GLENORCHY AND INNISHAIL COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes of Council Meeting

held in Lochawe Village Hall

on 26 January 2007 at 7.30pm

Present John Burke, Pam Whitehead, Kate Craig, Averil Watson, plus 14 members of the public

1. Welcome

John Burke stood in as Chair for the meeting and welcomed everyone.

2. Apologies for Absence

Councillor Allan Macaskill, Cavin Crawford, Karl Pipes, Donald McLaren

3. Election of Chair

This will be discussed at the next Community Council meeting, which will be held after the By-Election on 15 March 2007.

4. Minutes of CC Meeting held on 17 November 2006

The Minutes were approved.

5. Matters Arising from Previous Meeting

(a) The Forestry Commission’s request for the CC to confirm its agreement for the Dalmally Community Company ‘to act as the official route for taking forward the woodland path projects’ in the area (email to Kenny Black, Director of Dalmally Community Company from Donald McNeil, Forestry Commission 21/9/06) – The Secretary proposed the CC confirm to the FC it did not agree with this request and that the CC should continue to be the main contact with the FC over woodland path projects in the area. There followed a lively debate, in which it was highlighted that there was a possible conflict of interest over this issue between the three Members of the CC who were also Directors of the Dalmally Community Company. It was agreed the Secretary would write to the FC confirming the CC should be the first contact regarding any possible woodland path projects in the future.

(b) Telephone Book - The Secretary confirmed she had checked all previous Minutes filed at the Argyll & Bute Council offices in Oban and there is no reference to the CC agreeing to pay for the cost of printing the Telephone Books. It was agreed the Dalmally Community Company would reimburse the CC for the cost of printing the books (£130). The Treasurer will send the Dalmally Community Company an invoice for this amount.

(c) Plant growth around the Dalmally War Memorial - The scrub around the Dalmally War Memorial has not been cleared yet. Neil Brown at A&BC has written to Trevor Baney to confirm the scrub will be cleared during the winter.

(d) Cross on hill above Craig Lodge – Councillor Allan Macaskill is investigating whether planning permission is required by the owners of the cross to enable them to display it on the hill.

(e) Transerv – The Secretary reported the scrub had been cleared at the junction of the A85 and the road leading up to Dalmally station. However, the hole by the bus stop opposite Dalmally police station has still not been filled in and Transerv have still to report back on the possible anti skid surface at St Conans Kirk, Lochawe and the 40mph signs at Dalmally Surgery.

6. Possible Post Office closures

The Secretary had received a letter from Postwatch Scotland requesting comments regarding possible post office closures in the area. An announcement by the Trade and Industry Secretary, Alistair Darling, was read out stating ‘there will be no further closures’ in the areas listed, which included Argyll and Bute. It was agreed the Secretary would write to Postwatch Scotland in support of all the local post offices.

7. Any other Business

(a) Jean Wylie announced there had been 30 households in the area that had been having problems with their broadband connection. Some people were without a connection for four weeks. When they complained to BT they were told there was nothing wrong with the connection and they were told to speak to their internet provider. In fact there was a problem at Dalmally exchange, which was finally corrected. It was agreed BT would be invited to the next CC meeting to explain how the broadband system works locally.

(b) David Fellowes stated there had been four separate incidents where a vehicle had gone off the road at ‘salmon’ corner on the A815 (Dalmally to Inverary road). He requested a barrier be put up at the corner. The Secretary will write to Neil Brown at Argyll & Bute Council.

There being no further business the meeting ended at 8.30pm

12. Date of Next Meeting

The date for the next meeting is Tuesday, 20 March 2007 at 7.30pm in Portsonachan Village Hall.