December 2013

Minutes of Board Meeting held at Uig Hall 6 November 2013

 

Directors in Attendance:

 

Dinah McDonald               Chair

Pearl Brown                     Treasurer

David McKenzie                 Secretary               

 

Members in Attendance:

 

Cllr Bruce Marshall

 

Apologies

 

Victor Sandall

David Eaglesham

 

Minutes of Meeting 17 September 2013

 

The minutes of the Trust Board meeting of 17 September 2013 were proposed by David M, seconded by Dinah and adopted.

 

Matters Arising

 

None

 

Business of the Trust

 

Secretary’s Report

 

Nothing to report  

 

Update on membership

 

Nothing to report

 

Treasurer’s Report

 

Current bank balances are:

Savings    £4170.50
Business   £2182.53

 

£980 is due from FCS as a contribution to Invasive Species training

 

Grant applications have been made to the National Park:

Admin     £800
Project    £1000 (Invasive Species Training & Equipment) 

 

Community Action Plan - 2012 

 

Action Status:

 

Theme 1:

 

Priority 1 – Invasive Species:

 

The training course for removal of invasive species is scheduled to take place in December / January

 

Priority 2 – Coastal Path:

 

On hold

 

Priority 3 – Develop Powder Mill site

 

On hold

 

Priority 4 – Improved Signage

 

On hold

 

Theme 2:

 

Priority 1 – Blairmore Village Green

 

This project is being taken forward by Blairmore Village Trust and there will be an update at the next meeting. 

 

Priority 5 - Village Appearance

 

Public seating – Bruce advised that repair work will be carried out in Spring   

 

Theme 3:

 

Priority 2 – Business Development

 

Biomass development at Dalinlongart is still planned – it should be possible to check status by contacting Sandbank CC / Sandbank CDT   
Broadband – work continues with Community Broadband Scotland

 

Theme 4:

 

Priority 1: Sewage facilities upgrade

 

A meeting took place with Michael Russell MSP on 4 October. Michael proposed that the status be reviewed with Richard Lochhead - Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment.  Michael e-mailed Richard on 17 October.

 

Priority 3 – Renewable Energy

 

Nothing to report

 

Liaison

 

Forestry

 

Nothing to report

 

Villages in Bloom

 

Bruce reported that daffodils were now in all planters. 

 

Graham’s Point Community Park

 

Inspection and certification of play equipment – the Council had surveyed the play equipment and notified which repairs were required. Dinah / Bruce to identify someone to carry out the work needed.

 

Work was needed to maintain the Willow Tunnel, benches and planters. It may be possible to get assistance from NP Rangers, possibly with involvement of the local school.   

 

Working Groups / Projects

 

Paths and Access

 

The pathway from Invereck to the bus stop is on hold due to lack of a contractor – Bruce / Dinah to check whether the Council / someone else could complete.

 

The Walking Group has completed and published its program for 2014.

 

A refreshed / new ‘Viking Trail’ from the Mausoleum area to Loch Eck via the Arboretum would be popular and should be explored – Dinah to check.

 

Argyll Mausoleum Ltd (AML)

 

Construction work continues and is on budget and schedule.

 

An informal launch for the Visitor Centre is planned for January 2014.

 

AOCB

 

A new catchment area for Strone School incorporating Rashfield is proposed and will be discussed by the Area Committee in December.
The local school cheese and wine evening at the Pier Hotel raised £1500
A soup / sandwich event will be held at the Younger Hall on 23 November.
Bruce gave an update on Queens Hall:

Survey work will begin in April 2014 with actual construction expected to begin in November 2014
The Pier Buildings will be available for use while the Queens Hall is closed
A possible seafood restaurant is being considered for the Pier

Construction work on the Burgh Hall is planned for 2014
The Scottish Government has published a Community Engagement Bill consultation – comments are invited.
The Argyll & Islands Coastal & Countryside Trust (AICCT) has been launched and in process of identifying potential projects that could be given financial assistance. Rashfield ponticum removal is one such project. Bruce will work with Dinah to determine if any other local projects would qualify.

 

Future Meetings / Date of next meeting

 

David M will attend the Community Partnership annual gathering in Drymen on 9 November

 

The next meeting of the Trust Board will be held at 19:30 on Wednesday 29 January. Venue – Younger Hall, Kilmun.