BIG - Meeting Minutes 24.3.13

7/30/2019 BIG - Meeting Minutes 24.3.13

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Bridgend Inspiring Growth Meeting Minutes 24/03/2013

Present: Apologies:

Will Golding Anna DanbyJohn Knox Jamie Ross

Julie Nowak Ellie ForganChris MacefieldSteven Hendry

1. Minutes of last meetingProposed by John. Seconded by WG

2. Fields in TrustJohn updated us on his communications with them. Councilcurrently in discussions with FIT regarding the release of the

farmhouse from their land so it can be sold.John will contact Colin Rennie from FIT for more details and toinform them about BIG and our intentions. Aim is to seek anagreement in principle for the uses of the farmhouse that we putforward under BIG's ownership, in line with FIT's charitable aims sothat in can remain under FIT land and there is no need for them tohave to release it from their protection.

3. New membersWill informed us that there were 6 new members to BIG. These

joined the organisation on February 24th

at Bridgend Potato Day.Some live locally, others come from other parts of Edinburgh.

4. EventsBridgend Potato Day February 24th. Anna and Will attended withinformation on the farmhouse and potatoes to decorate. Had somepositive and encouraging conversations, gathered some new ideasand 6 new members joined us. Thanks noted for Bridgend GrowingCommunities for hosting this.

Tree-Planting Day at Liberton High School John attended andspoke to the new Headteacher and other teachers about BIG andthe farmhouse project. Said it was a very impressive event andwell attended. Organised by Ellie Forgan and Active schools.

Gilmerton Health Week Marketplace stall with info Friday May3rd 12-2.230. Can anyone attend?

Edinburgh South Orienteering Festival Friday May 31st. Anyoneable to attend and have a stall or help take part in activities?

BIG Summer event Still to organise. Need to set a potential dateand tie this in with our options appraisal presentation event, andwork with consultant to get first phase done by now.

Actions

John to contact ColinRennie from FIT again,

and if necessary toarrange a date for usto meet with him inEdinburgh

Anna to updatemembership info with

details of newmembers


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Suggestion of dates of July 13th or July 20th weekends either thesaturday or sunday.

Decided we would like to host this at Bridgend Allotments Barns.Plans to start now to get this going soon.

5. TrainingWill updated that he has sent on training info to committeemembers that had indicated interest in the last meeting. Option isopen for anyone still who would like support or assistance ingetting training as a member or committee member in whateverarea would help them to participate, learn and develop.

Ellie Forgan has offered training in practical orienteering in theweek beginning May 27th. If you are interested in attending pleaselet us know.

6. TimebankSandra Darling has been looking into since last meeting. It wasnoted that skills and time shared are more for things that are notspecialist and this may be relevant later on, but probably not atthis stage. Need to consider it as part of feasibility study though.

7. Renovation workJamie Ross has been looking into this, and contacting colleges,local tradesmen and potential contractors and apprenticeship

schemes. Current barrier is access to the site and negotiatingunder what conditions others could enter the building, and whatcould be done on the farmhouse. Jamie looking into this further.

8. Just EnterpriseWill met with Penny Morriss from Forth Sector at the end ofFebruary and provided all the background information on theproject. She will be offering 5 days of professional support for freeas part of the Just Enterprise support program. This will beprimarily desk-based, consolidating what we have done so far andputting together some ways forward and options that could directthe options appraisal work.

Penny will meet with the committee to present her work and askfor comments and feedback before finalising. To meet her atBridgend Allotments portacabin on Monday April 29 th 7pm.

9. Feasibility studyWill informed us that we had been successful in our two fundingapplications for money for feasibility work and business planning.We were awarded 9'990 from the BIG Lottery Investing in Ideas

fund, which must be spent within a year, and 1000 from RoyalInstitute of Architects Scotland Community Projects Fund, whichhas to be spent within 6 months. The 1000 is only given to us

Will to check with Ellieif either would bebetter for local schoolsand tie in with anylocal summerprograms, or avoid

clashes.

Will to ask if membersand any of thecommittee areinteresting in attending

To check with Sandraany extra info shefound out for nextcommittee meeting

Will to ask Jamie forupdate/report for next

committee meeting onthis.

Will to arrange withPenny about thismeeting.


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after we have spent it and completed the project and shown themthe report, so we will need to pay this out ourselves first, and willneed to consider how we could do this.

This money is for putting together an options appraisal, an eventto encourage people to contribute to decision on an option, a

subsequent feasibility study and business plan, and further eventand distribution of a final report and plan, with accompanyingcommunity engagement all along the way.

Will has prepared a rough timeline for the work we want to becarried out and the beginnings of a brief for consultants.

John presented three briefs we have received so far and commentsfrom Anna. Discussion over how best to spend the money. Variousoptions and consultants considered and weighed up.

Decision was to look for one key lead professional consultant, butto ask them that they work with a team of other experts orspecialists, that would could help choose, and let us employ localpeople to carry out certain tasks that specialists are not needed foras part of the project.

We intend to find a consultant or group of consultants that: Lives in or near or knows the area

Has experience in financial feasibility and business planning

for community groups and buildings Will work with our conditions and brief as suggested above

and in the brief Has some expert legal and planning advice to ensure that all

plans for use and development fit within these potentiallimitations.

We aim to research different options and have our decision madeby the meeting at the end of April and employ a consultant in Mayto start work then.

Discussed other things that should be included in the brief.

10. Next Meetings:

Monday 29th April7-9pm

Bridgend Allotments Portacabin

and

Thursday 9th May 6-8pmBridgend Allotments Portcabin

Will to distribute tocommittee to commenton and add to or edit

Will and john to lookinto over next monthand contact range ofpossible consultants.

Will to contact BGC toask if we can make useof portacabin thatevening

Documents

BIG - Meeting Minutes 24.3.13