SPEY COAST TENANTS FORUM.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE SPEY COAST TENANTS FORUM HELD IN ROOM 2, COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL, BUCKIE ON THURSDAY 11^TH DECEMBER 2008.

PRESENT :        Harry Walton                          Chair person

                             Bill Smith                                Vice Chair

                             Jean Walton                           Secretary

                             Bob Hay

                             David Wood

                             Catherine Mair

                             Vivian Smith

                             Pearl Mann

                             Annie Cowie

                             Anne MacKay                        Councillor.

Due to Harry suffering from a sore throat, Bill Smith took over the Chair

Welcome.

Bill welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were received from Patricia Beattie, Stella Clark, Helen Milne, Alistair McQuaker, Councillors Ron Shepherd, George McIntyre and Joe McKay.

Minutes of the Meeting held on the 9th October 2008.

The Minutes were approved as a correct record of the Meeting.

Proposed : David Wood.  Seconded: Bob Hay.

Matters Arising

Bill Smith reported that the work had commenced in connection with the fencing in Castlehill Road, Fochabers.

Secretary’s Report

Jean Walton reported that two members of the Forum had recently attended the Governance Seminar organised by MVSO in Elgin and advised that further Seminars would be organised for 2009; it was recommended that members of the Forum should attend.  It was also reported that Spey Coast Tenants Forum was now a member of the MVSO and the Information Pack was to be circulated to members of the Forum.   The Northern Lights Network was also available for circulation to members.

Treasurer’s Report

Annie Cowie spoke with regard to the Income and Expenditure Account which related from 1^st December 2007 to 30^th November 2008 which had been audited and certified as correct.

The account were agreed and approved for adoption by the Forum.

Proposed : David Wood, Seconded Pearl Mann.

The accounts, together with a copy of the relevant minute will now be forwarded to Graeme Davidson, Housing Strategy and Policy Manager, Moray Council.

At this point Harry Walton thanked Annie Cowie, on behalf of the Forum for her hard work over the past 5 years as Treasurer of the Forum.

Election of Forum Representatives to the Moray Tenants Core Group and other Council Groups.

Moray Tenants Core Group.

Jean Walton gave a brief outline of the duties relating to being a member of this group and said the 3 representatives of the Forum could attend.

It was also advised that these representatives would also become members of the Tenants Conference Working Group

It was agreed that Harry Walton and Jean Walton should remain on the Group and that Vivian Smith would become the third representative.

Housing Sub Committee – It was agreed that David Wood would remain as the Forum’s representative on this Committee.

T.P.Working Group – It was agreed that Harry Walton would remain as the Forum’s representative on this Group.

Project Update.

Lane at the back of  1-33 Castlehill Road, Fochabers.

Bill Smith outlined the problems which had existed with the state of the lane, and circulated to members correspondence between Alistair McQuaker and Grant Speed,from the Environmental Services. The two recommendations were discussed by the members and it was agreed that the second recommendation which would prune all the shrubs down to 18” high and then have them trimmed back each year would be the most acceptable.

It was agreed that Jean Walton would contact Grant Speed in order to obtain a costing for this work to be done.

Any Other Urgent Business.

Nothing raised.

DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING;  It was agreed that the January meeting would be cancelled, therefore, the next meeting will be held on THURSDAY 12^TH FEBRUARY 2009 in Room 2, Buckie Community High School at 7.30.p.m.

JW/Dec.08