Present

Apologies

Cllr Alan Hill (Chair)

Ian Gillies (Conference Call)

Cllr Len Scoullar

Cllr Gordon Chalmers

Cllr Margie Currie

Nicola Welsh

Dianna Whyte

Linda Aird

Frank Corcoran

Camille Dressler 

Jane Fowler  

Margaret McSporran (Conference Call)

Alan Parker

Sandy Brunton (Conference Call)

Graeme Robertson

Andrew Blackadder

Item

Action

1

Minute

The minute of the previous meeting was approved and the following matters arising were discussed by the Committee 

Matters Arising:

Our Island Communities – Scotland’s Arc of Opportunity

Margaret indicated that this has been superseded by the new Economic Development Strategy for Scotland being written by the Scottish Government which is due to be released at the end of October. 

Conference Organisation 

Nicola confirmed that Nádair Trust will be unable to organise the conference due to staffing constraints and noted that the organisation of the conference extends to more than just the event itself; there is also the follow up conference report and the expenses claims to deal with.  It is for these reasons that Nádair are unable to organise the conference. 

RET – Cllr Scoullar’s meeting with Mr. Mike Russell

Cllr Scoullar informed the Committee that he had raised the issue of RET with Mr. Mike Russell (Minister for Environment) at their recent meeting and said that the Minister recognised and was sympathetic to the transportation costs faced island communities. 

2

ESIN Hydra conference update

Frank and Sandy provided an update to the Committee on the recent ESIN conference in Hydra.

Sandy noted the importance of making sure that SIF are represented at European islands events and conferences in the future. 

He also advised that Bengt Almkvist and Mairéad O’Reilly would attend the SIF conference if their diaries permit. 

Frank updated the Committee on the proposals from the French and the Finnish partners to provide the future Secretariat for ESIN.  He intimated that perhaps, on balance, the French Proposal may be slightly stronger as the French Island Association has been a constituted group for 23 years.  The Secretariat has not been decided and there will be a follow up ESIN meeting to discuss this matter further and or come to a decision regarding the secretariat.    

Frank also indicated that there has been an ESIN project under-spend of over 100,000 Euro.

Frank circulated pictures and related conference material to the Committee. 

Jane F to update the Committee on any future proposals for the ESIN Secretariat.   

3

Islands Work website

Sandy and Frank noted that they made a proposal to the ESIN members at the conference to pilot an ‘Islands Work’ website (as discussed at the last SIF meeting) and this was accepted as a good idea by the ESIN members.  

The idea of an ‘Islands Work’ website will be built into the conference programme for discussion and development.   

Conference Steering Group to ensure the Islands Work website is part of the conference programme. 

4

Funding Issues

Item’s 4 and 5 were discussed together please refer to funding issues noted below at tem 5

5

Conference

-          Venue

Craignure Hall provisionally booked by Sandy during the meeting.  Booking to be confirmed; the dates to be booked are as follows: 14, 15 and 16 Nov 2007. 

Need to find other accommodation for the Mothers and Toddlers group on 16 Nov.   

Alan P noted 64 rooms in the Craignure Hotel have been booked for the event. 

-          Personnel and organisation

Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) to organise the conference on behalf of SIF.  SIF to send a letter to MICT formally outlining SIF’s expectations for the organisation of the conference. 

It was agreed there should be an conference steering group made up of the following people:

Ian Gillies

Alan Parker

Camille Dressler

James Hilder

All Committee members to be CC’ed into email’s – for their information. 

-          Funding issues

The original funding allocation for the conference will not be enough to deliver the conference particularly as there needs to be an end of conference report and processing of claims and expenses. 

Nicola will transfer all money the Nádair Trust holds for the organisation of the conference MICT. 

James Hilder from MICT to approach Communities Scotland and HIE (Rory Dunton) find out if there is funding available for the conference. 

MICT should write to Argyll and Bute Council requesting a payment for the £4,500 allocated to SIF from the Council. 

On the matter of the SIF bank account Jane will sign the papers and post them onto Camille for signing.  

-          Conference sponsorship

Cllr Chalmers will approach local businesses to arrange corporate sponsorship for the Conference.  Will need to ensure there is adequate space in the hall for sponsorship materials to be displayed.  

-          Programme/itinerary

The theme for the conference is ‘ A voice for Islands’ and the conference may cover the following topics:

·        SIF Membership,  

·        Questionnaire Results,

·        SIF Constitution ratified,

·        Development of Islands Work website,

·        SIF Committee Agreed, and;

·        SIF work plan and policy statement agreed. 

A loose timetable was agreed as follows:

·        14 Nov: Set up hall

·        15 Nov: participants to arrive, workshop and or site visit and evening meal

·        16 Nov: workshops, speakers, conclusions/closing remarks - conference close.

There should also be an opportunity for local people to come along to an informal soup and sandwich session to feed into the conference event and exchange views/network with other islanders. 

Delegates will be asked to provide display information about their islands.  

-          Speakers

Mr Richard Lochhead (Cabinet Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment) to be officially confirmed in writing.

There will be a briefing meeting with Mr Lochhead’s office on 25 October.  Cllr Hill, Cllr Scoullar, Jane, Camille and Frank to attend. 

HIE representative to identified and confirmed by Margaret

Mr Bengt Almkvist and Máiread O’Reilly to also be confirmed in writing or email. 

-          Invitations

Assess the feasibility of sending a postcard invitation/email invitation and requesting people to register online.   

-          Publicity

It was agreed that Ian would draft a ‘conference statement’ for the website; outline the dates, theme and to generate publicity. 

Cllr Chalmers agreed to act as a conduit for press releases relating to the conference and it was agreed that Camille send Cllr Chalmers the mailing list for the press. 

It was agreed that Cllr Hill contact Rob Edwards from the Herald. 

It was also agreed that contact be made with the Scotsman and the Arran Voice.   

Sandy to confirm hall booking and arrange accommodation for M&T group on 16 Nov.  

Conference Steering Group

Conference Steering Group

Nicola to transfer the conference money to MICT

James Hilder to approach Communities Scotland and HIE

James Hilder/MICT to write to ABC for payment. 

Jane to send papers to Camille

Cllr Chalmers to liaise local businesses to gain corporate sponsorship for the conference. 

Programme to be confirmed by the Conference Steering Group and approved by SIF via email. 

Cllr Hill, Cllr Scoullar, Jane, Camille and frank to attend

Margaret

Jane to confirm 

Conference Steering Group

Ian Gillies to draft conference statement for website

Cllr Chalmers to liaise with press

Cllr Hill to contact Rob Edwards

6

AOCB

There were no additional items raised. 

7

DONM

Date of next Committee meeting to be confirmed. 

Shona to circulate once agreed.