Minutes of Executive Committee Meeting

held on 3rd June 2003, at 13.00 hours at Port-Na-Con

 

Present:                                  Eddie Meyer, Lesley Black, Alfred Walker, Andrew Marsham

In attendance:                        Hugh MacLellan, Laid Grazings Representative;

Francis Keith, Community Councillor

 

Agenda

 

1.                  Introduction

 

The Chairman welcomed everyone, especially the new committee member. He gave special thanks to Jean Morrison for all her hard work over the past year.

 

2.                  Minutes of Executive Committee Meeting, 16th April 2003

 

The Minutes were not read or discussed as the Chairman stated that he did not have all the papers yet. They were postponed to the next meeting.

 

3.                  Minutes of Annual General Meeting, 25th April 2003

 

The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting were also postponed to the next meeting as the Chairman had received these just prior to the meeting and had no opportunity to look at them.

 

4.                  Letters / mails sent

 

05.05. Jane Blanco Minutes AGM / Exec. Meeting

06.05. Jane Blanco Reply to mail dated 6th May

12.05.    Ronnie Lansley Result of shoot

13.05 Hugh MacLellan Committee Meeting

13.05. Committee informed of Committee Meeting

20.05. Erika Seki Inverness Conference

 

5.                  Letters / mails received

 

28.04. Sergio Blanco Resignation letter

06.05. Jane Blanco Minutes / AGM / Resignation etc.

08.05. Hugh MacLellan Nomination by LGC / LCG

16.05. Erika Seki Inverness Conference

 

6.                  Resignation of Sergio Blanco as Vice-Chairman and the Blanco family from the Residents’ Association

 

The Chairman and other members regretted the decision of the Blanco family to resign from the Residents’ Association and of the elected Vice-Chairman, Sergio Blanco, in particular. He said that the ‘door was always open’, should they decide to re-join.

 

7.                  Nomination of Vice-Chairman

 

The Chairman proposed Andrew Marsham to be Vice-Chairman, Alfred Walker seconded this and it was unanimously agreed.

 

8.                  Updated Register of Residents

 

A copy of the updated register of Residents was presented and this will be distributed with of copy of the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting to all members of the Association.

 

 

9.                  Membership fees for 2003

 

The decision regarding membership fees taken at the Annual General Meeting will be advised to all Members of the Association when the papers have been produced for distribution.

 

10.              Clay pigeon shoot on Saturday, 26th April 2003 and planning for 2004 event

 

It was disappointing that only 14 guns turned up and no-one seems to know why so few people came. A number of suggestions included Lambing, another shoot at Rosehall as possibilities.

The was a small financial surplus on the day, the raffle helped with this.

 

Next year consider first Saturday in April, but this is yet to be confirmed.

 

Also to be considered for next year – Newspaper advertisement, but beware that ‘Hawks’ could come. The question was raised regarding the prize money at Rosehall and other venues.

 

Vice-Chair suggested that a donation be made to Port-na-Con for the loss on the food as so few people turned up, but this was declined by Mrs. Black, although the gesture was much appreciated.

 

11.              Appointment of Residents’ Association representative on Laid Grazings Committee / Laid Community Group

 

The Chair asked Hugh MacLellan about the current set up in Laid and the two groups – the Laid Grazings Committee and the Laid Community Group.

 

Hugh MacLellan replied that, at present, it is almost just himself, Charles Smith and Lotte Glob doing the ‘necessary’ work as Kenneth MacKenzie-Hillcoat is still not fit enough and John Whitelaw is almost full time in Glasgow as his wife is ill.

 

At the Annual General Meeting it was agreed that there should be a member of the Residents’ Association on the Grazings Committee and vice versa. Hugh MacLellan attends the Residents’ Association  meetings as the Grazing’s Committee representative, but as yet there is no member of the Residents’ Association who can sit on the Grazings’ Committee. Due to pressure of work by all those present, and a possible conflict of interest, it is not possible to nominate a specific person, so Hugh MacLellan suggested that it be open house and whoever may be available at the time of their meetings should attend.

 

This was agreed as well as Minutes of the Grazings Committee Meetings would be supplied to the Residents’ Association so that any relevant matters could be discussed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

12.              Inverness Conference

 

All those present at the Meeting questioned the validity and usefulness of the Inverness Conference ‘Taking Charge: Rural Community Empowerment in Rural Development, Rural Health and Rural Education’ in relation to this small community. Mostly, however, it was considered to be money badly spend and it was condemned as a waste of public money.

 

13.              Any Other Business

 

1.      Laid Notice Board

 

Durness Community Council had donated £100 to the Residents’ Association towards the cost of the Community Noticeboard, for which the Executive Committee expressed it thanks.

 

2.      Fire Hydrants in Laid

 

Andrew Marsham reported that he had spoken to Iain Banks of Scottish Water, who stated that fire hydrants are the responsibility of the Fire Authority, however, the Fire Authority state it is the responsibility of the Water Authority !

 

Francis Keith suggested that 3 hydrants strategically placed would be sufficient, but the Fire Authority should be asked the minimum standard required for Laid. It may be possible to obtain a grant through the Community Self Help scheme to assist in the installation.

 

Alfred Walker asked what would be the costs (i. E. Standing Water charge, meterage etc.), even if the hydrants were never used. This project could be setting a precedent, but, on the other hand, could be a good advertisement.

 

3.      Noticeboard

 

This to hold notices pertinent to the Community, and consideration will be made about possibly making a small charge for ‘commercial’ use.

 

4.      Port Chamuill

 

The Chair asked about progress of the port at Port Chamuill, and stated that Jimmy MacIntosh, the skipper of the Nimrod based at Kinlochbervie, had indicated that he would be very pleased to use it as a base for running boat trips, so this could be another source of income for the port. At present there are a number of issues being discussed over the port.

 

5.      Laid Heritage Trail

 

The Vice-Chair asked Hugh MacLellan about the progression of the path t the Wheelhouse and the ‘hood’ stones. Hugh MacLellan replied that at present he was waiting for assistance in completing the funding application forms, especially the Lottery Fund forms.

 

6.      Sheep

 

These are becoming a nuisance in the village and since no-one in Laid has sheep who do the belong to ? Apparently they belong to Eriboll Estate and Hugh MacLellan had been on to Lofty and James Clark to get them removed. Andrew Marsham said that he had been on to

 

Lofty to remove da dead number of sheep in Laid, some of which appear to be able to come and go as they please into Robbie MacKay’s apportionment.

 

The question of ‘ring fencing’ Laid to keep out sheep was discussed, and although it would need some serious fencing, the first requirement would be a cattle grid.

 

Francis Keith thought there was a grid in the depot and it may be possible to obtain this quite cheaply.

 

There being no other business, the meeting ended at 14:30 hours.