KIRKCOWAN COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Monday 15th September 2025 at 7.30pm Kirkcowan Hall.
1. Council Members present – John Drysdale (chair), Mary Harkness (sec), Andrew Gladstone (treasurer), Hazel Matthews, Mary Mackenzie, Jim Rae, Robert Drysdale, Kath Googe (minute sec)
Public present- Cllr Richard Marsh, Cllr Katie Hagman, Cllr David Inglis, Lynn Marshall, Charlie Marshall, Norma Bodle, Alix Smith, Kevin Dean
Apologies for absence – Cllr Jackie McCamon
2. Minutes of Last Meeting, Approval, and matters arising – Kevin Dean raised the problem of the printed bus time tables at the 2 bus stops. Houstons have altered the times of some buses again and he felt that there should be 4 printed timetables one on each side of the road of the stops. MH informed the meeting that the responsibility for this now lies with Houstons.
MH proposed, RD seconded and committee agreed to accept the minutes.
3. Police Matters – There have been 2 Breaches of the Peace with Recorded Warnings given, and a Communications offence with enquiries ongoing. The next Police Scotland Zoom meeting is on 23rd September. MH will take forward any concerns from the public.
4. Notified Public Concerns – None received.
5. Reports and Updates –
Treasurer’s Report (AG)-
No.1 Account £321.14 No.2 Account £12,859.21
Outgoings:
M Harkness – Printer Ink £45.81
Bank Service charge £ 4.25
Income: Nil
KCDT – No meeting held since last KCC meeting so nothing to report.
Planning – Glenvernoch Windfarm – Dumfries and Galloway Council have decided to raise an objection to this proposal with the Scottish Government.
Footpaths –
Community Payback supposed to strim footpath edges one more time this year.
Rest Garden – One cut of the vegetation should be done by D&G Council.
Digger still to return to riverside path in Jenna Morra Wood to relieve the very wet and muddy section, with new ditch and culvert.
6. Elected Members Reports –
Cllr Richard Marsh –
Undertook to speak with D&GC about the number of scheduled cuts of the Rest Garden vegetation. He will also ask for a wider cut of the verges as overhanging briars, nettles and bracken are reducing walking /driving safety.
D&GC, have now undertaken all the bus routes including school routes apart from the 500 route. This is under the remit of SW Trans and is operated currently by Houstons.
Cllr Katie Hagmann (Convenor, D&G Council) –
- 12 additional buses have been bought. D&G are looking at all the bus routes under D&G management following some complaints.
- The Council is considering the potential of a tourist visitor levy and is asking the Scottish Government about this.
- Staffing expenses have increased following the increase in employers NI contribution.
- The Council plan to increase the local procurement of ingredients and food bought by schools.
- Consultations have been concluded and D&G Council will close St Ninian’s School.
- The Council is to enquire of the management company of the staff pension scheme, if they are following an ethical investment strategy and ensuring a good return.
7. Balmurrie Fell and Airies Benefit Funds – D&GC Accounts currently processing KCDT application for grant funding – this the precursor to passing over management of the funds to KCDT.
8. Village Christmas Tree – JD reported that the former Christmas Tree has been removed at a cost of £325. A socket needs to be inserted into the ground to take a cut Christmas tree for this year.
A number of negative comments were posted on Kirkcowan FB page about the sudden removal of the tree. Lynne Marshall pointed out that she can remember 4 previous growing Christmas trees that had to be removed as they grew too tall for lights etc.
MM pointed out that procedure had not been followed at the August meeting as the subject had not been on the Agenda, but was raised under AOCB.
JD proposed and RD seconded the agreement to replace the tree with a substantial cut tree and a rooted planted tree. This was accepted unanimously. AG to organise this.
An ash tree on the boundary of the Rest Garden and Dr Baird’s home has ash die-back disease. He has asked permission to fell this tree at his own expense. Agreed.
9. Generator Servicing – Alix Smith of the Resilience Group reported that the generator had been successfully tested at the school with D&GC present. D&GC conditions for use are that a qualified electrician is present when it is in use, and that the generator must be serviced annually. The cost of this annual service is currently £1,574. After discussion it was agreed that this would be a waste of money. Long term, the Resilience Plan may include the use of a built-in generator which is planned for inclusion in the Village Hall refurbishment, making it the resilience hub. It was noted that no such conditions apply when using the generator at the Hall (also a D&GC building at the moment) though the facilities it can power are limited. It was agreed to keep the existing generator which is used for community events.
AS advised that the Resilience Packs are ready to distribute to every household.
Cllr Katie Hagmann suggested contacting Scottish Power to ask if a generator could be located in the village in the event of another extended power cut – AS advised that she had been in touch with SPR and was advised that they would not intervene until 72 hours without power had elapsed.
10. Welcome to Kirkcowan Sign – AG is still waiting for the sign to be produced.
11. Remembrance Wreath – Wreath ordered at a cost of £42.90. AG will lay the wreath.
12. Planters – HM had researched possible planters and had provided catalogues to the committee for previous meetings. These were now shared with all the committee and the public present. There was a consensus that the New Forest planter in Brown (recycled plastic looking like wood) is most suitable. HM to get quotes for the supply of 16 planters, and compost. This includes adding 2 for Meadowpark, – subject to permission being granted to site them, and identifying someone to care for the planting.
13. CREPL Grant 2024-25 Budget – MH is compiling a list of items and costings to request for the CREPL grant. Microgrants will also be offered to formal and informal groups for community events.
14. Correspondence –
- C McEwan submitted upgrade suggestions for Hamilton Park (e.g. more adult equipment). This to be forwarded to KCDT as organisation who recently ran the major refurb.
- Stranoch Windfarm invited KCC to a liaison meeting on 24th Sept in Stranraer, with Cairnryan, Castle Kennedy, Old Luce, New Luce, Cree Valley and Barrhill CCs.
- BT remind all Care Call users to check their units are compatible with the planned upgrade to the digital phone system.
- Artfield Forest confirm that they are submitting a planning application to increase the turbine height to 200m.
15. Any Other Competent Business.
– MM will undertake minute-taking in October.
– Flag Flying: Merchant Navy flag returned. KCC happy for the arrangement made by a previous KCC for the Merchant Navy flag to be flown each 3rd September.
– Mark Shanks from Triage Charity will be at the Hall on Monday afternoons from 2-4pm. His remit is to assist individuals to get upskilled and back in work. It was suggested that he might encourage someone to become minute taker for the KCC. It was also noted that no one knows about this scheme and some posters in the village would be helpful.
– D&G Council came to spray weedkiller on the horsetail at the corner garden. However, a person or persons unknown had pulled it up – this means that the weedkiller cannot be effective as it requires vegetation to work on.
– The CC thanked Kath Googe for her role as Minute Secretary for the past 3 years.
Meeting Closed at 21.15.
Next Meeting is 20th October 2025 at 7.30.pm