STFU

That second email that you think is blowing you off is the best response from any councillor I've seen yet. He takes the time to explain why the decision is being reviewed, that the original decision has not been overturned, and the process that will now take place. He also explains the dangers of following the course of action the club has encouraged. Given the fact you state the other response could be prejudicial, do you really want councillors responding in support of the clubs position and being excluded from the vote?

No mention of it in the email they're asking everyone to send councillors. Their 'manifesto' ahead of the vote, some might say.

It's worth going and watching the video from the last planning meeting as they do talk about the fire risk aspect. It's something along the lines that there is no guidance for fire assessment of battery storage in Scotland, so planning couldn't be refused on that basis, but the SFRS would need to approve it as a condition attached to the consent in the same way they would any other structure.

You're starting to look silly now. Protection of green spaces is needed as part of the Net Zero ambitions. I'm not against energy storage per se, even though lithium mining is extremely harmful to the environment, I just think there are safer, more appropriate places to site it. Take the need for ICTFC to dig itself from the financial mess it is in out the equation, and very few people would give a toss that Highland Council might reject the planning. So you're kidding yourself if you think that Net Zero is the club's primary motivator, or that the case they make for it is in any way robust. They don't even have a climate action plan. The claimed community benefit has also been shown up as a weak argument, and the club are unwilling to show how much of the £3.4 million will be swallowed by debt. So much so that they've used legislative loopholes to prevent the issuing of the accounts for y/e 2023. I'd maybe have a little more respect for the club if they just came out and told us that without the cash, we're fecked, instead of trying to present themselves as some kind Robin Hood meets Greta Thurnberg character who are going to save the people and the planet.

It's all about perspective. Personally, I find the idea of finding something other than football to do on a Friday night more appealing than doing so on a Saturday afternoon.

Did Ferguson not say recently that many of the players on the bench at the moment were not 100% fit and would only be used in an emergency?

Based on minutes played, he's probably as proficient as any of our strikers at the moment.

I guess it's very easy for someone who doesn't live in Inverness, let alone the Highlands, to lazily call Nimby on anyone who may disagree with the siting of this Battery Storage facility?

A fairly proportionate spread across all factions There are 13 from the SNP: Paul Oldham, Nairn and Cawdor Michael Cameron, Inverness Central Tamala Collier, Cromarty Firth Kate MacLean, Inverness Central Drew Millar, Skye Ken Gowans, Inverness South Ian Brown, Inverness Millburn Glynis Campbell-Sinclair, Culloden and Ardersier Marianne Hutchison, North, West and Central Sutherland Chris Birt, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Liz Kraft, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Sarah Fanet, Fort William and Ardnamurchan Emma Knox, Aird and Loch Ness There are five Lib Dems: Alasdair Christie, Inverness Ness-side Richard Gale, East Sutherland and Edderton Angus MacDonald, Fort William and Ardnamurchan Trish Robertson, Culloden and Ardersier John Grafton, Caol and Mallaig Four Independents: Thomas MacLennan, Fort William and Ardnamurchan Sarah Atkin, Black Isle Sean Kennedy, Dingwall and Seaforth Calum Munro, Skye Three Conservatives: Barbara Jarvie, Nairn and Cawdor Liz Saggers, Caol and Mallaig Andrew Sinclair, Inverness South Green councillors Chris Ballance (Aird and Loch Ness), Andrew Baldrey (Caol and Mallaig) and Kate Willis (Fort William and Ardnamurchan) have also signed. As well as two members of the Highland Alliance group: Matthew Reiss (Thurso and Northwest Caithness) and Andrew Jarvie (Wick and East Caithness). --------------------- It would be interesting to know how many of those have the relevant planning training and will be a part of the vote.

The same SNP and Greens whose policies also support the retention and improvement of Green Spaces?

No, the fingers would be webbed in that case.

I'll be digging out the firestick and joining Bezos in the growing global screw ictfc out of millions campaign. Rumours that Musky has had a satellite strategically positioned so he can watch and save himself £20 as well.

At the last planning meeting (you can watch it online) the planners expressed concern at the lack of guidance/legislation in regards to fire and safety aspects of battery storage facilities. They recommended that a condition be placed on the granting of planning consent in relation to this, but I don't recall the details of that. There were also other conditions to be attached to the consent which may have proved problematic. It was far from a straight forward 'thumbs up and carry on' approval, where use of protected green space was the only concern.

It's only a matter of time before they start thinking you're caleyd.

Dare I suggest that turning up for a council committee meeting would look like them doing the job they were elected to do?

The cards are dealt, and we now wait to see how it plays out. I'm not confident the vote will go in favour of the battery storage, and a quick search shows that in 8 appeals to the DPEA in 2022/23 involving Highland Council, only one was upheld. The club's focus seems to be fixed on a couple of very specific lines in the various legislation, with little regard given to context. i.e. they highlight net zero and government support for renewables, but ignore that legislation and support also exists for the protection of green spaces. What will be weighed here is the value of one against the other. Even if the club can prove there was a mistake made in the process, that does not automatically mean that it would be ruled the end decision was wrong.

Speaking to someone who was at the meeting and they said Scot Gardiner was claiming that Firesticks were part of the reason the club are in such a dire financial position. That true?

ICT Community Development ARE the Trust, and not two separate entities. Scroll to the bottom of the trust website - https://www.icttrust.org.uk/ - and click on Articles of Association, for confirmation. Then you can come back again with a new story on how this is all working in your head.

I agree that the expected narrative will very much be one of how it's everyone elses fault, and zero accountability from the club. Wouldn't surprise me if they also try to ramp up the heat with talks of bankruptcy and points deductions, with strong undertones of "if you're not for us, you're against us". Any refusal to answer questions on how we have ended up in this position will only antagonise disgruntled fans even further. Like DoofersDad, I'm not really sure there's anything in the invite to suggest the meeting will provide any meaningful enlightenment, and may do more harm than good.

What's the points penalty for administration these days?

Portuguese guy is called Estamos Falhando.

You've missed the part where I said "the same power". I'm not suggesting for a moment that anyone should be breaking the law...and it's probably not wise for you to be doing so publicly either.

Shame the fans didn't have the same power to remove club directors who's decisions are leaving the club with a very bleak future.

Not my experience, I see plenty of shirt wearing young scrotes kicking about in Caley tops, and can't recall seeing many young Gypos clad in County colours.