Knoydart Foundation Directors Meeting 14th April 2025

by | May 14, 2025 | About Us, Minutes of Previous Meetings | 0 comments

Knoydart Foundation Meeting Minutes

Knoydart Community Hall, 6pm

Attending: Aaran Watson, Reagan Nunn, Davie Newton, Tom Harris, Terra Burgoyne, Tom Dalziel, Rhona Miller, Jane Hollowood, Angie Rupp

Apologies – None

Declarations of Interest –

Minutes of Previous Meetings inc. single item agenda meetings

March Board Meeting minutes – Approved

Matters arising

Matters arising and actions from last Meeting

Updates and reports

  1. Knoydart Trading Update
    1. Roughly 195k in trading bank accounts
    1. Had a meeting with Andrew K about best ways to donate to KF.
    1. Izzy is stepping down as a trading director – thanks very much to him for all his dedication.
    1. How best to go about getting new board members.
    1. Layla has been hired as the second bunkhouse assistant.
    1. Bunkhouse roof funding application has been made.
    1. Shop window has been replaced – thank you Davie.
    1. Thanks to JH for helping out in the shop during JP’s absence.
    1. Discussion about new trading directors.
    1. AP – RM to look at the constitution
  2. KRL update
    1. Scrap run on the 2nd of may for the materials left from undergrounding.
    1. Old transformers are being sent to a project in Malawi. Some proceeds from the sale of the scrap metal will cover the shipping costs of this. 
  3. Foundation Office update
    1. Jacqui has heard back from NFU about splitting KF & KT policies – there is no real financial impact for splitting them out.
    1. Sara & Corinna had a call with Kate Forbes about the council tax at Milburn. Kate is going to reach out to the housing minister and also the Scottish Government. Asked about RET, going to ask the council to get back to us.
    1. Contents for Workers Accommodation has been ordered.
    1. Applying to Highlands & Islands climate hub for 10K funding for Tigh Na Roan
    1. Waiting for a quote from Jamie Young about some plumbing jobs needing doing.
    1. Jacqui has reduced her hours in the past week and will need to reduce her hours further next month. Corinna will be picking up any essential work during this time.
    1. New window needed for Tigh Na Roan.
    1. The quote for external doors is £1,500.
    1. Annual fire extinguishers checks were carried out last week.
    1. Telehandler training commences the week after Easter.
    1. Discussion about external doors.
  4. Land management update
    1. NatreScot cull returns
    1. Stock fencing on long beach and community garden
    1. FIRNS project
    1. Farrier visit
    1. Bookings looking better than last year.
    1. Will send invoices out and put a budget together this week.
    1. 11.2 density (amount of deer per hectare)
    1. Discussion about density going down over time.
  5. Ranger update
    1. Camping, public and private tours all up – Not taking into account larger bookings from cruise providers.
    1. Still awaiting moving into the genny shed – this should see a rise in bookings.
    1. Genny shed is being painted and sealed. Should be in before Easter weekend.
    1. Events for the year are planned.
    1. 50 full tonne bags of rubbish have been removed from the beaches.
    1. Monitoring of key species (black grouse and white trailed eagle) ongoing.
    1. Hosting a visit from Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest at the end of the month.
  6. Sara Donald Project manager report
    1. Following a full day of concreting on Friday 4th trench foundations are now complete and work has started laying blocks to concrete slap and for retaining wall at rear and west end of building. Will continue for the next two weeks.
    1. Pre-built kit panels for walls and roof have been ordered.
    1. Contractor still to supply complete haulage time table and build schedule.
    1. Next steps to discuss valuation of work complete and contractor invoicing schedule.
    1. Conditions from planners, planting plan for KFT – This is in the works.
    1. Electricity still needing to be connected.
    1. Delivery of containers organised – should be arriving here on the 25th of April.
    1. An additional week. May be needed to allow for connection to containers. Provisional ready date May 5th.
    1. Building warrant for new builds almost ready to submit.
    1. Discussions took place around tendering process although Gordon Paice from Ralph OGG wasn’t available to attend.
      – Keen to find out the max grant value from the Rural and Islands Housing fund, alongside tender bids this should give us the best idea of any shortfall in the funding. 
    1. Council tax – Corinna and Sara had a meeting with Kate Forbes and her Office Manager Helen Brown to discuss 200% council tax issues. They were very sympathetic and have offered to see what the can do for us. We are to send evidence of the cottages state of repair and plans for renovation.
      Corinna sent over building survey from 2021. We have also collated images, asbestos report and Sara has reached out to architects for a timeline to beginning works. 
    1. Next steps are working on the Tender Package.
    1. Meeting to discuss renovations with KF and KT boards took place on 26th March, agreement to begin renovation of roof. Based on costings from survey we estimated costs to be around £200,000 including contingency. 
    1. Funding: I submitted an expression of interest to the community led local development fund for £100,000 on 28th March – expected notification date 28th April. If EOI is successful we will be invited to apply. Additionally, we plan to raise funds via crowdfunding and will also apply to the mackintosh foundation.
    1. Housing Maintenance, Corinna has been working through maintenance issues and looking into plans and funding for big issues.
    1. HIE will support half of Sara’s role for next year.
    1. Housing Meeting needed.
    1. Waiting to hear back from Kyle about cable for workers units.
    1. Expecting a ProForma for the manitou.

Items for info/discussion

  • Finance
    • Money at bank – £570,000 – increase largely due to KR.
    • Looking like a good trajectory.
  • Foundation Group long term targets meeting update
    • AP – DN to distribute minutes from long term targets meeting.
  • Housing needs survey
    • Corinna to send out a housing needs survey.
    • Directors to have a look and give any comments before distributed.
  • HebNet and fibre update
    • New mast in Mallaig which will soon connect over here – still need power and fibre top the hill.
    • Aiming to have a mini digger to connect fibre in the village.
    • KR will be putting in a wireless connection up the dam.
  • Place plan
    • SKCC will be having an open meeting in the hall on the evening of the 23rd of April and a meeting for steering group the next morning.
    • Paul Ede a LPP expert will be delivering the talk.

 AOB

            AP – Corinna to send an email out to let folk know about the scrap run.