Changes at Community Council and Renewables Trust

Ardentinny Community Council

Ardentinny Community Council and Ardentinny Renewable Trust both held their Annual General Meetings recently. Changes to the community council committee included long-serving member Marian Norris who stepped down from her Secretary role and new members Claire Florence and Mark Rowthorn who were co-opted on to the committee. Draft Minutes of the meeting are below.

Ardentinny Renewables Trust

At Ardentinny Renewables Trust (ART) AGM on 5 October, 2021, Treasurer Bill Tierney informed the attendees that between February 2019 and September 2021 the Trust had received £19,869.32 in income with some £14,281.28 being allocated to grants. Remaining monies in the Trust account was £9,236.82.

Stuart Gray is to take over the role of Treasurer and Kenneth Evans has resigned from the committee. New ART committee members include Jo Carr and Helen West.

The Trust currently has 58 members. Membership is open to all residents of 18 years and over. The membership form is available here. Requests for funding local projects can be made by submitting this application form. Notes from the ART AGM are below.

Ardentinny Renewables Trust (ART) – Increased Income Benefitting our Community.

With two additional hydro schemes in operation, the village now benefits from the extra income they provide. This is topped up by supplementary income streams from technical support provision and Amazon Smile.

Full details of ART’s revenue and expenditure are provided in Trust Chair, Dougie Menzies’ Mid 2021 Newsletter (below). Requests for funding local projects can be made by submitting this application form.

Ardentinny’s gift

We may lament the Argyll rain but it, along with Ardentinny’s particular topography, provide the perfect constituents for the efficient production of hydro electricity. So much so that the village now has 3 schemes in operation with another about to come online.

These, while making a significant contribution to Scotland’s renewable energy output, also make a statutory annual financial contribution to the community. The latter is managed by Ardentinny Renewables Trust which has just published its end of year newsletter (below). 

Any Ardentinny resident or group who are members of ART may apply for funding. Membership is free. Application forms can be downloaded below.

Download ART Membership Form

Download ART Funding Application

Walled Garden expands growing opportunities

In response to increased demand, Glenfinart Walled Garden is planning the construction of six new raised beds and a second poly tunnel along with gravelled walkways. 
 
Funded by community money (£1313.00), derived from the statutory annual contribution of 5% of the Feed in Tariff from local hydro energy projects, managed by Ardentinny Renewables Trust, this additional growing facility will further augment the garden’s contribution to community resilience.
 
Anyone wishing to have one of the new raised beds, once constructed, please contact sec@glenfinartgarden.org.  These will be allocated on a first come basis.

Ardentinny Renewables Trust Update

Dougie Menzies, Chair of Ardentinny Renewables Trust (ART), kindly provided us with this latest update on Trust news.

In agreement with Charity regulator OSCR, the AGM has been postponed until it is safe to hold one.

Current funds stand at just over £4,500 with projected income of over £8000 in the coming year from the three hydro schemes in operation. This projection is based on last year’s figures. There is a fourth scheme still in the pipeline.

Along with the funded grant applications, as outlined in the Trust’s Mid 2020 Newsletter,  the stone wall opposite the phone box has been repaired at a cost of £154 and, in addition to the initial grant of £632.91, Neil Robinson received a further £1,100 for bees and equipment. The intended community benefit of the latter being pollination and educational to Strone school, once restrictions are lifted.

The Trust has also designed plaques to be affixed to projects, where possible, to indicate its involvement and there is a pending application for a bus shelter which is at an early stage and requires to go through the planning process.

Any Ardentinny resident or group who are members of ART may apply for funding. Membership is free. Application forms can be downloaded below.

Download ART Funding Application