December 2000

REVISED MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF LOCHABER LIMITED

Held: Tuesday 19th December 2000, Lochaber Limited.

The Minutes have been revised to exclude items of Commercial Confidence.

PRESENT: Co. Secretary Mr G. McIntyre; Directors Mr K. Larson, Mrs K. MacGregor, Mr A. McLean, Mr L. Young (In the Chair), Mr D. Wright, Mr S. MacDonald, Mr G. Gardiner; Staff Mrs J. Wright, Mr S. Dingwall, Mrs M. Cameron, Ms. C. Wright, Mrs A. Boyle.

APOLOGIES: Chairman Mr A. Rogers, Vice Chairman, Cllr. A. McFarlane Slack, Mr A. Race, Dr R. MacLeod

i). MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting of Tuesday 31st October 2000 were approved. The revises minutes of the meeting of Tuesday 31st October 2000 were approved.

ii). CASES FOR APPROVAL

Item (iii) has been deleted to protect commercial confidentiality.

iii). CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.

Correspondence: In the absence of the Chairman, Mrs Wright advised that the only notable correspondence to report was a letter from Jim Hunter about the Legal Status of the LECs. This would be covered later in the meeting.

Chairman's Meeting 29th November 2000: The main topics for discussion were the Legal Status of LECs and Local Economic Forums.

Lochaber Forum Meeting 18th December 2000: This was the last meeting of the forum in its present format. Several Scottish Executive reviews were discussed including the MacIntosh review which will have an impact on Council operations. It is likely that two Forums will now be convened; the local Economic Forum and a Community Planning Forum.

HIE Board Visit 13/14th November 2000: Mrs J. Wright advised that the visit had been a success and she was pleased that the continued importance of the regeneration of Kinlochleven had been relayed.

Business Plan Bi-lateral Meeting: Mrs J. Wright advised that she and the Chairman would be meeting with Jim Hunter and Sandy Cumming on 23rd January to discuss our business plan.

Audit Committee Update: Mr McLean updated the meeting on the audit position. An audit had been carried out on the growing business sector and a further audit of Community Projects will be undertaken in the first quarter of the financial year. A risk assessment exercise will be carried out before March 2001.

iv). CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT

Unemployment Statistics: The October figures remained low. November figures had just been received and had risen slightly to 3.9%.

Assisted Areas Map: Confirmation of the assisted areas has not been received yet. It is looking likely to be into the New Year before a decision has been made.

Lochaber Euro Team Projects: Results of first bidding round 19 projects totalling £5.5m from the Lochaber area were approved. HIE also had 11 schemes totalling £38m approved to operate throughout the Network area. It was noted that no larger projects had been submitted by Highland Council or NOSWA for infrastructure projects which was disappointing. Mrs Wright and John Hutchison, Highland Council will be meeting with NOSWA locally to discuss. HIE had also made a bid under Measure 4B for £4m of European funding to run a 3 year programme. This was also approved.

Contract Signing - Skillseekers & Training for Work: Mrs Wright advised that as in previous years she was seeking approval from the Board for Anne Murray, Ruth Higgs and Allan MacLeod, all staff members in HIE, to be designated signatories on behalf of Lochaber Limited to sign contracts for Skillseekers and Training for Work. APPROVED.

New Network Directors: Stuart Black has been appointed Director of Strengthening Communities to replace Lorne MacLeod and Douglas MacDiarmid will take up post as Director of Growing Businesses early in the New Year. The vacant post of Director of Developing Skills will be advertised in the New Year.

v). A.O.C.B. Nothing to report.

vi). DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING

Tuesday 30th January 2001, 12.30pm, Lochaber Limited's office.