April 2000
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REVISED MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF LOCHABER LIMITED These minutes have been revised to exclude items of Commercial Confidence. Held: Tuesday 25 April 2000 Kilchoan Community Centre, Kilchoan. PRESENT: Vice Chairman Mr A McFarlane Slack; Directors Mrs K MacGregor, Dr R MacLeod, Mr L Young, Mr D Wright, Mr A Race; Staff Mrs J Wright, Mr S Dingwall, Mrs M Cameron, Mrs A Gainsford. APOLOGIES: Chairman Mr A Rogers, Co Secretary Mr G MacIntyre, Mr A McLean, Miss C Walker, Mr K Larson. i). MINUTES The minutes of the meeting of Tuesday 28 March 2000 were approved subject to one amendment from Mrs MacGregor relating to the rural emphasis, which should be included in the ILA Project. Mrs Wright advised that the amended minutes for April, when signed would be published on our Website and would be available to the public. Matters Arising: Individual Learning Accounts - Mrs Cameron confirmed that targets for rural training are included in the ILA pilot project. ii). CASES FOR APPROVAL There were no cases presented for approval. Mrs Wright confirmed that there are several cases in the pipeline for a variety of sectors, which are presently being investigated. iii). CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Directors: The Chairman has suggested that the Board should be brought up to full complement of 12 and therefore two directors require to be appointed from the list of nominees. Following discussion the Board agreed to invite George Gardiner from Marine Harvest Scotland and Simon Macdonald from MacDonald's Smoked Produce to join the Board of Directors of Lochaber Limited. Mr Wright requested that his previous experience in agriculture be noted on directors interest information. Kinlochleven: Mr McFarlane Slack updated the board on the visit to Kinlochleven of Maureen MacMillan MSP which was positive and supportive. She met community representatives and the "Looking Ahead" group and discussed the future of the village with them. There then followed a discussion on Kinlochleven by Board members which included the mountain garden, access for walkers and climbers and the development of the woodlands around the village, examples cited included the Glasgow Garden Festival and the Ardnamurchan Visitor Centre. Shops and other facilities were also cited as development requirements for the village. Mr McFarlane Slack advised the Board of the public meeting to be held in Kinlochleven on 7 June 2000, which will enable the people of Kinlochleven to discuss progress to date and the future with the agencies involved. He confirmed that Alcan open days were being held on 26/27 April and that a video showing the smelting operation was available. He confirmed that the power plant would remain operational and that the power generated would be transferred to Fort William via the grid. iv). CHIEF EXECUTIVE REPORT Unemployment Statistics Unemployment has again fallen to 4.1% and Lochaber has experienced the largest fall in the Highland area over the last 12 months. Long term unemployed remains an issue, which require to be addressed, but the New Deal client group has fallen by 72% from 11 to 3. Staffing is becoming a problem for many organisations in Lochaber. Mrs Wright confirmed that women returners are becoming an increasingly important resource but support for training and childcare are increasing requirements as a result. Mr Wright confirmed that he has also found that flexibility in employment in terms of hours worked is becoming increasingly important. In addition, he considers that employers need to be advised of the staffing shortage issue and encouraged to look at flexibility where possible. All members agreed that housing is and will continue to be an issue, which affects employment and economic development in all areas of Lochaber. Within this there are specific issues relating to planning restrictions, land availability and the availability of accommodation for single people. The Board agreed that Housing and its effect on Economic Development should be an agenda item for the next meeting of the Lochaber Forum. Assisted Areas Map: The proposed assisted areas map has been amended to exclude Inverness and Nairn and Moray Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise areas. A three-week consultation process is currently running and the outcome is as yet unknown. This has the potential to affect joint projects e.g. the development of the Great Glen and it excludes some very rural areas from higher levels of assistance. Lochaber Limited IIP Review: Our annual review is due to take place on 3 April 2000. Mrs Cameron will advise any directors as soon as possible if they are to be interviewed by the assessor. Lochaber Euro Team: This group has been renamed from the Lochaber Objective 1 group. The members remain basically the same although NOSWA, SEPA and Lochaber College have also been invited to join the group. The first meeting was held on 12 April 2000 and confirmed the membership of the group and started to develop a list of projects which may be taken forward for EU funding in Lochaber. The programme has not as yet been approved by Brussels but an early decision is hoped for. An early bidding round in June may then be announced. All statutory consents and other funding must be in place prior to the application being submitted. v). AOCB Mr Race raised the issue of the late start of the Mallaig/Armadale Calmac ferry, which commenced, on 21 April 2000 i.e. Easter weekend. This has had a significant effect on the area in terms of both visitors who arrived in early March expecting the ferry and local residents who operate businesses in the area. The Board agreed that Calmac should be encouraged to start the Mallaig/Armadale service at the beginning of March and to extend the Kilchoan/Tobermory service over the winter if possible and that the issues raised should be notified to Cllr Charles King in his transport remit. vi). DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING Tuesday 30 may 2000 at 12.30pm in St Mary's House. PART II - STRATEGY TOPICS Mr Scott Dingwall gave short presentations to the Board on the following:-
PART III - COMMUNITY LIAISON Following the completion of the formal Board meeting, Board members met with representatives of the Kilchoan community and a number of issues were raised and discussed which would, where appropriate, be followed up by Lochaber Limited. |