Tarbert and Skipness Community Trust, minute of Board meeting held 11th
September 2012, TALC, Tarbert.
Present
Jane Cowen, Alec Horn, Anne Horn, Melissa James, Bob Chicken, Jim Morrison,
Robert McPhail
Apologies
Gwyn Abernethy, Lynn Clarke, Jim Curnyn
In attendance
Jim Paterson
Bob Chicken agreed to take the chair.
Minute of meeting of 12th June 2012
The minutes were accepted as a true record.
Matters arising
There were no matters arising
Correspondence
WJM mini conference on renewables 3rd October - Inverness
Financial report
TSCT account:
 There is currently over £15,000 in the account Of this there an amount from
EKO and CES allocated to the Community Windfarm that has yet to be used.
 £1,500 from Argyll and Bute Council will transferred to the Castle to pay for
the laser survey
Castle Account:
 Balance about £40K and awaiting reclaim of £44K from SRDP
 £1,500 from Argyll and Bute Council to TSCT account has been
transferred to Castle for the Laser study
 Loans may be able to be paid back by end of year
Climate Challenge Fund – Local produce
 Report included with minutes
Current balance £3,256 and currently awaiting 5th LEADER claim
TSCT, Castle and Climate Challenge Accounts should be presented to our Auditors,
William Duncan and Son for inspection as soon as possible.
Current Project Updates
Action
Tarbert and Skipness Community Renewables
Community Windfarm
 There are significant problems with the ecology around the
proposed wind turbine site. A black grouse lek falls within
the 500-700metre exclusion zone designated by SNH
 There are poor returns from the Met mast
 The development of this project is becoming overwhelming in
view of the poor returns from the met mast and environmental
difficulties
Allt Dearg
 The turbines of phase 1 are up and should produce electricity
by the end of the year
 Tarbert has been offered a share in phase 2. Robert is in
regular touch about progress of this with James Lithgow
Robert
Tarbert Castle
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Report included with minutes
Phase 1 of clearing, consolidation and interpretation of the
castle is now complete. The people counter has showed
over 10,000 people visiting the castle over the summer
“Explore Tarbert Castle” project is struggling to access funds.
An application has now been prepared for the Heritage
Lottery Fund
Local Produce
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Robert
Jim
Local Produce report enclosed with this minute
Local Produce is now supplying schools and is targeting
hospitals with Islay first
22nd September Car Boot Sale at Healing Gardens
Natural Art with Morag Duff is a course to be offered soon
Application in place to Postcode Lottery Dream Fund will be
made to extend project; generally targeting support to
community gardens
Junior Activities
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2 young people will be going on the exchange visit to Skane
in October
Initial preparations are being made regarding a “Walking for
Castle celebration eventPlay”
Discussion regarding Tarbert and Skipness community Renewables
Robert reported that Tarbert and Skipness Community Wind Turbine at Corranbuie
is encountering difficulties. Felix from Community Energy Scotland has now left and
been replaced by a new worker. The results from the Met mast are very
disappointing. The wind results have been variable and the site registers
turbulence. There is also a black grouse lek within 400metres.
Robert suggested that, given the difficulties with our own project, we should go into
partnership with the second phase of Allt Dearg, where we can have community
benefit without the risk of a stand alone project and having to negotiate all the
current and future requirements.
Mellisa said community wind farms are the way ahead with control of the assets
strictly with the community. She said that landowners recognise our need for
community benefit and this enables them to buy us off for small amounts of
community benefit while they make much larger amounts in income.
Speculators are purchasing areas of land and forestry with the aim of erecting wind
farms. This results in a scattering of wind turbines which affect our landscape.
Bob said that Argyll and Bute Council does not have a policy on multiple applications
for wind farms and treats each one individually. He said that there should be
designated areas for wind farms decided by the local council. We need guidance
and policy from A& B Council regarding strategic planning for the area similar to the
joint Council/community Community Plan for Craignish.
Despite the differing views on turbine/wind farms it was agreed that Robert should
proceed on the basis of the current actions of the proposals with James Lithgow. At
the same time we will continue with the proposals for the community wind turbine.
AOCB
 It is nearly the end of the financial year and projects should be organising their
accounts ready for inspection
 Alex asked if space was available for files. Suggestions included upstairs at
TALC and Saddle where other files are kept
Date of next meeting
Tuesday 23rd October 2012 7pm at TALC