Download or view in pdf format
KILLIN COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes, of Meeting, Tuesday 9th January 2024, Draft 1, Lesser McLaren Hall, 7.00 pm
Minutes unanimously agreed on 5-3-24. C. Grant proposed & P. Farquharson seconded.
1. Chairman’s welcome
C. Grant wished everyone a happy new year. First meeting of this year – thank you for coming.
2. Recording of those present and apologies recd.
Charlie, - apologies from A. Aitken, S. Inglis
Present; C. Grant (chairperson), S. MacRobbie, J. Laurence, A. Dowling, P. Farquharson, F. Inglis
Police present; Andy Bushell (Area Inspector), Iain Legget local constable, and Iona Frickleton local constable
In attendance from Low Carbon / Glen Lednock wind farm; Sam Greer (Stakeholder Manager) and Craig Cunningham (Project Manager)
Members of the public; 18
Given the number of items on the agenda and key people present, C. Grant proposed that we move to item 12, regarding the police report.
3. Declarations of interest
None
4. Adoption of previous minutes
S. MacRobbie proposed, and P. Farquarson seconded the Minutes of the previous meeting, which were duly accepted.
5. Formal adoption of J. Lawrence as full member
Proposed by S. MacRobbie and seconded by P Farquharson, J. Laurence was formally accepted as a full KCC member.
6. Notes of interest from members of the public
None
7. Q & A - Glen Lednock Wind Farm – Sam Greer (Stakeholder Manager) and Craig Cunningham (Project Manager)
The two reps of the company (part of a Scottish based team) thanked KCC for inviting them to speak. They are working on a proposal for a wind farm up at Invergeldy estate, Glen Lednock, and have gone into scoping in readiness for the official submission to the Scottish government.
This evening’s presentation is part of a Stakeholder consultation. A 25 turbine farm is being proposed for Glen Lednock and whilst generally, the Killin KCC area will not be impacted greatly, the farm will be visible from 4 locations, including Breadalbane park. Height of each turbine would be 220-230 meters. There will potentially be some financial benefit to those communities, impacted. £5,000 per megawatt, per annum (approx. 6.5 megawatts per
turbine), will come to the community. This is the very start of the consultation process.
Comrie and St Fillans CCs have already been consulted and KCC would be another consultee.
The farm could be in existence for some 40 years and if it goes ahead, the company wants to make sure that the local communities benefit from the legacy of the project, called Low Carbon. An Environmental Impact Survey needs to be carried out (bird and peat surveys have already been carried out).
A letter has been received from a member of the public regarding the proposed rewilding of the area vis a vis the windfarm as well as some concerns about birds and the annual migrations. The new owners of Invergeldy Low Carbon’s parent company, Oxygen House Group, aims to rewild and increase wildlife etc. 25 turbines are likely the maximum that the
area could cope with.
Some of the infrastructure eg roads, will be within Stirling council area. The Trossachs national park will also be consulted. KCC was assured that the community would be able to suggest alternative locations for the farm.
The £5,000 going into the Community Benefit fund, would be for the whole area- per megawatt for the whole area, per annum. Could mean approx. £800,000 per area, per annum and the divisions between the communities involved, will need to be decided at a later date. Most turbines will be in the Comrie area and 5 in St Fillans. The communities will decide.
Outside of the potential funds for the community, there could be opportunities for businesses – plant hire, fencing, construction, maintenance etc particularly over the 2 year construction period. Community shared ownership – where a community actually owns at least some of the turbines is also an option which could be explored! The company assured KCC that they would be very open now to further conversation and discussion prior to seeking consent from Scottish govt.
8. Chairperson report – C. Grant thanked the Fire Service for the work they did to source, put up and decorate the Xmas tree for the community.
Overhanging bushes in the village – an issue for some properties in the Main St and in Craignavie. Letters normally go out to home owners, from the council.
9. Secretary’s report
A large number of emails have been received re the Big Conversation, C60 and nursery
Received an invitation re Tesco Stronger Start – has been passed onto Pete Waugh
Third Sector breakfast club invite
Comm Dev team, holding a Child Protection training on 17th Jan
F.Inglis has also received an answer to the future of libraries in the area and to the proposed cuts to public toilets in the Stirling area
S. Inglis and F Inglis attended recent meeting re the Glen Lochay electricity project – progressing well.
10. Treasurer’s report
£3,263.76 in the comm council funds £101.79 – still in Warm Hub grant fund.
Agreed to give £60 to the tin church as a contribution for the Xmas tree lights
Admin grant of £637.87 received, plus a grant to buy a new laptop for the Committee secretary
11. Stirling Council report
Stirling council report – essentially the council has no money! Officers proposals exceed the shortfall. Need to be aware that another raft of cuts is coming through, to address the gap of £13m anticipated. Next budget meeting – 29th Feb. Discussion followed on the statutory requirements, potential solutions and any leeway that may be possible.
12. Police Report – Andy Bushell (Area Inspector) attended, due to the incidents re the spate of thefts and the response to it.
It was accepted that the community were very concerned and unhappy with the way the police dealt with the incidents at the end of November in the village, that the response was not satisfactory, that the suspects managed to get away and the community have not been informed of any further developments. The inspector wanted to give some explanation, mend some bridges, and apologise to the community for their not being given the response they deserved. He accepted that poor decisions had been made on the night, based on a lack of knowledge of the geography of the area, on the part of the sergeant involved. The inspector hoped that the relationship between all parties, can be maintained and had come to the meeting to shed some light on the situation. The inspector also wanted to appreciate the community spirit and the fact that the community and particularly, Fire and Rescue responded to collaborate with police.
Re police presence overnight, 24/7 coverage is available to via a car in Callander car that will respond. It was suggested that we need to look at other ways of deterring criminality in Killin / rural areas eg CCTV / ring doorbells.
Question of whether the offer of a drone should have been acceptable? May be able in the future to consider a drone as a specific community asset. Need to look at different options re to tackle those kind of crimes.
A member of the public related the actual events of morning to 29th Nov. 6 calls made. The inspector explained what happened from a police perspective and the process that had been followed with the officer involved. Operational and organisational learning to be had from this event. This will be raised in an upcoming council security meeting and ward councillors can be offered a confidential briefing.
For other police issues in the community, see written report.
13. Planning report & related issues
Wester Lix – cabin. Falls of Dochart and ancilliary building for solar panels, to be considered by KCC
14. KAT report – Xmas market and the rebedding of the stones, were both a success at the Old Mill and the Coop building work has now started.
15. Roads report and related issues
On-going potholes and more double yellow lines been done.
Upcoming environment meeting re prioritisation of repairs. Report should be
available the Friday Cllr Earl suggested S. Inglis could contribute.
Traffic lights on Glen Ogle – recent issues re the rain and snow, traffic jams and accidents. Cllr Earl agreed to follow up re the debris on the Glen Ogle road.
Landslide monitoring – Councillor Earl to check re the schedule.
Very bad pothole beyond the golf course.
16. Progress report on The Big Conversation
Survey re 8 main areas went out re the Stirling council cuts. Meeting on 18th when it will be important that we come up with alternative options and that we’re not just rejecting all.
17. Progress report on C60 and bus provision
No progress recently. Expectation that the council will speak to MacGills, CityLink and also consider a hybrid report re private and other options.
A member of the public asked if discussion with City Link had taken place as they could be the most feasible option? S. MacRobbie will write to David Hopper etc.
18. Progress report on Killin Nursery
Meeting tomorrow (Scottish Childminding Association) at the Pavilion re childminding etc Further meeting on the back of the participation request we submitted; we have a Zoom meeting with Stirling Council on 24th – to discuss alternative provision for 0-2 year olds in Killin.
19. AOCB
RE 7 local houses that have been bought but left empty. To be followed up by Cllr Earl
20. Date, time and format of next meeting
5th March – next meeting