Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of:

Margaret Pratt, West Kintyre Windfarm Trust;

Jacqui MacDonald, Inveraray Windfarm Trust; and

Craig Mullen, Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE).

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 21 October 2024, 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 2025, 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 2025.

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 2025. 

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 2024/25.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by 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)

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.