KCC Present: John Drysdale (Chair), Andrew Gladstone (Treasurer), Hazel Matthews, Robert Drysdale, Jim Rae, Mary Mackenzie (Minutes),
Public: K. Dean, Tony Day, Lynn Marshall, Charlie Marshall, Martyn Wesolowski
1. Apologies: Mary Harkness (Secretary)
2. Conflicts of Interest/Quorate: Yes, Quorate
3. Minutes of last meeting: Approved, proposed RD, seconded HM.
Matters arising: Agenda item numbers
8. Public events held in the park require a request form to be submitted to D&GC beforehand. Form sent to J McNeill 17/3 for completion regarding the School Fayre.
10. £1,784 paid to Hall for Toilet Cleaning by D&GC from Balmurrie Fell Fund.
11. 8 pickers picked 10 bags of litter over 2 days from Newton Stewart Road to A75, and from Village end to Quarry. Thank-you.
13. Posters for available planter boxes displayed. Location of new boxes at surgery to be decided with W Baird.
14. Weight limit on Kirkcowan bridges? – Cllr Marsh not present, so no update.
4. Police Matters/Report: No crime locally. Reminder about sheep-worrying and thefts from parked cars. Next Community Police Zoom meeting on 28th April.
5. Notified Public Concerns: None
6. Reports and Updates:
KCDT Report: (HM & JD)
A report from meeting on 12th March 2026 was received from Foundation Scotland and has been circulated. Office bearers were elected, grants and funds reviewed. Discussions about implementing the Community Action Plan took place, resulting in a number of actions & projects being identified for the short to medium term.
Treasurer’s Report: (AG) No.1 Ac. £321.14 | No.2 Ac. £19,594.13
Expenses:
Bank charges 2 months (March & April) £8.50
Galloway Heathers Pallet of Compost £460.00
Kirkcowan Hall KCC meeting £17.50
Kirkcowan Hall Knitting group x 2 £20.00
M. Harkness Printing Ink £35.11
Income:
None
Paths (AG)
– Paths around the village will be mown twice this year, same as before.
– D&GC will be doing minimal cutting in the Rest Garden due to budget cuts.
– The riverside path in the Jenna Morra wood is to be completed by the contractor dealing with the marshy area. KCDT will pay for the groundworks.
Planning: None
7. Elected Members Report: No Members present.
8. Correspondence:
a) Main Street – clogged drains reported, inspected and cleared by end of March.
b) D&GC unable to mow part of the park because of ground disturbed during lighting repairs last year. MH advised Council to contact SPEN direct to resolve this.
c) The planned power outage on 7th May has been modified to avoid the Polling Station at the Hall being affected. Other residents at southern end will be notified by post. AG requested that the electricity meter at Balgreen be removed during this outage, but unsure if it will be done.
9. Balgreen – Ownerless Property List:
Ownerless Property Transfer Scheme was introduced in 2024 and ownerless property can now be transferred at nominal or cost-recovery value to public bodies, local authorities and community bodies to use for the benefit of the local community. Balgreen is part of a project about ownerless land in the county. Although we are already able to use it as a green space, if it appears on the public register, it could be acquired by any other interested party. Balgreen is not yet on the public list, but MH suggests that KCDT could look at taking it into Community Ownership to secure it until such time as an approved project is formulated. Is there any interest in the community to pursue ownership? Unanimous agreement the KCDT should take this forward.
10. Replacement Christmas Tree: (AG) Decision needed as to exact location. A stump grinder has been arranged to remove old tree stump but has not been delivered yet.
11. D&GC – KCC Resilience Agreement for use of generator at the school:
JD pointed out that some conditions specified are unworkable in an emergency, meaning KCC cannot sign this agreement. Using the generator at the Hall may be the only alternative if the school can’t be used, but investigation is needed into why so little can be powered there. MH to reply to D&GC with points raised.
12. September KCC meeting time: The Main Hall has been booked 7-8pm for a gospel meeting on the same night, so there is a small possibility of mutual noise disturbance. Should KCC start our meeting at 8pm? Decision taken to start at 7.30pm as usual.
Any Other Competent Business:
a) KD – Problem with cars & vans parking on the pavement at the garage in Main Street. Also, excessive speeding. These are Police matters and should be reported direct.
b) KD – Union Flag will be flown on: 20th April to commemorate the late Queen Elizabeth’s birthday; 23rd April for Prince Louis’ birthday; 2nd May for Princess Charlotte’s birthday; and 6th May for Anniversary of the King and Queen’s Coronation.
c) MW – still attempting to start a youth/family activity group. Has contacted various organisations but needs help and advice on how to proceed. KCC can offer support once a group is established and suggest using social media, posters & leaflets to invite interested parties to an informal meeting in the hall and recruit some volunteers.
Meeting closed at 8.25pm
Date of next meeting – AGM – 18/5/2026
Reminder of Scottish Holyrood Elections on Thursday 7th May. Kirkcowan Hall is the local Polling Station, open from 7am till 10pm.