Initiative at The Edge – North Isles Ltd

Minutes from the Meeting held on Thursday 7^th December 2006

at 6.30pm in the Sellafirth Hall, Yell

Present:                                                                                                        In Attendance:

Minnie Mouatt                                                                            John Nicolson

Robert Jamieson                                                                         Fiona Stirling

Lesley Gray                                                                               Jackie Smiles

1.      Apologies

Cheryl Jamieson                           James Rendall                            John Coutts

Laura Baisley                                Gordon Thomson

2.      Minutes

The minutes from 16^th November were approved by Robert Jamieson and seconded by Minnie Mouatt.

3.      Matters arising from minutes of last meeting          

.1 Norway Project – the meeting for the “Youth Entrepreneurship” project was held on 27^th November and Minnie reported good interest from around eight folk to date in mainly the 20+ year age group who hope to explore entrepreneurship and take forward into local communities. It was suggested that ROA funding could be used at a later date for any further training required after the exchange trip takes place. Michelle is trying to get quotes to apply for funding ASAP. The next meeting is set for 12^th December in Sellafirth Hall at 6.30pm. It was suggested that the Youth Employment project could be tied in with this project too.

.2   NI Dental Service update –  the locum dentist is due to finish in NI at Christmas. No further news to date.

.3   Directors: Action Plan – Minnie recapped on who had taken specific interest in each area of the Action Plan and the news to date:

§         Tourism / Business and Employment – Minnie

 Currently working on the local entrepreneurship project.

§         Young Folk– Lesley

Lesley gave an update on the projects she is currently working on:

-          Training Scheme: almost finished preparations for project of eight sessions in local workplace/organisations that have already been approved for work placement by the schools. An honorarium payment of £2.50 per hour for secondary 3 to 6 pupils has been agreed. Lesley hopes to have the first project ready to go before the end of March 2007 with another to follow in the next school term.

-          Babysitting package: teaching basic skills in childcare.

-          Tractor Driving: with local trainer from Yell.

-          Quad Driving : this course has already been completed (this was funded entirely by the Yell Youth Café and not through IatE NI).

-          ‘Momentum’ Driving for 15yr+ : a twelve week course is currently being done through Scalloway Youth Club and school and Lesley hoping to get same course to NI in the near future. During talks on this subject Robert suggested additional training on basic mechanics could be tied in with the Momentum project to encourage young folk into this area of work. Fiona suggested a pilot scheme that could be taken forward for further outside funding. Lesley will look into.

-          Summer Jobs for students – this will be rolled onto next year’s programme. Fiona suggested contacting local business/organisations now to gauge interest in taking part in this scheme.

3.      Matters arising from minutes of last meeting          

§         NI Tourist Trails – Laura

Fiona said there should be a meeting on 19^th December (2pm, Sellafirth Hall) to discuss this further with Shetland Amenity Trust and SIC Planning Dept also showing an interest. SNH are already involved and Minnie suggested a representative from the Geoparks should be invited as they are currently working on Geo-Trails.

§         Services – Gordon

- Sharing Resources: John Nicolson noted his concern that community halls are now under so much pressure to keep up with new legislations that it would be too much for folk to share staffing at different events on a regular scale. Everyone agreed that this was mentioned at the last meeting for helping at events outside your own community on occasional circumstances and not as the norm.

.4 IatE Website & Shetland Community Portal

Jackie written to John Coutts as requested with thanks for help to date and asking John to remove the original IatE website from the internet as Michelle receiving training to update new site through Shetland Community Portal. Contact John again to confirm this has been done.

.5   NI Development Day Meeting

Michelle and Fiona currently putting together Aims and Objectives and organising this meeting for early next year. During talks it was generally agreed that this requires a completely separate meeting as it involves a serious look at how all the different NI development groups work and focus on specific needs within the NI. John Nicolson suggested it is also a good way of looking at what makes one group successful in a particular area that can be shared with other groups with similar aims. Minnie noted other IatE groups have set up as specific Development groups after their IatE project period was completed.

.6 Office Space – Sellafirth Units ‘hot desk’

Michelle is currently doing a brief survey with commuters to gauge the interest for sharing a base in Yell. Fiona suggested a lease could be taken for the length of IatE funding and Shetland Enterprise may be able to assist with grants for equipment and furniture. This could also be a good base for video conferencing.

.7 IatE NI AGM – 17^th January 2007

Cullivoe Hall booked for Wednesday 17^th January 2007 at 6.45pm for AGM. Minnie noted this has to be advertised and suggested it is put in Shetland Times and NI shops ASAP. 

4.                                                Development Worker Update

Michelle is currently at a course in Inverness. Points noted from the latest IatE NI Newsletter:

§         Slaughterhouse Feasibility Study – Fiona still waiting for final figures to complete this report.

§         Fetlar Survey – the feedback from this survey has still to go back to Fetlar residents. There will be a fact-finding visit to Fetlar next week with local Councillors, SIC Convenor, Chief Executive, Shetland Enterprise and Shetland MSP. 

5.      Finance

§         Balance sheet to date given out – Jackie to send to rest of directors with minutes.

§         Training budget – at previous meeting with Minnie and Michelle half the funding from the contingency category was  put into a training budget to cover costs for training in Inverness for next three months.

6.      AOCB

.1   New Pier for Fetlar (Local Transport Strategy)

Jackie confirmed with Minnie that a letter of support from IatE went to Ian Bruce at SIC in October requesting this matter is given consideration/included in the LTS and Ian Bruce did forward this letter for the consultation process.

6.      AOCB

.2   Geoparks

Minnie noted the next meeting for this Steering Group will be held in January 2007.

.3 Making Tourism Your Business – Report

Fiona gave out copies at this meeting and will be discussed at the AGM in January.

.4   North Unst Public Hall – Refurbishment Survey

All agreed to reply with a letter of support as IatE keen to help the success of any new developments in the NI.

7.             Next Meeting –  AGM 17^th January 2007

§         Set meeting dates – it was suggested Jackie put together a list of dates to be considered at the next meeting.