HELMSDALE

AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 1ST October 2014 at 7pm in the Community Centre
Present: Allison Cowie, (Chair), Edward Mackay, (Vice Chairman), Barbara Jappy, (Treasurer), Penny Kane
(Secretary), Gerry Wood, Paul Harrington.
Councillor Deirdre Mackay
Guest Speaker: Mike Ellis: The War Memorial on behalf of the Royal British Legion
Members of the public: Elizabeth Fraser, Jean Sargent
1. Apologies: Stan Amey, Malcolm Bromley,
2. Police report: Some scaffolding stolen from a house in Marrel; 36 speeding offenders. The police camera
van has been up the Strath x 3 last week
Complaints received that the signage for 30MPH at roundabout not clear- the signs are perfectly clear.
Deirdre reported on the welcome U-turn by Police Scotland on the routine arming issue which the
Highland Council has been campaigning against for the past months.
3. The Parish of Kildonan War Memorial:
At a recent meeting at the Bannockburn Inn, it was agreed that the Royal British Legion (RBL)
would take the lead in getting the necessary work done:
a) Structural survey (last done ? 18 months ago)
b) Improved access including path leading to Memorial, the sides of which have collapsed
making wheelchair access difficult and the path from the ice-house which is full of holes)
c) Clock repairs
d) Letter regilding
e) Repair to louvres
f) Pointing
Unfortunately Mike has had a problem contacting the necessary people so Deirdre agreed to
contact Robin Pope to establish the exact responsibilities and processes required to progress the
work. She also referred to the Brora memorial which has now been successfully refurbished to a
high standard. The 2 memorials are distinctive but similar in that they are substantial buildings
and quite unique in the Highlands so it would make sense to avoid reinventing the wheel and
learn from the Brora experience. Nick Lindsay would be a key contact
In the meantime it was suggested that a sub-group be set up involving RBL members, Penny and
Gerry from Community Council. Gerry to ask Mike Wood and Penny to ask Rod Harrison to join.
Meeting to be set up w/c 13th Oct. Elizabeth suggested a public meeting
Elizabeth felt strongly that the suggested moving of the name board was a very bad idea, and
that it should stay where it is
4. Approval of Minutes of September meeting: Proposed by Barbara, seconded by Allison
5. Matters Arising:
The Harbour: There are still some on-going problems which are being dealt with

Shore Street and the decaying lorry: Letter received from Highland Council Deirdre will discuss with
the legal dept. of Highland Council
Post Office: Deirdre advised that the Ward Councillors are consulted on proposed moves and she had
advised that the Community Council were in the process of arranging EGM with PO rep and as such
they would postpone the ward response. The contract is now with SPAR. Edward enquired what
would happen if SPAR closes.
Two footpath signs have been erected in Gartymore pointing to Portgower directing people to walk
on private land. Permission is not required from the landowner. Allison will email the crofter
concerned
Lorries parking in Bridge car park. Deidre advised that there is an enforceable parking order in place.
Vehicles are required to park in the bays. She suggested that in the first instance the CC could
approach the offending firms on an informal basis and ask if they would be mindful of access and
other users. Hopefully this would be sufficient but legal is possible if required
Wheelchair users unable to use disabled access via dropped kerbs as being blocked by parked cars.
Deirdre advised that dropped kerbs complete with tactile paving have to be fully compliant and
engineered accordingly. It is not possible to add tactile paving, a new kerb has to be constructed
which incorporates the special paving. There is a list for such work and Dunrobin Street has been
added. Also wheelchair users cannot use the lane between Sutherland Street and Dunrobin Street as
so badly maintained.
Delays at Berriedale: this had also been raised at the recent area committee following a succession of
lengthy closures due to accidents. Responsibility lies with BEAE and the police liaise closely. Highland
Council Diversion of traffic when road is closed for example after an accident is not down to the
police, it is up to BEAR.
Christmas lights: Deirdre has spoken to the Lighting Engineer and he requires details of what Garry
would like to undertake and they will then assess what can be done. Garry to forward required
information.
From item 6 in DO report: Rules have changed re distribution of funds. As no-one had been informed
of the changes the matter will be discussed at the next business meeting to see if the rule can be
reverted
As reported at the last Council meeting the Woodies are making a total of 54 crosses (in, otherwise
stored in the memorial. 12 for Loth) which will be engraved with the name of each serviceman who
died. At the Memorial Service they will be placed on either side of the church gate leading to the
memorial. Children from the school will adopt a serviceman and make a poppy to attach to the cross,
learning as much as they can about the servicemans life The crosses involve about 700 man-hours in
total provided free by the Woodies, the costs of the wood etc. met by a grant from the Creative Places
scheme
The exhibition on WW! Starts at Timespan on 4th October at 7pm
6. Councillors Report:
Performance reporting from Police and Fire and Rescue Services, this is a new responsibility for
Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee and in response to concerns about the centralisation
of both Police and Fire. This is working well. They meet x 2 per year. Using creative thinking to try
and reach the most vulnerable people for advice on for example home safety.
Highland 500: this is regarding attracting cyclists to come here boosting tourism. |It will fit in with
the new Highland Way walks
7. Treasurers report:

Bank: Grant of 1,070.86 received from Highland Council balance now 1,759.00, however there is a
deficit in the Gordon Bush account of 350. WE are waiting for 2850 from Gordon Bush, the forms
were submitted in August
Barbara has received one request for funding from Christmas Lights for 250 for the Christmas Lights
do at Christmas. Agreed unanimously
Barbara has received a bill from the Community Centre for 110.00 for room hire and 6.00 for
stationery for PK. Centre Manager not happy with the way the room was left after the AGM and the
centre being left unlocked. Barbara to discuss with her
The bank has still not sorted out the change in signatories. Barbara will go in to Golspie branch to try
and sort out. Stan will continue to sign cheques until resolved
Penny received a request for a grant from the Helmsdale Medical Practice, which was declined. PK to
discuss with the Medical Equipment Fund
8. Development Officers Report:
HOUSING
Snagging has yet to take place on the four homes, therefore the handover date may well slip to later in the
week, official handover date TBC.
There has been a slight overspend on the project, but well within the contingency set aside.
There still remains a little problem with a HV cable that SSE is resolving.
The homes have been allocated.
FILLING STATION
The design team (Architect, Structural Engineer, QS, CDMC) for the project has been identified, and we will
be meeting with the team at the end of October.
Subsequent to this meeting a local meeting of the volunteers and the steering group will be set up, to
outline the project further.
GORDONBUSH
The awards panel met on Wed 17th September, and decided on the 22 applications made, of which
decisions on the following were made:
Strategic Applications - 3no submitted only 1 successful Bad & Ten Club = 20,000
Main applications 19no submitted, 6no refused, 13no awarded of which 11no fully supported and
2no partially supported.
Total sum applied for
Main grants - 66,850 awarded = 48,150
Strategic grants - 52,000 progress to 2nd stage = 20,000
5no Helmsdale specific grants = 24,220

Other matters in relation to fund. The 4 communities had negotiated with SSE at the outset a variable
payment, paid in arrears.
This payment at the time had an unknown value, and currently this would equate to approx 17,500.
However, such is the volatility of the ROC (Renewable Obligation Certificate), the price of which has been
drastically reduced over the past 4 years, from 15.10 per unit in 2010 to a mere 3.67 in 2014. Indications
are that the figure will reduce further as more wind farms come on line in the future.
SSE have proposed as a gesture of goodwill, the following:

SSE has always been clear that the variable payment was subject to change and we have previously
communicated that a gradual reduction in the payment was likely over the lifetime of the asset. That said, we
did not anticipate any change in RO policy and the subsequent reduction in payment between 2012 and 2013
was not anticipated.

Although SSE has remained true to the agreement at all times, we are aware of the impact this reduction may
have on your ability to support community development in your area. Therefore, as a gesture of goodwill, we
would like to propose replacing the variable payment with a long-term solution.
You now have the choice to either:
a) Continue under the terms of the current agreement; or
b) Agree to commute the variable payment agreement associated with Gordonbush wind farm and replace
with a fixed payment of 500 per MW per year for the remaining lifetime of the wind farm. This
payment will not be index linked.
For Gordonbush, this would mean a fixed payment of 36,000 each year, starting with the 2014 payment which
is currently outstanding, with subsequent payments being made in July each year
Should you choose the option to commute the payment, SSE would commit to continue to monitor the ROC
recycle price and, in the unlikely event of it rising to a level where the original agreement would be more
beneficial, we would pay the higher amount.
I believe this proposal, which has been made in relation to all SSE funds that contain a variable element, is a fair
one and represents both a significant uplift in the current payment and also a certainty in its distribution. Id
appreciate if you could review the offer, including other stakeholders where appropriate, and revert back to me
before 30 September 2014. As is common with any gesture of goodwill, youll appreciate that this offer is non-
negotiable.
The Community Council are therefore being asked their thoughts on this, so that the panel members can
take this back to the table at the business meeting on 12th November.
The recommendation of the community panel members is to snatch the hands of SSE off.
The variance from original income from the variable payment is approx >462k over the lifespan of the
project.
COMMUNITY BROADBAND
The application to CBS has been accepted and the assessment will be completed by the Friday 10th October.
With publication to HDDT the following week.
From this the Technical Assessment will take place, which will identify the best value for money system to be
proposed.
9. A.O.B.:
Allison reported the relapse of a villager with TB. Many people who have spent time with him
are very concerned about the way the recent outbreak has been handled. Allison read out the
response to a letter to Ken Oates, Consultant in Public Health Medicine
Tain Royal Academy are hosting an awareness evening regarding substance misuse on 7th
October at 7pm-9pm
Road sign at the Dunrobin Street end of Lillieshall Street bent in half PK to report to Service Point
(done)
PK read out a letter asking for support for a single 3 digit number for power cuts and emergency
situations. Agreed unanimously
Jean reminded everyone about the WW1 exhibition starting at Timespan on Sat 5th at 7pm
Winter Resilience 2014: The Highland Council will offer assistance to communities who wish to
help clear ice and snow from pathways in their own areas, providing salt, snow clearing
equipment PPE Health and Safety advice and insurance cover for pre-registered volunteers.
Information sheet and volunteer list to be kept at Service Point
Meeting closed at 9.05pm
Date and time of next meeting: Thursday 6th November2014 at 7pm
If giving apologies please contact Penny so that we will know in advance if we have a quorum