March 2015

Minutes of Board Meeting held at Pier Hotel 4 March 2015

 

Directors in Attendance:

 

Dinah McDonald               Chair

Pearl Brown                     Treasurer

David McKenzie                 Secretary     

David Eaglesham

Catherine Rae

Victor Sandall

 

Members in Attendance:

 

Cllr Bruce Marshall

 

Guest:

 

Stewart McKenna, Kirknewton CDT

 

Introduction

 

In order to accommodate the schedule of our guest Stewart McKenna, the following agenda item was taken first:

 

Community Action Plan - 2012 

 

Action Status:

 

Theme 4:

 

Priority 3 – Renewable Energy

 

Stewart advised that Kirknewton CDT had entered into an agreement with FCS whereby they would be the developers of a number of potential hydro sites in Scotland – one of which was in our area on Loch Eck side.
The proposed structure would be that the local CDT would take a 51% share in the development and Kirknewton would take 49%. The funding for this would be a grant from CARES (Community Energy Scotland) plus a loan to be arranged from the Scottish Investment Bank or similar. The grant would be in the region of £10K to £20K, the loan would be around £150K and around 10% would have to come from Trust sources.
The next step would be to conduct a feasibility study on the site – Kirknewton CDT would take the lead on this with support from the Trust. It was agreed that Dinah would be the lead for the time being on this.
The Trust Board warmly thanked Stewart for his presentation and he left to catch the ferry.

 

 

Minutes of Meeting 1 December 2014

 

The draft minutes of the Trust Board meeting of 1 December 2014 were reviewed. The minutes were proposed by David E, seconded by Dinah and adopted.

 

Matters Arising

 

None

 

Business of the Trust

 

Election of Directors

 

The Board had received an expression of interest from Gordon Macdonald, a full member of the Trust, in becoming a Director. The election of Gordon as A director was proposed by David M, seconded by Dinah and unanimously agreed.

 

Secretary’s Report

 

Trust was represented at the Area Network in Creggans Inn, Strachur on 25 February.

 

Update on membership

 

Nothing to report

 

Treasurer’s Report

 

Pearl reported that the bank balances were as follows:

 

Business Account:        £1255.44
Savings Account:         £4173.73

 

Pearl further advised that a donation of £150 had been received from Evelyn Boyd. The Board agreed to record their appreciation of this donation; Dinah will write to Evelyn to thank her. Dinah reported that the application to the National Park for an admin grant had been successful, but that due to cutbacks in the Park funding we would receive £700 rather than £800. Dinah reminded board members to apply for travel expenses for meetings attended on behalf of the Trust. It is likely that next year there will be a further reduction in the amount available to Trusts for admin.

         

 

Community Action Plan - 2012 

 

Action Status:

 

Theme 1:

 

Priority 1 – Invasive Species:

 

Nothing to report

 

Theme 2:

 

Priority 1 – Blairmore Village Green

 

Next actions, including community consultation, will be in 2015

 

Priority 5 - Village Appearance

 

There was nothing to report

 

Theme 3:

 

Priority 2 – Business Development

 

David Eaglesham reported that the company involved at Dalinlongart were intending to use spare heat produced to dry the timber prior to burning it. There may still be some residual heat left.

Community Market Garden – Nothing to report

 

Priority 3 – Development of potential sites.

 

David M and Dinah will meet to progress the application to the Scottish Land Fund for a grant to carry out a feasibility study on the four sites identified for possible sheltered / affordable housing development:

 

Former John Brown site, Strone
Highgate Hall
Woodside
Land on the High Road, Blairmore    

 

At this point, David M left the meeting

 

Theme 4:

 

Priority 1: Sewage facilities upgrade

 

There was no further action on this 

 

Priority 2 – Broadband Provision

 

Bruce Marshall reported that high speed broadband is due to be enabled in Dunoon area in May 2015. 

 

Priority 3 – Renewable Energy

 

See above

 

Liaison

 

Forestry

 

Nothing to report

 

Villages in Bloom

 

No further action at present

 

Graham’s Point Community Park

 

Dinah reported that the Trust had been successful in its application to the Nation Park for a grant under the Seen, Soon, Successful programme. This is for sandblasting the bus shelter, a slide to go down the slope and a new goal net. David Eaglesham offered to contact a potential supplier of the slide.  The Trust will require to remove and replace the glass from the bus shelter and to paint it once the first coat of paint has been applied. The Park require a further quote for the sand-blasting of the bus shelter before the work will be funded. There will be a party of volunteers from the Park visiting Graham’s Point on 11th April. The Board agreed to contact the community to seek further volunteers for this day. Dinah will provide tea, coffee and soup. Dinah to compile a list of potential jobs and circulate to the board for additional suggestions.

 

Working Groups / Projects

 

Paths and Access

 

A successful walk had been led by David E. on Sunday. The group continues to grow. A programme of walks up until October has been agreed. Bruce Marshall suggested training in Dry stone walling would be very useful and popular. David Eaglesham had reported a sign removed from the path up Strone Hill. Also one path blocked with debris/ trees from the felling. FCS have said they will clear the path.

 

Historic Kilmun / Argyll Mausoleum Ltd (AML)

 

Bruce Marshall reported that the group were struggling financially. It is anticipated the site will re-open at the end of March. They have 5 new volunteers.

 

AOCB

 

Nothing to report 

 

 

Date of next meeting

 

19:30 on Wednesday 8th April at the Pier Hotel, Kilmun