DRAFT MINUTES:
GARVE AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
WITH ENECO ON COMMUNITY BENEFIT
9TH FEBRUARY 7PM GARVE VILLAGE HALL
Present: Kenny MacLean (Chairman), Steve Jones (Vice Chair), Jean Bailey (Treasurer), Jean Hollingdale (Secretary), Jennifer Haslam, Sue Tarr, Pam Morrison, Alex MacKenzie, Ruari Matheson, Jock Logie, Robbie Bain (Ward Manager), Guy Madgwick (Eneco), 12 members of the public.
Apologies: Cllr Jean Urquhart, Cllr. Richard Greene, Cllr Audrey Sinclair, Bob Moir.
The meeting was delayed due to Guy Madgwick, Eneco, being held up in traffic on his way from Aberdeen Airport.
The Chairman opened the meeting at 8.00pm and welcomed Guy Madgwick and thanked him for his urgent communications and for flying up from London today. The Special Meeting had been called under paragraph 7.2 of the constitution.
Two points had been raised at the previous ordinary CC meeting (1st Feb 2011) re the Lochluichart Community Benefit:-
1. SCF Costs; 2. Eneco PR. Kenny MacLean asked what exactly are the concerns for Eneco on these points.
Guy Madgwick replied Eneco really want to work closely with the community but they do not know enough about the principles of SCF with regards to the way the money is managed. Eneco stand by the £2750 pledged in the negotiations. At the Community Benefit public meeting (24th Jan 2011) it seemed to the Eneco representative that SCF had been placed in front of them as the only way to go. It is important that SCF come up to Eneco standard. Eneco are not ruling out SCF they want time to check out SCF thoroughly. Costs are not the issue.
Kenny MacLean – SCF have done fund management for various renewable developments and other organisations.
A: Eneco – The timescale is important but not over urgent – the agreement though needs to be signed as soon as possible.
Steve Jones - Two points: 1. Fund management – SCF are very flexible. The community can set up its own profile. 2. Administration side, how do they run things for the community – SCF ask what the community want and assist. The developer is very much involved in the administration of the money.
Kenny MacLean – What are Eneco’s concerns about PR?
A: Ideally Eneco would not want a buffer between themselves and the community, do not want to “hide” behind SCF. Eneco wish to make sure there are no misappropriation of funds, and are not going to be bounced into a done deal. Eneco want to understand SCF better; they are not ruling SCF out. There is a considerable sum of money involved and they want time to go through everything; talking with SCF should sort out any issues, but make no guarantee at this time - Eneco do understand that the community wish to go with SCF. Eneco would be perfectly happy with SCF if they come up to “due diligence”.
Jock Logie – What happens if SCF do not come up to the Eneco principles?
A: We would come back to G&DCC for further discussions.
Jean Bailey – I understand where Eneco are coming from; was SCF asked to be involved with the Tullo windfarm?
A: No, they (Mearns Community Benefit fund) are running it themselves and decided it themselves.
Jean Bailey – SCF checks out grant applicants and applications, it is difficult if a local panel have to check out local applicants.
Eneco – Do not want to be seen as the bad guys in the area they want to work with the community.
Pam Morrison – How do you vet SCF – will you have to talk with SCF?
A: Eneco – We must talk to SCF we should have done it before now, and we apologise.
Steve Jones- It would be unworkable to have three funds on the go.
Jock Logie - That is hypothetical at the moment.
Sue Tarr – From the point of view of setting up a charitable trust, it would be important that the community is not rushed into that and we would need time.
Alex MacKenzie – When will the agreement be signed?
A: Eneco – Hopefully by the summer.
Eneco asked what did Infinergy suggest in the beginning when windfarm was first planned.
Member of public thought that Infinergy looked at three trusts but never went to any stage of set up.
Eneco - It is important to have the community on our side. We will have a meeting with SCF and try to come up with something also we will look into other bodies. I will take a personal interest.
Member of public - Do you have a back up plan if it is not SCF?
A: confident that Eneco will reach an agreement with SCF. It has a big impact on the community so want to get it right.
Eneco will be paying SCF so want to be in control of SCF not the other way round.
Kenny Maclean – What about arrangements for Contin and Marybank?
Eneco - prefer a single fund.
Steve Jones – the cash could be paid from Garve to Contin and Marybank communities on a yearly basis into their funds which they have set up with SCF. Robbie Bain said there is a difference between Contin and Marybank but there should be a way of setting it up – need to discuss that between himself and Guy Madgwick.
Member of public – The previous Community Council agreed the money be paid straight to Contin and Marybank every year; Robbie Bain – Still to have a discussion about smaller payments of 3% and 8% to Contin and Marybank; Kenny Maclean - The other two communities should do their own negotiations on setting up a fund for their communities.
Member of public – We were all shocked to hear Eneco were not happy with SCF; Jennifer Haslam –Eneco did not do their homework before our Community Benefit public meeting.
Eneco apologised.
Pam Morrison - alerted Eneco to fact that G&DCC usually meet on first Tues of every month. He agreed to keep CC updated for each meeting.
Robbie Bain - When the construction phase starts there would be a local liaison group with developers and construction companies formed to keep community updated on the development site. Kenny MacLean thought this would be useful. Eneco expects construction to start in 2013.
Member of public – How does this affect negotiations from HC view?
Robbie Bain – My job is to see that both sides are happy in equal measures; it will be nice to get things to a conclusion. I will have a meeting tomorrow with Guy Madgwick. The final draft needs to be signed. Some details can be decided after the agreement is signed.
Kenny MacLean requested G&DCC be kept up to date on negotiations
Eneco – Have you looked at other bodies? Kenny MacLean - Yes to some degree.
Guy Madgwick suggested Eneco organise drop-in sessions for the community with first one targeted for the summer. This leads into Construction Phase. Kenny MacLean agreed it would be useful for the community; the more information the better.
Jean Bailey – If you decide against SCF would you help set up the trust. A: Yes.
Guy Madgwick, Eneco, was thanked and invited to attend some of our future meetings.
Meeting closed 8.45pm.
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