Knoydart Community Hall, 6pm

Attending: Calum Wilson, Terra Burgoyne, Ness Porter, Corinna Calder, Reagan Nunn, Davie Newton, Aaran Watson, Tom Dalziel, Danny Gorman, Phillip Evemy, Helen Evemy, Andrew Baldrey, Stuart Dillet, Angie Rupp, Stephanie Harris, Sara Donald, Sarah Wilson

Apologies : Tom Harris

Declarations of Interest – None

Minutes of Previous Meetings inc. single item agenda meetings

November Board Meeting minutes – Approved

Matters arising

Matters arising and actions from the Last Meeting:

Tom Dalziel is arranging a meeting with the community and Kilchoan on the 17th of January.

Updates

  1. Knoydart Trading Update – from today’s meeting.
    1. Increased profits from bunkhouse, wee hooses and the shop
    1. Maintenance needed on the bunkhouse – and extra £5,000 has been agreed to be assigned to accommodation maintenance budget.
    1. Still increasing at bank overall.
    1. Some bookings for 2026.
  2. KRL update – written report available
    1. New runner and deflector assembly installed
    1. Hydro turbine can now operate on water conservation mode – allowing the battery to respond to frequency fluctuations.
    1. Some issues with the phasing – most have been sorted. Colin has been investigating the remaining problems.
    1. KRL is having a quarterly board meeting tomorrow night.
    1. Some power outages are expected at the end of the year.
  3. Foundation Office update – written report available
    1. Bringing director packs up to date
    1. Integrating stripe payments with Xero
    1. Working through account codes and clearing up unused ones.
    1. Completed electrical condition reports for all tenants.
    1. Total maintenance costs for the year are projected to be about £16,000.
    1. Trading van got MOTed and serviced.
  4. Land management update – FIRNS, Deer Management budget, management agreements, Deer Management Group JMT
    1. They got the night shooting license for Inverie woods and the Black Hills approved.
  5. Ranger update – genny shed, masts, mapping and next year.
    1. No Update

Items for decision/recording

  • Record of donation from Frank Ballard Roland Howell
    • £70,000 donated – did not want any public recognition for his donation.
    • The directors give their thanks to Frank for his generous gift.
  • New KF membership
    • Decision – Directors approved Daniel Wood’s membership application.
  • Application to build shed re – Tigh na Roan – Willie Dowlen
    • Neighbours have raised concerns about noise levels and dust.
    • Decision – Directors made an agreement in principle.
  • Code of conduct
    • Corinna has written a code of conduct for the directors which everyone has agreed to sign.
  • Residential rent increase
    • Directors have decided a 7.7% increase with a yearly review with no obligation to increase to start in April.
  • Meeting schedule for year
    • The second Monday of the month at 6pm.
  • Confirm Accountant schedule of payments
    • Accountants have asked directors to review the schedule of direct debits.
  • Milburn Field Rent review
    • Directors agreed to increase the rent to £65 a month for both fields.

Reports

  1. Accommodation Project Officer report
    1. Rerouting the drainage under the net shed site.
    1. The caravan will be used to house the workers – the accommodation team will be managing the upkeep of the caravan during this time.
    1. The Highland Council have agreed to fund the shortfall of the project.
    1. Construction Support facility awaiting planning.
    1. Milburn Cottage’s building warrant is in progress.
    1. Self-build plot could be sold on the open market or used for a different purpose depending on the need.
    1. Meeting with the design team has yet to be rescheduled.
    1. Milburn water supply needs to be addressed.
    1. The Bunkhouse had a thorough report completed by John Straton
    1.  A meeting with KF and KT is being arranged to do a walk-through to access the bunkhouse and work needed.
    1. Housing maintenance budgets and plan to be organised with Corinna and Jacqui.
    1. A more up to date housing need survey could be sent around. The last survey was in 2020.
    1. Sara’s role is no longer funded by HIE

Items for discussion

  1. Accounts – present situation with cash at bank overview and P&L
    1. Jacqui sent a P&L spreadsheet
    1. Accounts looking healthy
    1. Deficit of £4,000 – looking at £12,000 -£15,000 deficit at the end of the year – this is better than it has been in previous years.
    1. KT will hopefully be able to make a large donation at the end of the year, which will be available in September.
  2. Forward planning capital projects – brief overview for group.
    1. Need to organise a discussion about finances and make a thirty plus year plan in terms of costs and projected incomes for the whole of the Foundation, Trading and Renewables.
  3. Cloiche east – verbal work report
    1. Significant amounts of rubbish from previous tenants to be moved off sight this week.
    1. Tom and Yasmine are moving in next week.
  4. Housing meeting
    1. Agreed for £50,000 to be spent on Workers Accommodation units. This will be self funded.
  5. Plot Identification process
    1. Write down how people identify plots.
  6. Place plan
    1. No update

 AOB

  • Jacqui is in the process of applying for funding for a second poly tunnel for the Tree Nursery.