Kilfinan Community Council

Covering the villages of Tighnabruach, Kames, Millhouse, Ardlamont, Otter Ferry, Kilfinan and Portavadie.

Draft minutes meeting 26th August at Kames Hall

1. Present

Community Councillors Ed Pybus, Nicola Greenall, John Butcher, Catriona Renfrew, John McColl, John Butcher, Robin Webster, Vicky Wince.
Councillor Willaim Sinclair
Members of the public: Issy Currie, Doreen McDonald, Martin King, Susan Frize, Iain McKinlay, David Blair.

2. Declarations of interest

Nicola working for ABCAN, Ed’s partner working for ABCAN.

3. Minutes

24th June 2025 agreed with correction to initials NG.

4. Matters Arising from May and June meetings

• West Cowal Rainforest Regeneration Project. Ian Dow invited to September meeting.
• Bin provision: CR to chase up lack of response from Council and copy to Councillor Sinclair.
• Road’s session. no update on arrangements for this CR to raise at Area Committee.
• Community Resilience. meeting to take place with interested parties EP.
• Local Area Grants Committee. Membership is closed likely for next two years. CR to obtain and circulate current membership.
• Diary of key dates. Not progressed CR.
• Landline switch off and priority register. Information to be publicised. CR.
• Broadband. CR and JB to produce a proposal for action for the next meeting CR/JB.

5. Mull Car Club Complaint

EP talked through the complaint about Catriona Renfrew (CR) which had been received from Mull Car Club (MCC) and had been circulated with her response. The complaint had five elements. The CC reviewed each element of the complaint. EP requested clarification on some points from CR. CR did not take part in the discussion. In reviewing the complaint the CC primarily considered the council’s Code of Conduct as well as the ABC Community Council Handbook, specifically Part 2.

MCC alleged a lack of Impartiality and that CR had consistently demonstrated an inability to represent the full range of views within the community in an objective and balanced manner. The CC agreed that all submissions on the rally sent in the name of the CC had been agreed by the CC members and had reflected the views which have been expressed by our communities. Therefore,the CC concluded that there had been no breach of the code of conduct as there was no evidence that CR views had taken precedence over the views of the community council as a whole.

MCC alleged that CR was pursuing a personal agenda and using her role within the Community Council to advance her own opposition to the rally, rather than acting in the broader interests of the community she represents. The CC agreed that all submissions made in the name of the CC had been agreed by CC members. Therefore, the CC concluded that there had been no breach of the code of the conduct as CR had been representing the CC views, rather than her own views.

MCC alleged undemocratic conduct and that CR has established a group which exists solely to oppose the rally. The CC heard that the B8000 Against the Rally Stages (BARS) was formed before the CC was established, brings together the community around Otter Ferry who oppose the rally stages in their area. CR is involved in that in a personal capacity as a local resident. It was not clear from the complaint how being a member of a campaigning organisation breaches the code of conduct. Therefore, the CC concluded that there had been no breach of the code of the conduct as CR is participating in the group in a personal capacity and there was no evidence that CR was allowing her views to take precedence over the views expressed by the community council as a whole.

MCC complained that CR had involved legal counsel in email exchanges challenging the terms of the Motor Sport Order and these actions go beyond the remit of her role as Secretary and which further indicate a personal campaign against the event. The CC heard that this correspondence was sent from CR’s personal email address to the legal contact with the Argyll and Bute Council, stated this was in a personal capacity, thus making clear this was not in her community councillor role. CR shared a copy of the letter send to ABC on her behalf, which makes it clear that she was acting in a personal capacity, The CC noted that it is important that councillors are able to draw a distinction between acting in a personal capacity and when they are acting on behalf of the community council. It was clear from the letter that in this instance she was acting in a personal capacity. Therefore, the CC concluded that there was no breach of the code of conduct.

MCC alleged unacceptable behaviour towards volunteers and officials and alleged instances where CR had verbally abused volunteers and threatened officials and competitors. MCC provided no evidence to support this allegation which CR denied. There was no suggestion that CR was acting in her role as community councillor, so the CC agreed that there had been no breach of the code of conduct. The CC agreed that these allegations could not be investigated by them and MCC should be advised to report these to the police or withdraw them.

The Community councillors, bar CR, who did not take part in the discussion, unanimously agreed these points and agreed EP would to circulate a draft response to MCC for comment.

6. Councillors briefing

EP welcomed Councillor Sinclair (CWS) to the meeting and invited him to update on issues from his perspective. Councillor Sinclair:

• Outlined the progress he had made on road improvements for our area and updated on the Ballimore bridge work, agreeing to confirm the target timescale for completion. CWS noted that the roads reconstruction budget is dealt with for this year but he will continue to promote local priorities for future years. The planned roads officer visit will also be key to informing future years as well as dealing with short term issues and repairs. Doreen MacDonald from Millhouse described her attempts to get speed limits in place. She had met Council officers and was not happy with outcome and lack of progress……CR suggested maybe be a wider issue and we should perhaps identify this as a focus area for KCC, Councillor Sinclair said all councils have been asked to look at limits, and he will separately pick up the issue in Millhouse. CR to raise at Area Committee.
• Councillor moved on to speak about tourist levy, EP noted that we had decided not to consult on this but we would encourage people to submit their individual opinions.
• Councillor Sinclair update the meeting SPT Ferry concession scheme, issues with cards should now be resolved.

7. Local Place Plan feedback (NG)

• Marylou and Nicola have been funded for a further 140 hours to work in the Col Glen and Kilfinan Parish Communities to further community resilience planning and related local place plan with a climate lens work.
• Final LPP report to be shared with the community council by end of Sept 2025.
• Work continues with community members and groups on various themes around active travel, local energy, waste management, land use.
• Offer of support the community emergency plan, including pulling out information gathered during the LPP engagement. Sourcing example plans from other communities. Support the community council to facilitate a local meeting on emergency planning. Agreed this would be helpful. Proposal to be circulated NG.

8. Engagement and communication

EP noted good participation in AGM and great to see members of the public at this meeting. Agreed we need to publicise information we receive more effectively. We will use KCC Facebook posting CR and update the website EP. Also agreed to try to gather an email circulation list to directly engage with the community. Consider further using the Heritage Centre to share information.

9. Annual Accounts

Noted as circulated, version signed by Alistair Barge as independent reviewer to be submitted to A and B. CR/VW.

10. Sewage update

Kyles Coastal Community had run the successful and well publicised ‘Dip if you Dare’ on Saturday the 23rd of August is sponsoring a showing of the Ocean Film.

11. Correspondance

• Save Cowal’s Hills. RW declared an interest. Agreed to wait for formal consultation. CR.
• State of Tighnabruach. email from local resident about state of village and looking for CC to take a leadership role. Agreed LPP is a potential vehicle to address issues. Email to be circulated. NG will share emerging place issues. CR to reply highlighting existing initiatives including work by the development trust, progress being made on the royal and on other buildings. Agenda for more detailed discussion at next meeting on where CC might add value. CR.
• Transformative Actions for Resilient Coastal Communities report to go to RW, NG and EP, action CR.
• SPT Annual report. Link to be circulated and posted on Facebook. CR.
• Peat restoration support for the circulated proposal from those present any issues to CR. Tree planting also noted as in progress. Agreed we should send a supportive letter. CR We will highlight both on website and Facebook. EP/CR.
• CC scheme of establishment consultation feedback. Agreed to discuss outcome of first phase consultation and agree response to feed into further consultation at next meeting. CR.
• Glenan forest plan. early notification more details to follow.
• Permission to fell. EP highlighted proposal for Inveryne, agreed to be added to website and Facebook EP/CR.

12. AGM Feedback

Agreed draft minutes to next meeting. CR.

13. Community Link Worker

Noted we have a Community Link Worker in post covering working through the Strachur and Tighnabruaich Health Centres. NG met with her to see how we can support the people in our area in need. She will map what is going on in the area and help signpost people to groups, events and volunteering who would like to connect with others.

14. Rally

• Correspondance with A and B, responded late to issues we raised about 2025 Rally, noted as unhelpful and confuses pre KCC and post KCC issues. Agreed we will not respond but will write to A and B about the legal pedestrian access issues which have been raised by residents.
• Feedback from collective CC meeting. This meeting was badged as an opportunity to look back on the 2025 rally and give Community Council representatives a chance to raise any issues, concerns or suggestions for future events. Detailed route and road closure plans were tabled to be issued for public consultation without any community council input. MCC had indicated that they would share some “early thoughts” on their plans for the 2026 Argyll Rally at the meeting. There was clearly no intention that community councils could influence 2026 planning before detailed plans were developed. Raises real concerns about how genuine consultation is. Councillor Sinclair agreed to chase up commitment by council officers to review economic analysis, which KCC had challenged. CWS will also consider our concerns about consultation CR to write to him, setting these out. Agreed we would take up offer from MCC of a meeting, albeit 2 months after our request, and write to Sam Spencer raising our concerns about engagement. CR.
• 2025 experience and 2026 planning. The feedback we had on the 2025 proposals and experience, including the Dunoon CC survey highlight a range of issues about disruption to residents and businesses, night stage, impact on tourists, repeated road closures. Also noted support for the rally in places where spectators could access and where there was some benefit for businesses. Agreed we should use this feedback to draft criteria which could be used to respond to route proposals. We can consult on these alongside seeking views on the published MCC proposals. CR to draft criteria and public notice for CC sign off.
• Issue of damage to fibre effecting 3 businesses, not reported promptly by MCC and took several days to repair.

15. Meetings

• Cowal transport forum. Minutes to be circulated CR.
• Community Planning. Minutes and paper on A and B website.
• TDDT. EP noted funding application in for petrol station and EP meeting Chair to discuss issues of common interest. Details of windfarm proposals to be circulated.

16. AOCB

• CR to send crown estate correspondence on pontoon to EP for discussion with TDDT.
• Concerns raised about forestry debris along the roads. Agreed we need to encouraging reporting by individuals but also to discuss further community council role, noted trees overhanging raised at AGM. Agenda for next meeting CR.

17. Future meeting dates all Kames Hall

25/11 15.00

30/9 15.00

28/10 18.00