A’Chruach
Operation since | 29/06/2016 |
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Local Authority Area | Argyll & Bute |
Technology | Onshore Wind |
Installed Capacity | 42.6Mw |
About the Developer
Name of renewable energy project | A’Chruach |
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Community benefit fund | A’Chruach |
Project owner(s) | Ventient Energy |
Contact name | Ventient Energy |
Contact telephone | 0131 243 2390 |
Contact email | operations@ventientenergy.com |
Contact address | Ventient Energy |
About The Community Benefit Package
Please detail any voluntary benefits to the community from the development other than recurring annual fund: | N/A. |
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Please explain the monetary equivalent of the above benefit(s) and how the figure has been calculated: | N/A. |
Who are the beneficiary community / communities (those that make up the fund ‘area of benefit’): | West Loch Fyne, Dunadd, and Lochgilphead. |
How was the boundary of the beneficiary community/communities identified: | West Loch Fyne and Dunadd are two beneficiary communities based on the turbines being located in their community council areas. Lochgilphead is also included as a beneficiary community in recognition of its role as a key service centre to those communities. |
Additional arrangement: | Payment: per MW installed |
Please confirm the value of your community benefit package as an equivalent rate of payment per MW per year: | 3500 |
Is this index-linked? | Yes |
Fund Set-Up Process
What information was provided to make it clear that contributing to community benefit discussions does not affect an individual’s right to express a view on the development: | The Developer reminded representatives of this at community council meetings they attended. |
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What factors did you consider when identifying the most appropriate individuals and groups to involve in the consultation process on the community benefit package: | The Developer approached the Community Councils and were reliant on Community Councils putting forward individuals to contribute to discussions. |
Did you provide a clear point of contact for the community from the outset of the process: | Yes although staff changes within the Developer team meant contact between them and the community was erratic. |
Do you have a written agreement with a local body in relation to the community benefit package, e.g. community council, development trust, or local authority: | Yes |
If yes, please name the body: | Memorandums of Understanding are in place between Foundation Scotland and each community council. A’Chruach Wind Farm Limited has an Agreement in place with Foundation Scotland. |
What communication channels did you use to provide feedback and maintain open dialogue with the community during the set-up phase? Please provide details, for example frequency of meetings, who you met with, newsletters, etc: | A Fund Steering Group was established specifically to enable the communities to work together on a comprehensive action planning process, establish a Community Panel, and develop a Fund Framework. The action planning work was a critical way to build awareness and understanding of the forthcoming Fund opportunity but also to engage communities in a critical conversation about short, medium and longer term plans. In terms of local consultations, the following activities were carried out: |
Did the community request support during the fund set up phase: | Yes |
If yes, were they provided with that support? Please give details of who provided that support: | Foundation Scotland was responsible for the initial set up of the community benefit fund and the recruitment and induction of the representative panel. The Community Action Planning was commissioned through a CARES Start-up grant. |
Have aims or priorities been determined for the Fund: | Yes |
If yes, please state what they are: | The overall purpose of the A’Chruach Community Fund is to support positive change by investing in a wide range of inspirational, community-led activity in the Fund area that is strategic, positive and creative and helps create a legacy of lasting impact. |
If yes, please state how you reached agreement on these with the community: | Based on the findings of an extensive community engagement programme, Community Action Plans were created. These informed the six broad themes for the Community Benefit Fund. The engagement and action planning process was funded by CARES. |
Governance & Administration
Please give details of the process for awarding funds to eligible causes / initiatives: | Funds are available via three levels of awards: To be eligible to apply, applicants are expected to: Whilst there was a defined need in the Consultation to support business and enterprise development this will be restricted initially to business activity developed or managed by community based organisations with a legal structure that ensures that any surplus is invested in community activity. |
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Please outline the distribution method: | Open grants programmes,Mico-grants |
What is the frequency of award making: | Two or three grant-making rounds are operating in each year during the Fund’s first three years. This may be subject to change thereafter. In setting the number of rounds, the Panel will take into consideration the amount of funds available each year, likely interest in the Fund and capacity of the Panel to undertake the work required to consider applications. The Panel meet approximately 8 weeks after a deadline to make decisions on awards. |
How did you ensure there was an appropriate governance and administration process in place to handle the funds? Please give details of any support you provided to ensure these were in place: | A’Cruach Wind Farm Limited contract Foundation Scotland to hold the funds under their charitable governance and supports the communities in deciding on distribution arrangements and award making. The Foundation is an independent charity with expertise in working with communities to make awards and manage community funds. The Foundation manages community benefit funds from renewable energy projects. The application process, grant administration, Fund reporting and review are all supported by Foundation Scotland with award decisions recommended by local Panel. |
Who administers the fund? (Who holds the fund and makes payments to local causes?): | Foundation Scotland administers the Fund but administration for the micro-grants is devolved to each Community Council. |
Is this a third party: | Yes |
Who makes decisions on which causes receive funds? If this is a local group (e.g. Community Panel, Committee or Board) please give the name of the group, details of its make-up and how people can come on/off the group: | The A’Churach Community Panel. The Panel is comprised of nine volunteer representatives, three from each area (a serving Community Councillor and two other residents from that area). Members serve for a period of 2-4 years before being replaced. The Panel is bound by a Terms of Reference that is kept under Review by Foundation Scotland, the Community Councils and the Panel. |
Who is eligible to receive funds: | Constituted non-profit groups,Un-constituted non-profit groups,Individuals |
If Other, please specify: | |
Please state which of the following are made public: | Minutes of award making meetings,Annual reports,Details of awards made,Financial statements,Details of project achievements |
If these are available online, please provide a link to the relevant website: | Minutes of award making meetings,Annual reports,Details of awards made,Financial statements,Details of project achievements |
Monitoring & Review
What processes is in place to ensure the impact of individual awards and the fund as a whole are measured: | All awardees submit a completion report that provides information on their project’s outcomes and achievements. Multi-year projects provide annual reports as a minimum. The information from these reports is presented to the Panel at their meetings and features in Fund annual reports (see below). |
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Do you receive an annual report on fund spend or, if you are the fund administrator, do you produce one: | Yes, an annual report is produced and made available on the Fund website and sent to the project owner and each Community Council. The report covers fund spend, impact achieved, promotional activities and fund balance. |
How do you encourage a regular review of the fund spend, priorities, administration and governance processes: |