Present: Kenny MacLean (Chairman), Jean Hollingdale (Secretary), Jean Bailey (Treasurer), Jennifer Haslam, Sue Tarr (Minute Sec), Bob Moir, Alex Mackenzie; Dennis Kearney (Jones Bros); Matilda Urie (E-On); Fiona Milligan (Infinergy) for part of meeting; 3 members of public.
The Chairman opened the meeting at 7pm and welcomed everyone.
Apologies: Eliza Leslie Melville, Cllr Cockburn, Jean Urquhart MSP.
Declarations of Interest: none.
Chairman’s Comments: The Chairman thanked members for keeping in touch about various matters while he was working out with the area. Best wishes to Marion Taylor following her accident. The Chairman was unable to attend the War Memorial Meeting, but attended Lochcarron CC, and the PI Renewables drop in – about 70 people went between the days. He was unable to attend the Marybank, Scatwell & Strathconon CC but attended the Torridon & Kinlochewe CC. He was unable to attend the Wester Ross District Partnership Meeting (NHS) – a new hospital is planned probably on Skye. Pam Morrison attended this meeting and hopes to attend the Mid Ross District Partnership meeting.
The Chairman attended the Stromeferry Bypass Exhibition. There are lots of opinions on 9 different options, but a lack of funding.
All G&DCC minutes and agendas are available at www.community-council.org.uk/garveanddistrict ;
Garve PO; Garve and Achnasheen Village noticeboards; in the AGNV and on the AGNV website; direct from the Secretary on gdcc@fsmail.net or tel/fax 01997 414201; and at every G&DCC meeting.
Approval of the minutes of meeting held 2nd April 2013: Proposed, Alex Mackenzie; seconded, Jennifer Haslam.
Fundraising Sub Committee Action Notes (appended): Jean Bailey asked that she be removed from doing games. Proposed with amendment, Jean Bailey; seconded, Kenny MacLean.
Matters Arising:
Tarvie Landslip - an update has been received from Jonathon Moran at Transport Scotland. Bear is going to do the repair work themselves. The job is now estimated to take 4 weeks to complete once started. Drainage works and road surface repairs will also be carried out.
Joanne Seath met with Eneco to discuss the haulage of turbines and Bear is going to lift the traffic lights to allow turbines to pass through. Dennis Kearney said that Eneco believe it is still a danger to take wide heavy loads through as it is not known how much of an undercut there is. MSPs Jean Urquhart, Mary Scanlon and Rob Gibson have all pressed for the repairs to be done as soon as possible. There was a report that the traffic lights were not working one day and members agreed that this was a dangerous situation. Members agreed that it was taking too long to remedy the situation. Sec to write to Jonathon Moran to ask when the work was going to start.
Strathgarve Avenue – Nick Richards HC Forestry Officer is waiting for SSE to produce detailed proposals for the work on the Avenue. He has also agreed that it would be a good idea to draw up a formal plan for future management of the Avenue.
Fiona Milligan (Infinergy) joined the meeting.
SSE Beauly – Mossford Pylon line update – work will soon start on building towers 4-9 at Corriemoillie, bellmouths and access track will be constructed, removal of the South Side 132kV line and 38 site investigation surveys at new tower locations from Strathmore House to Beauly during May 2013 to December 2013.
There will be tree felling in various locations and the new sub station will be completed and commissioned.
All communities will see an increase in actives and personnel. To help ensure that the work programmes for each outage window are met the following working pattern is required: 12 days working followed by 2 days off (i.e. every second weekend is not worked). Where exceptional circumstances require there may be a requirement to work for longer durations but this will be kept to a minimum. Proposed working hours (generally Mon to Fri 7am-7pm and Sat-Sun 7am-5pm; longer days may be required on occasion but would be kept to an absolute minimum). The site compound will be located at Maryburgh but will have no caravans/personnel staying on site other than a Security Guard.
Jubilee Tree – the fence has been erected. Bob Moir to put some wire mesh on to give protection against deer and rabbits, and to fix plaque. Jean Bailey has donated some wire mesh. Sec to write to SSE and Browns inviting them to a ceremony on Fri 31st May at 3pm; members of the public would be very welcome to attend also.
E-On update – there is a public drop-in tomorrow (8th May) 5pm – 8pm to consult on the route of the underground cable connecting the Corriemoillie Windfarm to the SSE substation at Corriemoillie. There will be two cables in bundles of 3; installation will be mainly by “mole” although some areas may be unsuitable for the mole (e.g. where there are tree roots) and other methods will be used.
Public consultation on the cable route is a requirement of the planning application process and also allows for local input. Planning consent for the Windfarm has been extended for 12 months. Tree clearing is progressing on the site to prepare for construction of tracks and turbine bases. No mulching is allowed on site but all trees and brash will be removed; firstly they will be stacked then chipped which will supply the Invergordon Biomass plant.
Jones Bros update – the tracks to the Extension turbine sites are underway and work has started on the cable connecting the Windfarm substation to the SSE substation. Siemens will be bringing in turbines end of July.
Infinergy update – Infinergy will have a table at the Summer Fair to provide information on the LEO community benefit scheme; Eneco will also be present.
Deer fence at Grudie – trees etc. have been cut along the fence line in preparation for fence going up.
Wester Ross Alliance update – the AGM will be held in Kinlochewe on 28th May at 2pm. Sue Tarr is standing down as a director but happy to carry on as G&DCC representative.
Police Report – no report; police have been seen doing speed checks in the area.
Treasurer’s Report: no figures available as all paperwork is with the auditor. Payment for six tables at the Summer Fair has been received.
Summer Fair – arrangements for tea and cakes are in hand. The hall will be open from 7-8pm the night before (Fri 14th June) and from 9.30am on Sat 15th; open to public 10 – 4pm. Posters to be displayed. A request was made to remove the LEO logo from the poster.
Correspondence: By Email, Copy of letter from Minister of Transport Scotland to Cllr Cockburn; E-On notice of Drop in at Garve Village Hall; SSE reply about Avenue trees; BT Cable Cover, Gorstan Junction – Robbie Bain to contact; NHS Agenda Wester Ross District Partnership meeting; Lisa Marchi – Jubilee tree fence; 2 messages from Nick Richards HC re Avenue Trees; WRA re Cape Wrath Trail; Reply to G&DCC letter to Transport Minister; E-On Scoping Report for comments on E-On proposal plus pdf; Kenny Maclean re Avenue trees; Bear Scotland re repairs to A87 Trunk road; NHS notice of Mid Ross District Partnership Meeting; Lochcarron CC mins; Strathpeffer CC mins; National Planning Framework 3 Scotland re drop in dates; Eneco request for table at Summer Fair; SSE update on Beauly-Mossford Pylon line; Scottish Rural Development programme 2014/2020 consultation doc.; Eneco re payment for table at Summer Fair; Scottish voluntary Sector re Community Resilience Seminar 2013. By Post, review of Polling Places – deferred until Oct 2013; Criminal Justice Services Annual report 2011/12.
AOB (Members) Jean Hollingdale - BT Box at Gorstan slip road is damaged and needs repair. Robbie Bain has inspected, it has been reported and cones are in place.
Alex Mackenzie reported the crosstrack at the shop corner and potholes at Strathgarve via the HC phoneline but nothing has been done yet. Potholes also need repairing at Kinlochluichart Church and the Lochluichart Station road entrance. Sec to highlight all these items to Robbie Bain.
Jennifer Haslam asked if there was any news about railway station floral displays. Jean Bailey explained that she had taken on Garve station in her own name not G&DCC; she was presently trying to source suitable containers for planting up.
AOB (members of public) – a request for date of Mary Scanlon MSP surgery to be held in Garve Village Hall.
E-On Scoping Report – E-On are applying to increase the capacity of the turbines for Corriemoillie Windfarm to 3 MW. This will not change the physical characteristics. They will not be noisier. Consultees to the scoping report are being asked if they want to make any additions to the Environmental Impact Assessment studies to be carried out prior to planning application. The application will be determined by Scottish Government as the development will now be over 50MW.
Members had no comments on the scoping report.
National Framework Planning Framework Consultation – no comments.
Scottish Rural Development Programme Consultation – the Scottish Govt is drawing up the new programme and is open to consultation. Members had no comments.
Planning applications: One application has been determined – 2 sections of underground cable at Corriemoillie Quarry – permission granted.
No new applications.
Licensing applications: none.
Dates of future meetings - the Chairman circulated proposed dates for coming year; all agreed.
AGM to be held Tues 4th June 2013 in Garve Village Hall at 7pm followed by ordinary meeting at 8pm
Tues 2nd July 2013 Achnasheen Village Hall at 7pm
Tues 6th Aug 2013 Garve Village Hall at 7pm
Tues 3rd Sept 2013 Achnasheen Village Hall at 7pm
All are welcome to attend.
The Chairman thanked everyone and closed the meeting at 8.10pm.
Action Notes (Amended):
Garve and District Community Council Fundraising Sub-Committee Meeting
held Garve Village Hall 19th April 2013 at 2pm
Present: Kenny MacLean, Jennifer Haslam, Eliza Leslie Melville, Jean Hollingdale, Jean Bailey, Hazel Keiro, Sue Tarr.
Apologies: Bob Moir, Alex Mackenzie.
Summer Fair, 15th June 2013, Garve Village Hall 10am-4pm – 12 stalls are booked at £10 per table, payable in advance. This means cost of hall hire is covered.
G&DCC to have tombola stall.
Teas – After discussion on options agreed that G&DCC will serve teas - Jean B, Jennifer, Eliza to help. One cake to be served with each cup so baking required. Price £1/£1.50 per serving.
Advertising – Sue to produce poster for AGNV before deadline of 1st May; posters to go out locally nearer the time.
Kenny to organise bunting and balloons.
Sue has roadside advertising signs which can be put up a few days before.
Tombola donations can be brought along to CC meetings or dropped off with Jean H.
Kenny to check if we can set up hall the night before at 7pm.
Catering supplies – Jennifer and Jean H to organise.
Next meeting to be arranged.