RiG

10 hours ago, DoofersDad said:

Planning decisions should ensure all planning regulations are complied with.  It sets a dangerous precedent if projects which do not comply are accepted simply because the project is seen to be important for the local community. 

Some planning applications can be given the go ahead if the perceived "benefits" outweigh negative impacts from a development or deviation from local or national planning policies. An obvious one is the Trump development at Menie where it was recognised that the "benefits" from the project would outweigh the detrimental effects on the environment. More recently the Coul Links golf proposal wasn't given the go ahead as it was felt the socio-economic benefits would not outweigh the environmental impacts from that particular development.

Obviously this battery farm is a different scale, policies etc but it wouldn't be that unusual if it were given the go ahead despite contradicting the IMLDP for example but the applicant would need to provide a robust argument that the departure is acceptable.

I would surmise that this is not the case here and, as @Stephen Malkmus has mentioned, this is what you end up with if you hire some jobbers to prepare your application material instead of getting experts involved.

Of course if HC do refuse the application there is the option of an appeal to the DPEA but that's not guaranteed to overturn the decision and if the DPEA were to uphold the original recommendation of refusal it would leave ILI in an almost impossible situation to move forward other than to submit a completely new application.

1 hour ago, rocky1 said:

I don’t remember seeing any of the owners/ occupiers of Fairways Business Park objecting . If there are noise issues it didn’t affect the planning for the Inverness Kart Raceway which is hardly a quiet operation!

Fairly certain (one of) the owner(s) of Fairways is involved in this project so it would indeed be slightly odd if (s)he objected.

I feel like this call to arms has come far too late in the day as the period to submit representations on this application has long since passed.

Quote

In addition, the applicant’s Site Selection Statement advises that the key rights and agreements for the proposal are held in the name of ICT Battery Storage Limited, which is wholly owned by Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club. As such, all of the land rights, the grid connection agreements, and the planning permission (if granted), which are all held in the name of ICT Battery Storage Limited, are wholly owned by the football club. The statement goes on to advise that profits from the facility will support the Football Club and the community football outreach programmes of The Inverness Caledonian Thistle Community Development Trust, which promotes physical and mental wellbeing in the community. While there is a lack of detail on the extent of this benefit, the proposal could be said to contribute to improving community resilience and increasing spending within communities in compliance with NPF4 Policy 11 and Policy 25 in relation to Community Wealth Building. Should planning permission be granted it would be possible, given Policy 11’s stance of maximising socioeconomic benefit, for the detail of that benefit to be secured by planning condition.

3 hours ago, Robert said:

I understand why many have issues with Gardiner and Morrison, and I respect those views. I have heard many comments about Gardiner in particular but I don’t know either personally.

I also don’t understand how we stand to gain financially from the Battery Farm proposal. The Chairman mentioned an SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) at the meeting on Saturday which the club is clearly involved in along with the main sponsors.

I hope the Planning Application is approved, if not on Wednesday then subsequently either through an appeal process or by amending the plan to overcome the concerns raised by the Council Officials.

The club have clearly been working hard on this behind the scenes to cement its future, and it could yet be the moment we all look back on as being the making of the club. Equally it could also be another nail in our coffin.

Big times off the field but hopefully it doesn’t cause any distractions to the players.

What involvement in the planning application have the club had? Everything has been done in the name of ILI. Have we chucked them some cash to get this off the ground and are now desperate for it to be approved so we (somehow) benefit financially? It's incredibly odd for a party with seemingly no direct involved in a planning application come out and lambast the local authority for their recommendation. This SPV sounds like another "at arms length" company using club finances possibly in a similar manner to the concert company which obviously went well. I'm all for diversification of revenue streams but it seems that we chasing overly ambitious schemes at times and don't employ the necessary expertise to deliver them.

The County end, is always full, the County end is always full, full of....



Actually, maybe not that one!

Big team, big Cup! Wee team, wee Cup!

Amazing that Dougal still gets bites TBH.

Dodds is pretty settled up north now isn't he? Not that much of a surprise that he's picked up a Sportsound gig again especially for the games in Dingwall. 

22 hours ago, BobbyDazzler said:

Do we know who his assistant manager will be? 

An XL Bully (C/O @Stephen Malkmus). 

22 minutes ago, old caley girl said:

Gary Bollan apparently 

Heard it was going to be @RedCard myself.

Three year deal on the face of it is bonkers but I suspect if Ferguson was to commit to us then we needed to commit to him and so that meant giving him a chunky contract to get him up here. 

I hope I am wrong, I really do, but I cannot shake the feeling that we are going to end up in serious relegation trouble this season with this appointment.

7 minutes ago, Jaggernaut said:

Yes, Rangers or Hearts background is my guess. 

31 minutes ago, Donald1973 said:

Yeah that's a piss take account of Mr Insider who spent most of the summer getting every transfer story about ICT spectacularly wrong. 

Been told there is meant to be an appointment later. Rumours seem to suggest we've moved away from the early front runners which is a relief. Of course that could be a load of puff. We really need to get this appointment right though. No time to waste and get our season turned round.

3 hours ago, buckett said:

I would say that, although most would deny it, the majority of ICT fans have either a Celtic or Rangers bias.

This is pretty much a fact of life among Scottish football fans, and there's not a lot we can do about it - we just have to accommodate it.

 

I see Dougal forgot to switch accounts. 

If the rumours about Imrie being interviewed (or wanting to be interviewed) are true anyone else seems a bit of a let down. 

4 hours ago, CaleyCanary said:

There’s an article in the Greenock Telegraph linking Dougie Imrie with the job (sorry I can’t attach the link).

Personally I doubt that’s on the cards as we wouldn’t have the funds to buy out his contract at Morton, really has to be limited to whoever is available.

That article linking Imrie to us is based on nothing more than our fans saying they'd like him as manager

2 hours ago, GaliantGrunt said:

I see Billy Davies has been touted, I’d have him!

At a time when we need stability to bring in someone like Davies would be an awful decision.

I keep forgetting you can do that with Spotify

Snap reaction pod on the Dodds sacking for your listening pleasure.

Finally holding the Duncan Shearer Remembrance Tournament?

1 hour ago, Jaggernaut said:

What about Robbie Neilson, he's won this league twice, might have some good contacts?

He did well at this level but those Hearts sides were heavy favourites to go up on both occasions IIRC. Unsure if he could replicate that with ICT.

11 hours ago, CaleyTennis said:

I can see Callum Davidson being high up on the boards wishlist as he did well at St Johnstone plus he's an experienced manager which is what we need just now.

For me Callum Davidson is a horrendous shout. He had a spectacular first season with that double League / Scottish Cup win but his subsequent seasons were a disaster with win percentages of 23% and 29% before he was emptied. He filled Saint Johnstone with old has beens on long contracts. That said I am led to believe he is looked upon favourably by the board/CEO so he'll probably get appointed. 

11 hours ago, ICTPaisley said:

Ian McCall please

My favourite shout.