Iona Community Council
DRAFT MINUTES
3 June 2026
Present
Dot Stewart, Jane Martin, Rob MacManaway, Shiona Ruhemann (chair), Toben Lewis (minutes), 22 members of the public
Visitors
Sgt Matthew Shaw from Police Scotland
Apologies
Katy Russon
Minutes from previous meeting – proposed by Rob MacManaway & seconded by Finlay MacDonald
AGM Reports
Jane Martin
We host four meetings a year but a lot of work goes on year round and this has been another busy year for Iona Community Council. I had a look back over 12 months of emails to compile this report and it is varied but also dominated by Machair Wind and the breakwater, less so by the Tobermory campus. I gave up counting but I’ve grouped topics so you get an idea of the breadth of what we do.
Promote surveys, requests for information, sharing of information, consultations and assistance with research.
Put up posters, manage the public board and the business board
Interact with Argyll and Bute Council, Scottish Government, other community councils, our MSP and MP, councillors, island organisations and businesses, the Police, the press (learner drivers Times), Transport Scotland, Marine Scotland, CC admin with the council, internal CC admin (are you on our Mailchimp list?).
Also with people – random enquiries, complaints (breakwater noise!), wine enquiry which sadly did not seem to progress, keeping Iona’s profile raised.
Defibs, cabling via SSEN, benches, lost things, bulk uplift, vehicle permits, weather alerts, toilets, and bins
Transport, timetabling, resilience (we decided we are resilient as a community) and success on the island resilience fund, road disruptions, septic tank emptying, letters of support and one letter received when we engaged with the surgery.
Latterly the MacLeod Centre project and it is great to have a positive venture with a dedicated team taking that forward.
It is all about people and we are grateful for those who help and support us and take on specific topics and we’ll hear from some of those tonight across the agenda.
Iona Community Council is drawing near the end of another four year cycle and elections are due on 20 August. If you would like to join ICC then this is your chance. Nominations are live between 5 and 25 June and I have forms here tonight. There is an poster on the notice board and catch up with any of the 6 of us if you would like to talk it over. We are also keen to work with people who might not want to join the council but would be happy to share skills and time.
Rob MacManaway
Annual accounts and independently checked. Main activity was £5000 donation to MICT for the MacLeod Centre feasibility work. Still have around £3500 and invoices for business noticeboard to go out soon.
Acceptance proposed by Finlay MacDonald and seconded by Val MacCormick.
Reports from organisations:
Polic Scotland – Sgt Matthew Shaw
Visiting all islands and liaising with community councils, looking at the policing model: how many officers, where they are, how they engage etc.
Technically Iona has dedicated officers, based on Mull, who come over.
Aims in this work are safer communities, less crime, supported victims, thriving workforce. Surveyed officers and partners and are now also surveying communities. And looking at best practice around the world and across the UK.
The outcome will be collated data spanning 10 years with comparisons to today, indexes such as the deprivation index.
Results so far indicate every island is very different. A series of recommendations will be made and will go up the chain for consideration and financial viability. Potentially suggesting (looking for feedback) that officers come to Iona on a set regular timeline to engage with the community in a sort of Q&A / surgery format.
Any changes being made, if seismic, need to go through consultation in line with the Islands Community Impact Assessments. Suggestion above is not considered seismic.
Asked the room: what does good policing look like for Iona? Please also feel free to contact him outside the meeting with feedback.
Discussion – Dot Stewart: getting a response when we need one. Less concerned about regular engagement, more about response. Dean Snell: road policing on Mull, particularly for tourists who do not understand the road rules. Signage and education in multiple languages. MS: that has been raised by other Community Councils as well. Asked about the music festival, if police presence is required. General room felt not been an issue. MS: noted that Iona has a high amount of welfare calls, religious significance and friendly communities tend to attract this. Jane Kindlen: relayed a historical event regarding a mental health episode that occurred on island, and had trouble getting a response from the police, was repeatedly directed toward the ambulance. Eventually the police and the ambulance were both sent in the end but it took persuading. Only knew to ask for this from previous experience. Shiona Ruhemann shared an additional story of someone else in a similar situation when they were asked by police for proof before they would attend. This delayed assistance and when ‘proof’ was provided the people calling the police were asked to put the person up for the night. MS: there is a pushback on the mainland that police are not the right people to be dealing with someone in crisis, but acknowledged that this is an urban centric idea that does not work in a rural environment. Island and rural police officers need the soft skills to help in these situations. Police should never ask for the proof; that is their job. Phil Ruhemann: response times for incidents are so important, particularly out of hours when the ferry will need called out which adds time. Centralising away from Bunessan would not work. Fionnphort might be even better. MS: agreed, looking at response times, and acknowledged the perils of the local road. 2% of the population live on the islands but the services received are weaker than anywhere else. As such also looking at examples in eg Fiji and Canada to see how islands are served. Cannot promise anything as it’s not up to him, it needs to go up further up the chain and be financially assessed. Dot Stewart: good relationships with the other local services are also really important, especially here. MS: agreed, mentioned lessons have been learned from recent events and are being taken forward.
Iona Housing Partnership – report from Jann Simpson read by Jane Martin
IHP continues to sit, along with ICC and IVHCT, on the MacLeod Centre Steering Group which meets fortnightly – see discussion below.
Other IHP business – in discussion with our members, some concerns have been raised about the use of Community Right to Buy, how "market value" might be assessed and any adverse distortions that might place on our wider housing market. The Board is therefore working in the background on drawing up more robust policy & constitutional documents to consult further with our members and the wider community.
In addition, we are in discussions with Scottish Land Team and other agencies about eligibility for various funding streams/relevance of community right to buy for domestic residential properties as they haven't been used for these purposes before (generally used for public buildings or land/derelict buildings to create new homes, rather than simply acquiring individual homes)
Any questions re IHP, approach Jann, Katy or Will.
Village Hall – jane martin
No report but bookings are good, look out for events such as world cup television.
Morag drew attention to the presence of the Penguin Little Library outside the hall.
Iona Broadband Committee – report from Gordon MacCormick read by Jane Martin
R100 Fibre Network failure during power outages
At the beginning of April, Openreach confirmed that their power engineers had been to Pennyghael exchange and installed the equipment required to connect the R100 network hardware to their essential power backup system within the exchange.
This means that the fibre network, in both Pennyghael and Fionnphort exchanges, now has battery backup power and should no longer fail instantly when a power outage affects Pennyghael exchange.
However, battery backup power, on its own, will only last a few hours at most, and generator backup is required for longer duration outages.
Both exchanges have generators in place and while I expect that the Pennyghael one is now included in its essential power backup system, I know, from previous extended outages, that the Fionnphort generator, either, didn’t start up when it should have, or, the R100 network booster is not connected to it.
In short, the network should now remain on during short duration power outages but we need to continue to monitor its resilience during longer duration ones and, if necessary, raise the generator issue with Openreach again.
Just a reminder though, that although the fibre network will now continue to work during a power outage, your broadband and digital voice landline services will still cease instantly if a power outage affects your own household, unless your ONT and router have battery backup power in place.
Discussion – Val MacCormick: emphasised the importance of back up power generators / batteries. Phil Ruhemann: if you are in certain vulnerable categories you may be eligible for a backup battery or generator from your provider.
Mull and Iona Ferry Committee / Sound of Iona Harbours – Finlay MacDonald
Passenger access system at Craignure is not going to be repaired because the cost of repair and bringing up to code? is the same as a new one. CMAL put it in 2011 as a temporary solution, A+BC are responsible and should have done something in the interim but have not. A potential solution is to make the movable part of the ramp static, though that would not move with tides. Another solution would be a permanent gangway. Neither solution would be a quick fix and would only work for the specific ferry it was built for. But if a gangway was put in for eg the Frisa, that would actually help speed things up with loading and unloading and may allow an extra sailing on Frisa only timetables. At least a few weeks until a decision is even made. In the interim passenger numbers have been restricted, but the number is high enough that it will not have a great deal of negative effect. Passenger loading and unloading has been tightened up and improved.
Vessel replacements. Feedback has been heard and is being costed on keeping the Isle of Mull in service longer. Not a hard no.
Mandatory service hours are being considered for implementation on vessels. Either a set amount of hours per week or per month where the ferry is not running to allow for maintenance. This could mean lost sailings. Has suggested that maintenance is done eg on days when sailings are not possible due to weather and / or a replacement ferry is put on a route when this is happening.
South berth at Craignure. CalMac and Council are working on priority going to CalMac use over cruise ship use.
Ten minute rule for passengers check in. Have been promised that sailings will not leave early for reasons of saving fuel, but for timetabling it may still happen. Timetables are being worked on to make this less common.
The suggestion of two vessel of 60 car / 450 passengers running Oban to Mull will become too small after seven years. Joe Reade (Mull and Iona Ferry Committee) suggesting that a third vessel is shared with Colonsay to fill in the gaps. On these vessels any additional passenger capacity over 450 would be outdoor seating.
Bigger stone is being put on breakwater now, it will continue to get larger. Difference is already being made and is a great improvement.
Fionnphort side is still moving forward, will be almost a harbour for them. Seagrass has been raised again though and there is a potential it could delay by up to three years (one year for divers to hand pick seagrass, a year for it to be planted elsewhere, and a year to monitor its progress with money being owed by the Council if the seagrass does not survive). Speaking with minister. The small vessel replacement program cannot put a vessel here until / unless the breakwater and berthing goes in at Fionnphort. This could delay that entire program.
Discussion – Rick: what’s the downside of a gangway? FM: Accessibility. Gangway would either be impossible or extremely difficult for wheelchair users and pushchairs. Phil Ruhemann: any chance of the Sunday night sailing waiting for the bus? FM: no. Won’t change until breakwaters are in place on both sides. Neil Jardine: asked about faster vessels for the Mull to Oban route. FM: newer vessels are being built to be faster but the Frisa is an issue and will continue to be an issue as long as it’s part of the program.
National Trust for Scotland – Harry Burnie
Infrastructure work
The first section of the path to Columba’s bay has been completed with the Paths Team due to return in September to complete the next section as well as doing some work to the first stage that has become boggy as you first come alongside the loch.
We have a few new gates to put in. The gate down to Grianan, the small gate off the field beyond the causeway and replace the gate by Bishop’s House as well as the gate into the bottom of the Columba field.
Species Monitoring
Corncrake numbers appear to be good this year. We have had some reports of visitors walking into shut off fields and people’s gardens to get a better view or photo of corncrake. Where possible, gently remind people that they are a schedule 1 species and that it is illegal for any person to intentionally or recklessly disturb a schedule 1 species.
We also had an incident with someone flying a drone extremely low over a garden, apparently trying to get footage of corncrake. This would be considered disturbance.
Staffa infrastructure
The main work to the jetty and staircase in Staffa is now complete. There are some minor snagging issues that TSL are due to address shortly but otherwise the new areas are finished. The Paths Team are due to go out in 2027 to review and alter some of the stone pitching on the path to the puffins. We did unfortunately have a section of the old handrail fail but that is being looked at by TSL.
MachairWind
Following consideration of the proposed MachairWind offshore wind farm, NTS is going to formally object to the development. Whilst the National Trust for Scotland supports well-designed renewable energy developments of the right type and scale in appropriate locations, whether on land or in the marine environment, the MachairWind development doesn’t meet those requirements across a range of issues. A formal statement is being drawn up at the moment.
Maol Farm
Our last Highland calf was born this afternoon so lambing and calving is now over. The front fields, Abbey field and Columba field are all shut off until mid August/start of September to allow late long cover and silage. Appreciate people keeping dogs on leads.
Discussion – Rona Muckart Lilley: asked if there is signage about dogs on leads up? HB: those are going up? Mark Jardine: are we to not go through those fields? HB: not a problem to go through the fields, just stick to paths and keep dogs on lead.
Iona Community – Caro Penney
Very busy, which is good, quite full all season.
Will be hosting an islanders tea on 26 July during Community Week, all are welcome.
Last season as Warden. Probably leaving end of October. Recruitment for successor has begun.
Discussions / Updates
MacLeod Centre project (Iona organisations – ICC, IHP, IVHCT – with MICT) – Shiona Ruhemann
As you know, three Iona organisations are working with MICT, which is experienced in affordable housing.
Second community workshop was on Monday and boards are up in Hall for viewing. Design team has responded to feedback after the first workshop in April. Still looking at both a rebuild and a conversion. Conversion option hasn’t really changed since first workshop as there isn’t flexilbity to make changes. The rebuild has had a lot of development with more diversity in sizes and other adaptations.
Potential costs have come down from earlier estimates. There is a project on Eigg with comparable budget that was able to get funding, QS is stressing achievability.
Working towards decision on option.
Still some feasibility funding to be found. If that is in place soon will be on track to go to planning in September. No other funds could be unlocked without planning.
Machair Wind
Working group meeting every fortnight. Interrogating the available information and attempting to fill in knowledge gaps.
Very much welcome NTS having decided on a position.
Also welcome involvement of SWMID Board in scrutinizing information.
We appreciate working with other Community Councils. We’re always really appreciate working with Tiree who not statutory consultees but are very supportive.
Comms group now active with Finlay, Joanne MacInnes, and Margaret Matthew from VMI and Fiona Brunton. Fiona has been an enormous help with the website – https://www.hebrideanhorizon.co.uk/ - and there is also an Instagram account (@hebrideanhorizon). The website will be key in how to respond to the licensing application.
Expecting the application for MachairWind licensing and Section 36 consent – i.e. consent to proceed with the development – to be submitted to Scottish Govt Marine Directorate around mid-June. After approximately two weeks for validation, the documents will be in the public domain and open to response.
There was a very good article in the Herald in May raising very serious questions about strategic need, cumulative development and over-consenting of wind farms in Scotland, particularly given growing concerns about overproduction, grid constraints and constraint payments. Also a very good article in Round and About by Finlay. Articles are on the Hebridean Horizon website.
Discussion – Finlay MacDonald: the size of this development and the actual turbines is being underestimated. Tiree is farther away and half the height as the turbines and we can see Tiree very clearly on a good day. Dean Snell: when the wind is in the right direction we might be able to hear them, asked what the decibel level will be. Unknown.
Noticeboard
About to re-do the business board, invoices will be coming out soon.
Community noticeboard getting full, will need to revert to the A5 size restriction and no commercial use. Posters can be dropped into Dunara porch or there’s a key available in the Post Office.
Discussion – Finlay MacDonald: can the lock be fixed? Very difficult to get in. Neil Jardine: does it need to be locked or can it just be a latch? Jane Martin: damp is also an issue but will look into latch. Jana McLellan: are there any plans to repaint it? It looks very scruffy. JM: ICC will look into that.
Community Council Elections
Community Council elections are coming up in August. Nomination forms available from Jane and online. We can have up to 8, currently only have 6. Closing date is 25 June.
AOB
Parking – Finlay MacDonald
Was asked by someone else to mention parking at the corner at Dunara, and up at the noticeboard. Getting too tight. Please be considerate.
Cars parked poorly on Village Street have stopped bin collection twice in the last month.
Toilets
Jane McLellan asked if the TOILET sign will be replaced? Rona Muckart Lilley pointed out the signage that is there could also be improved, not clear which ones to use.
ICC will ask about this, if not will look into replacing it.