Thank you to all who attended, supported and gave apologies to our AGM last night.  Attendees heard an update on progress since the last AGM, and Members elected 5 Directors to join the Board of 9 elected Directors for 2025/26.

We bade a fond farewell to Iain Macleod and Dan Walton who have supported the organisation as Board members since 2022 and to Anne Macleod who has retired from the Coigach Community CIC after serving for 13 years!  We also thanked Iain Scott for his long service as Finance Director, but members re-elected him for another term as an ordinary Director. Andrew Macleod, our youngest Board member was elected for the first time, and Julie Edwards was also elected for the second time after a short period away, so welcome Julie!

Alison Urquhart, and Sheila Green were re-elected having come to the end of their 4 year terms and re-standing to continue their service.

Members also approved the accounts and heard that CCDC shall tender for auditors this year, having worked with A9 since the organisation was formed.  The audit is the biggest cost to CCDC next to staff salaries and so Directors are exercising due diligence in going through this process.  Iain Scott emphasised that A9 have provided an excellent service. 

In his Chair’s report, Richard announced his intention to make way for a new Chairperson at the next board meeting, but he will continue for another year as an ordinary Director to support the new Chair.  Richard’s leadership has been exemplary, and he is thanked for his hard work and service to the organisation. 

Following the AGM, the Highland Energy Community Partnership project in Coigach Officially Launched with a presentation from energy officer Laura Traynor who presented some harrowing statistics on how many households are estimated to be in fuel poverty or extreme fuel poverty in Coigach.  Laura is here to help and can be contacted on energy@coigachcommunity.com In addition, CCDC has a monthly energy support grant, no questions asked and the application form is very easy to complete.  Applications are treated in strictest confidence. Laura then surprised us all with her talent as a music quiz master, weaving in climate change facts with musical brain teasers that tested us all – the winning team took home a cash prize and a second team who were allocated a cash prize at random, donated this to Coigach Community Hall. 

The annual report for stakeholders covers the period from the last AGM to the present and is available here to read.

The Business needs survey referred to on the night is available here. If you are running, or plan to run a business in Coigach and need office, workshop or storage space, please fill it out.

The Financial slides, which cover the financial year 2024- 2025 are available to view here.