Knoydart Foundation Directors Meeting of 12th December 2025

Knoydart Community Hall, 6pm 

Attending: Aaran Watson, Ben Ruddle, Tom Dalziel, Davie Newton, Finlay Greig, Jim Brown, Terra Burgoyne, Calum Wilson, Jane Hollowood (Via Zoom) Matt Westfield David Fleetwood, Sara Donald 

Apologies: Corinna Calder Rhona Miller 

Declarations of Interest: None 

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

Matters arising 

Matters arising and actions from last Meeting 

AP – AW to arrange a meeting with all three chairs, Davie and Jacqui to discuss. – Actioned 

AP- Davie Newton to look into this funding option within his new role. – Actioned 

AP – CC to ask all managers to send their text to the directors before the December meeting. – Actioned 

AP – AW to speak to the Lorna about adding land management information onto the 

website and using KFT photos. – Actioned 

Updates and reports 

1. Knoydart Trading Update 

1. Current account £76,000 invoices outstanding £46,000 savings account £103,000 

2. Trading will be doing some training on harassment and bullying thanks to Jane and Ness for leading this project.  

3. Next step is to give the company providing the workshop som more information. Hoping to invite staff from other businesses to share in the course.  

4. Trading would like an update on the campsite facilities as if greatly impacts the bunkhouse.  

5. Trish will be taking over from Rhona as rotating chair in January.  

2. KRL update 

1. Tom has shared the information about the bullying and harassment training with other directors and staff.  

2. The colder weather brings increased demands on electricity. Expressed thanks to customers for monitoring their uses during the maintenance days.  

3. KR is committed to supporting any customer that believes they are in fuel poverty and can provide confidential assessment through Energy Action Scotland. No one on KR will be informed who the customer is. 

4. Next meeting is tomorrow night in the hall at 6pm – anyone is welcome.  

3. Foundation Office update 

1. The usual weekly /  monthly tasks are continuously 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 cash-tins, KF, KT & KR, Chasing outstanding invoices, Resolving any end of month queries from Amber (Bookkeeper), Recharging KFT for woodland stalking 

2. Bowmans Skip run carried out on 28th November – I would like to thank Drew Harris for all his help moving 55 sacks to the pier as well as Sam Eassons support to assist Drew. Thank you to those who claimed bags. Invoices will be sent out once we have all the costings. 

3. Arranged tyre disposal with Ian Wright – 12th December (through CMCK)  

4. Looking to do a metal scrap run in the New Year. This unfortunately will no longer be free, as Milligans will need to charge. Will circulate more info in the New Year. 

5. Requested EQ to upload 2026 Confirmation Statement 

6. Updated Trustee Welcome Pack (This is in the office as a hard copy) or if you wish it electronically please request it and I’ll share the folder on Teams, its to big to email out. 

7. Completed the refurb at the BH Flat and it has been handed over to KT as our new tenant. 

8. Completed the replacement of bathroom in a residential property 

9. Completed the installation of fire exit velux windows in two properties 

10. Completed the replacements of batteries and upgrade of inverter at property in Airor. 

11. Total investment to housing repairs to date in 2025  £27,489.15. 

4. Land management/FIRNS update 

1. Made a start with the hind cull, a few behind target but should be able to catch up.  

2. Have been working on the Landscapes Exemplars  which we are shortlisted for.  

3. Have gotten night-shooting license until the end of March. 

4. Awaiting news on the peatland action application  

5. Finalised the community land management plan, undertaking design work to improve the look and feel of the document, with images now incorporated – thanks to Alice and Lorna for their work on this.  

6. Collated and finalised learnings from the natural capital information session hosted with Community Land Scotland (document appended to this update – Please Note: this document is not appropriate for wider circulation given the commercially sensitive information it contains. A version with this info redacted will be prepared for wider community circulation.) 

7. Met with Social Investment Scotland to introduce the project and explore potential for loan finance to support the Foundation’s planned peatland restoration work 

8. Met with Barrisdale Estate and John Muir Trust to discuss a joint response and potential collaboration for NatureScot’s Landscape Exemplars programme  

9. Submitted an expression of interest to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a 5 year project to deliver the land management plan activities, and build on the Knoydart Credit Project’s work 

10. Preparing the final project reporting requirements for NLHF, including; Project Completion Report, Financial claim to release the final 10% of the project budget, and Project Evaluation Report.  

11. Plans for the coming month are to complete the final project outputs and reporting requirements for NLHF, Submit final reports and grant claim to NLHF, Meet with Trees for Life to discuss the potential for a new funding model for the Foundation’s deer management activity, leveraging donations from Trees for Life’s supporter base. 

12. Please could the board review and offer any feedback on the draft project evaluation report (please note comments about the commercially sensitive information in the Natural Capital Info Session Report document) 

13. The aim is to complete all reporting requirements and the final grant claim to NLHF before the Christmas break, meaning it will most likely be January before the final tranche of grant funding (c. £7,900) is received. 

5. Ranger update 

1. Entered the off-season, Finlay is working two days a week and spending the rest of his time stalking with the deer management team.  

2. Had a good year financially. Awaiting a £1,800 donation from Frensham Heights.  

3. Very pleased to say that Lee Craigie haas been hired as the third ranger and will be starting before Christmas.  

4. Was unsuccessful in receiving funding from the Crown Estate. 

5. Have plans to add to the toilet facilities down at the long beach and make more improvements before the start of the season.  

6. AP – Directors, Davie and Finlay to discuss and agree about new campsite facilities before Christmas.  

7. Held a meeting with Nature Scot last month about current funding fro the ranger service. At present we are receiving £13,200 a year and Nature Scot are keen to keep funding the ranger service should the budget allow.  

8. The Ranger Service applied for the Michael Dower award on behalf of the community and Davie and Finlay went to collect the award in October.  

9. Willie is aiming to having ate rendering completed at the front of the ranger service by Christmas.  

10. Working with WalkHighlands to map less known walking routes around Knoydart.  

11. Stocking the raptor feeding station and will share photos of White Tailed Eagles! 

12. Discussion about community input on campsite facility improvements.  

6. Sara Donald Project manager report 

1. Workers Accomodation Update 

1. Building deck at the front to allow level access into accommodation 

2. Kitchens and Shower rooms almost complete 

3. Preparations for decorating, electrics, heating and water tank install. 

4. Plumbing needs completing and will be able to move forward with electrics. 

5. Possible heat pump installation – awaiting installer to confirm time frame. 

6. Currently project is around 80% complete, weather has caused some delays especially with specialist trades. 

7. Cashflow: all up to date with payments and have been working with Contractor to ensure funders have all the information needed to close any open claims so we can submit a new claim in preparation for invoice from contractor. 

8. Next steps are McLaren Building advise on cost of bike shed/ bin store.  

9. Maclaren to advise on when to expect heat pump installation. 

10. Submit claims Wk beginning 8th December. 

11. Meeting with directors to discuss and confirm rent and lease procedure. 

2. Construction Support Facility Update 

1. Still some plumbing an electrical work to complete at cabins, including Fab in shower room. – Awaiting update from Colin King 

2. Next steps to review and finalise business plan for containers to be rented out for future projects- Meet with KF directors to discuss this. 

3. KF Housing Projects – Millburn Cottage Development  

1. Millburn Cottage: Awaiting update from Catoe Brown on submission of building warrant for cottage. 

2. New Houses: Awaiting update from Harley Haddow on elements needed for building warrant.. This consists of SER, SEPA and ScottishWater sign offs/applications/consents. 

3. Met with Catoe Brown and Rob Humphrey from Communities Housing Trust to discuss project, unfortunately QS and Engineers weren’t able to make it. However we discussed information that could be added to the tender including, accommodation, local workforce, trades etc. 

4. Next Project team meeting planned Wednesday 10h December 

5. Next steps are to work with Architects, QS and CHT to keep project on track. 

6. Progress Rural and Islands Housing fund 

7. Prepare information for addition to tender documentation. 

8. Community Led Housing Alliance did an online workshop that I 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 the 20th of November in person and online which I plan to attend. 

9. Attended workshop with Communities led housing alliance on 24th November, their manifesto for community led housing delivery in the next 5 years was discussed. Key point I brought up were: 

1.  More creative finance options especially for self build plots 

2. Issues with accessing Rural and Islands Housing Fund and other 

3. funders who don’t want to be first to say yes – RIHF in principle 

4. Perceived risk and how this increases costs as well as increased costs with building in rural areas. 

5.  Additional requirements for planning such as reports for private water supplies additional infrastructure requirements and the associated costs of these. 

6.  Getting contractors and the accommodation needs 

7. Many of these things were in their manifesto as well as the idea of a greater budget for rural housing as well as a budget for Community led housing in more Urban areas. 

10. CLHA also discussed the option of communities banding together to align projects to deliver more housing in one go, split into different areas/ communities. Happy to share facts and figures around Community led housing, how many houses delivered by communities over the years and predictions for the next 5 years. 

11. Timeline and costs: will understand more once warrant is submitted and tender costs received.  

4. KF Bunkhouse  

1. Bunkhouse roof needs some immediate repairs following recent spells of bad weather and storms. 

2. Fort Builders have concerns about replacing roof of bunkhouse in that it would likely grow arms and legs. This has also been indicated by other contractors. – recommend a revisit of the bunkhouse project focusing on costs needed for immediate repairs and funding this as well as route forward to ensure bunkhouses future. 

3. Next steps are CMCK to look at gutter maintenance and a quote needed for immediate roof repairs. 

4. Revisit project scope given difficulty getting estimates for roof works and indication that quotes will be higher than expected. 

5. General Development  

1. 60% of Construction Project Management Course Complete – exam open and has to be passed by 15th January. 

2. Preparation of financial forecasts for both worker accommodation and construction support facility. 

3. Run through cashflow forecast with Jacqui for funders 

4. Worked through Salary funding claim with Corinna who will action going forward  

6. Discussion about funding Millburn Project – RIHF expect some sort of funding from the individual.  

7. The self build plot which was part of the project would have helped fund the Millburn renovations. Up to the directors to decide what to do with that plot.  

7. Vision & Planning managers update 

1. Job goals – create a forward plan for the Foundation owned built environment.  

2. 1 st phase – focused on information collation. 

3. 2 nd phase – building up of an understanding of future requirements and constraints 

4. 3 rd phase – presentation of collected work to community for feedback/understanding 

5. 4 th phase – build forward plan 

6. 5 th phase – present forward plan and modify according to feedback 

7. Have been going through all items of community owned property, collecting documents and doing initial assessments of structure and what is needed to make good/resilient. In the first instance these assessments are my own. 

8. A secondary purpose of this process – for me at least – is to produce an easy access,  understandable list of community assets, what state they are in, how they are used and what opportunities/constraints they offer. 

9. The first part of the assessment process requests judgements on how well informed directors and employees about the aims of the organisation. I have attached three excerpts from documents that have been produced with the intention of covering the aims of the organisation to the report.  Areas of some of these are out of date: 

10. One Page Strategic Plan – this was produced in 2021. The head vision was changed a year or so later – removing the word financial. 

11. Vision, aims and objects land management – this from the present draft. 

12. I have also asked Knoydart Renewables Chair for any relevant documents. 

13.  A housing plan for the domestic housing properties that the foundation manages was produced in 2022. This document is being reviewed and commented on. The original document was presented in draft to the community but I don’t think it went any further than that. I will present comments on it to board by next meeting. Community Housing Trust were involved along with Craig in the drafting of the doc. Will talk to Sara about this as well.  

14. Directors have seen the drawings of the new compost toilets for the campsite.  

15. Main problem with current composting toilets is the urine separator does not function so the liquids and solids mix. This requires the rangers to empty the tank when necessary – two times last year.  

16. The new toilets will have a built-in soak away for the urine. The holding tanks would drain directly to a soak away. This is in line with the regulations and advice on this topic. They should not require planning. May need Scottish Water advice on the urine dispersal.  

17. Ideally would have the toilets in by Easter.  

18. Davie reached out to Stephen Fair who did the Canna Campsite plan but have not received a response yet.  

19. Will do a workers accommodation value assessment, likely in January.  

20. Meet with HIE and with the BBC. Have been chasing and talking to John Leyshon re outstanding legal issues.  

21. Had discussions with other development trusts re infrastructure development.  

22. Davie is settling into the office and getting head round the office things.  

23. Will take forward some of the financial planning ideas that were talked about last year. Sara is already trying to assess some of these funding issues.  

Items for decision/recording 

1. Accountants – out to tender update 

1. Had a quick meeting with all three chairs and Davie – have come up with a plan that in January we will have a list from Jacqui of the things she does and the bookkeepers do.  

2. Will hopefully be able to go out to tender in early spring 2026. 

3. End of Feb 2026 there will be a meeting between the three chairs, Jacqui, Davie and Kyle to complete the tender document. 

2. JMT Update  

1. Had an email from David Fleetwood with lots of questions – Jim is going to speak to David directly. Jim will update on the conversation.  

3. KF & KFT meeting re stone. 

1. A meeting was held on 24^th Nov 25 with KF and KFT to discuss KFT’s contract with Nigel Boston which has come to an end. Nigel has been asked to remove his machinery from the site and KF are in agreement.  

4. RHB Plot – soak away 

1. RHB plot agreement to allow a rainwater soak away to be put on KF land. This was agreed through emails after site visits and discussions with the applicant. We would like it noted that this does not set a precedent, and siting of plots should consider drainage at the initial stage. 

5. Knoydart credit overspend 

1. There was an agreement over email on (2^nd Dec 25), Richard Williams asked if KFT & KF would cover any overspend. KF confirmed up to 2,500.00. 

6. Harassment and Sexual Harassment Policy 

1. Trading have written up a Harassment and Sexual Harassment Policy.  

2. AP- Directors to read and agree to the policy.  

Items for info/discussion 

Website content update:  

Thank you to everyone who has sent through information.  

AP – Directors to look through information and approve by the January board meeting.  

KFT had photos taken by Hannah Shaw and they are happy for KF to use some of these photos on the new website.   

AOB – None 

Date of next meeting: 12^th Jan 2026