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MINUTES OF MEETING OF THE MERKINCH PARTNERSHIP HELD IN MERKINCH COMMUNITY CENTRE ON TUESDAY 25TH APRIL 2006 COMMENCING AT 4.15PM

PRESENT:

Peter Corbett, Ross MacGillivray, Bette McArdle, Alistair Locke, Colin Downie, Anne Sutherland, Fiona Robb, Jamie McJimpsey, Alison Berg, Bob MacKinnon, Alistair Murray and Graham Strachan.

ABSENT: Joan Tracey and Marie MacIntosh

• Welcome and Apologies
   
  
• Previous Minutes/Matters Arising

  There were no matters arising.

• Community Plan Update

  B Mackinnon confirmed that the CRF proposal of spend for the Merkinch area has been approved by Resources Committee, although questions have been raised by Communities Scotland about the 2 Partnership posts.

  It was agreed to send full copies of the Plan to all the Agencies who had attended the meeting on 25/1/06 and other interested parties. A Sutherland will forward list of recipients to G Strachan, who will send out copies of the Plan along with a covering letter detailing the CRF programme of spend.

  J McJimpsey and A Sutherland will continue to work on the summary of the Plan, for circulation to the wider community. The summary will take the form of a glossy, 4-page colour leaflet - mp33 will collaborate on layout and design. This leaflet will be summarised in a centre-page article in the June issue of News and Views.

  It was agreed to hold the CRF information meeting on 4th May at 5:30pm in Merkinch Community Centre. Representatives from the 4 main projects will attend - Arts in Merkinch, Merkinch Community Centre, South Kessock Environmental Co. and Merkinch Enterprise. The meeting will ensure that each Project has collated all the information necessary to release the funding and will inform the groups of the paperwork involved in the application, reporting and monitoring process. Projects will make a quarterly report to Merkinch Partnership which will then be forwarded to Communities Scotland.

• South Kessock Environmental Co. Update

  SKEC has been awarded charitable status.

  The architect has started work on the design for the Waterfront Centre. Scottish Natural Heritage has been approached regarding funding but advised that funding was only available for specific activities/events and not for building work.

  The clerk of works for the project will be based in Inverness and not in Wick as stated in the architect's brief. G Strachan will be meeting with the architect, John Beaton, on 4th May for a progress report.

  The SKEC directors need to make a decision regarding the appointment of the Waterfront Centre liaison person.

  An agreement has to be signed by the SKEC directors with Highland Council regarding the future management of the building. Feedback from the community regarding the use of the building will be required as part of the lease agreement. The directors will hold a meeting around the middle of May to discuss these issues in more detail.

• Merkinch Community Centre (Gym Hall) Update

  The 12 hour co-ordinator's post will be freed up in the near future. The staffing issue in Merkinch Community Centre will be addressed as part of the CRF meeting on 4th May. It was suggested that D Wilby should attend the meeting.

  B MacKinnon raised the possibility of installing the equipment as a first step and dealing with the staffing issue at a later date.

• Partnership Staff Post/s

  G Strachan reminded the group that there are considerable build projects and staffing issues in the area which the Partnership has to decide how to resource. The proposal is to have a manager and project officer. The manager would operate at a more strategic level, negotiating with the various agencies and the officer post would continue to liaise with the community and support the individual projects.

  However, it was noted that Communities Scotland are querying the level of funding submitted in the Community Regeneration Plan for these posts and that a much stronger case needs to be made by the Partnership to secure the funding.

  It was also noted that the total amount of funding going in to the Merkinch area over the next 2 years should warrant a manager post.

  Graham and Bob indicated that there was a limit as to how much they could make the case to Communities Scotland but that they were certainly able to support the Partnership in their negotiations.

  It was suggested that the Partnership monitor developments against the plan to enable them to demonstrate the need for a manager. It was also noted that there was a time limit on the funding and that it was important that the funding was used effectively. In the short term it was agreed that the project officer post be extended for 2 years, however, the job description would require to be reviewed by the funding agencies.

  Colin agreed to speak to Anne and confirm continuation of the post.

  The group agreed that the same person allowed for continuity in liaising with the individual projects and enabled the momentum to carry on rather than a new person requiring 'lead in' time getting familiar with the area. Bob asked Merkinch Enterprise if they were happy to continue supporting the post, Colin replied yes they were. Bob has invited the Regeneration Manager from Communities Scotland Head Office to visit the area to enable them to get a better understanding of the projects and resource needs.

• A.O.B

  C Downie handed out copies of a Merkinch Partnership membership form he had drawn up.

  It was confirmed that the Partnership members had previously adopted a constitution, which would be circulated to the community at a later date. It was suggested that the Partnership could hold a "launch event" to inform the wider community of their activities and the Regeneration Programme in Merkinch.

  It was also agreed that it would be a good opportunity to present the Partnership Constitution and Membership Application at the Community Council AGM on 8 June.

• Date and Time of next meeting

  The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 20 June at 4.15pm at Merkinch Community Centre.

This project is being part-financed by the European Union under the Inverness and Nairn CED programme.