Draft minutes of Iona Community Council
2 September 2026
Present
Dot Stewart, Jane Martin, Katy Russon, Rob MacManaway, Sarah Akehurst, Shiona Ruhemann (chair), Toben Lewis (minutes), 19 members of the public
Apologies
Ailidh Lennon
Minutes from previous meeting – proposed by Rob MacManaway & seconded by Sarah Akehurst
Outcome of Community Council Elections
Shiona Ruhemann
All members of ICC re-elected, Sarah Akehurst has also been elected. Shiona Ruhemann is the convenor, Jane Martin is secretary, Katy Russon is treasurer.
Discussions / Updates
MachairWind
The Community Council received an update on the MachairWind offshore wind farm applications and discussed matters arising since its previous meeting.
MacLeod Centre project (Iona organisations – ICC, IHP, IVHCT – with MICT) – Shiona Ruhemann
The project is continuing to move forward. Meeting every fortnight to work through feasibility of the two options, reports, costings. Decision between rebuild or renovate is imminent, design team finalising recommendation.
Funding is immediate focus, there is some shortfall on final steps of feasibility/ design and planning stage including as we’ve thoroughly assessed two options and had several additional surveys and other pieces of work. There are funding applications in place for most of the required amount and others in hand.
Will then move to capital phase.
We’re planning a community event in early autumn for which we need a large turnout to demonstrate the strength of support for the project.
Noticeboard
There is an intention to re-do the business noticeboard, details TBC.
Visitor Levy – Dot Stewart
A+BC had paused their proposal for a Visitor Levy last year, it is live again. A consultation has been running since 13 July and closes on 5 October: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/visitor-levy
Two changes from the previous proposal, based on changes made by Scottish Government:
Flat fee of £5 per night and exceptions for outdoor education centres with a focus on young people for residential trips, and for islanders visiting the mainland for health care visit. No information on what would count as a health care visit and if it would be reimbursed or not charged.
Still no recognition that we need to travel for numerous reasons, not just health care, and we need to bring people (eg trades) here.
Visitor Levy may be counted as income which could impact smaller businesses exceeding the VAT threshold.
DS participated in a webinar on the Visitor Levy. Another is being held next week, open to anyone. Rick Johnston offered to participate and feed back.
Discussion – Rob MacManaway: guidance from last year said it will not count toward VAT-able income according to last year. DS: it’s now unclear on current guidance. Jane Kindlen: new consultation skewed toward supporting the levy, only at the end are you able to put in a generic text box that you don’t support, or there should be exemptions, or that there are nuances. DS: there are three consultations live on the A+BC website open until October. Interesting time of year to launch a consultation for something that would largely affect the tourism industry. Phil Ruhemann: it would make more sense for all Argyll and Bute residents to not be charged anywhere in Argyll and Bute, that would solve the reason for travel issue. Stormbound or rubbish timetables need to be accounted for as well. JK: there is a real concern it will price out families coming to the area, it has been horrendous in Edinburgh. Katy Russon: what is the feedback from it going in in Edinburgh? JK: that it’s not been properly considered or implemented. They put it in and the extra burden is putting smaller places out of business. The procedures for implementing exemptions has been very unclear.
Reports from organisations:
Iona Housing Partnership – Katy Russon
Main activity currently is the MacLeod Centre project and Steering Group.
Planning application from NTS for housing Maol Cottage, closes tomorrow. As posted on Facebook, please submit a planning response tonight in support of the project.
Village Hall – Report from Anja Jardine read by Jane Martin
It has been a busy summer at Iona Village Hall with plenty of community and public use, including the Sound of Iona Music festival, a big wedding, our now annual ceilidhs in July and August.
Rhoda’s Bench: Thank you to everybody who donated to the bench – over £1000 have been raised. We are currently getting a plaque made – the bench is already in use on the slate-paved outside area, beside the little book stop.
We will also buy some planters and plants to sit beside the bench, and will use the money left after purchase of bench and plaque for the upkeep of it all.
Hot Desking and other ways to increase community use: We are hoping to open up the hall this winter more often as a general community space – probably offering up the big meeting room as a place for ‘hot desking’ and the rest of the space for people to hang out and meet. We will advertise this nearer the time.
Save the date:
• Fireworks Night: Friday 6th November
• Christmas Craft Fair: Saturday 28th November
• Gingerbread House competition: Sunday 6th December
Upcoming events:
• 16th September Mendelssohn on Mull
Iona Broadband Committee – report from Gordon MacCormick read by jane martin
No remaining connection issues on Iona and system appears to be performing as it should. Couple of issues on Mull, and will continue to monitor the resilience of the backup system.
Mull and Iona Ferry Committee / Sound of Iona Harbours – Finlay MacDonald
Joe Reade about to finalise the service requirements document to be given to CMAL regarding the building of new boats. Has found that two vessels carrying 60 cars and 450 people will be outgrown within three years. Suggesting 2.5 vessels, with the ‘half’ vessel shared with peak times on other islands. Would hope to have the same size and speed of boats so they are interchangeable.
Naval architect firm has been appointed for the new vessels. Very experienced, not necessarily with ferries.
All happening while Craignure Pier is in ‘development’, very complex.
CalMac management asking for either one day a month, or 6 hours a week for planned maintenance on the small vessels. Needs to be when engine is cold so would be first 6 hours of the work day. Have asked about a replacement vessel during these times but CalMac have stated this as ‘not cost neutral’ and therefore not possible. Argument being made that they are not running to their obligated schedule so it is not cost neutral anyway. Also wanting it to be on set days regardless of weather impact – so if the ferry doesn’t run on a Thursday because of weather but maintenance is planned for Friday, CalMac not currently willing or able to move the maintenance to the Thursday.
Looks like CMAL, CalMac, Transport Scotland will become one unit.
Not much update on the breakwater. Fionnphort no further forward than last meeting. Close to finishing on the stone on this side, on last or nearly last load of stone. A+BC looking into keeping the extra bit at the top of the pier that has been used by the construction company and tarmacking, giving us more parking and turning space.
Discussion – Rick Johnston: when will planned maintenace come into effect? FM: when they say it will, already happening elsewhere in the network. Dot Stewart: when will the winter timetable for Iona be published? FM: will ask. Will also speak to West Coast Motors about the issues with their timetable last year.
National Trust for Scotland – Harry Burnie
Maol Cottage – Planning application has been submitted for the renovation of Maol Cottage as well as the creation of a second, one bedroom cottage in the old byre adjacent to Maol Cottage. Thank you for messages of support on the planning portal. In terms of funding for the project, there is an internal fund which we may be able to use to fund half of the project and I’m working closely with Kate Payton at MICT and the A&B Housing Strategy Team to find the best way to fully fund.
MachairWind – NTS submitted an initial formal objection to the MachairWind development for the 15th of August deadline which is available to view online. We also applied to the Marine Directorate for an extension until the 15th of September. This is to give our Seabird and Policy teams time to fully analyse the detail of the Environmental Impact Assessments submitted by ScottishPower Renewables. A huge amount of work has been going on both at NTS and on Iona.
Ranger team and research – As the season starts to wind down, the ranger team are incredibly busy drawing together all the research and monitoring projects from Staffa, Lunga and the Treshnish Isles and Iona. Fulmar monitoring in Lunga that feeds into an international study of the species decline. We’ve undertaken more Corncrake monitoring in Staffa and the Treshnish Isles as well as Iona as well as a huge range of other seabird data.
Iona, Lunga and Staffa pathwork – The paths team spent a very wet week in August on Lunga addressing the path erosion from this season. Striking the sensitive balance between wilderness and access. In Iona, the path team have just completed another few days working on the path out to Columba’s Bay. We also have a team due out next week to Staffa, to work on the footpath out to the puffin area too.
Bins/ Village turning point – contacted by Ian Elwis about the statement from A&B Council Health and Safety that means that the bin lorry is no longer allowed to reverse down the main street. Had a site visit and preliminary discussion looking at options. Council’s leading solution at the moment is to create a turning point at the end of the street that would allow the bin lorry to travel down the street, turn and come back. This would avoid the need for residents to bring their bins to the end of the street but would require some minor groundworks beyond the Bishop’s House gate. The point was also raised that if the Council plan to do work to that road, then adequate modern drains are required and sent over sites where drainage could meaningfully connect and help with current flooding issues.
Looking for people’s opinions on the Council’s leading solution.
Pier parking spaces – A&B Council have been in contact with NTS to discuss the creation of additional parking spaces at the head of the pier, making use of the new space created for the breakwater work unit. The Estates team are currently working with A&BC to finalise details but are happy for the space to be enhanced as long as railings are installed on the seaward side.
Discussion – Neil Jardine: sought clarification about a potential turning circle past Bishop’s House, noted the gap between Erraid and Lorn is tighter than the rest of the street. Toben Lewis: asked if A+BC would adopt Bishop’s House driveway as part of the road. HB: A+BC would not adopt the driveway for Bishop’s House but might tarmac the village road. NJ: the current operation is working, as a resident at that end of the street, it would be preferable to leave it as is than putting in a turning circle. Katy Russon: Bishop’s House is the only commercial customer at the far end, in the current system they are having to run their bins up the road on days when it’s commercial pick up. Also A+BC had said they were looking at a shorter bin lorry. Mark Jardine: asked if the Erraid parking spot would still be usable. HB: encouraged all views to be given to A+BC.
Iona Community – caro penney
Still in the midst of a busy season. Abbey team was very pleased that the Iona Community had objected to MachairWind. All also in favour of the work progressing at the MacLeod Centre.
The decision has been made to close Camas. Delighted that a group of local people and previous staff are working on feasibility to re-open it.
Recruitment in process for new Warden. Interviews are coming up soon.
SWMID – Message from Ailidh Lennon
Sign up for the mailing list, check social media, or speak to Ailidh for updates.
MICT – Rob MacManaway
Nothing locally to report. Jane will ask MICT directly for updates for future meetings.
AOB
Register to Vote – Jane Martin
Poster up on noticeboard with QR code.
Noticeboard
Finlay MacDonald asked if the lock can be fixed, and pointed out there are a lot of semi-permanent A4 notices up there. Should be A5. Katy Russon will contact those with oversized posters. Maintenance will be considered over the winter.