GLENORCHY AND INNISHAIL COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes of Special Council Meeting

held in Dalmally Village Hall

on 24 October 2007 at 7.30pm

Present David Fellowes, Pam Whitehead, Kate Craig, John Burke, Donald McLaren, Averil Watson, Pam Gibson, Marge Crawford plus 8 members of the public

1. Welcome

The Chair welcomed everyone to the Special Meeting. He explained the meeting was being held to discuss the planning application for Stacain wind farm and to get a majority view of the CC before the Public Hearing, which was being held a day before the next planned CC meeting.

The Chair announced Karl Pipes had resigned as the Member for Portsonachan and he thanked him for his contributions over the years.

Action – The Secretary will put a by-election in hand.

2. Apologies for Absence

None

3. 3. Discussion of Planning Application 05/00770/DET – Stacain Wind Farm

The Chair declared an interest in the planning application and said he would not participate in the discussion or vote but would chair the meeting. There followed a general discussion regarding the pros and cons of the application. The Members voted as follows:

Members supporting the application: Averil Watson, Marge Crawford, Donald McLaren, John Burke, Pam Gibson

Members opposed to the application: Kate Craig, Pam Whitehead

The Secretary pointed out that she felt the Members who were also members of the Dalmally Community Company should have declared an interest and not participated in the discussion or vote. This was on the grounds that they had previously publicly stated they had hoped to benefit from funds from the wind farm. This is also stated on their website. John Burke (Secretary of Dalmally Community Company) stated that the wind farm monies would be going to ALI Energy (as mentioned by Councillor McAskill at a previous CC meeting) and that Dalmally Community Company would be applying for funds from ALI Energy in the same way that other local groups could.

Action – The Secretary will send a letter of support for the planning application to A&B Council.

4. Discussion of A&B Local Plan: Renewable Energy Policies Modifications 4

There was a general discussion and it was agreed the CC would object to the modifications on the basis that it wasn’t right to pinpoint certain areas as acceptable for wind farms (having just discussed a planning application which is not in a wind farm acceptable area). Each wind farm application should be considered individually.

Action – The Secretary to write to A&B Council to object.

5. Any Other Business

It was agreed to write another letter of support for all the post offices in the CC area remaining open and to request an extra post box in the old village of Dalmally.

Action – The Secretary to write a letter of support.

There being no further business the meeting ended at 9.00pm