Draft Minutes: Garve and District Community Council meeting held
1st November 2011 at Achnasheen Village Hall.
Tea was served to guests and members at 7.00pm as this was the last meeting of the 11 member CC.
PRESENT: Kenny MacLean (Chairman), Jean Bailey (Treasurer), Jean Hollingdale (Secretary), Alex MacKenzie, Sue Tarr, Lady Eliza Leslie Melville, Jennifer Haslam, Pam Morrison, Jock Logie, Robbie Bain (Ward Manager), Fiona Milligan (Infinergy), Val MacIver (Platform PR), Nel MacDonald Rolfe (TECS), David Owen (Hisez C.I.C) and 4 members of the public.
APOLOGIES: Bob Moir, Ruari Matheson, Cllr. Jean Urquhart, Guy Madgwick (Eneco), Nigel McManus (Eneco).
The Chairman opened the meeting at 7.20pm and welcomed everyone.
DECLARATION OF INTEREST: None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Ordinary Meeting of 4th October 2011. Proposed, Jennifer Haslam; seconded, Alex MacKenzie.
The Chairman thanked Jennifer Haslam for providing the tea. Then thanked the guests Nel MacDonald Rolfe (TECS team), Val MacIver (Platform PR – E-On), David Owen (Hisez C.I.C.), for all the work and advice over the term of this CC.
MATTERS ARISING:
Rogie Falls Bridge - In April of this year the bridge was closed to the public because of a rock fall. The bridge was reopened in May. After extensive assessment the structural engineers have advised that the bridge be replaced. Replacement has been approved by the Planning, Environment and Development Committee and will be funded through the Highland Council’s capital programme. The replacement bridge will have a slightly longer span, with a reduced gradient. Works will commence in the New Year during which time access across the River Blackwater will not be possible. Appropriate publicity and signage will be undertaken at the time.
Ullapool Swimming Pool - has now reopened.
Dingwall Swimming Pool – Hopefully will reopen February 2012.
Red Light on Railway Line at Garve – At our last meeting the red light on the railway line at Garve was causing confusion to motorists. Sec. contacted Network Rail and a site inspection will be held at the beginning of November.
Litter Bins – the bin outside the Burial Ground at Garve and the lay-by near Silver Bridge have now been emptied thanks to TECS.
Achanalt Kerb Stone – the raised kerb stone will be attended to shortly.
Grudie off-lets – have been inspected and will be attended to shortly. Robbie Bain was asked to remind TECS to collect “No Road Markings” signs from road sides between Grudie and Achanalt.
Bus Shelters- we are now on the waiting list of 3 to 4 years for Gorstan and Inchbae on the A835.
TranServ – re-surfacing of road at Killin, Garve, and Inchbae to start mid November. Renewal of level crossing signs at Garve to be carried out shortly. High friction surface to be applied to Tarvie bends as soon as possible. Offlets outside Garve Village Hall and railway fencing east of Garve Village have been attended to.
Lochluichart wind farm – still awaiting Highland Council to sign off paper work before construction can begin. Chairman attended a meeting with Guy Madgwick (Eneco) and Marybank CC Chair, Contin CC Chair and Strathpeffer CC Vice Chair. Report appended.
David Owen (Hisez C.I.C.) – LCT became a Registered Company SC409591 on the 18th October 2011. David Owen has supplied Membership Forms and G&DCC will distribute them to every household within the next week, forms to be returned in the prepaid envelopes by 18th November 2011 to the Company Secretary. A meeting will then be called of the Membership and election of Directors will take place. Early December was suggested. Eneco is still being consulted about Disbursement Policy, which will be put forward at the first general meeting for approval of members. Bank Account to be opened within the next week. David Owen was asked if Eneco had agreed to fund the opening of the account. Eneco have agreed verbally. David Owen was thanked for all the work he has done in such a short time and he left the meeting.
E-On - Robbie Bain is waiting to hear from E-On, no further developments.
Infinergy – Fiona Milligan reported that the LEO scheme has been shortlisted for an award, otherwise no further news.
Hydro Schemes - planning consent has been granted for the three hydro schemes within our area. Robbie Bain has written to those concerned no reply so far, ongoing.
Wester Ross Deer Management Meeting – Jock Logie attended this meeting and put forward our concerns about the number of deer crossing the road at Grudie. WRDMG agreed to support G&DCC’s concerns. Secretary also sent an email to Forestry Commission with our concerns asking about a deer fence between Grudie power station and the houses. A site meeting will be held with Forest Enterprise, Jennifer Haslam and Jock Logie in the near future.
Post Box Lochluichart – Royal Mail have been informed of our concerns and it has been noted. Achanalt Post Box is in disrepair, this has also been noted by Royal Mail.
Forestry Commission have been informed of the Fly Tipping on their land within the Garve area. This has now been cleared away.
HC Burials – A report has come to G&DCC’s notice that Saturday burials will no longer be available within the Ross-shire area. Robbie Bain to look into this matter.
CC Reconditioned Computer – this is in hand and CC will be informed when it will be available.
TREASURER’S REPORT: The only change to the previous month’s balance is a cheque received for £1000.00 from Eneco as a contribution for the Senior Citizens Christmas Dinner. Balances are now: Senior Citizens, £2,417.96; War Memorial, £250.86; Treasurer’s Account, £1,631.80; Total £4,300.62. We do not receive interest on our account any longer, this only used to be pennies each month. If our balance reaches £5,000 we will then receive ¼%.
Fundraising - Christmas Fair 3rd December 2011, Secretary to email Uisdean Menzies to book a small table.
CORRESPONDENCE: Post: TranServ - Notice of renewal of level crossing signs at Garve. NHS – Designing Services for Older People Dingwall Area Seminar. TranServ – resurfacing of road at Inchbae, mid November. TranServ – resurfacing of road at Killin Garve, mid November. NHS – recruiting for chair and two non executive members application form, closing date 18th November. Butterfly Conservation – request for letter of support for Leader fund application. Eneco – letter from Guy Madgwick. Emails: Poster from Dog Warden TECS. Network Rail – reply re red light Garve. Jackie West - information HC warning information about Solar Panels. TECS – litter bin at Garve Burial Ground. Forestry - Fly Tipping reply. Forestry - Deer Fence reply. SSE – flooding at Corriemoillie reply. HC - update Rogie Falls Bridge. Sheildaig CC mins, Strathpeffer CC mins, Lochcarron CC mins, Torridon and Kinlochewe CC mins.
Nel MacDonald Rolfe TECS was thanked for all the help both she and TECS have given G&DCC over the past term of G&DCC. Nel left the meeting.
AOB (MEMBERS): CC Elections: 8 nominations were returned to HC, therefore there will be no elections for Garve and District Community Council.
There was a flooding issue at Corriemoillie where SSE works are being carried out but this has already been resolved.
Rogie Falls – when the fallen rock was blasted away from the bridge the rubble ended in the river. Sec to write for an update.
Best wishes to Jeanette Dickinson for a speedy recovery. Best wishes to Zoisa Pugh, now Walton (Eneco/Mistral PR) on her marriage.
Boundary Commission – Proposed boundary changes for UK Parliament Constituency to Caithness, Sutherland and Ross and Cromarty. Please submit your comments on this proposal by 4th January 2012. By Post to Boundary Commission for Scotland, Thistle House, 91 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5HD, by email comments@scottishboundaries.gov.uk Public Hearing to be held 24th November 2011 at The Town House, High Street Inverness IV1 1JJ.
HC are advising householders to research fully solar panel installation before going ahead.
Mobile phone investment announced for Highlands to upgrade 3G and 4G coverage.
Crime - A child’s bicycle was stolen in broad daylight from Garve village and the Silver Bridge toilets have been vandalised. Police have been informed.
HC Changes – Our area now comes under the North Planning Applications Committee which will hold monthly meetings in Inverness. A new Rural Affairs Climate Change Strategy Group has been formed and will deal with Community Benefit.
Achnasheen Shelter – requires repairs, Robbie Bain not sure who owns this shelter and will look into the matter.
Sam the Dog – A hill walker’s dog went missing last week. Despite a thorough search of the area Sam’s walkabout lasted four days, he was found on the hill above Loch Glascarnoch somewhat thinner but ok.
Church Sale to be held on Saturday 5th November 2.00pm at Garve Village Hall.
Remembrance Day Service will be held at Garve War Memorial 12.30pm 13th November 2011. Kenny MacLean and Jean Bailey will attend on behalf of G&DCC.
Sub Committee for Senior Citizens Christmas Dinner will meet at 2.00pm Garve Village Hall on 6th November.
AOB (PUBLIC): None.
SCOPING REPORTS AND CONSULTATIONS: None
PLANNING: None
LICENSING APPLICATIONS: None
CHAIRMAN’S CLOSING REMARKS: There is a saying which goes along the lines “if you are going to do a job, do it properly or don’t do the job at all”. I have always tried to do my job with this in mind. I hope that despite the long CC meetings and the volumes of paperwork we have had to read you have all found being a CC member worth while and that you feel that the issues we have had to deal with have been completed in good time and to the best of our abilities.
The Chairman thanked everyone at the Highland Council for their assistance and all the various companies and organisations the CC has dealt with. Thanks to Jock, Pam and Ruari for their support and contributions. Thanks to the public for attending meetings and those who can’t always make a meeting but help and support the CC in many other ways. The new Community Council will be 8 members for 4 years.
A member of the public proposed a vote of thanks to the G&DCC for their courtesy and felt that Garve and District was very fortunate in their CC.
Sue Tarr acknowledged the huge amount of work that Kenny MacLean puts into the CC. Jennifer Haslam agreed.
Letter from Jock Logie was read out, thanking G&DCC for privilege of serving with them.
Meeting closed at 9.05pm
DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS: Senior Citizens sub - committee 6th November 2011 2.00pm Garve Village Hall. Garve and District Community Council change over to new 8 member CC - 6th December 2011 7.00pm Garve Village Hall.
Report on the meeting with Guy Madgwick of Eneco
Kenny Maclean was asked to attend a meeting with Guy Madgwick and Zoisa Walton at Ledgowan Lodge Hotel on 5 October 2011 at 6.00pm. Also attending were Lady Eliza Leslie Melville (LZN/Lochluichart Estate), Isobel Grant (Chairperson of Marybank, Scatwell & Strathconon Community Council), Laurence Gunner (Chairman of Contin Community Council) and Steve MacDonald (Vice-Chair of Strathpeffer Community Council). Robbie Bain (Ward Manager) was unable to attend.
Mr Madgwick started by explaining that Eneco is a Dutch company, owned by 61 municipalities and their intention is to bring Dutch policy values to the UK in respect of Community Benefit. He acknowledged that when Eneco took over the site from Infinergy, they did not know the full history in respect of the events surrounding the planning process but had learnt a lot since. Mr Madgwick felt the time had come to move on and to genuinely bury any hatchets that remain.
Mr Madgwick went on to explain that the concentric circles policy that is part of the Community Benefit agreement was first raised in discussions between Infinergy and HC and that Eneco had simply continued the discussions from where Infinergy had left them. He felt bringing in a company such as SCF would bring another layer of bureaucracy and that could therefore take decisions away from communities. Something Eneco is totally against. Eneco would like to see some money spent in areas outwith the area of benefit as long as the project was of benefit to those residents inside the area of benefit. Projects outwith the area of benefit should not be prejudged just because of their location. Isobel Grant made the point that they are already receiving applications for grant money from areas which are outwith their area of benefit such as Dingwall.
Mr Madgwick said he would be happy to attend Community Council meetings in Contin and Marybank and mentioned how welcome he and his staff were at G&DCC meetings. Kenny Maclean said that all energy companies are welcome to attend. Isobel Grant added that she finds G&DCC meetings most enjoyable.
Mr Madgwick felt it was time to get the ball rolling in the other communities who are in the area of benefit. Isobel Grant asked if Kenny MacLean could attend a Marybank, Scatwell & Strathconon CC meeting in the New Year. Kenny Maclean said if that was the wish if the new CC, he would. Kenny MacLean asked Mr Madgwick why he had called this meeting now when there are CC elections taking place. Mr Madgwick replied by saying he wanted to move on from the past by moving things on.
Laurence Gunner said he was happy to talk to the new CC and the Contin Community Trust on this issue and he was sure they would be grateful for any money that would come their way. The main project for Contin is the new Village Hall. Isobel Grant felt that Contin was getting plenty of money already. They receive 27 ½ % from the Fairburn windfarm which is around £38,000 per year plus donations from the SSE workshop and Contin Quarry. Laurence Gunner was unsure what the current figures were.
Steve MacDonald felt it had been a most interesting and worth while meeting. Strathpeffer CC feels the concentric circles should be out to a 20KM radius rather than 15KM. He went on to say that Kit Bowen himself had raised £100,000 for the Strathpeffer Initiative. Kenny MacLean and Isobel Grant both felt that it is for HC to decide HC policy on concentric circles, not CC’s. Kenny MacLean asked how much of the £100,000 was raised by the residents of Strathpeffer, Steve MacDonald replied around £6,000. Kenny Maclean felt that Strathpeffer could get some money in future as explained earlier but he didn’t feel that if Mr Madgwick held another of these meetings, there would be any need to invite Strathpeffer as they are outside the area of benefit. Isobel Grant agreed. Steve MacDonald felt it would be good for Strathpeffer to be represented at future meetings. Mr Madgwick stressed the point that he did not see a problem in including connecting communities in such meetings as he felt talking was better than creating trenches. Isobel Grant asked would Strathpeffer be willing to share Community Benefit if a windfarm was built in their area, Steve MacDonald replied that he hoped they would.
The meeting closed at 8.40pm.
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