14 October 2006, SNH Office, Lochgilphead, 12.30
Present
Angus MacFadyen (Chair), Jacqui MacLeod (Crofters Commission), Fergus Younger (Agricultural Strategy Manager), Allan Nicol (SEERAD), Lucy Sumsion (FWAG), David Kerr (ABC), Kevin Williams (ABC), Marina Curran-Colthart (Local Biodiversity Partnership), Rory Colville (ABC)
Robert Miller(Farming), Robert MacIntyre (ABC) Ross Lilley (SNH), Michaela Clellan (SEPA) Andy Robinson (RSPB), Heather Anderson (Minute Secretary ABC)
Aplogies
Keith Miller (Forestry Commission, Scotland), Samuel Kyremah (SEPA), Bruce Dixon, Caroline Ronald, Robin Banks (ABC) Lisa Webb (NFU), Steven Dott(AIE), Bruce Dixon (Farming), Jenny Pollard (ABC) – illness.
Welcome
Angus welcomed everyone to the meeting and all present introduced themselves to Andy Robinson from R.S.P.B. Andy then explained to the meeting his role as Conservation Officer for R.S.P.B. in Argyll and Bute.
A general discussion took place regarding the role of the R.S.P.B. in issues of land management and protected animal definition.
Actions From Last Meeting
Fergus RPAC boundaries and strategy with rural business ring.
Meeting Minutes
4. ARGYLL AREA AGRICULTURAL STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER UPDATE – FERGUS
o In regard to the Scottish Rural Development Plan, Fergus has been working with various groups, Leader, Community Planning etc and the information will be passed on to SEERAD. It is anticipated that Argyll will be seen as a Region along with possibly Arran and Lochaber.
o The Scottish Rural Development Programme would provide for RPAC’s being delivered centrally – SEERAD – Tier III.
The programme through the Community Planning Partnership, Leader
o National priorities funding available but not additional funding. There are match funding issues – NFU
o Supply Chain Network Proposal Paper this has involved 12 local food producers. The proposal to set up a website directory is being investigated along with the possibility of long term European funding.
Fergus anticipates the Paper being completed in 2-3 weeks and it will be circulated for feedback and comments to the Forum members. It is hoped that the website will be up and running early in 2007.
Jacqui and Fergus to look at partnership arrangements with a view to
accessing partnership funding.
Another Food Festival event is to be held on 09 December 2006 in Lochgilphead hopefully on a bigger scale than the summer event.
o Highland Year of Culture
o Food for Life Project – there are 3 pilot projects in Argyll due to end
March 2007
o It is anticipated that the website will contain the rural calendar giving a programme of events taking place throughout Argyll and Bute and interested parties will be encouraged to contribute.
o Workshops
Fergus made the point that Argyll and Bute have a strategy in place Community Planning Partnership, Leader, Forum to SEERAD Fergus will outline on a diagram and summarise to the Forum.
The meeting felt that an approach should be made to the Community Planning Officer regarding “on the ground communication” – AUDREY
6. CORE PATH PLANNING
As Jenny Pollard the Access Manager with Argyll and Bute Council was unable to attend the meeting due to illness, Audrey explained the stage reached with the core path planning – that early in 2007 there would be a series of consultation events taking place throughout the area and that these would be advertised in the local press. These open days would have a questionnaire and responses would then be collated. Jenny to be invited to attend a future meeting to speak to the Forum.
7. SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE COASTAL AND MARINE NATIONAL PARK CONSULTATION
Audrey explained that there was a 12 week consultation period which was due to end 05/01/2007 but that Argyll and Bute Council had written asking for the consultation period to be extended. The meeting considered putting forward a joint response from the Forum but felt that it would be better if each individual organisation put forward their comments. HEATHER to e-mail the website link to the Forum members to allow them to access the consultation document.
8. RURAL BUSINESS RING UPDATE
Catriona informed the meeting that the Manager had resigned recently to set up his own business. The Ring has office accommodation and is currently staffed on a part time basis. Funding is being sought from AIE for a further two years. Angus is meeting Steven Dott of AIE at the end of December and will discuss the Rings role in delivering the strategy.
Robert McIntyre stressed the importance of raising the profile of the business Ring and the future possibility of a joint meeting with the Ring and the Agricultural Forum was discussed.
Jacqui – as previously mentioned JACQUI and FERGUS are going to look at structure options – independent, partnership, constituted
body etc in order to ensure that the Forum can maximise on substantial
funding opportunities, and they will report back to the next meeting in
January.
9. RAISING THE PROFILE/PUBLICITY
The meeting agreed that it would be advantageous if both Catriona and
Fergus acted jointly as press officers.
It was agreed that an annual Agricultural Forum open event should be arranged with specific invitations being sent out. It was also agreed that the Forum meetings should be rotated throughout Argyll and Bute.
The possibility of having to appoint a Vice-Chair was mentioned.
10. MEMBERS UPDATES
ANGUS is meeting on 9 January 2007 with the funding partners for Fergus’s post which is currently funded till September 2007.
Regarding LFAS payments Angus explained that farmers are required to “sign up” in order to claim.
Marina advised the meeting about the 4 forthcoming partnership seminars and passed round a handout. These events will take place in Inverness, Edinburgh, Ayr and in Oban on 26 January 2007. Spaces are limited so please book early.
Marina passed out a handout on the possibility of forming an Invasive Species Forum and invited feedback from Forum Members.
Robert MacIntyre apologised to the Chair that he had to leave the meeting at this point due to other commitments.
10. Members Update
Agricultural Best Practice Project -– a best practice guide will be produced.
A stakeholder is being sought from Forum and Rural business ring. SEPA
will cover expenses for a representative. This to be either LUCY or
ANGUS
David reported that the Animal Transport Regulations are still at the
consultation stage and various derogations were being sought.
There is a shortfall in the funding of proposed abbatoir at Artenvogie, Islay
which has delayed the project.
11. Date of Next Meeting
Friday 26th January 2007 at 2pm in the SEERAD Offices in Oban. It was agreed that the Steering Group would not meet that morning but that a separate steering group meeting would be held at a date to be arranged.
For access to all the documented minutes since May 2007 please click here.
