PRESENT:

Brian Pearson (BP) – NLCC / NLCA

Kathleen Cameron (KC) – NLCC / NLVH

Marilyn MacDonald (MMD) – NLCC / NLVH

Karl Spierling (KS) – NLCC / NLCA

Marie MacLachlan (MML) – NLCC / NLVH

Lisa Glaze (LG) – NLCC / NLCA / NLVH

Elizabeth MacLellan (EM) – NLCC

 

PUBLIC ATTENDANCE:

 

There was no public attendance at the Meeting.

 

APOLOGIES:

 

None.

 

1. Minutes of last Meeting

 

Members noted from KS that Item 5.III required to be amended to state that Roam West had offered to let the Community Council erect a Notice board on their hut located outside their main premises. Subject to this amendment the Minutes were proposed by KC and seconded by KS.

 

2. Matters Arising from Minutes

 

None.

 

3. Office Bearers Reports

 

     Chair

 

• The Meeting noted from the Chair that the B863 low road to Kinlochleven was to be closed from 0900hrs on Monday 17^th June 2024 until 1800 hrs on Thursday 20^th June 2024 to allow Identical Production Limited safe access to the road for the purpose of filming. The filming is to include a chase and simulated crash of a vehicle which will be lowered into the Loch and recovered by crane. Anyone with questions / concerns should email LNBS@highland.gov.uk

 

It was noted digital signs were to be erected warning of this closure and that it had been noted on Facebook.

• Noted that under the Corran Ferry Infrastructure Improvement Scheme the Council had requested the Scottish Ministers to adopt a scoping opinion in relation to the proposed works. The Chair advised that arising from this the Council were going ahead with the improvements that were proposed and that he would circulate the information to all Members.

 

• The Chair advised that the Chamber of Commerce were holding hustings in relation to the forthcoming Election in the Ben Nevis Hotel on 18^th Further information regarding this can be found on the Chamber of Commerce website.

 

Noted the whole issue of boundaries and who was standing in the Election was very confusing for the public and that information could be found on the Electoral Commission Website.

 

• Noted with regard to the refit and steering works to the Maid of Glencoul that completion of the additional repair work is expected by mid-July. Noted that the steering repairs were going well and were still on track to coincide with other works but as always this would depend on third parties for completion.

 

• Local Place Plans

 

The Committee heard from the Chair with regard to a Local Place Plan which is a community led document that aims to easily convey a community’s proposals for the development or use of land and buildings in their local area and was a way for Community Councils or community controlled bodies to engage with their local community to agree priorities and make their place better.

 

Following discussion and in noting the requirement to register by September, it was agreed NLCC would benefit from having such a plan, and that this matter be placed on the Agenda for the next meeting, and also that the Chair would invite a representative from Highland Council along to the meeting to advise on the way forward. It was further agreed that Members of the Community Association and Village Hall Committee be invited to the meeting.

 

• The Chair advised that he had been unable to attend the Linnhe Community Alliance Meeting held on 13^th May but that his e-mail regarding the Committee’s wish to increase the number of defibrillators in the NLCC area had been raised at the meeting. BP advised he would circulate the Minutes of the Alliance Meeting to all Members.

 

The meeting noted that despite the benefits of having defibrillators installed in the area there was actually no statutory requirement to install or maintain defibrillators. Following lengthy discussion with regard to the location of defibrillators in the Nether Lochaber area, the installation of these, the general operation of and training on these and the requirement to maintain them and change the batteries, it was agreed MML would (a) check with the Scottish Ambulance Association  that the defibrillators in Nether Lochaber were registered with them, (b) include an article in the next NLCC Newsletter advising the public of the location of the defibrillators in the Nether Lochaber area and our plans to increase these, and (c) approach the Head Teacher of St Brides School to check if it would be an option to have a defibrillator in the School.

 

Treasurer

     

      LG confirmed that there was a total of £3191.41 in the NLCC Bank Account and that the only outgoing since the last meeting was £25 to the Nether Lochaber Church for 2 meetings i.e. the Community Council regular meeting and the one held to discuss the future of the Village Hall.

 

4. Action Points

 

The meeting noted from the Chairman that the Action Points on the Agenda were incorrect and should be as follows:-

 

• NLCC New Laptop – noted all information had been transferred to the new laptop which was available for use by all Committee Members but would be held by MML.
• Recent Village Hall Meeting – Noted CC proposal was accepted and MML would circulate the Minutes to everyone. Also noted that 3 more members of the public had joined the Village Hall Committee.
• Funding for Leaflet – BP advised he had forgotten to speak to Cllr Sarah Fannet but would follow it up by e-mail. BP also to e-mail Cllr Fannet re the possibility of funding from the Area Discretionary Budget.
• Newsletter – Following discussion it was agreed (i) BP would set up 2 x A4 page Newsletter template using Publisher; (ii) the Community Association and the Village Hall Committee could include a piece; (iii) BP would prepare the Community Council’s piece for the Newsletter as Chair; (iv) MML would collect all articles for the Newsletter and have a draft ready for the next NLCC meeting; (v) Depending on space available other items included could be – (a) dates of School holidays (b) information on Church Services (c) an update on Marie’s soup and sandwich lunches and how successful these had been.

 

MML agreed to check on the issue of getting the Newsletter printed and the meeting noted from LG there was enough money at present in the budget for a further 3 issues of the Newsletter.

 

• Cuilcheanna Notice board – Following lengthy discussion and in noting (i) the content of an e-mail from Iain Jenner (NLCA / ISG) to BP, LG and MML with regard to the positioning of the Notice board; (ii) the proposals put forward by Emma Young a resident from Cuilcheanna to let the NLCC attach their Notice board on a direction pole to be erected at Cuilcheanna; and (iii) the possibility of utilising the Notice board not in use at the Village Hall; the Committee agreed that a final decision should be taken on the siting of the Cuilcheanna Notice board at the next NLCC meeting and to that end:-

 

• MM to contact Gus MacLennan of the Highland Council Roads Section with regard to the implications of siting the Notice board on public ground.
• MMD to get costs from Emma Young with regard to her proposals.

 

5. Planning Matters

 

There were no planning matters to discuss.

 

6. Updates from NLCA and Hall Committee

 

NLCA

 

It was noted that:-

 

• Iain Jenner’s recent tree-verse event raised over £2K
• The proposed canyoning fundraising event had been postponed until August / September
• There is to be a meeting on the potential concept of the Barn’s future use.
• Following a recent incident adjacent to the local Gleaner Filling Station the CC Notice board area had nearly been wiped out but that the flower beds had since been tidied up. Noted the possibility of utilising the unused Village Hall Notice board if not required elsewhere. Noted the tub with the apple tree would have to be removed.

 

Village Hall Committee

 

The Committee noted that:-

 

• MML’s recent fund raising lunch had raised £300;
• MMD is arranging a fund raising Coffee Morning in the Village Hall on 29^th

June at 10.30am. Noted the Coffee Morning would also have a book stall and raffle. Anyone wishing to donate books should give these to MMD.

• NLVC was still waiting on a SCIO and that VAL had not yet responded to the Chairman. This was now holding everything up as progress could not be made until SCIO obtained.

 

7. Local Place Plans

 

See Item 3.(v) above.

 

8. AOCB

 

• After hearing from MMD that it was the 25^th Anniversary of the local Afternoon Club run by Kate Ward, the Committee agreed to donate the sum of £50 towards this very worthwhile cause.
• Noted from LG that she had still not received a reply from the Glen Righ Hydro Scheme. LG will write again reminding them that they owe the NLCC money.
• KS confirmed following Roam West’s offer to allow us to put a Notice board on the side of their shelter he would now progress this;
• MML to arrange for zipped polypockets for displaying the Minutes.
• MML to email Bear Scotland / Local Council with regard to their policy of cutting overgrown hedges / shrubbery affecting the cycle path and also with regard to the sweeping of the cycle path. Agreed that appropriate Councillors would be copied into this e-mail.

 

9. Date of Next Meeting

 

It was agreed that due to the Election being held on Thursday 4^th July, the next meeting of the NLCC would be held on Thursday 8^th August at 7.30pm in the Nether Lochaber Church Hall.

 

 

 

Approved by the NLCC at their Meeting held on Thursday 8^th August 2024.

 

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Chair                                                                                      Date