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Minute of the Meeting of North Ronaldsay Community Council held in the Community Centre and via Teams on Monday, 29 June 2026 at 19:30

Present

Mr P Donnelly, Ms A Duncan, Mr C Dun, Mr I Deyell, Mrs H Scott and Mr I Scott.

In Attendance

  • Councillor S Clackson.
  • Councillor M Thomson (via Teams).
  • Councillor H Woodridge (via Teams).
  • Mrs J McGrath, Community Council Liaison Officer.
  • Ms H Galland, Clerk.
  • 3 members of the public.

Order of Business

  1. Apologies
  2. Adoption of Minutes
  3. Matters Arising
  4. Correspondence
  5. Consultation Documents
  6. Financial Statements including Annual Accounts
  7. Financial Requests
  8. Reports from Representatives
  9. Publications
  10. Any Other Competent Business
  11. Date of Next Meeting
  12. Conclusion of Meeting

1. Apologies

Resolved to note that there were no apologies made.

2. Adoption of Minutes

The minute of the meeting of North Ronaldsay Community Council held on 11 May 2026 was adopted, being proposed by Mr I Deyell and seconded by Mr C Dun.

3. Matters Arising

A. Home Care Recruitment Information Day

Members were advised that nobody had attended this event and expressed concern as there was an increasing need for such a service on the island, and it was:

Resolved to keep this item on the agenda for future discussion.

B. Loganair - Customer Booking Issues Letter

A letter from NRCC regarding the issue of booking, with unavailable seats, yet planes travelling with empty seats and the new issue of a strict 30-minute check in policy by Loganair had been sent to Orkney Islands Council’s Transport section.

Councillor H Woodbridge advised that the CEO of Loganair was aware of these issues now, and it was:

Resolved:

  1. To note that a diplomatic approach was required given this is a small community.
  2. To note the suggestion that the best and most appropriate place for islands to discussed shared issues with Loganair is at the Transport Forum meeting.
  3. That members would wait for a response to the letter.

C. Scalpings Allocations

Due to the sensitive nature of this item, it was held in committee with no members of the public present.

Following consideration of a list of households that were interested to receive aggregate, it was:

Resolved:

  1. That all applicants should receive an allocation and that the Clerk would contact them as appropriate.
  2. That the Clerk would book the delivery with Orkney Aggregates and Orkney Ferries.
  3. That an amount of aggregate would be saved back to repair the road to the surgery, and that R S Rendall were willing to carry out the repairs.
  4. To respond to the request from Democratic Services to know if there was anyone on island that could carry out repair work to roads in future.

D. Funding for Kirkyard Renovations/Manpower Services

Mr C Dun, who had volunteered to research funders, explained that most funding providers gave financial assistance towards the fabric of buildings but that graveyards were out with their scope. He advised that he was still waiting to hear back from some funders.

It was reported that rabbits had been causing a lot more damage in both kirkyards, and various suggestions were put forward for how this could be addressed, including putting down netting below the turf. Following discussion, it was:

Resolved:

  1. That Councillor S Clackson would raise the suggestions put forward by the community council with the OIC Burial Grounds Officer.
  2. That if any of the suggestions proved a possibility then public consultation would be required.

E. Place Plan Meeting - 26 June

Members said that they had had a good meeting with the consultant and heard that the public meeting in the evening also received good feedback, and it was:

Resolved:

  1. To note that a draft Place Plan would be forthcoming.
  2. That a final meeting to tie up loose ends would need to be arranged prior to the statutory consultation at the end of August.
  3. To note that the final draft of the Place Plan would need to be ratified by NRCC.

F. Gate for West Hill

Members were advised of the cost of a 12ft gate with weld mesh half and “furniture” from two local suppliers, and it was:

Resolved that the Clerk should place an order with Highland Industrial Supplies and that CCGS would be utilised to cover the cost, subject to approval.

G. Bewan Cattle Grid and Gate

It was reported that the gate at Bewan was not functional and was causing accessibility issues for people unable to navigate the neighbouring cattle grid. Members suggested that this was an Orkney Islands Council issue, and it was:

Resolved that the Clerk would request that the relevant Council department address this issue as a matter of mobility priority.

4. Correspondence

A. Orkney Islands Council Equality Delivery Group

Correspondence had been received from Orkney Islands Council inviting a representative to attend a meeting on 11 June, and it was:

Resolved to note the contents.

B. Orkney Local Development Plan

Correspondence had been received from Orkney Islands Council, providing an update on the development of a new OLDP, and it was:

Resolved to note the contents.

C. Bag the Bruck and In the Same Boat

Correspondence had been received from John Berry of Westray Beach Waste Management, and it was:

Resolved to note the crew from In the Same Boat had been unable to attend North Ronaldsay for Bag the Bruck, which did not then take place.

D. Overview of Community Wealth Building

Correspondence had been received from Orkney Islands Council regarding a free Webinar for CCs giving an Overview of Community Wealth Building, plus a seminar on a community-led approach to care at home in rural Scotland. The webinar had been held on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, and it was:

Resolved to note the contents.

E. Sanday CC – Inter Island Air Service

Correspondence had been received from a member of Sanday Community Council asking the North Ronaldsay CC Transport representative for advice regarding issues booking seats, empty planes and on the “under-utilised” comment from Orkney Islands Council, and it was:

Resolved:

  1. To note that members had previously been told that this issue and other shared issues were the exact thing that islands should come together to discuss at Transport Forums.
  2. That the Clerk would write a letter of reply to the Sanday CC member.

F. Nordic Sea and Toplander Additional Sailings

Correspondence had been received from Orkney Islands Council regarding additiona sailings to North Ronaldsay for freight and an extra passenger service, and it was:

Resolved to note that these sailings would only take place on a “on demand” basis in future.

G. Winter 2026/2027 Ferry Sailings - Christmas and New Year

Correspondence had been received from Orkney Islands Council advising of arrangements for ferry services over the festive period. It was pointed out the gather times would be when businesses are shut in town, so booking well ahead of the season would be necessary, and it was:

Resolved:

  1. That the NRCC would ensure to remind people, in particular new islanders who have little understanding of resilience, of this year’s winter timetable and its limitations.
  2. That there would be merit in asking Orkney Ferries to add a freight plane into the schedule now, in the light of the high probability of cancelled boat straight after the new year.

H. Westray CC - Westray Tidal Array Pre-Application Consultation

Correspondence had been received from Westray CC, after the initial consultation which had been discussed at the last meeting. It suggested that NRCC may wish to respond to the consultation. Members were unsure if the proposals would have any effect on their ferry service, and it was:

Resolved:

  1. That NRCC would oppose the proposal if it had a detrimental effect on sailings to North Ronaldsay.
  2. That members agree to support Westray CC if they were opposed to the project.
  3. To note that the public were able to input on this consultation also.

I. Scottish Islands Federation - Webinars

Correspondence had been received regarding Scottish Islands Federation webinar dates, and it was:

Resolved to note the contents of the correspondence.

J. Scottish Islands Federation - Digital Resilience Meeting

Correspondence had been received from Scottish Islands Federation regarding a digital resilience meeting due to be held on 26 June 2026, and it was:

Resolved to note the contents of the correspondence.

K. Emergency/ First Responder Situation on Island

Correspondence had been received from the Community Planning Officer, Orkney Islands Council, to update their database on what individual islands had available to them, and how this related to recruitment issues in all emergency service departments within islands, and it was:

Resolved:

  1. That Democratic Services would liaise with the Community Planning Officer to agree a date to meet with Chair and Health Representatives of NRCC as well as meet with high priority residents to discuss their needs/ issues.
  2. That a meeting should be arranged during the School Summer Holiday in advance of the Scottish Government meeting on this matter.

L. Preference to run Nordic Sea service on a “on demand” basis for North Ronaldsay?

Correspondence had been received from Orkney Ferries asking NRCC for opinion, and it was:

Resolved to note more recent correspondence addressed this matter.

M. National Islands Plan – Online Meetings

Correspondence had been received from Scottish Islands Federation regarding online meetings, and it was:

Resolved to note the contents of the correspondence.

N. Property Ownership

Correspondence had been received from Stuart Sinclair Tait requesting to take on his grandmother’s land and house, and it was:

Resolved to inform the correspondent that this issue did not fall within the remit of NRCC.

5. Consultation Document - Draft Summer Ferry Timetables 2027

Members considered the consultation document from Orkney Islands Council regarding the Draft Summer Ferry Timetables for 2027, which were available at the airfield for public consultation, and concluded that it was the same as previous years, and it was:

Resolved to note the contents of the consultation document.

6. Financial Statements including Annual Accounts

A. Annual Accounts

Members considered the Annual Accounts for year ending 31 March 2026 and queried some of the data, and it was:

Resolved:

  1. To request there were annotated notes to go with the figures to interpret them.
  2. To note that members asked what the assets related to.
  3. To note the accounts for year ending 31 March 2026.
  4. That the Clerk would publicly display the annual accounts alongside the last meeting’s minute.

B. Annual Grants

Correspondence received from Orkney Islands Council prior to the previous meeting regarding the Orkney Islands Council annual grants for Community Councils in Orkney had been omitted from that meeting’s agenda, and it was:

Resolved to record and note its receipt by the members at this meeting, and to note the Annual Grant figures for 2026/2027.

C. War Memorial Grass Cutting Contract 2026

The most recent contractor asked the members if they would permit further cuts in addition to the 6 allocated funding for. After discussion about the grass growing season, it was:

Resolved that members would agree to 2 extra cuts at the pro rata of £40 per cut and would add funds to that effect to the CCGS, subject to approval.

D. General Finance

Following consideration of the general fund statement as at 17 June 2026, copies of which were previously circulated, members noted the addition of income from a recent launch and queried if this belonged to NRCC who obtained it, or to Orkney Islands Council as part of the agreement to recoup some costs from travellers, and it was:

Resolved:

  1. To note that the estimated balance was £23,646.96.
  2. That Democratic Services would investigate who should be the beneficiary of this income collected on the launch.
  3. That the introduction of a QR code would enable easy management of payment by travellers in future, even if that needed to be “a donation”.

E. Turbine Fund

Members considered the turbine statement as at 17 June 2026, copies of which were previously circulated, and it was:

Resolved to note the estimated balance was £24,965.80.

F. Community Council Grant Scheme

Following consideration of the Community Council Grant Scheme as at 17 June 2026, copies of which had been previously circulated, it was:

Resolved:

  1. To note that the total approved but not yet allocated was £2,722.40.
  2. To add £80 to the project 102601 for extra grass cuts.
  3. To make a new CCGS for scrap car freight costs to the value of £250, and that the Clerk would send a new form.

G. Community Development Fund

Following consideration of the Community Development Fund as at 17 June 2026, copies of which were previously circulated, it was:

Resolved to note that the total available for allocation was £8,768.00.

7. Financial Requests

Resolved to note there were no requests for financial support at this time.

8. Reports from Representatives

A. Transport Representative

The Transport Representative advised that there had been a meeting regarding the third aircraft, and a new timetable was still under discussion. Test flights were due to take place in July. There were ongoing issues with “no shows” to current flights in addition to lack of availability of seats when booking. All issues continue to the raised at Transport Forums. Following discussion, it was:

Resolved to note the update provided.

B. Planning Representative

Resolved to note there was nothing to report.

C. North Ronaldsay Development Trust Representative

Members were advised that the Trebb project was soon to be signed off for completion; renewables were to be installed, and the wool mill machinery was to be moved once contractors had signed it off. There had been enquiries regarding the new flat but nothing concrete and e-bikes would soon be available to hire once liability was in place.

Cruise visits had been very successful this year, and the “Covid Memorial Dyke” was erected near Howar with Crown Estate and match funding. It was also advised that the dyke at Seaside was near collapse due to rabbit activity and may need Sheep Festival help/Sheep Court support as cement and protective fencing may be necessary. Following the update, it was:

Resolved to note the information provided.

D. Health and Care Representative

As there had been no interaction from islanders in the recent home carer recruitment drive, members agreed that it was something that needed to be raised in meetings given the aging population of the island. There was a need for this issue to be included in the Place Plan to ensure funding was available for it, and it was:

Resolved to note the discussion.

E. Yarn Company Representative

Resolved to note there was nothing to report.

9. Publications

The following publications were made available to members and were noted:

  • VAO Newsletter – June 2026.
  • VAO – Training and Funding Update – May and June 2026.
  • Orkney Ferries - Statistics– May 2026.
  • Letter from School Place – May 2026.
  • Loganair Statistics.
  • Scottish Water - May 2026.
  • ORSAS Newsletter.
  • SEPA Update – May 2026.
  • Armed Forces Day - 27 June 2026.

10. Any Other Competent Business

Resolved to note that there was no further business raised.

11. Date of Next Meeting

Following consideration of future meeting dates, it was:

Resolved that the next meeting of North Ronaldsay Community Council would be held on Monday, 31 August 2026.

12. Conclusion of Meeting

There being no further business the Chair thanked everyone for attending and declared the meeting closed at 21:42.