THE
GARGUNNOCK
COMMUNITY
TRUST
THE
GARGUNNOCK
COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Download Trust Membership form here
Trust Minutes, Annual Reports,
Accounts & Memorandum
Why is there a Community Trust?
The Gargunnock Community Trust was established over 10 years ago by the Community Council to work on behalf of the whole village and provide a vehicle for fund-raising for projects which would benefit the whole village. The Gargunnock Community Trust is managed by a Board of Directors acting on behalf of the villagers themselves through a membership scheme where anyone residing in Gargunnock is able to become a member for the payment of a pound.
The Gargunnock Community Trust is similar to a whole number of bodies set up by communities across Scotland. The Development Trust Association for Scotland of which the Gargunnock Trust is now a member supports over 140 Trusts across Scotland. Other local Trusts you might be aware of include the Kilmadock Development Trust in Doune, the Strathfillian Community Development Trust covering Tyndrum and Crianlarich and the Fintry Development Trust.
What does the Trust Do?
As mentioned the Trust is really a vehicle for things to happen in the village. A key function is in fundraising as in the case for the Community Centre. A few years ago the Trust successfully raised over £600,000 towards the refurbishment of the Community Centre and Drop In Centre as well as negotiated with Stirling Council to have the Centre ownership transferred from the Council to the Trust. The Trust now runs the Centre on behalf of the village.
The Trust also helped to establish the Bugle as the village newsletter to ensure that people could be informed on what is happening around the village. The Trust also runs the Gargunnock Village website.
Following the recent extension of the windfarm on the hills above the village the Trust has worked with the developers to access funding for the village through a specific community dividend scheme established by the Government to ensure that communities impacted by windfarm developments are suitably compensated. The Trust is now in the process of establishing a Windfarm Grant scheme to allow this money to be targeted at projects identified by the villagers themselves.
How is the Trust managed?
The Trust has a Board of Directors which is elected from the membership each year. These are all volunteers. Currently there are 12 Directors who are:
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Iain Gulland (Convenor)
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Douglas Johnston (Treasurer)
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Jeremy Wilkinson (Company Secretary)
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Stuart Ogg (Minute Taker)
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Gill Bell
-
Gavin Fleming
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David King
-
Barbara Linklater
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Edmond Mansion
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Jill Patrick
-
Geoff Peart
If you wish to contact any of the Directors please email;
The Directors meet on a regular basis to discuss progress on activities. The minutes of each meeting are posted on the village website and an AGM is held each year which is open to all members and interested individuals. At the AGM the Trust presents the financial accounts for the year just past as well as gives a report on activities. The AGM is also the place where the Directors are elected for the year ahead.
Being a Member of the Trust
The aim of the Trust was to establish a vehicle in the village which was representative of the whole village and so a membership scheme was formed to ensure this. When the Trust was set up many people signed up to become members and paid a pound as required.
Membership of the Trust is critical to its success. Unless the Trust can demonstrate that it functions on behalf of a broad cross section of the community then its impact will be dulled. When applying for funding for things such as the Community Centre one of the questions asked by funders is how can the Trust demonstrate community support. Having a large membership base ticks that box. Being a membership organisation was also important when we were negotiating with the Council for the transfer of the Community Centre. It again demonstrated that we were speaking on behalf of the wider community.
So if you would like to become a member of the Trust then please take a moment to fill in the enclosed flyer and pass it on to one of the Directors listed above making sure you enclose your £1 for life sub. You can hand it over personally or pop it through their door which ever is easier.
Over and above being a member you can also get actively involved in the Trust if you wish. If you want to become a Director, attend meetings, suggest ideas, or offer assistance then please get in touch. There will also be times when we are looking for volunteers to help with Trust activities. As with most things in life, we will only get out of the Trust what we are all prepared to put in.
What is the Community Council?
The Community Council is a voluntary organisation set up by statute by the Local Authority and run by local residents to act on behalf of its area. As the most local tier of elected representation, Community Councils play an important role in local democracy.
Gargunnock Community Council is comprised of local people who are passionate and care about their community and want to make it a better place for all to live.
As well as representing the community to the local authority, we facilitate a wide range of activities which promote the well-being of our community. We bring local people together to help make things happen, and we strive to protect and promote the identity of our community. We advise, petition, influence and advocate numerous causes and cases of concern on behalf of our local community.
We are the strongest means of becoming involved with your local area. It will give you a good understand of the workings of local government and what is going on locally and nationally. All local authorities in Scotland encourage citizens to become a member of their Community Council.
The community council meets 9 times a year in the Community Centre at 7.30pm, Dates for the next meeting can be viewed on the Community Centre Booking Form. A Stirling Councillor is usually in attendance half an hour before the community council meeting. All village residents are encouraged to attend meetings of the community council which are open to the public.
There are also places for young people. The minimum age to stand for election as a community councillor is 16 years.
Come along and make a difference.
Current Community Council
The area covered by the community council is the village of Gargunnock itself and surrounding farms and houses in the parish. The elections to the community council are a maximum of every 4 years and councillors are elected then, Gargunnock Community Council is entitled to have 9 community councillors. The community council meets 9 times a year in the Community Centre at 7.30pm, Dates for the next meeting can be viewed on the Community Center Booking Form. A Stirling Councillor is usually in attendance half an hour before the community council meeting. All village residents are encouraged to attend meetings of the community council which are open to the public.
New Community Council Contacts:
Jeremy Wilkinson 07887 649 666 (Chair)
Helen Rowell 01786 860630
Douglas Barr 00785 522739
David King 01786 860 399
Christine Phillips 07919 917 792
Jon Sutherland 0787 065 96 88
Lovat MacGregor 01786 860376 lovatmacgregor@gmail.com
Charles Fitches 01786 860 440 c.fitches@btinternet.com
Julie Cole 01786 860393 juliecole67@gmail.com
LATEST MINUTES
Community Council Minutes: