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Minutes of the Meeting of Papa Westray Community Council held in St Ann’s and via Teams on Thursday, 14 May 2026 at 19:00

Present

Mr I Cursiter, Mr N Rendall, Mr A Hourston, Mr B Hourston, Mrs F McNab, Mrs L Sharp, and Mrs I Hourston.

In Attendance

  • Councillor S Clackson.
  • Ms L Richardson, Director of Infrastructure and Organisational Development.
  • Ms C Kelday, Community Council Liaison Assistant (via Teams).
  • Mr M Jones, Clerk.
  • Ms J Foley, Papay Development Trust.

Order of Business

  1. Apologies
  2. Adoption of Minutes
  3. Election of Office Bearers
  4. Matters Arising
  5. Correspondence
  6. Consultation Documents
  7. Financial statements
  8. Financial Requests
  9. Reports from Representatives
  10. Publications
  11. Any Other Business

1. Apologies

Resolved to note that no apologies for absence had been intimated.

2. Adoption of Minutes

The minute of the meeting of Papa Westray Community Council held on 12 February 2026 and the special meeting of 4 March 2026 were adopted, being proposed by Mr A Hourston and seconded by Mrs I Hourston.

3. Election of Office Bearers

A. Appointment of Chair

The Community Council Liaison Assistant advised of the options available for the appointment of Chair, and it was:

Resolved that Mr I Cursiter be appointed Chair of Papa Westray Community Council, until May 2027.

Mr Cursiter took the Chair for the remainder of the meeting.

B. Appointment of Vice Chair

Resolved that Mr B Hourston be appointed Vice Chair of Papa Westray Community Council.

C. Appointment of Transport Representative

Resolved that Mr I Cursiter be appointed Transport Representative of Papa Westray Community Council.

4. Matters Arising

A. Meeting with North Ronaldsay Community Council

A joint meeting with North Ronaldsay Community Council to meet with officers to discuss the Ferry Replacement Programme took place on 19 March 2026. The meeting was considered to be constructive and it was noted that the consultant’s report had not yet been submitted, and it was:

Resolved:

  1. To request, via the Business Letter, a copy of the minutes from the meeting.
  2. To note that no further action was required from PWCC at this time.

B. Tenders at St Boniface

It was resolved:

  1. To note that a tender for the grass cutting at St Boniface Kirk had been received and accepted from Mr Dane, for 12 cuts.
  2. To note that work to repair the gates at St Boniface Kirk and various benches was now completed.

C. Expression of interest/feasibility study to CARES

The Clerk explained that an application had been submitted to CARES for a grant to pay for the feasibility study for the proposed solar panel project for the water scheme and this had progressed beyond having the Expression of Interest accepted. CARES had now intimated that a different grant scheme might be more appropriate and that they would be in touch regarding this, and it was:

Resolved that the Clerk would contact equipment providers for alternative options.

5. Correspondence

A. Orkney Ferries Tickets

Members considered correspondence from Orkney Islands Council, providing a general update from Orkney Ferries regarding paper tickets and booking arrangements. Books of tickets had now expired and could not be used, and payment was required at the time of booking, and it was:

Resolved to note the content of the correspondence.

B. 20mph Zones

Members considered a briefing note from OIC Infrastructure and Organisational Development regarding the part-time 20mph speed limits at island schools, due to an issue which had arisen with the supply and installation of the variable signs. The defective signs would be removed, and replaced with permanent 20mph signs. During the discussion, a member also reported that the 20mph signs between Holland and the old pier were possibly to be moved, it was:

Resolved:

  1. To note the content of the correspondence.
  2. That Ms L Richardson would investigate the location of the 20mph signs between Holland and the old pier.

C. Westray Tidal Array Pre-Application Consultation

Members had previously been sent information from Orbital Marine Power advising of an upcoming public consultation for the proposed Westray Tidal Array in the Westray Firth. A public meeting would be held in Kirkwall on 11 June, or comments could be submitted on-line with a deadline of 13 July, and it was:

Resolved to note the information provided.

D. Annual Grants 2026-27

Information from Democratic Services in relation to the Annual Grants being provided to Orkney community councils in financial year 2026/2027 had previously been sent round members, and it was:

Resolved to note the information and that the annual grant being provided to Papa Westray Community Council for this financial year was £4,094.03.

6. Consultation Documents

A. Winter Service Plan

Members considered correspondence from Orkney Islands Council regarding the Winter Service Plan, copies of which had previously been circulated, and it was:

Resolved to note there were no comments to be made.

B. Verge Maintenance Plan

Members considered correspondence from Orkney Islands Council regarding the Verge Maintenance Plan 2025–2030, copies of which had previously been circulated, and it was:

Resolved to note the information provided.

7. Financial Statements

A. General Fund

Following consideration of the General Finance statement as at 1 May 2026, it was:

Resolved to note the balance was £20,594.44.

B. Papay Water Scheme

Following consideration of the Papay Water Scheme Finance statement as 1 May 2026, included is an anonymous donation of £50,000 received 26 March 2026. It was:

Resolved:

  1. To note the balance was £79,221,01.
  2. To request via the business letter an analysis of the difference between the 24-25 and 25-26 water bill invoice amount for members.

C. Community Council Grant Scheme 2026-27

Following consideration of the CCGS statement as at 1 May 2026, it was:

Resolved to note that the main capping limit had £3,440.84 remaining, and that £770 and £796 remained available in the island and additional capping limits, respectively.

D. Community Development Fund

Following consideration of the CDF statement as at 1 May 2026, it was:

Resolved to note the balance remaining was £5,000.

8. Financial Requests

A. Rabbits

A request for financial assistance from N Rendall had been received, requesting assistance towards the cost of supplies for the rabbit erradication, and it was:

Resolved to cover the cost, being £349.17, and that CCGS should be applied for on the cost.

B. Oil Pump Hose

A request for financial assistance from the Papay Community Coop had been received, requesting assistance towards the repair of the community oil pump, and it was:

Resolved to cover the cost, being £221.58, and that CCGS should be applied for on the cost.

C. Papay Thursday Club

Following consideration of a request from the Papay Thursday Club, copies of which had previously been circulated, for financial assistance towards the running costs of the club for the 2026-27 year, it was:

Resolved to award £580, and that CCGS should be applied for on the cost.

D. Papay Community Association Fun Weekend

Following consideration of a request from the Papay Community Association for financial assistance towards the Fun Weekend in July and two concerts in August, it was:

Resolved to award £500 towards the event and that CCGS should be applied for on the cost.

E. Papay Community Association Summer Concerts

Members considered a request from the Papay Community Association, copies of which had previously been circulated, for two concerts during August – El Guapo on 4 August and Dan Tuffy on 29 August.

The request for the concert by Dan Tuffy on 29 August, members requested further details on the cost of travel prior to making a decision on this request, and it was:

Resolved:

  1. To award £400 towards the El Guapo Concert, and that CCGS should be applied for on the cost.
  2. That the Clerk would request further details of travel costs from the recipient for Dan Tuffy.
  3. That the Clerk would email members with the above information for an agreement to be made by email, to be recorded at the next meeting.

F. T Dodman

Following consideration of a request from T Dodman, copies of which had previously been circulated, for financial assistance towards a BDLMR training course and travel expenses, it was:

Resolved to award £167.10 and that CCGS should be applied for on the cost.

G. Papay Community Association Parish Cup

Following consideration of a request from Papay Community Association for financial assistance towards the food expenses incurred after the football match against Holm on 10 May, it was:

Resolved to award £250 and that CCGS should be applied for on the cost.

H. Papay Community Association April Concerts

Following consideration of a request from Papay Community Association for financial assistance towards Scottish Folk Concerts on 6 and 12 April 2026, copies of which had previously been circulated and agreed by email, it was:

Resolved to award £446 and that CCGS should be applied for on the cost.

9. Reports from Representatives

A. Transport

The Transport Representative advised that he had been in touch with Orkney Ferries regarding the second Parish Cup game against Holm which was due to take place in the coming weeks, to allow for a timetable for a day trip to be viable, and it was:

Resolved the Transport Representative would continue to liaise with Orkney Ferries and the football teams.

B. Planning

The Planning Representative advised that no new applications had been made, and it was:

Resolved to note the update.

C. Water Scheme

The Clerk advised that water sampling had been carried out on 30 March 2026 with one advisory for Beltane. In future Environmental Health would carry out two samplings per annum and the Clerk would carry out the remainder. Water bills were submitted in April. The Community Council Liaison Assistant advised members of an unpaid water bill from last year and the action to be taken to resolve this. In the next issue of Papay Matters residents will be alerted to the fact that they can get their water bill via email, and it was:

Resolved:

  1. To note the agreement between Environmental Health and the Clerk regarding water sampling.
  2. To request via the business letter, that Democratic Services write a letter to the household with the outstanding invoice and issue on behalf of the PWCC.
  3. That the Clerk would advertise in the next issue of Papay Matters for residents to contact the Clerk if they would prefer to receive their bills by email, and pass these details to Democratic Services.

D. Papay Development Trust (PDT)

The PDT Representative advised the following:

60% of the CDM post funding for 2026/27 had now been confirmed from the Scottish Government Islands Team through Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and a request for match funding had been submitted to the OIC Economic Development Team. This part-time development worker post will help deliver a range of ongoing community projects and support the Place Plan project to identify community priorities and pipeline projects for the next five years.

For the proposed new Papay Place Plan, 50% funding had been secured from The Orkney Fund and an application for the 50% match funding would be considered by OIC’s Community Led Local Development Fund (CLLD) in May. If successful the community engagement work would begin later in 2026 with the help of experienced Orkney based consultants.

PDT's Papay Boat Scheme can again offer up to twelce ad-hoc ferry charters for community benefit during 2026/27 thanks to financial support from OIC’s Community Transport Scheme. Orkney Ferries will provide evening sailings for Youth Group activities in Westray as an add-on to the Charles Anne scheduled service. These are all bookable through the Trust.

Funding applications have been submitted to OIC’s CLLD Fund and Islands Centre for Net Zero to match fund a Heriot Watt University grant to a pilot 10- tower growing farm at the market garden during 2026/27 and decisions on this are expected by end May. This is aimed at improving the longer term sustainability of the Garden and support local food resilience in Papay.

The refurbishment contract work at Fairview was scheduled to start in August 2026 and work was ongoing to secure funds for the refurbishment contracts at Holmview and Daybreak.

The Trust’s Papay Marine Protected Area Project held a successful snorkelling weekend at the start of the month with Krakken Diving.

An agricultural carbon audit has been undertaken as part of the Papay Community Climate Action Plan and this was expected to help support other upcoming projects.

The E-bike hire scheme reopened for applications in May, and work is ongoing on the new Viking exhibition for the Kelp Store with grant support from the OIC CLLD and Culture Fund.

Following the update, it was resolved to note the information provided.

E. Orkney Health and Care

The Health and Care Representatives informed members that she had been on the interview panel for the new Advanced Nurse Practitioner. She also advised that she had put her name forward in response to the Scottish Ambulance Services request seeking Community Council representatives, and it was:

Resolved to note the information provided.

10. Publications

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

  • Liam McArthur, Holyrood Highlights - February, March, April, May
  • This week in Parliament, Alistair Carmichael - February, March, April and May
  • VAO Training and funding updates and newsletter - February, March, April and May.
  • Letters from School Place - February, March, April and May.
  • OIC Planning and Building; nothing new since the last meeting.
  • Orkney Ferries Stats for February

Members enquired if they could receive Loganair monthly stats again, and it was:

Resolved to request, via the business letter, if Democratic Services could enquire with Loganair about receiving the monthly updates.

11. Any Other Business

A. Coffee Morning

The Clerk had been approached by residents to respectfully ask whether PWCC would consider liaising with the organisers of the coffee morning with a view to changing the date or time or venue in order to protect confidentiality during the GP’s weekly visit. Following discussion, it was:

Resolved to advise the resident this should be raised directly with the coffee morning organisers.

B. Public Bins

A member raised concerns regarding the public litter and following discussion, it was:

Resolved to monitor the situation.

C. Kirkyard Road

A member raised concerns regarding the weeds on the Kirkyard road, and it was:

Resolved that the Clerk would contact Mr S Cursiter regarding the removal of the weeds and that and that CCGS should be applied for on the cost, once know.

D. Airfield Property

Members enquired about the progress of the Old Airfield Building being made available for Royal Mail. The Director of Infrastructure and Organisational Development provided an update and advised she was currently liaising with Democratic Services, and it was:

Resolved to keep this item on the agenda.

E. Water Scheme Posters

A member advised that she had received posters from a Herriot Watt University student, who had spent time in Papa Westray researching the history of the water scheme. Following discussion, it was:

Resolved:

  1. That Mrs L Sharp would receive a quote from Mr J Ford, for the cost of framing the posters.
  2. That Mrs L Sharp would forward the quote to members for their approval.
  3. That the Clerk would make enquiries seeking permission to display the framed posters at either the Orkney Ferries waiting room or the airfield building and Beltane.

12. Date of Next Meeting

Following consideration of the date of next meeting of the Papa Westray Community Council would be held on Thursday 27 August 2026 at 19:30 in St Ann’s Kirk and via Teams.

13. Conclusion of Meeting

There being no further business, the Chair declared the meeting closed at 21.55.