May 2000

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

Held: Tuesday 30th May 2000 Lochaber Limited.

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

PRESENT: Vice Chairman Cllr. A. McFarlane Slack (In the Chair), Co. Secretary Mr G. McIntyre; Directors Mr K. Larson, Mrs K. MacGregor, Miss C. Walker, Mr A. McLean, Mr L. Young, Mr D. Wright, Dr R. MacLeod, Mr S. MacDonald, Mr G. Gardiner; Staff Mrs J. Wright, Mr S. Dingwall, Ms. C. Wright, Mrs A. Boyle.

APOLOGIES: Chairman Mr A. Rogers, Mr A. Race.

The Chairman welcomed Mr George Gardiner, Marine Harvest Scotland and Mr Simon MacDonald, MacDonald Smoked Products, to their first Board meeting.

i). MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting of Tuesday 25th April 2000 were approved. The revised minutes were approved for circulation and for publication on our Website. Matters arising: Housing, and its effect on Economic Development, will be suggested as a theme for a future economic forum.

ii). CASES FOR APPROVAL

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

iii). CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

Correspondence: There was no correspondence to report.

Kinlochleven - Presentation to Scottish Parliament: Mr McFarlane Slack advised that the presentation he had given to the Scottish Parliament had gone well. There were 10 MSP's present, four of them local to the Highlands. Jackie Wright and Howard Brindley had also attended. It is hoped that Jack McConnel, Minister of Finance, will be visiting on 6/7th June.

Kinlochleven Open Day: Mr McFarlane Slack updated the meeting on the Kinlochleven Open Day, which will take place on Wednesday 7th June from 3pm, and said he would welcome Directors who would like to attend.

Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Report - Summary of Final Conclusions Circulated for information.

HIE/LEC Response to Henry McLeish's Report: The HIE/LEC response to this report was circulated to Directors. The results of the report are expected during June.

iv). CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT

Unemployment Statistics: April unemployment figures are 2.9%. This matches the September low of 1999. There are 290 people unemployed at present, and with the tourist season underway this may cause employment difficulties. Morven Cameron is liaising with the Employment Services to review any practical assistance which can be given to employers. Lochaber had the largest annual percentage decline in the number unemployed, for the 7th month in succession throughout the Highlands & Islands LEC area.

Assisted Areas Map: No further update available.

Lochaber Limited IIP Review: Mrs Wright was pleased to advise that Lochaber Limited was re-recognised as an Investor in People organisation.

Lochaber Forum: Highland Council are in the Chair for the Forum Meeting at Lochaber College on Monday 5th June. The main agenda item is "Lochaber and Europe".

Annual Report: Mrs Wright presented a suggested format for the Annual Report Launch to be held after the Board Meeting on 25th July. It was also suggested that the Annual Report could be an agenda item on an IIP Lunch Meeting. The Directors agreed with this approach.

Lochaber Limited Leaflets and Website: The new leaflets were circulated for Information. A3 posters have been produced and these will be displayed throughout Lochaber as a brief introduction to Lochaber Limited and the Heads of Departments. Miss Walker said that the Voluntary Action Lochaber Development Workers could distribute the posters whilst making contact with hall committees etc.

Director of Scottish Tourist Board Mrs Wright advised that she had received a letter from the STB asking for nominations for the Scottish Tourist Board. Any Director with suggestions should contact her.

Lochaber Lamb Project: A letter received from Councillor Michael Foxley had been circulated for information with Mrs Wright's reply.

Rural Scotland: A Scottish executive publication on Rural Scotland is available on request. New Directors George Gardiner and Simon MacDonald were thanked for their attendance at their first board Meeting. Mrs Wright advised that a press release would be issued after a photocall had been arranged.

Presentation: Drew McFarlane Slack welcomed Mr Frank Gaskell, Head of European Affairs to the meeting. Mr Gaskell presented an update on the situation re the Highlands & Islands Special Programme.

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

vi). DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING

Tuesday 25th July 2000, 3.30pm, Lochaber College.