Present:Sharon Wright (Chair)David Raeburnchris Hamilton Karen Grant Jean Bailey

FINALMINUTES OF INTERIM LCT BOARD MEETING

Date: Wednesday 17th May 2017

Present:Sharon Wright (Chair)David RaeburnChris Hamilton Karen Grant Jean Bailey

Carol Smith (Company Secretary)

Apologies:Jeanette FenwickJohn Bedwell

The interim meeting was called to review the GDCE application with all 5 eligible directors attending the meeting. As part of the GDCE group, or having a partner who is part of the group, John Bedwell and Jeanette Fenwick were not eligible to participate in the discussion and grant award.

It was agreed to also review the GDCC Community ceilidh application as an urgent response was required to enable GDCC to book the ceilidh band. JF and JGB were able to review this application.

1. GRANT APPLICATIONS

1.1GDCC – Community Ceilidh (£744.50)

Following a brief discussion it was proposed by CH and seconded by JB to provide the full grant requested. This was supported by all directors

1.2GDCE

The application was reviewed as 4 separate projects and the award decisions for each part are listed below:
1.2.1 Rebate Scheme:
The Board approved a grant of £44,650 (being the full grant requested). This was proposed by SW and seconded by JB and was agreed by all directors
1.2.2New Local Energy Assessment:
It was proposed by DR and seconded by CH to approve a grant of £8,436 (being the full grant requested).This was approved by a vote of 3 directors for and 2 against. However, the award is conditional on the viability of a variety of energy options being examined. It must also be noted that if the projects reviewed are not deemed to be viable, LCT will not consider applications for further feasibility studies.If the project is deemed viable the provision of this grant should not be taken as any indication of LCT further funding the project. The expectation of the LCT Board is that if the project is deemed viable it will become the responsibility of the Development Company (once it is established) and funding will also be sought from other sources
1.2.3CommunityWoodfuel
This part of the application was reviewed in detail by the Board. However, it was felt that a decision should be postponed as there was concern as to how a second survey would differ from the one already completed and how much further information would be available. There were also concerns as to the complexities of providing community woodfuel and how this would be managed. There was a further concern that the initial survey of 23 houses only questioned households as to whether they used wood rather than whether they would wish to purchase their wood from a community woodfuel initiative.
1.2.4 Home Energy Scheme
This was reviewed in detail by the Board. It was proposed by DR and seconded by SW to grant an award of £7,400 towards the costs of low cost energy measures and green deal assessments. The Board did not approve the sums that would have been payable to CES as it was felt that although the home energy visits are worthwhile these can be booked for free through Home Energy Scotland. The award decision was supported by all directors

It was recommended that GDCE make available to households within the community any websites and other information sources that could be utilised to implement any measures required

1. AOCB

The next community meeting will be held on Tuesday 13th June at 7pm in Garve Hall

DATE OF NEXT MEETING: tba