Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge, and Achnacarry SCIO         SC0 44101

Minutes – Trustees Meeting 1st July 2024

 

Present: John Fotheringham (Chair), Sharon Donald (Secretary), Ian Langley, Brian Smith, Melvyn Giles, Keith Hoole, Margaret Horner, Tony Perriam, Charlotte Hatto.

 

1. Apologies: Brian Donald (Treasurer), Christine Clephan, Val Steele

2. Approval of Minutes of Meeting on 22nd April 2024:

Proposed:  Melvyn Giles

Seconded: Keith Hoole

3. Matters Arising (not covered elsewhere on agenda):

• Charlotte Hatto proposed as a trustee by John Fotheringham, seconded by Sharon Donald, passed unanimously
• Social Lunches hosted by the SCIO going forward to be linked to specific projects eg Spean Bridge, garden project. Roy Bridge, School project.

 

4. Community Development Officer Update:

Renewables Income: currently £5,773pa from Koehler (Allt Mhuic)) and £3,748pa from Green Highland (Nevis Range), totalling £9,521pa in recurring index-linked income

SSE Stronelairg Community Fund: £961 underspend on 2022-23 CDO post, rolled over by agreement into post renewal over 2024-25. £2,076 underspend on 2022-23 Community Consultation and Action Plan to be refunded/diverted by agreement to new defibrillator at Mhor Health, Spean Bridge

Playpark Opening – provisional date for formal opening of Tuesday 23 July

Litter Picking – successful pilot in April, next date suggested of Saturday 21 September, venue TBC

DTAS (Development Trusts Association Scotland) – Provisional Membership now converted to Full Membership

Use of Community Payback Teams: we have been approached to see if we have any suitable local projects. It might be a little premature for the Spean Bridge Community Garden, but Margaret suggested work on the public path near the Highbridge memorial cairn, which Tony will suggest to the local co-ordinator.

Gairlochy Phonebox: might the SCIO be willing to take over the box to house a defibrillator if efforts to save a working telephone line (Community Council) do not succeed?

Forestry Workers Training: Tony looked into the costings and ongoing feasibility as requested, it was decided that this was not a project suited to the SCIO.

Statistics – membership now at 104 (unchanged), Facebook followers at 408 (was 393)

 

5. Spean Bridge Play Park Update:

A formal CAT for the 4-acre site has now been submitted; acquisition costs estimated at £8,000 (requiring fundraising) and annual running costs at £3,200pa (offset by allotment rents); steering group will include local residents and publicised at playpark opening; engagement events over the Autumn prior to acquisition, design over the Winter and landscaping Spring 2025.

Funding – Tony was authorised to apply for a Scottish Land Fund Stage 1 grant towards conveyancing costs quote of £2,000. Other public funding for incidental expenditure is highly competitive – one fund closed within a week. £250 application submitted to Action Earth.

 

6. Roy Bridge Primary School Site:

Highland Council – big step forward as Council have now agreed to allow SCIO to submit a CAT for the entire site and all buildings; lease surrender/assignation by Taigh na Sgoile and effect on valuation; feasibility study timelines; potential community engagement as plans move forward.

Funding – feasibility study costs estimated by Communities Housing Trust at £42,500.  Communities Regeneration Fund grant of £20,000 has been awarded but must be spent by 1 Mar 25 and is dependent on match funding. Tony has therefore applied for a Scottish Land Fund Stage 1 Technical Assistance grant, to the Rural and Islands Housing Feasibility Fund and to SSE for a discretionary Coire Glas community grant. He has also lodged an expression of interest with the new SSE Hydro Community Fund.

John suggested the SCIO may be able to underwrite any of the feasibility study costs beyond £40,000, if need be, and there was no dissent.

There was discussion as to the progress that the Sub-committee was making, specifically with funding, it was also noted that there are detrimental rumours in the local community regarding what was proposed with the site. The sub-committee will discuss at the next meeting which will be Thursday 18th July, and report back.

 

7. Other Investment Opportunities – Forestry Land Scotland

Community Forest: Tony met with Tom Cooper of Glengarry Woodland Trust, who have acquired two areas of forestry for community usage including firewood, milling, eco lodges for holiday lets as well as affordable housing/woodland crofts. The FLS commercial woodland at Mucomir is highly accessible, has both heritage and amenity aspects and includes recently felled areas which may be cheaper to acquire. At 700 acres it is too big in its entirety, but Tony will investigate whether smaller compartments might be available via asset transfer protocols through the FLS local liaison officer and with Jamie McIntyre of Woodland Crofts, avoiding any SSSI designations.

 

8. Charitable Activities: nothing to report

9. Coire Glas & Loch an Earba Pumped Storage Scheme – update

Coire Glas – Coire Glas Liaison meeting 30/4/24 John, Ian L and Melvyn attended. Nothing very positive to report, very little community benefit finding its way to the actual communities at the moment, most of what has been handed out has gone to HIE and universities. Bridges are not being replaced, still no confirmation of main contractor, rock and spoil no longer being taken off site but no indication of what is being done with it. www.coireglas.com

Loch an Earba – no update.  www.earbastorage.co.uk

 

10. Treasurer’s Report – £68,295.47 (available as of 1/7/24)

 

11. Any Other Business:

• Defibrillators – Brian Smith has noted a keen interest in being the local contact for all units in the area, making sure they are registered on the appropriate websites and in full working order. He will report back at the next meeting.
• £10 million Hydro Community Fund – short questionnaire https://ibp.eu.com/hydrofund
• Margaret noted that the Loch Arkaig Ospreys are being moved to Spain
• AGM – November 2024 TBC
• SCIO Trustees Meetings 2024: 30 September and 16 December

 

Meeting closed at: 9.00pm

Date of next meeting: 30 September 2024

 

Sharon Donald, Secretary

Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge, and Achnacarry SCIO         SC0 44101

Minutes – Trustees Meeting 22nd April 2024

 

Present: John Fotheringham, Sharon Donald, Ian Langley, Christine Clephan, Brian Smith, Melvyn Giles, Val Steele, Margaret Horner, Tony Perriam, Charlotte Hatto.

1. Apologies: Brian Donald, Ross MacLennan

2. Approval of Minutes of Meeting on 12th February 2024:

Proposed:  Ian Langley                                                   Seconded: Christine Clephan

 

3. Matters Arising (not covered elsewhere on agenda):

• The Chairman has written to Teresa Kennedy who is no longer a trustee.
• Spean Bridge School – a meeting was held with Liz Doyle (school) John, Tony and Margaret. The Trustees agreed to fund transport for the children 2024/25, with a grant of £2000.
• Biogs and photos for the website still to be supplied by Ross, Brian Smith, Rik Eppens

 

4. Community Development Officer Update:

Firewood – 73 deliveries to 42 households. The sale of the last of the wood offset the costs of processing and equipment. The site was cleared on time and Tony would like to thank the trustees for their help. Although a success, the project was very labour intensive and took up a lot of Tony’s time. As a one-off project for the cost of living crisis, but we were unable to sustain as an annual occurrence.

Community Lunches – Spean Bridge 10 people, Roy Bridge 21 people. Thanks to everyone who helped. Discussion needed if we are to do any more.

CJ Lang Spar Vouchers – it was agreed to donate the remaining vouchers to Food Bank in Fort William.

Litter Pick – 13 people of mixed ages, some trustees, some members of public, met at Spean Bridge behind the Spar. Litter pick went as far as Bridge Café and up the hill towards the monument. Do we do this again if yes where, Gairlochy, Clunes, Roy Bridge? A82 very busy would need police involvement. Have equipment for 20.

Lochaber Life Advert – we had an advert on the front cover May issue £165.00

Killichonate Forestry Project (Rik) – Train 2 people in the use of chainsaws (£1250.00) and get them certificated so that they could thin birch copses and the fire wood would go the SCIO for distribution. Tony to collate costs for discussion at next meeting.

 

Community Garden, Allotments and Riverside Walk (approx. 4 acres) –

Transfer should be October-December 2024, Twin Deer Law dealing with legalities. John & Tony to meet with Roddy Campbell re the area he still owns. It will be imperative that a committee/group is set up to work on this part of the project, it needs to be the people who are going to use it as well as SCIO trustees. Decisions will need to be made re landscaping/regeneration/management of the land, Highland Council have funding pots for this.

 

Spean Bridge Play Park Update

Installation complete with snagging to be done 25th April £16,785 – total cost, no VAT as through Highland Council
Supplied by Caledonian Play – Highland Council preferred contractor, sourced and made in Scotland, meets our sustainability requirement. It was like for like to avoid the necessity for planning permission, not age specific but probably aimed at younger children, 2 x magnifying posts added. HC will tidy area around the new equipment.
Official opening to be organised Invite Highland Councillor, SSE representative (Morven Smith) to attend, small plaque to be added somewhere.
The SCIO’s existing public liability has been extended to cover the Play Park.

 

Roy Bridge Primary School Site:

Important to remember that the timescale for this project will be 5-6 years. The SCIO needs to build a close working relationship with Lochaber Housing & The Community Housing Trust in the first place with a broad plan agreed. This will start with a ‘needs survey’ involving the community.
A sub-committee was formed to report back to the trustees: Sharon Donald, Keith Hoole, Melvyn Giles, Brian Smith, Ian Langley & Tony Perriam

Twin Deer Law have ascertained that HC own the site, so no surprises to come. HC being very quiet regarding negotiations with Taigh na Sgoile regarding outstanding lease. Next meeting of Sub-committee 18/7/24

 

Other Investment Opportunities – Forestry Land Scotland

It was agreed that Tony would look into it in more detail, involve Rik with his knowledge of Woodlands and come back to the trustees. Not seen as an imminent project as we have a lot happening at the moment.

5. Charitable Activities: nothing to report

6. Place Plan:

This project is being dealt with by the Community Council who will have full access to all the information collected for the SCIO Development Plan

 

7. Coire Glas & Loch an Earba Pumped Storage Scheme – update

Coire Glas – Tunnelling has resumed after the rock issues. Coire Glas Liaison meeting 30/4/24 John, Ian L and Melvyn will report back. www.coireglas.com

Loch an Earba – John read out the letter that he has sent to James McKenzie, Scottish Government in his capacity as Chair of the Community Council. Generally there are lots of grey areas that need to be confirmed and much in the lengthy proposal that we do not agree with not least of all the community benefit. www.earbastorage.co.uk

8. Treasurer’s Report – £57,451.78 (available as of 22/4/24)

9. Succession Planning & Redistribution of Workload

John read out a letter explaining his position with regard to personal matters and his need for more hands-on help with the role he has.

• John will stay as Chair, at least until the next AGM
• Brian Donald would like to step down as Treasurer, will stay at least until next AGM
• Melvyn (vice-chair) and Val will take on the responsibility of finding funding streams
• Melvyn will also do the quarterly HIE funding claims online
• All trustees made themselves available for any role that would help John

 

10. Any Other Business:

• We have 104 members & 393 Facebook followers
• Spean Bridge Hotel possibility it will be for sale – not a viable option for SCIO
• Ian Langley encouraged everyone to sign & send the Support Belford Hospital letter
• AGM – November 2024 TBC
• SCIO Trustees Meetings 2024: 1 July – 30 September – 16 December

 

Meeting closed at: 9.00pm

Date of next meeting: 1 July 2024

Sharon Donald, Secretary

Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge, and Achnacarry SCIO SC0 44101 

Minutes – Trustees Meeting 12th February 2024

 

Present: John Fotheringham, Sharon Donald, Ian Langley, Christine Clephan, Brian Smith, Melvyn Giles, Val Steele, Margaret Horner & Tony Perriam.

 

1. Apologies: Brian Donald, Keith Hoole, Rik Eppens

 

2. Approval of Minutes of Meeting on 25th October 2023:

Proposed: Melvyn Giles

Seconded: Ian Langley

 

3. Matters Arising (not covered elsewhere on agenda):

Purchase has been made of litter picking equipment for 20 people £250.00, stored with Tony. First litter pick 6th April 10.30am Spean Bridge Woollen Mill Car Park – will be advertised closer to date on local Facebook platforms and website.

Equipment could be made available to other groups, but not the most robust so would be under proviso that any damages to it would be repaired/replaced.

 

4. CDO Funding, Hours, Salary:

Match funding has been confirmed by both HIE & SSE Renewables Position funded up to March 2026 HIE will pay £10k before the end of March 2023 Salary for CDO has been increased from £18.75 to £20.00 per hour

 

5. Community Development Officer Update:

· Community Action Plan – Valid until 2028 as a reference point and guide, some hard copies left if anyone needs them. Cost £1800 less than budgeted which has gone towards spending on the Mhor Health defibrillator.

· Spean Bridge Play Park – Installation date w/c 25/3/24 Supplied by Caledonian Play – Highland Council preferred contractor. All legalities sorted and confirmed. Official opening to be organised approx. 2 weeks after any snagging issues. Invite Highland Councillor, SSE representative (Morvern Smith) to attend. It was mentioned that there had been some issues with the installation of the new play park equipment at Roy Bridge (not a SCIO project) and the hope was expressed that there would be no such problems at Spean. The SCIO’s existing public liability will be extended to cover the Play Park.

· Community Garden, Allotments and Riverside Walk (approx. 4 acres) – Community Asset Transfer in progress and HC has intimated this will be £0, nil consideration. Fee quote from Twin Deer Law for legal fees – copy attached. We will approach the Land Fund for the cost of the legal fees, £2k. SCIO’s Public Liability insurance will be extended to cover the 4 acres. Once the Asset Transfer is complete detailed discussions can be started with the community regarding ideas for the site – allotments, wildlife area, polytunnel, footpaths, landscaping. Who will be responsible for ongoing maintenance, done by HC at the moment? Tree survey required – we might be able to get HC to do this. Fishing rights on the river need to be confirmed. Roddy Campbell owns land in the middle of the site, meeting to be set up to discuss.

· Affordable Housing and Mixed Use Space at Roy Bridge School CRF – we have been awarded £20k from the Community Regeneration Fund (CRF) for pre-planning costs, legal fees, site survey, ground survey, building survey, architects fees. This needs to be match funded and should be spent by April 2025 but that date could probably be extended. Taigh Na Sgoil – are 20 years into a 50 year lease but after discussions seem to be prepared to surrender the last 30 years, HC will have to deal with this before the SCIO takes ownership. This means we would have the whole site and all buildings Scottish Land Fund – will fund 90% of market value of asset Highland Council – will discount 10-15% of the market value. We will have a better picture at the April SCIO meeting. Important to remember that the timescale for this project will be 5-6 years. The SCIO needs to build a close working relationship with Lochaber Housing & The Community Housing Trust in the first place with a broad plan agreed. This will start with a ‘needs survey’ involving the community. A sub-committee was formed to report back to the trustees: Sharon Donald, Keith Hoole, Melvyn Giles, Brian Smith, Ian Langley & Tony Periam

· Community Firewood Bank – this has been a successful project over the winter with appreciative comments, 42 households received a delivery before Christmas and the same households will be offered the same again. This will still leave a surplus which will be sold. This will go towards offsetting the £650 initial processing fee. Rik Eppens would like the last of the firewood to be away from the site by 1/4/24. The bagging/delivery process is on a Friday between 9am and 1pm. Tony expressed his very grateful thanks to those who had helped in all weathers.

· Soup & Sandwiches – this was held in Spean Bridge before Christmas, approx. 10 people attended. It was agreed that we would hold the same event in Roy Bridge Hall 8/3/24. Those able to help to contact Tony directly.

· We now have 101 members and 364 Facebook followers.

 

6. Other Investment Opportunities – Forestry Land Scotland

We have been made aware of the opportunity to purchase woodland from Forestry & Land Scotland (F&LS) There are some viable plantations within our area, Mucomir for one. If we wanted to purchase F&LS would have to give us a good reason to refuse to sell. Discussion was had as to the benefits and use: Community Woodland Forest – firewood/walks Woodland Crofts – for rent/sale Other rural businesses. It was agreed that Tony would look into it in more detail, involve Rik with his knowledge of Woodlands and come back to the trustees. Not seen as an imminent project as we have a lot happening at the moment.

 

7. Coire Glas Pumped Storage Scheme – update

The project hit a technical issue when it met loose rock 750 metres into the test tunnel. Tunnelling had to stop whist the tunnel lining was reinforced. Works are due to restart at the end of the February. The date of completion for the initial works has moved on 6 months.

The contractors for the main project have still not been made public.

The temporary accommodation in Spean Bridge will not be used for the build, alternative accommodation will be sorted at Invergarry.

 

8. Treasurer’s Report – £53419.00 (available as of 6/2/24)

 

9. AGM – date to be confirmed in November 2024

 

10. Any Other Business:

· John Fotheringham to write to a trustee who has not been in contact or attended any meetings for several months.

· Brian Donald proposed that the SCIO pay a fixed annual fee of £250 to Kilmonivaig Church for use of the Hall for a variety of events throughout 2024. Seconded by Ian Langley and agreed unanimously.

· Charlotte Hatto has noted an interest in becoming a trustee, unfortunately she could not attend this meeting but it was agreed that she would be sent these minutes.

· A letter was received from the new head of Spean Bridge School regarding our funding relationship with them. It was agreed that John Fotheringham, Tony Perriam and Margaret Horner would meet with Liz Doyle to discus what they needed and how we could support the school moving forward.

· A letter was received from the Clan Cameron Society requesting support for the Annual Gathering at Achnacarry. The SCIO wishes the event well and will advertise it on its digital platforms but will not be donating any financial aid.

· An email was received from Dana Maclennan requesting a donation for a Bingo Prize at an event 1/3/24 raising funds for the P7 residential trip to Loch Inch. The cost per child is £250.00 and 11 children are going. Sharon Donald proposed donating £250 (the cost for one child) this was agreed unanimously. Ross Maclennan, did not take part in the decision due to a conflict of interest.

· Three trustees are still to provide Tony with photos and biographies for the website.

· Proposed Culachy Windfarm – they are keeping in touch with us, there is the potential of approx. £40k per annum community benefit once up and running.

 

Meeting closed at: 9.00pm

Date of next meeting: 22 April 2024

 

Sharon Donald, Secretary

 

Diary Dates:

· 01/03/24 – P7 Bingo Fundraiser

· 08/03/24 – Soup & Sandwiches, Roy Bridge Hall

· 25/03/24 – start of installation of Spean Bridge Play Park

· 01/04/24 – Firewood project to be completed

· 2nd week in April (TBC) – official opening of Spean Play Park

· 06/04/24 – Litter Pick, meet at Spean Bridge Woollen Mill car park, 10.30am

· SCIO Trustees Meetings 2024: 22 April – 1 July – 30 September – 16 December

· November (TBC) – SCIO AGM

 

 

Minutes of Annual General Meeting held on 18th January 2024

Present:   15 Members

Apologies: Keith Hoole, Melvyn Giles, Brian Donald, Rik Eppens, Margaret Horner, Liz Fotheringham, Alyson Hyde, Rosie Reid, Andrew Reid, Helen Mason, Diane Perriam, Daniel Healy, Jackie Stanley. Scott Andrews

Minutes of AGM held on 16th November 2022 – These having been circulated, and with no amendments were approved. Proposer:  Sharon Donald                 Seconder: Brian Smith

Community Development Officer Update – Tony Perriam gave those present an update on the priorities identified in the Community Action Plan. The Charity will continue to support those seeking an active travel link between Roy Bridge Spean Bridge and Leanachan Crossroads. It does look that Transport Scotland are looking for some progress on the plan in the next financial year.

The Community Asset Transfer for the acquisition of land from Highland Council to form a community garden and riverside walk in Spean Bridge has been approved in principle, at no cost to the Charity. There are legal obligations and a tree survey to complete, and additional private land acquisition to be negotiated. When these are finalised, the local community will be involved in a consultation on how best to proceed. The Playpark Equipment we hope will be in place on site by April.

The Community Asset Transfer for Roy Bridge School has too been agreed in principle thanks in part to Scottish Government endorsement. Here the consideration will be at market value, and will require Scottish Land Fund support. The Communities Housing Trust is assisting us and we have made a Community Regeneration Funding Application for 50% of the Pre planning costs. There will need to be a housing needs survey and local consultation, but we are hoping for affordable housing, and flexible business units in partnership with LHA.

Other current projects include the Community Firewood Bank which has seen 45 households with residents over the age of 75 received split larch for firewood pre-Christmas with a second consignment being delivered in the New Year. We are also installing a Defibrillator on the outside of the pharmacy in Spean Bridge. The Chairman thanked Tony for his excellent update and for his continued commitment to the Charity. He also announced that SSE Renewables and HIE had agreed to continue to fund the post for an additional 2 years.

 

Chairman’s Report: The Report having been circulated, and there being no questions it was adopted

Proposer: Ian Langley                   Seconder: Charlotte Hatto

 

Treasurer’s Report: In the absence of the Treasurer the Chairman read out the Treasurer’s Report accompanying the annual accounts which had been circulated, they were approved without question.

Proposer: Ian Matheson          Seconder: Neal Parrish

Election of Trustees:  From next year a third of the Trustees will stand down each year, but are eligible for re-election. The following Trustees were elected: John Fotheringham, Brian Donald, Sharon Donald, Margaret Horner, Brian Smith, Christine Clephan, Rik Eppens, Ian Langley, Keith Hoole, Ross MacLennan, Val Steele & Melvyn Giles.

Election of Office Bearers – The following were duly elected:

Chairman – John Fotheringham       Proposed Ross MacLennan Seconded Neal Parrish

Vice Chairman – Melvyn Giles           Proposed Brian Smith Seconded Sharon Donald

Secretary –   Sharon Donald               Proposed John Fotheringham Seconded Ian Langley

Treasurer –    Brian Donald                 Proposed John Fotheringham Seconded Tony Perriam

 

Any Other Business:  Val Steele asked if the upgrade of the Roy Bridge Playpark was at the expense of the Altour road one? The Chairman explained that the Scottish Government was funding upgrades of playparks across Scotland and no doubt Roy Bridge had benefitted from that initiative.

Wullie Porter asked about informing members that do not have access to the Internet, what was the selection criteria for the firewood, and why was Spean Bridge selected for the additional defibrillator when potentially there could be 5 installed there.

Tony explained that notices were posted on village noticeboards of important events. The Trustees had carefully considered the criteria but felt that the elderly felt the cold more than any other group and decided those with a household member over the age of 75 would be most deserving. At the time we made the decision on the Defibrillator we knew of only one each in Spean and Roy, subsequently we have found there is the potential for up to 5 in Spean Bridge, 3 in Achnacarry and I in Roy Bridge and we will be looking at Gairlochy in the future.

 

The Chairman thanked all for attending and the Meeting closed at 20:30.

 

Sharon Donald, Secretary

            Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge, and Achnacarry SCIO         

Trustees Meeting 25th October 2023 (incorporating notes from 2nd October 2023)

 

Present 25/10/23: John Fotheringham, Sharon Donald, Ian Langley, Christine Clephan, Brian Smith, Keith Hoole, Melvyn Giles, Val Steele, Margaret Horner & Tony Perriam.    

1. Apologies: Brian Donald

(On 2/10/23 the meeting held at Kilmonivaig did not meet the quorum so the items on the agenda could not be voted on but they were discussed. At a subsequent meeting 25/5/25 the same items were discussed again, with a requisite number of attendees, and voted on. The minutes herewith incorporate both meetings)

2. Approval of Minutes of Meeting on 3rd July 2023:

Proposed:  Christine Clephan                                                   

Seconded: John Fotheringham

 

3. Matters Arising:

Val Steele, new trustee, introduced herself to the meeting.

 

4. Community Development Officer Update – July to September 2023:

Projects Underway

• Playpark Equipment, Spean Bridge – 3 rejections, 5 successful appeals and full £16,500 raised. The equipment has been ordered through Highland Council 0% vat, Caledonian Play will not be completed until the end of the year.
  Opening ceremony to be organised person to open it possibly from SSE, Morvern Smith? TBC
• Community Garden, Allotments and Riverside Walk – Community Asset Transfer in progress. Choose conveyancing solicitor, tree survey, co-ordinate purchase of privately owned adjacent ground.
  Will get a quote from Twin Deer Law for conveyancing.
  Land in the centre of the area belongs to Roddy Campbell it is fenced with separate access so will not cause any issues if it is not part of the project, still to be decided.
  The park /project will need a name “Campbell Park”? open up to the community.
  Investigating the need to increase ‘Public Liability’ insurance
• Affordable Housing and Mixed Use Space at Roy Bridge School – Community Asset Transfer initiated and partnership with Communities Housing Trust and Lochaber Housing Association established, Community Regeneration Fund application for £45,000 (Tony reports that we received a very favourable response and need to present the detailed application in next two weeks).** see notes later in minutes**
• Community Firewood Bank – stored timber cut and split, awaiting delivery from late October. – Tony organising volunteers to help with bagging & distribution, will approach SCIO members as well as Trustees for help, a list of recipients is being collated. Bags for the logs are required cost approx. £70.00 – Ok’d
• Spean Bridge Defibrillator – consent agreed, awaiting electrical quote and funding confirmation

 

Projects to Discuss

• Gairlochy Noticeboard (in hand Men’s Shed)
• Defibrillator (phone box or Scottish Canals cottage, electricity required)
• Litter Picking Squads – approve £240 to equip 20 volunteers, would be stored by Tony
• Spean Bridge Signal Box – cost and practicalities of lease with Network Rail or Scotrail Station Spaces, need to discuss what it would be used for.
• Winter Soup and Sandwich Lunches – rationale, aim, frequency.
  Pilot arranged for Friday 27/10/23 at Spean Bridge Hall, catered by the trustees, advertising on local Face Book sites.
• Community Woodland – identify site/s and engage with Forestry and Land Scotland & also involve Rik Eppens.
• Flower Tubs at Spean Bridge – Corpach example, feasibility of sponsorship, stocking and volunteers. JF reminded the group that local businesses have historically sponsored these.

Dormant Projects

• Community Bus – East West service in partnership with Shiel Buses
• Active Travel – Spean to Roy and Spean to Leanachan
• Renewable Energy Schemes, Spean Bridge Mixed Use Development

Meetings – Fred Olsen Renewables, Community Housing Trust, Achnabobane residents. Killiechonate Woodlands, Campbell Homes, Highland Council Access Ranger
Attendance – at SSE Community Liaison Group, SSE Kilfinnan and Affected Residents Group, FLS Glen Roy Management Plan Open Day, SG Just Transation Land Use Workshop, Communities Housing Trust Annual AGM Open day, HIE Lochaber & Lochalsh Local Development Officer Annual Gathering, Community Council meetings in July and August
Online Participation – SSE Renewables, DTAS Membership Assessment
Forthcoming Events – Scottish Rural Parliament workshop 2 November
Facebook Page – now at 228 members (214 in July)
Website – updated as required
Website Activity Levels over last 30 days – 138 sessions (down 6%), pageviews 231 (up 4%), average session duration 1 min 26 secs (up 15%), users 87 (down 19%)
SCIO Membership – now at 96 (7 new members since last meeting) – additional 9 more joined after the lunch was advertised on social media

 

5. Community Development Officer Hours and Salary

The Development Officers salary is met by match funding split equally between SSE and HIE. Despite previous verbal assurances HIE will not be able to formally confirm match funding until December, in the absence of such funding it was agreed that the Charity (SCIO) would underwrite the match funding whilst looking for another partner. Our CDO is doing far more than we originally imagined and has become invaluable. An increase in the hourly rate of £1.00 per hour was also discussed.

 

6. Community Action Plan – Covered under item 4.

 

7. Altour Road, Spean Bridge Play Park – Covered under item 4.

 

8. Roy Bridge Primary School Site

A meeting was held at RB School to look at the area which may be available for development. Present were 9 trustees and 2 members of Communities Housing Trust. It is still uncertain as to whether the part of the property leased by the gaelic school will be available, TP is trying to find out.

Communities Housing Trust (CHT) gave a talk about how they would work with us if they were appointed by the SCIO. They handed out literature including a route map and made their case.

A proposal was put forward by I Langley and seconded by Keith Hoole to appoint CHT for the first part of the process. A vote was taken, and it was agreed. The first stage will include work to secure the £45k from the Community Regeneration Fund to get things started. (John Fotheringham did not take part in this decision due to his involvement with the CHT).

A sub committee will be formed to work with CHT going forward.  (www.chtrust.co.uk)

 

9. Other Investment Opportunities – Covered under item 4.

 

10. Charitable Activities

Request from SB Primary School for £100.00 for the gardening club – agreed

Request from head teacher of SB Primary School for an unspecified amount to go towards projects including transport costs. After discussion it was decided to ask the head teacher to come to a meeting to put her case and give us more details about what any donations would be used for and also glean more information about other income streams the school has access to. The suggestion was made that Tony could help the school to investigate other potential funding.

 

11. Coire Glas Pumped Storage Scheme

 

A new person in charge of the scheme, Mr Seaton.
The working hours agreement that was in place still seems to being breached on a regular basis.
Kate Forbes, MSP, is involved on behalf of the Community Council, trying to access information about the working relationship between SSE Renewables and Highland Council.
Angus MacDonald, Highland Councillor, is also involved in talks to ease the use of the Kilfinnan Road.

 

12. Treasurer’s Report – £58,122.33 in bank account. (5/10/2023)

 

13. Annual General Meeting – To be held 23rd November 2023, 7pm, Spean Bridge Hall
    (This has been updated to 18th anuary 2024)

 

14. Any Other Business

• Scottish Rural Parliament, Energy Schemes, Community Projects – Tony doing a talk at the workshop being held at Spean Bridge Hall 2/11/23. JF attending as a delegate. SCIO will sponsor a young person £100.00 to attend, this is offset by the £100.00 that Tony is receiving for the talk.

• The SCIO newsletter is emailed directly to members and is to be printed out and put on the noticeboards and also shared on the Spean and Roy Facebook pages after speaking with the Admins.
• Community Council elections coming up in November – good luck to all
• JF & TP met with Fred Olsen Renewables and discussed the Culachy Windfarm, 8 pylons, which will be between Aberchalder and Glen Roy. Although just outside our area we will receive some community benefit from the £280k per annum that will be split between Fort Augustus, Glen Moriston, Stratherrick & Foyers, Laggan, Glengarry and us. We do not know exactly how much at this stage.
• Agendas for future meetings will have briefing notes attached to allow trustees to be more prepared for discussions at the meetings.

• The Community Development Officers report will also be circulated along with the agenda.

• If the lunches are to continue Ian suggested investigating using the LAD minibus to transport people who need it to the venues.

 

Meeting closed at: 1.30pm

Date of next meeting: TBC

 

Sharon Donald

Secretary

                                 Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge, and Achnacarry SCIO         SC0 44101

Trustees Meeting 3rd July 2023 at 7.00pm

 

Present: John Fotheringham, Sharon Donald, Brian Donald, Christine Clephan, Brian Smith, Keith Hoole, Melvyn Giles, & Tony Perriam.

Apologies: Ian Langley

Appointment of a new Trustee: Since our last meeting Simon Hardiman has resigned, and the Chairman wrote thanking him for his service. Val Steele has offered to take his place and was duly elected.

Approval of Minutes of Meeting on 5th April 2023:

Proposed:  Brian Smith                                                    Seconded: Melvyn Giles

Matters Arising: As reported at our last meeting we had decided not to appoint a Part Time ranger for the Summer of 2023. Highland Council however has employed Michael Lees as a Ranger covering our Area and he will be in contact with both Rik Eppens and Tony Perriam.

Tony is in discussion with Network Rail about the Spean Bridge signal Box.

 

Development Officer:

Projects Underway:

• Community Action Plan – published, launched and circulated online to all stakeholders with hard copies also to funding partners and influencers
• Replacement Playpark Equipment, Spean Bridge – two live funding applications
• Community Garden, Allotments and Riverside Walk – Community Asset Transfer initiated
• Roy Bridge School – visited site and initial liaison with potential partners as converted and new affordable housing plus start-up office space
• Community Firewood Bank – delivered on site, now drying prior to processing.

 

Projects to Discuss

• Defibrillators – Spean Bridge and/or Gairlochy
• Litter Picking Squads – timing, equipment and trustee support
• Renewable Energy Schemes – resume dialogue with Forestry and Land Scotland
• Community Bus – investigate partnership with Shiel Buses
• Active Travel routes – Leanachan to Spean, Inverroy to Spean

 

Meetings – Fred Olsen Renewables (turbines), Community Housing Trust, Achnabobane residents. Killiechonate Woodlands, Campbell Homes, Highland Council Access Ranger

Attendance – at SSE Community Liaison Group, Community Council meetings in April and May

Online Participation – took minutes at SSE Stronelairg Assessment Panel, Lochaber Local Development Officer scoping group,

Facebook Page – now at 214 members (185 in Apr) – some unwanted posts dealt with

Website –with new Action Plan section, larger Community Council section, updated as required, 93 users, need to look at better format for phones.

SCIO Membership – now at 75 (15 new members since last meeting)

 

Community Development Officer Funding: We have received confirmation from the Stronelairg Windfarm Community Fund of a further 2 years funding for the CDO Post from 1st January 2024. HIE have intimated that they will match this funding. (to the end of 2025)

 

Community Action Plan:

• 35 copies left – send to local influential people – eg Gary Innes
• Community Garden, Allotments and Riverside Walk – Community Asset Transfer initiated, and preliminary discussions with RE Campbell about acquiring their land.
• Roy Bridge School visited site and initial liaison with potential partners as converted and new affordable housing plus start-up office space. The Gaelic school has a 50 year lease for their part of the building but this could be bought out. Play area would need to remain.
  Suggestion – Highland Council would do Community Asset Transfer, Lochaber Housing building working in partnership with SCIO and local residents. Possibility of 2 houses from old school and 6 houses on remaining land.
• Tony and the Chairman have been having discussions with various partners regarding the purchase of suitable land in the Local Development Plan for Affordable Housing and other uses. Lochaber Housing, Highland Council, Scottish Land Fund. Approx 2 hectares with a value roughly estimated at £300,000. Next step will be John Fotheringham as a Director of Communities Housing Trust, will move the idea forward. Agreed to invite a representative of the Housing Trust to the next SCIO meeting.
• Defibrillators – Spean Bridge (pharmacy) and/Gairlochy. £1250.00 each. Prominent signage from the road as to the location required.
• Renewable Energy Schemes – on the back-burner at the moment but will resume dialogue with Forestry and Land Scotland. There is a Conference in Edinburgh 27/9/2023
• Community Bus – still looking into this
• Leanachan to Spean and on to Roy Active Travel Routes now being programmed for 2024 or beyond.

 

Altour Road Spean Bridge, Playpark:

 

Highland Council have admitted that due to breakdown in communication the play equipment which was still serviceable, but elderly, was partially removed from Altour Road Playpark Spean Bridge, and on inspection the remaining equipment was deemed dangerous so has been fenced off prior to removal. Had the Amenities Team known about the pending Community Asset Transfer Request from the SCIO for all the Highland Council land surrounding the community centre in Altour Road they would not have implemented the removal but accept that the whole procedure was flawed.               The Amenities Team will work with Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry SCIO to source and purchase replacement equipment (Caledonian Play, wooden equipment), but the Community will need to raise upwards of £20,000 themselves.

 

Rik Eppens has agreed that the £1000 that he kindly donates from the Six Day Trials to the SCIO may be allocated to funding the Playpark Replacement Equipment Fund and Tony has submitted two applications totalling £15,000 and is seeking additional support from local businesses and Estates to help.  In an effort to provide a temporary solution Kate Forbes MSP’s staff have written to Allan Gunn, Executive Chief Officer for Communities and Place at Highland Council to see if there is any redundant but still serviceable play equipment in the Highlands that could be moved to and installed in Spean Bridge so that the children had somewhere to play this summer. It was agreed that the Trustees would if necessary ensure that £5000 was available locally from Mr Eppens, Allt Mhuic Comm unity Benefit and any other source if needed.

Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer gave the following statement of accounts. The opening Balance was £57,228.95 and Income was Six Days Trials £1000, Ferguson Transport £2000 & Koehler Community Benefit £5,522.91 totalling £8,522.91.

Expenditure totalling Community Development Officer £5316.71, Rent £70, Spean Bridge Primary School £980 and Chairman’s Expenses £142.83 totalling £6509.54 leaving a current balance of £59242.32. End of year accounts will be prepared for the next meeting.

 

Charitable Activities: –

• Soup and Sandwich and Warm Space Lunches in Kilmonivaig Church Hall and Spean Bridge Community Centre. It is our intention with the support of Kilmonivaig Parish Church and St Margaret’s Roy Bridge to continue the Friday Free Lunches from October to March. Tony to organize.
• Tony has received £250 worth of £5 vouchers from CJ Lang to be used in Spar by those in need.
• Community Firewood Bank – delivered on site, now drying prior to processing around the 31st July – half ton bags, Tony will distribute to over 75’s to start with and then reassess.
• Litter Picking Squads – timing, equipment and trustee support. Have agreed to speak with other groups who already do litter picks to discuss process and equipment sharing.
• With the assistance of Fort William’s Men Shed we are replacing the Gairlochy Village Noticeboard which has been in a poor state or repair for many years, this project is ongoing

 

Coire Glas Pumped Storage Scheme: – The Chairman reported that the project continues to give the Community Council cause for concern. Both the developer SSE Renewables and Highland Council appear to be interpreting the Consent Conditions in a manner which thwarts further public scrutiny. A particular problem has been the variation in the Above Ground Working Hour which are covered in Condition 19 of the Consent. Highland Council gave an exception for 3 months which in the CC’S opinion was stretching the exceptions clause and SSE Renewables should have then submitted a section 42 amendment application which would permit public scrutiny but failed to do so and Highland Council appear complicit. A Freedom of Information Request mysteriously took 59 working days to process and there appeared to be a deliberate attempt to restrict information availability so the Scottish Information Commissioner is investigating following an appeal from the Community Council.

As reported at our meeting of 15th December 2022 SSE Renewables were down to two Preferred Civil Construction Contractors for the Main Project and one Mechanical and Electrical Contractor, but were not willing to divulge who they were. A further six months have elapsed and we are still unaware of the names although negotiations must be at an advanced stage on items like the rock and spoil disposal which has always been a primary issue for us, and suggestions it may all be used onsite without any evidence to support that assertion is a worry particularly if we have no access to the civil engineering contractor making this proposal.

The Community Council has monitored the manner in which the Kilfinnan Road residents have been treated, and have supported their efforts to hold SSE Renewables and their Contractors to account. JF & TP will attend another meeting at Glengarry 12/7/2023

 

Stronelairg Windfarm Community Fund:

The joint Stronelairg Advisory Panel was initially set up to run for 3 years to distribute funds from the Stronelairg Community Fund. While the MoU (2.5) suggests that – should funds remain after 3 years, the panel would continue its deliberations until all the funds are spent. The Panel agreed to an extension of 12 months, with the last meeting held on 24th April 2023.

The total value of community benefit funds for Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry Community Council area was £154,258.35. During the operation of the joint panel, nineteen grants were awarded to organisations serving the SBRBA area totalling £133,495 (including £15,000 in micro grants to the community council) of which £103,495 has been paid out. Two grants of a combined value of £30,000 (125624 £10,000 and 125836 £20,000), will be paid when the conditions placed on those awards have been met. A balance of £20,763.48 remains available for the SBRBA Community Council Area.

The options for utilising the remain funds are outlined below and could involve a combination of both or option 2 alone:

1. Award a further payment/s to the community council to continue the Micro Grants for the area.

Condition – Provide a report of the spend on micro grant funds to date, prior to a further drawdown.

2. One or several of the constituted organisations making an application/s to the fund for projects which SSE will administer in line with the current grant conditions and priorities as detailed in the Community Action Plan.

Condition – Submission of application/s to be reviewed and assessed by SSE Community Investment Team (deadlines to be agreed)

We had previously discussed the possibility of the SBRBA SCIO taking on the management of the remaining funds. Unfortunately, this option would not be covered by the existing MoU and would require firstly agreement from the Community Council and secondly a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to be drawn up with the SCIO. Given the level of remaining funds and the amount of work involve in putting a MoA in place, SSE Renewables feel this is disproportionate effort for both parties, and not what they would be seeking in this situation.

 

Any Other Business:

• VOSCARS – JF thanked the committee for the nominations for the two awards namely

Board member of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award. He was extremely grateful and humbled by winning the latter.

• Community Council Elections are in September, 7 needed to form council but 9 would be better. Need a CC all the time but especially whilst Coire Glas ongoing.

• Local Energy Scotland – JF to email information.

• Spean Bridge Hall have formed a new committee to run it, congratulations.

• The Committee offers its heartfelt congratulations to Ian Langley on the occasion of his marriage.

• It was agreed that the committee members and trustees of the SCIO should have a unified way of explaining what we are about and how we hope to go forward. This applies even more to specific projects.

• Public Liability Insurance – agreed that we need this, will cost approx. £350.00, TP to investigate.

• Newsletters – to be published online quarterly after each meeting. TP

• Minutes – to be published on the website.

• DTAS (Development Trust Association Scotland) dtascot.org.uk – Scottish Community Groups, we have agreed to join.

• Advert in local press – we will start our advertising campaign in ‘Lochaber Life’ in conjunction with a positive article about the new defibrillators and then continue each month or 2nd month to keep us in the public eye. Content: Tony as a first contact for any projects, website and Facebook links.

• We are to investigate the production of small plaques that can be attached to projects that we have funded to improve local awareness of what we are involved with.

 

Meeting closed at: 9.15pm

Date of next meeting: TBC

Sharon Donald, Secretary

Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry SCIO   SCO 44101

Trustees Meeting 5th April 2023 at 7pm

 

Present: John Fotheringham, Sharon Donald, Brian Donald, Christine Clephan, Brian Smith, Ian Langley, Tony Perriam, Melvyn Giles, Keith Hoole.

Apologies: Margaret Horner

Approval of minutes of Meeting 19th December 2022:
Proposed: Ian Langley      Seconded: Melvyn Giles

Matters Arising:
Community Ranger – part funding for one year would be approx. £5k. Not a main priority to come out of the consultation. Will need a lot of time and resources, possibly leave until later. Rik Eppens is taking on someone full time to work at Leanachan. Nature Scotland have been part funding a position at Jahama which will need to go elsewhere next year.

Development Officer (Tony Perriam):
Tony presented an update of activities Jan 2023 – March 2023 (copy attached)
£250.00 of Spar vouchers have not yet been used.
Community Food Larder – didn’t work as well as hoped and will not be continued in present form.
Discussions with Twin Deer Law regarding Spean Bridge Hotel confirmed that any potential project would be too large for the SCIO to become involved in. Present owner of hotel has instigated repairs.

Community Consultation Launch:
The plan is printed and the launch will take place at Roy Bridge Hall 19th April 2023 and Spean Bridge Hall 20th April 2023. There will be a slide presentation and copies of the plan to take home. Trustees to try and encourage as many new members as possible, aiming for 100 members. The total cost of the consultation including printing came in under £3,000.

Community Development Officer (CDO) Post Funding Update:
The SCIO has applied to the SSE Stronelairg Fund for £20k which, if approved, will be matched by HIE in order to fund two more years of the CDO Role. The SSE meeting will take place 26/4/2023. If we are unsuccessful there are other income streams that can be looked at.

Treasurer’s Report:
£57,228.95 available as at 5/4/23

Charitable Activities:
We have been approached by Sandy Edmonds on behalf of another SCIO who are looking for a recipient of possibly £10,000.

We receive £4,850.00 from Koehler which must be spent on educational or environmental projects, this fits in well with a possible Altour playpark/riverside walk. Or Highbridge Path and extra curricular activities at Spean Bridge School, it was suggested that we ask the school to publicise the fact they get funding from us. New Defibrillators at Spean Bridge, outside the pharmacy and also at Gairlochy near the boating facilities are also projects that could happen almost immediately.

Coire Glas Pumped Storage Scheme Update:
Seems to be in a state of flux and items already agreed are being altered including hours of work, was 9-5 and is now 7-7 still to be confirmed who in Highland Council authorized it. Disposal of spoil, originally Mucomir Farm, then not and now seems to be back to there.  John and Tony are trying to keep communications open. Angus MacDonald (Councillor) has also become involved and will be having meetings with SSE as will Kate Forbes (MSP). The temporary accommodation for workers is being constructed just to the south of Spean village. We have been made aware that a pathway will be constructed between Leanachan Crossroads to the first house in Spean Bridge (Glendale) then Fairway Drive to Station Road, this should happen between April & August 2023. Further pathways in the area to follow in 2024, this includes Roy Bridge to Spean Bridge. JF will copy the Pathway SCIO with any information he has.

Stronelairg Wind Farm Community Trust:
The last Panel Meeting will be held on 26/4/23.
There is £46,000 left in the fund. There are two projects which if successful will leave £16,000 in the fund. The Community Council is contacting SSE, via Carol Masheter, to express their desire that the balance of the fund be deposited with the SCIO to administer. There has been discussion that SSE may need more confirmation that the SCIO is fully representative of the community as a whole. We hope that the Community Action Plan will put their minds at rest. This is still to be confirmed.

Constitution & Community Right to Buy:
Our constitution has been updated and agreed with OSCR and the SCIO now has the right to buy land etc. John & Tony will look at land within our area that may be suitable for development in accordance with the Action Plan and report back to the trustees.

AOB:

• Spean Bridge Community Centre SCIO – chair wants to retire, the AGM is later this month and they are looking for a plan for the future of the Centre. This includes building and car park, it is adjoining the play park and river side area that the SCIO had already earmarked for potential development as a community garden area.
• Community Involvement – Caol uses a post box for suggestions, we could look at doing something similar in Spean Bridge.
• Constitution – no one can be barred from joining our SCIO.
• Fred Olsen Culachy Windfarm – just outside our area but may be a source of income, anticipated to generate a community benefit fund of over £280,000 per annum (culachywind.co.uk)
• Discussion about how to generate more community involvement/interest in the SCIO, a suggestion of a standing advert in Lochaber Life which goes to every household every month.
• STRABAG – the civil engineering company for SSE Coire Glas has expressed its interest in ‘support in kind’ – equipment, manpower etc, could tie in with Garden Project?

 

Meeting closed at 9pm

Date of next meeting to be confirmed:

 

Sharon Donald
Secretary

Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge, and Achnacarry SCIO         SC0 44101

Trustees Meeting 19th December 2022 at 7.00pm

 

Present: John Fotheringham, Sharon Donald, Brian Smith, Keith Hoole, Teresa Kennedy, Melvyn Giles, Ross MacLennan, Ian Langley, Margaret Horner, & Tony Perriam.

Apologies: Brian Donald, Rik Eppens, Christine Clephan

Approval of Minutes of Meeting on 3rd October 2022:

Proposed: Brian Smith                                                     Seconded: Keith Hoole

Matters Arising: Following Rik Eppens intervention at the last Trustees Meeting the Chairman had a discussion with Jonathan Hart of Jahama Highland Estates about the mechanics of employing a Ranger. His company had employed two part time rangers for the summer of 2022 with the support of a grant from Nature Scot and he considered that the whilst the Government Agency were unlikely to support his company once again in 2023 they may be willing to assist us. Teresa’s Daughter had been employed as on of the Part Time Rangers, and may be a good contact.Tony Perriam to investigate.

Development Officer: Tony detailed the work he had undertaken since our last meeting.

The priority had been analysing the data from the Community Consultation, and here he had the support and assistance of the Sub Committee of Sharon Donald, Brian Smith and the Chairman.

In addition he had attended the Community Council meeting in December as well as the meeting with the NHS Highland Chairman and CEO. He gave a power point presentation to the SCIO AGM, and similarly to the Coire Glas Liaison Group Meeting which were very well received. Supported various local organisations with advice on fundraising. The SCIO Membership was now at 59, and the Facebook Page had 166 members up 24 since October. It was agreed that we would have a Hogmanay Quiz, and that the Website should be expanded to contain selected Accommodation and Jobs Adverts and also the SCIO Trustee Minutes. An explanation on the Website explaining the difference between the Community Council and SCIO might be beneficial.

Community Consultation: – Final total 385 responses from 832 addresses plus all drop-in sessions completed (including for businesses on 12 Oct); all focus group meetings completed. Primary School mini survey responses awaited and will be included in Action Plan.

All the Stakeholder Meetings had been completed except two estates (Corrour and Glenroy) and two public bodies (Visit Scotland and West Highland Community Rail Partnership) it was agreed to try and contact both Corrour and the Rail Partnership.

Sub Committee of three Trustees have met twice and assessed projects either as suggested by us or proposed by respondents on four criteria: was it popular in survey · is it viable · will it be sustainable · what timescale to deliver.

Community Action Plan – to be published online and with digital printing 30 hard copies available in January. Final formatted draft to Trustees beforehand. It is expected that the report will be between 16 and 24 pages in length.

 

 

Treasurer’s Report: In the absence of the Treasurer the Chairman gave the following statement of accounts. The opening Balance was £53,989.60, and Income was HIE £6101 SSE Stronelairg Windfarm Community Fund £10,000, and Donations £260 totalling £16,361.

Expenditure totalling Community Development Officer £5043.39, Rent £270. Highbridge Footpaths £1500, and Transferred to Community Council Stronelairg Micro Grant Balance £5169.04 totalling £11982.43 leaving a current balance of £58368.17.

 

Charitable Activities: – In November the charity funded two Soup and Sandwich and Warm Space Lunches in Kilmonivaig Church Hall and Spean Bridge Community Centre. It is our intention with the support of Kilmonivaig Parish Church and St Margaret’s Roy Bridge to continue the Friday Free Lunches from 13th January rotating weekly between Roy Bridge Memorial Hall, and Spean Bridge Community Centre until the end of March. Tony has received £250 worth of £5 vouchers from CJ Lang to be used in Spar by those in need. It was agreed that the Chairman should approach Lochaber Foodbank for support with foodstuffs available in the foyer of each hall for those in need.

With the assistance of Fort William’s Men Shed we are replacing the Gairlochy Village Noticeboard which has been in a poor state or repair for many years.

 

Coire Glas Pumped Storage Scheme: – The Chairman attended the Coire Glas Liaison Group on 14th December.

In Condition 23 of the Coire Glas Consent it states that the purpose of the Community Liaison Group is to discuss the progress of the construction of the Development, and the initial years of operation following first commissioning. The CLG shall sustain an open invitation to representatives of Glengarry Community Council, Spean Bridge Roy Bridge and Achnacarry Community Council, and residents within 5km of the development site.

At the most recent meeting there were no representatives from Glengarry CC, and no one present was aware of whether they were active or in abeyance.

SSE Renewables are down to two Preferred Civil Construction Contractors for the Main Project and one Mechanical and Electrical Contractor, but are not willing to divulge at present who they are.

Although they have now commenced the preparatory works the Community Council is concerned about some of the rhetoric from the developer. The rock and spoil disposal has always been a primary issue for us, and recent suggestions it may all be used onsite without any evidence to support that assertion is a worry particularly if we have no access to the civil engineering contractor making this proposal.

Our confidence in the current contractors has not been helped by their failure to make contingency plans to plough and grit the Kilfinnan Road, especially as Highland Council deem it a minor road not normally gritted in winter.

 

Stronelairg Windfarm Community Fund: This was the last year of the two funds we were involved in administering, but SSE Renewables have decided to allow for one more round of Panel Meetings in April 2023 for the major awards. Currently there is £46,516.75 available for major awards and £4,169.04 for micro ones.

 

Constitution: We have approval from OSCR for the change to the Purposes part of our Constitution, and from the membership for the full document. The approved document will now be forwarded to OSCR with the membership approval form. The Chairman will also shortly submit the end of year accounts and annual return.

 

Any Other Business: The Funding for our Community Development Officer ends on 31st December 2023, and both the Trustees and Tony would like to continue with the arrangement thereafter. A Sub-Committee of John Fotheringham, Brian Smith, Teresa Kennedy and Keith Hoole were elected to seek funding for the continuance of the post.

The Trustees decided to elect Melvyn Giles as Vice Chairman and Sharon Donald as Secretary. The Chairman thanked Christine Clephan for her service as Secretary.

Tony was asked to contact Network Rail about whether the Signalbox at Spean Bridge Railway station might be available for asset transfer.

It was agreed that the next quarterly Kilmonivaig meeting of the Trustees should be on the at 7.00pm on 3rd April in Kilmonivaig Church Hall.

The Chairman thanked those present for attending, and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Meeting closed at 9 pm

John Fotheringham, Chairman

Minutes of Annual General Meeting held on 16th November 2022

At 7pm at Spean Bridge Community Centre

 

Present: 25 Members

Apologies: Brian Donald, Chistine Clephan. Ian Langley, Ian Matheson, Vivien MacDonald, Alyson Hyde & Keith Hoole.

Minutes of AGM held on 26th January 2022 – These having been circulated, and with no amendments were approved. Proposer:  Sharon Donald                 Seconder: Ross MacLennan

Guest Speaker: Ronnie Macrae CEO of the Communities Housing Trust gave a Powerpoint presentation on the work of the Communities Housing Trust, the leading organisation delivering community-led housing in Scotland.

CHT has earned a reputation for providing essential affordable housing and accompanying amenities such as shops, services and schools, which are all key to the sustainable social and economic wealth and wellbeing of our communities. Taking a holistic view and a creative approach that looks beyond just housing, CHT works cooperatively with a wide range of public and private stakeholders to actively address repopulation and find viable solutions to the evolving challenges of community development in less well-served places.

CHT have pioneered a range of housing tenure, financial and technical solutions (such as the Rural Housing Burden) that provide choice and support, giving groups confidence to grow their communities over time and in a sustainable manner. Part of this work frequently includes supporting communities to transfer land and assets into community ownership.

By providing affordable homes, shops, services, business opportunities, local skills training programs, they are building community wealth for the long term. They frequently work with local, rural trades and use local, sustainable materials where possible. Ronnie gave examples of communities that had benefitted from their approach.

 

Jamie McIntyre spoke on Woodland Crofts which are a croft with sufficient tree cover overall to be considered a woodland under UK forestry policy. It is subject to forestry regulation, but crofting legislation does not recognise woodland crofts as distinct from any other croft. They may be existing crofts which have historically been wooded; or they may have been traditional agricultural crofts on which woodland has been established following earlier Crofter Forestry legislation which enabled the planting of trees for future management. A woodland croft can provide access to woodland to manage in support of one’s lifestyle (for example through the provision of woodfuel), and livelihood (through a woodland based business activity). It can also provide a place to live and a site for a business, as well as access to certain grants specific to crofting. For a tenant, crofting also provides security of tenure, the right of succession, the right to a fair rent and the right to the value of improvements to the croft carried out by the tenant. Jamie outlined the opportunities for woodland crofts locally.

Ronnie and Jamie answered a number of questions posed by members, and then the Chairman thanked them for two interesting and Informative presentations which gave us all food for thought as we plan for the future.

 

Community Consultation Update:  Tony Perriam our Community Development Officer explained that the Community Survey was launched on 26 August, and closed on 30 September. We received 385 responses and 89% were permanent residents. Maximum coverage was sought online to promote the consultation as well as roadside signage and delivering Flyers to all 832 households and businesses in our area. We also held Community Engagement and Stakeholder Meetings as well as a mini questionnaire involving the primary school.

A sub-committee of trustees together with the CDO will analyse the results and produce a draft Community Action Plan for the trustees to approve next month with the final plan to be circulated online and in print in January 2023.

The top priorities identified at present appeared to be a Cycleway/pavement connecting the three villages, affordable housing for local residents, an improvement to the centre of Spean Bridge, and the provision of a Community Hub and Allotments.

This will inevitably mean that we will have to seek to acquire land under the community right to buy scheme, or asset transfer from Highland Council or Forestry and Land Scotland, and accordingly the trustees have been reviewing our constitution to ensure we are fully equipped to tackle such actions.

 

Chairman’s Report: The Report having been circulated, and there being no questions it was adopted

Proposer: Sarah Parrish                    Seconder: Ross MacLennan

 

Treasurer’s Report: In the absence of the treasurer the Chairman read out the Treasurer’s Report accompanying the annual accounts which had been circulated, they were approved without question.

Proposer: Ross MacLennan                                   Seconder: Neal Parrish

 

Election of Trustees:  The following Trustees were elected: John Fotheringham, Brian Donald, Sharon Donald, Simon Hardiman, Brian Smith, Christine Clephan, Rik Eppens, Ian Langley, Keith Hoole, Ross MacLennan, Teresa Kennedy, & Melvyn Giles.

Election of Office Bearers – The following were duly elected:

Chairman – John Fotheringham       Proposed Sharon Donald Seconded Ross MacLennan

Secretary –   Christine Clephan         Proposed John Fotheringham Seconded Ross MacLennan

Treasurer –    Brian Donald                 Proposed John Fotheringham Seconded Sharon Donald

 

Changes to our Constitution:  The Chairman explained that following the appointment of the CDO the trustees anticipated that the charity would probably want to make amendments to our constitution to take advantage of the various community empowerment legislation enacted by the Scottish Government. We duly sought advice from HIE and various Government Agencies and the Community Right to Buy team produced a Model Constitution for SCIO’s like ours. Initially we tried to adapt the constitution to suit our particular circumstances but were finally required to adopt theirs in its entirety. It will mean a minor change to our purposes which requires prior approval from the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator therefore the decision tonight is only provisional. If OSCR rejects our amendment, and requires it to be changed then an Extra General Meeting will be needed to approve the amendment. The Charity’s membership will remain as residents of Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry and open to all. We have removed the right to expel members. The purposes remain the same apart from the first line where before it was to disseminate funds it now reads that the main purpose is consistent with furthering the achievement of sustainable development. Currently we have 11 Trustees but in future we will have the right to appoint 11 plus 1 from the Community Council and if required co-opt 3 further to provide skills and experience.

After due deliberation the Members unanimously approved the new Constitution which will come into force on 8th December 2022 subject to OSCR approval.

Any other Business: None

The Chairman thanked all for attending and the Meeting closed at 20:30.