Strachur and District Community Council
Meeting Held on at 7.30pm
Wednesday 11th June 2025
At Strachur Memorial Hall
Present: Archie Reid Convenor, Ian Lowe Vice Convenor, Kirstie Reid Secretary, Lizzie McDonald, Isabel McGladdery and 9 members of the public
Apologies: William McGladdery and Councillor William Sinclair
Minutes of previous meeting: proposed by Isabel McGladdery seconded by Lizzie McDonald
Maters Arising ( from previous meeting 16th April 25): A815 at St Catherine's - not finished
A815 at Loch Eck - being looked at
School lights on C57 - done
Charities doing a cleanup and taking rubbish etc to skips -no reply Ian and Kirstie to pursue
Police report: Between !6th April and !0th June 2025 there were 14 incidents and 1 crime reports
1 undetected -Dangerous driving, 5 detected- speeding ,2 undetected -fail to stops/report,
1 detected -registration plate that did not conform to the requirements
Health Report: Kirstie gave an update in her meeting with Jenni Minto MSP on the difficulty residents are having moving from UK Gov benefits system to the Scot Gov benefit system i.e. moving from Working tax Credit to Universal Credit Both UK Gov Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Adult Disability Payment ADP) they have u to 180 days to make a decision leaving claimants in some case with little or no money , unpaid carers recognized as such by the UK benefit system but not recognized as an unpaid carer by the new system until they have reviewed all your forms putting pressure on the unpaid carer to go out and look for paid employment until their review comes through I know of cases where the people where financially sanction for not getting paid work. Ian said part of the issue came from the two governments not sharing relevant data with each other. One member of the public thought the examples Kirstie gave where offal and commented some of the people that work for the benefit agencies are quote " budding psychopaths"
Treasurer Report: we have £2702.22 in bank
Secretary's Report: Kirstie received the following emails and letters since taking over as Secretary in April
1. Forestry Commission re safety concerns about people going to CLOSED area of the Letters Forest during harvesting please stay out of areas that are closed this is for your own safety
2. Glenbranter and Strathlachlan Forest Plan feedback to be sent by 20th July 2025 public meeting in Strachur Memorial Hall on Thursday 19th June 2pm to 8pm Ian will add poster to Facebook pages
3. Hugh o Neil re Argyll Rally 2025 just a confirmation of previous email now I am the secretary so it was in my name
4.Iain McInnes ABC re phone boxes it was agreed that they maintain the phone boxes at both Glenbranter and Strathlachlan and look into the community buying the one at Strachur for Community use some suggestions so far are a food bank, place of worship, book, toy swap if you have any other suggestions please let either myself or any other CC member know by the 9th August 2025. Also any letter of support for keeping either of the phone boxes please send to one of the CC members
5.SSEN funding application this was passed to Ian as it was relevant for the hall and they are looking at what benefits this may be for the Hall
6. Melissa Stewart ABC: review of Community Councils 2026 ( Ian will put this on Facebook)
Travel:
DCC rerouting of the 486 bus on way into Dunoon
Application to be on the David MacBrayne LTD board
Kirstie also attended the Clyde Kintyre and Island Ferry Group and gave an update she has also been asked to look into the difficulties patients have traveling to and from GGC Hospitals for appointments using public transport.
Rally 25: Just a reminder that the takes place on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 June
AOCB:
1. Letter from resident re loggers on the B800 - no reply from timer group as yet
2. Letter from resident re gravestone re graveyard
3. Letter from ABC re Local Housing Strategy for questions ( info to Ian t put on Facebook)
4. Dr Coull Strachur Medical Practice update
Staff: Dr Coull has a new Business Manager, a new accountant and two new reception staff
Prescriptions : most repeat prescriptions will now go to the Pharmacy in Inveraray this will take a bit longer than before so patients will be asked to give 5 working days before collecting this will also help repeat this if one of your items is not ready to collect. Acute and emergency prescriptions will be dispensed by the Strachur Surgery
Nurse: Ellie Earnshaw is now the Practice nurse Ellie and Leeza Rushton will provide nursing care across the two practices and Dr Coull is looking to employ another nurse.
Doctors: Dr McBeth is currently off sick but hopefully be back soon, Dr McCulloch is currently working extra shifts at Cowal Community Hospital, Dr Jollife s unavailable for a year due to other commitments Dr Coull has been asked by NHS Highland to take on trainee GPs as part of the GP training this he has agreed to do
Telephones: Dr Coull is getting a new phone system fitted this may mean you call is answer by either Inveraray MP or Strachur MP but both practices will have access to make you a GP or Nurse appointment at your own practice or arrange a call back. In case of emergency and to allow the GP to come to you with his emergency lights on you may be asked to redial 999 this will let the GP be talked by ambulance control and be legally allowed to turn his emergency lights on.
Date of next meeting Wednesday 13th August @7.30pm at STRATHLACHLAN COMMUNITY CENTRE