Note of meeting held on Thursday 23rd May 2002, WIE Boardroom

Present: 

R Murray, B Howat – Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (CnES)
D Macaulay – Western Isles Enterprise (WIE)
D Green – Lews Castle College (LCC)
A MacMillan – Western Isles Tourist Board (WITB)
B Adam – Chamber of Commerce (CoC)
C Engebretsen – Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
O P Krabberod – Western Isles Aquaculture Forum (AF)
  
Also present: D McKim – CnES, M Maciver – WIE

1. Welcome & Apologies

Apologies noted from Murdo MacLennan and Calum MacIver. In the absence of Murdo MacLennan, Roddy Murray acted as Chair for this meeting.

2. Note of last meeting, held 11th April 2002

Note of meeting agreed.

3. Matters Arising

9. Action Plan now being addressed. The FSB and CoC expressed support and offered assistance to progress.

8. WITB to liase with CoC regarding details of visiting cruise ships. WITB to arrange a meeting with appropriate agencies.

Presence of 2 cruise ships in Stornoway on Monday 27th, the day of the Queen’s jubilee visit noted.

4. Budget Pooling

Members referred to circulated paper, per Scottish Executive. This paper will be considered at the full Partnership / Community Planning Forum and comments then fed back to the LEF as appropriate.

Members sought that figures (expenditure and FTEs) and table in para. 6 and 7 include a breakdown of respective Western Isles figures for consideration locally.

5. Action Plan

Action 6 – Single Point of Contact
Members referred to circulated paper, Single Points of Entry (SPoE). It was confirmed that the SPoE would focus largely on business development enquiries in this pilot stage but will inform on advice and infrastructure, not just funding.

Regarding timescales for implementation is was agreed that Donnie Macaulay and Derek McKim consider the paper and feedback on implementation. Members acknowledged the need to consider Western Isles wide service in the longer term - initially only operating from Stornoway.

Members discussed the importance of having the SPoE resourced with well trained and briefed staff, and appropriate support and contingency staffing.
       
Following discussions on current frequency of agencies meetings and established officer contact, members agreed to amend Action 2 (SPoE) to:

“Document and agree a process whereby both organisations will discuss new applications and agree a total response to the applicant.”

Other Actions

See update, item 6.

6. Update on Action plan – 17th May

Donnie Macaulay advised that the plan had been forwarded to Scottish Executive

Actions 4,5, & 6 - are being addressed through the SPoE.
Action 8 – per Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programmes will be taken forward to Development Strategy Group in June.
Action 11 – per Lews Castle College (LCC), discussions ongoing with LCC and WIE officers.
Action 12 – Bob Adam (CoC) and Calum Iain Maciver (WIE) to meet and progress.
Action 13 – per SPoE
Members were reminded that the Action Plan document would be continually updated, and that action points should be noted and addressed by individuals.

Regulatory Bodies Subgroup – Ole Petter Krabberod noted the complex issues and need to seek private sector input. Following further meetings with business people (with co-operation of FSB and CoC), the subgroup will meet and report back to full LEF group.

Members discussed the implication of transport costs and quality of transport service provision, on development and sought a briefing on Road Equivalent Tariffs (RETs). CnES’s Technical Services dept. to prepare and present a paper on RET and fare structures, to future LEF meeting. 

Also membership based organisations (i.e. CoC, FSB, WITB) to feed views of their members, on transport issues, into subgroup, per Ole Petter Krabberod.

7. Energy Issues

Members noted the positive announcement regarding Wavegen, the ongoing environmental impact study being undertaken for AMEC and British Energy, and the Arnish feasibility study due in June. Ongoing promotional activities were noted include the CnES Convenor’s speech in Edinburgh, and the Western Isles stand at the All Energy Conference being held in Aberdeen on the 28th and 29th May.

CnES requested that WIE and the Stornoway Trust make a presentation to the LEF in August or September following the completion of the Arnish feasibility study by Halcrow.

8. Press Issues

Members noted that meeting minutes are now posted on the LEF website, www.wilef.co.uk/ and that press release would only be issued as required. Calum Iain Maciver was confirmed as the initial contact for any enquiries.

9. AOB

Members noted the imminent review of area tourist boards formats by (Minister) Mike Watson, with the review due by end Sept 02 and implementation for next year’s season.  Members agreed to table an item on this at the next meeting to gather LEF members’ views.

The meeting with the Central Support Team is to take place on Monday 10th June. Donnie Macaulay and Derek McKim to prepare for this.

Date of next meeting confirmed as Thursday 4th July 2002