Draft Minutes of G&DCC Meeting held at Garve Village Hall 1st February 2011
PRESENT: Kenny MacLean (Chairman); Steve Jones (Vice Chairman); Jean Hollingdale (Sec); Jean Bailey (Treasurer); Jennifer Haslam; Pam Morrison; Sue Tarr; Alex MacKenzie; Robbie Bain (Ward Manager); Andy Anderson (Platform PR); PC Iain Macdonald; PC Alison Millar; 8 members of the public.
APOLOGIES: Bob Moir; Ruari Matheson; Jock Logie; Cllr. Jean Urquhart; Cllr. Audrey Sinclair; Val MacIver (Platform PR).
The Chairman welcomed everyone and opened the meeting at 6.30 pm and announced a change in the running of the agenda taking Community Benefit first as Robbie Bain had to leave early for another meeting.
COMMUNITY BENEFIT: Update from Robbie Bain - the main discussion tonight is to decide whether or not to appoint SCF to manage the Eneco and E-ON community benefit funds. Very late this afternoon Robbie Bain had a telephone call from Eneco. Rather than channel the Benefit fund through SCF, Eneco would prefer to work more closely with the community through a charitable trust. The set-up of the charitable trust would be written into the agreement that HC is currently negotiating with Eneco. Eneco Believes that they have a different ethos to other companies and want to reflect this in how community benefit monies should be handled. Setting up a charitable trust will conclude the negotiations regarding Lochluichart Community Benefit; Eneco have no expertise in setting up such a trust and have asked that HC act on that. HC would ask a body such as Ross-shire Voluntary Action or Highland Opportunities to set up trust.
CC members expressed their surprise that this had not been raised before this evening.
Steve Jones commented that SCF provide the “tool kit” - why do Eneco not want SCF?
Jean Bailey asked would Eneco pay the initial costs, and would costs in the future be covered. The legal side to all this is very complicated; Reply Robbie Bain is pushing for Eneco to pay the costs but Eneco are not keen – SCF 10% charge on every project funded.
Sue Tarr asked would it be possible for the charitable trust to use SCF for fund management; Reply Robbie Bain, in principle, yes but other bodies may charge less. Discussions with Eneco are very close to completion. Eneco desire to be closely involved in the trust, with local people on the board.
Jean Bailey talked about SCF being outwith the community which is advantageous although final decisions are made by the local panel.
Public comments: We can’t make a final decision yet anyway – developer could walk away if we don’t agree to their deal; E-ON seems keen to work with SCF.
Robbie Bain advised it is a reasonable deal with E-ON, go for it and get it signed.
Q: Eneco have requested that one trustee be appointed by themselves- have they made any other demands? A. Who represents the community is still to be discussed in detail. Trustees are likely to be elected from community or community bodies, trustees make decisions on how money is spent. Important to know how much control the community will have over the trustees. Trustees should be on the electoral roll.
Jean Bailey -What did Fairburn do in the beginning before they appointed SCF?
Steve Jones - The developer said they were using SCF.
Sue Tarr – the public think we are going to ask SCF, we need to let them know the situation has changed.
Kenny MacLean – we need more information, we should defer the decision regarding Eneco until next meeting. It seems we have to set up a charitable trust, is there a time by which to get the agreement signed? Robbie Bain – No. Robbie to ask questions of Eneco for more enlightenment.
Kenny Maclean suggested that Eneco be invited to a meeting.
Robbie Bain said the HC lawyers will start to look at the paperwork and the small print. Negotiations with Eneco to continue. The developers are not keen on merging funds as there is a loss of PR.
Public comments – advantages in spreading money in different funds; Q: Had E-ON agreed foundation costs? A: they had agreed to look at costs; but the actual costs appear to have come as a surprise to E.ON. It is believed that E.ON and SCF have had further discussions. Robbie Bain has had no further feedback to-date.
Steve Jones proposed that G&DCC agree in principle that SCF be appointed as fund manager to E-ON community benefit subject to further negotiations; Alex MacKenzie seconded; unanimously agreed.
Steve Jones asked would the Eneco Indexing (inflation rate) be matched by E-ON? A: Yes.
The E-ON concentric circles will be approx 1km further east of Lochluichart Windfarm, which may bring some houses from Gorstan / Garve into the inner zone; and some additional Contin houses into the outer zone. The analysis of this is not yet complete but it may be that the changes would balance out, leaving a similar split of funds. E-ON will study the results of this analysis before deciding whether to adopt the concentric circle model.
Robbie was asked about TranServ contract and the £15 million from the Scottish Government for road repairs. The Luib section of road at Achnasheen - when will repairs be carried out? Hopefully this year.
Robbie was thanked and left for his next meeting.
POLICE MATTERS: Jennifer Haslam reported that a large blue tanker had been parked at Grudie Bridge since Saturday with no number plates. The Police will look into the matter. The two Police Constables were thanked then left the meeting as there was no other business for them.
CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS: Kenny MacLean attended the Parent Council meeting on 13th Jan which turned out to be no meeting as the Headmaster was leaving his post the next day. All CC members were asked to forward any emails they receive to G&DCC email. Best wishes were sent to Betty Macleod and Jonny Niblett for a speedy recovery. Thanks to Pete Hollingdale for help with printing when the Sec’s. printer ran out of ink.
APROVAL OF MINUTES: 11TH January 2011 with amendments: Mr. MacPhail did NOT request his letter to be read out. The Chairman has sent his apologies to Mr. MacPhail. Spelling mistake page two should be Enquiries and not Inquiries. Proposed; Jennifer Haslam; seconded Steve Jones.
MATTERS ARISING: The leftover branches from the tree cutting have now been removed and thanks sent to the Hydro. Query from Dave Mudie re Corriemoillie Windfarm -the Chairman has sent a reply. The matter of the grit bin in Achnasheen has been dealt with by the Chairman. Road gritting – HC restriction on salt stocks for road gritting has been lifted as road salt stocks have been replenished. Blue recycle bins – all houses in the CC area that don’t already have one will be issued with a blue bin in October 2011; everyone will go onto alternate fortnightly collections, with green bins one week and blue bins the other. Railway level crossing at Garve - Sec wrote to MSP but no reply so far. Slow signs for Lochluichart have been ordered. CC members’ insurance by HC – members are basically covered except for travel to and from meetings. The Sec. read out her report on the meeting with AGNV (see appendix). Jean Bailey reported that AGNV had copied the accounts for the financial year, no further contact from AGNV so far. TranServ - have replied to our letter and are dealing with the matters. Co-option- as we have a vacancy it was agreed to put out a flier requesting that anyone interested put their name forward to the Sec. before the 15th February.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Treasurer’s Account: £1216.88; News & Views: £836.42; Senior Citizens: £645.72; War Memorial: £82.38. Fundraising – Jean Bailey suggested an event in the summer involving the whole community along the lines of a fete, using the hall. A committee was formed to start organising – Jean Bailey, Jennifer Haslam, Jean Hollingdale, Sue Tarr, Pam Morrison, Alex MacKenzie.
CORRESPONDENCE: By post - Membership application for Wester Ross Alliance; Inner Moray Firth Development Plan; Letter from Mr. MacPhail; HC Supplementary Guidance – Sustainable Design and Trees and Woodland Development. E mails - Steve Jones re -Public Meeting Agenda; Blue bins from Robbie/June Ross HC; Consultation Public Transport Re-Tenders (discussed, no comments); Loch Broom CC minutes; Bob Moir Branch removal done; SCF winter update; Fannich Hills Section 7 minutes; Broadband update from WRA; Reply from TranServ.
AOB: Forestry Plan for Strathbran – Pam Morrison raised a query about local access, Sec to send letter.
Jennifer Haslam asked what are the chances of getting something done about the mess on the verges at Matheson Road, Garve, of cars and engines etc; it is a disgrace to the village. Letter to be sent to HC.
Sue Tarr informed members the Wester Ross Alliance AGM is 1st March 2011.
AOB (Public): A member of the public informed the CC that the roadside litter bin in the lay-by just south of Silver Bridge, Garve, is overflowing and has not been emptied for some time. Sec. to contact HC.
It was brought to the notice of the CC that the Drove Road foot paths at the Little Garve section is overgrown with gorse bushes and is impossible to access. Sec. to contact Forestry Commission.
PLANNING and LICENSING: Planning Ref; 10/05068/Ful, 10/01/2011, Alteration and erection of extension to Ledgowan Lodge and erection and extension to house. Planning Ref: 11/00118/AGR, 06/01/2011, Erection of agricultural building land adjacent to Ledgowan Lodge. Planning Ref: 11/00155/FUL, 25/01/2011, Erection of 132,000 volt electricity substation including outdoor electrical switchgear, control room building, fencing, landscaping and formation of access tracks. Land at Corriemoillie Quarry Garve. No comments from CC members on any of the above applications. No Licensing this month.
NEXT MEETING: 1st March 2011 Achnasheen Village Hall 7.00pm. Following meetings: 5th April 2011 Garve Village Hall 7.00pm; 3rd May 2011 Achnasheen Village Hall 7.00pm; 7th June 2011 AGM Garve Village Hall 7.00pm. Ordinary CC meeting to follow AGM.
Meeting Closed 8.10pm.
REPORT ON MEETING WITH AGNV ON 12TH JANUARY 2011
ACHNASHEEN VILLAGE HALL 2.00PM
Present for AGNV: Jackie West; Gill Ross; Moira Harris; Debbie Peters.
Present for G&DCC: Jean Bailey; Sue Tarr; Jean Hollingdale; Alex Mackenzie.
Jean Bailey started the meeting by giving out copies of the latest accounts and informed AGNV that all figures have to be kept for GDCC accounts, what will be passed over to AGNV will be an overall balance.
Jackie West stated that AGNV would like copies of the year accounts for this financial year. This was agreed.
Jackie West asked about the list of subscribers and was informed that the GDCC list was the same as the AGNV list.
AGNV were then informed that they would have to set up a new bank account in their own name. A cheque was then made out to AGNV for £500.00 to start the account signed by Jean Bailey and Jean Hollingdale. Sue Tarr made a comment that different banks seem to have different ways of setting up accounts. AGNV agreed and that the account name would be AGNV. Jean Bailey will update the accounts until the bank account is set up.
Insurance for the printer; AGNV were informed that the GDCC will have to see an insurance certificate and date before we can pass over the printer for £1.00 to AGNV sole ownership.
Jean Hollingdale asked Moira Harris if she would send a copy to GDCC of their revised constitution and the minutes with amendments of their Public Meeting for the GDCC files. Moira Harris agreed to do this.
The Highland Office Equipment account to be transferred to AGNV. AGNV will do this.
GDCC members wished AGNV well and the meeting closed.
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