Western Isles Local Economic Forum

Note of meeting held on Friday 5th October 2001, WIE Boardroom

Present:

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

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

1. Welcome and Apologies

Duncan MacInnes opened the meeting and welcomed those present. Apologies were relayed from C Engebretsen (FSB) and D Green (LCC).

2. Note of Meeting held on 14th September 2001

D McKim outlined an addition. At point 4 the following had also been agreed:

· The mapping and Action Plan to be based on core local economic development services, i.e. publicly funded services, accessed and delivered from within the Western Isles.

With this addition, 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.

4. Action Plan - Second Draft

C I MacIver spoke to the paper. Before introducing he provided members with responses received from SEERAD and FSB in regard to the draft Plan.

SEERAD had agreed the detail in the Plan as it related to them and had provided detail in regard to their own roles and responsibilities. A question arose, however, in regard to SEERAD's responsibilities for fishing. C I Maciver to revert to SEERAD to clarify.

The Forum discussed the possibility of inviting SEERAD / wider community participation in the work of the LEF. It was agreed to remain with the core membership until completion of the Action Plan and subsequently to monitor membership in line with tasks.

Points made by FSB were noted and it was agreed that the tourism sector should be more fully integrated into the Plan and that the issue of scheme titles could be included in the strategic review of programmes.

The Forum then discussed the second draft of the Action Plan in detail and agreed the following:

· A target to be developed in regard to a more direct, proactive approach to the business community.

· A target to be developed in regard to the potential for the devolution to local level of European and national development schemes.

It was agreed that work on the Plan should continue, with a third draft to be brought back to the next LEF meeting.

5. Date of Next Meeting

The Forum agreed to reconvene on Monday 22nd October at 12.00pm in the WIE Boardroom to discuss the third draft of the Action Plan. It was agreed that due to the timescales involved that the LEF papers would be forwarded circa 17 October.

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