Joint Ward Forum: Rural Inverness (Wards 13, 18 and 20)
Action Note of Ward Forum held on Tuesday 5th May 2009 at the Inverness Town House at 7.30 p.m.
Attendees
Councillor Glynis Sinclair
Councillor Roddy Balfour
Councillor John Ford
Councillor Robert Wynd
Councillor Margaret Davidson
Councillor Hamish Wood
David Haas, City Manager (Chair)
Charles Stephen, Ward Manager, Highland Council
Louise McCaul, Ward Manager, Highland Council
Representatives from:
Ardersier Community Council
Smithton & Culloden Community Council
Cawdor Community Council
Croy Community Council
Balloch Community Council
Cannich Community Council
Strathdearn Community Council
Strathglass and Affric Community Company
Plus - 34 Members of the public
Apologies: William Gilfillan (Highland Council) Julian Innes (Northern Constabulary)
Agenda
1. Welcome and introductions
David Haas, Inverness City Manager opened the Forum by welcoming those attending and those invited to make a contribution.
David introduced the presentations:
- Presentation by Martin Culbertson on the Highland LEADER Programme
- Presentation by sbworks on the draft Rural Inverness Community Development Plan
2. Highland LEADER Programme
Presentation by Martin Culbertson, Development Officer (LEADER Programme) Highland Council.
Martin gave a presentation and summary of the LEADER Programme 2007-2011.
3. Presentation by Stuart Brownlee (sbworks) on the Community Development Plan for Rural Inverness
Stuart gave a presentation on the Community Development Plan, with additional information about LEADER.
4. Questions from the Public
Q: Can the Inverness Chamber of Commerce submit LEADER applications?
A: Yes
Q: A number of village halls that might be interested in funding are not within the rural area, could they submit an application?
A: Any halls that are supported by LEADER would have to be in the LEADER area.
Q: The match funding is quite a lot. Any suggestions on how that can be raised?
A: There are a number of other funding bodies and also some match funding can also be “in kind” which might be property, time, office space or anything that could be assigned a monetary value.
Q: Can you clarify what you mean by match funding, do we have to prove that the money is in the bank account?
A: You must state that you have match funding. All match funding has to be secured and in place before LEADER releases the money.
Q: Who is the contact for LEADER in Rural Inverness?
A: The first point of contact will be Martin Culbertson, Highland Council 01397 707209.
Q: What about timescales for LEADER?
A: The Inverness Partnership will meet towards the end of May, then the local group will endorse the plan, once that is done the Rural Inverness LAG will be fully up and running.
Q: When is the first set of approvals going to go through?
A: There is nothing to stop groups putting an application in now, however the decision on funding would be taken by the Highland strategic LAG.
Q: Why is there not public representation on the LAG?
A: Highland Council will pick up on this point made by annual review. The make up/membership of the group was initially decided by the Inverness Partnership.
For information about the LEADER funding programme in Rural Inverness please contact Martin Culbertson, Development Officer, LEADER programme, on (01397) 707209