Minutes of Annual General Meeting

held on 25th April, 2003, at 6.00 pm in Durness Village Hall

 

Present:                      Eddie Meyer, Jean Morrison, Alfred Walker, Jane Blanco, Andrew Marsham, Jonathan Dale, Frank Morrison, John Whitelaw, Jenny Mackenzie-Hillcoat, Charles Smith, Sergio Blanco, Hugh McLellan

 

In attendance: Erika Seki, Francis Keith, Caroline McCowan, Martin Mackay, Ian Wilson, Kenny MacRae, Jean Mackay, John Avison, Ann Avison

 

Agenda

 

1.            Apologies and Introduction

 

Proxies were received from: G. Marsham, L. Smith, B. Smith, J.A. Blanco, L. Black, K. Black, I. Black, K. Mackenzie-Hillcoat, E. Whitelaw, L. Glob, B. Meyer, J. Morrison, D. Morrison

 

2.            Minutes and Amendments to Minutes (Points 14.a and 14.b) of AGM of 23rd March, 2002

 

Minutes and amendments approved.

 

3.            Minutes of Extraordinary General Meeting of 20th February, 2003

 

Minutes approved.

 

4.         Report of Chairman

 

E. Meyer gave his annual report to the meeting, in detail:

 

Regarding matters arising from AGM 2002 (23rd March): there have been additions to Minutes of Inaugural Meeting by Kenneth MacKenzie-Hillcoat; there were letters sent to MOD, Fire Brigade, Post Office, Water Board, Hydro Electric, Roads Department; an estimate for Laid Notice Board was obtained and an amendment to AGM 2002 Minutes received by Hugh MacLellan relating to Point 14.a and 14.b of agenda for AGM 2002 was added to the Minutes and sent out.

 

Meetings of Executive Committee April 2002 to April 2003 totalled 9 Meetings held on Friday, 3rd May, Friday, 31st May, Friday, 28th June, Sunday, 28th July, Friday, 2nd August, Friday, 29th November, Sunday, 5th January, Sunday, 16th February, Wednesday, 16th April. An Extraordinary General Meeting was held on Thursday, 20th February 2003 called by nine members of the Residents’ Association.

 

In March 2002 Committee Members and spouses had informal dinner with Ian Wilson, Durness Estate, at Port-Na-Con.

 

In April Jonathan Dale became resident no. 24. There was a meeting with Neil Ross on 6th April. The general feeling of that meeting was negative. N. Ross seemed to be too biased in favour of Laid Grazings Committee and buyout. He was not willing to listen to Residents’ opinions.

 

In May Minutes of AGM were sent out; notification of HMS Sutherland crew visit was received; contact was established with the Gualin Gun Club; notification was sent to the  Press Complaints Council regarding the Am Bratach article published in March.

 

In June a Meeting was held with the CASE board in Thurso.

 

In July the HMS Hood Memorial Trophy shoot at Port-Na-Con was held for the first time. Generous sponsorship was received. The Competition was won by the Durness/Laid team; a meeting was held on 29th July in Laid with Lord Thurso and Kenneth MacKenzie-Hillcoat. Neil Ross (Scottish Land Fund) and Sandy Renfrew (Crofters Commission) had asked to attend as well, but this was vetoed by Lord Thurso.

In August the Laid Residents’ web site was partly completed. All minutes of meetings from January until May are displayed. Also notification of Laid Residents’ Christmas Party and the Laid Residents’ 2003 Clay Pigeon shoot; Residents were invited to contribute to Laid picture gallery on web-site, Everybody was informed of Christmas Party date; the Laid Post Box moved to near Phone Box

 

In September the Suspension of Hugh MacLellan, Lesley Smith and Charly Smith due to non-payment of membership fees was decided; Lord Thurso paid another visit to Laid (12th September).

 

In November Bryony Smith and Jo-Anne Blanco became member 25 and 26 of the Residents’ Association; invitations for Residents’ Association Christmas Party were sent out; a meeting was held with Ian Wilson at Port-Na-Con to discuss an alternative to the buy-out under Land Reform by Durness Community Group

 

In December the first Christmas Party of the Residents’ Association was held at Port-Na-Con; Hugh MacLellan was re-instated after paying the membership fee.

 

In January 2003 the Durness Estate Offer was received and a meeting was held with Ian Wilson at 89 Laid; everybody with an interest in Laid was notified of Durness Estate offer on 6th January, also Durness Community Council, Durness Grazing Committee and Laid Grazings Committee (Hugh MacLellan) in person; comments on the offer were invited, but only 2 replies received.

 

In February Lesley and Charlie Smith were re-instated as members after paying membership fees for 2002; the HMS Sutherland visit to Loch Eriboll took place and HMS Hood Memorial Trophy competition was held on board HMS Sutherland; the Durness/Laid team won by close margin; the Extraordinary General Meeting called by 9 members of the Residents’ Association was held.

 

In March everybody with interest in Laid was once again asked to put questions forward to be sent to Durness Estate regarding the offer, no replies whatsoever received; all members, Laid crofters and everybody with Laid interest was notified of the date for the AGM

 

In April the last Executive Meeting was held on Wednesday, 16th April; also the suspension once again of Lesley Smith and Charles Smith due to non-payment of membership fees following decision of Executive Committee; this was swiftly followed by the re-instatement of Lesley and Charles Smith after paying membership fees for 2003; confirmation was received that Jane Blanco will re-sign as Secretary

 

5.         Report of Secretary

 

J. Blanco had nothing to report.

 

6.         Report of Treasurer

           

A. Walker reported that all fees for 2003 had been paid.

The Bank balance at 31st December 2002 was £ 334.18

Thanks extended to auditor for her work.

 

7.         Report of Auditor

 

C. McGowan reported that everything was in order.

 

8.            Election of Executive Committee

           

Post of Chairman:

S. Blanco proposed re-election of E. Meyer, seconded by F. Morrison.

Election of E. Meyer approved.

 

Post of Vice-chairman:

J. Whitelaw proposed S. Blanco, seconded by J. Mackenzie-Hillcoat.

S. Blanco asked J. Morrison if she wished to continue.

She replied that she did not, and that she would now have more time to spend at home in the evenings.

Election of S. Blanco approved.

 

Post of Secretary:

J. Blanco resigned.

In her absence and with her approval, L. Black was proposed by J. MacKenzie-Hillcoat, seconded by C. Smith.

Election of L. Black approved.

Post of Treasurer:

H. McLellan proposed re-election of A. Walker, seconded by S. Blanco.

Election of A. Walker approved.

 

Post of Member-at-large:

S. Blanco proposed re-election of A. Marsham, seconded by C. Smith.

Election of A. Marsham approved.

S. Blanco then proposed that, because of continuing hostility among some people in Laid, and the fact that the Laid Grazings Committee had control over the common grazing land, which is the subject of the present community buy-out plan, a member of the Laid Grazings Committee should be co-opted on to the LRA Executive Committee. The views of the local Councillor, F. Keith, and of the Durness Community Council Chairman were asked for, and they both approved of the idea.

 

It was decided to send an official letter to the Laid Grazings Committee for them to appoint a member to the LRA Executive Committee.

 

H. MacLellan asked for a Committee Member to attend the meetings of the Laid Grazings Committee and the Laid Communiy Group. He suggested, that E. Meyer should take this position. E. Meyer declined saying that he would be unable to find the time on a regular basis, but he would be happy to attend the odd meeting. E. Meyer suggested that S. Blanco should be attending the meetings on a regular basis. S. Blanco agreed to do this, should he be asked.

 

9.            Appointment of Auditors

           

C. McGowan was re-appointed as auditor. It was noted by A. Walker that she declined to charge the Residents’ Association for her service. This was appreciated by everybody.

 

10.       Laid Notice Board

 

E. Meyer reported that the notice board was due to be put by 2004, in time for the next AGM. He proposed that it should be located near the telephone box and the new site of the post box. A complaint was made about the dangerous position of the post box, that it was too high. One suggestion was for steps to be made up to it. An official request for it to be resited would have to be made to the Post Office.

 

11.            Membership Fees

 

It was proposed and decided that they should remain unchanged.

 

The Executive Committee proposed that a token fee of £ 5.00 be charged to residents who are currently exempt from payment. This was agreed unanimously.

 

12.            Agenda request by Residents

 

a).            Port Chamuill Water Supply:

 

L. and K. Black are concerned that, with the development of the pier at Port Chamuill, the Laid water supply may be affected and that there may be water shortages for Laid residents.

 

F. Keith suggested that a large storage tank should be built for the pier, which should be filled overnight. This was agreed by K. MacRae. It was decided that it was a matter for the local water authority, which would have to take action, once the pier was built.

 

b). Extensive scrap in Laid:

 

Some residents are concerned about the scrap left in the disused quarry in Laid. It was reported that the girders belong to a person from Melness who bought them, but has not removed them. It was decided that it was on the common grazings land, and that the Laid Grazings Committee should be requested to take action to get them removed.

 

F. Keith said that, in the case of general scrap, the Highland Council could provide a skip, and to contact the Roads Department.

 

C. Smith was also advised that his car, left by the roadside, should either have a current road tax disc or be removed from the road.

 

K. MacRae reported that a bottle bank is soon to be installed in old village hall square in Durness.

 

c). Blind bends on roads in Laid

 

K. Black sent a request to report his interest in widening some of the bends which are dangerous.

 

F. Keith said that if a list is drawn up of the bends concerned, the Highland Council would take them into consideration.

 

C. Smith remarked that some passing place signs are missing

 

F. Keith said that a programme for replacing them is in progress.

 

H. McLellan remarked, that some roadside edges need to be improved. 

 

13.       Port-Na-Con Shoot on 26th April

           

Estimate has been given that around 100 guns will attend. Prize ceremony will be held after the shoot in the Sango Sands Oasis. Raffle to be drawn in the Oasis as well.

 

E. Meyer hopes it will become an annual event.

 

E. Meyer expressed thanks to Gualin Gun Club for their help.

           

14.       Land Reform/Durness Estate Offer

           

I. Wilson gave a report on the current situation with regard to the Durness Estate Offer. He commented that the offer made was only an alternative, and that now it 'does not stack up'. So, the offer of Durness Estate is being withdrawn, as it is no longer relevant.

He reiterated that the superquarry issue is no longer environmentally acceptable, and that small projects are now being examined. He said: There will not be a supequarry in Laid. Period. This was confirmed by F. Keith stating that there will not be a superquarry as long as he remains councillor.

 

I. Wilson cited wind-farms as a possibility.

 

He also urged Laid Community not to make any decision regarding the buy-out under the Land Reform Bill until a feasibility study had been carried out

A discussion was held on issues arising from his report.

 

15.       AOB

           

a).            H. McLellan mentioned the need for fire hydrants in Laid.

 

E. Meyer said that the fire brigade office in Inverness had said it was impossible, due to lack of water pressure.

 

It was suggested that a request be made to the Water Authority

 

F. Keith pointed out that, with the pier being built, fire hydrants would be necessary.

 

b). M. Mackay, Chairman of Durness Grazings Committee, showed the meeting a map of the area, provided by the Scottish Executive, marking the boundary between Durness Common Grazings and Laid Common Grazings. It dates from 1937.

 

M. MacKay asked the Laid Grazings Committee representatives for the Land Court Case to be stopped. This was rejected by the members of the Laid Grazings Committee present at the meeting.

 

C. Smith said that he did not know that such a map existed and queried the correctness of the Land Court case in the light of this new development.

 

A lengthily discussion followed and it was pointed out by F. Keith and K. MacRae that the dispute about Port Chamuill could and would influence or delay further development of the area.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was closed at 7.40 pm.