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SOUTH EAST CAITHNESS INITIATIVE AT THE EDGE
NOTE OF STEERING GROUP MEETING
1ST MARCH 2005
PORTLAND ARMS HOTEL LYBSTER PRESENT:
Iain Gunn (Chair) Niall Smith Andy Mohun, Alex Calder Andrew Gunn
Alison Gunn, Carole Darmady, Hugh Donaldson, Sue Steven Elizabeth
Cameron Neil Buchanan Emma Sanderson, Patricia Niemann Kelvin Worth,
Donald Miller, Cllr Billy Mowat, Magnus Henderson, Eann Sinclair, Ian
Hargrave, Anna MacConnell APOLOGIES
Nan Bethune CONSTITUTION
Members discussed the draft constitution and it was agreed to adopt
the constitution subject to the following amendments:
1) The name of the group will be South East Caithness Development Group
2) Provision for subject/issue related sub committees to be built in to
the constitution
3) Emphasis on support for vulnerable people in the community to be
included
A proposed amendment to allow meetings to take place in private was
discussed, but it was agreed that any issues requiring private
discussion could be remitted to a sub-group to discuss. Although the
constitution will not bind the group to advertise meetings publicly the
group will adopt a policy of openness and will continue advertise
meetings as open to the public. Once the
Development Plan is complete, and depending on its content, the group
will consider whether or not to attempt to gain charitable status,
company status or any other change of status that may better provide for
fundraising and project delivery. It will also be considered whether or
not voluntary bodies already existing in the community may be more
appropriate organisations through which to progress projects.
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Members were happy with the sample job description supplied.
Caithness Voluntary Groups will employ the LDO on behalf of the
Development Group under the terms and conditions adopted for all CVG
employees. The post will be line managed by Niall Smith and the LDO will
be expected to be in regular communication with the chair of the
Development Group. The group will consider possible locations for
offices in the area and Niall Smith will inspect these to assess their
suitability for public access and carry out risk assessments for each
location. The LDO must be resident within the Initiative at the Edge
area for the duration of the contract.
CVG will begin the recruitment process as soon as
the finances relating to the LDO post are clarified. The post will be
advertised as widely as possible within the local area and through the
local press. Members are encouraged to make people aware of the
forthcoming vacancy. A shortlist of applications will be selected and
interviews carried out by Ian Hargrave, Eann Sinclair, Iain Gunn and
Niall Smith. DEVELOPMENT PLAN
A successful youth consultation event had been carried out by
Highland Council’s Community Learning & Leisure staff. 38 young people
had attended workshops in Lybster on Sunday 27th February and identified
their priorities for change in SE Caithness. The main issues coming from
the consultation were lack of suitable places for the young people to
“hang out” and a lack of public transport in the evening. The youths had
also voted on the Steering Group’s “wish list” with similar results. The
issues raised by the youth consultation will be fed into the Development
Plan.
It was agreed that an audit of existing
facilities and condition and use of those needs to be carried out. Also,
that there is a role for the Development Group in co-ordination of
existing facilities, for example, a minibus used during the day
transporting the elderly in the community to Day Care Centres might be
used in the evening to transport young people to youth events.
A statement to “Maintain and enhance existing
facilities” within the Development Plan will encompass issues such as
the proposed downgrading of the Lybster Fire Unit and allow this issue
to be featured in the Plan. Using the
consultation work carried out to date Iain Gunn and Anna MacConnell will
draft up the bones of a Development Plan which will be discussed at the
next meeting. PUBLICITY/DATABASE
At a previous meeting it had been suggested that Di Alexander of the
Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust be asked to send out
information along with his proposed housing needs questionnaire. If a
database of household addresses is created this will be a valuable
resource for the Development Group in the future and if provided to Di
will allow him to send out the questionnaire more quickly. Carole
Durmady will contact the Post Office to determine the cost of a
database. Highland Council staff have agreed to email the electoral
register for the area to Anna.
The group requires funds to carry out a mailshot
and for venue hire costs. The Scottish Executive have provided £10,000
to assist implementation of the Development Plan which cannot be
released until the Plan is in place. CASE may be able to provide a small
amount of funding to cover initial activities, such as a mail out. Eann
Sinclair asked the Chairman to write to CASE requesting this “start-up”
amount of £500. VISIT TO ANOTHER
INITIATIVE AT THE EDGE AREA
There had been a proposal that it might be useful for some members
of the group to visit another IatE area to see projects that have been
developed and how the community groups function. There may be an
opportunity to do this at a later stage.
AOCB
- Rumster Forest– Iain Gunn had been
interviewed by a journalist regarding a potential community buy-out of
Rumster Forest. Cllr Mowat intimated that this idea had been discussed
at a Lybster Community Council meeting and that the impetus for the
idea had been discussion of potential for developing of renewable
energy projects where the major benefit is gained by the landowner.
The group agreed that any moves in this direction should be concerned
with safeguarding existing Forestry Commission Scotland jobs in the
area. It was confirmed that proposals that had come from Lybster are
unlikely to conflict with Wick Heat & Power’s interest in gaining a
long term supply of timber for the Wick District Heating Scheme. A
feasibility study has been carried out into the potential for
redevelopment of the Rumster Outdoor Centre. Jon Priddy, HIE’s
Community energy unit would be invited to the next meeting to talk
about the potential for community-led renewable energy generation
projects.
- Lybster Fire Unit – several Initiative
at the Edge areas have suffered under the recent review of Fire Safety
provision in the Highlands & Islands. Hugh Donaldson will ensure that
the subject is on the agenda at the forthcoming IatE National Steering
group meeting in April. If it can be made a policy issue for IatE then
the matter will be taken up by Allan Wilson, Depute Minister for Rural
Affairs.
- Lybster Playgroup – Carole Darmady
added another item to the “wish list” – a dedicated premises and
outdoor area for Lybster Playgroup.
DONM
The next meeting will be held in Dunbeath Village Hall on 22nd March
at 7.30pm. For more information about IatE visit the website
www.initiative-at-the-edge.org.uk |