Kilfinan Community Council

Minutes – Meeting 24th March 2025 – 18:00 at Kames Hall

1. Welcome and Apologies
Present: Ed Pybus, Catriona Renfrew, John MacColl, Vicky Wince, Nicola Greenall, Robin Webster, John Butcher.
Ros McGee and Iain Waugh for item 5.
4 members of the public.

2. Minutes of 24th February meeting
Amend to include Councillor Blair apologies. Minutes agreed on that basis; proposed by EP and seconded by VW.

3. Declarations of Interest
NG – ABCAN employee; EP – partner ABCAN employee; RW – Trustee of Glenan Woods.

4. Matters Arising

• Register of interests: Agreed to maintain a register as well as declarations at each meeting. CR to circulate proposed form.
• Website: Now live at kilfinancommunitycouncil.wordpress.com. Agreed to fund advert-free zone. EP will manage content. Promote widely as the place to access CC papers and to contribute.
• Graham Hogg pontoon and defib: CC supportive of the pier and defib as community assets but not appropriate to own them. EP will confirm to TDDT.
• Hall Wi-Fi and remote access: Hall currently has no plans to install Wi-Fi; agreed to try hotspot remote access next meeting. Resilience work may progress a medium-term solution.
• Ferry correspondence: CR contacted Tarbert CC but no reply yet.
• Banking update: VW reported work in progress to change signatories.

5. Energy Project

Ros McGee described the energy project (initially Colglen area, now covering TDDT area). Project is extending into community resilience with emergency power and Wi-Fi. Iain described assessments of Kilfinan CC halls.

• Ros to provide a flyer to publicise the availability of advice.
• NG to attend upcoming community resilience meeting.
• Agreed to share information through CC routes. Contacts: Rosalynd@inspiralba.org.uk, tact.us@inspiralba.org.uk.

6. Local Place Plan

NG reported the steering group is established (chair NG) and includes David Blair, Heather Muir, John Butcher, Katherine Lowrie, Mary-Lou Anderson. Online and hard copy surveys are about to go out and engagement events are planned. Process extended until December 2025.

• Volunteers requested to distribute the survey.
• Place Check mapping tool – CC will host this as an add-on to the survey.

7. Co-option

Discussion deferred to next meeting.

8. Rally Engagement and Response

The meeting paper summarised responses received and councillors’ conversations with residents. Significant issues raised about proposed routes affecting community and businesses. Some local support was noted, but many doubted any positive impact. The rally economic analysis did not account for business losses outside Dunoon. EP questioned legality of routes where no alternative or pedestrian access exists. Agreed CR to draft a response to the Council for comment before submission.

9. ICO Registration

CR registered the CC (data processing arising from rally consultation). Privacy notice to be circulated.

10. Landline Switch-Off

Agenda item for next meeting. EP to draft an engagement flyer to gather views.

11. Meeting with Other Community Councils

EP highlighted communications about Council engagement issues (including from Mull CCs). Agreed EP to contact neighbouring councils.

12. High Brenfield Wind Farm Proposal

EP outlined the proposal for a large wind farm above Ardrishaig. Agreed CR will register CC interest in the planning application.

13. Planning Applications

Agreed CR to compile and circulate a list of relevant planning applications for each meeting.

14. Engagement with Councillors

CC wishes to engage with councillors; virtual access is key. Agreed to trial Microsoft Teams for the next meeting.

15. Correspondence

• Glenan Visioning Event invite noted.
• Air ambulance request – agreed to suggest they target other local groups; details will be added to the website.
• Cowal Community Energy letter received – NG to receive a copy; CR to action.
• SEPA surface water flood maps circulated by Councillor Blair – NG to receive a copy; CR to action.

16. Reports

• Area Committee (4/3/25): CR reported topics covered. NG and EP requested active travel report; CR to action.
• Rally Liaison (5/3/25): CR reported information incorporated into rally report.
• TDDT March meeting: EP reported plans for a new website, windfarm focus and hall resilience.

17. AOCB

• Loss of library van – CR to contact Council for background information.
• Concessionary ferry fares increase – noted change to 50% of adult fare (Strathclyde concessionary travel scheme).

18. Date of Next Meeting

Agreed to meet at Kames on the last Tuesday of each month (except July & December). Dates:

• 29/4 – 15:00
• 27/5 – 18:00
• 24/6 – 15:00 & AGM
• 26/8 – 18:00
• 30/9 – 15:00
• 28/10 – 18:00
• 25/11 – 15:00