'Younger, enthusiastic people' key to future of KLB community council, says long-time member
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An injection of "fresh blood" and "new ideas" will steer the new Kinlochbervie Community Council in a forward direction, an experienced council member believes.
Renewed hope for the village council comes following confirmation from Highland Council that enough nominations had been received to revive it on the back of interim elections.
Margaret Meek is one of several members who stepped down earlier in the year, citing "volunteer fatigue" as a reason – prompting the need for change. She now rejoins the council as part of a "fresh" lineup of eight people – but believes that a mix of youth and enthusiasm will ultimately be the key to the new council's success.
Ms Meek said: "Essentially the former community council consisted of people who had been on the council for a long while. Everyone felt that there needed to be an infusion of fresh blood. Younger, enthusiastic people with new ideas."
"We have to see this as a kind of transition period where the council will be a blend of old and new faces, allowing experience to be passed on. A mix of people who could represent a diverse community better."
Named on the Kinlochbervie community council following Thursday's announcement are Christopher Ambler, Daniel Knaack, Christine MacKenzie, Lawrence Macleod, Margaret Meek, Lynn Munro, Gary Sutherland and John Whyte.
The administration was originally established for a four-year term of office in the main Highland-wide community elections in 2019.
But a drop in numbers to less than half their maximum membership – largely due to members standing down – forced the council into abeyance shortly after the turn of the year.
Back in February, Highland Council invited nominations to fill vacant spots on community councils across the region which did not have enough serving members to continue.
With no-one forthcoming, Kinlochbervie Community Council looked doomed to fail.
But a new appeal for members, spurred on by an urgency to access available wind farm funding for the area has led to renewed interest and new members.
Long-time member Gary Sutherland will take a place on the revived community council.
He said: "For the last seven years there has been a project to establish a wind farm at Creag Riabhach beside Altnaharra. This project is now nearing completion and it is expected that community benefit money will begin to become available towards the end of next year.
"Each year, for the next 25 years, Kinlochbervie Community Council will receive £5000 to be used for the benefit of the community.
"In addition to this, £206,000 will be provided to the North and West Sutherland Trust SC046029 for the next 25 years to be used for the community benefit of five community council areas, Kinlochbervie being one of them. I am currently Kinlochbervie's representative on the Board of Trustees.
"Without a functioning community council it will not be possible to distribute any of this community benefit money locally."
The newly appointed council will only be operational for one year before the Highland-wide community council elections are held.
