Held by Zoom
Present: M McDonald (Chair), V Nimmo (Minutes), R Colville,
E. McTaggart, K Pytasz, D Rennie
Apolofies G Lawson, K MacPhail
Welcome: M McDonald welcomed everyone to the meeting
Minutes: Agreed.
Treasurer’s Report:
Outstanding bill £7244.38
Available in KKCPA account £5935.10
Still awaiting grant payment from HES. Agreed that we could pay Nik Boyes £5000.00, if it would help his cash flow. KP chasing up HES.
Chairperson’s Report
Discussion had taken place with the Youth Forum.
Pilgrim Trust wanted an update on our progress before their next meeting.
Final agreement with HES on completion of emergency works has been signed.
Update on Kilchenzie
Message via DR from Nick Lowden, aware of the problem but the extra work caused by the storm had prevented him from investigating thoroughly. Agreed that Council workmen had laid stones flat for Health & Safety reasons. He has someone going around all graveyards assessing and photographing damage done by storm. Kilchenzie would be a priority, and he was hoping to get down himself to have a look.
It was generally agreed that this wasn’t satisfactory. Damage done at Kilchenzie was pre-storm.
RC – Proper procedures had not been followed. 8-10 stones freshly broken. Heavy duty gantry used, totally unsuitable for the work.
KP – Poor communication with a community group, supposed to be equal partners on this project. Work carried out at both Kilchenzie and Kilkivan was outrageous and illegal. This could result in overall project being put in jeopardy.
MMCD – HES prepared to overlook one failure to notify them of work done at a scheduled monument, the burial of ashes at Kilkivan without consent, but not two failures. It is a legal requirement that before any work is done at a scheduled monument, that HES is notified. The assessment of the stones could have been done by KP and the work included in our emergency phase.
DR – advised that NL was investigating and trying to identify if proper protocol had been carried out, whether, in fact, they had a protocol.
It was agreed to request a meeting with Nick Lowden and Tom Murphy in two weeks time for an update. Since our last meeting with them, we have had no feedback on the interments at Kilkivan, nor Health & Safety report on Killean to enable the removal of the Heras fencing.
Update from K Pytasz:
Has submitted photographs of signs to HLF.
HES grant money should be released soon.
Press Report
As part of contract, there has to be an agreed press release acknowledging HES/HLF input but need to hold off now until the issues at Kilchenzie have been resolved. Important that the public are aware that the damage was not caused by the emergency work, but if, A&BC have plans to remedy, that could be included.
School/Youth Engagement
EMcT had a very positive visit to Drumlemble PS. Teachers interested and possibility to visit Saddell in the summer term to see their stones.
Email from Jamie Titterton provided suggestions from the Youth Action group with creative ideas to engage a younger element in our project. They could help with posters, social media posts, suggested storytelling project/competition, design a logo for group.
Action Plan
Corrections made. Local meeting to launch would be delayed.
Need to have photographic record of the three sites at present.
EMcT suggested the use of a drone. Funding may be available to pay for drone footage from WKWT.
Correspondence
AOCB
No further progress on video of graveslab removal at Kilkivan, due to holiday.
Application to Dalrymple Donaldson unsuccessful, but KP will contact to discuss.
Date of Next Meeting – 17th, 18th, 19th February to meet with NL & TM.