Kilfinan Community Council
Minutes of Meeting – Tuesday 29th April 2025 – 15:00
Present: Ed Pybus, Catriona Renfrew, John MacColl, Vicky Wince, Nicola Greenall, Robin Webster, John Butcher.
Councillor William Sinclair and 2 members of the public.
Minutes of Meeting 24th March: Agreed, proposed Robin and seconded Nicola.
Apologies: Councillor Gordon Blair.
Declarations of Interest: NG as ABCAN employee; EP partner also ABCAN employee.
Matters Arising
Ferry Correspondence: CR has established there is a Community Transport Forum meeting Friday 9th May – CR will represent KCC. Various issues with Dunoon ferry in correspondence between CCs. Forum is also the place to raise issues with the Portavadie ferry, including size of ferry, winter timetable, and the fact it is not bookable.
Bus Service Consultation: EP attended and will write up and circulate. Issues include no buses in school holidays and concerns raised by other community councils.
Banking Update: VW reported progress and asked members with outstanding spending to provide receipts and bank details for reimbursement.
Community Resilience Meeting Report: NG gave a brief overview. CR to find more detail and make this a substantive agenda item next meeting. Discussion will also consider issues arising from the Local Place Plan process. EP will ask other CCs for their plans.
Rally Update:
- Response submitted requesting urgent discussion on routes; acknowledged but no meaningful contact.
- Sent to Jenni Minto MSP who has raised concerns with A&B Council.
- MCC seem to be assuming order will be granted; posters and publicity already in circulation.
- CR clarified Colglen’s position was confirmed before drafting submission.
- Councillor Sinclair noted Colglen’s position is unclear; referenced economic appraisal, challenged for lack of local business loss data.
- Concerns remain about legality of proposed stages without alternative access.
Local Place Plan Update: NG reported steering group in place, with community engagement activities underway. Themes include community resilience, water quality/supply, housing, community spaces, youth issues, transport, and land management. Survey closes 12th May. Further events planned, with outcomes presented to the community.
Library Van: Decision in 2016 to save money. Possible option for a community library discussed. Agreed to test views via Place Plan.
Register of Interests: Proposed format agreed; CR to circulate.
Landline Switch-Off: BT engagement process underway. Agreed to continue collecting views and highlight links to community resilience.
ABCAN Membership: Agreed KCC should join.
Evanachan Felling Proposal: Noted; no KCC comment at present.
Community Engagement:
- EP to write to Dunoon Observer to raise profile.
- Discussed potential combined newsletter.
- AGM seen as a key engagement opportunity.
- Suggestions for notice board listings, event presence, and Facebook use.
- Councillor Sinclair noted CC can use A&B Council website to log issues.
- Roads session with Council proposed for late May/June – CR to coordinate.
Co-option: No action; remove from agenda.
High Brenfield Windfarm Consultation: KCC registered as interested for when formal process starts.
Cowal Transport Forum: CR to represent KCC.
Meeting Reports
TDDT Lease: TDDT will take on lease; concerns remain about pier repairs before Waverley season. CR to follow up; Councillor Sinclair to assist if needed.
Rally Liaison: CR did not attend as main focus was residents’ information pack, which was considered inappropriate given permissions not yet granted.
AOCB
- Empowering Communities Fund: CR to circulate bidding process.
- Local Action Group (LAG): CC invited to join; CR to follow up urgently.
- Privacy Statement: Needs formal approval; to be on next agenda.
- Ragbag Proposal from School: To be on next agenda.
- Hall Bid to TDDT: EP to discuss.
- Community Alcohol Partnership: Meeting in Lochgilphead noted.
- Review of CC Scheme of Establishment: CR to circulate for discussion.
- Millhouse Cemetery: Concern raised by JMaC; CR to raise with Council.
Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday 27th May 2025, 18:00 hrs.
Approved: 27th May 2025
Kilfinan Community Council 