KILMUN COMMUNITY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING
10th October 2017 held at Blairmore Hall,
Blairmore 7.30PM.
PRESENT:
Brian Tester (Convenor), Russell Humphreys (Treasurer) Graham Revill, Andy Mullen and Diane
Nicholson.
Also Present, Councillor A Reid
APOLOGIES: Janet Holm (Secretary), Lachlan Macquarie, Kirsty Husband, Fraser Smith, Councillor
G. Blair, D Mckenzie (LATNP) ,Agnes Harvey, PC Donald MacKay, Councillor Y McNeilly.
2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: None
3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING:
Proposed: Diane Nicholson
Seconded: Andy Mullen Carried
4. MATTERS ARISING NOT ON THE AGENDA
None
5. TREASURER’S REPORT
Carried Forward: £1370.69
16p interest added.
Balance at 10th
October 2017 £1370.85
The council have awarded KCC £2598 towards gardening equipment, and SSE have awarded KCC
£5040 for a new defibrillator and a cross over switch for Kilmun Hall. They had been inundated for
requests for generators, so have decided to provide cross over switches, and they will provide a
generator in an emergency.
6. POLICE REPORT
PC Donald MacKay reported that there had been 17 incidents since the last meeting including 4
crime reports.
1 x miscellaneous statute,
1 x theft of a boat trailer from Loch Eck side near to the Coylet Inn,
1 x male detained in custody for multiple road traffic crimes,
1 x male detained in custody for breaching bail conditions,
Rural Watch continues to be the emphasis for rural policing so please spread the word and sign
up. Clive now has the electronic poster which can be put on the Kilmun CC website as well as be
printed off for any of the village halls or notice boards elsewhere.
7 Correspondence
A&BC - the Council have today agreed to the recommendation to amend the current Scheme
and extend the period of co-option for those members currently co-opted.
From Agnes Harvey – Suggestion for for ALL of the shore communities to consider entering
one of the Keep Scotland Beautiful' opportunities in 2018?
From Agnes Harvey – Suggestion for KCC & ACC will spearhead the leadership for the
Community Festive Lunch years event?
Posters asking for volunteers from Blairmore Village Trust and Ardentinny Community Trust
Think Dunoon – Alliance for Action - The next meeting of the Alliance is 6.00 pm,
11th October Dunoon Pier.
8 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
The following planning applications have been submitted to LLTNP
2017/0298/DET - Change of use from hotel (class 7) to a house, two flats (Class 9) and restaurant
(class 3). The Pier Hotel Kilmun Dunoon – Detailed application - Neighbour Notification
2017/0269/DET- Erection of telecoms mast and associated equipment West Loch Eck Telecoms
proposal - Withdrawn
2017/0279/HAE
Installation of access ramp, conversion of 2no. existing windows on front elevation to form 2no.
French doors, erection of decking, and formation of new gate opening on boundary wall. ~Approved
2017/0289/HAE
Erection of conservatory Highfield Shore Road Kilmun Approved
It was reported at the meeting that Finergy had submitted an application to AB&C for a wind farm at Ardtaraigh.
9. Community Matters
Liaison/communication with other local organisations / groups
At present J Holm and Dan Romani of Historic Kilmun have set up a Google Calendar named Cowal
Communities Collaboration Calendar (CCCC). The links to be able to manage this calendar for the
19 groups along the Shore has been sent out to the contacts for the groups with a ‘how to do it” help
sheet compiled by Dan. Ardentinny Community Council and KCC have set their dates but hopefully
in the next few weeks others will have added to it. Then the link to it can be published on our website
and other groups to which will be able to be seen by everyone. When completed by everyone it will
be very useful. Clubs in our area will also be included.
As yet, not many suggestions received for names to replace ‘The Shore Collaboration Group have
been suggest to reflect that it also includes Clachaig Rashfield and Benmore that are not on the
Shore.
Flower tubs etc. – funding A&BC Funding
KCC and the Shore Sweepers have been successful in their bid for funding grant from Argyll and
Bute Council. This will enable us to get a lot of work done along the shore to improve our
environment
Defibrillator from Strone Primary - possible funding from SCEN –first responders
BT has had no response from the Scottish Ambulance service. Alternative training for volunteers will
be sought, if there is no response from the SAS. However the defibrillator from Strone School has
been re-sited at Kilmun Hall and will be connected in the next few days. It was suggested that when
the new defibrillator is bought, it should be installed somewhere nearer Clachaig. GR and DN to
think about possibilities.
Grass Cutting Graham’s Point
There is still confusion as to who will be cutting the grass next year. ACHA are doing an excellent job
at the moment.
10. DISCUSSIONS A&BC LOCAL COUNCILLOR AND NATIONAL PARK REPRESENTATIVE
Argyll and Bute Council Representative
Councillor Alan Reid gave the following report.
The cutting of the grass in Kilmun churchyard has not been carried out because of the unsafe
headstones. The cutting will not happen unless undertaken by local volunteers. BT suggested that
this could be done.
A review of the toilets to be installed in the Church car park is under review. AR was reminded that
the money from the sale of the toilets at Kilmun Pier was earmarked for the toilets at Kilmun Church
AR was not aware of this and will take it up.
AR had taken up the case of the vegetation opposite the teapot houses, only to be told that it was
not regarded as unsafe. However, he had driven along there this evening, and agreed that it can be
dangerous when cars are parked on the nearside. He will write to Paul Farrar to arrange a site visit.
The issue of the state of the road repairs was once again raised. Several local people have
commented about the poor surface and the accumulation of water. The drains are now below the
level of the road, due to the application of several dressings of the road itself. To avoid damage to
car suspension, drivers naturally tend to drive towards the middle of the road, which is obviously
dangerous. It had been noted that the council had been clearing the sides of the road of leaves and
chippings, but it was also noted that this stopped at Highgate Hall, where the vehicle turned round.
AR was also asked to bring up the subject of the reinstatement of the white lines.
AR was also asked about the 3-week bin collection. There have been several sightings of rats in the
area. Sue Minns also added that as she lives up a hill, her collection is sometimes cancelled as the
smaller lorry often breaks down
D McKenzie (National Park)
National Park
David McKenzie had provided the following report:
2
NP Notes:
1. The NP Partnership Plan consultation, which closed in July, received many useful comments,
including the ones from Kilmun CC. These responses are being analysed and a revised draft
Partnership Plan will be on the website during November. The final plan is expected to be adopted
by the NP Board in December.
2. As a result of the May elections, all 6 of the NP Board members representing local authorities
stepped down at the end of September, The two new members representing Argyll & Bute Council
on the NP Board are Cllr Barbara Morgan and Cllr Ellen Morton.
3. The first season of the Your Park project (camping management zones / bye-laws) concluded
on 30th September. Survey figures from wild campers using the designated sites are very positive
as has been interaction with NP Rangers. Some teething issues have been identified and these are
being addressed. CCs covering areas outside the camping management zones, and this includes
Kilmun, are asked to continue to report if they notice any displacement activity i.e. increase in
camping activity due to people not finding spaces in the controlled zones.
4. Litter – following complaints from some areas of the NP about overfull litter bins in car parks,
the NP clarified that the responsibility for managing litter in a car park lies with the owner e.g.
Council, Forestry, private, NPA, etc. A list of the car parks for which the NP is responsible is being
put together and will be published. (A comment was made that the Forestry Commission used to
have a stick and flick policy for dog waste, but these signs have been removed in most places.)
5. National Park Grant Scheme: 47 eligible Expressions of Interest (EOI) were received and 18
of these are being invited to submit a full application for consideration. Applications need to be
submitted by the 20th October. These include projects at Younger Hall, Kilmun and Blairmore Village
Green.
Bruce Marshall made the comment that he was disappointed that the two council representative
were from Helensburgh, and that there was once again no councillor representing the Cowal on the
National Parks committee. BT will write to Charles Repke re. the matter.
Benmore & Kilmun Community Development Trust (BKCDT) (VS)
BKCDT have just had the AGM and there are several new faces on the committee.
Blairmore Village Trust (BVT)
No report
11. Matters arising out of Community Action Plan
Nothing to report
12. CURRENT ISSUES
Argyll Community Planning Group (ACPG)
No report
Caucus of Community Councils
BT unable to attend the last meeting. No report
A880 Walkway & Safety Barrier, Pavement Invereck to Cot House
Nothing to report
Cemetery Toilets
Already discussed
Highgate Hall
There has been no recent meeting
BT Broadband
Nothing to report.
13. Archived issues
Nothing was discussed
14. Any other competent business
Ardentinny CC and Kilmun were discussing joint training sessions on CPR.
There was a brief discussion regarding the loss of certain television programmes when using aerials.
BT commented on the fact that the Forestry Commission send representative to other community
councils, and that we would like to have the occasional report from them. BT to follow up.
The meeting finished at 8.40pm
NEXT MEETING
Place: Younger Kilmun
Date: Tuesday November 14th at 7.30pm.
Meetings held Second Tuesday each month alternating between Younger & Blairmore Halls.
3