DRAFT Extraordinary Windfarm Committee Meeting Friday 8th May 2026 Minutes
EXTRAORDINARY WINDFARM COMMITTEE MEETING
Friday 8th May 2026 at St Peters Church 7pm. J Lusby (Chair)
MINUTES
Attendees:- Councillor Lusby (Chair). Councillor P Hall, Councillor B Hall, Councillor Deans, Councillor MacDonald, Councillor Harrison, Councillor Stone & Mrs P Murray (Administrator)
- APOLOGIES – Cllrs Marshall, Saul & Clark
- WAY FORWARD WITH WINDFARM
Cllr MacDonald stated that he feels the public are concerned with the way the councillors are behaving at meetings. He had several ideas to try and remedy this including calling a public meeting and the formation of a sub committee of Councillors who have no affiliation with any beneficiaries of the Gayton Windfarm Fund to be appointed to address the way the Windfarm Committee manage its business. He thought all Councillors should be involved in the consultation questionnaire.
The Chair acknowledged his comments but felt that the Windfarm Committee is doing a good job and that the situation wasn’t new – it has been going like this for several years. He felt the best way forward would be for Cllr MacDonald to compile a consultation questionnaire to go out in the next newsletter asking the residents for their opinions. The newsletter goes to 255 properties and the Chair suggested when delivering the newsletters that the Councillors mention the importance of the enclosed flyer.
- CONSTITUTION – The status of the windfarm as an organisation hasn’t been documented previously – but its felt (after research by the Chair and the Clerk) that the organisation should be termed as an ‘Unincorporated Association'. This is the status that the Chair found most Windfarm Committee ran under and the Clerk circulated the definition of an ‘Unincorporated Association’ an extract of which can be found below:-
Charitable companies and CIOs are incorporated (Charitable Trusts aren't). That's important, because if something goes wrong they have limited liability. For an unincorporated association, when you enter into a contract or agreement, it is with you, not your unincorporated association. If you were to be sued, it would be you, not the community group. The risk of that may be very low, so not an issue. However, you should consider any risks that, whilst extremely unlikely, could have major implications. For example, a lease on premises, employing staff or involvement in risky activities, such as a bungee jumping fundraiser. You should consider taking out charity insurance, or maybe reviewing your personal insurance, so that you have adequate cover, just in case. If your annual income exceeds £5000 a year, you are required to register with the Charity Commission. Grants from English companies are not defined as income to unincorporated associations and are not subject to the £5,000 rule.
The Clerk has contacted Zurich Insurance and paid for extra insurance to cover defamation and liability for the Windfarm Committee members. A vote was taken and 5 members voted for the Windfarm to be an Unincorporated Association and 2 members voted against – those being Cllrs Harrison and MacDonald.
- TERMS OF REFERENCE (now version 4a)
- The Committee unanimously voted on the below limits of grant funding:-
The maximum value awarded to any organisation/group shall not exceed £4,000 per financial year. Certain
applications will be price capped as detailed in Table 1 The maximum total externally granted in one financial
year shall not exceed £16,000. The financial year starts 1st April and ends 31st March.
- Include not to fund weapons
The Committee agreed not to approve any applications for weapons (meaning guns, cross bows etc) nor approve any further application for ancillary weapon equipment with effect from the date of this meeting – ie 8 May 2026.This was voted on and approve 5/2 with Cllr Harrison abstaining.It was agreed to uphold the application that was approved for ancillary equipment at any earlier Windfarm meeting.
Wheelchair application – extreme circumstance
It was agreed to vote upon the grant application for a wheelchair.The lady concerned had a grant approved in an early meeting but the wheelchair ordered wasn’t light enough for her to manage. Therefore, another application for a lighter wheelchair was made, due to the need for this wheelchair immediately and it being more expensive (£900 as opposed to the origanl one at £649) a vote was taken and it was agreed to grant fund the lighter wheelchair and return the heavier wheelchair. This was agreed 7/1.