1. Present and apologies

Ed Pybus, Robin, John McColl, John Butcher, Nikki Brown

Apologies from Nicola Greenall, Catriona Renfrew and Vicky Wince. Also Councillor William Sinclair.

2. Minutes of January 2026 meeting.

Approved

3. Declarations of interest.

Ed Pybus partner works for ABCAN

4. Matters arising:

• Bins update on request to Council. CR has chased up no response as yet.
• Broadband update. CR has contacted other CCs and Argyll and Bute Council. On current plan, almost all of KCC area should have access to high-speed broadband by the end of 2026. Will people be told when they are able to connect? CR to follow up. Noted that there was a community consultation on community broadband 6 or 7 years ago, Kyles Community Broadband. NB was involved. It was organised by Charles Dixon Spain / Fiona McPhail. EP to follow up with organisers to see what became of the project.
• Kilfinan Community Forest Board. CR has chased up, EP spoke to Bob Brady, apparently the email went to spam, Jay Cohen will get back to CR. If no response we could raise at the AGM.
• Cruach Mhor windfarm. EP met with Mike Russell, chair of Cruach Mhor windfarm trust. They are still discussing how best to move forward with the project. NB raised the question of how much money is sitting unspent at present that neighbouring communities could benefit from? This led to discussion about how windfarm money is distributed, and whether this could be restructured to better support community, including support for, for example, small businesses. EP noted that KCC have been invited to a Mid Argyll discussion on Community Energy on Friday 27th Feb – JB to attend.
• Resilience planning update. Kilfinan and Kames church halls will be resilience hubs; CR is working with leads to agree communication. Discussion with SSEN has made progress to get clarity on welfare payments and to try to move forward local businesses being able to provide food and be reimbursed. EP – Once we have a communication all members to share with local businesses.
• Children’s issues meeting with Council/TDDT. ABC early years have a contact with the Early Years team – EP to arrange a meeting with Early Years Team, parents and possibly school. Playparks – update from ABC – they did receive Scottish Government funding, this was spent upgrading existing parks rather than creating new parks. EP to update play park committee to look at next steps. Update after the meeting – EP to contact Live Argyll re: libraries and children clubs in KCC area.
• Health and Social Care Services. Agree to include on next month’s agenda with a view to making it the focus of the April KCC meeting. Ideas include inviting CAB PASS service and local Community Link Work so they can explain what they do, to work with the Kyles Medical Centre on the meeting and invite someone from the HSCP to discuss issues raised. Issues already raised via young families include lack of dentist capacity for new patients and childhood immunisations.
• Portavadie Ferry Correspondence. Issues include lack of consultation with KCC/community about planned works, lack of replacement transport and lack of compensation for cancelled sailings caused by technical issues. EP to draft response to CalMac.

5. Local place plan final draft for approval

KCC agree to approve the LPP as circulated. Next steps are to circulate to neighbouring CC and local councillors for comment. Note EP to check with ML who will send that. ABCAN will create a working document, based in the place plan, that can be kept updated as projects progress.

6. Follow up to roads session

• Proposed speed limits and possibility of moving immediately to 20mph limits have been publicised through notice boards, Facebook and our website. Noted that responses from the community will strengthen the case for implementing speed limits. ABCAN have capacity in the next month to do short consultations. Agreed that they should do this. Suggested they contact local business and organisation, including the village halls, the School, TDDT, as well as residents in the impacted areas and information in the local shops. AP – EP to contact ABC to see if there is a deadline for responses.
• Path from end of green lane into village and the layby at Ostel Bay engagement with TDDT and Colin Young. TDDT to provide maps of the areas concerned. EP has contacted Colin Young and Keith Tennent. Awaiting reply.

7. Rally Update

Council asked for an urgent meeting to discuss how they will deal with the lack of response from MCC to the issues raised and proposals made by KCC. No response and has been chased up. MCC are now publicising the rally as if approval is a forgone conclusion. Businesses in Tighnabruach have asked for help to see if they can benefit from the rally. CR is engaging with them. Note – JB took issues directly to ABC re: safety. If there is an accident who is liable and was told take it up with MCC?

8. Councillor engagement

Update on views of other CC’s agenda for next meeting. EP will draft a letter to all councillors, and copy in MSP, asking how they can best engage with community councils and development trusts. Once agreed circulate draft to neighbouring community council trusts/development trust to see if they want to sign the letter.

9. ABCAN update

Discussed the issue of sewage going into sea, including from public toilets. Noted this is a long-standing issue. Noted that NB could support some of this work via SRA. We should contact ABC about the public toilets.

Noted that Scottish Government consultation on marine protection zones has been postponed until after the election. Open Seas are holding an event in April. EP to circulate details when he has them.

10. Police report

None received

11. Planning report

Applications noted as:

• Formation of forest track Ormidale Forest.
• Improvements to Portavadie slip.
• Forest plan Camquhart and Ormidale Forests.

12. Farming clusters

Noted that SCF are doing some work on mobile abattoirs that could be of interest. EP to circulate details.

13. Meetings

• Transport Forum – Chair has stood down, he noted that “Following careful consideration and discussions with colleagues, I recognise that there has been a change in my political circumstances. In light of this, I feel it would no longer be appropriate for me to continue serving as Chair of the Forum.” Next meeting will be organised once a new chair is in place. EP has contact details ABC lead on buses, agreed to draft letter raising concerns including.
• Community Planning – Community Planning Partnership is holding meetings on the three identified priorities: transport, wellbeing and housing. EP unable to attend transport meeting this morning due to work commitments. NB to attend Housing and Wellbeing meetings on 27th Feb and 2nd March.

14. AOCB

• JB attended deer management group. Positive things about game larder. Ready to go, waiting for planning.

15. Future meeting dates for 2026

Agreed to move meetings to the Church Hall which is a better size and has Wi-Fi. Add AGM to March meeting agenda to have initial discussion about AGM content.

30th June and AGM 15.00

31st March 18.00

28th April 15.00

26th May 18.00