key cloning. RFID card pouches can be used to protect from this risk.

3. Acceptance of notes from previous meeting (September 2023)

4. Treasurer Update

• 82% properties paid for this year.

• Actioning the second round of reminders through registered post, and will access the land registry and landlord register for most current property owner information.

5. Small Claims Process

• Have been advised by another residents association of a local small claims law firm who they work with and have a good success rate. We will arrange a meeting in the new year to pursue repeat non-payers.

6. Comms update

• Facebook group ticking along. 

7. Secretary update

• Still Tom covering for now, likely to continue until AGM.

8. Grounds

• Royston Road clean-up will happen when the opportunity arises with the weather.

• Next grass cut around end of March.

9. AOB

• Lochview Sign - it’s going to be quite expensive, possibly about £1000. Rita has also seen some external noticeboards, Rita to send to Tom who will price up.  

Next meeting - 16th January 2024.

Present: Tom Kelly (Chair), Liz Kite, Rita Blair, Martin O’Malley (Grounds), Jim Osborne (Grass Maintenance), Estelle Griffiths, Hilary Long, Alison Jeffrey, 

Guests:  

• Local Councillors, Ruari Kelly, Maureen Burke and Sharon Greer 

• Seven Lochs Development Project: Scott Ferguson 

• Police Scotland Community Safety (PCs Foster and Irvine)

Apologies Aaron Paterson, Sarah Davenport (Treasurer)

------------------------

All present (LRA plus guests) introduced themselves and gave a brief description of their respective roles.

Committee update: Tom confirmed to all that John, as secretary, has withdrawn from the committee.  He asked all LRA to consider taking up the post (which is not overly demanding).  In the meantime, he will carry out the secretary role in addition to his own.

Non-payers: The ongoing problem of non-payers was discussed.   Sarah has sent chase-up letters to all (with stronger wording to the worst offenders, who will then receive a further final demand before referring the matter to the small claims court. Where the address of an absent landlord, cannot be established, Tom and another committee member will seek to establish contact by speaking with the current tenant(s).  Councillor Greer offered to send to Tom a copy of the correct procedure for such claims.

Community police report: P.C. David Foster spoke about crimes which were reported in the area: house breaking, dirt bikes and car theft. He recommended taking note of the registrations of any strange cars in the area. He also recommended contacting crime prevention if concerned.

Councillor update: Councillor Kelly, who is responsible for local amenities, advised roads resurfacing  in Lochview Crescent and Lochview Gardens may take place next year.

Seven Lochs: Scott advised the committee of plans, as part of the seven lochs project, for a new/upgraded children’s play park at the loch (Cumbernauld Rd side) and renovating the viewing platform near the current parking area, which may itself be reviewed to make it a safer place for cycling. 

Resident request: Complaint received from resident regarding falling leaves and berries falling into her garden, Jim said it would not be possible to trim the tree any further as this could make the tree unstable. (Post-meeting note: Tom has advised the resident accordingly).

Grounds maintenance:  

• On proposal from Martin as Grounds Manager, it was decided unanimously to continue the current arrangement with Jim, the existing gardener, rather than go out to tender, but that the current arrangement will always have to be accepted by vote at each AGM.  On suggestion from Martin, it was agreed that as the grass cutting season always starts before the AGM, any future vote to terminate the current arrangement will normally take effect at the start of the following grass cutting season. 

• Dog fouling was also discussed as a serious issue for the estate, particularly from residents in the new Crestwich housing development on Cumbernauld Road. The proposal to invite patrol wardens will be picked up by Councillor Kelly.

Grounds update: Councillors were asked about the future of the grass area opposite the nursing home (but part of Lochview estate) but were unable to give any information on any plans for the area.

The next meeting is at 7pm on 21 November 2023, St Philomena’s church hall. 

Present: Sarah, Tom, John, Martin, Hilary, Alison, Jim, Liz, Pat.

Apologies: Rita, Nadine, Aaron.

We reviewed the AGM notes that were published and approved them. 

Fees: Currently received around 50% of this year’s fees and hopeful that most will come in before the 31st July deadline. Reminder letters are being prepared as well as steps to raise a small claim against repeat non-payers. Will also look at pinning up laminated reminders throughout the estate and posting on the Facebook page.

Finances: We receive charges on our account as it is set up as a business account. Investigate options to get the best deal.

Social media update: There has not been too much activity on the Facebook page but it is early days. We could look at issuing another letter with the information.

Grounds: Maintenance plan on-track, however, Jim reports that there is a lot of dog fouling in the common grass areas, especially the area at the front next to the burn. We will raise the issue with the local councillor, as they have previously issued fines. Could post on the website and Facebook group asking neighbours to check their security cameras and pass the details to the council.

Grounds: No update on the ownership/possible sale of the grass area at the east end of the estate. Tom also notified the local councillor about the rubbish and debris in the burn who said they would refer the matter to the water department.

Parking: A continuous problem. Cars and vans parked on pavements means buggies and wheelchairs can’t get passed and are being forced onto the road. There also seems to have been an increase in traffic cutting through the estate, sometimes at quite high speeds. We will investigate ‘Local Access Only’ signs for each entrance and post on the website.

Committee meetings: We agreed to a meeting frequency of every third Tuesday in alternate months in St Philomena’s hall. The meetings are open to any resident to attend, however, if they would like to raise an issue, it should be submitted with at least one week’s notice so that it can be added to the agenda. It should be noted that the Committee is unable to get involved in dispute resolution. 

Signage: Investigating options and pricing for various signage options that could include information related to some of the common issues in the estate, such as parking. Will provide further information once it is available. Also looking into options such as a notice board.

ACTIONS

Tom:

• Arrange for local councillors and community police officer who missed the AGM to come to a future meeting.

• Follow up with Barratt RE the triangle of land at the east of the estate.

• Liaise with Liz about laminated fees reminders

Jim:

• Put up dog-fouling posters

John:

• Investigate signage options and costs

• Investigate options for bank accounts

Sarah

• Prepare reminders and letters to regular non-payers

• Prepare a welcome pack for new neighbours

Welcome from the temp. Chair, Tom Kelly.  

Nominations and election of committee members. 

• The following people were voted in to form the new committee AGM:

  • Chairperson: Tom Kelly (Lochview Crescent)

  • Vice Chair: Jim Osborne, (Lochview Drive)

  • Treasurer & Membership Coordinator: Sarah Davenport (Lochview Crescent)

  • Secretary: John Duffy (Lochview Drive)

• Additional General Committee members

• • Rita Blair

  • Martin O’Malley

  • Pat McGrory

• Tom mentioned that we also have street representatives who help distribute the AGM invitations: Wendy Wales, Estelle Griffiths, Rita Blair, Aaron Paterson, Liz Kite and Nadine Frediani.

Digitising LRA business and communications (Sarah) 

Mentioned that we had discussed different ways to communicate with each other and so created a new website and Facebook group and are open to additional ideas and feedback. One such idea that had been submitted via the website was to set up a WhatsApp group. It was commented that it may become too overloaded with lots of messages. Sarah mentioned that the intention is to make sure that everyone receives important information via the channel that they prefer rather than all of them that are available. A WhatsApp group is to be trialled

It was suggested that we allow posts in the Facebook group such as looking for a plumber, electrician etc, agreed that this is what the group is set up for and we will see how it goes.

Sarah updated linked to digital: We received the paper ledgers following the passing of Pat and have been working our way through transferring them online to give us a digital back-up and allow us to more easily identify non and late payers. Once this year’s fees window is closed, we will reconcile everything and then begin to follow-up with those with outstanding fees now that the new committee has been voted in. 

Finance report including grounds fee for 23/24 (verbal from Chair)

Tom: Fee is the same as last year, £90 discounted to £55 if paid by 31 July 2023. There is a current balance of approximately £3500.  

A question was raised as to what the fees actually cover. Tom replied: Predominantly grass cutting but occasionally also a tidy-up. If we were to have storm damage, for example, then we get a quote for additional work. Edging is an extra fee. Cutting back the trees is an extra cost and we need to get a company in to do it. Jim added that it can be difficult to get agreement from all relevant parties to cut trees back. It was mentioned by a few residents that some trees are needing to be cut back and tidied up on the estate. Jim suggested getting the company in to look at what needs done and get a free quote. Tom mentioned that Martin has volunteered to help oversee the estate maintenance and what needs done and he will pick up with him. There was positive feedback on the last tidy up done, including work done by Calum..

Comments on proposed revised LRA Constitution 

It was noted that it was difficult to find on the website. A new link has been added which should make it easier. We will leave it open for feedback for one month and then sign it off if no objections received.

AOB 

Tom attended the recently reformed Molendinar Community Council (MCC).  

• One of a number of community councils around GCC’s Ward 21.

• Councillors were present and Tom has established a contact to follow-up with - Sharon Greer (Labour) -  who covers our part of the Ward .

• Potholes and resurfacing was raised - budget has been allocated for renovation of certain roads but our area is not on that list. However there is a phase 2 which might see our streets be selected. No timescale was mentioned.

• The state of the pavements after the fibre installations was raised and the Councillors said it was being taken back to be followed up as an issue.

• MCC minutes will be shared on LRA website and/or Facebook when available. 

Questions submitted via email were raised:

• Lochview Crescent desperately needs the road resurfaced.

  • Addressed above. Tom will continue contact through the Molendinar Community Council.

• Grounds Maintenance at Hogganfield Loch: cut all grass, rather than patches.

  • Tom shared with Sharon Greer, Counsellor.  Response from Sharon is attached at the end of these minutes.

• I live in the flats. We consistently have problems with residents and resident’s friends and families parking in our private car parks. It has been known, when kindly asking them to move their vehicle, that we have been faced with verbal abuse. Our car park is privately owned and any repairs etc are paid for by residents of the flats. Could you kindly remind everyone?

  • A reminder will sent around with the next update and we will look at posting something on the website and in the Facebook group,

Other queries raised in person

• It was mentioned that double-parking is also an issue on Royston Road at the weekends and Cumbernauld Road most days, being made worse by the cycle lanes.

  • Tom stated that, at the MCC meeting, he asked about the current orca/armadillo street fixings for cycle lanes.  He was advised that they are temporary, but the cycle lanes are being made permanent with more permanent fixtures, but no more details of new street fixings or timescale available. 

  • It was also mentioned that Transport Scotland is responsible for Cumbernauld Road because it’s an A-road.  Tom suggested that, in the future, we could share these sorts of issues through the website or Facebook group as and when they arise so that he could take them to the MCC and try to get action or information.

• Molendinar Community Centre is opening again on 14th June and is holding a community day. Suggested to share in the Facebook group.

• It was suggested that we install a nice ‘Lochview’ welcome sign at the main entrances to the estate, similar to the park entrance to make it look a bit nicer. 

  • We will take a look at the costs and can share it out via a survey rather than waiting until the AGM.

• The committee was asked if there was an update on planning and development on the houses behind the church.

  • Tom will chase it up. It was mentioned that some building works has started but not at our estate. We need to know ‘where are we now’ and where we stand.

  • Post-meeting update from Tom:  He has discussed the matter with the chair of the residents association on the north-east side of Royston road beyond the roundabout. All has gone very quiet.  That estate was being offered transfer of the woodland behind them so they could be sure that there would be no new development on that land – but all has gone quiet since the start of Covid.  Tom is going to chase for further information from GCC and from Barretts Falkirk on the matter of the land ownership of our green space which has been maintained by us for the last 40 years.  Update in due course.

Russell Smith, General Manager of Golf It! at Hogganfield Loch 

Russell shared the vision and plans for the site which is focused on accessible golf and being part of the community. Also took questions relating to the works and the adjoining loch area and explained that they are working with Seven Lochs Partnership, local council, transport groups and local community groups in all areas of development. Planning to launch in August 2023. A site plan and further details can be found on their website.

Tom thanked everyone for coming and closed the meeting.

Post–meeting Notes from Tom 

Community Police no-show at AGM.

Sergeant David Leslie (Easterhouse) rang the following day to apologise. He had been called to an incident on the evening of the AGM.  He has offered to come along to a committee meeting and a summary can be shared via the LRA website and/or Facebook. 

Sharon Greer response letter re Hogganfield Loch maintenance

Hi Tom

I have heard back from the Seven Lochs Project Co-ordinator who has advised the following:

Hogganfield Park was designated as Glasgow’s first local nature reserve (LNR) in 1998. This was to recognise the importance of the loch as Glasgow’s most important site for migrant and wintering waterbirds, and a key regional site for wildfowl. The designation also recognised that the woodland, wetland and grassland habitats around the loch are also important for wildlife – and over the last 25 years the management of the loch and surrounding habitats has changed to reflect the parks LNR status, and to support the council’s duty to protect and enhance biodiversity. 

Pollinator species have declined significantly in Scotland over the last 50 years, and the Glasgow Pollinator Plan 2017-2017 has been developed to help reverse this decline in support of the council’s Local Biodiversity Action Plan. Hogganfield Park is designated as a Pollinator Park, and park management / maintenance – including grass cutting – aims to create habitat for pollinators. Areas of cut grass are of very little value to biodiversity, and the approach at Hogganfield is to manage most grassland as meadow in order to maximise its biodiversity value. More broadly the council is changing its approach to grass cutting across the city, with grass cutting reduced to create a network of ‘green connectors’ for nature. This support the Scottish government requirement for all councils to develop a more connected Nature Network by 2030.

 Some grasslands at Hogganfield Park are also habitat for water voles – which are a UK protected species. Protected species legislation means that it is an offence to knowingly damage or disturb water vole burrows without a licence from NatureScot. This includes grass cutting. NatureScot would not issue a licence for grass cutting of areas of water vole habitat where it is for amenity maintenance.

There will be future changes to grassland and vegetation management at Hogganfield loch, but these will be to change the areas of the park that are cut or uncut, rather than to change the current balance of cut and uncut grassland. We are also working with the Royal and Ancient to create new habitat for pollinators and water voles as part of the golf course development. Further investment at Hogganfield Loch will focus on improving park infrastructure, including play areas, entrance area and signage.

If the Residents Association would like more information about the management of Hogganfield Park, planned improvements, or the R&A development at Lethamhill I would be happy to come along to a meeting.

I hope this provides some detail for your AGM tonight. However, Scott has kindly offered to come to one of your future meetings which I think would be helpful for providing information to yourself and residents. Please do let me know if this would be of interest and the date of your next meet and I can arrange this with Scott. 

Kind Regards, 

Councillor (Bailie) Sharon Greer 

(Scottish Labour Party) – North East – Ward 21