Minutes of PUBLIC MEETING held at Garve Village Hall on 24th January 2011
Chairman: Bob Cameron Corporate Manager Highland Council.
Present: Robbie Bain Ward Manager, Di Agnew Ward Manager (Black Isle), Jonn Barnes and Nicola Brookes – Eneco; Robert Trotta, Sophie Moeng and Matilda Urie – E-ON; Mark van Rij – Infinergy; Daljit Singh – Scottish Communities Foundation; Val MacIver – Platform PR.
Members of public: 28
Meeting was opened at 7.00pm by Mr. Bob Cameron who welcomed everybody. Kenny MacLean Chairman of G&DCC then stated that there had been a public meeting 15 months ago when it was suggested that SCF should be invited to give a presentation to inform the community about the work they do managing community benefit funds. Also tonight we have representations from three windfarm companies here to give update on their present positions.
Jonn Barnes, Senior Production Developer – Eneco, gave a brief resume, stating that Eneco are a Dutch utility company, solely Dutch owned who have been operating in the UK for 2 ½ years with a windfarm in Aberdeen, Lochluichart and one offshore in southern England. Update on Lochluichart windfarm - further site investigations taking place, it will take over one year to build and will become operational in two to three years. They are creating a data base of plant contractors from the local area. They will honour the agreements already set up and are looking to finalise these agreements within the next few weeks, as they are keen to see the site built as soon as possible. The community benefit is £2750 per mega watt which equates to £140,000 per annum over 25 years. Pan Highland fund will not be part of this agreement.
Sophie Moeng - E-ON representative stated that E-on are already negotiating with SCF on 2 other windfarms. They are constructing 2 windfarms in Highlands and have built 1 off-shore in Solway Firth. They anticipate that the planning application will be determined on 8th March 2011. Negotiations taking place with Highland Council; community benefit on the table is £2750 per mega watt installed which equates to £120,000 per annum for 20-25 year life span. They wish to reserve the right to approve the fund manager. Pan Highland fund will not be part of this agreement.
Mark van Rij – Senior Project Manager, Infinergy. Having previously worked on the Lochluichart Windfarm application he knows the site well. Infinergy have started surveys for the proposed Extension and will complete the Environmental Statement soon. Plan to have public presentations on the proposed windfarm at the end of March 2011. The scheme will be smaller than previously proposed – less than 13 turbines. Cannot say much about community benefit at this early stage but it will not be less than £2750 per mega watt.
Daljit Singh – SCF. SCF work with over 50 Community Councils throughout Scotland to support and administer community benefit funds of different kinds. These groups need a vehicle to receive funds. SCF can provide a service to cover the administration of appointment of trustees, costs involved in management of Community Benefit Fund, auditing. They open a bank account for the fund which is a restricted fund. A written agreement will be in place on how funds are spent. Decisions would be made at Community Council meetings, minuted then passed onto SCF. SCF take legal responsibility; they monitor use of money granted to groups and report back to the Community Council. Cost of administration would be £400 per year. Community Council could also have a micro grant scheme where they have a pot of cash to hand out small sums of money direct to applicants – this would be an extra £100 per year to administer.
There is also an option to have an Endowment Fund, where some money is directed into an investment portfolio which is managed by SCF appointed experts– gives a potentially bigger return than keeping the money in a bank account.
There is an option to set up an award programme for example a sum of money set aside each year to distribute to individuals or groups. SCF create an application form and set up a community panel to approve applications; they will run ballots to appoint the panel members.
Another option is to commission a community profile – this service costs extra.
SCF currently administer the Fairburn Windfarm Community Benefit Fund.
Robbie Bain Ward Manager – update on negotiations. The negotiations with Eneco are at an advanced stage and will hopefully be signed within days/ weeks. Negotiations with E-on are quite far forward – have agreed on a lot of principles but are not yet at the legal agreement stage.
Has not been asked to negotiate with Infinergy. By the time Infinergy are ready, the community may be able to negotiate with them directly. Infinergy have different ideas on what form community benefit may take – not necessarily cash, possibly cheap electricity instead.
Legal terms for Lochluichart – the signatories will be Eneco (LZN)/Landowner/Highland Council. The agreement will be binding on successors of all parties, i.e. if Highland Council became something else then that new body would still be bound to the agreement, and similarly for other signatories.
With Corriemoillie, it is not clear if the landowner will be a signatory – the agreement will be between E-on and Highland Council. In some cases SCF may be signatory rather than HC. E-on are keen to follow a similar agreement to the Lochluichart agreement.
The agreement allows the fund to be retrieved from SCF in the future.
Tea break was followed by Q & A session.
Q: If SCF are chosen are they willing to work with all three energy companies and vice versa?
A: Yes
Q: Are the developers willing to pay SCF fees?
A: Eneco – open to suggestions; E-on – open to suggestions; Infinergy – open to suggestions.
Comments: Understand that it is the norm for developers to pay fees; Fairburn developers pay the fees.
Q: Would payment of the fees be in the contract?
A: (Robbie Bain) Actively negotiating.
Q: Do the public get a vote on setting up fund?
Comments: Fairburn have a public meeting and four people are elected to the panel; Highland Council would be guided by CC; CC want to hear the public’s views so CC as elected representatives of community can make the decision.
Q: Are SCF the only body offering this service?
A: No, but others charge more.
Kenny MacLean, CC Chairman then asked what the general feeling in the room was, should we get SCF involved? Positive response, no-one objected.
Community Council aim for this meeting was to put the SCF option on the table for the public to consider so they can then go away and think about it; CC will make decision at next CC meeting and welcomes responses from members of public.
Other Comments – Could negotiations on cheaper electricity from Infinergy start now? A (Robbie Bain) there is not enough information to base negotiations on yet; both Eneco and E-on are clear in their agreements that money is for charitable groups not individuals; Pan Highland Fund would be a 3 tier system that may address the idea of individuals applying for money/ free electricity etc (in the future); member of public keen on idea of free electricity.
Bob Cameron thanked CC, speakers, tea ladies, audience for coming and Jean Hollingdale for taking minutes and closed the meeting at 8.40pm.
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