20th November 2024 7-9pm Elizabeth Wilkie Hall
Chair – Mike Barnacle; Secretary – Nicola Marchant
Attendees: Marion Anness, Mike Barnacle, Sarah Bruce-Jones, Angus Cheape, Jan Dixon, Carol Farquhar, Maureen Lambn, Tony Lamb, Nicola Marchant, Diane McMillan, Elaine Melville, Richenda Pearson, Ben Thornber
Apologies: Sheila Anderson, Trudy Duffy, Jim Duffy, Jane Pelly, Jim Pritchard, Gill Vick
Introduction (Mike Barnacle)
Mike noted this is the 17th meeting of the Trust and our first AGM. The minutes of the 20th of August 2024 were approved (proposed by Nicola and seconded by Marion)
Item 1 (Mike Barnacle)
Chair’s Report
The Trust has come a long way since initial meeting in 2022. We now have 57 households as members and 2 households have left.
We still require a treasurer, a vice chair and another Director to take over from Ben Thornber who has tendered his resignation. With Ben stepping down we are no longer adhering to our constitution. Our logo is now agreed, and we have progressed with Community Engagement, including a survey of all households in Fossoway. We had a stall at the Gathering and held a very successful Community Event on 17th Nov. Chair reported his indebted to Nicola and steering group for the CAP, Trudy for waulkmill park, Marion for the future of Blairingone School project and Tony for all his work on the new Community bus service.
At our May 2022 meeting where we identified project four a need to improve our pathways and have a paths group. This is an urgent need. Any further volunteers will be welcome for this. Project seven was a proposal for car park south of the Church. PKC provided feedback from a past planning application which had a number of constraints. Project 3 was the exploration of a ditch management scheme for Drum. Mike has held a meeting with interested groups. Nicola noted that PKC have recently produced a detailed report on gully and ditch management and will forward this to Mike. Mike noted that his objection to the Craighead wind farm was summarised in the Oct Kinross-shire newsletter, but he had heard nothing from either the ECU or PKC regarding the wind farm proposals for the wind farms. Nicola noted that the CC had advised that it would not be heard on the 13th of Nov Planning and Placemaking Committee and the CC is still waiting for a revised date. We will keep members informed of any other updates via our website https://fossowaytrust.com/
Item 2 (Mike Barnacle, Nicola Marchant)
Finance Reports (see attached papers)
Mike produced the financial statements that are required by the Inland revenue and the report required by the charity commission. Our auditor is Ross McConnell and Mike will provide all information to him early in 2025.
Membership subs are used to cover the administration costs of the Trust and hence we need to boost membership in this area. It was suggested that word of mouth is as good as any other form of communication. Household membership is only £5. Nicola reported where funds had been spent. The Trust has raised £41, 160 in addition to £300 subscriptions.
Item 3
Project Updates – Community Transport (Tony Lamb)
Tony provided an update on the new 23 Bus -see project update paper. In Jan 2025 the bus will go to Stirling Mills, in addition the 15min stop over at Sainsbury will then cease. To date we are getting about 400 people a week using the service. Carol Farquhar reported that the bus is extremely useful, and she booked it to go all the way to the Health Centre. Tony has formally applied for a community bus for trip and will likely hear in Feb 2025. Tony is currently seeking volunteer drivers who require D1 on their licence. We will require around £4000 to run it for a year and will need to raise funds for this. MoP commented that their support materials are excellent.
CAT Former Blairingone School (Marion Anness)
Marion noted we have Stage 1 funding from SLF. The schoolhouse could be an income generator. SKS, the consultants, have come up with several options which were shared with the meeting – see project update paper. Option 1 is that PKC sell it. Option 2 is PKC sell the house, and we take on the school. PKC do not like this option. Option 3 is we buy the entire site; Option 4 is to lease it in the short term, but this will make it more difficult to find funding. The valuation from PKC is that the entire site would go on the market for around £250k without any restrictions of use, in its current condition. In addition, the valuer noted that there was precedent to selling the school to us for £1 but it must be used for Community with the House for £170k. More negotiations will be required.
However, our most urgent action is to find future uses of the entire facility. The Blairingone working group are considering a forestry school, café, retail units, offices for hire, respite care. Marion and Nicola have approached Kinross-shire networking group, Court House office space in Kinross, WASPS artist studios. Marion has received a note of interest in setting up the forest school, possible holiday club. It was noted that in the future there will be 124 holiday lodges nearby in the former quarry and hence small retail units.
Members agreed that we should continue to develop Option 3 – purchase of the entire site.
Refurbishment of Waulkmill Park (Trudy Duffy)
Nicola provided an update on behalf of Trudy – see project update paper. MoP asked whether or not the Park has had an annual inspection. MoP noted that in the past that a small park was closed with monies being spent on improving Waulkmill Park. Concerns at the time were raised regarding the safety of the equipment in the past.
The tennis club are still interested in talking about an additional tennis court.
Replacement of Bridge over River Devon (Mike Barnacle)
Mike provided an update. See project update paper. MoP stated that it is not fair to put a new bridge adjacent to a house and a site further down the river should be the preferred option. Next steps examine the bridge being offered to the Trust and consider the best option for the replacement bridge.
Marion asked if there was a Rennie MacIntosh society, and it was agreed to look into this. It was agreed that the monies earmarked for the bridge held in the Hydro Scheme fund should be transferred to the Trust.
Community Action Plan & Local Place Plan (Nicola Marchant)
The Community Action Plan is nearing conclusion and after a very successful community event on 17th Nov where 122 residents voted on their priorities – see below.
TOP SEVEN PRIORITIES (all with over 40 votes)
Priority 1 with 76 votes – Retain and develop local shops, cafés, pub.
Priority 2 with 63 votes – Support and develop local village and church halls.
Priority 3 with 52 votes – Reduce speed and volume of traffic.
Priority 3 equal with 52 votes – Develop parks, green spaces, play areas, for outdoor recreation and socialising.
Priority 4 with 49 votes – Develop and promote the local paths network for outdoor recreation.
Priority 5 with 43 votes – Protect and enhance green spaces.
Priority 6 with 40 votes – Improve and develop active travel routes – walking and cycling to other villages – to Dollar and Kinross There was a special note of thanks to Nicola
Item 4
Confirmation of Office Holders (Mike Barnacle)
Ben Thornber tended his resignation as a Director, and the Chair thanked him for all the work he had done in help establishing the Trust.
Marion Anness and Mike Barnacle agreed to remain as Directors.
Nicola Marchant agreed to remain as Secretary.
Sarah Bruce-Jones was proposed as a new Director by Diane McMillan and this was seconded by Tony Lamb.
Item 5
AOCB, Date of next meeting.
Moubray Hall, Powmill – the SWI have informed the Trust and Community that they can no longer manage the Moubray Hall in the future. They are seeking a local Committee Association which could be a working group of the Trust.
It was agreed that the Trust seek funding for Development Officer for 2 days a week and this was supported by the membership.
Trudy has informed the Trust that she and her husband are wanting to step down from managing the original Fossoway Hydro fund. The Fund supports community benefit projects and activities of local organisations and community groups within the Fossoway and District Community Council Area https://www.fossowayfund.org.uk/ which has an annual community benefit of £6k. The CC would need to agree to this and will discuss on 3rd Dec CC meeting. The Trust supported this and would manage this as a ring-fenced budget.
Papers
FINANCE
FOSSOWAY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST FINANCE REPORT FOR 31st OCT. 2024 AGM
- Membership Subscriptions – £5 per household
The Trust has received subscriptions and donations from 59 households (2 subscriptions still to be paid into bank account as of 31st Oct 2024)
The membership subscriptions have been used for the monthly Google account fee of £6 and registration of the Trust.
57 households of our 59 member households have paid a subscription – £285.
In addition, we have received donations of £15.
Total Funds £300
Budget spent – £89.84.
Budget remaining – £210.16 - Grants Received
The Trust has been awarded the following grants.
PKC CLLD fund for website and logo design (CLLD 018-23-24 Fossoway CAP)- £2100*
PKC CLLD Community Engagement Fund (CLLD 018-23-24 Fossoway CAP) – £5000 *
PKC CLLD Community Action Plan Fund (001 CLLD 24-25 Fossoway CAP) – £15000*
PKC Vacant Property Fund (Blairingone School feasibility study) – £5000*
SLF Stage 1 funding (Blairingone School feasibility study 20283362) * – £13,360
PKC Warm Space Fund – £700
*- these funds are call off monies, we submit invoices to fund value and then receive monies
TOTAL EXTERNAL FUNDING – £41,160 - Breakdown of Expenditure
a. CAP Budget – Community Engagement
PKC CLLD Community Engagement Fund awarded £5000.
Budget spent – £2784.12 (see Appendix 1)
Budget remaining – £2215.88
Expected Future Expenditure
Hall rental – £48
Refreshments – free
Advertising – free
CAP printing – £1600.
Community event materials – £204
CAP design – £150.
Total – £2002
Forecasted budget remaining to be used for LPP development – £213.88.
b. Website Design
PKC CLLD Funding – £2100 -see Appendix 2
This was a call off fund paid into our account after we submitted invoices.
c. Community Action Plan
PKC CLLD Funding – £15000 – see Appendix 3
This is a call off fund paid into our account after we submit invoices.
d. Blairingone Feasibility Study
A call for a tender was posted on our website and the chosen Consultant is SKS. Project cost is £18,360.
Funding for the study has come from PKC Vacant Property Fund £5000 and SLF Stage 1 £13,360. First invoice for £8000 has been received but not paid
e. Warm Space Fund
PKC Funding – £700 – see Appendix 4
PROJECTS UPDATE
Fossoway Community Development Trust Projects Report for AGM 20th November 2024
- Completed Projects
The website design and logo project has been completed and we now have a website – https://fossowaytrust.com/ and email account – info@fossowaytrust.com. - Community Transportation Tony Lamb
Following extensive discussions by the CC with Glenfarg Community Transport Group
and Perth & Kinross Council we are very pleased to announce that Glenfarg CTG have assumed responsibility for running the service bus between Kinross and Tillicoultry. The 23 service is up and running and now links up with the Perth 55 service so users can travel the full length of both routes without even changing buses. The 23 service currently handles over 400 passenger journeys each week and we foresee this growing considerably. The route in January will change and service Tillicoultry Sterling Mills and will drop the 15-minute stopover at Sainsbury’s Kinross. The CDT are additionally looking to run a Community Outings Bus in 2025 and to this end we have made an application to PKC to take possession of one of their end of use minibuses and we
currently have drivers trained or in training. Fundraising is needed to pay for maintenance, insurance and other costs. A Community Outings Bus will ensure.
connectivity within Fossoway and can be put to a multitude of uses.
- CAT Former Blairingone School Marion Anness
Since our last meeting the Blairingone Committee has met many times to discuss the future plans for the school site.
We decided to create a simple survey for the resident of Blairingone and the surrounding hamlets, as the Trust was sending out a letter to all residents of Fossoway we included our survey and opened it out for anyone to respond and leafleted the local area.
We decided with the support of the Trust to approach Scottish Land fund for Stage one funding for a professional Business Plan and feasibility study into purchasing the school by the Trust. We also applied to Vacant Property Fund from PKC for a grant for a feasibility study. Nicola Marchant prepared a tender for consultants and SKS Scotland were our preferred option.
After many discussions with SLF Nicola and I prepared the application and all the supporting documentation. We were delighted when SLF contacted us in August to be awarded Stage One funding from SLF and £5000 from PKC Vacant properties fund. We engaged our consultants.
We received from the Council an Executive Summary Report on the condition of the outside and inside of the school along with a maintenance review. Unfortunately, they did not do one for the inside of the schoolhouse as they could not gain entry despite the Council having fitted a key safe.
We received an Evaluation Report of the whole site in April of the site, but this was later changed and updated in July and the site is now valued at £250,000 but with special discounts for the community. See evaluation document on website.
The Consultants have prepared a report on our local survey. See survey document on website.
As well as meeting as part of the Community Action Plan we have leafleted the local community, regular posts on Facebook Community Facebook page and engaged with the local residents for their views and suggestions.
The Consultants have engaged with the group and local stakeholders and have come up with option proposals for us to consider. See Options document on website. As we are still investigating options to further our Business Plan, we have delayed the Consultants until we have discussed the options with the Trust.
As a group we have met and decided that we would like to pursue the option to buy the school at a fairly negotiated price with the Council; taking into consideration the neglect and promises that the village has received over the years and the Community benefit the school site would bring to everyone. We would also like to investigate the conditions SLF requires Stage 2 funding for the purchase of school and house. - Refurbishment of Waulkmill Park Trudy Duffy
The Fossoway Primary organised a poster competition where all the children had a free for all on what they would like in Waulkmill Park. In phase 2 PKC provided maps of the park and Trudy wrote a design brief and provided scaled images of football pitches etc. The children then worked in groups to design a new park. Marion then judged the final posters and a winner from each group was awarded vouchers from the Trust. Marion presented prizes at the leavers event. The winning posters and a selection of the children’s artwork was displayed at the Fossoway Gathering and our Community Event.
Trudy reported that high on the list were picnic benches and more accessible play equipment as well as improved access to the park. Trudy has obtained quotes for this work. Discussions are ongoing with PKC regarding the siting of any new play equipment and the potential leasing of the park. The Trust is also in discussions with the Tennis Club regarding possible additional tennis courts.
MoP asked whether or not the Park has had an annual inspection. MoP noted that in the past that a small park was closed with monies being spent on improving Waulkmill Park. Concerns at the time were raised regarding the safety of the equipment in the past. - Replacement of Bridge over River Devon Mike Barnacle
Discussions are ongoing with regard to the possible siting of the replacement bridge. Matthew Pease has supplied a map of a potential crossing point that is on the margin of electricity substation land. Mike Barnacle to contact SSE to see if this will be allowed. The University of Highlands Islands based in Perth are exploring the potential of a project to move the components of the bridge to the University to inspect them. If this happens then the next steps are to view the Rennie Mackintosh bridge in Perth, which will allow the Trust to ensure that all parts are there and the condition of the bridge to facilitate negotiation of price. - Community Action Plan, Local Place Plan Nicola Marchant
Our CAP has been produced through engagement with the entire community and details their views of the community now, a vision for the future and what needs to be done to get there. We received 310 responses to our survey from 855 delivered equating to a 36% response rate.
The outcome of the Big Place Conversations (BPC) had already identified the view of the current situation and was used along with the outcome of previous Community survey on future projects as a starting point.
The CAP process will take 4-5 months and has been supported by an active steering group with members from the FCDT & CC, along with other representatives from our community halls.
The CAP report is a tool for the FCDT to do business, i.e., raise funds for projects and progress against it should be reviewed annually by the FCDT.
The findings and themes were presented to the Community on the 17th of November 2024 where residents were able to vote for their priority projects. All reports will be made available on our website https://fossowaytrust.com/
The CC in partnership with the FCDT is now developing our Local Place Plan. Local Place Plans offer communities the opportunity to develop proposals for their local area, expressing their aspirations and ambitions for future change. Our Community Action Plan and Local Place Plan will help inform PKC Local Development Plan 3. All residents have an opportunity to comment on proposed LPP at the CC meeting on the 7th of Jan 2025. - New Projects
a. Active Dollar Maureen Lamb & Trudy Duffy
Active Dollar have received funding to map out cycle and footpaths in FK14 and KY13. The Fossoway Trust is supporting the project as it aligns with outcome of our Big Place Conversations and some of the findings of our survey. The Trust involvement will be supplying local knowledge on cycle routes and walking routes and they will have 2 representatives on the working group – Maureen Lamb and Trudy Duffy. CCllr Machant has asked them to reach out to the Kinross Trishaw and Community Cycling charity who are planning on doing a similar project as ideally both will link producing maps from Clacks to Kinross. The CC also supports this project.
b. Warm Spaces Powmill Maureen Lamb
Coffee and Chats (funded by PKC), organised by Maureen Lamb on behalf of the Trust, are being run both Moubray Hall from 10-12 on Thursday 31st Oct 28th Nov 19th Dec 30th Jan 27th Feb and 27th March, all welcome