Issue - meetings

Ruth Semple of ScottishPower Renewables provided a brief update on local site activity within the area. She advised that to date ScottishPower Renewables had invested over £4.3m in Community Benefit across the region from the 5 sites within the Mid Argyll and Kintyre area and highlighted the time and effort that local community members take to go through applications for the funding. Ruth advised that in February she had spent the day at the STEM Fest run by ALIenergy through the Beinn An Tuirc II Fund and it was great to see all the school children fully engaged when visiting the stands of the STEM employers in the area. Ruth provided an update on the Bat 1 life extension project, advising that they are looking to extend the operational life of the windfarm by 6 years and that they are currently waiting for the decision on this, adding that the Community Benefit will continue as it is, as part of this project. It was noted that ScottishPower Renewables are currently working on their annual report with many stories from the local area to be included within this.

Alastair Bennett of East Kintyre Community Council Windfarm Trust advised that he is about to start looking for a fund Administrator for the 2 funds they manage. Alastair advised that he plans to speak to Margarett Pratt, of West Kintyre Community Council Windfarm on this matter to see if an Administrator could benefit West Kintyre also. Alastair highlighted that he had spoken to ScottishPower Renewables and other funders who are happy for them to use some of the funding provided to fund this Administrator post.

The Chair thanked everyone for attending the meeting and providing their updates.

Gillian Masterson of ScottishPower Renewables provided a brief update on local site activity within the area.  She advised that to date ScottishPower Renewables had invested over £3.8m in community benefit across the region from the 5 sites within the Mid Argyll and Kintyre area.  Gillian advised that her team were currently in the process of compiling case studies as part of the ScottishPower Renewables year-end report.  She highlighted the positive contributions of both East and West Kintyre Windfarm Trusts and advised that both the Kintyre Way and the Educational Bursary projects would feature as part of the great examples of positive initiatives from across the UK.  She further advised that an application for life extension in respect of Beinn an Tuirc Phase 1 had been submitted and thanked both Alastair Bennett and Margaret Pratt for their help in circulating information within local communities. 

Alastair highlighted the additional requirements which have been placed upon the Windfarm Trusts by ScottishPower Renewables, noting that these requirements appeared to be overly bureaucratic.  He outlined discussions with the previous Stakeholder and Communities Manager, in regard these issues.  It was agreed that Gillian would liaise with Alastair and Margaret directly to have a discussion around the issues raised.  Alastair also advised of the difficulties faced by Windfarm Trusts in negotiating with developers who were proposing new Windfarms for operation within the area, in particular around community benefit payments. He also noted that there was an aspiration in the area for some form of shared ownership model but that had not as yet happened.

Discussion was had around the options for the management of community benefit payments, with it being noted that a single body regulated by OSCR could see monies distributed in line with individual community aspirations aligning with local Community Development Plans. 

The Council’s Senior Planning Development Officer noted that there was no role for the Council in terms of community benefit payments and how these were distributed as this was a matter for the individual power companies. Nonetheless she advised that she would be happy to have discussions with both Alastair and Margaret in regards to possible options for the future management of community benefit. 

Having noted that there was no other competent business for discussion, the Chair took the opportunity to thank everyone for their attendance. 

Siobhan Jarvie of ScottishPower Renewables provided a brief update on local site activity within the area.  She advised that to date ScottishPower Renewables had invested £3,192,000 in community benefit across the region from the 5 sites within the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area.  Ms Jarvie advised that since the last meeting, the Sheirdrim development had been refused at Public Local Inquiry and the Earraghail hybrid project was in the process of a Public Local Inquiry.  She advised that local contacts would be kept up-to-date on the progress. 

The Chair took the opportunity to congratulate all those involved in the contributions that the Windfarm Trusts had made in local communities. 

Siobhan Jarvie of ScottishPower Renewables provided a brief update on local site activity within the area, including the progress of the Earraghail hybrid project and Sheirdrim development.    Siobhan confirmed that ScottishPower Renewables had been successful in winning the rights to develop an off-shore windfarm off of the West Coast of Islay, and advised that this development would be known as Machair Wind.  She further advised that ScottishPower Renewables have paid £2.7m in community benefit across the sites they have in Argyll to date.