Issue - meetings

The Chair provided a detailed update in regard to Dunoon Burgh Hall.  He advised that since his last report in April, Dunoon Burgh Hall has made huge strides in the quest for funding to renovate the entire building and have achieved funding commitments of £1.834M to date with the projected capital cost of the project being £1.878M.

The breakdown in committed funds is:

• £575K – Heritage Lottery Fund

• £465K – Creative Scotland

• £250K – John McAslan Family Trust

• £244K – Historic Scotland

• £200K – Highlands and Islands Enterprise

• £100K – Monument Trust

The Chair advised that Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust will be applying for planning permission shortly then going out to tender with the expectation to commence work on the building towards the end of the year.

He advised that the Trust are holding an event in the Queen’s Hall on Saturday 25^th October 2014 and this is a fundraiser and get together of the residents of Dunoon and Cowal to celebrate the Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust success to date.  He advised that a 17 piece band called Capital Big Band will be in attendance with two female vocalists and it will be a vintage themed event.

The Chair reminded the Group that Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust are holding a film festival between the Hall and Studio 1 on 12^th to 14^th September.

The Chair provided a detailed status update –advising the group that following on from the successful raising of the Stage One funding (15K), the application for Stage Two funding had been submitted in February and it was hoped that this would be successful, leaving a smaller shortfall than had been feared. 

The Breakdown is as follows:-

• Creative Scotland has awarded £15K for immediate funding to develop the Stage 2 bid for £480K.

• Heritage Lottery Fund has a recommendation coming to their Board to award £550K+,

• Historic Scotland have awarded £150K and a further £250K has been donated by John McAslan.

Cllr. Marshall advised that this money would bring confirmed funding up to £1.445M which is just £155,000 short of the required £1.6M and that there is a possible £50K that may come from the Monuments Trust after their meeting in March.

It was also highlighted that the current planning application from Fyne Homes is not seen by some members of the Hall committee as a suitable use of the site in front of the Hall.   It was also suggested that the area in front of St. John’s church could be used as a public park. However, this would require further consideration, as well as a planning application.

Given that some of the elected members present sit on the PPSL, advice was given that planning issues should not be discussed at this meeting so that there could be no question of members being influenced or being forced to consider matters in an inappropriate forum.  The Chair concurred and moved the meeting on to the next Agenda item to ensure that this would not occur.