13 November 2008, Council Chambers, Town Hall, Campbeltown, 13..00
Present
Angus McFadyen (Chair),Fergus Younger (Agricultural Strategy Manager); Lucy Sumsion (FWAG), Councillor Rory Colville (ABC), David Kerr (ABC), Alan Minshaw (SAC), Matthew Ralston (Farmer), David McArthur (Vice Chair of Kintyre NFU), Morna Paterson (NFU) Lisa Webb (NFU), Keith Miller (Forestry Commission Scotland), Allan Nichol (SRPID) Ross Lilley (SNH), Mary Turner (Farmer), Heather Anderson (Minute Taker)
Aplogies
Michaela Clelland (SEPA), Julia McPherson (SEPA) , Sam, Kyremah (SEPA) Audrey Martin (ABC), Brian and Janet Hill, Catherine Ralston, Councillor Robert McIntyre (ABC), Robert Miller, Andy Robinson (RSPB), Bill Dundas (SRPID), Marina Curran-Colthart (ABC) Caroline Ronald.
Welcome
Angus welcomed everyone to the meeting particularly those attending for the first time and did a round of table introduction. Sederunt was taken and apologies (see above) recorded.
Minutes From Last Meeting
Unanimously Approved.
Meeting Minutes
Matters Arising
Rory Colville advised that there had been discussion between the various stakeholders involved with Carradale water and it was hoped to make an application to SRPID for funding in approximately April 2009. Chair asked Rory Colville to keep Forum informed at next meeting. Forestry Commission Scotland to be contacted by Agricultural Strategy Manager.
Argyll Area Agricultural Development Manager’s Update – Fergus Younger
Fergus explained that as the last Forum meeting was held very recently he proposed for the benefit of those attending for the first time he would cover some of the same material as the last meeting.
Food from Argyll
Fergus explained that the initiative was seeking to promote a strong Argyll Identity working with 10-15 food producers to attend events.
· Initial funding (from AIE, ABC and Leader) for attending 4 events but had attended 6.
The project has been put forward for the Argyll and Bute Council’s excellence awards.
Bute Biogas Project
· Looking at two sites one near Rothesay and one at Ettrick Bay. Further research being carried out on the availability of other feedstocks
Lamb Supply Chain
· Following on from last Forum a meeting has been held with a group of producers who are have put their lambs away to fatten as part of a research project, the producers plan to apply for funding to Rural Priorities to secure funding for other elements of the project.
Angus McFadyen advised that 250 lambs had been taken from 8 different farms in Argyll to grass south of Edinburgh. This process will find the baseline cost of production which once obtained can be used to show the potential markets the actual costs and help in an attempt to secure a structured price over the year..
Fergus continued to update the meeting mentioning the EU project Euro Montana where the mountain areas of Europe are concerned with producing and promoting quality good mountain produce, and Fergus is keen that Argyll and Bute should engage more fully with this group
Fergus advised that the next meeting of the lamb producers was being held on 21 November 2008 in Oban and he would welcome any suggestions for discussion at the meeting
Working Farm Woodlands
· Paper on this has been passed to Forestry Commission and is looking to inspire and engage with woodland owners to undertake farm woodland activity
RSE
· Fergus reported that following on from their report the Royal Society of Edinburgh had been approached by the Council with a view to a meeting being held to discuss the report further in January Fergus Reported that the Forum were to present a paper that linked the RSE report with current LFASS consultation.
· Fergus advised that SAC had appointed a part time assistant to help with the work of the forum. Ailsa Gilmour will be working on Mondays and Tuesdays and will initially be getting to grips with communication issues for the forum.
· Fergus advised that he had attended a "slow" food event in Terre Madre in Turin – paid for by the Italian government. "Slow" food – producer driven, produced in an environmentally friendly way and he felt there is strong linkage with Argyll and Bute. The subject of "slow" food will form part of the discussion when the G8 summit is held in Italy.
This led to a discussion about the possibility of working in partnership with for example Highland Council and with the possibility of Argyll and Bute taking the lead role in any partnership arrangement.
Review of Transport Regs - David Kerr
David Kerr advised that the Transport Regulations were now being reviewed and that this had come to his attention through the Scottish National Animal Health and Welfare Panel. David outlined his concerns about various regulations and reported that he had been in touch with the hauliers association who are consultees. David explained that he felt that this review was extremely important and was seeking the Forum’s views, He also advised that a stakeholder event is planned but he did not know the date or details of the event. David undertook to ascertain this information for the Forum.
After a lengthy discussion the Forum felt that contact should be made with Ian Strachan, Head of Animal Welfare for the Scottish Government based at Pentland House and that he should be invited to come to Argyll to meet with representatives of the Forum and see "first hand" how these regulations affect Argyll and Bute.
The Forum stressed the need for Argyll and Bute geographical stakeholders to be consulted.
Mention was made of contacting Alan Smith the European Member of Parliament.
Lisa Webb advised that the NFU are looking at this review and Angus McFadyen undertook to speak to Nigel Miller (NFUS)
Chair also asked David Kerr to update the Forum on blue tongue and this led to a discussion on several issues:-
· Vaccines are not immediately available and in quantity.
· Information is not readily available for example on whether this vaccine can be given in conjunction with other vaccines etc.
· The cost of gathering a herd for only one vaccination.
· That the Royal Society of Edinburgh had questioned the science of vaccinations in their recent report.
· Another strain of the disease had been found recently and a vaccine for this strain is not yet available.
A series of video conference events have been organised
It was agreed that a letter should be sent by the Forum to Richard Lochhead, Rural Affairs and Environment Minister for the Scottish Government outlining concerns.
LFASS consultation
Chair reported that he along with Fergus Younger and Rory Colville had been invited to attend a discussion on the LFASS consultation. Fergus showed the meeting a power point slide showing the breakdown of the sheep decline firstly Scotland wide then Argyll wide and the rate of decline. There was also a slide for cattle decline.
Fergus stressed that the response to the consultation needed to be realistic, specific and the need for a strong consensus from the West of Scotland.
Chair also advised Forum that Argyll and Bute Council are consultees and the Council (Audrey Martin) had asked the Forum for their views so that they could be taken into account when responding to the consultation.
The Forum discussed the best method for responding to the consultation, questioning whether the consultation should be on a Scotland wide basis. The Forum discussed a Highland and Island response noting that a report was due on Friday 19th December.
It was agreed that Chair and Fergus would discuss with Audrey Martin of Argyll and Bute Council the Forum’s response and whether the Forum should respond directly to the consultation.
Once collated the response to be circulated round the Forum members.
The Forum expressed the view that there was a need for the budget of £61million to be increased and its method of distribution to be reviewed.
RSE/SAC/NFU/ Environment Link Reports
Lisa Webb handed out copies of the NFU’s Manifesto For The Hills.
Fergus advised that following on from the last Forum he and Lucy Sumsion had gone through the four reports and hand pulled out several actions. Fergus handed round a summary of these to the meeting.
Fergus evidenced the commonality in the different reports . Fergus to take forward the action from the last Forum meeting to write to Richard Lockhart and Scottish Government Ministers asking what their proposals are for implementing the recommendations – letter to outline the current decline and the need for immediate action. Letter to be copied to Jim Mather MSP.
The Forum discussed the need for a Land Use Strategy and it was agreed to suggest to the Minister that this could be carried out on the back of the work already undertaken in Argyll.
SRPD Update
Ross Lilley updated the meeting on the uptake of the various schemes advising that 60% of funding applied for has been approved.
The regional priorities will be looked at as part of an overall review of the Scheme which it is hoped will take place in June 2009.
Access - Kintyre Way
The Forum noted that there had been some concern regarding the possibility of part of the Kintyre way being improved by following the route of the old railway line (which would involve access through various fields and farms in the area), rather than its current route which involves a public road. The Forum was advised that the Committee responsible for the Kintyre Way are not considering this as an option.
AOCB
Rural Leadership Programme 12 days targeting young people involved in rural business, opportunity for Argyll farmers.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Fergus Younger and Angus McFadyen will collaborate on suggested dates and venues for 2009 which will be e-mailed round the Forum and placed on the website.
Since the meeting the following dates have been fixed
Tuesday 10 February 2009 OBAN
Friday 12 June 2009 ROTHESAY
Thursday 20 August 2009 MULL
Thursday 12 November 2009 LOCHGILPHEAD
For access to all the documented minutes since May 2007 please click here.
