Minutes of Meeting held on Thursday 3^rd March 2022 by Zoom starting at 8.00pm.

Present: Steve Byford(Chair), Duncan Fraser(Treasurer), Mary Graham,  Graham Mackay, John Graham(Secretary), Cllr David Fraser,  Cllr Emma Knox

Apologies: John Stewart,Mark Hedderwick

Guests: None

Meeting Commenced at 20.03hrs (8.03pm)

Minutes of Previous Meeting Wednesday 3^rd November 2021 – Proposed SB, Seconded DF. Passed.

Police Scotland: No report.

Matters Arising:

• Ditches and Drains – Access to the Quarry will be improved by SSE as part of their development but temporary repairs have been made by The Highland Council. Croyard Road  has had the road sweeper which has improved the surface a little but blocked drains has pushed water on to the road and resurfacing is now urgent. A site meeting with John Taylor or his deputy is still on the cards but demands on his department has delayed this, Junction on Altyre by Charlie Barclays is now in need of quite extensive repair but SB will address this at meeting with Community Services(Roads). SB referred to the online potholes and lighting notification line and congratulated The Highland Council lighting department for a prompt repair to a road light that he had reported.

Chairman’s Business:

• Beauly CLG meeting: Much concern expressed about future five and ten year plans which seems to include a 400KVA line connecting Dounreay to Blackhillock and Wester Balbair as a triangle. This would be the size of Beauly Denny and all overhead towers and lines. Aesthetically horrendous and if terminating at Wester Balblair doubling the size of the transmission hub. It cannot be envisaged how noise issues could be contained. SB addressed the issue of the new sites for the hydro dams referring to the stress caused to many residents as unacceptable. Noise: SSE want to remove the abatement order but reports suggests that they have only just scraped in with an acceptable level. SB made the point that the noise was still intrusive and one two sites were recorded. There must be a commitment to ongoing monitoring as the current situation leaves much to be desired. SB to contact planning department to ask for stringent conditions to be placed on any planning consent and they must be enforcible.
• A residents request for attention to possibly unstable trees near Kilmorack Hall has been received and John Taylor is sending a team out to investigate and also referred this to check on landowner responsibility.

Vice Chairman: No business

Secretary’s Business and Correspondence:

• We have been invoiced for a further year of Zoom meetings at £119.90. Treasurer will ensure that Secretary is reimbursed.

Treasurer:

• DF confirmed Zoom and Insurance had been paid and balance stands at £3930.71.

Planning Applications:

• One planning application in Torgormack had been notified to all Councillors. There may be a general issue of The Inner Moray Firth Development Plan-building in the Hinterland and over-development of the area. A comment will be placed on the Planning application.

ANOB:

• Mark Hedderwick had requested information for a Struy resident regarding bus shelters. Cllr. David Fraser commented that Strathglass were looking into this and would appreciate any advice. JG agreed to forward the synopsis of information to hand to Strathglass CC.
• SB referred to the situation in Ukraine and wondered if we could offer any assistance to refugees. It was suggested that at this time the Charities and in many cases their families will have this in hand but should any refugees arrive in the area we will extend a welcome and whatever help we can give.

Meeting Closed: at 20.56hrs (8.56pm)

Next Meeting: Thursday 8^th April (AGM) at 8.00pm (by Zoom) and normal meeting thereafter.

Signed:

Minutes of Meeting held on Thursday 10^th February 2022 by Zoom starting at 8.00pm.

Present: Steve Byford(Chair), John Stewart(Vice Chair), Duncan Fraser(Treasurer), Mary Graham,  Graham Mackay, John Graham(Secretary), Cllr David Fraser,  Cllr Margaret Davidson.

Apologies: Mark Hedderwick

Guests: None

Meeting Commenced at 20.03hrs (8.03pm)

Minutes of Previous Meeting Wednesday 3^rd November 2021 – Proposed SB, Seconded JS. Passed.

Police Scotland: No access to Zoom yet but forward any concerns. No report.

Matters Arising:

• Ditches and Drains – Ongoing but drain by WB needs jetting. Cllr David Fraser to speak with John Taylor.
• SSE Resilience – Communication regarding storms was good and the network proved reasonably resilient in Kilmorack. There were people out in Breakachy for a few days. Internet was adversely affected though as were phone lines. With Tore out for several days internet access to the area broadband was compromised but not as badly as BT Broadband for many customers. However in the circumstances all services worked in difficult conditions to reconnect.
• There have been a number of trees across the A831 on the steep cliffs above Aigas Dam. THC has been clearing up the debris and attending to the drains. Some work is probably still necessary. There are still a number of large trees overhanging the road which are causing some concern.

Chairman’s Business:

• SSE Noise abatement: SB reported on a meeting with Cllr. David Fraser, Gregor and Zoe to consider the 143page report on the latest noise analysis. SB suggested the report was hard going but the executive summary easier to comprehend. Essentially the latest figures suggest the SSEN have reduced noise levels to an acceptable if borderline level. The noise is reduced but not to pre-2010 levels. It is of some concerns that projected upgrades may worsen the situation and THC may need to re-introduce the abatement order or even issue a stop notice. SSEN will continue to work with the Community on noise levels and nuisance. It is suggested that we write to environmental health and planning to ask that clear conditions be imposed on the forthcoming planning applications and any further ones going forward. Cllr MD stated that SSEN had achieved their targets but wondered how SSE would monitor the situation in the future. It is clear that although conditions have been achieved, they are still very much borderline. It is recommended that KCC write to Rob Macdonald, head of SSEN and note the outcome of the report and ask them for ongoing monitoring and also have a clear plan for more mitigation that is needed to improve further. Cllr DF had some concerns that offsetting demand may have been engineered to pass test. This need continuous testing in place reporting to KCC. The siting of replacement off dam transformers for Aigas and Kilmorack should be notified to the community by April. This is causing a significant level of stress to those in the immediate area where SSE Hydro have surveyed possible sites.
• The next CLG meeting will take place next Tuesday by Teams.

Vice Chairman: No other business

Secretary’s Business and Correspondence:

• Dates for next meetings were confirmed with the next two by Zoom. THC have confirmed face to face meetings are now acceptable with a choice for participants to wear masks. However the CC has decided to retain the status quo for the time being.

Treasurer:

• DF confirmed balance stands at £4213.31 but with two small cheques yet to be presented.

Planning Applications:

• Cllr MD to check on the progress regarding planning application for the Caulternich Battery Storage.
• No other applications of note not circulated to Community Councillors.

ANOB:

• Murray Hamilton wood yard – complaints received of seven day working. SB to contact Lovat.
• Lifespan of quarry still anticipated as 2025 although Lovat did suggest an extension may be favourably considered. Management of Breedon’s are still considering their options of a three year extension. JS to contact Kris Bremner for clarification and update on the current plans.
• Drainage Wester Balblair

Meeting Closed: at 20.59hrs (8.59pm)

Next Meeting: Thursday 3^rd Marchst at 8.00pm (by Zoom)

Signed: Steve Byford

Minutes of Meeting held on Thursday 2^nd December 2021 by Zoom starting at 8.00pm.

Present: Steve Byford(Chair), John Stewart(Vice Chair), Duncan Fraser(Treasurer), Mary Graham,  Mark Hedderwick, Graham Mackay, John Graham(Secretary), Cllr David Fraser, Cllr Emma Knox, Cllr Margaret Davidson.

Apologies:

Guests: None

Meeting Commenced at 20.03hrs (8.03pm)

Minutes of Previous Meeting Wednesday 3^rd November 2021 – Proposed DF, Seconded JS. Passed.

Police Scotland: No report.

Matters Arising:

• Ditches and Drains – Map of area indicating areas of concern now circulating to Cllr DF and Graham Mackay
• Altyre path upgrade. Many thanks to Mark Hedderwick for the improvements to the bottom of Altyre and thanks to Breedon for supplying the materials(30tons subbase and 10tons quarry dust). JS to email the CC’s official appreciation.
• SSEN objection now lodged with THC Planning. Pressure to be maintained in the interests of the Community.

Chairman’s Business:

• CLG report. Regarding the re-siting of infrastructure for Aigas and Kilmorack dams the Vice Chairman reported that he got the impression that the sites considered were not suitable. A proposal should be forthcoming in April. There will be a meeting regarding noise between THC and SSEN. It was suggested that KCC request a meeting with Directors at SSEN rather than the PR and junior engineers.
• Broadband Prospects: SB reported on the R100 option and expressed some frustration that few houses are entitled to the full grant which make the project financially challenging. A lot of the data is inaccurate and reliant on information given by interested parties. Nore Political pressure is needed.

Vice Chairman:

• Breedons – JS had a meeting with Kris Bremner. The trees around the Woodland Walk need thinning and Breedons will look at this. Also the condition of the road at the bellmouth needs resurfacing and will be done sometime. SSEN may be asked for a contribution. The last phase of extraction will require some trees to the Groam side to be felled. Whilst the original option for expansion was not on the cards, Lovat have more recently left the option open for discussion. There has been an expression of interest in a battery storage site and that has been referred to Lovat. Breedons asked if we have had any issues with dust and/or noise over the summer.  

Secretary’s Business and Correspondence: Nothing to report

Treasurer:

• DF confirmed balance stands at £4213.31

Planning Applications: Nothing to Report.

ANOB:

• MG raised the issue of Resilience following the damage of Storm Arwen in the each and the potential damage of Storm Barra within the next 48hours. Biggest issue is powercuts and communication.
• Remembrance Sunday – SB and JS likely to attend.

Meeting Closed: at 21.17hrs (9.17pm)

Next Meeting: Thursday 3^rd February at 8.00pm (by Zoom)

Signed: Steve Byford