KIRKCOWAN COMMUNITY COUNCIL Minutes of Meeting 17th November 2025 at 7.30pm
KCC Present: Hazel Matthews (Acting Chair), Robert Drysdale, Jim Rae, Mary Mackenzie (Minutes), Mary Harkness (Secretary), Andrew Gladstone (Treasurer)
Public: Cllr R Marsh, Kevin Dean, Bill Harkness, Charlie Marshall, Lynn Marshall.
1. Apologies: John Drysdale (Chair)
2. Minutes of last meeting: Approved, proposed HM, seconded RD
Matters arising:
Replies sent to Envy Cheerleading and M. MacIntosh.
Grant applications to Balmurrie Fell/Airies for winter energy payments and new planters have been successfully processed by D&GC – payments not yet received.
3. Police Matters/Report: No crime locally.
To sign up for notifications, go to: https://neighbourhoodwatchscotland.co.uk
Future Police Scotland reports will cover whole area, starting next month, with a Newton Stewart based newsletter. Urgent specific concerns for Kirkcowan CC area will be sent as before to CC Secretary.
4. Notified Public Concerns:
Hedge along footpath at Kirkland in need of trimming – AG advised that this is done every 2nd year, i.e. 2024 and then 2026.
5. Reports and Updates:
Treasurer’s Report – No.1 AC £321.14 | No.2 AC. £20,533.86
Expenses:
Bank charges x 2 months £8.50
A. Kirsch tree removal £325.00
Earl Haig wreath £42.90
JB Printing Resilience Packs £305.95
Kirkcowan Hall CC Meetings £35.00
Kirkcowan Hall Groups, Knitting £10.00
M. Harkness Selection boxes £87.50
Bowling Club CREPL grant £50.00
Kirkcowan Rainbows CREPL grant £50.00
Income:
Foundation Scotland Contingency grant £5,000
Foundation Scotland CREPL grant 2025/26 £3,589.50
There are invoices pending for:
1) Grass cutting to footpaths – £340.00
2) Digger work to wet field on railway path – £180.00
KCDT Report (HM)
Trust Newsletters sent out. Winter fuel payments will be sent out, but due to the volume of applications, some people will receive theirs later than others. A drop-in session was held on 8/11/25 to help with applications, which are open until 31st January 2026. The Trust AGM will be held on the 12th February 2026.
Planning – No applications.
D&GC has submitted objections to Blair Hill and Glenvernoch windfarms.
Strannoch windfarm has been approved.
6. Elected Members Report: (Cllr. R. Marsh)
Bladnoch bridge closed this week for safety inspections.
Council Budget discussions are ongoing, very tough decisions will have to be made to save £12,000,000 each year for the next 2 years. Adult care has a deficit of £6.65m. Choices include making more efficiencies, council tax increases, major cuts to staff & services, visitor tax, salary cuts. Cllr Marsh urged everyone to respond to the online consultation, which closes on 23/11/25 https://www.dumfriesandgalloway.gov.uk/budgetconsultation
7. Correspondence:
a) Notification that St. Ninian’s school will close on 1st December.
b) Reminder of the D&GC budget consultation online.
c) Rebuilding of Bargrennan bridge parapet has recommenced, and will take 2-3 weeks – traffic lights will remain in place for a further 3 weeks after completion to allow for works to bed in and cure.
8. Christmas Tree:
AG – a 12’ cut tree has been purchased and will be delivered soon.
Volunteers JR, RD and CM will do the preparatory work – a hole will be dug, pipe inserted 3’ into ground and wedges used to secure the tree.
The purchase of a suitable, live, rooted tree to replace the felled one will be postponed for further research & discussion.
9. School Chocolate Selection boxes:
50 have been bought by MH and HM will deliver to the school for distribution to children attending and siblings at home.
10. CREPL grants:
Micro-grants to local groups have been accepted. Only outstanding expense is to Dusty Murray for cleaning bus stops etc. £150.
11. ‘Welcome to Kirkcowan’ sign:
Sign has been manufactured, large heavy slab. AG to ask A. Wright to check and advise on best method of installation.
12. Any Other Competent Business:
1) The Saltire will be flown on 30th November for St. Andrew’s Day.
2) War Memorial needs cleaning – MH to seek an estimate for the work.
3) Wheelie bin at Hall, of unknown origin, has finally been emptied and removed.
4) Query about winter fuel payments dates – Foundation Scotland are administrators.
5) KCC are not organising a date for Xmas lights switch-on this year. Anyone in the community is welcome to organise a carol-singing/food event instead.
Meeting closed at 8.38pm
Date of next meeting – 15/12/2025