stirling magazine - autumn 2010

OPENSPACESANDGREENERPLACES!LET’S WORK TOGETHERTO CREATE A BETTERENVIRONMENTFOR EVERYONE

FOR EVERYONE LIVING IN THE STIRLING COUNCIL AREA

AUTUMN 2010

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Healthcare

A sneak preview of the new ForthValley RoyalHospital4

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Community

Teaching people vital skills to improvetheir futurePage 6

Change

Get involved in shaping Stirling’s 2011-12 budgetPage 10

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Councils are at the heart of local life. As leaderand chief executive, it is a privilege to serve localpeople and shape the way our organisation makesa difference to people’s lives every day. However,the current economic situation means that, likeevery other council, Stirling is now having to copewith challenge and change on a scale we’ve neverknown before.

But we’re ready for this. We have £30m less to spend over the next

three years. This is a time for radical change: forrethinking ways of working, empowering ourcommunities, looking at new partnerships, exploring new ways of doing things, and findingopportunities to provide services that cost less but deliver more.

We need to make sure that every pound ofpublic spending secures real value. Our servicesmust be as efficientand effective as theycan be, and this meanskeeping an open mindand exploring all avail-able options.

Our organisation ischanging. What won’tchange is our commit-ment to the prioritiesthat we have agreedwith our partner agencies and which are set out inStirling’s Single Outcome Agreement. These areabout working sustainably to create a vibrantStirling economy, encouraging opportunities foreveryone, strengthening our communities and pro-tecting our environment – and doing this in a waythat includes everyone and gives help and supportto those who need it most.

Over the coming months, we’ll be continuing to talk with local people, businesses and partners.We all need to work together to shape the councilof the future. ■

3 News round-up; 4 Beauly-Denny power lineconsultation;5 Making Stirling a special place toshop; 6 Groups and schemes making a differenceto our communities;7 Social care – helping peoplebecome more independent; 8 Local DevelopmentPlan questions answered;9 News round-up; 10 Change and Challenge;11 ASPIRE– offeringtraining in the workplace; 12 Working together toprotect our children;13 Private fostering – whatyou need to know; 14-17 Introducing the new Forth Valley Royal Hospital; 18-19 Sustainabledevelopment – making the area greener; 20 Adult learning – in the garden or elsewhere!;21 School term and holiday dates; 22-25 What’s Onlistings;26-27 Your councillors and other usefulcontact information

Comment

Stirlingmagazine is published by Stirling Council.Editor: Susan Cunningham Email: [email protected]: 01786 443360

Design and editing: Connect Communications, Studio 2001, Mile End, Paisley PA1 1JS.Tel: 0141 561 0300Visit: www.connectcommunications.co.uk

Print: MorePrinted on 80gsm FSC

About…

Copies of articles are available by request in a range of other languages,large print and on audio tape. To request articles in any of these formats.please email or write to Stirling, or call 0845 277 7000

Formats

To contact Stirling Council, please call 0845 277 7000, text: 07717 990 001,email: [email protected], visit us online at www.stirling.gov.uk or writeto Stirling Council, Viewforth, 14-20 Pitt Terrace, Stirling FK8 2ET.

Contact

What’s inside…

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Stirling magazine replaces Stirling Focus. It has been designedto bring you current news and stories from across Stirling’spublic sector organisations. Please let us have your commentsand ideas for future issues.

“This is a time for radical change:for findingopportunities toprovide servicesthat cost less butdeliver more”

StirlingCouncil Leader

GrahamHouston

StirlingCouncil Chief

ExecutiveBob Jack

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FIGHTING FRAUD

Stirling Council must protect thepublic money it administers. One part of doing this is sharing information with other bodiesresponsible for auditing or administering public funds, inorder to prevent and detect fraud.

Each of Scotland’s 32 councilstakes part in the National FraudInitiative (NFI), organised everytwo years by Audit Scotland.

Computer techniques are usedto compare information aboutindividuals held by different publicbodies on different financialsystems. This is usually personal

information, for example frompayroll, pensions, insuranceclaims, creditors, benefits andhousing records.

Like other councils, Stirling usescredit reference agencies to verify

awards of rebates and publicfunds. The data is matched withinformation from organisationsincluding the police, fire serviceand Electoral Registration Office.

If the cross-check shows that

fraud or error has takenplace, payments can

then be stoppedand actiontaken to try torecover themoney.

The mostrecent NFI

report to bepublished shows

that Stirling Councilhas already uncovered

£154,000 of fraudulentlyclaimed benefits. It also high-lights the council’s need toimprove how the exercise isadministered, and shows that atotal of £201,000 of overpaidpublic funds has been discovered.Recovery of this is under way.

In October, the council willagain submit data to AuditScotland as part of the 2010/11National Fraud Initiative.

Find out more at

www.audit-scotland.

gov.uk/work/nfi.php or

www.fraudcentral.org.uk

COUNCIL HOUSING

The first phase of new councilhouses to be built by StirlingCouncil in more than 24 years iswell under way, with 16 homesalready completed.

Developments at Torbrex,

St Ninians, Plean and Top of theTown are included.

The energy efficient, sustainablehouses are part of a new-buildprogramme aimed at providingessential housing for older peopleand people with disabilities.

“Stirling Council has now

received £3.4m grant fundingfrom the Scottish Government to provide 127 new social rentedhomes in rural and urbanStirling,” said Tony Cain, headof housing.

“It’s great news for people onthe council house waiting list.”

“Most people are honest and behavewith integrity. Some do make genuinemistakes. But there is a small numberwho set out to cheat the public sector”Robert Black, auditor general for Scotland (Source: BBC News website)

In brief

Summer Shuttlebus to Stirling Castle It’s right on the doorstepand the perfect place for agreat day out for all thefamily. So if you’re visitingStirling Castle thissummer, why notsave time andmoney anduse thePark & RideCastleShuttlebusservice?

Buses runevery 20 minutesbetween 9.10am and5.15pm (Monday toSaturday) from CastleviewPark & Ride to the CastleEsplanade. Tickets are £1return (adult) or 50p return(child), and concessioncard holders travel free.

For the low-down

on everything the

Castle has to offer, from

the Chapel Royal and Great

Kitchens to Argyll’s Lodging

and the Tapestry Studio,

visit the award-winning

www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk

Left: the Vann family aredelighted to bemoving into their newly builtcouncil home in Torbrex

New council homes for the next generation

Crackingdown onfraudstersin Stirling

FRAUDTEAM

If you suspect fraud, you cancontact Stirling Council fraudteam’s 24-hour confidential

fraud hotline on 01786 443088or email reportfraud@

stirling.gov.uk

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PYLON PROPOSAL

Earlier this year, ScottishMinisters approved the construction of a 440kv powerline from Beauly to Denny.

The power line passesthrough the Stirling Councilarea, extending 22km fromCambushinnie to the north ofKinbuck, over Sherriff Muir tothe east of Dunblane, throughLogie, across the River Fortheast of Stirling, south of Fallin,and east of Cowie and Plean.

The line will consist of about80 pylons ranging in heightfrom 44 to 62 metres.

Stirling Council has requested that the ScottishGovernment requires the powercompanies to bury the sectionsof the line within the councilarea, and has urged ministers totake all precautions to reduceany potential risks to health andto minimise visual impact.

A steering group of four councillors – one from eachpolitical party – and threemembers of the public has been

set up to oversee consultationswith communities, interestgroups, key stakeholders, thepower companies and Scottishministers, and to consider issuesaround visual intrusion, health,and the community and environmental impacts of theproposed power line.

The steering group has had discussions with representatives

from the Scottish Governmentand the power companies, andhas called for consultation onproposals for the Stirling VisualMitigation Scheme from ScottishPower Transmission before they are submitted to Scottishministers for consideration.

Steering group chairCouncillor Callum Campbell

said: “This is a project that willaffect many local people along itsproposed route. It’s importantthat all interested parties are giventhe opportunity to comment onand influence the proposed measures to minimise the impactof the line environmentally and economically.

“Through the steering group,

the council will work with localMSPs, interest groups and othersto achieve the best possible solution for the people of Stirling.We will be lobbying power com-panies to make sure all necessarymeasures are taken to reduce theimpact on our area during theconstruction and commissioningof the line.”

Community consultationmeetings on the proposals willbe held during late summer andearly autumn – dates will bepublicised in the local press andon the council’s website. ■

Find out more at www.stirling.

gov.uk/beaulypowerline

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Aberfoyle Coaches and StirlingCouncil have teamed up tooffer a new kind of publictransport service forresidents and businessesin Balquhidder, Callander,Killin, Strathfillan,Strathard andthe Trossachs.

Demand ResponsiveTransport (DRT) is theequivalent of an on-demand bus service. It fillsa gap between a big bus

and a taxi – but at the cost of abus fare rather than a taxi fare.

Customers pre-book theirjourney, ideally 24 hours in

advance. A pick-up point andtime are agreed and the journeymay be shared with other passengers with similar

requests within a givenzone. The journey can beeither to connect withexisting public transportlinks or another destinationin the DRT area.

The Trossachs DRTservice replaces theTrossachs Trundler, whichhad disappointing passenger numbers inrecent years. DRT offers

greater flexibility to cope withlocal people’s appointment andwork schedules, shop openinghours and connections withother services.

National Entitlement Cards are welcome. To book,call 08445 675670, [email protected] or text 08445 675670. ■

For more DRT

information and maps

of the areas covered, go to

www.stirling.gov.uk/drt-3 or

www.aberfoylecoaches.com

Trossachs on-demand bus service launched

Denny

Beauly

Consultationgives powerto the people

Steering group is seeking your views on the Beauly-Denny power line

“The council will work with localMSPs, interest groups and others to achieve the best possible solution for the people of Stirling”Councillor Callum Campbell

The route of the proposedBeauly-Denny power line

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CITY CENTRE INVESTMENT

Finding ways to attract shoppers andvisitors is a challenge for every highstreet in the current financial climate,but Stirling Council’shead of economicdevelopment DesFriel is confident that Stirling’s retailing future is an exciting one.

“We have alreadyinvested £3 million tocreate an attractivestreetscape aroundPort Street, FriarStreet and Baker Street in the citycentre, and there will be further investment in Baker Street next year,”he told Stirling magazine.

“The improvements make our citycentre a nicer place to buy, browse andrelax. However, that alone is unlikelyto be enough to attract new shops andshoppers, and it’s only one part of our

vision for local retail.“Stirling has always

been a thrivingmarket town and webelieve we can buildon this in excitingnew ways.

“We’re keen toexplore the idea ofdeveloping the city asa specialist shoppingdestination. So, as

well as being somewhere to buy all thenormal range of goods and services,Stirling would be the place to comefor something a little bit special andout of the ordinary.

“The new Forthside district, forinstance, could be developed as a market-place for the best in speciality localfoods and crafts. We can also boost ourretail sector by taking steps to attracttourists and shoppers alike, reducingthe divide between these two groups.

“Cities like Chester and Durham areusing the appeal of their outstandinghistory in imaginative ways to enhancethe city centre shopping experience.Stirling, with its world-class heritage,can take inspiration from them andcreate an attractive shopping environ-ment to be enjoyed by everyone.

“We’ll be working hard over thecoming months to involve the business community, property ownersand key agencies – and, of course, localresidents and visitors – in looking athow we can make this happen.” ■

Park and Ride

The easy way to travel into the heart of the city.

● 200 car park spaces at Castleview P&R ● 215 car park spaces at Springkerse P&R ● six days a week● every 12 minutes● 7.30am-6.30pm Monday to Saturday● until 8.30pm on Thursday evenings● £1 return adults, 50p children● regular users can save by buying season

tickets at the bus station● National

Entitlement Cardconcessionary rates apply.

Meeting the needsof local businesses

The Stirling Business Panel, which gives localbusinesses a voice to raise important subjectsand discuss concerns on issues that affect them, was recently short-listed for a nationalEnterprising Britain Award 2010.

The panel now has more than 611 members.Through links with Forth Valley College and theUniversity of Stirling, it is also involved in thedevelopment of training and courses which helpmeet the needs of the local business community.

If your business is not already a member of

the Stirling Business Panel, you can register

online at www.stirlingbusinesspanel.co.ukMaking Stirling aspecial place to shop Welcoming visitors

Stirling Council and The Thistles in the city centrehave been working together to make sure visitorsto our area experience the very best of everythingStirling has to offer.

A new plasma information screen in theshopping centre now gives shoppers and visitors

information aboutall kinds of Stirlingarea attractionsand the latestnews on events,campaigns andspecial offers.

Council information is

also covered, and the council’s communicationsteam keeps the screen up to date.

A visitor information desk has also been set up,staffed every day by a Thistles team ready toanswer questions and recommend places to visitand things to see and do.

Since the desk opened in spring the team hasbeen helping with about 60 queries every day.

Window ofopportunity

Although the vacancy rate forshops in Stirling is below thenational average, there are some vacant properties in theshopping streets.

You may have noticed artworkin the windows of some of theshops that are empty, helping to keep the shop fronts “active”and colourful.

Cornton Youth Space, the RockProject in the Raploch, YouthVoice and Cowie Youth Spacehave all contributed designs.

“We have alreadyinvested £3m to

create an attractivecity centre

streetscape”Des Friel

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COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE

A new training facility inRaploch is giving people the

opportunity toimprove theiremployment skills.

The Raploch SustainableCommunity Enterprise pro-vides training andemployability skills to localunemployed people, those whoare in work and employerswishing to up-skill their staff.

The demand for training hasled to the new facility beingbuilt at the existing premiseson Glendevon Drive, fundedthrough the ScottishGovernment’s Town CentreRegeneration Fund.

The centre is SQA-approvedand delivers up to SVQ Level 2in Construction Operations.It’s also a Learn Direct centre,offering the facility of accept-ing ILA £200 in payment fortraining.

One-day accredited coursesare also available in First AidAwareness, Manual Handlingand Abrasive Wheel training.

Practical skills training iscarried out on live projects inRaploch and recent projectshave included the installationof a wildlife garden and townseal at the Old Bridge.

The enterprise has providedtraining to 97 people sinceJanuary and employed 32 peoplethrough the Future Jobs Fundsince it began in 2009, with afurther 38 jobs being createdduring the programme. ■

Young people in Dunblane havecome together to try to improvecommunity safety and tackle antisocial behaviour in the town.

At the start of the year, the localvolunteers formed DunblaneYoung People’s Project (DYPP), oneof the first of its kind in the UK.

The project has been funded by the Scottish Government’sCommunity WellbeingChampions Initiative and Stirling Community PlanningPartnership.

DYPP members have held aconsultation through interviewsand questionnaires.

And they are also workingwith local partners to organisevarious activities that willencourage young people andthe wider community to work

together locally and identifyhow the project’s budget can be used for the benefit of thecommunity.

DYPP has already shown that young people in Dunblaneare committed to making a positive contribution to theircommunity and its membershope that the successful deliv-ery of the project in latesummer 2010 will continue toimprove perceptions of youngpeople in Dunblane. ■

A community to be proud of DUNBLANE YOUNG PEOPLE’S PROJECT

Training centre is helping people improve their prospect of employment

James has a bright future

Growingsuccess

Amy Tasker fromWhins of Miltonstarted with theRaploch CommunityEnterprise in April2010 after beingreferred byJobCentre Plus,and is now

employed as a groundmaintenance worker. Amyhas worked in horticulturebefore and wanted todevelop her existing skillsand learn new ones. Shehas been involved in theinstallation of the wildlifegarden and also works onall the soft landscaping.

James McGuire is a local Raploch resident who hasfound employment with the Raploch CommunityEnterprise through the Future Jobs Fund. James hadpreviously undertaken training with the CommunityEnterprise in 2007 and that led to a job. However,because of the downturn in the labour market, he

found himself looking forwork once again.

James is now aFuture Jobs Fundteam leader.

“I enjoyworkingoutside andmeeting new people”

Skills for life

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Home carerKatrina Parker

helped KatherineMcGowan regain her

independenceafter a stay in

hospital

RE-ABLEMENT TEAM

Helping people live healthy, independentlives and stay in their own homes for as long as possible are key aims of social care’sre-ablement team.

Re-ablement is about providing servicesefficiently and effectively to people most inneed of care in their own home. Each re-ablement team includes staff such assenior care workers, occupational therapistsand trained home care workers.

Re-ablement is a service tailored to meetpeople’s individual needs, helping with

regaining confidence and theskills needed for everydayliving. It allows people toremain in their own homewhile the team reviewstheir progress over anumber of weeks.

CASE STUDYAfter a stay in hospital

this spring, Bridge ofAllan resident MrsKatherineMcGowan neededsupport with per-sonal care,washing, dressing

and showering,seven days a week.

WhenKatherine cameout of hospital,the re-ablementteam made surethat a home carer

Our re-ablement team is helping people in need of care live independently in their own home

“It’s great to see the peopleI visit make progress andregain confidence, skillsand independence”

Katrina Parker

“Everyonehas beenreally

supportiveand understanding,and working withthem has built up myconfidence again”Katherine McGowan

Home is wherethe heart is

was on hand for daily visits to promote herindependence.

The team occupational therapist identi-fied that a “wet floor” shower room wouldallow Katherine to again live independ-ently at home.

The shower room was installed, and byweek six Katherine had regained such confi-dence and ability that there was no longer aneed for carers to assist.

Katherine said: “The re-ablement teamhelped me to re-establish a daily routine.They were very friendly and listened to myconcerns and acted on them. This allowedme to gain back control of my life.

“Everyone has been really supportive andunderstanding and working with them hasbuilt up my confidence again.”

Katherine’s husband Allan added: “It’svery difficult to watch your wife struggle.This service has been such a benefit for bothof us. It’s given a real boost to Katherine’ssense of achievement, but re-ablement helpsto relieve the pressure on carers, too.

“The team kept me in the loop and Inever felt left out. I could contact them atany time for advice and support. This is anexcellent service.”

Katrina Parker, home care worker, said:“Re-ablement is a different way of provid-ing a service. It gives me the opportunity touse the skills I have learned to increase theperson’s abilities to remain independent.

“It’s great to see the people I visit makeprogress and regain confidence, skills andindependence. Re-ablement is about theteam, including carers and occupationaltherapists, working with each individual tomake our service the best it can be.” ■

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OPEN SPACE STRATEGY

How do you use and value localopen spaces?

In the Stirling area we’re luckyenough to be surrounded bysome of Scotland’s mostbeautiful countryside. It’s a magnificent landscape and for

many people one of the bestthings about life here.

But we believe the local openspaces in our neighbourhoods,right on our own doorsteps, arejust as important. Our area has awealth of these open spaces –parks, riverbanks, play areas,shared gardens and so on. They

contribute to the quality of lifeand wellbeing of local peopleand are also important places for wildlife.

The council is in the process ofdrafting an Open Space Strategy.We want open spaces that are:

well-located and accessibleand seen as part of the localneighbourhood distinctive, adding to Stirling’sspecial sense of place appropriately managed, withinvolvement from the localcommunity well-connected “green

Have your say on yourcommunity’s open spaces

The new Local DevelopmentPlan (LDP) for Stirling is startingto take shape. Thank you toeveryone who came along to therecent community roadshows.All your comments on the Main Issues Report will help toprepare the Proposed Plan, dueto be published for consultationin May 2011.

Lots of great questions wereasked at the roadshows, sowe’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions,with their answers.

What is the Local

Development Plan, and

what stage is it at?

The LDP will shape the use anddevelopment of land in our areafor the next 20 years, and willreplace the current Structure Planand Local Plan. We’re currently inthe early stages, consulting on themain issues. The next stage will be to prepare a Proposed Planand there will be further publicconsultation on that.

Why does the Main Issues

Report suggest more

housing for the area?

The Main Issues Report identifiesthe amount of land required forbuilding new housing over theperiod of the plan. Three options

are presented which reflect three different levels of growth –low, medium and high. These represent between 7425 and10,150 additional homes, of which4000 are already planned for.

The amount of new housing isbased on population forecasts(taking into account births,deaths, in-migration, peopleliving longer and so on), changesin the size of households (moresingle person households) and theneed to have a generous supply tomeet need and demand.

A proportion of affordablehousing will also be necessary innew developments: this couldmean council or housing association housing for rent,shared ownership, private rented,or cheaper housing to buy.

Where is the council

suggesting most

development be built?

The Main Issues Report identified locations where themajority of new housing development could take place.These include the city centre and extensions to Stirling city at

Bannockburn andBridge of Allan/Causewayhead; theEastern Villages, andthe new village atDurieshill.

No large-scale housing developments areproposed forDunblane, andonly small-scalehousing is proposed for the ruralvillages west of Stirling.

New commercial (businessand retail space) is proposed forSpringkerse/Milhall, Broadleysand Manor Powis.

Why is development

proposed on greenfield

sites and in the Green

Belt? Why can’t more

development be in the

city centre and on

derelict sites?

Previously developed sites or brownfield sites have been identified for development, but these will not be sufficientto meet the scale of developmentrequired. Greenfield

development will be needed as well.

Why do we need more

development if the roads

are already congested?

We want to encourage developments where publictransport and alternatives to thecar can be real choices in gettingabout the Stirling area. The strategy is based on trying toachieve this, and that is whymost proposed development islocated around Stirling city orwithin the “city corridor”.

There is no space in local

schools – how will the

The Local Development Plan will provide a blueprint for ourarea. Here are some of the main topics under consideration

Shaping thefuture of Stirling

YOUR

QUESTIONS

ANSWERED

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Help stub out cigarette litter23-28 August

Stirling Council, Central Scotland Police andcity centre retailers are joining up for a week’sspecial anti-cigarette litter drive this summer.

Portable ashtrays will be distributed, an information stand set up and smokers will bereminded about using ashtray-top bins and not discarding their stubs.

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A celebration of ScottScottsland, Celebrating the Language of the Landscape marks the200th anniversary of the publication of Sir Walter Scott’s Lady of theLake, a poem which changed the way people viewed the Scottishlandscape and generated the first surge of tourists to the Trossachs.

The celebrations run up to October and feature all kinds of cultural and literary events.Highlights include an art andliterary trail, a film festival, literary conference, sportsevents and exhibitions, guidedwalks and cruises.

For the full programme,

visit www.scottsland.co.uk

Information station Stirling’s Arcade in King Street has something new at No. 33 – anInformation Station to give young people aged 15-25 a place to go for info and advice.

The shop will be open six days a week, with information on allkinds of subjects that affect young people, including employment,training, further education, and volunteering. You can also find outabout issues such as alcohol anddrugs misuse, smoking, healthyeating, sexual health, careers,mental health, housing, youthrights, social activities andNEC/Young Scot cards.

For further information,

contact Stirling Council

Youth Services on 01786 432211,

email youthservices@

stirling.gov.uk or Infotext

07717 996 884.

Mon-Wed and Fri-Sat:11am-4pm Thu: 1pm-8pm (YoungScot & Health Drop Infrom 5pm-8pm).

Openingtimes

Loch Katrine, the locationfor Sir Walter Scott’s poem

The Lady of the Lake

networks”, designed foreveryday life, for exampleencouraging safer routes toschools and play opportunities attractive, safe places wherelocal people and visitors canenjoy the outdoors.We believe everyone living,

working or visiting the Stirlingarea can benefit from openspaces that are designed for lifeand well maintained.

The strategy will help thecouncil meet challenges such aschanging demand for parks andopen spaces, limited resources

and the need to provide land forwoodland and new housing.

Do you share our vision? Wehope as many local people andorganisations as possible will joinin the consultation.

Your comments will help shapeStirling’s Open Space Strategywhich, together with Stirling’s LocalDevelopment Plan, will help thecouncil maintain and improve ourarea for the future. ■

There’s still time to have your

say. Visit www.stirling.gov.

uk/openspace for more information.

plan solve this?

New primary and secondaryschools will need to be built wherenecessary. New development willcreate the need for a range of services and facilities – healthcentres, open spaces and so on.The council may seek financialcontributions from developers forthese where they will be worsenedby new development.

How will the plan

ensure there is adequate

drainage for the new

development?

We will assess sewage treatmentworks to see if they can accommodate more development.Improvements carried out byScottish Water and/or developersmight be necessary and may wellaffect the timing of developments.

How will the plan make

sure that housing built is

of the right quality and

size, and whether it

should be for sale or rent?

Housing need and demandacross the area is being carefullyassessed. All sites will beexpected to provide a range andchoice of housing size andinclude an element of affordablehousing to rent or buy.

How can the council

assess sites fairly when

some of them are in

council ownership?

As a landowner, StirlingCouncil has submitted sites forconsideration in the same wayas any other landowner/developer, and these have beenassessed using the same criteriaas all the other options.

What does a growth in

housing mean for the

economy of our area?

New housing generates theneed for more commercial uses in terms of providing new jobs to support the growthin population and access toother facilities such as shops.Improving the economic growth of the Stirling areathrough allowing new development in the right locations is an important part of the plan’s strategy.

The public is also being

consulted on the

council’s Open Space

Strategy. How does this

link to the Local

Development Plan?

We’ve been asking local peoplewhich open spaces they valueand how they use them. Theresults of this consultation willfeed into the LDP.

How does the Local

Development Plan relate

to the Local Housing

Strategy (LHS)?

The LHS is being preparedalongside the LocalDevelopment Plan. It willdescribe the extent and typeof housing need and demandfor the area. The plan will then identify the amount of housing land required to help meet the need and demand. ■

You can keep up to date

with the Local Development

Plan process and find out more

about how to get involved at

www.stirling.gov.uk/localdevplan

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Like every other public sectororganisation, Stirling Council ishaving to cope with change andfinancial challenge, and we mustfind ways to reduce our costs.The money given to us by theGovernment will reduce by£30 million over the next threeyears – and it’s likely that morethan £12m of these savings willhave to be made next year alone.

We have actually adaptedquicker than many other councils to this new reality. Anew streamlined managementstructure introduced last yearhas resulted in annual savings of almost £4m.

We are looking at how wecan increase our efficiency and save money across theorganisation, and specifically inthe areas of employment costs,

administration and supportservices, education, social care, assets, and income andprocurement.

Our commitment to delivering efficient, effectiveand customer-focused servicesis as strong as ever. Indeed,making our services as efficientas they can be, cutting out waste

at every stage in the process, isone important way to drivecosts down.

We are very clear that everypound of public spending forwhich we are responsible istargeted to address key public

priorities and secures real valuefor the people who rely onour services.

However, there’s a limit towhat can be achieved throughefficiencies alone. I want toopen up a conversation withlocal people not just aboutwhere efficiencies can be madein existing services, but also

about other ways we can savemoney and still deliver for ourcommunities. Instead of talkingabout the funding that’s beinglost, we need to move on andagree how we achieve the bestwith the funding we do get.

In these extraordinarycircumstances, we need to startthinking in new ways aboutwhat it is councils do and howthey do it. To make savings onthe scale that we have to achieve,there will need to be majorchanges to the way that servicesare delivered – and some servicesmay no longer be provided.

We have a legal duty to livewithin our means. We mustreduce costs. Discussions arealready under way about sharing

more resources with our partner organisations. And weare working with the voluntarysector to make sure there is nowasteful overlap in our services.

Perhaps we need to re-evaluatehow council and communitieswork together. Could the counciltake on a different kind of role,encouraging and enabling community groups to deliverservices themselves?

This is a conversation thecouncil should have beenholding with our stakeholders a long time ago, and I realisethat the current set of challenges we face does notmake the timing ideal.

However, I think it’s time fora frank discussion about the wayforward and the role of localgovernment in this new finan-cial world. Things can’t remainthe same, but, of course, thatbrings great opportunities aswell as considerable challenges.

One thing that is certainly notchanging is our commitment toinforming, engaging and involv-ing local people in the decisionsthat affect them. Please join inthe conversation. The decisionsthat need to be taken to save£30m over the next three yearsaffect everyone, and I wanteveryone to have their say. ■

Change and challenge

Council leader Graham Houston wants local people to get involved in shaping thecouncil’s 2011/12 spending priorities. What do you think the priorities should be?

What are your priorities for Stirling Council? Let’s talk it through...

● online at www.stirling.gov.uk/changeprogramme● through Stirling magazine● at councillors’ surgeries● or write to me at: Cllr Graham Houston, Leader,

Stirling Council, Old Viewforth, Stirling FK8 2ETemail [email protected]

“Our commitment to deliveringefficient, effective and customer-focused service is as strong as ever”

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Are you in employment? Do youwant to get on at work but lack keyskills and qualifications?

Feel you’re struggling to keep upwith changes in technology?

Do you have a disability or healthissue that could be holding you backin the workplace?

Would you like the chance to

improve your English, or do you want to catch up on skills fromschool or to learn and gain qualifications for work?

Stirling Council’s ASPIRE Projectmay be able to help.

Here are some of the local peoplealready benefiting from free trainingthrough ASPIRE:

● Laraine Binnie, owner andmanager of Airth Station Catteryand Kennels (pictured above withAnnie the dog), has six membersof staff currently completing their Animal Care Qualifications –100 per cent funded by ASPIRE.

“The training givesstaff recognition fortheir work and theskills they have. Italso helps themfurther their careerin working with

animals. TheASPIRE traininghas also beenhelpful in terms ofbusiness: customerswelcome the factthat our staff arequalified animal careassistants and feelconfident aboutleaving their animals”

FASTFACTS

The ASPIRE

project is funded

by Stirling

Council and the

European Social

Fund Lowlands

and Uplands

Scotland

Programme

2007-2013. The

ASPIRE project

will run until

August 2011.

To find out

more, contact

Marianne Eik

on 01786 432366

or email

eikm@stirling.

gov.uk

ASPIRE to improveyour work skills

● Andrew Fleming, production managerat Cowie Panel Processors, asked ASPIREfor help to learn British Sign Language sohe could communicate better with oneof his colleagues.

“During difficult andbusy times, this is notthe type of trainingthat we wouldnormally be able toprioritise, but because it is free and deliveredon site, I’ve attended the classes”

● JenniferKidd, of theBannockburnGroup of theRiding for theDisabledAssociation,received freetraining withcolleagues tocatch up onher MicrosoftAccess com-puter skills.

“What I liked about the training was that it was tailored to our specific requirements.Rather than being taken through a manual,we were able to work and learn on our own database”

A free training programme is helping people acrossall kinds of businesses achieve more from their work

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CHILD PROTECTION

Immediate action has been takento strengthen child protection inthe Stirling area after an officialinspection earlier in the year identified a number of weaknesses.

In its report, the HMInspectorate of Education(HMIE) highlighted a number ofinstances of good practice, inparticular the ways that childrenin Stirling Council care are listened to and respected, andhow the council works withother agencies to protect children.

But inspectors found that there had not been enoughimprovement in other areas. It alsoreported some inconsistencies inpractice that had not been pickedup properly in the quality assurance and self-evaluation workcarried out by the three publicagencies with overall responsibilityfor children’s safety and welfare –Stirling Council, Central ScotlandPolice and NHS Forth Valley .

Stirling Council chief executive Bob Jack, speaking

on behalf of the Chief Officers’Group (chief executives ofStirling Council and NHS ForthValley and the chief constable),told Stirling magazine: “A fullreview and improvement planwas ordered immediately.

“The finding that childrenunder our care may have been left at risk for too long was a particular concern. A full reviewof cases highlighted that appropri-ate action had been taken toprotect vulnerable children.

Nonetheless, we must now ensurethat processes are strengthenedthrough greater partnershipworking so that these inconsisten-cies do not occur again.

“The lessons from this

inspection have already led tochanges which we are confidentwill help us better protect themost vulnerable members of ourcommunity. We are wholly committed to making sure standards of care and support inthe Stirling area are as high as they possibly can be.

“George Hunter has beenappointed as independent chairof the Stirling Child ProtectionCommittee (CPC). George is aformer director of East

Renfrewshire Community Healthand Care Partnership. The commit-tee oversees the child protectionwork of Stirling Council, CentralScotland Police, NHS Forth Valleyand voluntary sector organisations.

Our plan● Make sure more children

and families get the helpthey need at an early stagebefore their situationbecomes more serious.

● Improve the actions takenin immediate response tochildren when there areconcerns about their safety.

● Improve assessments ofrisks and needs.

● Improve plans for childrenand ensure their individualneeds are fully met.

● Develop more effective waysof identifying what servicesneed to do to improve andinvolve children, families andstaff more fully in theseprocesses.

● Strengthen the leadershipof the CPC to improveservices to protect children.

“The lessons from this inspection haveled to changes which we are confidentwill help us better protect the mostvulnerable members of our community” Bob Jack, Stirling Council chief executive

Action to keep our children safe

We’re working hard to ensure vulnerable youngsters are protected

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PRIVATE FOSTERING

Are you looking after a child forsomeone who’s working away fromhome? Maybe a friend or neighbour hasbeen struggling with a new baby andhas asked you to look after him or herfull time for more than four weekscontinuously? Perhaps friends fromabroad have asked you to let their childstay with you while he or she attendsschool here?

These are all examples of private fostering – when parents make arrange-ments for their child to be cared for bysomeone who is not a close relative oran officially approved foster carer forfour weeks or longer.

“Where a child under school-leaving age is being looked after inan arrangement like this, both theparent and the carer must let thecouncil know, by law,” said BillEadie, head of social care.“The penalty for not inform-ing the council is a fine orprison sentence, orboth.

“We have to besure of thesafety andwellbeingof everyprivatelyfosteredchild.Once noti-

fied about the arrangement, we’ll beable to give any advice – includinglegal advice – or support the carer orchild might need.

“We will ask some questions andcarry out some checks such as who themain carer will be and where the childwill be living and so on, and we will visitto make sure everything is all right.

“We will also keep in contact for theperiod that the child is living with theprivate foster carer.”

It’s easy to get in

touch to tell us

about a private fostering

arrangement. Contact

Lorraine Kubski on

01786 471177 or email

[email protected]

“There’s a huge amount of workdone by dedicated staff every dayin every field of child protection,but ultimately the safety of ourchildren isn’t just a matter forcouncils, police and health professionals. It’s everyone’sresponsibility, and we would urgeany adult worried about a child totake action,” continued Bob.

“Regrettably, no system of child protection can ever offer100 per cent assurance. But bycontinuing to work together,sharing information and listeningand responding to children andfamilies, we can help makeStirling a place where our childrenand young people are safe, healthyand have the opportunities theyneed to achieve their potential.” ■

Our children’ssafety iseveryone’sresponsibility

If you see behaviour thatworries you, or if a child oryoung person tells yousomething that makes youconcerned, you need to takethem seriously and act.

USEFUL NUMBERS

● Social work01786 471177

● Social work After 5pm and at weekends01786 470500

● Police01786 456000

● HealthContact your GP or localhealth centre

● Reporter to the Children’s Panel01786 476400

If you wish to remainanonymous when you reporta case of suspected childabuse, you can. However,it is helpful if you give your contact details asthere might be furtherinformation you could give.

www.stirling.gov.uk/

childprotection

Thinking about fostering?

Are you looking aftersomeone else’s child?There’s something you need to know…

FASTFACTS

Read the

Scottish

Government’s

electronic leaflet

on private

fostering at

www.scotland.

gov.uk/resource/

doc/1141/

0093244.pdf

To find out more about fostering please email Lorraine Kubski, senior practitioner,adoption and fostering, children’s services,Drummond House, Wellgreen Place,Stirling. Email [email protected]● You can also phone the duty social worker on

01786 471177.● More information can be found online at

www.stirling.gov.uk/fostering andwww.couldyoufoster.org.uk

● The Scottish Government funds theFostering Network to provide an advice and

information service for foster carers. Visitwww.fostering.net/scotland

● Fosterline is a confidential help line whichprovides information on issues such asconcerns about a child’s future, allegationsand complaints, changes in legislation andfinancial matters. They are also able toadvise you on how to take the next step indealing with any fostering issue and how toaccess other useful services and support.Freephone 0800 040 7675 or [email protected]

Stirling_p12-13 30/7/10 14:45

A warmwelcome

STIRLING.GOV.UK14

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FORTH VALLEY ROYAL HOSPITAL

The first phase of the new Forth Valley RoyalHospital in Larbert is now complete andpatients from across Stirling will be amongthe first to benefit from the world-classaccommodation and facilities.

Due to its sheer size and scale, services willmove across on a phased basis over the nextyear until the hospital is fully operational insummer 2011.

However, from August 2010, thousands ofpatients from across Forth Valley, includingStirling, will attend the new hospital for anumber of services, previously provided atFalkirk and District Royal Infirmary.

These include renal dialysis, chemotherapy,planned medical and surgical operations and awide range of outpatient clinics.

Designed with you in mind

So if this includes you, what changes andimprovements can you expect to see in this new 21st-century hospital?

Well, firstly you’ll noticethe hospital is far bigger thanany other hospital in ForthValley – in fact, it’s the largest-ever healthcare developmentin Scotland.

Inside, it’s been designed tobe as bright and welcoming as possible, with a large open atriumwhich acts as a hub for the whole building.

Large windows have beeninstalled throughout the hospitalto let in as much natural lightas possible and take advantage of the spectacular views across tothe Forth Bridges, the LomondHills and the Ochils.

The hospital also has separatecorridors and lifts for patients toincrease privacy and there is arange of special features to help

The new Forth Valley Royal Hospital will be the jewel in the crown of healthcare in Scotland

CONTINUED OVERLEAF>>

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HOW TO GET TO YOUR NEW HOSPITAL

By bus To help improve public transport links, NHSForth Valley has commissioneda number of new bus servicesincluding a shuttle bus fromLarbert Train Station, which isfree for anyone with a valid train ticket. The 38 service, operated by First Scotland East,also provides a direct link to the hospital from Stirling BusStation every 20 minutes.

By train You can catch a train toLarbert from Stirling station.

From there, you can either walkor catch the new hospital shuttlebus which will drop you off atthe main entrance.

By car There are separate carparking areas for patients andvisitors, including an areaoutside the main entrance. Car parking is free, however,during peak periods (Mon-Fri,6am-4pm) there is a maximumfour-hour stay. Special arrangements will be in place for patients whose treatment

is expected to last longer thanfour hours, including thoseundergoing renal dialysis andchemotherapy.

By bike To make it easier tocycle to the new hospital, anumber of bike storage rackshave been installed opposite themain entrance. Improvementsare also being made to walkingand cycling routes around thenew hospital to encouragepeople to consider these optionsand get more active.

The Forth ValleyRoyal Hospital is thebiggest healthcaredevelopment inScotland and sitsamong stunningwoodland

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Services from

Falkirk and District

Royal Infirmary

August 2010

Wide range of inpatient,outpatient and day servicesincluding medical andsurgical wards, renal dialysisunit, oncology unit, daysurgery, endoscopy, oralsurgery and orthodontics,day hospital (rehabilitationcentre) and a number ofoutpatient clinics.

Mental health

services

September 2010

Wide range of inpatient andspecialist mental healthfrom Stirling Royal andFalkirk and District RoyalInfirmaries, including adultand elderly mental healthacute admission wards,intensive psychiatric careunit, intensive hometreatment team, adultliaison psychiatry servicesand mental healthoutpatient services.

Services from

Stirling Royal

Infirmary

July 2011

Wide range of inpatient,outpatient and day servicesincluding A&E, intensivecare, the maternity unit,children’s services, acuteassessment unit, cardiology,day hospital (rehabilitationcentre) and a number ofoutpatient clinics.

PHASE 3PHASE 2PHASE 1

For details of the full range of services in phase 1, 2 and 3, please visit

www.nhsforthvalley.com/forthvalleyroyal or check your copy of the Forth Valley Royal

Hospital Essential Guide which was delivered to every home in Stirling during July.

STIRLING COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

As well as the modern, new facilities atForth Valley Royal Hospital, a widerange of health services will continueto be provided locally in Stirling.

Most of these will be based inStirling Community Hospital, whichwill be developed on the Stirling RoyalInfirmary site after A&E and otheracute services move to the new ForthValley Royal Hospital in July 2011.

What’s at Stirling

Stirling Community Hospital willprovide a range of outpatient clinics,GP out-of-hours services andinpatient care forpatients who requirerehabilitation andpalliative care.

It will also havea minor injuriesunit to ensurethat many localpeople who currently attendthe A&E departmentat Stirling RoyalInfirmary will continue tobe treated locally. As a result, it isexpected to handle more than 200,000patient appointments each year.

Child health clinics will continueto be provided locally in Stirling

YOUR NEW HOSPITAL: MOVING-IN DATES

reduce the risk of infection. For example, there are disposable bedsidecurtains and window blinds have been enclosed in the glass.

Within the grounds, there are woodlandwalks, ponds, landscaped courtyards and a visitor garden to help you enjoy the hospital’s stunning and uniquesurroundings.

Modern facilities

The new hospital has a wide range of facilitiesto make your stay or visit as pleasant andcomfortable as possible. These include arestaurant and café with panoramic views, aStarbucks coffee shop and a WH Smith inthe main entrance area and a WRVS café inthe front of the mental health building.

Other facilities include a patientinformation area with internet access, a

volunteer office, Radio Royaland a spiritual care centre.

Anyone admitted for treatmentwill be cared for in either a spacious single room or a four-bedded ward with en-suitebathrooms. There are also free

personal TV screens at everybedside and hospital meals that are

freshly prepared on site each day inthe hospital’s own kitchens.

The latest technology has been installed tohelp with a range of day-to-day duties. Thisincludes a new robotic supply system, thefirst of its kind in a UK hospital, which delivers and collects supplies such as linen,meal trolleys and clinical waste using a separate network of corridors and lifts.

This not only helps to keep patient areasfree of trolleys and other clutter, but will alsohelp to reduce infection risks and free upsupport staff to focus on patients.

Other innovations include a fully roboticpharmacy system, capable of labelling medicines as well as stocking supplies andpicking up drugs. The system is not onlyquicker and more efficient, but also makes the dispensing process safer. ■

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE>>

FULL LIST OF SERVICESwww.nhsforth

valley.com/forthvalley

royal

Services will transfer across to the new Forth Valley Royal Hospital in three main phases:

Stirling_p14-17 no map 30/7/10 14:53

New facilities

The existingQueen ElizabethWing and Theatre

Block will betaken down in

early 2012 tomake way for thenew purpose-built outpatient and inpatientfacilities, which willbenefit patients and staff.

Many of the beds currently provided in

Bannockburn Hospital willtransfer to the new inpatient

facility in summer 2013 to ensurepatients who require rehabilitationor palliative care have access tomodern, en-suite accommodation.

Working in

partnership

NHS Forth Valley isworking with

Stirling Council toexplore a number of

joint developments,including building care

homes or sheltered housing on theStirling Community Hospital site.

Discussions are also under waywith local GP practices to exploreopportunities for them to operatefrom improved accommodation,including options on the StirlingCommunity Hospital site. ■

closer to homeDelivering care

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AudiologyAppliance andorthotics Child health(including mentalhealth services)DermatologyDiabetes DieteticsGP out-of-hoursserviceHepatology Minor injuries Minor illness Neurology

OphthalmologyPain clinicsPhysiotherapyRheumatology Speech andlanguage therapySexual healthclinicsWomen’s health(includingmidwifery-ledclinics, antenataland post-natalcare).

Find out more at www.nhsforthvalley.com/stirlingcommunityhospital

FASTFACTS

Did you know…

Stirling Community Hospital will

provide inpatient care for patients who

require rehabilitation and palliative care

Your StirlingCommunity Hospitaloutpatient clinics

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Keep yourhome warmAll homes in the Stirling area now qualifyfor energy saving advice and measures asthe Home Insulation Scheme is expandedto include more areas of Scotland.

The scheme, funded by the ScottishGovernment and delivered by the EnergySaving Trust, is supported by StirlingCouncil. Benefits, available for a limitedperiod only, include:● loft top-up insulation free if you already

have between 60mm and 160mm, irrespective of the size of your loft

● cavity wall insulation and/or loft insulation at a specially negotiatedprice or free to certain eligible house-holders. Trained advisers can discussthe full qualifying conditions with you

● additional support to install insulation,for example, with getting your loftcleared or erecting scaffolding

● energy saving advice which could saveyou up to £300 a year. You can also gethelp to check your entitlement to pensioncredits, tax credits and other allowances.Some people discover they could bereceiving up to £1000 extra a year.Extra help such as draughtproofing,

solid wall insulation or central heatingcould be available through the EnergyAssistance Package. An energy assessorwill check whether you qualify for this.

Stirling Council urges all residents totake up the invitation to participate andbenefit from this opportunity.

Blane Valley Carbon Neutral

An active group of committed locals who meet regularly and collaborate via email to work on arange of projects to reduce their contributionsto global warming while saving money onheating and electricity bills. ● www.strathblanefield.org.uk/carbonneutral

Callander and Climate Change

A sub-group of Callander Development Trustfunded by the Scottish Government’s ClimateChallenge Fund, the team aims to support theCallander community in reducing its impact onthe environment and lowering individual and collective carbon footprints. ● www.callanderandclimatechange.org.uk

Fintry Development Trust

A community development trust that aims topromote the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency within the Fintry communityto reduce carbon dioxide emissions and theeffects of global warming. ● www.free-energy.org.uk

Killin Cutting Carbon

A project team within the Killin and ArdeonaigTrust funded by the Climate Challenge Fund tountil March 2011 which aims to promote the use ofrenewable energy and energy efficiency within thecommunity by connecting people with relevantinformation, funding sources and practical ideas.● www.killincdt.co.uk/kcc/index

Low Carbon Raploch Project

Aims to improve opportunities for the wholecommunity by reducing emissions and energybills, promoting home insulation, and improvinggreen spaces.● Based at 96 Drip Road, Stirling. Tel: 01786

445500. Email carol.lowcarbonraploch@

btconnect.com

Sustainable Dunblane

A group concerned about the issues of climatechange and peak oil who are working together tomove Dunblane from a town reliant on fossil fuelsto one sustainably powered by renewable energy.Initial ideas have now blossomed into fully formedarts, energy and transport working groups. ● www.sustainabledunblane.org

Transition Stirling

A group working on the transition town model(www.transitionnetwork.org/about) to developinitiatives to reduce carbon dioxide emissionsand build resilience for a future with limitedaccess to oil. ● Email [email protected]

Groups working in theircommunities to reduceuse of fossil fuels andassociated emissions

Since the end of last year, the Stepin Stones project has been working in the community in Cornton tomake better use of the open and green spaces created through regeneration. The project is also workingwith Forth Environment Link to consider the possibility of creating a children’s orchard.

Stepin Stones to a greener Cornton

Find out more

If you have not yet responded to theinvitation card that should have beensent to your home, you can stillcomplete a Home Energy Check form:

On the phone*

Call 0800 512 012 to complete a HomeEnergy Check form with a trained energyadviser over the phone.

On the web*

Fill out the form at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/proxy/view/full/165/homeenergycheck

On your doorstep*

Wait until a qualified Home EnergyAssessor comes to your doorstepand complete the form then. Call0800 512 012 to find out when theywill be in your area.

* Please note that by filling out the form you are under no obligation to proceed with any installation.

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CLIMATE CHANGE

Stirling Council, in partnership withGoing Carbon Neutral Stirling(GCNS), is leading a two-year campaignto raise awareness of the climate impactof current lifestyles and to present positive opportunities for change.

We intend to engage with localcommunities and other groups andorganisations to have an ongoing conversation and debate about whatcarbon emissions are, why we need toreduce them, and how we can all doour bit by changing our behaviour.

That might mean, for example,buying more locally produced food,improving insulation in our homes,walking or cycling instead of taking thecar, or recycling more of our waste.

The four priority themes of food,energy, transport and waste have beenselected to shape the campaign andwe want to explore these issues withlocal people and partners over the next two years of the “Low CarbonStirling” campaign.

The focus will be on carbon reductionin a sustainable development context andwhat that means forStirling – now and forthe future – by raisingawareness andincreasing knowledgeof the issues while highlightingopportunities forchange and action.

A key outcome

Our two-yearcampaign aims to involve localpeople and partnersin finding waysto reduce our area’scarbon footprint

will be positive action from residents, communities, businesses, the counciland its community planning partners to reduce Stirling’s overallcarbon footprint.

The campaign will take the form ofevents, activities and debates on issuesof carbon reduction. The intention is to allow co-ordination rather thanduplication of activity to ensure ahigher impact for individual events andactivities under an over-arching “LowCarbon Stirling” umbrella.

While much needs to be done atcentral Government level, local actionis necessary and options for policychange will also be explored as part ofthe overall campaign.

Food is the first theme that we wantto explore by encouraging people tothink in new ways about the food weeat and where it comes from. We’ll belooking at things such as security offood supply, the benefits of eating morevegetarian food, and why it makes senseto eat more in-season, local produce.

We’ll be considering possibilities for creating street gardens, edible borders,

neighbourhood veggie-boxdeliveries, and a city

orchard scheme. Energy is the second

theme of this firstyear of the campaign,where we intend to explore the connection between

energy generationand its carbon impacts,

encourage reducedenergy use through a

combination of energy efficiency andreduced demand, and consider thepotential impacts of “peak oil” for ourcommunities and businesses.

We will also be leading discussion onhow communities can be supported toplan and deliver their own communityrenewable energy projects.

The transport element of energy usewill be considered at a later stage in the campaign, along with the climateimpacts of the waste we all generate.

This is just a glimpse of what wehope to achieve with our Low CarbonStirling partners.

We recognise it will be necessary to work with a broad range of partners and stake-holders to co-ordinate, organise, promote and run events. So please join in! We’d love to have your comments. ■

Email the campaign at

[email protected]

FASTFACTS

Peak oil refers

to the point

where the

maximum rate

of global oil

extraction

is reached

Above: On your bike!Council employeestook part in a fun

event with GCNS tohighlight the

interlinking themesof food, health andenergy. Left to rightGavin Smith, GCNS;

Paul McNamara,research officer, andchef David McNee

Let’s work for a low-carbon Stirling

Compiled by Forth Valley

Food Links, this gives details

of businesses and community

projects that produce, grow,

process, sell or serve produce

originating from the Forth

Valley area. Read it online

at www.fvfl.org.uk

LOCAL FOOD DIRECTORY

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ADULT LEARNING TEAM

There certainly will be Learning forEveryone this coming autumn with StirlingCouncil’s adult learning team.

For those looking to brush up on theirreading, writing, spelling or number skills,perhaps because your child has started schoolor because you are trying to get back in totraining or employment, the usual support isjust a call away. Our programmes, part of thenational Big Plus Campaign, continue weeklyfrom late August in a variety of venues acrossthe Stirling Council area. For help, call theteam on 01786 432360.

Classes in English for Speakers of otherLanguages (ESOL) also return in late August.If you know of someone who may need helpwith English and wants to access one of ourclasses, contactDuncanCarmichael, ESOLco-ordinator, on01786 432360, whowill advise on theopportunitiesavailable.

Our usual rangeof communityclasses will begin inlate September.Whether you want to learn how to use acomputer, do some creative writing or takepart in one of our reminiscence classes, thenew programme is sure to have somethingof interest to you.

The programme will be available to bookfrom the end of August. For a copy of theprogramme or to book a place, call the adultlearning team on 01786 432360.

Remember, if you belong to a communitygroup and there is something your wholegroup would like to learn, we’d be happy tomeet with you to discuss this.

The adult learning team has a range of volunteering opportunities you may wish toget involved in. For example, have youthought about helping another adult withtheir learning? To find out more, contactRuth Martin on 01786 432360. ■

Want to learnsomething new?Book your place!

Gardenshare

Are you a keen gardener? Fancy growingsome vegetables? Stirling Council isbacking the Gardenshare programme,which encourages people with sparecorners of garden or some unusedland to donate it to a green-fingered enthusiast to make themost of. Gardenshare is not onlycommunity-spirited, but a realstep forward for green living.

For more information or to

register for free, please contact

Philippa on 07577816262 or email

[email protected]

GARDENING AND LITERACIES CLASS

Carrots, peas, potatoes, cauliflowers,beans, courgettes and tomatoes arejust some of the tasty fare grown by

Gardening classes arehelping adult learners at Stirling’s Riverbankand Cowane Centres

“The newprogrammeis sure to havesomething of interest to you”

Growing ne

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hand by a group of adultlearners at Stirling’sRiverbank Centre – andnow being enjoyed by visitors to the centre’s cafe.

The members have learningdisabilities and have beenusing the gardening project tohelp with language and reading skills.

The class is facilitated by the council’sadult learning team and supported by staff,volunteers and other partners.

Flowers have also been part of theproject, with the sale of hanging basketsgenerating funds to buy further equipmentand materials. The class is likely to developfurther skills with the addition of a polytunnel at the Cowane Centre toextend the growing season.

AUTUMN TERM

● Term starts Monday 16 August 2010(teachers only)• Staff development day:

Monday 16 August 2010• Tuesday 17 August 2010

(pupils return)• Local holiday: Monday 6 September

2010 (except Balfron Cluster)• Local holiday: Monday 27 September

2010 (Balfron Cluster only)● Term ends Friday 8 October 2010

• October holiday starts Monday11 October 2010

• ends Friday 15 October 2010

WINTER TERM

● Term starts Monday 18 October 2010• Staff development day:

Monday 8 November 2010• Staff development day:

Tuesday 9 November 2010• Staff development day:*

Wednesday 10 November 2010● Term ends Thursday

23 December 2010• Christmas holiday starts

Friday 24 December 2010• ends Wednesday 5 January 2011

SPRING TERM

● Term starts Thursday 6 January 2011• Local holiday: Monday

14 February 2011• Local holiday: Tuesday

15 February 2011• Staff development day:*

Wednesday 16 February 2011• Staff development day:

Thursday 17 February 2011• Staff development day:

Friday 18 February 2011● Term ends Friday 1 April 2011

• Spring holiday starts Monday 4 April 2011

• ends Friday 15 April 2011

SUMMER TERM

● Term starts Monday 18 April 2011• Good Friday: Friday 22 April 2011• Easter Monday: Monday 25 April 2011• Local holiday: Monday 2 May 2011

● Term ends Friday 24 June 2011• Summer holiday starts Monday

27 June 2011• Summer holiday ends Monday

15 August 2011 (teachers only)• Tuesday 16 August 2011

(pupils return)

* Additional Curriculum for Excellence Days

2010-2011School dates

Allotments

Growing your ownmakes health sense

and economic sense– so it’s no surprise that

demand for allotments hasbeen growing too.

We’d like to know more aboutyour interest in allotments in ourcommunities. Please help shapethis important part of theCouncil’s Open Space Strategy byfilling in the online questionnaireat www.stirling.gov.uk/allotmentprovision

You can also pickup a paper copy ofthe questionnairefrom your local library or community centre.

Members of the gardeningand literacies class with

volunteer Libby McKennaand literacies specialist

Duncan Carmichael

“Flowers have alsobeen part of the

project, with the saleof hanging baskets

generating funds”

new skills

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AugustSTIRLING ACCESS FESTIVALUntil Saturday 21 AugustThis festival celebrates Stirling’smagnificent scenery, heritage andwildlife. More details online soon at www.stirling.gov.uk

ACTIVE STIRLING – FOOTBALL CLASSES 21 August-18 November(Various courses, times, venuesand abilities)For full details, see the SFA Footballbrochure on www.activestirling.org.uk

RELOADEDSaturday 21 AugustTolbooth – doors 7pmTickets – £4Reloaded 2 – Rock/PopFriday 3 SeptemberTickets – £6Rock/Pop headliner TBCFriday 10 SeptemberTickets – £4Reloaded 2 – Rock/Pop

BLAZIN’ FIDDLESSaturday 28 AugustTolbooth – 8pmTickets – £14/£12Fiddles and bows blaze away withguitar and piano for one of the mostexciting and memorable fiddleensembles ever to take the stage.

TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE BATSaturday 28 August8.15-11pmFrom the bats and moths of the BackWalk to the skies above StirlingObservatory, a fascinating walk withlocal experts.

ACTIVE SCHOOLS OUT OF SCHOOL EVENTSunday 29 August King’s Park, Stirling – noon-3pmFree – come along on the dayA fun day out for all the family!Activities include golf, dance, cycling,climbing and many more.

RAGWORT AND THE RESTMonday 30 AugustDoune Ponds – 10am-3pm The insects have made full use of the flowers so help us removethe ragwort plants and clean upthis well-loved site.

SeptemberKNOCK, KNOCKUntil 12 SeptemberStirling SmithAdmission freeExhibition of Galway photographs byJane Talbot.

THE JOHNNY CASH STORYSTARRING ROGER DEAN AND THE LAZY BOYSThursday 2 SeptemberAlbert Halls – 7.30pmTickets £16/£14Roger Dean captures the sound and spirit of Johnny Cash, singingclassics such as Big River, Ring ofFire, I Walk the Line and Hurt.

POKEY LEFARGE & THE SOUTH CITY THREEThursday 2 SeptemberTolbooth – 8pmTickets – £10/£8After a solo appearance at theTolbooth last year and an amazingreaction, Pokey returns with his fullknock-’em-dead band.

RENAISSANCE STIRLING SEASONFriday 3 September Stirling Smith – 5.30pm/7.30pmTickets: £6This short drama with live medievalmusic revolves around the love affairbetween King James IV and LadyMargaret Drummond.

BANDA SINGH BAHADUR & WILLIAM WALLACESaturday 4 SeptemberStirling Smith – noon-4pmAdmission freeBravehearts, struggle and sacrifice,the will to survive and fight on – thisis the glorious story of the history ofPanjaab and Scotland.

MEET THE MAKARS!Tuesdays 7 September – 12 October 2010Stirling Smith – noonTickets: £3 for each session or £15 for all six sessions Travel through time, push aside language barriers and get to know some distinguished Scottishpoets of the Middle Ages andthe Renaissance.

SCOTTISH CHRYSANTHEMUM & DAHLIA ANNUAL FLOWER SHOWTuesday 7 & Wednesday8 SeptemberAlbert Halls – Open to the publicfrom 12.30pm-7pm on Tuesdayand 10am-noon on WednesdayFree!Growers from all over the UK makethis event a winner. Flowers will besold to the public on Wednesday sodon’t miss out.

RANGER SERVICE GUIDED WALKFriday 10 & Saturday 11 SeptemberIn association with the EastDunbartonshire Walking Festival, wewill be co-leading a guided walk withthe Mugdock Ranger Service inStirling’s south west corner. Contactthe Mugdock Ranger Service formore information on 0141 956 6586.

MUSIC FOR KING JAMES VSaturday 11 September 2010The Great Hall, Stirling Castle – 7.30pmTickets are priced at £10 with aspecial offer to Friends ofHistoric Scotland of £5. Set within Stirling Castle’s Great Hall,the music of Robert Carver isbrought to life as part of a uniquechoral concert on the anniversary ofthe battle of Stirling Bridge.

STIRLING BOOK FESTIVAL 2010Monday 13 SeptemberTolbooth – 7.30-9pmTickets £7/£6Back to open the fifth Off the PageStirling Book Festival, ChristopherBrookmyre talks about his work.

Tuesday 14 SeptemberStirling Smith – 11amWillie Thom reads some shortstories of Robert BontineCunninghame Graham.Tuesday 14 SeptemberTolbooth Attic – 7.30-9pmTickets – £5/£4An Evening of Crime: authors AlexGray and Craig Russell discuss theirwork, chaired by Jim Fraser, professorof forensic science.Wednesday 15 SeptemberTolbooth – 7.30-9pmTickets – £7/£6An Evening with Iain M Banks: theFife author talks about his novelTransition and his latest sciencefiction novel.Wednesday 15 SeptemberStirling Smith – 11amLesley Duncan, Herald Poetry Editor,reads her Stirling poems.Thursday 16 September Stirling Smith – 11amYoung Stirling poet Billy Letford Thursday 16 SeptemberTolbooth Attic – 7.30-9pmTickets – £5/£4Denise Mina has written nine novels,three graphic novels, short stories,plays, and contributes to BBC radioand television.Friday 17 September Stirling Smith – 11amStuart Kelly speaks on Scott’s LandFriday 17 SeptemberTolbooth Attic – 7.30-9pmTickets – £5/£4Bestselling author Louise Welsh inconversation with Laura Marney onher latest novel, Naming the Bones.

What’sonYour essential guide to upcoming events in ourarea. For more information, visitwww.stirling.gov.uk

The Ranger Service provides arange of events for people of allages and abilities to enjoythe outdoors. They area great way to discover nature,explore new areasand enjoy the healthbenefits of being outand about. Children arewelcome at all our eventsbut an adult must superviseunder 16s at all times.

Unless otherwise stated, allof our events must be booked

in advance. For furtherinformation about

the events and tobook, please call01786 442971during office hours.

If you have booked aplace and can’t make

it, please call to cancel soyour place can be given tosomeone else.

Explore the great outdoors

Off The PageBook Festival

Stirling CouncilLibrary Service’sannual book festival is takingplace from 11-18September. Thisyear it is bringingto Stirling an excit-ing array of popularauthors such asChristopherBrookmyre, Iain M.Banks and LouiseWelsh. Localauthors and poetswill also be showcased.Whisky tasting, poetry andcreative writing events areall on the menu too. Off thePage is part-funded by theScottish Arts Council.

For more information,

please visit: www.

stirling.gov.uk/offthepage

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BIG BRILLIANT BOOK SALE Saturday 18 SeptemberSmith Lecture Theatre –10.30am-3pmOn the last day of the Book Festival, ahuge sale of art and quality non-fiction books, donated by a Friend ofthe Smith to raise funds for the Smith.

MOISHES BAGELTuesday 14 SeptemberTolbooth – 8pmTickets – £12/£10An intoxicating, life-affirming mix ofEastern European dance music,Middle Eastern rhythms and virtuoso performances.

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA GREATEST HITS TOUR FEATURING THE FABULOUS ELO EXPERIENCEThursday 16 SeptemberAlbert Halls – 7.30pmTickets £16/£15Talented musicians bring this show,recently back from Las Vegas, to UKtheatres with the most popularsongs of ELO.

STIRLING WEDDING SHOWSaturday 18 SeptemberAlbert Halls – noon-4.30pm Tickets £5/£4 in advanceThe City of Stirling’s biggest andbest wedding show presents thefinest of all things bridal – catwalkshows at 1.30pm and 3.30pm.

DAWN SEWELL PHOTOGRAPHY18 September – 31 OctoberSmith Art GalleryAdmission freeAn exhibition of portraits from aphotographer skilled in showing her subjects to advantage. All areinvited to the private view at 7.30pm,Friday 24 September.

STIRLING COUNCIL ARCHIVES22 SeptemberStirling Central Library – 3.30-4.30pmChatterbooks storytelling and exhibition.

BIG BEAST TALKS SERIESFridays from 24 September 2010Stirling Smith – noonThis series of talks is planned to givevisitors an insight into the history ofanimal management and presentpractices in farming, and an opportunity to discuss the detailswith historians and practitioners.24 September – Highland CattleUna Flora Cochrane, BA FSA Scot.Highland cattle from the 18th to themid 19th century were one of thesources of wealth in Scotland.1 October – United AuctionsSince 1858David Leggat MBE, ExecutiveChairman of United Auctions willtell the story of the establishment of local marts.8 October – The Scottish DroversIan Scott, Saltire Society, is an experton the history of droving and itsmain market, the Falkirk Tryst.22 October – ScottishButchers by Alasdair BeatonGray’s, the Butcher in UpperCraigs, is the last of themarket butchers in Stirlingwho select their own meatin the auction ring. 29 October – TheStirling Gold TorcsDr Fraser Hunter,National Museums ofScotland, will describe the

recent discovery of the gold torcs ina field near Stirling.

TEA & CAKE RECITALSaturday 25 SeptemberTolbooth – tea and cake from2.30pm with recital at 3pmTickets – £8 includes tea and cakeThis month we are joined by anunusual and beautiful combinationof instruments, with Ruth Morley onFlute and Rhian Macleod on Marimba.

ACTIVE STIRLING HOST A CELEBRATION OF DANCE PERFORMED BY STIRLING’S SCHOOL CHILDRENMonday 27 SeptemberMacRobert Arts Centre – 7-8.30pmTickets £5 – call MacRobert Boxoffice

STIRLING COUNCIL ARCHIVES30 SeptemberBridge of Allan library – 4-5pm Chatterbooks storytelling and exhibition.

OctoberERRORS + THE TWILIGHT SAD Friday 1 OctoberTolbooth – 8pmTickets £12Indie bands’ joint tour from Glasgow.

SCOTFAIRS ANTIQUE FAIRSaturday 2 OctoberAlbert Halls – 10amAdmission £1

15-17 October

The RACMSA Rally of Scotlandroars into Stirling andPerthshire again this autumn.

The rally will be thepenultimate round of theIntercontinental RallyChallenge, which includesother events in Monte Carlo,Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Italy,Belgium, Portugal, CzechRepublic and Cyprus. Stirling

stages of this exciting

event will include Loch Ard andAchrey Forest in the Trossachs,with a fabulous and free finalceremony at Stirling Castle onSunday 17 October.

Rally spectator tickets foradvance purchase are nowavailable, and this year entryto the rally stages is free forchildren under 15. For furtherinformation on tickets andstages, go to www.stirling.gov.uk/rally

RACMSA Rally of Scotland 2010

Have Your Say, an exhibition ofphotographs taken by a groupof adult learners with learningdisabilities, is on at the SmithArt Gallery and Museum until31 August. Further photographswill be on show later in the yearat the Macrobert.

“This group of learners hastraditionally been the subject ofphotographs, rather than thecreators of them,” said ColleenBlyth, literacies specialist. “Sothis project has been a fantasticway to give the participantscontrol over how they are

perceived by therest of the world –to use the powerof the photographto have their say.Each has capturedremarkable imagesfull of colour andtexture.

“It’s been great to seethe learners’ confidencegrow. They have overcomeanxiety, low self-esteem andliteracy barriers and created animproved vision of themselvesthrough photography.”

Each member of the group has successfully completed several photography qualifications.

Photographs that say it all

Doors Open Days

18 and 19 September

This is your chance to visitall kinds of historic andinteresting buildings all overthe Stirling area.

Participants (at the timeof going to press) include:● Blair Drummond House● Carbeth Huts● Church of the Holy Rude● Cowane’s Hospital● Georgian House● Holy Trinity Episcopal

Church● Lecropt Kirk● Leighton Library● Mugdock Castle● Stirling Council Archives● Stirling Highland Hotel

and Observatory ● Stirling Old Town Jail (visit

also includes 10% discounton entrance to the jail’sexhibition afterwards)

● Stirling Tolbooth● Stirling Youth Hostel

Association● Stirling Sheriff Court.

Image courtesy of Les Kolczak

www.worldrallypics.com

CONTINUED OVERLEAF>>

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More than 65 stalls selling everythingfrom pictures, jewellery and glass-ware to quirky collectables make agreat shopping experience.

CENTRESCENE STAGE SCHOOLS PRESENTS CINDERELLATuesday 5-Thursday 7 OctoberAlbert Halls – 7.15pmTickets £10/£8Come and capture this timelessfairy tale – an evening of fun andmagic, and a definite must for thewhole family.

THE DICKENS BOOK GROUPWednesdays 6 October-24 November Stirling Smith – noonTickets £3 for each session or £20 for the eight sessionsThe Dickens Book Group meetsagain, under the guidance ofProfessor Grahame Smith, to readOur Mutual Friend.

SOUTHERN TENANT FOLK UNIONThursday 7 OctoberTolbooth – 8pmTickets £12/£10

TEA & CAKE RECITALSaturday 9 OctoberTolbooth – 2.30pmTickets £8

SESSION A9Saturday 9 OctoberTolbooth – 8pmTickets £12/£10Session A9 have been described as“the best band to have come out ofScotland in 100 years”.

FUNGUS AMONG USSunday 10 OctoberPlean Country Park – 10am-noonand Mine Woods, Bridge of Allan – 2-4pm Expert Liz Holden explains the fascinating fungus kingdom andintroduces us to some of theseamazing autumnal fruits.

BIODIVERSITY ACTION DAYTuesday 12 OctoberBalfron – 10am-3pmHelp tidy up the route between LittleCamoquhill and Wester Camoquhill –there are jobs, big and small. You canmake a difference!

ROLLING BACK THE YEARS IIThursday 14 OctoberAlbert Halls – 7.30pmTickets £12/£10Performed by a cast of world-classsingers and the brilliant MemoryLane dancers. The biggest nostalgiashow in the UK!

MICHAEL McGOLDRICKWednesday 20 OctoberTolbooth – 8pmTickets £12/£10Flute and tin whistle player.

STIRLING COUNCIL ARCHIVES21 OctoberSt Ninian’s library – 3.30-4.30pmChatterbooks storytelling and exhibition.

MOONLIGHT SERENADE ORCHESTRA UKThursday 21 OctoberAlbert Halls – 7.30pmTickets £16/£14Come along to this evening of swingand nostalgia but be sure to bringyour foot-tapping shoes with you!Thursday 21 OctoberTolbooth – 8pmTickets £10/£8

BIODIVERSITY ACTION DAYFriday 22 OctoberBuchlyvie – 10am-3pmJoin us as we work on a path nearyou – probably focusing on theBuchlyvie to Arnprior route.

ALVIN STARDUST – I LOVE ROCK & ROLL CHARITY CONCERTFriday 22 OctoberAlbert Halls – 7.30pmTickets £17.50

A truly great evening with a trulygreat British rocker! All proceedsdonated to Strathcarron Hospice.

STIRLING COUNCIL ARCHIVES26 OctoberFallin library – 3.30-4.30pmChatterbooks storytelling andexhibition.

WORLDWIDE WRESTLING LEAGUE – WRESTLUTION IVThursday 28 OctoberAlbert Halls – Doors open6.30pm/first bell 7pmTickets: £12/£10/£35 (family)A night of American-style professional wrestling great fun forall the family. For more information,visit W3Lwrestling.com

DRACULAFriday 29 & Saturday 30 OctoberAlbert Halls – 7.30pmTickets £10/£8, group bookingsof 15 or more £6The evil Count Dracula plans tospread his curse from Transylvaniato Britain in this bewitching and sinister horror tale.

NovemberBIG BEAST PICTURESUntil 14 NovemberSmith Art GalleryAdmission freeSponsored by United Auctions, thisexhibition showcases the best of theanimal paintings in the StirlingSmith’s collection.

JOHN ETHERIDGE & KIT HOLMESSaturday 6 NovemberTolbooth – 8pmTickets £12/£10One of the world’s most respectedguitarists with a myriad of styles andinfluences, John Etheridge is joinedby special guest Kit Holmes.

MID-WOOD MADE GOODTuesday 9 November

Bridge of Allan – 10am-3pmJoin the rangers to work on thewoods that create a beautiful greenbackdrop to the spa town.

SWAN LAKEFriday 12 NovemberAlbert Halls – 7.30pm Tickets £17.50/£16Considered by many to be one of thegreatest classical ballets of all time,Swan Lake showcases the stunningmusic of Tchaikovsky.

LET’S HANG ONSaturday 13 NovemberAlbert Halls – 7.30pmTickets £16/£14A musical journey through the prolific career of one of the mostsuccessful bands of all time – FrankieValli & The Four Seasons.

SKERRYVORESaturday 13 NovemberTolbooth – 8pmTickets £12/£10Bagpipes, fiddle and accordions, electrically fused with funky rhythmsand soul-gripping songs – a Trad-rockfusion for the 21st century.

STIRLING COUNCIL SCHOOLS CONCERTSSaturday 13 NovemberCallander McLaren High School– 7.30pmTickets £6/£4Stirling Council’s annual School’sConcert showcases more than 200young musicians from all seven highschools. A second concert will takeplace at the Albert Halls on Sunday21 November.

MAGIC OF MOTOWNSunday 14 NovemberAlbert Halls – 7.30pmThe best live Motown tribute concertboasts a superbly choreographedcast, 36 million-selling hits, and thatauthentic Detroit sound.ANDYKIRKPATRICK – OFF THE WALLTuesday 16 NovemberAlbert Halls – 7.30pm Tickets £13/£11 ConcessionUK’s only “stand-up mountaineer”combines narrative with stunningaudio visuals to give his audiences areal taste of adventure.

CATRIONA McKAY & CHRIS STOUTThursday 18 NovemberTolbooth – 8pmTickets£12/£10A harpist and fiddler who have beensparking creatively off each other foryears – at their collaborative best.

CHARITIES CHRISTMAS CARD SALESaturday 20 NovemberAlbert Halls – 10amAdmission 50p A chance to support local and national charities who will be selling arange of Christmas cards and gifts.

From April 2009-March 2010, £35,740 was awarded

to 72 groups delivering projects to the benefit of

communities throughout the Stirling Council area

– an average of £496 per award. Find out more at

www.stirling.gov.uk/community

FASTFACTS

29 October

The Provost’s Civic Awards are given to individuals ororganisations who have madesignificant contributions to thelife of their local communities,or who have achieved nationalrecognition in their field over

the past 24 months. Theawards give local people theopportunity to nominatethose who they feel havereally made a difference.Provost Fergus Wood willmake the presentations at agala event in Stirling Castle.

The Provost Awards

Venues● The Albert HallsTel: 01786 473544www.stirling.gov.uk/alberthalls

● TolboothTel: 01786 274000www.stirling.gov.uk/tolbooth

● Smith Art GalleryTel: 01786 471917www.smithartgallery.demon.co.uk

● MacRobert Arts CentreTel: 01786 466666www.macrobert.org

● Other event informationwww.stirling.gov.uk/my/events

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AN COMUNN GAIDHEALACHSaturday 20 NovemberAlbert Halls – 7.30pmTickets £4A voluntary membership organisation, actively encouragingthe teaching, learning and use of theGaelic language.

TEA & CAKE RECITALSaturday 20 NovemberAlbert Halls – 2.30pmAdmission £8 incl tea and cake

STIRLING COUNCIL SCHOOLS CONCERTSSunday 21 NovemberAlbert Halls – 7.30pmTickets £6/£4The second of Stirling Council’sannual School’s Concerts showcasingmore than 200 young musiciansfrom all seven high schools.

FEED THE BIRDS DIYFriday 26 NovemberPlean Country Park – 1-3pm Learn how to help our featheredfriends through the winter. Makeyour own bird box and bird feeders.All equipment provided.

ST ANDREW’S NIGHT CEILIDHTuesday 30 NovemberAlbert Halls – 8pmCelebrate St Andrew’s day in style.

DecemberTHE 20TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY TOUR PRESENT ABBA, THE ‘MAMMA MIA’ CONCERTFriday 3 DecemberAlbert Halls – 7.30pmTickets £15.00Voulez Vous perform a non-stopbarrage of Abba hits including allthe songs from the highly successful film Mamma Mia.

STIRLING ORCHESTRA – ENGLISH MUSIC MAKERSFriday 5 DecemberAlbert Halls – 7.30pmTickets £9/£7/£2 accompaniedschoolchildrenThe orchestra will celebrate themusic of some favourite Englishcomposers, including Elgar andVaughan-Williams.

BACK WALK BLITZSunday 7 December10am–3pm Come along and lend a helping handto remove litter from the paths,woodlands and grasslands of theBack Walk and Gowanhill.

NATIONAL YOUTH CHOIR OF SCOTLANDSunday 7 DecemberAlbert Halls Established in 1996 to provide oppor-tunities for young people, teachers andchoir directors to support and developchoral singing across Scotland.

BILL WELLS BLACK CHRISTMAS (AIDAN MOFFAT/ STEVIE JACKSON)Wednesday 17 DecemberTolbooth – 8pmTickets £14/£12

Scottish pianist, bassist, composerand guitarist.

CHRISTMAS CEILIDHSThursday 18 DecemberTolboothFamily Ceilidh – 3-5pmTickets £6 each or 4 for £20Evening Ceilidh – 8-11pmTickets £10 each or 4 for £30

ONE NIGHT OF QUEENMonday 22 DecemberAlbert Halls – 7.30pm Tickets £18.50Performed by Gary Mullen and TheWorks. With fantastic lighting,staging and sound, this show willrock you – guaranteed!

THE SINGING KETTLE PRESENTS SANTA’S FUN FACTORYWednesday 29 & Thursday 30 DecemberAlbert Halls – 1pm & 3.30pm(Wed), 11am &2pm (Thu)Tickets £11.50/Family £42/Groups 10+ £8.50. Early Bird £9.50A fantastic festive treat that will haveyou rocking with laughter andsinging all the way home. Rememberto dress up for fun in a Santa hat!

HOGMANAY CEILIDHFriday 31 DecemberAlbert Halls – 8pmTickets go on sale on Monday 4 October 2010.Bring in the New Year with a bang!

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs 40Favourite Walks is the latest in abeautifully produced series of shorterwalking guides by Pocket Mountains,Scotland’s leading outdoor publisher.

Accessibly written and illustratedwith superb photography and colourful maps to inspire and guide you around every walk, theguide features 40 favourite walking routes in and around LochLomond and The Trossachs, many of which can be reached bypublic transport and are ideal for families.

★ We have 10 copies of Loch Lomond & The

Trossachs, worth £6.99 each, to give away to the

first 10 readers who send a postcard to:

Loch Lomond Walks Guide, Stirling Magazine,

Communications and Marketing, Stirling

Council, Old Viewforth, Stirling FK8 2ET

Please remember to include your name and address. For

more information, visit www.pocketmountains.com

Win a greatguide tolocal walks!

Community choirs SingingStirling and Kippen Wee Singhave released their first CD, with the help of an £800 community grant from StirlingCouncil, rehearsal and recordingspace from the Tolbooth, andsupport from other individualsand organisations.

Both groups have been gettingtogether for the sheer enjoymentof singing for several years, andthe CD reflects their diverserepertoire.

Tracks range from Scots songssuch as Both Sides the Tweed

and Westlin Winds to BobMarley’s Three Little Birds,by way of traditional Afro-American, Russian Orthodoxand Swedish arrangementsand a spot of Cole Porter!

Singing Stirling is opento adults with or withoutsinging experience, and everyone is welcome. Classesmeet regularly at The Tolbooth,Jail Wynd, Stirling.

Profits from sales of SingingStirling and Kippen Wee Singwill be donated to local musicprojects. For more information

and to buy copies of the CD (£10 plus p&p), please visitwww.spanglefish.com/singingstirling or email [email protected]

The CD is also available for saleat the Tolbooth.

Singalong Stirling

FriendsLectures

These acclaimed talks takeplace in the lecture theatre ofthe Stirling Smith Art Galleryand Museum, and feature avariety of different subjects.Participants (at the time ofgoing to press) include:● 27 September 2010

Sundials and their uses in

17th Century Scotland by

Cairns Mason FSA Scot.

● 25 October 2010

Species Action Framework

by Martin Gaywood –

Scottish Natural Heritage

● 29 November 2010

Scottish Screen Archive by

Ruth Washbrook

● 31 January 2011

Scotland’s Rural Past by

Tertia Barnett – Royal

Commission on Ancient

Monuments

● 28 February 2011

Linnaeus – The Scottish

Connection by Julian Ward –

Mountain Guide

● 28 March 2011

The Artist and The Sitter

by Matilda Mitchell

For more information,

visit www.smithart

gallery.demon.co.uk

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WARD 1

TROSSACHS AND TEITH

Councillor

Tony Ffinch

Conservative

email:

[email protected]

Councillor

Paul Owens

Labour

email:

[email protected]

Councillor

Fergus Wood

SNP

email:

[email protected]

WARD 2

FORTH AND ENDRICK

Councillor

Alistair Berrill

Conservative

email:

[email protected]

Councillor

Graham Lambie

SNP

email:

[email protected]

Councillor

Colin O’Brien

Labour

email:

[email protected]

WARD 3

DUNBLANE AND

BRIDGE OF ALLAN

Councillor

Callum Campbell

Conservative

email:

[email protected]

Councillor

Colin Finlay

Labour

email:

[email protected]

Councillor

David Goss

Lib Dem

email:

[email protected]

Councillor

Graham Houston

SNP

email:

[email protected]

WARD 4

CASTLE

Councillor

John Hendry

Labour

email:

[email protected]

Councillor

Graham Reed

Lib Dem

email:

[email protected]

Councillor

Jim Thomson

SNP

email:

[email protected]

WARD 5

STIRLING WEST

Councillor

Neil Benny

Conservative

email:

[email protected]

Councillor

Scott Farmer

SNP

email:

[email protected]

Learn more about your councillors on ourwebsite www.stirling.gov.uk/councillors

For access to all Stirling Councilservices phone the contact centre on:0845 277 7000• text: 07717 990 001Visit www.stirling.gov.ukor email [email protected]

✃

WARD MAP

Your Councillors

Stirling_p26-27 30/7/10 17:58

Dates of meetings

are online at

www.stirling.gov.uk/

meetings or contact us by

phone at 0845 277 7000

Learn more about the Scottish and UK Governments online at www.scotland.gov.uk and www.direct.gov.uk

STIRLING.GOV.UK 27

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CONSTITUENCY MSP

STIRLING

BRUCE CRAWFORD

SNP

tel: 01786 471899

email: Bruce.Crawford.msp@

scottish.parliament.uk

web: www.brucecrawfordmsp.net

Constituency Office

Unit 111, John Player Building

Stirling Enterprise Park

Stirling FK7 7RP

LIST MSPS

MID SCOTLAND AND FIFE

CLAIRE BAKER

Labour

tel: 0131 348 6759

email: Claire.Baker.msp

@scottish.parliament.uk

TED BROCKLEBANK

Conservative

tel: 0131 348 5610

email: Ted.Brocklebank. msp@


MURDO FRASER

Conservative

tel: 0131 348 5293

email: Murdo.Fraser.msp@


CHRISTOPHER HARVIE

SNP

tel:0131 348 6765

email: Christopher.Harvie.msp

@scottish.parliament.uk

JOHN PARK

Labour

tel: 0131 348 6753

email: John.Park.msp@


RICHARD SIMPSON

Labour

tel: 0131 348 6756

email: Richard.Simpson. msp@


ELIZABETH SMITH

Conservative

tel: 0131 348 6762

email: Elizabeth.Smith. msp@


OTHERUSEFULNUMBERS

●BT (Faults)Tel: 0800 800151

●Central Scotland Fire & RescueService HQTel: 01324 716996

●Central Scotland PoliceTel: 01786 456000

●Consumer DirectTel: 0845 4040506

●Falkirk Royal InfirmaryTel: 01324 624000

●First Bus Lost PropertyTel: 08708 727271

●FloodlineTel: 0845 988188

●Forth Valley CollegeTel: 0845 634 44 44

●Hydro ElectricTel: 0800 300000

●MacRobert Arts CentreTel: 01786 467155/466666

●NHS Forth ValleyTel: 01786 463031

●Quantum MetersTel: 0845 6066766

●Scottish Enterprise Forth ValleyTel: 01786 451919

●Scottish PowerTel: 0845 2727111

●Scottish WaterTel: 0845 6008855

●Stirling Royal InfirmaryTel: 01786 434000

●University of StirlingTel: 01786 473171

●TRANSCO (Gas Emergencies)Tel: 0800 111999

●TravelineTel: 0871 2002233

Councillor

Andrew Simpson

Labour

email:

[email protected]

WARD 6

STIRLING EAST

Councillor

Ian Brown

Lib Dem

email:

[email protected]

Councillor

Corrie McChord

Labour

email:

[email protected]

Councillor

Steven Paterson

SNP

email:

[email protected]

WARD 7

BANNOCKBURN

(Bannockburn, Cowie, Plean)

Councillor

Margaret Brisley

Labour

email:

[email protected]

Councillor

Alasdair

MacPherson

SNP,

email:macphersona@

stirling.gov.uk

Councillor

Violet Weir

Labour

email:

[email protected]

Representing you in Parliament

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

STIRLING

ANNE McGUIRE

Labour

tel: 01786 446515

email: [email protected]

web: www.annemcguiremp.org.uk

Constituency Office

22 Viewfield Street, Stirling FK8 1UA

Stirling_p26-27 30/7/10 17:58

STIRLING.GOV.UK28

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Stirling_p28 30/7/10 14:03

stirling magazine - autumn 2010

Documents

stirling council area

new ways

local people

new partnerships

forrethinking ways of

radical change

heart of local life

susan cunningham email