Initiative at The Edge – North Isles Ltd

Minutes from the Meeting held on Tuesday 27^th February 2007  

at 6.45pm in the Sellafirth Hall, Yell

Present:                                                                                                          In Attendance:

Minnie Mouatt                                                                                                 John Nicolson

Gordon Thomson                                                                                           Fiona Stirling

Cheryl Jamieson                                                                                             Jackie Smiles

James Rendell                                                                                                 Michelle Morris

1)      Apologies

Lesley Gray                                                                                                       Julie Thomson

2)      Minutes

The minutes from 7^th Dec were c/f to the next meeting for approval.

3)      Development Workers Update

Michelle brought everyone up to date as itemised below.

4)      Matters arising from minutes of last meeting                 

.1 Local Entrepreneur Project  – Norway Exchange: 7^th to 11^th March in NI

During talks on the itinerary for the Norwegian visitors, Fiona suggested the clerk for Fetlar CC could put notices in the shop for workshops being held locally. Michelle will email the FCC clerk with details. Cheryl suggested the social night planned for Unst could also include the German students who are currently doing a study for renewable energy in the NI. Fiona will speak to their host and report to Cheryl for final details. Michelle will email Jackie a copy of the itinerary for the Norwegian visit. Minnie wasn’t able to give a full update on the NI delegate’s visit to Norway earlier this month as time was short for this meeting but will give a report for the next IatE meeting.

.2   Directors: Action Plan

§         Housing – Fiona reported briefly that the North Isles Action Group have approached Hjatland Housing Association regarding the proposed housing for Cullivoe and also the NI issue as a whole. HHA replied they plan to start the project for six houses in Cullivoe by the end of this year and concluded they don’t have enough information on housing needs for the rest of the NI and need more research before this is put forward. It was noted Fetlar want to pursue the housing issue along with community land use and Unst has the former RAF Setters Hill Estate. It was suggested that research for the NI needs could include folk who have moved into the islands in the past five years and find out how they went about finding housing and the difficulties to overcome. Fiona noted funding is available through Communities Scotland for research and IatE could apply to do the research. Gordon enquired about looking at the HHA survey already done for Yell. Fiona will check with HHA and forward to Gordon.

§         Transport – Minnie has received concerns from local folk that Bluemull Sound doesn’t have an emergency call-out system as no vessels on standy. James replied there has never been an obligation for this and no emergency standy has ever been in place. It was agreed that as this isn’t actually within the IatE remit these concerns should be passed onto all the NI Community Councils. Gordon noted for Unst CC and James for Fetlar CC. John Nicolson will speak to Yell CC and SIC directly.

§         Development Plan – Fiona, Michelle and Minnie had a NI Development Group meeting earlier today and it was agreed that the original Development Plan needs updated. Fiona suggested that each IatE Director could focus on their own specific area of the Development Plan and work with the relevant development worker for that same area and discuss each island specifically to update from the community perspective (ie: Gordon/Services and Minnie/Tourism work with Julie directly etc).

§         Office Space: “Hot Desk” at Sellafirth – Michelle and Fiona have been working together on a survey for potential local users to share office space in a unit at Sellafirth with positive feedback. In summary, John Nicolson noted this would be an ideal opportunity for a pilot project to create a president and prove the workability for this system. Fiona reckoned this would good to encourage the SIC to put their Remote Working Policy into action as office space could be rented to local SIC

4) .2 Matters arising from minutes of last meeting                  

§         employees; SIC officials and professional bodies visiting the NI; Shetland College; Learning/Training Courses; IatE meetings -  similar to the way Telecroft was utilised but on a smaller scale. It was agreed it would be well worth trying even if a measured loss is involved at the end of the IatE project. Fiona and Michelle will finalise their facts and figures and John Nicolson will also sound out with SIC. Michelle has been approached for IatE to share the Shetland Mac unit to save rental costs and it was agreed to get more information and both options be brought to the next meeting for Directors to approve.

§         Local Media Profile - Michelle will contact the Shetland Times to enquire about the future of Northern Outlook Column.

§         IatE New Directors – James said he will bring this up again at the next Fetlar CC meeting and it was agreed that Michelle should contact all the NI CC’s to add to their agendas and put word out in their local communities.

§         Geoparks - Steering Group meeting on 19^th March and Minnie report back.

§         NI Tourism Conference Report – Fiona noted the progress made from the conference could be discussed in detail when the IatE Development Plan is updated. The NI Trails Project is getting underway and Michelle noted new local signage needs addressed under this remit. Fiona will find out more about the SAT Interpretive Strategy for more information and signs.

5)      Finance

§         IatE Development Funding – Hughie Donaldson needs feedback on how the £10k funding has been spent to date but this has not all yet been allocated. Michelle put forward £2.5k for the NI Trail Project and will allocate rest with Minnie.

§         SIC 2005/6 ROA Funding (underspend) – Michelle and Jackie met with Michael Duncan earlier today and he agreed a covering letter from IatE with list of project costs are all SIC need to show all this funding has been spent. 

§         Bank signatories - it was agreed by all for Jackie to be added to the bank mandate. All signatories from February 2007 are: Gordon Thomson, Minnie Mouatt, Lesley Gray and Jackie Smiles.

6)      AOCB

1.      IatE Extension Dates

Hughie Donaldson announced earlier this month that IatE NI will be extended for another year. Michelle will forward a summary of the IatE Evaluation Report to directors by email.

7)    Next Meeting  

Next meeting will be held on 3^rd April at 6.30pm in the Sellafirth Hall.