June minutes
KILMUN COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Facebook - @shoresweepersandKCC Website - www.kilmuncc.co.uk
MINUTES OF MEETING
11th June 2019 held at Blairmore Hall, Blairmore 7.30PM.
PRESENT:) Diane Nicholson (Vice Convenor), Janet Holm (Secretary), Russell Humphreys (Treasurer), Victor Sandall and Fraser Smith.
Also Present: Councillor A Reid, PC Nathan Currie, Bruce Marshall, Les Orr, Gordon Holm (residents).
APOLOGIES: Brian Tester (Convenor), Dale Mallin, Lachie Macquarie, Mandy Grout, Graham Revill, Bob Darracott (National Park), (Councillor Y McNeilly, Councillor G. Blair and Jeannie Christie (Blairmore Hall),
2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: none
3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING:
Proposed: Diane Nicholson
Seconded: Russell Humphreys Carried
4. MATTERS ARISING NOT ON THE AGENDA
None
5. TREASURER’S REPORT
Brought Forward 3565.95
Expenditure -
Donation 20.00
Stationary 12.20
Domain name (3 years ) 68.00
Gardening (Shore Sweepers0 57.80
Kilmun Hall 112.00
Blairmore Hall 96.00
Income
Totals
General fund 854.37
Gardening 34.18
Shore Sweepers 42.2
Festive Lunch 199.53
SSE grant 2045.87
Directory donations 7.00
Overall total 3183.15
POLICE REPORT
PC Nathan Currie gave the police report.
There had been 18 incidents.
And 6 crime reports as follows:
4 road traffic offences
1 theft
1 vandalism
PC Currie said that there was a campaign on dog fouling and on dogs walking on farmland. Posters are available from the police station.
7 Correspondence
ABC - Taxi Survey - Community Councils
Dunoon Alliance - Cycling Dunoon & Cowal - gathering information and making connections - Queen's Hall for Thursday 13th June at 6pm (Meeting Room 2)
Your Park: Update on camping in the National Park
Shopkeepers of Argyll Street Dunoon Exhibition - The exhibition will take place between Friday 14th - Sunday 23rd June.
8 Planning Applications
No planning applications have been submitted to LLTNP.
The Kilmun Pier application
See Bob’s report
Ardtaraig Windfarm
See Alan’s report.
9. Community Matters
The Shore Sweepers
The Shore Sweepers have visited the school and spoken to the new Headteacher. The children will do some work on caring for the local environment in the new school year in September 2019.
The Shore Sweepers did some work at clearing and planning the tubs at the Post Office. Some work was done in starting to clear the vegetation along the Shore road railings from the Strone/Kilmun sign.
An inspection of the garden at Invereck House showed that little work needs to be done at present.
Defibrillator at Younger Hall Kilmun
A trainer has been organised. There needs to be a co ordination of dates to accommodate all those interested. Fraser Smith has also expressed an interest in doing the training/
10. DISCUSSIONS A&BC LOCAL COUNCILLOR AND NATIONAL PARK REPRESENTATIVE
Alan Reid Councillor for ABC gave the following report:
Ardtaraig wind farm
Still no word of an appeal. The developers have until 26 June to submit an appeal.
Weeds on pavements.
Roads response, “In order to apply weed killer to plants and grass we require them to grow in order to absorb the solution, then it has to be left for a number of weeks to take effect. However as this is not a dangerous invasive weed we do not see this as a priority as it does not have a safety effect on the public, infrastructure or the environment. This area will however be on the weed killing treatment programme for 2019/20 but unfortunately there is no date to provide for these works at present.”
Grit left on the road and pavement
Still trying to get a sweeper out. Several residents said that a sweeper has done some work along the roads but not cleared the grit from the pavements.
Pavement from Invereck to Cot House
The work stopped without reaching the Cot House. I have asked why and am still awaiting a reply.
Bob Daracott
Bob submitted a written report as follows:
No routine planning application matters to report.
As regards the Western Ferries application, Alison Williamson (the officer handling the app) informs me that the NP have now received photo montages, 3D model images and revised drawings from the applicant. These will be uploaded shortly onto the Park system and contributors will be notified accordingly. I'll be seeing Alison next Monday at the HQ buildings and will receive a full update.
The Dawnfresh fish farm proposal - which is at the pre-application stage, still awaits a formal decision on the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment. I'm pretty sure an EIA will be requested in due course by the Park.
Following discussion at the last KCC meeting, I made contact with Forestry and Land Scotland. I've provided contact details to yourself and Brian. I had a good, and frank discussion with their Regional Manager - Carol Mcginnes. She noted the issues that had been raised in the community (I don't think they came as much of a surprise!). She is currently drafting out a community consultation schedule for the Cowal area and will be back in contact with myself with the detail in due course. I believe Brian was going to formally write to her on behalf of the CC.
The NP's Tree Planting Grant Scheme is open - with 3 application rounds earmarked through the year - 31 July, 30 Sept and 30 Nov 2019.
Full NP Board Meeting scheduled for this coming Monday, 17th June. No papers of immediate issue to the area. For information, a decision will be taken on the future of the currently vacant Luss Visitor Centre building which is owned by the Park and has been empty since last year.
In addition, Bob reported that he had not forgotten to prepare something about the new Planning Bill that was discussed briefly at the last KCC meeting.
He said he had gathered some notes etc. together but it’s fair to say that, as it stands the Draft Bill is in a bit of a mess right now - after so many strange and unfunded amendments at the Stage2 reading. He understands from the Government’s legislative timetable that the Bill will undergo its final Stage 3 hearing over a 3 day period, 18th - 20th June. He considers that it’s better to get that debate over and done with before reporting any detail - because things are very likely to change.
He will to report to KCC in due course - probably early autumn.
RH reported that Puck’s Glen was now open but the Laird’s Grave walk was still closed.
Benmore & Kilmun Community Development Trust (BKCDT)
At the meeting of BKCDT on the 20th May @ 7.30 @ Uig Hall there was much discussion on Graham’s Point and in ACHA’s interest in maintaining the site.
At this meeting Dinah McDonald said that she intended to stand down from the Trust at the BKCDT AGM which is organised for Thursday 20th June at Younger Hall Kilmun.
On the 7th June Janet Holm tendered her resignation as a director Of Benmore and Kilmun Community Development Trust from immediate effect.
This following report was emailed to KCC from Dinah McDonald, current secretary of BKCDT for inclusion at KCC’s meeting and for our minutes.
“Update from Benmore and Kilmun Community Development Trust.
Receipt of a grant of £500 towards cost of outdoor gym equipment from ACHA
A joint application with Benmore and Rashfield Community Association for further funding towards the cost of this equipment has been made to the Health and Wellbeing Fund.
Application to NPA for a capacity grant of £300 towards the cost of insurance for Graham’s Point.
It was reported by the chair that ACHA and KCC had visited the site and ACHA had carried out an inspection of our equipment. ACHA had offered to fund new goal nets. The secretary of the trust has forwarded the sizes and style of the goal posts to ACHA.
There was a report of damage to the heritage paddle steamer at Graham’s Point. We then had the equipment inspected and made safe. See following extract from that inspection:
‘’Following reported vandalism I visited Grahams Point this morning. I repaired/made safe the loose section of the boat, and replaced one damaged joining piece on the rope ladder with a new spare part.
I checked the flower boat, the protective strip around the top edge has suffered from uv weakening the cable ties. Some have been replaced with black ties, I will replace the remainder when I am next passing.
I don’t believe that either of these repairs are necessarily due to vandalism, just wear and tear/old age. As I reported to the trust a year ago, my opinion is that the boat is approaching the end of its life.’’
Janet Holm has tendered her resignation from the Trust with immediate effect.
The work on the ECHO Heritage trail feasibility study is coming to near completion with a flurry of meetings with various stakeholders resulting in commitments to working partnerships. An initial approach has been made to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant towards the initial phase of the Trail. There will be an update on this project at the AGM of the Trust on Thursday 20th June at 1930 at Younger Hall, Kilmun.”
Blairmore Village Trust (BVT)
GH reported for the trust. BVT have entered the Its Your Neighbourhood awards through Beautiful Scotland.
The car boot funding event has been rescheduled to 23rd June.
Communities and Service Manger (Argyll Forest Park)
See Bob Darracott’s report
Younger Hall
RH reported for Younger Hall. He said that unfortunately there was some water leaking from the tower but there were enough funds for them to have it repaired now.
Blairmore Hall
No report
Strone Primary
Fraser Smith reported for the school.
He said that the roll of the school was falling and would likely be down to 20 in the new session in August. He asked if there was anything that the community council could do to help with this situation.
The land at the side of the school that was acquired from ABC has been cleared of ponticum with help from the National Park. There has been a complaint about the work from a local resident.
11. Community Action Plan 2018 - 2023
See Bob Daracott report.
12. CURRENT ISSUES
Argyll Community Planning Group (ACPG)
NTR
Caucus of Community Councils
KCC did not attend the meeting with Joanna McDonald. BT submitted a letter of apology.
Bird Hide at Kilmun
Report by G H. Ownership process is going well. Grant of £500 awarded from ABC. Funding may be available from Argyll Bird Club. Fundraiser may be held in September.
A880 Walkway & Safety Barrier, Pavement Invereck to Cot House
See Alan Reid’s report.
Cemetery Toilet
NTR
Highgate Hall
NTR
BT Broadband
Les Orr now has broadband
RH said that properties near Benmore were being connected to fibre Broadband.
13. Any other competent business
Summer Recess
KCC will not meet in July.
Next Meeting
Place: Blairmore Hall, Blairmore
Date: Tuesday 13th August at 7.30pm.
Meetings held Second Tuesday each month alternating between Younger & Blairmore Halls.
Kilmun Hall – January, March, May, July (Recess) September, November
Blairmore Hall – February, April, June, August, October, December
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