Windfarm developer urges communities to work together
A major windfarm developer has urged Cumnock and Doon Valley communities to work together to deliver change and make a real difference.
Delivering a keynote address to the inaugural 9CCG conference on building community wealth, Iain Cockburn, director of Brockwell Energy said: “I would urge everyone not just to look at the incredible opportunity this wall of money creates to deliver legacy change – but to look at the challenge of delivering this in practice.
“The challenge for communities will not be securing the biggest share, identifying good ideas and prioritising projects. It will be finding bodies and groups that are capable of planning, executing and delivering the projects. Identifying and engaging with bodies and groups that are already set up to deliver projects should be the immediate priority.”
He told more than 100 delegates at the Dumfries Arms in Cumnock that he had been working on coaling, restoration and more recently wind projects within the 9CCG area since 2013 when the coal companies collapsed.
“I am pleased so many other developers have recognised the need for the 9CCG,” he added. “By my estimate, the funding for the area will quickly ramp to over £7m a year – set to rise with inflation for the next 40 years. Truly a unique multi-generational opportunity.
“We need to track all that money – make sure it is collected as promised and report where it has been spent to make sure all communities can see that they are getting a fair share and fair opportunity.
“Some developers have agreed historic deals with specific communities. Some of these date to when there were far fewer projects. It is a recipe for chaos when there are 30 schemes and 20 plus developers unless someone is coordinating and reporting what happens.
“That is a clearly a role that the 9CCG can and needs to perform.”
Numerous windfarm developers and community organisations heard messages from His Royal Highness King Charles and UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks MP, as well as presentations from Strathclyde University Professor Matt Hannon, 9CCG chief operating officer Stephen McCarron and a panel session discussion on strategic priorities for creating a lasting legacy.
The conference was organised by The 9CC Group, the charitable organisation managing and distributing community benefit for all nine communities of Auchinleck; Cumnock; Netherthird; Cronberry, Logan & Lugar; New Cumnock; Dalmellington; Patna; Drongan, Rankinston & Stair; and Ochiltree & Skares. It aimed to explore the strategic priorities for community benefit funds to help make the area a better place to live, work, play and visit.
Mr Cockburn warned that the key issue facing the area was ensuring effective delivery of priorities. He said: “Over the years, here and elsewhere, I have worked with some local stakeholders and what I have seen is that passion and enthusiasm is often completely undone by lack of resource and lack of the necessary project management and financial budgeting skills.
“So the difficulty in delivery should not be underestimated. It is the biggest challenge facing everyone who wants to see this money being used to deliver long term legacy change.
“The money is coming fast – time is critical. No one wants large sums of money sitting around earning a pittance in interest. No one wants to see money wasted.
“All the local stakeholders should and need to be working together to overcome this issue – pooling strengths and skills. You cannot have too much sharing of ideas and cooperation between community groups.
During his keynote address he urged developers to help the communities by providing specialist resources. “There are some 20 developers active in the area – let’s say ten who are very active. I have proposed the idea of the 9CCG approaching developers like Brockwell to make a project manager or finance person available to do some volunteering to help plan and deliver projects. Not doing it but supporting with advice and templates,” he said.
“I urge you all to share plan and ideas and work together to deliver change.
“The 9CCG is there to help coordinate but also foster coordination to identify and develop the organisations that can put this money to work over the next 40 years and make a real difference.”
The chief operating officer of The 9CC Group, Stephen McCarron: said: “I welcome Iain’s strategic guidance, and we stand ready to work with our communities to deliver strategic impact where we all benefit collectively. It is critical with the vast sums of funding coming onstream in the years ahead that we do not repeat the unilateral and divided approach of the past but work collaboratively around a shared vision for all Cumnock and Doon Valley.”
For more information
Please refer to the 9CCG website
Contact Chloe Findlay on
Or
Donald Martin at:
DM Media Consultancy Ltd
Tel: 07711 451330
