Clashindarroch Wind Farm
SAOS Clashindarroch meeting
Glass Hall
Friday 14 October 2005
This meeting was set up by SAOS to present information and consult with local residents with regard to a possible Community Fund in the event that the Clashindarroch Wind Farm Proposal is approved following the Public Local Inquiry. The purpose is to make residents aware of the need to establish a robust administration for the Fund and to gauge local feeling with regard to how this should be done and the use of the money. This was the last of 5 meetings in the 5 parishes considered to be affected by the development.
The meeting was chaired by Richard Taylor and the presentation was given by Bob Yuill, both of SAOS.
Attendance was good, without counting there were approximately 40 people present. Handouts were distributed briefly outlining the reasons for establishing a fund and possible ways of administering it. A form was included for return to SAOS to allow people to present their suggestions for the administering body and for the use of the money. A copy of this handout can be downloaded from the website.
Richard Taylor opened the meeting with a brief resume of it's purpose and explained that the survey being conducted by SAOS was being funded by Amec. Bob commented that this had not been their preferred option, but no other party had offered funding. Following the meetings, the returned forms would be collated by SAOS and a report prepared for submission to Amec: this report would also be available to local residents. Bob explained that they felt this matter should be addressed now, in advance of the Public Inquiry, so that residents are better prepared in the event that approval is granted rather than have to consider it afterwards.
The question of the funding of the survey by Amec was raised from the floor and it was commented that there was a feeling that Amec could be trying to influence the decision by suggesting that the outcome of the Inquiry was already decided. There was considerable concern and unease expressed by several people about this. Bob tried to explain that this was not the case and it should be seen as an attempt to inform residents so that they are better able to deal with the management of a Fund if it becomes necessary.
Comments were also forthcoming with regard to the possible size of any such Fund. Bob indicated that, at the present time, this was unknown although guidelines established elsewhere on other similar developments suggested a figure of £80-£100,000 per annum. The general feeling was that such a figure would be regarded as very small, particularly considering the likely income arising to the developer/operator. It was also commented that indications were that Aberdeenshire Council were hoping to receive some of the money for their affordable housing scheme and some suggestion had been made that Huntly should also benefit. In this event, the sums available to the 5 parishes would be extremely small. Bob agreed that Aberdeenshire Council had been in discussion with Amec with regard to affordable housing.
Bob then continued with the presentation. He indicated that after considering the range of possible organisations which might be established to administer the Fund, SAOS had decided that 2 deserved further consideration. These are a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Cooperative for the Benefit of the Community. Both would enable charitable status for the Fund. He outlined the details of each, adding that either would be appropriate and have been used elsewhere, although the Company tended to be the most common.
Briefly the two structures are as follows ( fuller details are in the handout document) :
A Company Limited by Guarantee would be subject to all the normal requirements of a company and would be set up with a Memorandum and Articles of Association which would be defined by the members setting it up. It would be registered as a company and members would hold a guarantee to pay a nominal sum if the company is wound up.
A Cooperative would be bound by an established set of rules and scrutinised by the Financial Services Authority. Members would pay a nominal sum to join and would be entitled to one vote.
Essentially both bodies could be set up to function in exactly the same way.
Discussion from the floor centred largely on the role of Amec in this. Most speakers were insistent that they were still in opposition to the development and would not wish their contribution to any survey to be taken as agreement with it. Bob advised that this could be noted on the form and would be taken account of in their report.
Questions were also raised as to whether some other arrangement such as a Trust might be considered. It was explained that the fund would be a trust fund, and that the question concerned the appropriate administration of this.
With regard to membership of any organisation, there was a general feeling that Aberdeenshire Council should not be included in any organisation set up by the local residents. Also that Huntly should not participate although this would not preclude possible funding of community projects in Huntly.
The Chairman of Tap O' Noth Community Council addressed the meeting and advised of the response from their earlier meeting. Generally, the feeling of that meeting was similar in respect of people's concerns, however, he felt that most Rhynie residents seemed to have accepted that the development was likely to proceed and were looking to mitigate it's effects. Another Rhynie resident confirmed that there was still active opposition to the development.
Richard Taylor requested that the consultation forms be completed and returned, and distributed return envelopes. The meeting closed with tea and biscuits.