What is the difference between Ardgour Community Council and the Ardgour Glensanda Development Trust? 

Similarities 

Both the ACC and AGDT are voluntary organisations and both are working on your behalf to improve the facilities, services and community connections in the Ardgour Community Council area 

Both have the ability to award grants to local people and organisations with ACC typically offering grants of less than £1,000, with AGDT typically able to offer grants of more than £1,000. 

Local residents are welcome to express their views to either body (or both) and subject to certain requirements, and are welcome to join either committee when there are vacancies. 

Differences: 

Ardgour Community Council 

Community Councils are voluntary local bodies run by residents to represent their community's views, acting as a crucial link with the Highland Council and other public bodies on issues like planning, services, and local projects, holding public meetings, and working to improve community well-being through local initiatives and consultation. They serve as the most local tier of representation, advocating for needs, informing decision-makers, and organizing local activities, all within a statutory framework provided by Highland Council. In order to be a community councillor, local residents must be over the age of 16; live within the specified community council boundary and on the electoral register for that area. Elections are held every 4 years, but if there are vacancies, councillors can co-opt willing volunteers onto the community council. 

The Highland Council website guide is here: 

www.highland.gov.uk/info/772/politicians_elections_and_democracy/364/community_councils  

See also :https://www.ardgourcommunitiestogether.net/ardgourcommunitycouncil or 

The Ardgour Community Council (ACC) area runs south to north from Kingairloch, to Inversanda, Ardgour and all the way up the lochside to Garvan. Members of the public can attend their monthly meetings, via Microsoft ‘Teams’ or in person when they have a meeting in the village halls. Its main role is to represent the views of local residents to public agencies. 

The ACC is a voluntary group and therefore does not own any assets and cannot employ workers. It can however award grants to local community groups and individuals (for example a student leaving to study) and will consider applications of less than £1,000. In some cases, applicants might wish to seek funding from both the AGDT and the Ardgour Community Council to reach their required target. 

Ardgour Glensanda Development Trust 

The AGDT is also a voluntary group but as it is incorporated as a registered Scottish Charity it can own assets and employ staff. Trustees of the charity can be elected at each AGM, with trustees able to serve for 6 years before stepping down but can retire at any point. There are many Development Trusts across Scotland working hard to help regenerate their local area, creating jobs, acquiring assets on behalf of the community, raising funds and running projects and social enterprises. 

The voluntary Trustees run the charity but do pay staff to help with this. They typically meet about eight times per year, sometimes ‘in person’ and sometimes online.  

It currently has two main roles.  

1. In 2024, following widespread consultation, the Ardgour Place Plan was created and subsequently adopted by Highland Council as our ‘blueprint’ for future developments and a list of community aspirations. The main role of the AGDT is try to initiate local projects to deliver these aspirations, sometimes supporting local organisations (for example the local village halls), and sometimes running projects itself, often referring to a local working group of volunteers for guidance and assistance. The Trust staff and Trustees work very closely with the Community Council who are also trying to deliver the Place Plan by influencing government bodies. 

1. The AGDT is also responsible for administering the ‘Ardgour Area Fund’ – a pot of money that has been gifted to the community by the Glensanda quarry operators as compensation for losing a mountain between Kingairloch and Lochaline. Despite transport trials by the communities and former operators (Yeomans), no employment was realised for people in Morvern or Ardgour).This means that local constituted groups can apply to the Fund for grants to help them achieve their objectives. The Trustees normally consider grant applications four times per year, and all details are on the Ardgour Communities together website. 

https://www.ardgourcommunitiestogether.net/  

For a local resident to attend an AGM and vote, and elect new Trustees (or stand for election themselves, they need to join the charity by signing a Membership Application Form. Effectively this means local people ae always in control of the charity.