National Forest Land Scheme (NFLS) 31st Meeting of the Evaluation Panel 23rd April, 2014 The Dance & Drama Studio, Birnam Arts Centre, Birnam Present: Ian Ross, (Chair); Bob Stubbs, Donald McPhillimy, Penny Cousins, Jon Hollingdale, Joan Mitchell FCS: Bob Frost;,Malcolm Wield, Betsy Walling Apologies: Angela Douglas 1. Panel Session. 2. Chair introduction etc. - Ian Ross (IR) welcomed all to the meeting. Declarations of Interest: Joan Mitchell (JM) had declared her interest in the Creetown Initiative Ltd application and would not take part in the decision. Jon Hollingdale (JH) reported that ABC Group were members of CWA and that CWA had given advice to the group but it was agreed that this was not pertinent to the current application. 3. Staff Developments – Malcolm Wield (MW) informed the panel that he was leaving the Conservancy team and joining the Policy Group at Silvan House, He will still have a base at the Dingwall office and in his new role two- thirds of his time is to be spent on NFLS and one-third leading the review on the conditions of designated sites. Bob Frost (BF) also has a new post with FES. James Ogilvie will be providing support while a replacement is sought. 4. Minutes of 30th January, 2014 Meeting, Actions Points and Matters Arising – the panel were content that the minutes were an accurate record of the meeting. AP1 – informal panel session is planned as part of the two day programme in August. AP2 , 3 and 4 – have all been actioned. AP5 - Map updated but not seen by panel. To be circulated to panel. AP1 BF 5. NFLS Application Progress Report - A copy of the report and spreadsheet was circulated to the panel. The report is at Appendix 1. 6. Consideration of Application by LOCHWATCH to purchase 2ha of land at Kinachreachan, Loch Awe side – the Key Issues summary and Panel report is at Appendix 2. MW and Penny Cousins (PC) had carried out the site visit and they expanded on their reports and panel discussion followed. IR summarised as follows: Panel generally content with group vision although there are a number of challenges including capacity, administration time and legal status of group. Observations made: community support needs to be reinforced and this is important in terms of avoiding future problems; no problems with remaining sale area. Syd House, Conservator had asked that a condition of sale be that the applicants submit a simple Woodland Management Plan. The site is a registered Ancient Woodland Site and contains significant archaeology. JH noted that the applicants should be made aware of the availability of the Community Fund to help . AP2 MW The panel were content to recommend approval with conditions. 7. Consideration of Application by Creetown Initiative Ltd to lease 1.2 ha of land within Balloch Wood to install run of river hydro scheme – Summary of Key Issues and Panel Report at Appendix 3. The site visit was undertaken by BF and Bob Stubbs (BS). Two issues were raised in BF’s report regarding the ballot – level of turnout and age of ballot. MW and BF had discussed this as the guidance allows leeway in exceptional circumstances but they wished to consider panel opinion. BS thought result was near enough and the gap between ballot and submission was because the feasibility report had taken a long time, as it had been paid for out of group funds; JH said focus should be on significant Yes vote ; PC only issue with timing is if anything significant had happened within the community in the last 9 months that would have increased negative opinion. Report states that consultation on proposed wind farms, which are not going ahead, may have caused some confusion in the community but recent informal consultation has shown a high level of support. Donald McPhillimy (DMP) said that getting a higher than 50% turnout was notoriously difficult in urban communities. His concerns were recommending approval prior to group having more than 20 members. BF stated that from approval in principle there was an 18 month period to put conditions in place. IR summary: Strong support for an in principle approval; the panel were for taking a flexible view on the ballot issue; conditions to be put in place re structure; membership; community control; trading arm and fund raising. He asked that information about the structure of the group be shared with the panel as it emerges. The panel were content to recommend approval subject to conditions. 8. Consideration of Application by Achnacarry, Bunarkaig & Clunes (ABC) Group to purchase approximately 1096ha of woodland at Glen Mallie and South Loch Arkaig – Summary of Key Issues and Panel Report at Appendix 4. The site visit was undertaken by IR and MW who both expanded verbally on their reports. A discussion raised several issues which IR summarised: This project is as a significant challenge. All of panel expressed support for project but there are a number of issues. These include legal structure, community status and community control. The benefit and merit of Trees for Life involvement was recognised. Observations to be made to group: to encourage active engagement with neighbouring landowners; capacity challenge – they need to demonstrate wider support; to move towards an approved Long Term Forest Plan; need to balance conservation and rural development; panel strongly support for sustainable development objectives; Business Plan will have to demonstrate economic, social and environmental goals. The panel were content to recommend approval subject to these observations. 9. Future Meetings – Confirmation of meeting on 19th/20 August in Lochaber. JH said he may only join for business meeting as CWA conference is coming up. Wednesday, 26th November provisionally chosen for next meeting. 10. Site Visits - JH – Strontian and Achnaha DMcP – Barracks JM – Dinmurchie PC – Ballachulish, Dalavich and Mull IR – Invergarry 11. AOCB – 1. Application by Sunart Community Company to purchase land at Old Schoolhouse – this application has come in and will require a decision before the next meeting so it was agreed that the panel would be sent the information and send their responses by e-mail. 2. JH had had a telephone call from a representative of the Spotlight Theatre Musical Group reporting conflicting advice from OSCR. The decision was for CWA and FCS to discuss and decide between the best way to approach this. AP 3 JH/BF 3. Valuations - JH said it was disappointing that FCS representations seem to bear no relation to property being disposed of. BF will give feedback to estates team and he said there was work to do in strengthening transparency. AP4 BF 4. PC would like more follow-up information about applications which the panel has recommended approval for. Agreed that this would be included as an agenda item for meeting in August. AP5 MW/BMW 5. JM thought letters of support should be community specific rather than lobbying opportunities. MW said the issue of lobbying had been raised previously and that as a result, applicants are routinely advised that their submission to the panel should not be seen as a lobbying opportunity... 6. Website & Map – BF asked the panel to take a look and give their opinions on the scale and level of detail. 7. Tiroran Application – MW reported that group may not be following recommendations/observations of the panel and that there may be the need to review progress at an early stage and possibly a further meeting with FCS, panel member and group. Agreed. IR recorded thanks from the panel to Bob Frost and wished him well in his new post. The meeting was then closed. Appendix 1 NFLS Progress report April 2014 Red list – applications received - from the LochWatch group for part of Kinachreachan woodland on the shore of Loch Awe, for woodlands at Glen Mallie and Loch Arkaig in Lochaber and for a hydro project in Balloch Wood, Creetown. A further application has been received within the last few days for land near to the old schoolhouse in Strontian. Orange list – applications in preparation. The Invergarry community have recently formed a more structured group in partnership with the Highland Small Communities Housing Trust. As significant progress by the new group could be well demonstrated when the second submission guillotine of 12th February was reached, a final extension until 12th May has been granted. There has been less tangible progress at Creag Nay, Loch Ness-side. Some enthusiasm remains, mostly within the Abriachan community. A list of supporting elements for an application has been drawn up but not acted upon. An extension to the end of April (from the end of January) has been agreed for some definite progress to be shown. The Sunart community are progressing with their Community Acquisition application for Achnaha. A joint valuation has been instructed and will be ready by the end of April. The DV’s office have delayed their valuation at Dinmurchie and the interested group will consequently be given a reasonable extension. The Enzie Crossroads Community Woodland Group continue to prepare their CA application for part of Longhill woodland. There has been little feedback from hydro developments at Callander Community Hydro, Trossachs Community Trust, Strathard or Strathyre. However, Dalavich, Ballachulish and Glencoe, South Lochaline and Fernaig (South Strome) are making some progress; and Tiroran is being progressed steadily by the Mull and Iona Development Trust. The MICT interest pre-dates the FoRe Residual Offering exercise and will be intrinsically linked to the previously approved community acquisition of Tiroran Forest (see below). The Black Isle group remains interested in establishing a wind power project. Grey list – under consideration Scottish Wildlife Trust has expressed interest in The Barracks, currently formally notified for sale.