Kirkcowan Community Council meeting on Monday 15th June 2026 at 7.30pm in Kirkcowan Hall.
1. Council Members present – Andrew Gladstone (Treasurer), Mary Harkness (Secretary), Mary Mackenzie, Jim Rae, Robert Drysdale
Public present- Cllr Richard Marsh, David Edwards, Elizabeth McMillan, Tony Day
Apologies for absence – John Drysdale, Hazel Matthews
Note: MH acted as Chair in absence of JD.
Owing to difficulty in finding a Minutes Secretary, and at suggestion of Cllr Inglis at the AGM, an AI Summary app was used to record, transcribe and summarise the meeting – as a trial to compare to noted minutes as taken by MM. All persons present in agreement with the recording.
2. Conflicts of Interest – none.
3. Minutes of Last Meeting, Approval, and matters arising – circulated and agreed to publish once omissions of flag date for Armed Forces Day 27th June, and details of Treasurer’s figures added. Proposed AG, seconded JR.
4. Police Matters – No local crime. Report highlighted a two week campaign to crackdown on illegal use of e-bikes and e-scooters, reminding parents that if the children break the law, the points go on the adult’s licence. E-scooters cannot be used anywhere on public roads or pavements. E-bikes have speed limit of 15.5mph, and propulsion, wattage and age limitations. Above these set limits, the e-bikes are classed as a moped/motorcycle and require licencing, insurance and vehicle registration.
5. Notified Public Concerns – None received.
6. Reports and Updates –
Treasurer’s Report (AG)
No.1 Account £274.14 No.2 Account £18,609.65
Outgoings:
Bank Service charge x 1 £ 4.25
Kirkcowan Hall fees – 1 x KCC, 1 x Knitting £25.00
Galloway Heathers – bedding plants £303.55
NFU Mutual – generator insurance £211.68
Montpelier – annual accounts preparation £240.00
Total £784.48
Income: – nil
AG requested reimbursement for purchase of Christmas Tree, which has been planted next to the site of the old one. Reimbursement to include postage for return of broken tree £25.15, and reduced cost of replacement tree £56.95, Total £82.09. Agreed.
Planning
Application for a slurry tower, concrete apron and fence at Old Land farm.
7. Elected Members Report –
Cllr Richard Marsh reported that Elected Members are reaching out to the D&G Community Police in hope for increased visibility in the community. Aware they no longer attend CCs meetings as before but continued attendance at events such as the Drop-in that took place 15th June in the Kirkcowan Hall car park might continue to show their presence in public. Some CCs have expressed a wish to see police physically at their meetings. No figures for attendance at the Kirkcowan drop-in event known.
At last week’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, the grass and land around Hall were declared surplus to requirement and the transfer to the Hall Board would be processed through the committee stages, taking into account the D&G holiday period of July and August. CAT2 should be ratified by end of September.
At same meeting – the Tourist Levy was debated. It was voted down 10 votes to 8, so D&G Council will not take the Levy forward to public consultation. RM advised that he had supported the motion to take it to public consultation as there are no other avenues for the region to generate the money that is needed for investment in the infrastructure needed – car parks, public toilets, etc. The tourist levy income would have been ring-fenced for this. Only other funds available are from within the Capital budget – which is fully committed with projects such as the Waterfront, Stranraer, the George in Stranraer as well as the White Sands project taking up any excess.
Also linked to this was a paper on public toilets within the region – raising income to fund their upkeep for the use of tourists, residents and general public. The sum required to bring the public toilets within the region up to decent standard is £530,000 and there is no budget for that. The E&I Committee agreed that closing toilets would no longer be put forward as a budgetary saving, and they will now seek a way forward in partnership with community groups to keep the facilities open.
RM also stated that he had put in a request for a Ward event, to be held in Wigtown (as a central location for the area) date not as yet confirmed due to the diaries of the senior officials we wish to be present not being confirmed as yet (again owing to July/August holidays) and all needing be aligned. Questions and topics for this event should be considered now and prepared in readiness – eg Pot holes – Fix my Street, why sporadic repairs and not blanket fixings, work processes, priorities etc
8. Unacceptable Behaviour Guidance
Adoption of this D&G policy requires the item to minuted and voted upon. It was agreed to hold off on a vote until all members of CC present. To be put on the Agenda for August meeting.
9. Correspondence –
a) – Letter from Jane and Robert Cureton complementing Kirkcowan CC on the grass cutting at Rest Garden, requesting that the minimal cutting continues to benefit the bee and insect population, mowing only paths through the area and leaving the remainder as wild grass.
AG explained that the difficulty in managing grass in this manner is that it all needs to be lifted after cutting. The grass is cut by the council who do not take the cuttings away, neither does the contractor who mows the footpaths and does the interim cutting at the Rest Garden. If left uncut, the garden becomes a hay field and would require volunteers to lift the grass in autumn. Wider paths and edge cutting would be acceptable. AG to explore this with contractor, and also contact Anne Connick of Bee Positive to see if assistance would be offered for end of season raking.
MM asked if there was any way of stopping the council from spraying weed killer all the way up and down the streets? Or being notified when they’re going to do it? Is it possible to opt out of spraying? What chemicals are being used? RM responded that he could address the questions of schedule and what spray used but the Streetscene department is responsible for the spraying and they are tasked with keeping the streets and neighbourhood looking good. It is unlikely that they will stop and start at specific properties. Most likely a whole village consensus would be needed.
b) – Jeannie Galloway – request from Dr Doug McClymont of Zimbabwe for information on Jeannie Galloway. Letter copied to Autumn Club in case any memories stirred.
c) – Shennanton Windfarm planning application – MH asked if Cllr Marsh had any insight into the way the Committee might be leaning when the planning application comes before the Committee on 24th June. The Barnharrow residents very anxious for result as this has been delayed since February this year. If D&G raise an objection, a Public Consultation will be held. RM advised that no papers raised for that meeting as yet.
d) – Kirkcowan Bus Times – time of the first bus out of Kirkcowan for Dumfries has changed. It now departs at 0642 not 0652. Timetable in Post Office updated.
The issue of smoking in the bus shelters was raised – under the Smoking, Health and Social Care Scotland Act 2005, it is strictly illegal to smoke in public places that are wholly or substantially, as in the bus shelter, enclosed. If a bus shelter has a roof and walls that cover more than half of its total perimeter, like a standard three-sided plastic or brick shelter, it is classified as substantially enclosed.
e) – Resilience use of the Generator at the School – As advised at last meeting, CC could not agree conditions imposed by D&G for use of generator at school. Resilience Department contacted MH to make sure CC understood that it was not Resilience imposing conditions. This was noted and it was confirmed to meeting that generator won’t be used at School. MH to confirm this to Kirkcowan Resilience Group
f) – KCDT – Kilgallioch Extension commissioned on 15th March. D Edwards confirmed that first payment notification has been received but funds not yet in the bank.
g) – Kirkcowan Bowling Club wish to borrow the barbecue for an event on the 9th of August. Agreed – usual rules re fuel, and returning it clean.
10. Any Other Competent Business –
RD asked Cllr Marsh about the cutting of verges – inconsistent width – seemingly, the machine not taken close enough to verge – some cuts wide and some very narrow. RM acknowledged inconsistency and would express our dissatisfaction with the standard of the verge cuts to the Council.
Meeting closed at 8.30pm
Next meeting 18th August 2026
Flag flying dates:
Sunday 21st June – Prince of Wales’ Birthday
Saturday 27th June – Armed Forces Day
Friday 17th July – Queen Camilla’s Birthday
Wednesday 22nd July – Prince George’s Birthday
Saturday 15th August – Princess Anne’s Birthday
The Saltire will be flown whilst Scotland is taking part in the Football World Cup.