July 2000

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

Held: Tuesday 25th July 2000 Lochaber Limited.

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

PRESENT: Chairman Mr A. Rogers, Vice Chairman Cllr. A. McFarlane Slack; Directors Mr K. Larson, Mrs K. MacGregor, Miss C. Walker, Mr A. McLean (Part), Mr L. Young, Mr D. Wright, Dr R. MacLeod, Mr S. MacDonald; Staff Mrs J. Wright, Mr S. Dingwall, Mrs M. Cameron, Mrs A. Boyle, Mr S. Brady, HIE.

APOLOGIES: Co. Secretary Mr G. McIntyre, Mr G. Gardiner, Mr A. Race.

i). MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting of Tuesday 30th May 2000 were approved. The revised minutes of the meeting of Tuesday 30th May 2000 were approved. Matters arising There were no matters arising.

ii). CASES FOR APPROVAL

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

iii). CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

Correspondence: There was no correspondence to report. Resignation of Iain Robertson: Mr Rogers commented on the recent news of Iain Robertson's resignation from the Network to take up a position with Morrison Construction in Edinburgh. He advised that Mr Robertson will be leaving at the end of September.

Chairman's Meeting: Mr Rogers advised that he had been unable to attend the last meeting but discussions had taken place about Henry McLeish's Interim Report. He advised that a group has been set up to establish how the proposals will be implemented. Iain Robertson is a member of the group.

Assisted Areas Map: Mr Brady advised the meeting that the UK Map should be approved this week. Individual consent for Highlands Network schemes would then be required. The shape of the Map is not known at present but it is anticipated that Inverness and Moray Badenoch & Strathspey will be affected.

iv). CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT

Unemployment Statistics: The figure for June reached an all time low of 2.4% being 230 unemployed people.

Lochaber Forum: The date of the next meeting is Monday 4th September. Lochaber Limited are in the Chair. The main theme is housing.

National Trust of Scotland: Mrs Wright updated the meeting on the displacement issue highlighted in the economic impact study. The Directors expressed their concerns on these findings and queried potential Lochaber Limited support. Mrs Wright advised that she would be meeting the Trust to discuss the findings within the next couple of weeks to indicate our concerns.

Annual Report: Mrs Wright advised that the Annual Report Launch would be likely to be mid-August.

Ministerial Visit to Muck: Alasdair Morrison MSP will visit Muck on 27th July to commission the Windpower Scheme which has now been completed.

HoST: Representative Mrs Wright advised that David Cooper's term of office with HoST (representing Lochaber, Skye and Moray, Badenoch & Strathspey Enterprise's) ends in November of this year. She has discussed the situation with Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise (SALE), and Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise (MBSE), and has agreed in principle that MBSE will nominate a Director. Mrs Wright advised the Board that David Govan of Nevis Range is an elected member of HoST.

Presentation: Sandy Brady, Director, Network Strategy Division, HIE, presented the Network Results for 1999/2000 to the Board.

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

vi). DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING

Tuesday 26th September 2000, 11.30am, Caol Community Centre.