Ardentinny Renewables Trust Membership Drive

It was reported at the current community council’s final meeting that Ardentinny Renewables Trust (ART) expects very soon to be in receipt of the first tranche of funds from the village’s two hydro energy projects.

ART secretary, Neil Robinson, said they anticipate receiving approximately £5,000 from Hydrover and £2,000 from Ross MacArthur’s project by the end of May, 2018 and that the Trust will be circulating a newsletter to all residents within the next two weeks in an effort to encourage and increase Trust membership.

Any Ardentinny resident with a community project may apply for funds from the Trust but must be a member to do so. Membership is free and how to apply for a grant will be explained at the upcoming ART AGM on 22 May 2018, to which all are welcome.

Ardentinny Community Council

[Update 27 April, 2018]

Ardentinny Community Council By-Election – change of dates for nominations.

The nomination period is now 9-24 May and nomination forms should be lodged with the Returning Officer by 4.00 p.m. on 24 May 2018. Anyone interested in standing for election should contact the election office at elections@argyll-bute.gov.uk or telephone 01546 604331.

Community Council elections for all community councils within Argyll and Bute took place in March/April,2018, the results of which saw the majority in Cowal and Bute uncontested. However, in the case of Ardentinny, the community council remains inquorate. Consequently, a by-election will be held on 28 June with the nomination period running from 8 until 28 May closing date. It is hoped that a sufficient number of candidates will come forward to enable Ardentinny to continue to have a community council.
Contact elections@argyll-bute.gov.uk for further information.

Community Council Elections 2018

Community Council Elections are taking place for all Community Councils within the Argyll and Bute Area in April 2018. The formal Notice of Election will be advertised week beginning 5 March 2018. Nomination Packs are available here and from local Customer Service points and from the Returning Officer, Kilmory, Lochgilphead PA31 8RT. Please do not submit an application form until the opening of Nominations which is Tuesday 6 March.

The Nomination period will run from Tuesday 6 March to Thursday 22 March 2018 (closing date). Forms must be lodged with the Returning Officer by no later than 4.00pm on Thursday 22 March 2018.

More information is available here.

Source/photo credit: Argyll and Bute Council.

Hall adopts free membership model at community meeting

Ardentinny Hall Management committee held an open community meeting on 10 October to inform residents on the status of the village hall and to discuss the possible future role of the asset within the community. 

For the moment the committee is keeping the hall ‘ticking over’, having reopened it for club and other bookings; ensuring that it is cleaned, that regular outgoings are paid; and making the relevant official changes of office bearers.

Management committee member Guy Elder reported on the fabric of the building. The gutters and downpipes were blocked and water is overflowing and seeping into the building and, despite clearing the back and side, the actual source of the ingress has yet to be determined. There are also no obvious drains taking water away but once they obtain field drawings of what drainage exists the committee will then decide what needs to be done before hiring a digger to make the appropriate provision. In the meantime they have applied for a National Park (building) grant to cover the cost. This has successfully reached the second stage whereby a further application has to be submitted by 20 October.

The Chair then referred to the 2015 Community Action Plan and the likes, dislikes, wants and needs of the residents expressed therein, with a view to discussing if/how the village hall asset might play a part in achieving the community’s vision for its future. There were various suggestions from the floor including the need to consult the whole community. This was agreed along with scheduling another open community meeting in the near future.
 
In addition, after many years of charging an annual hall membership fee, it was decided to provide free hall membership to all the community in line with other village halls along ‘the shore’.

Ardentinny Hall Association – Community Notice

Ardentinny Village Hall is currently managed by a group of three people.

Merle Ferguson (Secretary) 01369 810220, Agnes Harvey (Treasurer) 07802 424487 and Guy Elder.

If you would like to strengthen that group please get in touch.

Key Holders: All of the Management Group have keys to the hall. In an emergency please contact either Guy Elder or Merle Ferguson (01369 810220).

Hall Bookings All Bookings should be made directly to the Secretary (Merle Fergusson)

Keeping Updated
The Management group will use their best endeavours to update the community on any progress. Minutes of Management group meetings will be displayed on the Hall notice board.

Periodically an ‘Open Community Meeting’ will be held and the first of this has been set for :-

Tuesday 10th October 2017 at 7pm in Ardentinny Hall. All welcome.

This will provide an opportunity for anyone within the community to come along, put forward any ideas and thoughts they have and ask any questions or express any concerns etc.

For and on behalf of the Ardentinny Hall Association – 19th Sept 2017