Knoydart Foundation Directors Minutes of 10th November 25

Knoydart Community Hall, 6pm

Attending: Rhona Miller, Terra Burgoyne, Aaran Watson, Corinna Calder, Stephanie Harris, Samantha Farthing, Tom Harris, Richard Williams, Matt Porter, Ben Ruddle, Jane Hollowood, Tom Dalziel, Helen Evemy, Alice Lemkes

(Via zoom) Iona Lane, Jenny Ruddle, David Fleetwood, Jim Brown, Trisha Birch, Samantha Humphrey, Steve Brooke, Sara Donald

Apologies: Calum Wilson

Appointment of Chair: Aaran Watson was appointed chair of the Knoydart Foundation.

TH and MP will sit in on land management meetings and BR on renewables.

Declarations of Interest: None

Minutes of Previous Meetings inc. single item agenda meetings: Approved

Matters arising

Matters arising and actions from last Meeting

            KF and KT to review leases.

            Overall the agenda ongoing.

            Corinna to pass on minutes from meetings.

Updates and reports

• Knoydart Trading Update
  • £88,000 in current account £101,000 in savings account.
  • Ian Robertson has stepped down from the trading board and Iona Lane has joined.
  • Trialling a rotating chair – each chair will stand for three months with four of them taking turns. KF will be informed of the chair ‘schedule’.
  • Job interview held for bunkhouse role held and applicants will be informed within the next few days.
  • Plumbing works in the bunkhouse needing done.
  • Accomodation is doing very well – lots of bookings and the shop is gong to be expanding the range of frozen items in the shop.
  • Turnover of over half a million pounds.
  • A field trip to Eigg for staff to be arranged, travel plans to be finalised.
• KRL update
  • Updated supply terms and conditions and have sent out to all customers. This will be reviewed and updated on a annual basis.
  • Underground cable marking in progress alongside assistance from KFT.
  • A brief power outage this week as the net shed site is connected to the system.
  • Will be reaching out to customers and sharing resources for what to do if you find yourself in fuel poverty.
  • Connor and Josh have joined the team and have begun training.
• Foundation Office update – Written report available
  • Usual tasks being completed such as,
    • Raising Bills
    • Raising Invoices 
    • Bills are paid on a weekly basis.
    • Reconciling the dashboard on Xero – in relation to the above
    • Paying our local producers in the shop (monthly)
    • Reconciling Stripe payments for KF, KT & KR
    • Reconciling all cashtins, KF, KT & KR
    • Chasing outstanding invoices
    • Resolving any end of month queries from Amber (Bookkeeper)
    • Recharging KFT for woodland stalking
  • All electricity bills have now been sent out, and up date, since the old meters have been replaced with the new ones.
  • Finalised the repayment of dam loans for KR
  • Renewed Groups insurance with NFU. Jacqui adjusted the insurance as required.
  • Jacqui assisted Richard with data to enable him to submit a claim for FIRNS.
  • Jacqui was working with the auditors to streamline the process of providing documents for end of year audit. 
  • Jacqui & Sara worked together to ascertain the grant monies in and out, of the two accounts, to see the remaining balance. They have now created a working document for logging all future transactions.
  • To date this year, we have invested £17,700 into our residential properties. There is another 8-9K to spend.
  • Informed Companies House of new and terminated directors.
  • Making arrangements for directors to have an induction with DTAS on 16th Nov 25
  • Started putting a list together of equipment for the Net Shed units
• Land management/FIRNS update
  • Stag season has come to end and hind season has begun. Reached cull targets for the season.
  • Deer management meeting was held earlier in the day – productive conversations and review of land management survey. 
  • Zulu ecosystems have been about this week doing peatland surveying.
  • Phase 1 sites; NatureScot are considering the Peatland Action funding application submitted, no firm timetable for decision, but anticipated to be Q1 2025. Physical works likely to start late summer 2026, with the tendering now complete and a preferred contractor identified
  • Phase 2 sites; subject to further survey work, to be undertaken through Nov/Dec, to enable a further application to Peatland Action (likely to be Sept ’26, but may be an earlier application window, if this year’s Scot Govt allocation is undersubscribed)
  • KF would need to cover the shortfall of funding for the project.
  • Social Investment Scotland who fund a variety of projects may be able to offer support.
  •  Twenty responses were received from the draft land management plan.
  • KF board will have a look at the recent additions to the draft plan and give feedback.
  • FIRNS funding ending at the end of the month and final payment should be in the bank before Christmas.
  • Directors were invited to join a meeting with Social Investment Scotland tomorrow at 11:30.
• Ranger update
  • None.
• Sara Donald Project manager report
  • Windows installed in the workers accomodation units.
  • Cabling has been under grounded.
  • The electrical connection should be done within the month.
  • Some delays due to weather and the contractor being based on Skye.
  • The schedule is still looking complete around mid-January.
  • Project status summary, build progress (past month):
    • Windows and doors are installed.
    • Interior fit-out and finishing are moving apace, with some kitchens installed, flooring laid and joinery finishes.
    • Cabling has been under-grounded in preparation for connection to the KR grid.
    • Build plans (coming Month)
    • Electrical connection and distribution board installation.
    • Heat pump installation.
    • Complete kitchen and shower room installation.
    • Build Schedule:
    • Currently project is around 70% complete, with weather disruptions at risk of causing delay careful management of progress and close communication with contractor will be key. 
  • Cashflow:  due to delay in contractor submitting their invoice work was further ahead than we expected. Meaning that we didn’t have enough from funders to cover latest bill. I am working to resolve this asap.
  • Colin King to complete connection to transformer, connecting building to the mains supply.
  • McLaren Building to look at design of Bike Shed/ Bin Store.
  • Mclaren to submit a proposal to differentiate the foot path from the road at the rear of the building. Initial thoughts are paved edging or a retaining wall.
  • Some Plumbing and Electrical Work to be completed in Welfare unit. I spoke to Colin King and he plans to look at this when he is connecting the Net Shed this Wednesday 19th.
  • Fan not working in one of the shower rooms – has been mentioned to Colin.
  • Review and finalise business plan for containers to be rented out for future projects. 
  • Millburn Cottage: Catoe Brown have been working on redesigning some elements of the cottage to improve build-ability this is now complete and they are working on the building warrant. This will let be sent to Harley Haddow for them to complete their structural report and drawing ready for submission.
  • New Houses: Architects are waiting for info from Harley Haddow to progress the first warrant response. This consists of SER, SEPA and Scottish Water sign offs/applications/consents. 
  • Sara has downloaded the Rural and Islands Housing Fund application and will start filling in the areas that are possible.
  • Tender documentation is being prepared by QS. Would expect this to be ready in a couple of weeks.
  • Project team meeting planned Wednesday 12th November.
  • Community Led Housing Alliance did an online workshop that Sara attended – the purpose is to understand what issues/ roadblocks communities are experiencing in their housing projects with the aim of lobbying government to mitigate some of these. They have an event in Inverness on 20th of November in person and online which Sara plans to attend.
  • Bunkhouse roof needs some immediate repairs following recent spells of bad weather and storms.
  • Still awaiting quote for bunkhouse roof replacement. Robbie Cant and Cristien Mclaren have been to have a look in. Both contractors have shared concerns that there might be a lot more work required than apparent at outset. This is likely to lead to a high estimate with lot of provisional/ contingency figures. Will be interesting to see what comes back.
  • CMCK to look at gutter maintenance
  • Quote needed for immediate roof repairs.
  • Revisit project scope given difficulty getting estimates for roof works and indication that quotes will be higher than expected.
  • Identify alternative funding sources for renovation works
  • Submit plan to Mackintosh Foundation for consideration
  • 35% of the way through the project management course.
  • Attended a DTAS meeting about capital builds.

Items for decision/recording

• Knoydart Festival 2027
  • The directors gave their support in principal provided the community feedback was positive.
  • Festival team is made up of Samantha Farthing, Stephanie Harris, and Iona Lane.
  • Community consultation received 50 responses, 43 yes, 6 unsure, and 1no.
  • Some concerns about toilets and waste were raised however the festival team felt they had considered these potential issues.
  • The results of the consultation will be shared soon.
  • A conversation with Jo and Fiona will be organised to discuss pony field use.
  • A community meeting about the festival will be held soon to allow for more conversations and planning.
  • The team will be making a budget soon to assess if the event can be financially viable.
  • Discussion about ferries/weather for the event.
  • Lots of planning still left to do – not 100% certain the event will go ahead until more details are worked out.
  • Directors gave their support for the proposal
• Community Gym
  • About 50 responses to the survey about a community gym and 43 were positive responses.
  • Over 30 people said they would consider paying a membership for a gym.
  • Proposal to change the use of the KFT Office/Library building into a gym. The library could be converted into a gym once the KFT move into their new office space.
  • The library would remain in the building and some of the budget would go towards improving the library space and adding some seating.
  • Budget anywhere from £5,000 to £18,000. Plans to establish a CIC and apply for grants as well as run a crowdfunding campaign. Within the budget would be funds to train two community members as personal trainers.
  • Directors had a concern that the space might not be big enough but agreed that it could be started in the library location and see how it goes.
  • Discussion around gym hours and concern about the plan that it would be open 24 hours a day due to close proximity of pub accommodation and other houses in the village. Also concern that people might want to use it after being at the pub and then there’s a safety issue. Opening hours would need careful consideration.
  • All directors agreed to the proposal.
• H & S Policy
  • New policy was signed by AW.
• Road Repairs between Donald’s Corner and Kilchoan Estate Bridge.
  • KF and Kilchoan have agreed to hire Danny Anderson to fill the potholes.

Items for info/discussion

• Expression of interest – Net Shed Accommodation
  • Received 7 responses expressing interest in renting space in the workers accomodation.
  • A meeting between directors, Sara and Corinna to decide on the management and pricing of the units.
• Replace the guttering at the Big Shed / Bunkhouse
  • Waiting on quotes.
  • Cost of the big shed guttering will be shared by KF, CMCK, and KR.
• Caravans future
  • KT has the caravan until the 1st of December.
  • KF would like to take the caravan back to house the mclaren builders until the end of his work.
  • Discussion about what state the caravan is currently in.
  • It was agreed KF would take over the caravan.
• Accountants – out to tender?
  • AP – AW to arrange a meeting with all three chairs, Davie and Jacqui to discuss.
• Board meeting to be the second Monday of the month?
  • Board will continue to meet on the second Monday of the month.
• DTAS training
  • This Sunday 10:00-14:00 for directors in the hall.
• Recovery and Resilience Programme – DTAS
  • DTAS members (which KF are) are eligible to apply for grants of up to £100,000 which can be used for staff, infrastructure, equipment, etc.
  • Can be applied for as smaller projects multiple times or as a larger project.
  • Grants under £25,000 are looked at monthly and anything over are looked at quarterly.
  • AP- Davie Newton to look into this funding option within his new role.
• Website update
  • Calum who is overhauling the website is waiting for staff to send text they would like added to their website pages.
  • Drone footage is going to be taken at some point when the weather is good.
  • Aim is that the website will be up and running by 1^st April 2026.
  • AP – CC to ask all managers to send their text to the directors before the December meeting.
  • AP – AW to speak to the Lorna about adding land management information onto the website and using KFT photos.

 AOB

            None.

Date of next meeting is Monday 8^th December