Initiative at the Edge – North Isles Ltd

Minutes from the Annual General Meeting held on

17^th January 2007 at 6.45pm in the Cullivoe Hall

Present:

Laura Baisley                             

Michelle Morris                         

Elsbeth Clark

Robert Jamieson                         

Cheryl Jamieson                      

Dan Thompson

Gordon Thomson                        

Minnie Mouatt                           

Laurence O

Jackie Smiles

1.      Apologies

James Rendall                             

Julie Thomson                           

Fiona Stirling

John Coutts                                

John Nicolson                            

Brian Gregson

Lesley Gray                                

Johnina Henderson

2.      Appoint new members

No new members were appointed. All present agreed to remain as members: Dan Thompson, Laurence Odie, Elsbeth Clark.

3.      Directors step down

AGM requires three directors step down and can be re-elected. IatE NI requires a minimum of three directors but no maximum. Bridgette Thomason, Laura Baisley and John Coutts have formally resigned as directors not to be re-elected. Laura will stay on as a member only.                        

4.      Appoint new directors

Dan and Elsbeth both declined the proposals for directors due to other commitments. The remaining directors are:

Minnie Mouatt                    Gordon Thomson                Cheryl Jamieson

Robert Jamieson                 Lesley Gray                       James Rendall

It was suggested that directors encourage folk to be co-opted on as directors or members and those taking part in the Local Entrepreneur exchange trip to Norway would be a good opportunity to start canvassing. Robert also suggested that Fetlar Community Council could put this on the agenda for their next meeting.

5.      Appoint Chairperson   

Minnie was proposed Chairperson by Robert Jamieson and seconded by Gordon Thomson. Gordon was proposed Vice-Chair by Cheryl Jamieson and seconded by Robert Jamieson. Both Minnie and Gordon accepted on the proviso that new directors are eligible for Chair and Vice Chair and Gordon agreed to be interim Vice Chair until someone else appointed as it was felt that the North Isles need to be represented as a whole with folk from different islands for these positions.

6.      Minutes of AGM 2006

The minutes from the AGM held on 19^th January 2006 in the Sellafirth Hall were approved by Laura Baisley and seconded by Gordon Thomson.

7.     AOCB

1   Annual Report - Michelle gave out copies for Year II with the following points noted:

§         Land Use Survey – Fetlar survey complete and Crofters Commission currently using this data. Michelle has emailed copies to all IatE directors.

7.     IatE NI – Annual Report

§         Motivation for Young Entrepreneurs: Norway Exchange Trip – eight folk from Shetland and four from Highlands going to Norway 28^th January to 2^nd February. Minnie stated that this group are currently looking into training required and helping arrange the programme for the exchange trip when the Norwegian delegates arrive in Shetland on 7^th to 11^th March. This will include visiting all NI looking at the current business and social enterprises. Minnie hopes this will encourage new business and keep links with Norway for further exchanges.

§         Youth Employment Programme – Michelle said that this project had now completely changed from the eight week block of training originally planned due to new Health and Safety laws and insurance issues etc. This project will now become an extension of the Work Experience programme done through the school. Laura noted that Children in Need funding could be available as remote communities are included and is not just for poverty issues. Michelle is disappointed that IatE NI are unable to carry on with this project as intended due to national regulations, especially in the are of crofting as children not insured for machinery etc.

§         NI Trail Project – Michelle noted there was a good attendance at the initial meeting and was looking positive. There will be a part time post for a local worker to take this forward. Laura suggested the NI Community Work Office would have list of local contacts and information required. During further talk it was agreed folk need to be made aware of local amenities and public toilets as part of this plan.

2 IatE NI Website

     Michelle currently working on the site through Shetland Community Portal with link from

     original web address. Laura suggested Michelle investigate funding for further training.

3 Sellafirth units : Hot desking

Michelle and Fiona are currently doing a survey on using a Hot Desk system. Fiona is looking into contracts etc and Michelle pricing equipment.

4 Proposed School closures

     Gordon noted that Unst should be reviewed again in 2010 and Yell 2009.

5 Local Media profile

It was suggested that Michelle contact The Shetland Times for an update on what is happening with the Northern Outlook column for news from the NI.

6 SIC Meeting in Fetlar

It was agreed that there was a poor response from SIC officials for the last meeting in Fetlar to discuss local issues needing addressed.

The AGM ended at this point and IatE NI agreed to carry on with outstanding business.

8.   Ordinary Meeting for IatE NI business   

1 Development Day Meeting

A meeting for all NI development groups is planned for mid April 2007 venue to be decided. Julie is acting conduit as link for Fetlar. Michelle to find out if Fetlar Pier Development Group is still active. Laura noted that it is a bad state of affairs that Fetlar has no permanent facility for boats to tie up.

2 Shetland Food and Drink Conference

This will be held in the Clickiminn Centre in Lerwick on 2^nd and 3^rd February 2007.

8.   Ordinary Meeting for IatE NI business   

3 Geoparks

Meeting held last week and next round of applications to be submitted in April. Minnie noted a three year programme is needed to prove Shetland is active in this area and suggested some preliminary work done through NI promotion. Geoparks working group now has a worker.

4   Slaughterhouse Facility in NI – Feasibility Study

Michelle forwarded this report from SEC NI to all directors by email. The report concludes there is not enough throughput for the £1m costs to build and run and would not be realistic for the NI. Laurence Odie suggested a mobile slaughterhouse could be viable for using at various sites in the NI for a set period of time. Minnie noted this will probably come back on the agenda again when the Food Trials come to the fore.

.5   NI Tourism Conference Report

This will be discussed at the next meeting.

.6 Banking Mandate

Jackie will contact the bank for changes needed for signatories for the mandate.

9.    Date of next meeting

§         Wednesday 28^th February at 6.30pm in the Sellafirth Hall.

10. Action points