2 May 2008, SEERAD Offices, Oban, 12..30
Present
Angus McFadyen (Chair) NFU, Fergus Younger AGRICULTURE STRATEGY MANAGER, Alan Minshaw SAC Bill Dundas SEERAD, Samuel Kyeremeh SEPA, Audrey Martin ABC, Caroline Ronald CROFTING FOUNDATION, Graham Howard SNH, Andrew Campbell SNH, Bob McIlwraith ALIENERGY, Keith Miller FCS, Catherine McNally (Minute Secretary) ABC
Aplogies
Councillor Robert McIntyre ABC, Councillor Rory Colville ABC, Marina Curran-Colthart BIODIVERSITY, Brian & Jane Hill, Julia McPherson SEPA, Andy Robinson RSPB, David Kerr ABC, Sue Gledhill HIE, Lisa Webb NFU, Dr Amanda Currie ALIENERGY, Lucy Sumsion FWAG, Bert Leitch
Minutes From Last Meeting
Approved
Meeting Minutes
MATTERS ARISING
Council action regarding Blue Tongue. Fergus made enquiries regarding this situation but it is not appropriate for Council to comment at this time. Bill Dundas stated that this situation would be considered at a National level rather than at a local level.
AGRICULTURE STRATEGY MANAGER UPDATE
Fergus gave a power point presentation highlighting the main areas of his work since the last meeting.
Following the success of the Food from Argyll Marquee at the 2007 Connect music festival. Fergus has worked with a group of producers to attend a series of events this summer to provide high quality food from Argyll. This will occupy 30 days of fergus’s time this summer. These events will allow the producers involved to make a good return, but also generate a stronger identity for the region.
Fergus distributed some copies of the branding schematic document round the table for the member’s perusal. This document sets out how the identity is intended to work and identifies the multiple beneficial links it can generate.
This approach has already earned the Argyll food producers a Highly Commended Award from Enterprising Britain. The Festivals in the pipeline for this year are Rockfest, T in the Park, Belladrum and Connect etc
Fergus advised that the Forum had, with support from Argyll and Bute Council organised a Food and Drink Stakeholders Meeting at the Corran Halls on the 30th May with Jim Mathers MSP who facilitated the discussions. The key points from this meeting that were identified and will be taken forward. This event was well attended.
RURAL SKILLS IN SCHOOLS
It was proposed that a meeting in September be organised to promote the inclusion of Rural Skills being included in the curriculum in schools – urgent action needed to introduce Rural skills in schools – invite personnel involved to Forum meeting
FORUM FUNDING UPDATE - by Alan Minshaw
Biogas re Bute Biogas Project – actions to be taken by 20th June – Business case needed. Document to be circulated soon
ITEM FOR NEXT MEETING
Leader + funding in place conditionally on confirmation of match funding being in place. Currently with all the partners committed to the funding is 90% in place. NFU who are interested in the possibility of ‘in kind’ contribution, however this may conflict with LEADER funding rules
Funding must be in place by the middle of July. Angus to get in touch with NFU regarding their contribution.
Rural priorities ‘Statement of Intent’ went online at the end of March so far there has only been a limited uptake. Accessing the document is complex and it has to be done online and you cannot download guidelines. The site is extremely difficult to navigate.
SCOTTISH RURAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FORUM PRESS
Fergus has prepared a number of Press releases, however, there is some difficulty in getting the press interested enough to publish. It is critical that we get press coverage and also critical that we forge links with the press. Forum members have provided Fergus with a number of useful contacts. Fergus circulated a timetable of past and future press releases. Fergus recently attended a press course to learn about ways of achieveing better press coverage.
In terms of promotion Angus suggested that he and Fergus attend the markets in Dalmally and Oban and we use and distribute promotional materials at these markets
BIOMASS UPDATE by Bob McIlwraith
Scottish Biomass Support Scheme
The Scottish Biomass Support Scheme (SBSS) was launched by the Scottish Government to give £10.5M funding to develop woodfuel supply chains and install biomass boilers. When the SBSS finished on 31.03.08, there were 3 completed and operational projects in Argyll. VETO biomass boiler to Glenfeochan House, Kilmore. 850kW MAWERA biomass boiler at Lakeland Smolts, Cairndow. Woodfuel supply chain established at OUR POWER CIC at Clachan Cairndow.
Our Power supply the woodfuel as an ESCO to Lakeland Smolts. Our Power, with the assistance of ALIenergy, have also been successful in winning the contract to supply woodfuel to the 110kW woodfuel boiler at the new HQ building of Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority (LLTNPA) at Balloch.
Crannich Farm Mull - Woodfuel Store – Demand for Payment of Non Domestic Rates.
Following his visit to Crannich Farm and other forestry projects on Mull on Tuesday 04.03.08, Mike Russell MSP Minister for the Environment, asked ALIenergy to prepare a briefing paper for him on the issues involved. The briefing paper is now complete and lies with the Minister for his consideration.
Glenshellach Woodfuel District Heating Project Oban, - Change of Supply Chain.
The 89 house Glenshellach biomass district heating development, owned by West Highland Housing Association and operated and maintained by Vital Energi, experienced severe boiler failures because of the poor quality of woodfuel supplied by WOODTHERM of Fort William.
Vital Energi had no option but to terminate this contract, and have now engaged Crannich Farm Mull to supply better quality chips with a much lower moisture content. This change in the woodfuel supply chain has been successful, and the boiler problems caused by the previous wet fuel are now resolved.
Biomass Power Station Achnabreck, Cairnbaan.
Northern Energy Developments (Fergus Tickell et al) have now obtained planning permission for the construction of a 5MWE biomass electricity power station just 2 miles north of Lochgilphead. However there is no proposal to use the waste heat arising from the generation of the electricity.
Argyll and Bute District Council Biomass Feasibility Studies.
The Council recently agreed to carry out feasibility studies to investigate the installation of woodfuel boilers at four of their properties. These are;
1. Kilmory Castle HQ.
2. Adult Learning Resource Centre, Lochgilphead.
3. Islay High School, Bowmore.
4. Ardencraig Nursery, Rothesay, Isle of Bute.
ALIenergy will participate in the Council’s project team to assess the feasibility of the proposals.
Scottish Rural Development Program (SRDP)
The £1.6 billion Scottish Rural Development Program (SDRP) was introduced with effect from 01.04.08. The SRDP recognises wood energy development as a high priority for the Argyll region.
There are 3 separate programs to enable 50% grant funding assistance to install biomass boilers up to 250 kW in forestry business, agricultural business and non-land use business.
ALIenergy will advise Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) on the merits of biomass installations in Argyll under the SRDP.
Biomass and Forestry Stakeholder Event Inveraray 02.05.08
This was to be a joint Ministerial event co-hosted by Jim Mather MSP and Mike Russell MSP. There was a maximum attendance of over 90 at this “mind-mapping” seminar, which challenged those present - how to add value and increase the potential for biomass and forestry in Argyll.
The big question now is, how and who, can take this forward to address many of the issues that emerged from this very worthwhile event.
Forestry Commission Perth & Argyll Conservancy - Biomass Development Officer.
The Conservator for Perth and Argyll Conservancy (Syd House) is currently seeking to fill a vacancy for a Biomass Development Officer for the Perth and eastern area of the Conservancy.
The Conservator has also approached ALIenergy to continue and extend the contract that enabled ALIenergy to provide a biomass development service in Argyll and Bute, for a further 12 month period to 31.03.09.
This dedicated service in Argyll, will complement the network of Woodfuel Information Officers that Forestry Commission Scotland is obliged to provide under the Scottish Biomass Action Plan, and the Implementation Plan for Perth and Argyll Conservancy within the Scottish Forestry Strategy.
ALIenergy has submitted a tender as requested and the response from the Conservator is awaited
BLUE TONGUE
In David Kerr’s absence this item was discussed and it seems that the problem in mostly in the south east and there has be no formal guidance in place at the moment due to the vague nature of the infection and how to tackle it. It was mentioned that vigilance is necessary and bio-security should be in place it was also mentioned that there is no compensation scheme available for this outbreak at the moment.
TRAINING NEEDS
These were identified in the Agriculture Strategy.
Fergus proposed that an on farm Wind Turbine day in the late summer perhaps using Gigha as an example of small scale windfarms or single turbines which would benefit farmers
AOCB
None.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Wednesday 20th August on Islay to include a visit to the abattoir. More details later.
For access to all the documented minutes since May 2007 please click here.
