Edintore Wind Farm

Edintore Wind Farm Ltd

Karen Forrester

0131 624 9848

Karen.forrester@ventoludens.co.uk

12 South Charlotte Street, Edinburgh

N/A

N/A

The primary area of benefit is defined as: “a 5 miles ‘as the crow flies’ radius from the centre of Edintore Wind Farm” which includes Keith and Drummuir. The secondary area of benefit is defined as: “beyond the primary area of benefit boundary” to allow flexibility in grant awards.

Through consultation with local community councils, growing from the community engagement relating to the planning process.

Payment: per MW installed

5000

No

This was communicated throughout discussions about the community benefit opportunity, both verbally and in written communication.

Agreed with local community councils and active community association during the project consultation process.

Yes, this was provided throughout.

Yes

Yes, there is an agreed Constitution for the Edintore Community Benefit Fund, entered into with the constituent members of the Decision Making Panel (Strathisla Community Council, Keith Community Council and Strathbogie Community Council).

This developed from the consultation activities carried out during Pre-Application Consultation period that began in 2009. Discussions were held with the two local community councils (Keith and Strathisla) as well as the locally active development trust (Drummuir and Botriphnie) to agree the approach to community benefit. Following agreement with the individual organisations, a working group was established with representatives from each. A series of meetings were held starting in October 2015 to agree the approach and broad principles of the Fund. Once principles were agreed, the group appointed REAP, a locally-based organisation, to support them in administering the fund. At this point, the detail of the administration of the fund was handed over to the community organisations and it was agreed to bring in a third neighbouring community council (Strathbogie).

Yes

Yes, it arose through discussion that the group would like administrative support in setting up and operating the Fund. Once the principles were agreed, the group interviewed two potential organisations to provide administrative support and subsequently appointed REAP to support them in setting up and administering the fund.

Yes

– Improving the social and community life within the area of benefit
– Improving the environment of the area of benefit
– Providing benefit to the community beyond the 25-year lifespan of the wind farm

Agreed through discussion over the period of several meetings of the working group, and then finalised by the community organisations with support from REAP.

– Applicants can apply at any time, submitting the available form for Small Grants (< £1,000) or Standard Grants (> £1,000)
– All eligible applications will be assessed at the Decision Making Panel meeting, and applicants will be advised of the decision shortly after the meeting. The decision of the Panel is final.

Open grants programmes

1 – 2 times per year depending on the level of awards made.

The developer’s team worked with the working group to agree the structure and governance requirements

Administered by REAP, located in Keith.

Yes

– Edintore Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund Decision Making Panel
– The panel is drawn from the three predominant Community Councils in the area, Strathisla Community Council, Keith Community Council and Strathbogie Community Council, so as to ensure the panel’s commitment to the community and to reflect the sound system of appointment to the Community Councils, by volunteering, co-option and election;
– There will be 7 people on the panel: 3 Strathisla Community Councillors, 3 Keith Community Councillors and 1 Strathbogie Community Councillor;
– After the first year, 3 panel members will stand down and the relevant Community Councils will appoint their replacements. The following year, 2 panel members will stand down and the following year a further 2 will stand down. Those Councillors standing down each year will be decided by majority agreement of the panel or randomly selected (names drawn from a hat). No panel member may stand for more than a 3-year term without a break of at least a year between terms;
– New members of the panel can be co-opted to the panel at any time where there are vacancies and subject to the prior approval (by a two thirds majority of those present and entitled to vote at a meeting) of the panel;
– Members of the panel may retire before the end of their term of office by notifying the administrator of their intention in writing.
– Full details are provided in the Constitution of the Fund.

Constituted non-profit groups

Social Enterprises

Minutes of award making meetings

Minutes of award making meetings

– Successful applicants must provide a report within 6 months of the project or activity being completed, or within a year from the award of grant. Support is available with this if required.
– The report should include:
• A project account which itemises spending, is supported by evidence such as photocopies of receipts or invoices and is signed by 2 group members. (A template report is available if required.) AND
• Information on what the grant money was spent on and what difference the grant made to your group or the project. If possible, please include one or two photos and a quote that can be used in the Fund’s annual report.

– Financial records will be kept up to date by the administrator and the financial position will be reported to the panel (and to Edintore Wind Farm Limited) at each meeting. The administrator will be accountable to the panel for ensuring that the funds are utilised as instructed;
– The administrator will include an account of the distribution of the fund in their annual accounts, which are to be independently examined, and submitted to HMRC (and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator if appropriate) within the required timescales.