Item

Notes

Action

1

DM Welcomed everyone to the AGM and gave a brief outline of what would be covered in the meeting which included the following:

1   Minute of last AGM

2   Any matters arising from minute

3   Treasurers Report

4   Election/re-election of trustees

5   Secretary brief update on projects completed and   membership levels /details  

6   A.O.B.

7   Date of next AGM.

None required

2.

DM read out the minutes of the last AGM which had been on display and asked for a proposer and seconder that the minutes as read be accepted.

Proposer: BT

Seconded: JC

3.

SG handed out a copy of the accounts for FY23-24 which were

shown to have been audited then gave a detailed treasurer’s report, details of which can be seen in Appendix A to these minutes

No Further action required

4

DM informed everyone present that as per our constitution all the current members of the trust had to formally stand down

All current trustees stood down

5

All the members were asked if they were happy stand again for another year.

DM Volunteered to stay on for another year Proposed:  NR Seconded:  BT

BT Volunteered to stay on for another year Proposed:  JC   Seconded:  JB

NR Volunteered to stay on for another year   Proposed:  DM   Seconded:  BT

Jo Carr Volunteered to stay on for another year Proposed:  NR Seconded:  DM

Helen West Volunteered to stay on for another year   Proposed:  BT Seconded:  JB

John Brint Volunteered to stay on for another year   Proposed:  NR Seconded:  HW

Stuart Gray had decided to step down from both the role of treasurer and from the trust

DM alongside the rest of the group thanked Stuart for all his hard work during his post as treasurer and for the excellent newsletters he put out.

Stuart agreed to keep up the Tech support work for the hydro which generates some extra income into the fund and stay on as bank administrator until a replacement can formally take over

BT agreed to act as stand in treasurer until another volunteer came forward.

DM stated there is now a requirement to fill the remaining place on the trust and appoint another full time treasurer, it was agreed the most efficient way to do this would be via mail drop JC agreed to make a flyer which could include aspects from other groups within the community this could then be printed off and distributed to all the houses in the geographical boundary area.

6

NR gave a brief secretary’s report and informed the group of the following points:

The trust aims which are:

1. To advance the protection of the environment through the promotion and sustainable production of energy from renewable sources, in particular, but not exclusively, investing in the development, operation or management of a hydroelectric scheme.
2. To support rural regeneration in the Ardentinny Community Council geographical area through the management and distribution of funds accruing from the production of renewable energy for community benefit.

Currently we have a total of 52 members we do need to advertise the fact that to apply for funding people should be a member of the ART there has been a shake up in the village with a number of new families moving into the area and some moving out so we should ideally be looking at taking on more members

Membership is free all that is required is an email to: ardentinnyrenewablestrust@gmail.com stating your name address email and contact number.

Full Membership is open to any individual aged 18 or over who is resident in the geographical area under the jurisdiction of the Ardentinny Community Council

AOB

1. David McDowell asked if there had been any movement on the bus shelter project, he was advised that as of yet no one had sent in an application for the bus shelter project therefore no decision had been made by the group, if there is an appetite for this then someone should apply as normal. JB gave a brief overview of the work the CC had completed with local council on this project and other projects regarding roads and services within the area
2. DM mentioned the fact the constitution had been given some slight amendments to correct poor grammar, some definitions and some numbering issues, the new constitution is on the CC website a copy can also be sent to anyone wishing a copy
3. SG raised the question regarding the ring fenced funds, currently these are added to using Ross McArthur donations to the fund on a yearly basis. Given the fund is healthy at the moment it was decided to move 3k into the fund taking it to a maximum of 10k ring fenced this could be added to using the bank interest to offset inflation. All agreed to the point which was carried
4. Bill Williamson raised a question on how the fully funded and part funded projects were detailed to the community, SG informed Bill that the newsletter contains details of all projects and does detail those that are fully funded and those that are partially funded, it was also noted that in the application form for funding the full project details are requested as well as a breakdown of any of funds the applicant will be using to fund the project, this helps the trustees make there final decision on funding, it was also noted that there is no real set criteria every project is looked at in its own merit, decisions are made after a vote by the trustees as laid out in the constitution, further details can be sought there for the full process
5. David McDowell raised the question, Should the whole village be asked to vote on funded projects that do request a lot of funding he was informed that in the first instance a ceiling would behave to be set which is unrealistic, the second point was that the constitution was set up giving the voting powers for grants to the trustees so in this case it wasn’t a requirement to call a large scale meeting for larger projects to determine funding amounts

DM stated the next meeting of the trust would be, July 2025this would be a public, minutes will be made available for anyone unable to attend5

DM thanked everyone present for attending and formally closed the meeting

Totals

Hydrover (Finart)

£50172.89

JB Hydro (Cuil)

£10477.58

JB Hydro (Schoolhouse)

£9961.74

Ross MacArthur (Drynain)

£5500.00

Amazon Smile

£46.35

Hydrover (Tech Support)

£1250

JB Hydro (Tech Support)

£1136.25

OVERALL TOTAL

£78,544.81