Western Isles Local Economic Forum

Note of meeting held on Friday 14th September 2001, WIE Boardroom

Present:

D MacInnes and D Macaulay (WIE)
R Murray and B Howat (CnES)
M MacNeil (Employment Service)
F Rennie (LCC)
C Engebretsen (FSB)
R Adam (CoC)
M A MacIver (WITB)

Also present: C I MacIver (WIE) and D McKim (CnES)

1. Welcome and Apologies

Duncan MacInnes opened the meeting and welcomed those present.

2. Note of Meeting held on 14th August 2001

Duncan MacInnes outlined a correction to the minute - M. MacNeil from the Employment Service noted as M. MacInnes. With this correction, the note of the meeting was agreed.

3. Matters Arising

D Macaulay confirmed that no formal response had been received from the Aquaculture Forum in regard to membership of the LEF. A formal response is anticipated shortly.

D Macaulay confirmed that a written invitation had been forwarded to the Central Support Team (CST) to attend a meeting in Stornoway. A reply had been received from CST accepting the invitation for a future date. The Forum concluded that a meeting date should be arranged for post 31 October and the submission of the LEF Action Plan.

4. Draft Action Plan

C I MacIver spoke to the first draft of the Action Plan. He outlined that the paper was an initial discussion document, structured around the "scorecard" to be utilised by the Executive to assess the Action Plans. The key points in the document were outlined and attention drawn to areas requiring discussion.

The Forum discussed the Plan in detail and agreed the following:

· The structure developed in the draft was appropriate
· If appropriate, the "Introduction" and "Context" sections to be bulleted and annexed.
· The Plan to take into account the overall e-government agenda
· Action points 1 to 4 within Part 5 to be relocated to the "Proposals" section of the Plan
· Under "Partnerships", it should be made clearer why no changes are proposed
· Each organisation to provide information in regard to their own Roles and Responsibilities.

It was agreed that work on the Plan should continue and a second draft brought back to the next LEF meeting.

5. Date of Next Meeting

The Forum agreed to reconvene on Friday 5th October at 12.00pm in the WIE Boardroom to discuss the second draft of the Action Plan.

As there was no further business the Chairman closed the meeting and thanked those in attendance for their contributions.