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MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 2006 IN MERKINCH COMMUNITY CENTRE COMMENCING AT 4:15PM

PRESENT:

Peter Corbett, Alistair Locke, Clair Pieraccini, Alistair Murray, Ross McGillivray, Colin Downie, Anne Sutherland, Bob MacKinnon, Fiona Robb, Jamie McJimpsey.

APOLOGIES: Graham Strachan.

• Welcome and Apologies

  Joan Tracey and Bette have resigned from the Partnership. Bette confirmed her resignation in writing. Anne will write to Bette thanking her for her contribution to the Partnership.

• Previous Minutes/Matters Arising

  The issue of general membership of the Partnership was clarified. Groups awarded CRF have to complete a membership form, otherwise membership is voluntary.

• Projects Update

  SKEC Waterfront Centre
  Highland Council architects are working on the draft design, which will be presented to the SKEC directors at their next meeting on 28th September. The directors are keen that the ferry quay is refurbished at the same time. This could be taken forward in conjunction with the Sea Cadets and it was noted that further funding would need to be sought.

  Merkinch Community Centre - Gym Hall
  The ordering process has begun and the new equipment should be in place by the end of October. There have been further discussions regarding staffing and the role of the recently recruited co-ordinator. The Project Team dealing with the programming for the new space held its first meeting in August.

  Arts in Merkinch
  The new Arts Worker took up her post on 4th September.

  REAL
  Fiona will get more information regarding additionality and budget allocation.

• Projects Update

  Newstart

  There was a lengthy and wide ranging discussion about the Newstart claim. The following points were raised:

  • Although ESF has been approved it is not guaranteed due to the start date of the project being postponed. ESF has contacted Newstart to clarify the situation.
  • The posts of Training Manager and Trainer have already been advertised in the local press. Bob pointed out that James Dunbar had intended to tell the Partnership about the job adverts, he was not pre-judging the Partnership's decision, it was simply a misunderstanding.
  • Colin advised the group that the project was an expensive one and felt that the application was somewhat confusing and that the figures provided could possibly be misleading, noting that he would be happy to talk through the figures with Newstart on behalf of the partnership if required.
  • Newstart has already received the first advance of ESF, which makes approval for a later start date more likely. ESF is unlikely to withdraw the funding award at this stage. Colin pointed out that there was currently no additional finance allocated by ESF allocated to the last month of the project.
  • It was agreed that confirmation of ESF is required. The New Deal funding was also felt to be speculative.
  • Bob noted that the CRF request of around £37,000 is affordable over 2 financial years: this amount is less than 25% of the total cost of the project. An award of up to £50,000 could be considered.
  • Newstart should ensure, if possible, that the project benefits residents of the Merkinch area.
  • It is foreseen but could not be guaranteed that the trainees will be fairly local. A condition of "trainees living within travelling distance of the Carse area" could be attached to any award of CRF. There would be 10 to a maximum of 20 trainees.
  • The Partnership should consider whether it wants to support the project if the figures stack up.
  • Newstart has done a lot of good work in the Merkinch area over the last 7 years.

  Peter felt that there were too many questions to allow the Partnership to make a decision on the claim at today's meeting. However, the Partnership can decide today whether it agrees in principle that the project is worthwhile, viable and deserves to be supported.

  There was some further discussion regarding possible discrepancies in the figures provided by Newstart. The Partnership Board members then agreed that they want to support the application in principle but that further clarification was needed: the information in the application needs to be updated and tightened up.

  At this point Bob gave a short financial report, which confirmed that the amount requested by Newstart is affordable at this stage.

  Anne circulated a copy of the most recent Annual Report and a list of directors which she had just received from Newstart. Copies will be forwarded to the Partnership Board and the funders.

  It was agreed that Anne, Bob and Colin will meet up with James and Ian from Newstart within the next 2 weeks to clarify the figures/budget in the CRF claim.

  It was noted that Newstart will probably need a decision on their application within the next few weeks - if necessary an emergency meeting can be called.

  REAL

  No further information has been received on this application.

• New CRF Applications

  Capers

  After some discussion the Capers application for £1,125 was approved. Anne confirmed that Working for Families has awarded the group £1,100.

  Arts in Merkinch - Trinity Church Artist Residency

  Anne and Alistair (Trinity Church) explained the background to the application. The project involves 3 churches in Inverness and will take place over a 12 week period. The Trinity Church Residency will culminate in a community performance and will focus on engaging with young people in the Merkinch area.

  Arts in Merkinch will be providing in kind support and is making the CRF application on behalf of the project.

  The project will take place over 3 months beginning in April/May 2007, which means that any CRF award will not be drawn down until the next financial year. However, a decision on the CRF claim is needed in order for the Arts Council application to be processed.

  After some deliberation the Partnership approved the application for the full amount of £3,000.

• Board Membership

  It was agreed that Board members should complete a membership form.

  The issue of membership of the Board was discussed. Anne explained that she has not approached the Escape Group committee regarding possible Board membership: the group is going through a period of transition and will be involved in committee training sessions as well as their usual activities.

  Peter will be meeting up with Ivor Bisset to discuss becoming a member of the Board.

  It was confirmed that there should be a minimum of 5 members on the Board.

• A.O.B

  The Bike Project run by mp33 was discussed. There are some tutor costs involved in the project and it was suggested that an application could be made to CRF.

  Bob suggested that it would be useful to hold a Review Meeting with recipients of CRF to plan ahead for the next financial year and to discuss what is expected of the Partnership.

  Bob confirmed that new CRF applications can still be considered by the Partnership.

  The role of the Project Officer and agencies working in the area was discussed. It is important that the Project Officer liaises with the other services active in Merkinch to ensure that all agencies are working together. E.g. the new Family Resource Centre did not involve the Janny's Hoose in their consultations, the Project Officer should be questioning "why not?". Anne and Jamie confirmed that they are meeting with the Manager of the Resource Centre next week.

  Ali resigned as Vice-chair of the Partnership. Clair was proposed and seconded as Vice-chair.

  The Partnership approved the logo presented by Colin.

• Date and Time of next meeting

  The next meeting of the Partnership Board will take place on Tuesday 14th November in Merkinch Community Centre at 5:30pm. This will be followed at 6:30pm by a wider meeting involving representatives of the groups who have been awarded CRF. The meeting will consist of workshop sessions.

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