Sign-up for these is now live, with a limited number of spaces available.
Some Covid protective measures (face coverings indoors, etc) will still be in place at least initially, but will confirm this in due course.
We’ll also be returning to our normal fee structure, after not charging for last year’s sessions. This is a one-off (annual) £5 membership fee, plus a weekly £1 charge. We don’t want this to be a barrier that prevents anyone from attending, so if it could be an issue, please just let us know.
We’re happy to waive this where required. If you have any questions, please just get in touch and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. For those who sign-up, we’ll start getting back to you all tomorrow to let you know if you’ve been allocated a space.
News about a specialised gift card scheme is being launched with support from the Scottish Government. Businesses in Stirling are being encouraged to sign up in an effort to support local spending as part of the economic recovery from the pandemic.
Businesses across the region are being urged to sign up to the new Scotland Loves Local Gift Card, which is funded by the Scottish Government and aims to to encourage more people across the area to back local businesses.
The significant show of support for local businesses across Stirling is being delivered by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) – the organisation spearheading the Scotland Loves Local Campaign. The Gift Card scheme is a partnership with Perth-based fintech specialist Miconex.
Businesses can sign up for the scheme at www.lovelocal.scot/giftcard where they can complete the simple two-step form and registration process. The Stirling Gift Card is one of 32 Gift Cards, unique to each region of Scotland, and can only be spent in businesses located in the region.
STP and Miconex are working with Stirling Council to launch the regional gift card, with the first year of costs being met by the Scottish Government as part of its £10million of support for Scotland Loves Local. There are no registration costs for businesses. Payments are processed as part of the Mastercard network.
Supported by the Scottish Government and others, Scotland Loves Local is the campaign urging people to think local first by spending in businesses and attractions around them – evoking the strong community spirit witnessed at the peak of the coronavirus crisis
Stirling Council’s Special Uplift Service will resume from 17 May.
From 11 May, households will be able to request an uplift of bulky items of household waste online or by calling 01786 404040. They will receive a call back within 48 hours to confirm the collection date and to make the payment.
The special uplift service was suspended at Christmas due to the national Covid restrictions.
As the service has been unavailable for a number of months, we anticipate increased demand. Uplifts will restart from 17 May but bookings can be made from 11 May.
All booked items should be presented on the kerbside outside your property as waste crews will not enter a property to collect items.
Further details on items that can be uplifted, concessions and other key information can be found on the Council website.
Please note that if you or a member of your household have COVID-19 symptoms, you should not request an uplift. Households must wait 72 hours after a household is clear from isolating prior to making a request.
If you have requested an uplift and you or anyone within the household develop COVID-19 symptoms, please telephone 01786 404040 to rearrange your request.
Stirling’s Councillors have adopted a new household waste and recycling policy which includes a 100% concession scheme for the new Garden Waste Permit.
The £35 annual opt-in charge for garden waste collection will start on 19 April and will support the Council’s drive to improve its household waste collection services.
Residents in receipt of a council tax reduction will be eligible to receive their permit for no charge, along with those who receive a garden maintenance service.
A household with someone who is ‘severely mentally impaired’ may also qualify for the concession.
Almost 7,000 of Stirling Council’s householders will be entitled to the free service and will receive their permit directly.
Transparency
The new policy consolidates the current practices of the Council’s waste and recycling services to households for ease of reference and transparency.
There are only four areas of current service provision which will change under the new policy (We will advise residents when these changes will apply):
A household of five or more, rather than a household of six or more, with excess non-recyclable can apply for their standard 240L grey bin (general waste) to be swapped for a larger 360L grey bin.
Households with more than two children in nappies will now be able to apply for the non-hazardous healthcare waste collection service – an additional 240L grey (general waste) bin.
From April 2021, and once the current stock is depleted, the Council will no longer provide food waste caddy liners from Council buildings. Residents can put food waste in their caddy loose, line their caddy with newspaper or kitchen roll or purchase compostable liners from supermarkets or online.
As part of the current standard household waste and recycling collection service, contaminated recycling bins are not emptied. Whilst the Council would encourage contamination to be removed, residents can now request a chargeable uplift for a contaminated bin.
Members of the Environment and Housing Committee approved the policy following a vote last week (11 February).
Almost 70,000 new grey and brown bins have been delivered to households (as of 10 Feb) as part of phase one of the transformation.
Along with the policy, the committee report also includes a list of waste and recycling requirements for the public, such as container presentation times, contamination guidelines, collection of missed bins, assisted collections and bulky uplifts.
A link to a proposed development for new housing in Low Town, Thornhill can be found here. Please contact Thornhill & Blairdrummond Community Council with any comments. ThornhillBlairdrummondCC@gmail.com
The following information may be of interest if you run a local charity.
The Weir Charitable Trust has launched a one-off emergency fund totalling £200,000 to be directed to support the most vulnerable people across Scotland. This is in addition to the normal 6 monthly cycle of awards. The Trust will prioritise one-off awards to support projects addressing loneliness and isolation; mental health support, food and fuel poverty, supporting people with additional support needs, young people and families facing financial uncertainty due to redundancy.
To be considered for the award groups and charities must be in a position to use the funds immediately to provide direct support in their communities. Applications close at 5pm on Friday 4th December 2020. https://weircharitabletrust.com/apply-now
Movement for Good’s 12 Days of Giving is back again for 2020. Nominations are invited for any UK registered charity for the chance to win £1,000.
There will be 10 winners drawn at random each weekday from 7 –22 December 2020.
Planning Aid for Scotland (PAS) is a unique, independent and award-winning charity that helps people shape their communities by engaging with the planning system.
They want to hear from young people (14 – 26) who are interested in the future of Scotland and would like to tell them what they think about the future of their country.
To take part in their survey visit https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NationalPlan4Scot
Stirling Council will be continuing to take DRT bookings as usual.
The advice given by the First Minister to avoid the use of public transport where practicable, is not a ban on the use of public transport. DRT is similar to any other form of contracted public transport service, where the advice should be that it is there for essential use.
For more information see https://www.stirling.gov.uk/drt
