March 2011
Minutes of Board Meeting held at Highgate Hall 29 March 2011
Directors: Dinah McDonald Chair
Pearl Brown Treasurer
David McKenzie Secretary
David Eaglesham
Ron Cruickshank
Billy King
Advisor: Cllr Bruce Marshall
Apologies: Victor Sandall
Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the last Trust meeting held on 15 February 2011 were modified to reflect that a Paths & Access meeting had been arranged with FCS, not held. With this change, the minutes were proposed by David McKenzie, seconded by Dinah McDonald and adopted.
Matters arising
None
Business of the Trust
Secretary’s Report
Nothing to report
Update on membership
There have been no changes to the membership
Treasurer’s Report
Pearl reported that the balances on hand were:
Account 1: £3,343.07 Cheque account
Account 2: £1,860.05 Bonus account
Pearl reported that invoices had been paid to Ailsa Close (accountant), hall hire and advertising.
Dinah advised that the application which had been submitted to the National Park for a grant of £800 towards admin costs (including £200 towards the costs of the Loch’n’Glen newsletter) and a further application for a grant of £1500 for path signage and leaflets had both been approved and a confirmation letter had been received.
Working Groups / Projects
Community Futures Goes Green
Dinah reported that the application for a second round funding had been turned down.
District Heating / LPG
David McKenzie advised that an Expression of Interest had been lodged with Community Energy Scotland (CES) applying for loan funding to appoint an energy advisor for the Benmore & Kilmun area who could design tailored solutions for small groups of houses / individual properties, with the Trust then able to negotiate discounts on equipment and installation.
CES will advise if the project qualifies and, if so, an application for loan funds will be invited.
A local supplier – Albagas – is now offering supplies in the area. The contract with a customer commits to supply for 42 pence / litre for six months and to maintain competitive prices thereafter. Information about Albagas has been added to the Trust web-site; however, it is not proposed to involve the trust further in this.
Paths and Access
David Eaglesham reported that a constructive meeting had been held with FCS.
Conclusions from the meeting:
o A high level path from the Arboretum to the existing forest rack was being considered
o The Trust will link to the existing FCS program for leaflets and signage.
o Inappropriate signage had been removed from 2 sites
o Ongoing work was taking place at the Glen Masson bridge
o The Trust agreed to support the plan for a core path at Ballochyle
o A further meeting with FCS was planned within a couple of weeks
Liaison
Forestry
Nothing to report
Villages in Bloom
Planters had been re-populated by Cllr Bruce Marshall
Graham’s Point
The Council had agreed to repair the wall in the car park, but the work had not yet been done. Further damage had been reported in the meantime. David McKenzie agreed to chase once more.
Mausoleum
The contract for the Design team to Icosis Architects and Stephen Newsom Architects has been signed and initial plans are being prepared.
Mairi Bell was well advanced in preparing the Activity Plan.
A community open evening to review progress and plans and to get community feedback was now scheduled for 2 June
Discussions were continuing with the Church of Scotland regarding the partnership with Argyll Mausoleum Limited on the ongoing project.
AOCB
A visit to the Cowal area by members of the National Park Board was anticipated in May; Graham’s Point and other joint projects would be highlighted.
As previously discussed, ownership of selected former BT telephone boxes in the area have been transferred to the Kilmun Community Council. The Trust will then take ownership of the unit at Clachaig; it was agreed that it could be used, inter alia, as a distribution point for paths leaflets.
A further contribution of £50 towards the Loch’n’Glen newsletter was agreed. Dinah reminded the Trust that £200 of the National Park grant would be dedicated to the news letter. Ron advised the newsletter finances, even without the Park grant, were in balance through the end of June.
Ron further advised that Lorraine Whitton and Janice Hampson would be taking over the production of the newsletter.
On behalf of the Trust, Dinah thanked Ron for his work on the newsletter and the Trust Board warmly endorsed this vote of thanks.
David McKenzie advised that he would be moving to Glasgow over the next few months, and will be standing down from the Trust at the AGM.
Date of next meeting
The date of the next Trust Board meeting will be on Tuesday 24 May 2011 at 19:30 in Younger Hall, Kilmun.