Nairn Improvement Community Enterprise
The 25th November, 2010
The Sailing Club
5.30pm

Meeting Notes

Founder Directors	Mike Barnett: MB,	Jimmy Ferguson: JF,	Matthew Hilton: MH
			All founder directors attended the meeting.

Acting Chairman:	Jimmy Ferguson:

Attendees:
Brian Stewart   BS	Graham Vine   GV	Rupert Furze   RF	Des Scholes   DS
Shirley Scholes   SS	Hamish Bain   HB	Iain Fairweather   IF	Alistair Noble   AN
Tommy Hogg   TH	Carol Clark   CC	Rosemary Young   RY	D Shillarbeer   DShl

Apologies:
David Brownless
Shane Rodgers
Iain Bruce

*It was also noted that both Rosemary Young and Iain Fairweather would have to leave the meeting earlier than scheduled due to previous arrangements.*

Meeting Update:

1.	Notes of the last meeting
JF (acting Chairman) asked the group if there were any amendments or comments to be made to the notes of the previous meeting.  No amendments were required but RY queried if the mailing/contacts list had been updated and sent to all members.

Action
MB to circulate updated contacts list to all members of the steering group in spreadsheet/excel format for their information.

2.	Directors Report
•	JF explained that as a company limited by guarantee the group would have to source funding.
•	DF advised that in order for the group not to be precluded from many sources of funding, charitable status of the group would have to be sought
•	JF asked MB what steps would be required for the group to achieve this status
•	MB went on to explain that under normal circumstances the Articles of the company would be formed, then submitted for approval by OSCR
•	If any amendments were required to be made to the articles, OSCR  would then recommend what changes (if any) were needed to be made
•	The articles would be amended and then re- submitted and normally at this stage would be approved and charitable status would then be achieved.
•	It was then explained that the group would have to backtrack on this issue because of the time restrictions the group has had to work within in order to be able to respond within the consultation period and also engage with Highland Council on the redevelopment of the town centre.

Action
MB has prepared a draft of the Articles to be adopted by the group using a template provided by C.V.S. (this template is used by many voluntary organisations).

All 3 Founder members will sign this application and submit application to OSCR.

OSCR will clarify then notify the directors if any modifications or amendments that may be required.

The 3 Founder directors will then pass amended articles – in order to achieve charitable status.	

GV asked if the template provided by C.V.S. was available for member’s information, and the group was told that this information is already in public domain.  MB passed a copy to GV and others wishing to see it.
 JF also informed the group that the articles can be modified once there are sufficient members of the group

Action
MB informed all members that he would forward this information for member’s personal use and it would also be forwarded to IF in order for this information being posted on to our website.

				 
3:  Future Directors of Nice
•	JF asked the group if any members had thought or had any questions on putting their name forward in order to step up to this role.
•	MB went on to say that the role and responsibilities of a Treasurer would be required by the group to control and keep track of the group’s finances.
•	RY asked the chair if any changes had been made in recent years concerning the responsibilities of the directors.
•	JF stated that insurance would have to be sought in order to protect all directors of any personal loss.
•	IF reminded the group that John Oliver and himself had put their names forward.
•	The chair replied that some formalities of the group would have to be attended to first, thus also giving other members time to put their names forward at this time.

4:  Public Relations Report
RY asked the group if it would be at all possible of a large advert being taken out in the Nairnshire Telegraph in order to promote the concepts of the group and inform all the residents of what the group is trying to achieve.  Also to encourage the people of the town to engage with the group and bring their ideas and support to this community project.
It was also hoped that all three Community Councils would help to cover the cost of this information going to print and offer a donation in order to cover the cost of this consultation exercise as this was a joint community council project.

5:  Public Consultation Meeting
It was agreed by the group that this should be combined with the advertising of the public consultation meeting to be held by the group on the 13th, December, 2010. (Venue to be confirmed)
Action
RY to join PR working group
MH to send template of poster already used by the Ideas Working Group.  
BS and RY to work on this issue together to combine all PR ideas - progress update to follow.

6:  Group Membership & Collection Points
Please note that every membership application has to be signed and applied for in writing, the application then has to be accepted by the group.
Members went on to discuss drop off points within the town centre so future members could prevent mailing costs.
Suggested Sites:	The Nairn Community & Arts Centre
			Post box facilities at the Nairnshire Telegraph
			The Service Point, HC the Court House

Action:   MB will contact Louise Clark (ward manager) to ask if this is permissible.  

7:  Group Finance Report
a)	Bank account application has been made to the Royal Bank of Scotland, and the group is just waiting for this procedure to be finalised and a cheque book sent to the directors.
b)	Any cheques sent to the group should be made payable to Nairn Improvement Community Enterprise.
c)	GV informed the group that Nairn West Community Council had paid The Sailing Club the fee incurred for both NWCC and N.I.C.E. to use their premises to hold both meetings on the 25th November. (NWCC having paid for the Sailing Club for their NWCC meeting that evening and NICE getting free use in consequence).  The group was also reminded that these expenses would have to be met by the group for our next pre- scheduled meetings.

8:  Design/Planning Report
	HC Design Workshop held on Monday, 22nd, November, 2010
•	Many members of the group that had attended this meeting felt that feedback presented by all participants was extremely good and encouraging.
•	All groups worked well together in order to achieve the best options available to secure the future of Nairn.
•	Represented groups had similar ideas and input.
•	H.C. had also reviewed and improved their original plans/options previously discussed at the public consultation held in October.
•	It was felt that commercially viable options and combined ideas where emerging.
•	Regeneration options could be compared by all.

Design/Planning Continued:

Old Cinema/Regal Bar Site
The group went on to discuss the structural problems that may exist in the re-development of this site.  Regarding the possible type of materials used in the construction of this building shortly after the war.  TH thought that certain materials were in short supply and the use of asbestos sheets had been used in the construction of the roof.  The cost of removal of any such material (which is considered to be hazardous) would have to be addressed in the future development plan.
The importance of a prominent corner frontage was agreed by most present, and the design of any future possibilities should integrate and reflect the cylindered design of the new Police Station and Community & Arts Centre.

BS thought the design workshop was an interesting exercise and went on to say that the use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) was extremely helpful and aided participants to visualise ideas being brought forward for comparison.  This process helped to provoke thoughts.

He went on to highlight concern on the following observations:
1)	That Highland Council remained interested in obtaining an early sale of the site.
2)	That any future development would remain with HC and that the original plans may only be tweaked, bringing no radical changes.
3)	Exercise was used to placate those concerned about the regeneration of the town centre.
4)	The decision makers should reflect and link what sites surround the town centre. In relation to the A96, Bus Station and the future of the library building and car park.
JF recognised these points made by BS but felt that this was in order to keep the group focused on the town centre.

Action:  BS will draft and send a letter to Highland Council in order to capitulate the groups concern and for HC to accept that these concerns exist. Also to look in context with and as part of the Highland Wide Development Plan.

However it was recognised by the group that HC was under immense pressure to come up with answers and solutions to deal with the redevelopment of the town centre and of the legal responsibility to take part in the Highland Wide Development Plan.
9:  How does the group move forward?

In order to create funding and ways in which the group can become commercially viable to achieve the regeneration of the town centre.

JF outlined a proposal that would be capable of generating substantial funds (possibly of the order of £15 million) that could be used by a Community Interest Company to fund the town centre regeneration.  There was lengthy discussion, and those present almost unanimously gave their support to the idea.

The directors undertook to prepare a detailed paper describing the proposal in full.  It was agreed that launching the idea into the public domain would require careful management, because if partial details were released misunderstandings were likely to arise.  It would also be important to sound Highland Council out on the idea at an early stage.

10:  Ward Forum:
JF was pleased that Highland Council received and recognised that N.I.C.E was present at the ward forum.  The group was thankful that Sandy Park gave the group permission to post his letter of correspondence on our website.

11:  Date of next meeting and venue:
Next meeting to be held at the Nairn Community & Arts Centre.  On the 2nd of December 2010@ 5.30pm.