PRESENT:

Karl Speirling(KS) – NLCC / NLCA

Kathleen Cameron (KC) – NLCC / NLVH

Marilyn MacDonald (MMD) – NLCC/NLVH

Marie MacLachlan (MML) – NLCC / NLVH

Lisa Glaze (LG) – NLCC / NLCA / NLVH

Elizabeth MacLellan (EM) – NLCC 

In Attendance: 

PC Stephen Cooper,  Councillor Andrew Baxter, Highland Council and Iain Jenner, NLCA 

• Apologies 

None. 

• Minutes of Meeting held 2^nd December 2024 

The Minutes of the NLCC Meeting held on 2^nd December 2024 were proposed by Marie MacLachlan and seconded by Kathleen Cameron. 

• Resignation of Brian Pearson from NLCC 

Members noted the resignation of Brian Pearson from the NLCC and also that there were now four elected members and two co-opted members on the Committee which was permitted in terms of the Community Council’s Constitution. 

• Matters Arising from Minutes 

There were no matters arising. 

• Police Report 

PC Stephen Cooper reported that the following two incidents had taken place in the area and that enquiries were ongoing in both cases:-

• The theft from and damage to an excavator which had been used to undertake an extension and other works at Innis Na Birlinn Cemetery.
• An outbuilding at the Allt Na Reigh Cottage in Glencoe had been damaged by fire. 

• Action Points 

• Glen Righ Hydro Scheme – MML reported that David Colthart, Director had replied to her e-mail regarding the non payment of funding under the scheme stating that he would look into the matter and be in touch in due course. It was noted funds had now been received and it was agreed to discuss this under AOCB. 

• Newsletter – The Committee thanked MMD, KC and KS for delivering the majority of the Newsletters by hand to households in the area. After hearing from MMD re the difficulty encountered in locating a number of the addresses, and in order to save time in future, it was agreed not to put address labels on each envelope but simply have Nether Lochaber Community Council Newsletter marked on each envelope.
• Notice Board – Perspex Door – KS has this in hand.
• Lochaber Area Place Plan – Prior to the Meeting MML had circulated by e-mail the 12 page draft Lochaber Area Place Plan received from Highland Council. The general consensus was that the plan read like another wish list that cost a lot of money to put together which would not be implemented because there was no money available for the projects and would raise expectations within the Community without any delivery.
• Community Website – MML advised she had forwarded all the approved NLCC Minutes to Chris Boles who had uploaded them onto the NLCC website.
• Building Resilience in your Community Scheme – Noted from MML that applications to this Scheme had closed on 31^st January 2025.
• Inchree Trail – MMD advised she had been in touch with David Robertson, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) regarding progress with signage. He advised that FLS had undertaken a lot of clearing at the top of the Androchaid path and work is ongoing with general routine maintenance. He advised holding off on the new leaflet re signage as there may be alterations to the road etc.
• Defibrillators – MML advised that she had spoken with Ms Evans the Head Teacher of St Brides Primary School who had confirmed she would be quite happy for a Defibrillator to be located at St Brides. Following discussion re the purchase and annual maintenance costs etc it was agreed that (i) NLCC would look into possible avenues of funding in order to purchase a defibrillator; (ii) KS stated that he would speak with a contact in the Scottish Ambulance Service to enquire re the installation and upkeep of a defibrillator and also about availability of funding; and (iii) Councillor Andrew Baxter undertook to get in touch with Duror & Kentallen Community Council to ascertain how they obtained funding for one.

• Office Bearer Reports 

Treasurer

LG confirmed that there was a balance of £5,697.23 in the NLCC Bank Account which included:-

• £930 received from the Council for legal fees towards the transfer of ownership of the Village Hall.
• £50 squirrel money paid in by Ian Jenner which LG would transfer to NLCC;
• 2 payments from Foster & Partners re the Glenrigh Hydro Scheme of £683.06 and £665.95.

It was noted the only outgoing was £35 for the ICO data protection and that LG had still to pay a total of £22 for the hire of the Church Hall for two meetings.

Secretary

MML advised the meeting that:-

• The A82 was to be closed in the evenings between Crianlarich to Tarbet from 24^th February to 7^th March but not at weekends.
• The MV Corran was to start sea trials on 17^th February and the MV Maid of Glencoul would be going for its refit in March 2025 as planned.

It was noted MML had also circulated by e-mail to all Members prior to the meeting an e-mail from North West Consultation, BEAR Scotland advising that they are planning to carry out essential carriageway resurfacing works on the A82 Inchree, near Corran Ferry on behalf of Transport Scotland and that the work is provisionally programmed from 9^th to 17^th March 2025.

MML also advised that she had received an e-mail from Andy Martin, MAOWI asking to attend the next NLCC Meeting.           

• Planning Matters 

Note: Councillor Andrew Baxter took no part in any discussion or decision in relation to the following two planning applications. 

• Ref: 24/04787/FUL

Proposed SCU at Northwinds, 2 Corran Gardens, Fort William

Partial Change of Use of dwelling to form self-contained short term let unit 

A copy of the Application and site plan etc were circulated to Members on 7^th January 2025.

The Committee agreed there were no objections to this application.

• Ref: 25/00075/FUL

The Corran, Onich, Fort William, PH33 6SE

Conversion of first floor restaurant to four letting/staff bedrooms 

A copy of the Application and site plan etc were circulated with the Agenda.

The Committee agreed there were no objections to this application.

• Updates from NLCA and Village Hall Committee 

NLCA

Iain Jenner, Chairman of the NLCA advised the Committee as follows:-

• The NLCA are holding an Open Afternoon on Saturday 1^st March at 12.30pm in order to promote their growing portfolio of forthcoming events. This would be followed by their AGM at 4.30pm.
• NLCA had received an £8K grant from Creative Scotland for running weaving events which have proved very popular and a video project / audio trail is to be made in collaboration with the University of the Highlands & Islands.
• IJ had received a final transfer indication of the water tank at North Ballachulish with a detailed map. It was noted that as well as the water tank NLCC had been given the reservoir which is an area of approximately 2 acres.
• Following a final meeting to confirm the plans it was hoped the NLCA’s Architect would be submitting their planning application for the Barn at Inchree later this month.
• NLCA were to carry out a local beach clean on 22^nd

Following general discussion of the above items KS undertook to speak to locals in Inchree to try and ascertain what the Barn had been used for over the years.

NLVH

MMD advised the Meeting that legal funding had now been received - £1,320 to theVillage Hall Committee and £930 to the Community Council. It was noted the Community Council would be using McIntyre & Co, Fort William and the Village Hall Committee would be using MacPhee & Partners, Fort William who currently held all the Village Hall documentation.

Members further noted that:-

• The Chairman of the Village Hall Committee had issued a brief for tenders for a Feasibility Study and Business Plan and these would be discussed at their next Meeting.
• The Village Hall Committee AGM was to be held on 25^th February at 7.30pm in the Nether Lochaber Church Hall.
• The next soup and sandwiches lunch was to be held in the Nether Lochaber Church Hall on 17^th February at 12.30pm and that the previous lunch had raised £144.

• AOCB 

Glenrigh Hydro Scheme – Funding: Following lengthy discussion on how best to distribute the funds received in respect of the Glenrigh Hydro Scheme and in noting the various Community Council and Community Association projects that could benefit from funding and on hearing from Councillor Baxter re the Highland Council Ward Discretionary Fund, the Committee agreed that a list be drawn up of possible projects for funding to be discussed at the next Community Council Meeting.

 NLCC AGM: It was noted the Nether Lochaber Community Council AGM would be held on Monday 12^th May 2025 at 7.30pm in the Nether Lochaber Church Hall.

Cuilcheanna Notice Board: MMD advised the Meeting that the Kinlochleven Men’s Shed had priced the materials required and presented a quote of £350 to be given as a donation for constructing the notice board.

Arising from discussion of the above it was noted that it would not be possible to move the Noticeboard from the Village Hall to replace the one next to the Filling Station as the wooden posts etc were rotten.

Bus Service – Cuilcheanna Road End: In noting problems had been encountered with Citylink bus passengers asking to be dropped off at Cuilcheanna Road end only to be told it was not an official stop, Councllor Baxter said he would look into this and MMD agreed she would write to Citylink as it was meant to be a “hail and ride” service.

Concern was also expressed that children being picked up at Cuilcheanna road end for St Brides School had to cross the A82 at a very busy time in the morning to get the bus. It was unclear if this had ever been brought up with Highland Council or the Bus Company to see if anything could be done about this and Councillor Baxter agreed to look into the matter.

• Date of Next Meeting 

It was agreed that the next Meeting of the NLCC would be held on Tuesday 4^th March 2025 at 7.30pm in the Nether Lochaber Church Hall.