March 2016

Minutes of Board Meeting held at Pier Hotel 30 March 2016

 

Directors in Attendance

 

Dinah McDonald               Chair

David McKenzie                 Secretary

Jim Connor

Gordon Macdonald

Catherine Rae

Victor Sandall

 

Apologies

 

Pearl Brown                    

 

 

Members in Attendance

 

Cllr Bruce Marshall

 

 

Minutes of Meeting 24 February 2016

 

The draft minutes of the Trust Board meeting of 24 February 2016 were reviewed. The minutes were proposed by Catherine, seconded by Gordon and adopted.

 

Matters Arising

 

Nomination of Historic Kilmun for a Civic Trust award; following a recent inspection by the Scottish Civic Trust, Historic Kilmun received a commended award from the Civic Trust. Sue McKillop, a volunteer and Visitor Centre manager, also received Highly Commended as a civic champion

 

Business of the Trust

 

Secretary’s Report

 

The new constitution, which was approved at the EGM held on 9 December 2015, has now been registered with Companies House and OSCR.

 

Update on membership

 

NTR

 

Treasurer’s Report

 

Due to absence of Pearl, no treasurer report was available.

 

Dinah advised that the application that had been submitted to the National Park for an admin grant was successful.

 

Community Action Plan 2013 - 2017 

 

Action Status:

 

Theme 1:

 

Priority 1 – Invasive Species:

 

Japanese Knotweed – NTR
Tick borne diseases – this is a growing problem. It was agreed that David M would bring up at the next meeting of the local Patients Committee at the Surgery.

 

Theme 2:

 

Priority 1 – Blairmore Village Green

 

The Village Trust is planning a summer event / picnic now scheduled for 2 July

 

Theme 3:

 

Priority 3 – Development of potential sites.

 

The visit from an SLF representative had been postponed and was now expected in early April.
After the SLF meeting, David M will update the draft feasibility study brief and circulate to the committee for comment.  

 

Theme 4:

 

Priority 1: Sewage facilities upgrade

 

The lead on this matter is now with Kilmun CC. They are planning to hold a public meeting with Scottish Water / SEPA to review plans.

 

Priority 2 – Broadband Provision

 

Improved broadband continues to be rolled out to shore communities.

 

Priority 3 – Renewable Energy

 

NTR

 

Liaison

 

Forestry

 

NTR

 

Villages in Bloom

 

NTR

 

Graham’s Point Community Park

 

All issues on the bus shelter are now resolved and it is expected that Argyll & Bute Council will complete the work by April 6. Bruce will follow up to ensure deadlines are met. 

 

Jim Connor, with assistance from Bruce et al, will reduce the height of the damaged fence and re-instate.

 

Maintenance of the Willow Tunnel – Dinah will check if NP volunteers could do this in the spring.

 

Dog fouling notices – after discussion, it was agreed to order 2 notices and Jim agreed to install. A community police officer can be contacted to report problems.  

 

Working Groups / Projects

 

Paths and Access

 

The program for the next 6 months is being developed

 

Historic Kilmun / Argyll Mausoleum Ltd (AML)

 

Gordon briefed the committee on the recent financial challenges that had been encountered and the decision by some Directors to resign. David M was the new Chair for the time being.

 

A new business plan had been prepared, which will allow the Visitor Centre to operate through the upcoming season. A part-time Visitor Centre manager has been appointed who will re-engage with the community to develop a new rota of volunteers.

 

The Board of Argyll Mausoleum Ltd has received a donation of £1,000 towards on-going costs and had formally requested the Board of Benmore & Kilmun CDT to contribute a matching donation of £1,000. After discussion, this was agreed and Dinah will work with Pearl to transfer the funds.  

 

AOCB

 

 

On 12 April from 10:00 to 16:00, together with Growing Together Scotland, the Community Partnership are offering a free full day’s programme of practical training for community gardens aimed to support community growing organisations and individuals to be more enterprising.

 

Cowal Youth Arts Club will be holding a ceilidh on 1 April

 

Next Area Network and BBQ will be at Lochgoilhead on 18 May

 

 

Date of next meeting

 

The next Board meeting will be on Monday 6 June at 19:30 in the Pier Hotel.