held on 5th November, 2003, at 13:00
hours at Port-Na-Con
Present: Andrew Marsham, AfredWalker, Lesley
Black
In Attendance: Hugh MacLellan (Laid Grazings Committee), Francis Keith (Councillor)
Apologies: Eddie Meyer
We
were all pleased to know that Eddie is making good progress after his very
serious illness this year, and hope that his recovery continues to go well.
Hugh
MacLellan suggested that although this Committee had Minuted special thanks to
Jean Morrison for all her hard work as last year’s Vice Chair, it would be nice
if a personal letter could be sent, thanking her.
This
was unanimously agreed.
1. Minutes
of Executive Committee Meeting, Wednesday, 16th April 2003
Minutes of the Committee Meeting
of 16th April 2003 were read and agreed as a record of that meeting.
There were no matters arising.
2.
Minutes of AGM, Friday, 25th April 2003
Minutes
of the Annual General Meeting were noted and any specific issues relevant to
the Executive Committee had already been undertaken and these are reported on
elsewhere in these Minutes.
Andrew
Marsham mentioned that under the Association’s Constitution it could be
perceived that Hugh MacLellan’s presence on the Executive Committee was a
possible contravention as an executive committee member of another
organisation could not hold an executive position on the Residents’ committee as
there was a perception of a ‘Conflict of Interest’.
Hugh
MacLellan replied that as far as he was concerned there was no conflict of
interest as we are all working in the interest of Laid. In any event Sergio
Blanco had proposed this issue at the AGM and both Francis Keith and Kenny
MacRae had agreed it was a good idea.
In
the interest of current harmony, Lesley Black suggested that this was probably
not the arena in which to discuss this issue and it should probably be left to
the AGM.
This
was agreed and the Minutes accepted as a record of that meeting.
3.
Minutes of Committee Meeting, Tuesday, Wednesday, 3rd June
2003
Minutes
of the Committee Meeting of 3rd June 2003 were read and there were
no matters arising, however, Andrew updated the issue of the Fire Hydrants. The
Fire Authority was to contact the Water Authority to arrange installation, and
the Community Council had written to ask where the Hydrants are to be sited. As
yet there has been no reply.
Such
other matters that were arising are dealt with under the Agenda for the meeting
of 5th November.
4.
Letters / mails sent
11.06. Jane Blanco Minutes 16th April
30.06. All with Laid interest Minutes AGM, Membership fees by 31st July
07.07. Scottish Land Court Port Chamuill
15.07. R. MacLeod & Son Invoice request for April shoot ammunition / clays
20.10. Colin Curtis Membership Fees
20.10. Elisabeth Whitelaw Membership Fees
20.10. Jean and Frank Morrison Membership Fees
20.10. Jenny and Kenneth MacKenzie-Hillcoat Membership Fees
30.10. Scottish Land Court Port Chamuill
30.10. Durness Community Council Scottish Land Court letter
30.10. Durness Grazing Committee Scottish Land Court letter
30.10. John Thurso Scottish Land Court letter
30.10. Laid Grazings Committee Scottish Land Court letter
30.10. Loch Eriboll Pier Users Association Scottish Land Court letter
31.10. HMS Sutherland Crew and Ship visit 2004
5.
Letters / mails received
08.07. John Thurso, MP Laid Visit in Summer Recess
11.07. Scottish Land Court Hugh MacLellan, Laid Common Grazings
19.07. Northern Constabulary Games Shoot permission
12.09. HMS Sutherland Crew and Ship visit 2004
03.11. Ann Avison, Pier Committee Scottish Land Court
6.
Treasurer’ Report
The Treasurer stated there was £303.35 in the Association’s
Bank Account, and that all compulsory fees for 2003 had been paid. The
Treasurer was unsure of when to start charging the ‘compulsory’ £5 reduced fee, but it was
agreed that this would be in the New Year only.
It was noted that a number of residents had already
made it clear that they were unhappy with this, but with the costs of paper,
printing, etc. it did not seem unreasonable.
7.
Laid Community Group / Laid Community Trust Ltd.
There is some confusion and
misunderstanding over the letter sent to residents informing them about the
Laid Community Group, and it would appear that Mr. Whitelaw’s terminology in
that letter is the cause.
Lesley Black reported
categorically that the only reason that she, Hugh MacLellan and Sergio Blanco
had agreed to become Directors of the Laid Community Group was to try to move
forward with the funding application to ‘Forward Scotland’ (a Scottish
Executive initiative) for the Heritage Trail. Nothing more. The inference to
the ‘buy-out’ could not and would not be undertaken by this small group.
This can only be considered after a feasibility study and associated matters
had been put to the community as a whole and a proper vote taken place.
Lesley Black suggested that
Andrew Marsham be included in the mailing list for the Community Trust.
Francis Keith stated that
the thought this particular initiative of the Scottish Executive had been
heavily oversubscribed and if the application was unsuccessful he suggested
that the Laid Community Trust get together with Durness Community Council to
see if they can assist with application for funding.
Hugh MacLellan was sceptical
if this would work since there is animosity between himself and Kenny MacRae,
and when he had tried to speak with Kenny on other issues he had informed he
was required to make an appointment and although he had tried to do so there
had been no response so far.
Andrew Marsham agreed to
speak with Kenny.
8.
Port Chamuill Pier Development / Land Court
It was noted that the Land
Court action concerning the Land at Port Chamuill had just commenced and it
could be some time before a decision was forthcoming. As yet, there had been no
formal timetable produced by the Court for visits etc., everyone at the meeting
hoped this would be sooner rather than later and continued to offer support for
the Port project.
Hugh MacLellan stated that
the Port must go ahead – whoever owns the land. There was no question.
James Mather had identified
a potential source of funding for a shellfish depuration plant and was in the
process of organising a co-operative of the shellfish farmers on Loch Eriboll
to move forward on this. By the end of 2004 all shellfish have to process in
this manner so it makes sense to form this co-operative. Rispond Estate is
pro-actively supporting the project along with the Durness Community Council.
The Residents’ Association declared its full support to the organisation.
Hugh MacLellan asked Andrew
Marsham and Francis Keith why the Durness Community Council was investigating
him and his Oyster Farm?
Andrew Marsham replied that
this was because Colin Wishart, the Highland Council officer with
responsibility for the seabed leases did not appear to have the relevant
paperwork and had reported this fact to the Community Council. It is he who is
undertaking this investigation.
9.
Durness Highland Games Clay Pigeon Shoot 2003 / Proposed Games shoot
2004
The Laid Residents’
Association had been requested at short notice to run the Durness Highland
Gathering Clay Pigeon Shoot for 2003. The Committee has also been requested to
run the event in 2004 and this was agreed. Although there had been no profit
made due to the excess of ammunition and clays that it has been necessary to
provide this year, it was envisaged that when these are sold next year there
would be some monies due to the Association.
A contribution of £30 had been made to the
Gualin Gun Club by the way of thank you for the use of their traps, etc. It was
noted that a similar sum would be paid next year.
10.
Christmas Party
This was agreed for Monday
22nd December and invitations will go to all residents shortly with
a request for response by 14th December. It will be at Port-na-Con,
starting at 6:30pm and Donnie McDougall and Kathie Kay will play for us again.
Andrew Marsham will speak
with Donnie this week.
11.
Port-Na-Con Shoot 2004
A provisional date of 3rd
April has been set, but this will be finalised in the New Year after investigation
into other shoots in the area at that time, as well as other conflicting events
(lambing etc.).
12.
HMS Sutherland visits in 2004
There will be a very brief
crew only visit in February (probably only one day) when they will be
undertaking community projects.
It is hoped that the ship
will visit Loch Eriboll in September, when the crew may have time to
participate in the HMS Hood Memorial Trophy Shoot. Details of these events will
only be known nearer the time when the Ship’s timetable is available.
The Association had been
requested to consider a web link to the HMS Sutherland’s own site, but it was
agreed that before considering this ‘old’ minutes of the Residents’
Association should be removed from their web site and that in future a maximum of
three meetings’ minutes should remain.
Andrew Marsham proposed we
should go ahead on that basis.
Lesley Black seconded.
13.
Durness Estate
Andrew
Marsham asked the meeting if we should consider contacting Ian Wilson and
request an updated offer to the one presented to the Community earlier this
year for buying out the land.
Francis
Keith suggested that perhaps it would be better to wait until after the
feasibility study, and/or after Keoldale Sheep Stock Club had met regarding a
possible wind farm on their land.
This
was agreed.
14.
Any other business
Eddie Meyer has been invited
to join the Eriboll Pier Association, betas two members of the Residents’
Association are already on the Pier Committee, and as Eddie perhaps has more
than enough to cope with it was generally agreed that it was not necessary for
Eddie to undertake this.
Laid Notice Board: This was
erected during the year and although the Committee had no formal plans so far,
Lesley Black had placed on the board some simple information about Doctors,
TIC, local events, and local businesses purely so that there was not an empty
board – which did seem to defeat the object. So far Lesley had both sets of
keys, but one would go to Andrew Marsham.
Meanwhile Hugh MacLellan
offered to undertake some simple maintenance on the Notice Board, as it already
required some.
During the year a resident
of Laid was taken ill and had to be taken by Ambulance to Raigmore.
Unfortunately on that day it was a relief crew on the Ambulance and they were
instructed by headquarters to go to Laid in Alnaharra. On making a second call
to the Ambulance authority the patient was advised that there would be an
ambulance in Lairg in 20 minutes! A most unsatisfactory situation indeed –
especially as this could have been a life or death situation for any person in
Laid. This consequently applies to the Fire or Police services, and almost all
of us have already suffered with delivery problems of one sort or another.
The problem, again, is the ‘Altnaharra/Lairg’
part of our address and it was agreed that a letter should be sent to the
Post Office requesting them to alter the address, and a possible solution be
offered, e.g. Laid, Loch Eriboll, Sutherland.
(NB: The day after the
Committee met a copy of a letter from the Post Office was passed to the
Secretary indicating what we could do to get the address changed, subject to
certain conditions, and this will now be presented at the next Committee
meeting.)
There being no other
business the meeting closed at 16:00 hours.