PRESENT:

Sandy Brunton, Michael Ackerley, Olive Brown, Derek Crook, John Cable, Georgia O’Neill

APOLOGIES:

Alan Parker, Jenny Smith, Tom Bettley,

MINUTES:

Minutes from meeting 10^th January proposed by Michael, seconded by Derek.

MATTERS ARISING:

HGV Weight restrictions

Ongoing.

Windsave

Posters made & distributed.  <Georgia>  will email members with details.

CONSTITUTION:

Draft constitution finalised and agreed.  The document will be presented at the AGM.  <Georgia>  will send hard copy of the document to all members by post, along with notice of the AGM.

ANNUAL DINNER:

The AGM and dinner will be held on 19^th March (subject to confirmation with host venue, Druimnacroish Hotel and guest speaker).  <John> will confirm details with Druimnacriosh and pass on details to <Georgia> to forward to members.  <Derek> will do likewise with details about guest speaker.

TOURISM:

VisitScotland

John received a reply from Patricia Ferguson about the VisitScotland changeover.  <John> will reply restating the Chamber’s concern about the changeover happening within schedule and also the uncertainty of Tourist Board employees’ jobs.

Travel Expo 2005

The stand for this year will cost £1,000 + VAT.  This will be shared again with Holiday Mull but there will be no financial contribution from the tourist board.  The tourist board will send Abby Kirsop as a representative.  Chamber members will be asked if they would like their leaflets to be distributed again this year at a cost of £20 per 200 leaflets.  <Georgia> will email members.

Chip and Pin

John raised his concerns about the costs involved for small businesses when upgrading credit card terminals for ‘Chip and PIN’.  <John> will try and gain more information for members.  This may be a subject for wider consultation with the members, finding out what problems people have experienced, which banks give the best deals etc.  One query raised during discussion was: how can service providers take deposits paid by credit card over the telephone without having the cardholder present to give their PIN?

Windfarm Awareness Group

John had received a letter from WAG asking the Chamber to lend its support to the group’s lobbying.  None present said that the Chamber should do this, so permission was refused.

PRESIDENT:

Sandy had received notification of an open meeting hosted by Scottish Natural Heritage on Mon 7^th March.

Alan McConnochie has requested that the money collected for his present should be split equally between The Kenny MacIntyre Memorial pitch and the Swimming Pool Appeal.

HIE have an online consultation questionnaire about their service.  <Georgia> will email web address to members

WEBSITE:

Job vacancies for the new season are now being advertised.

There was an issue of copyright infringement as large tracts from the Chamber’s site had been copied, along with photos, by another website.  The matter has been resolved with all borrowed material being credited to the Chamber, and links to the Chamber’s site being established.

TREASURER:

Tom is resting his knee.

SECRETARY:

Olive brought mail received during the month

AOB:

Energy efficiency auditing to take place on 11^th March, details from MESS. <Georgia> will email members.

Michael provided those present with a synopsis of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service consultation paper.  He would like any feedback by 21^st Feb so that he can compose a response to the paper (whilst he’s on his exotic holiday).