Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and general introductions were made. 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of:-

Craig Mullen, Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE)

Dr Lynda Mitchell, ALIenergy

There were no declarations of interest intimated. 

The Minute of the previous Annual General Meeting of the Argyll and Bute Windfarm and Renewables Trust held on 7 September 2023, was approved as a correct record.

The group gave consideration to the annual report and audited accounts of East Kintyre Windfarm Trust to the year ending 31 March 2024, having heard from Alastair Bennett. 

Decision

The Argyll and Bute Windfarm and Renewables Trust agreed to note the detail provided. 

(Reference:  Annual Report and Audited Accounts by East Kintyre Community Council Windfarm Trust, submitted)

The group gave consideration to the annual report and audited accounts of West Kintyre Windfarm Trust to the year ending 31 March 2024, having heard from Margaret Pratt.

Decision

The Argyll and Bute Windfarm and Renewables Trust agreed to note the detail provided. 

(Reference:  Annual Report and Audited Accounts by West Kintyre Community Council Windfarm Trust, submitted)

The group gave consideration to the annual report and audited accounts of Inveraray Windfarm Trust to the year ending 31 March 2024. 

Decision

The Argyll and Bute Windfarm and Renewables Trust agreed to note the detail provided. 

(Reference:  Annual Report and Audited Accounts by Inveraray Community Council Windfarm Trust, submitted)

The Trust gave consideration to a report by ALIenergy which provided an overview of projects and activities for the period 2023/24 and the draft consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024. 

Decision

The Argyll and Bute Windfarm and Renewables Trust agreed to note the information provided.

(Reference:  Report and Draft Consolidated Financial Statements, ALIenergy, submitted)

Consideration was given to a short update provided by SSE Renewables in relation to the provision of Community Benefit within the Kintyre area.

Decision

The Argyll and Bute Windfarm and Renewables Trust agreed to note the information provided. 

(Reference:  Report by SSE Renewables, submitted)

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.