26 December 2007, S.E.E.R.A.D Offices in Oban, 12.0
Present
Angus MacFadyen (Chair), Fergus Younger (Agricultural Strategy Manager) Keith Miller (Forestry Commission Scotland), Lorna Ellliot, Leader+, Samuel Kyeremeh (SEPA), Lisa Webb (NFUS), Bert Leith (NFUS),Stuart Campbell (Young Farmers), Bruce Marshall (ABC), Marina Curran-Colthart (Local Biodiversity Partnership),Eileen Wilson, (Community Planning Manager ABC), Robert McIntyre (ABC), Lucy Sumsion (FWAG), Scott Nisbet (Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority), Ewen McPherson (SEERAD), Audrey Martin (ABC), Bob McIlwraith (Ali-energy), Steven Watson (Manager, ALIenergy), Caroline Ronald,
Heather Anderson (Minute Secretary ABC)
Aplogies
Rory Colville (ABC), Michaela Clelland (SEPA), David Kerr (ABC), Andy Robinson (RSPB), Bill Dundas (SEERAD), Robert Miller (Farming), Mary Ackroyd (Argyll Rural Business Ring), Bruce Dixon (Farming) Jacqui MacLeod (Crofters Commission)
Welcome
Angus welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced Eileen Wilson from Community Planning, Argyll and Bute Council, Steven Watson and Bob McIlwraith from Argyll Lomond and the Isles Energy Agency (ALIENERGY) and Stuart Campbell from the Young Farmers.
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING – 14 November 2006
Minutes approved subject to the addition of Alan Minshaw’s name in the list of those attending.
Minutes From Last Meeting
None
Actions From Last Meeting
The meeting discussed the possibility of an annual forum event. It was felt that due to a busy programme of forthcoming events that this should be looked at by a sub-committee with a possible interactive day being held in the Autumn.
The importance of arranging meetings and events in the evening, in order to be more accessible to the farming community was stressed.
Angus informed the meeting that he had stepped down as Chair of the Regional Board of the N.F.U. and that his place had been filled by Bert Leitch.
After discussion the Forum agreed that Angus would remain as Chair of the Agricultural Forum.
Angus proposed that two Vice-Chairs be appointed – Bert Leitch and Lucy Sumsion this was seconded by Robert McIntyre. There were no other proposals and the Forum voted unanimously to appoint Bert Leith and Lucy Sumsion.
Meeting Minutes
ARGYLL AREA AGRICULTURAL STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER UPDATE
Fergus advised the Forum that he had drawn up a Draft Statement of Intent, explaining that funding bodies prefer a host body to act on behalf of the Forum and that this would be S.A.C. The Draft had been based on the Partnership Agreement of the Tiree Development Trust. Fergus will e-mail the Draft to all members of the Forum and invited comments to be made directly to him before the next Forum meeting. Fergus also advised that the Steering/Finance Group would be meeting on 07 February 2007 and the Draft would also be discussed then.
Fergus will e-mail all members a copy of the strategy update but gave a verbal update on his main areas of work
· In conjunction with NFU, FWAG and SAC a Development Workshop Programme has been compiled running from February 2007 till July 2007 at venues throughout Argyll and Bute. This is being funded from £30,000 of European Structural Funding. Members were asked to inspect the dates of the workshops and to let Fergus know of any “clashes” of dates prior to it being e-mailed out to the farming community. Expenses will be available to those participating.
In response to a query from Caroline Ronald the Forum discussed the
question of farmers being paid when hosting a “workshop type event”
· Fergus encouraged Members to access the Rural Calendar and list any events they had planned.
· The website should be live in April 2007 and will include a news page and the Rural Calendar.
· Fergus reported that he has been attending NFU Meetings in North Argyll and Mid-Argyll and will continue to extend this throughout the area,
· Local Food Supply Chain NetworkLocal food producers online directory – this is being supported by Leader +, NFU, Argyll and Bute Council and Lochfyne Oysters. There will be a Local Food Directory index page on the website.
Funding is being sought for a transnational project
There will be an Easter Food Event in Campbeltown on saterday 7th April
A farmers market will be held on 30/03/2007 in Inveraray School as
part of the drive to get local produce into schools.
· As part of the Startegy update areas not being touched had been identified:-
(1) Involvement with Young Farmers Association
(2) A toolkit to aid with those considering diversification
(3) An information pack for food producers – it was felt that Agencies such as SAC could help with this.
(4) Rural Housing
(5) Skills
(6) Auction Marts
Fergus to e-mail out a progress reporting to Members showing actions and summaries.
PRESENTATION BY STEVEN WATSON, ALIENERGY
Steven gave the Forum an overview of the work of the Agency and its relevance to the agricultural industry, explaining that their status as a “not for profit organisation” enabled them to give impartial advice and information on energy efficiency and on renewable and sustainable energy to all areas of the community.
A power point presentation showed some of the projects that ALIenergy had been involved in and are currently developing. Members were interested to hear of the Agency’s work particularly in regard to its education programme in schools throughout Argyll and Bute, and the development of woodfuel.
Angus thanked Steven pointing out to the Forum that ALIienergy will be involved in the Development Workshop Programme of events.
Bert Leith and Bruce Marshall left the meeting.
PRESENTATION BY EILEEN WILSON, COMMUNITY PLANNING, ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL
Eileen advised that community planning consisted of 26 partners and the 4 main areas of focus - Public Sector Regeneration, Democratic Change, Lifestyle and Culture and Cultural and Environmental Improvements formed part of the 5 year plan from 2007 – 2012.
Her task as Community Planning Manager was how best to develop the Community Plan which will be launched in Rothesay in June 2007. In response to a question regarding a consultation process prior to the launch Eileen advised that each partner in the plan was expected to carry out its own consultation process and the results would be reflected in the overall Plan.
Angus asked that Eileen pass on contact details to Heather so that these can be distributed to allow the Forum to communicate with community planning.
Concerns were expressed by the Forum regarding representation on Community Planning for Environmental and Cultural Improvements.
Angus thanked Eileen for attending and welcomed the contact between Community Planning and the Agricultural Forum.
Lisa Webb left the meeting – Members were given copies of the forthcoming Manifesto for elections
RURAL BUSINESS RING UPDATE
This to be discussed at the next Forum meeting
MEMBERS UPDATES
Sam Kyeremeh intimated that Michaela had asked him to hand out an update of River Basin Planning in Argyll and to advise the meeting that as she was unable to attend, she would be e-mailing other relevant updates to Forum members.
Marina Curran-Colthart passed round a flyer regading the launch of the Argyll and Bute Invasivie Species Forum advising that the meeting would take place on 27 February 2007 in the George Hotel, Inveraray from 7.30-9.30pm and invited Members to attend.
Lucy Sumsion had been appointed as Chair of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority but would also continue to attend the Argyll and Bute Access Forum.
Audrey Martin handed out copies of the Sustainable Design Guidance produced by Argyll and Bute Council and launched in December 2006. Audrey will speak on the Guidance at the next Forum meeting.
Robert MacIntyre informed the Forum that, following a talk from Arran Foods, the Isle of Bute Marketing Group had set up a Taste of Bute Steering Group.
Robert drew the Forum’s attention to the imminent meeting on Bute regarding milk prices and the possible impact on the dairy farmers.
Caroline Ronald had attended a conference “Is Scottish Agricultural Delivering ?” The Forum agreed to discuss this at a future meeting when the report had been complied by S.E.E.R.A.D.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
To be advised (Fergus)
The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chair.
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