Draft Minutes of Garve & District Community Council
Held 6th Dec 2011 in Garve Village Hall
Present: Kenny MacLean, Jean Hollingdale, Jean Bailey, Jennifer Haslam, Lady Eliza Leslie Melville, Alex Mackenzie, Sue Tarr, Cllr Biz Campbell, Matilda Urie (E-On) and one member of the public.
Cllr Biz Campbell took the Chair of the first meeting of the new Community Council at 7.05pm. She stated that Robbie Bain, our Ward Manager, does not have a duty to come to Community Council meetings. One of the four councillors will endeavour to attend but can’t guarantee to come to every meeting. At present there are three councillors covering the ward instead of four and Biz will try to come to G&DCC meetings as much as possible. Every CC now has to declare to the public their financial position at each meeting.
Cllr Campbell then asked for nominations for Chair.
Kenny MacLean was proposed by Lady Eliza and seconded by Alex Mackenzie. No other nominations and all in favour of Kenny. Cllr Campbell handed the meeting over to Kenny MacLean.
Nominations for Secretary and Minute Secretary: Jean Hollingdale and Sue Tarr respectively, proposed by Jennifer Haslam and seconded by Lady Eliza.
Nominations for Treasurer: Jean Bailey proposed by Jennifer Haslam and seconded by Jean Hollingdale.
WRA Representative: Sue Tarr proposed by Alex Mackenzie and seconded by Jennifer Haslam.
Catering Dept: Jennifer Haslam proposed by Kenny MacLean and seconded by Alex Mackenzie.
Press Relations: Kenny MacLean proposed by Jennifer Haslam and seconded by Jean Bailey.
Dates of meetings: Kenny MacLean proposed that particulars of two forthcoming meetings be changed (suspend Standing Order): Change meeting from 3rd Jan 2012 to 10th Jan 2012 and change venue to Garve Village Hall as Garve is easier for the majority of CC members to travel to in wintry conditions.
Change meeting from 5th June 2012 to Wed 6th June 2012 in Garve Village Hall (due to Diamond Jubilee public holiday). Seconded by Jennifer Haslam and all in favour.
The Chairman then welcomed everyone and informed the meeting that the Constitution had been signed in April and did not need signing again.
Apologies: Bob Moir, Robbie Bain, Cllr Jean Urquhart, Guy Madgwick (Eneco), Nigel McManus (Eneco), Fiona Milligan (Infinergy).
Declarations of Interest: none.
Approve mins of the meeting held Achnasheen 1st Nov 2011: proposed by Jean Bailey, seconded by Jennifer Haslam.
The Chairman recorded his thanks to retiring members Jock Logie, Pam Morrison and Ruari Matheson for all their valued contribution to the Community Council. Sec to send them letters of thanks.
Matters arising:
HC Quality Awards – unfortunately our nominee, Nell (Dog Warden) didn’t make the final list. G&DCC happy to nominate her again next year.
Rogie Falls – reply from Anne Hackett at HC Planning Service re rock being blasted into fishing pools while work was being carried out on repairing the bridge. The matter is being looked into and we will be contacted when more is known.
Garve Level Crossing – Network Rail has adjusted the alignment of the flashing red lights and is looking to get longer hoods which should minimise the visibility of the lights from the road. No timescale for this yet.
Tarvie (Blackwater) Bend – resurfacing work was carried out on 8th Nov 2011.
Eneco – Construction of Lochluichart Windfarm started on 14th Nov. G&DCC were invited to witness the cutting of the first turf by Lady Eliza. Kenny distributed photos for members to keep as a souvenir of the day. G&DCC is welcome to return to windfarm site on request. Estimate that it will be 2013 before the windfarm is generating electricity and providing income to Lochluichart Community Trust.
Lochluichart Community Trust (LCT) – is now up and running. The Chairman thanked Lady Eliza for her role in getting it started. All enquiries should now be directed to the LCT Company Secy rather than G&DCC.
The Chairman felt that the sub-committee dealing with setting up LCT should now be dissolved. Proposed by Kenny MacLean, seconded by Alex Mackenzie, all in favour.
There were varying press reports that Lochluichart Windfarm was costing £60 to £70 million. Guy Madgwick has confirmed that these figures are fairly accurate but is unable to disclose exact amount due to commercial sensitivity.
E-On – Matilda Urie reported on progress. The Judicial Review against the HC has been withdrawn so consent for the Corriemoillie Windfarm is secure and E-On is now making progress on the community benefit fund. At the Public Meeting held by E-On in Garve on 23rd Aug 2011 two options were put before the public. Option 1 was the original option where 3 CC areas benefitted; Option 2 was introduced where 7 CC areas benefitted. Matilda was able to inform us that E-On have decided to go with Option 1 as this was the original idea. G&DCC was involved right from the start and their expectation was Option 1 and it didn’t seem fair for E-On just to change their minds about it. Matilda would be asking Robbie Bain to inform all the communities involved. She asked that we consider being generous with the money and allow it to be spent further afield from this area if the situation arises. She also supplied minutes from the Public Meeting for G&DCC records.
Queries from members confirmed that with Option 1 the money is split between Garve and District, Contin, and Marybank, Strathconon and Scatwell Community Council areas, and that other areas can apply to these funds if their project benefits both areas.
The Chairman welcomed the news, and asked if the money could be paid into LCT. Matilda felt that E-On have different regulations about how the money was spent but would probably not be a problem as far as E-On was concerned. General feeling was that if Eneco, LCT and E-On all agree then it would be a good idea.
Construction on Corriemoillie Windfarm is expected to start in about a year, with tree-felling taking about a year.
The next step in negotiating Community Fund Benefit is for E-On to finalise the draft Option 1 with Highland Council and following that get agreement with G&DCC. The windfarm capacity will be 47.5 megawatts and community benefit will be paid at £2750/mW. The Chairman thanked Matilda for coming.
Infinergy – the company has won two industry awards. Fiona Milligan had also supplied information in answer to a request about Green Energy (LEO electricity supplier), that meter readings can be taken monthly by the householder.
Hydro Schemes Community Benefit – Robbie Bain has not had a reply.
Deer fence at Grudie – ongoing.
Burials – Cllr Campbell to clarify situation about Saturday burials.
Achnasheen (Bus) Shelter – More bits have fallen off the shelter. HC deny ownership, looking into who does own it. Ongoing.
Over 60’s Dinner – 54 people have accepted invitation. Arrangements are in hand for entertainment, waiters and waitresses, wine and transport. Kenny MacLean proposed that the party sub-committee be dissolved; seconded by Alex Mackenzie, all in favour.
Treasurer’s Report: Senior Citizens opening balance £2417.96, less stamps (£36) and table at Christmas Fair (£8) add donations (£60) and proceeds from Christmas Fair (£106.50) gives closing balance of £2540.46; War Memorial opening balance £250.86 less wreath £25 closing balance of £225.86; Treasurer’s Account opening balance £1631.80 less Hall rental £86 closing balance of £1545.80. Total Balance £4312.12. The yearly costs of the War Memorial maintenance have not been received to date; hope to have these by next meeting.
Jennifer’s Whisky Bottle game plus Christmas trees sold raised a total of £106.50 at the Christmas Fair. The bottle had been donated by Jonny Niblett earlier in the year; Sec to send letter to let him know how much it raised and thanking him. The Chairman asked members to start thinking about fundraising ideas for next year, to be discussed at the January meeting.
Correspondence: By post, SSE posters for Drop-in Event; Small Communities Housing Newsletter; letter from Charles Kennedy MP requesting support; letter from Jock Logie; HC Managing Flood Risks Booklets; Highland Community Care Forum – connecting carers. By Email, E-On – update; Butterfly Conservation – thanks for letter of support; North Star reply about misquote; Debbie Peters, AGNV – request for meeting; Robbie Bain – CCF Funding; Infinergy – Awards received for LEO; Lochbroom CC mins; Shieldaig CC mins; NHS – Ross memorial Hospital seminar; Network Rail – Update on red light query; HC – Quality Awards; LEO information.
AOB (Members):
Sue Tarr – Wester Ross Alliance Update. WRA have started their Biosphere Feasibility Study and the CC should receive information about this. Members of other organisations in Ward 6 may also be contacted. All the Leader money has now been allocated. WRA has some equipment available for use (laptops, projectors, display boards etc).
School Play is to be on Tues 20th Dec all welcome.
Hilda Ross is in hospital – all agreed to send flowers and best wishes.
Alex Mackenzie – The Railway Police have been dealing with a theft of metal from the Station Yard in Garve.
Lady Eliza – the snow clearing on the Achnasheen road has not been good this week. The general feeling was that the snow plough is clearing the snow but very little salt being put down. Cllr Campbell to take this up. A Fergusson lorry had left the road near Achnasheen due to ice and been written off.
Jennifer Haslam – There has been fly-tipping with clothes and household items dumped in the Grudie layby again (also at Achnasheen recycling bins). Thanks to TEC services who when informed cleared it up promptly.
Railway fence at Loch Garve still hasn’t been mended. Sec to remind Network Rail with a grid ref.
Kenny MacLean – read out info about HC recycling target, they have achieved 40% but aim for 70%. Members would like to recycle more items but are unable to do so because plastics are not marked.
Olympic Flame – the Chairman was concerned that the Olympic Flame was only coming as far as Inverness. Why not Achnasheen? Suggest he write to Seb Coe and HC.
Diamond Jubilee, June 2012 – How could we celebrate the Jubilee? Beacons, Fireworks, bonfires all suggested but unsuitable for a variety of reasons. Maybe an event in the hall – members to think about ideas. It would be good to involve the school children.
The North Star amended the error they printed about G&DCC recently.
The AGNV had made an enquiry to G&DCC whether the minutes could be made shorter to use less paper in the AGNV. It was pointed out that one of their objectives was to print agendas and minutes of G&DCC. Agreed that we suggest they print the most recent minutes with a notice stating that all minutes are available on the AGNV website at Post Offices or G&DCC Sec can supply paper or electronic copies to anyone who requests them. Ideally we would prefer all minutes to be printed in the AGNV and would welcome feedback from members of the public about this.
Church times – Sun 11th Dec no service at Lochluichart or Contin but nativity service at Strathpeffer at 11am. Sun 18th Dec joint service at Lochluichart 12.30pm (family service with refreshments). Sat 24th Dec Watchnight service at Contin 11.30pm. Sun 25th Dec & 1st Jan services at Lochluichart 12.30pm
AOB (Public) – none.
Cllr Campbell was thanked for attending and left.
Scoping and Consultations: none.
Planning: Three applications have been granted – two borrow pits (windfarm); house at Inchbae Lodge.
New Applications:
11/04002/FUL, House south of Garbat. No comment proposed by Jennifer Haslam seconded by Alex Mackenzie, all in favour.
11/04272/FUL, Conservatory, Tigh na Srutha. No comment proposed by Jean Bailey seconded by Jean Hollingdale, all in favour.
The Chairman brought two Building warrants to the attention of the meeting – Inchbae Lodge conversion to flats, and House at Gorstan.
Licensing Applications – none.
Dates for 2012: (meetings to be moved to Garve during winter months. Kenny MacLean offers transport from Achnasheen if anyone wants it). Proposed by Kenny MacLean, seconded by Alex Mackenzie.
10th Jan Garve 7pm
7th Feb Garve 7pm
6th Mar Achnasheen 7pm
3rd April Garve 7pm
1st May Achnasheen 7pm
Wed 6th June Garve 7pm AGM and Ordinary Meeting
3rd July Achnasheen 7pm vtbc
7th Aug Garve 7pm vtbc
4th Sept Achnasheen 7pm vtbc
2nd Oct Garve 7pm vtbc
6th Nov Garve 7pm vtbc
4th Dec Garve 7pm vtbc
The Chairman wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and closed the meeting at 9pm.
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