MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE SPEY COAST TENANTS' FORUM HELD ON THURSDAY 11^th SEPTEMBER 2008 IN BUCKIE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL AT 7.30.P.M.

PRESENT :
Harry Walton: Chair person.

Bill Smith: Vice Chair

Annie Cowie: Treasurer

Jean Walton: Secretary

Bob Hay

Pearl Mann

Patricia Beattie

Vivian Smith

Stella Clark

Helen Milne

David Wood

George McIntyre: Councillor

Ron Shepherd: Councillor

Joe Mackay: Councillor

Alistair McQuaker: Moray Council

Gary Wiseman: Moray Council

By invitation: Gillian Bailley, Moray Council

Apologies for Absence.

An apology for absence was received from Gilbert Grant.

Welcome

Harry Walton welcomed everyone to the meeting and said that tonight the Agenda would be changed and it was intended to take the item relating to Projects first.

Project Update

Gary Wiseman said that problems still existed with the layby car parking in Garden Lane, Portgordon, and that this would now not be undertaken until at least 2009.  He advised that the step upgrades in Reid Terrace, Portgordon were with the Roads Department and that the moss cleaning on 17-23 Tannachy Road, Portgordon would commence on the 15^th September.  Prices had been accepted for replacement fencing in Samson Avenue, Buckie  8-32 Castlehill Road and 7 West Street, Buckpool.   The heightened fencing for 5-7 Binview Road, Cullen had been completed.

The Forum had an estimated budget left of £11,488.60 and it was important that the funds should be allocated before the end of September.

Gary Wiseman then referred to a project for moss removal and gutter cleaning on the 19 properties in Crown Terrace, Portgordon at a cost of £8,000.   Gary Wiseman outlined the work entailed and advised that it would be the same firm as the one doing the Tannachy Road contract.   After a brief discussion it was agreed that the Forum would consider this project later in the meeting and advise Gary Wiseman of their decision.

Robert Hay brought up the question of the play park at Rathven being in poor condition and the swings etc not being safe to use. Alistair McQuaker advised that all play parks were inspected on an annual basis and if found not to be safe they were closed. However he advised he would look into this.

Robert Hay also mentioned the rotten fence post at 10 Crown Terrace and Gary Wiseman agreed to look into this.

At this point Gary Wiseman left the meeting.

Minutes of the Meeting held on 26 June 2008.

The Minutes were adopted as a correct record of the meeting subject to the under-noted amendment.

Under Item 8 Project Update - should read West Street not West View.

Proposed for adoption : Annie Cowie

Seconded : Bill Smith.

The Minutes were then signed by Harry Walton, Annie Cowie and Jean Walton.

Matters Arising - Nothing raised.

Secretary's Report.

Jean Walton gave a brief report relating the Website which had been constructed for The Moray Tenants Core Group and the local Forums.     It was also advised that the Tenants Annual Conference would be held on Wednesday 17^th September in the Town Hall, Elgin and it was hoped that members of the Forum would attend.

Treasurer's Report.

Annie Cowie reported that the Forum had a balance of £158.70p to date.  It was noted that the £500 Grant Funding applied for had not yet been received.  Harry Walton advised that now that Graeme Davidson had received the audited accounts for 2007, the payment had been cleared and should be received shortly.

It was also confirmed that in line with the Constitution a written Treasurer's report should be submitted to the Forum each month.  Harry Walton stated that it was the Forum's Annual General Meeting in November, and it was essential that we had the year's accounts audited and typed to send to Graeme Davidson at the Moray Council immediately following the AGM.     Jean Walton offered to assist the Treasurer in typing the accounts.

At this point Councillors Shepherd, Mackay and McIntyre asked to be excused and left the meeting.

Gillian Bailey had been invited to attend the meeting to discuss computer training for Forum members.   Gillian gave a brief description of her day to day duties, and said it was would be necessary to formulate a learning plan tailored to meet the expectations of the participants in relation to computer skills.

After discussion and completion of the learning plan it was agreed that a basic computer course would be developed to meet the needs of the members.

Members wishing to participate in the course were : Harry Walton, Bill and Vivian Smith, Helen Milne, Annie Cowie, Stella Clark, Pearl Mann and Bob Hay.

A discussion took place on where to hold the course and various location were put forward.   Gillian agreed to see what was available and the date suggested for the  course to commence was Tuesday 28^th October 2008 from 3.30.p.m to 4.30.p.m.  Further details would be available shortly.

Project - Crown Terrace, Portgordon.

Following a discussion relating to the above project a vote took place and it was unanimously agreed that the project should go ahead as this would assist the environment and be of benefit to the people who lived in the sheltered housing complex during the coming winter months.

Any Other Competent Business : Nothing raised.

DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING : Thursday 9^th October 2008 in Buckie Community High School at 7.30.p.m.