Kirkcowan Community Council Meeting, 19th August 2024, Kirkcowan Village Hall, 7.30pm
1. Council Members present – John Drysdale (Vice-Chair), Hazel McWhirter (Treasurer), Mary Harkness (Sec), Robert Drysdale, Mary Mackenzie, Kevin Dean, Andrew Gladstone
Public present – Philip Coleville, David Edwards, Jim Rae
Apologies for absence –Kath Googe, Hazel Matthews (Chair), Police Scotland.
2. Minutes of last meeting –Approved – proposed KD, seconded MH.
Matters Arising – MH – Insurance for container & contents has been renewed.
Bird feeder at the Glebe has been moved away from roadside.
3. No Police Report or Attendance
4. Notified Public Concerns – A person was seen depositing dog poo bag in bottle bank. MH to advise DumGal Community Safety Officer
5. Reports and Updates –
Treasurers Report:
No 1 Account £584.83 No 2 Account £10,582.62
Expenditure:
Keegan & Pennykid, Insurance (Container +) £377.91
Montpelier, Accountant’s fees £156.00
H. Matthews, Paint for corner garden £ 70.40
M Mackenzie, Plants for corner garden £495.89
Fees due to Kirkcowan Hall £35.00
K Gordon, Dyke & street signs at corner garden £2,137.00
Total £ 3,272.20
No Income
KCDT Report:
There has been no meeting since last KCC.
Footpaths Update:
Capped posts installed with direction arrows where needed. Paths strimmed by Community Payback. A wide strip will be cut along the Railway path to keep back undergrowth. Stone will be added to wet patches along the Bladnoch, & the boardwalk needs to be replaced. The gates on the path up to the Dickie Wood are still broken, AG offered to pay half the cost if KCDT paid the balance. Discussion about whose responsibility the gates are, and about the cutting of grasses and wildflowers beside the path and around the church.
Kilgallioch Windfarm Extension:
MH attended an update meeting with SPR and representatives from New Luce, Barrhill, Old Luce and Cree Valley. SPR advised that construction was hoped to begin in late summer, lasting 18 months. Cairnryan has been identified as a possible entry route for the 9 new turbines, but this and site access routes have still to be confirmed. Consultation continued regarding the Community Benefit package and how it might be distributed and amongst which communities. No final conclusions drawn.
SPR also confirmed that Arecleoch also hopes to start construction in the late summer.
6. Elected Members Report – no Elected Members present.
7. Correspondence –
a) Public consultation about Galloway National Park will be open for 12 weeks from November – February
b) Shennanton Windfarm proposal, a representative will attend the KCC September meeting
c) NS Hospital consultation – in person on Wed 21st August or online at: www.dghscp.co.uk
d) Reminder that all CC candidates must submit nomination forms by 3rd September. Up to 11 vacancies.
e) Ballgreen, MH has sent numerous documents to confirm that KCC do not own the football ground and are therefore not liable for the rates demanded.
f) Resilience Plan – DGC forms have been completed and submitted for future reference.
g) Survey about taxis and accessible transport provision locally. Info passed to D Edwards for Autumn Club members to comment.
8. Welcome Sign on Station road. Quote received for granite replacement sign, £300 supply only. Additional cost for installation. AG to investigate alternative materials.
9. CREPL Grant Report – MH will submit the End of Funding report for 2023-24 grant – this confirms how and on what the grant was spent.
10. Any Other Competent Business
- KD – Flag will be flown on 8th September for Ascension Day.
- Path through the Park from Church St to NS Road is uneven and needs to be patched to level it.
- Question raised about improving mobile signal in the village. Mast at Dickie Wood was turned down due to objections. Could try approaching the local MP, John Cooper.
- KCBC AGM will take place on Monday 26th August.
- The minibus owned by the Autumn Club has been in use for several outings and is available to other groups in Kirkcowan. Unfortunately, due to regulations, groups of children cannot be transported in it.
Meeting closed at 20.55
Next meeting on Monday 16th September 2024
Addendum 7/09/24
Item 7b) Representative for Shennanton Windfarm proposal will not now be attending September meeting – attendance to be rescheduled when scoping report from D&GC received.