SPEY COAST TENANTS FORUM.

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 12^TH MARCH 2009 IN ROOM 2, BUCKIE HIGH SCHOOL AT 7.30.P.M.

PRESENT ;        Harry Walton                          Chair person

                             Bill Smith                                Vice Chair

                             Helen Milne                            Treasurer

                             Jean Walton                           Secretary

                             Pearl Mann

                             Patricia Beattie

                             David Wood

                             Stella Clark

                             Vivian Smith

                             Annie Cowie

                             Ron Shepherd                       Councillor

                             Joe Mackay                            Councillor

                             Sandra Fraser                        The Moray Council.

1.APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.  Apologies for absence were received from Alistair McQuaker, Bob Hay and Sarah Wisnickie.

2.WELCOME : Harry Walton welcomed everyone to the meeting.

3.MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 12^TH FEBRUARY 2009

Ron Shepherd advised that Joe MacKay, Anne MacKay, Gordon MacDonald and himself had put  their apologies in for the last meeting, but this had not been noted in the Minutes, and confirmed that the apologies had been put  in through a telephone call from Council Offices.   Jean Walton advised that she had never  received such a call, and apologies for the oversight.

With the exception of the above the Minutes were approved as a correct record of the Meeting.  Proposed :Bill Smith; Seconded David Wood. The Minutes were duly signed by the Chair-person, Vice-Chair and Secretary.

4.MATTERS ARISING.       

Nothing raised.

5.SECRETARY’S REPORT.

Jean Walton circulated the Spring Edition of the MVSO Newsletter for members to read.   All Office Bearers of the Forum had attended a Financial Training Course organised by the MVSO on the 9^th March and it was noted that undertaking this course was now a statutory requirement  for anyone wishing to take up one of the Officer Bearer posts.

Jean Walton also advised that Walkabouts had been arranged for Friday 13^th March in Mosstodloch, Fochabers, Portgordon and Buckpool and that members of the Forum were welcome to participate on any of the walkabouts.     

 6.TREASURER’S REPORT

Helen Milne circulated the Income and Expenditure Account from November 2008 to February 2009 to members of the Forum.  It was noted that copies of this document had to be forwarded to Graeme Davidson, Strategic Planning Manager and Alistair McQuaker, Area Housing Officer after  the accounts had been approved by the Forum.

David Woods proposed that the Accounts should be approved and adopted; this was seconded by Stella Clark.

7.PROJECT UPDATE.

(a)     Removal of cobbles in Wallace Avenue

Sandra Fraser explained that she had not yet been able to visit the site in Wallace Avenue,   It was clarified that it was not just one set of cobbles which required removal .   After discussion it was agreed that further clarification of the extent of the work to be undertaken was required and also a more detailed costing.

(b) Garden Lane Car parking,Portgordon.

Harry Walton referred to the letter he had sent  Forum members.  The contents of the letter were discussed and all Forum members expressed their points of view.  A vote was taken and the majority decision was that because the cost  of this project had virtually doubled, it was not acceptable to proceed.    Jean Walton to write to Mr John MacDonald advising him of the Forum’s decision, with a copy letter to the Area Housing Officer.

We are now in need of urgent projects to be brought forward to the Forum for consideration.     It is expected that the budget for 2009/2010 to be discussed by The Moray Core Group  at the end of March.  The estimated budget left is £2,838.60.

8. REPORTS

(a) Housing Sub-Committee. David Wood gave a brief report of the content of the Agenda  and said that the Committee discussed the anti social behaviour which had taken place in Buckie.

(b)Moray Core Group – The Group had met to discuss the document “Affording Housing”  and the Group’s written comments were to be forwarded to the authors.

(c) T.P.Working Group – Jean Walton reported that it had been confirmed that the Area Forum budgets would be discussed on the 26^th March.   In connection with the TP Strategy, it had been suggested that the Tenant Road Show in the mobile van could be piloted initially in Keith. It was hoped that this would encourage mor e tenants to get involved.

9.ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS.

Tenants Conference – a general discussion took place regarding the arrangements for Conference to be held in Sepember.  The concensus of opinion that that the Conference should be staged every two years and not annually, as this would save money and possibly generate more interest.

DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING; THURSDAY 9^TH APRIL 2009 IN ROOM 2, BUCKIE HIGH SCHOOL AT 7.30.P.M.

Jw/19.3.09