ARROCHAR & TARBET COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST MINUTES
TRUST MEETING HELD IN THE MOUNTAIN RESCUE POST
ON
TUESDAY EVENING, 15th September 2009
PRESENT: Duncan MacLachlan (Chairman), Retta Deerin (Secretary), Jim Proctor (Treasurer), Stephen Singer (Community Links), Jim Kelly, Neil Black (NP), Leigh Bainbridge, Ronnie MacDonald. Joan Maclean Davidson, Caroline Logan, Lily McKay, Bill Lowe, George Freeman (Councillor), Liz Baillie (Campus Manager)
APOLOGIES: Gill Dunbar, Neil Maclean, Billy Petrie (Councillor)
CHAIRMAN: The Chairman welcomed all to the meeting and in particular Liz Baillie as she takes up her new role..
MINUTES: The minutes of the previous meeting, held on Tuesday August 2009, were read and approved.
Proposed by: Joan Maclean Davidson
Seconded by: Caroline Logan
MATTERS ARISING: none recorded that was not on the agenda
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
The Chairman indicated that it had been another busy month with the key focus being the Calor Village of the Year presentation this has been an onerous task as the organisation of the 26th September has been left to the Trust. Calor have stipulated a lunchtime presentation in order to fit around the visit by Richard Lockhead MSP, who will be giving the presentation. An organising team have met and produced a draft timetable of events. Liz Bailie and Jim Proctor are attending a conference in Perth on the 25th where they will have the opportunity to meet Mr Lockhead.
Other activities have included the preparation of funding applications, the detailed review of the business case and adhoc executive meetings. There is an outstanding requirement to establish roles of the standing Officers. Action Directors to establish office bearers.
SUB GROUP REPORTS:
1. Calor Village of the Year - Liz introduced the latest arrangement with a new start time of 11am and then listed the events. Posters will be displayed around the villages with the final details.
· A small parade from the Church to the Arrochar Hotel with local groups hopefully led by the World Champion Inverary Pipe Band.
· The presentation will close at 11.30 followed by a finger buffet. It was agreed that the buffet would be open to the public, all be it, on a first come first served basis.
· 2 – 5pm Kids Play Park with bouncy castle, magician et al
· For Teenagers where will be indoor events at the Pit stop
· Fireworks – pending formal approval
· Music events around the village
· Three banners will be displayed form the Friday and sited at strategic positions
Action– names were requested for help in putting up the tents.
Concern was raised about public liability in the Church if the numbers exceed the approved limit. Calor have sent out their own invitation list and Jim agreed to send out Trust invitations by e-mail.
2. Marine Access Report: Jim Proctor reported that SPT representatives had not attended the last MAG so he could not establish the position over funding. The meeting agreed that it was unlikely that SPT would back out if the PRD bid was accepted, but Councillor Freeman stated that if the bid did not go ahead there was little chance that the SPT meeting is on the 2nd October. Action; Jim to raise issue of funding with SPT at next MAG.
3. Campus Focus Group : update as in the Community Links report.
COMMUNITY LINKS:
Stephen stated that SDRP can be a law unto themselves and while we are getting support form Arlene Cullum ( A&B) it is difficult to establish progress. He also confirmed that;
1. SDRP are looking for the planning permission for the Pontoon and Information Centre which we currently do not have.
2. SDRP have indicated that the costs for the Pontoon and Visitor Centre have to be real figures which will require specifications to be provided. Jim commented that this was totally unrealistic.
3. State Aid Issues (EEC) do not appear to be a problem for our bid.
4. Unfortunately the outline EDRF application has failed which means that the Trust is now dependant on the SDRP bid going through.
5. Changes to SDRP funding rules means that in the next round of applications (those going in Feb 2010) may claim for up to 90% of project costs but they have yet to confirm the max limit – currently funding is set at 50% of project costs with a max of £1 million.
The Chairman in response commented that the Trust had already worked on two attempts at seeking funds and this was disappointing given that the community had done its best, trying to accommodate the SDRP requirements and they should at least be more helpful. Stephen suggested that the problem appeared to be more of an attitude issue than a SDRP cash problem
Action. Stephen to e-mail George Freeman, Jim Proctor and Liz Baillie, detailing the Issues with SDRP.
LLTNP: Neil B mentioned that the Park’s Community Grants application process has been issued to communities and Neil is getting together with Jim to complete the grant for the Trust’s admin support. Trust Directors were invited to the annual Area Network meeting, ‘The Gathering’, at Drymen on Saturday 7th November.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Jim presented the September accounts to the Trust giving a full account of the matters behind the numbers (copies distributed at the meeting). George enquired as to how much is left to pay Macleods and Jim confirmed it was £400,000
CORRESPONDANCE:
1. Letter from the National Park regarding the Development Plan Scheme confirming the local plan can be downloaded as part of the open communication process.
2. Invitation from the Nation Park regarding The Gathering
3. Information on the LLTNP Grant funding process
4. Communication received by Mary Haggarty from an American MacFarlane Clan representative regarding the desire to have a presence in the new Hall. The subject will be discussed at their AGM on the 3rd October.
A.O.B: 1. Retta requested for a volunteer to take over the coordination of the Collection tins from Morven. Leigh volunteered and was duly accepted.
2. Caroline reminded the meeting about the Nursery fund raising day on Sat 19th with Pram race, car wash and Toddlerathon.
3. Ronnie mentioned that in line with the new CC structure, Arrochar and Tarbet Community Councillors will be up for re election on the 29th October.
4. Joan mentioned the mini Hydro Scheme initiative for communities that is being circulated by LLTNP.
5. Bill raised concern about the running costs for the Pontoon and Visitor Centre. The Chairman reiterated that the process was still in plan and that there was no guarantee that the Phase 2 building would take place.
6. Leigh reported that the PTA was to produce bags for sale at Christmas in order to raise funds. The cost of production was £800 and the PTA wondered if Calor would assist in funding this separately. This will be raised with the Calor administrator on the 26th.
7. Jim reported that that while there had been a slight delay on the hall building everything was on schedule.
8. Web site - Caroline confirmed that she and Liz had met with Colin Graham to discuss the structure and usage of the site. Liz is compiling a SOR. Caroline suggested forming a Web sub committee and this was agreed.
Action;Caroline to set a date and time and invite interested parties.
9. Duncan requested that the local Trade support team hold a meeting to discuss the ongoing maintenance of the Hall once it is complete, and establish what handover information is required. Action C/F Jimmy to contact Ian McLean and Ian Stevenson.
11. Liz is meeting with Sharon (the new volunteer) on Friday18th.
The meeting closed at 9.31pm
DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 13th October, in the Mountain Rescue Post at 7.30 pm.
