Staff Report June 2010

14/07/10

Assynt Foundation Staff Report June 2010

DM Salary funding:
A grant of 50% of salary costs up to £60k over 3 years has been approved by HIE.
A grant of 7,500 towards salary costs has been approved in year 1 from the Robertson Trust.

Lodge Redevelopment Project:
First 2 weeks' worth of guests have been in. Thanks to everyone who helped get the lodge ready.
First delivery of woodchip has been put in hopper, and woodchip boiler was commissioned Monday evening. At the moment, with solar panels also heating water, the lodge is very warm.
Need to change the burner on the back-up oil boiler from light oil (diesel) to kerosene.
Work is ongoing on the connection between old and new deer larder sections.
New control panel for the borehole pump has been fitted, and pump is now working smoothly again.
Homeaid are coming to take some stuff from the HC lock-up, which needs to be cleared of old furniture etc. [Now fully cleared. AP]

Log Building / Training:
We have 16.8k of 100% revenue funding towards training costs, and also 82.5% capital funding.
2 main sites have been looked at, one to the south of the Glen path beyond the deer larder, and one to the east of the Inver Loop path.
The Assynt Arts Forum have been discussing the log building and its potential facilities, design, uses, location, etc.

Stalking / Deer Management:
New section 7 deer management agreement covering Drumrunie, Polly and Eisg Brachaidh has now been signed by all parties.
New trainee stalker Stuart Morrison started work this week.

SRDP:
Strategic Deer Fence: SoI has amber assessment. We may not be able to progress the proposal until completion of forest plan, which would mean a substantial delay. Awaiting advice from case officer as to whether other plans/documents may suffice.
Forest Plan: Case officer has been sent various drafted docs. Proposal can be submitted at any time and can be approved outwith the usual RPAC process. [Proposal now submitted. AP]
Tubeg Bothy Creation: Submission deadline of 2nd August for October RPAC. Given that voluntary labour isn't eligible, we would only get 50% of actual costs of the project excluding voluntary labour, if successful with SRDP application. If costs are £30k, and if MBA can contribute £5k (on top of all the voluntary labour and joint project management), that would leave us needing to find £10k from elsewhere.

Estate Plan:
A meeting was held where the high and medium priorities were gone over, and some changes made. Of the other actions, some are required actions, legally or otherwise, but it is suggested most of the remaining lower priority actions are postponed.

Hydro-energy:
Another meeting with Melanie MacRae of CES has taken place. Feasibility study tender brief documents are being prepared, and grant applications have been made towards costs of feasibility studies. Tendering process is hoped to take place over the next 2 months. [Tendering now ongoing. AP]

MacLeod Volunteers:
Wednesday/Thursday 22/23 July are potentially available for AF to get voluntary labour from visiting worldwide MacLeod volunteer work party. They have their own transport. Suggestion is that they can help dismantle the polytunnel frame at Raffin ready to bring to Glencanisp.
Some volunteer help overseeing the volunteers would be appreciated. Will need risk assessment also.

Ongoing from before:
Director training still to be arranged.
Lead and support directors of subgroups still need finalising.