Note of meeting held on Thursday 17th January 2002, WIE Boardroom

Present:     

M MacLennan and D Macaulay (WIE) 
B Howatt (CnES) 
C Engebretsen (FSB)
D Green (LCC)
D Kincaid (CoC)
I Nicolson (ES)
O P Kraberood (AA)

Also present: C I MacIver (WIE)

1. Welcome and Apologies
M MacLennan opened the meeting and welcomed those present. Apologies were relayed from R Murray (CnES), B Stewart (ES) and A MacMillan (WITB)

2. Note of Meeting held on 4th December 2001

O P Kraberood noted one amendment: Aquaculture Forum should be Aquaculture association. With this change the note of the meeting was agreed.

3. Matters Arising

B Howatt provided an update in regard to CnES’s Project Initiation process.

D Macaulay reminded members that WIE’s business plans had been forwarded with the LEF papers. It was agreed that any questions arising from the plans would be directed to D Macaulay subsequent to the LEF meeting.

M MacLennan provided an update in regard to the LEF Chairs meeting which had been held in Edinburgh on 16 January. A note of the meeting was circulated. Key points from the meeting included:

• Establishment of LEFs viewed as critical by the Scottish Executive
• Essential to maintain momentum and delivery Action Plans
• Essential to build and maintain co-operation
• Commitment sought for a single gateway
• Caution in regard to progression to Phase 2

A schedule for LEF meetings was provided and this was agreed. Members were reminded that substitutes could be sent to represent individual organisations.

4. Action Plan

C I MacIver outlined that feedback on the WI LEF Action Plan was positive, but that further work had been requested in regard to timescales and cost savings. Each LEF has been requested to prepare an Addendum Report, reviewing progress and commenting on any specific areas of concern. A first draft of Report, outlining proposals to adjust timescales and identified potential cost efficiencies was presented and discussed. Members agreed the proposed response.

5. Website

C I MacIver presented an overview paper in regard to the LEF website, which is now operational at www.wilef.co.uk. Members agreed that the site was a good first step and that it should be progressed further to build interactivity. WIE agreed to meet the costs associated with this.

The LEF discussed how potential future expenditures would be handled. It was agreed that the LEF members should seek to pool resources and approve expenditure on an item by item basis.

6. Business Gateway

The Ministerial Taskforce paper in regard to options for a Business Gateway was discussed. A number of key comments were made:

• The proposals appeared to be based around pre-existing Scottish Enterprise models
• HIE has been requested by the Taskforce to investigate potentials for a Highlands and Islands Gateway – this may provide a more appropriate local solution
• WI LEF’s Action Plan seeks to undertaken work to establish the potential for a "single point of contact"
• A local solution, convenient to the end user, should be the way forward
• A hierarchical model, seeking to integrate national and local elements would offer better potential than the models presently proposed.

It was agreed that feedback should be forwarded from WI LEF based on the above.

7. Energy Issues

B Howatt updated the LEF in regard to recent developments. These included a debate in the Scottish Parliament – Renewable Energy (Western Isles) and two major announcements in regard to the establishment of major wind and wave projects. The LEF agreed that these projects carried major development potential, but that they have to be carefully and sensitively nurtured. Concerns were outlined in regard to premature and inaccurate press reports in relation to energy projects.

The meeting discussed the mechanisms for co-ordinating energy related developments and WI LEF’s potential role in this regard. As day-to-day contact was on-going between the main parties, it was not felt appropriate to introduce a new mechanism at this stage. It was agreed to keep the situation under review.

8. Press Issues

No new issues.

9. Sustainability Indicators

C I MacIver introduced a paper produced for the Well-Being Forum, which aims to put in place indicators to capture quality of life information. Members agreed to the principle of taking responsibility for gathering the data allocated to the LEF within the paper. It was also agreed that further work requires to be undertaken locally in regard to travel to work and transport indicators. It was agreed that WIE would undertake research to identify appropriate local indicators under this heading.

10. Date of Next Meeting

As per the schedule, the next meeting is programmed for February 28th.

11. AOCB

Resource Centre: Difficulties for local businesses in attracting professionals and management trainees was discussed. A paper was circulated in regard to the establishment of a local resource centre aimed at assisting professionals move into employment.

B Howatt outlined proposals being developed by CnES, WIE and HIE (Accelerating the Future) in regard to attracting additional funding to the area for strategic infrastructure developments. This bid document will be launched in the near future and will be followed by an appropriate lobbying campaign. It was agreed to present and discuss the document to the next LEF meeting.

C I MacIver outlined a paper in regard to action 2 within the WI LEF Action Plan. This sought to realign the objectives of a number of local programmes to ensure the elimination of any perceived duplication. The paper was agreed.

A brief update was provided in regard to progress with other Plan actions. It was agreed that each organisation would e-mail an update on their areas of action to C I MacIver ahead of the Addendum Paper being submitted.

O P Kraberood outlined difficulties being experienced by the local business community, particularly the aquaculture sector, in regard to regulatory bodies. It was agreed that he would present an overview of these difficulties to the LEF at the April 11th meeting.