PRESENT:

Sandy Brunton, Michael Ackerley, John Cable, Derek Crook, Georgia O’Neill, Jo Currie

APOLOGIES:

Olive Brown , Tom Bettley, Chris Reade

MINUTES:

January’s minutes proposed by Michael, seconded by Derek.

MATTERS ARISING:

Georgia has still to contact Debbie Lyndley about the Chamber’s audit.  If Debbie is unable to complete the audit, <Jo> will arrange an alternative auditor.

Sandy had received a reply from Gary Clark of Glasgow Chamber in response to his email about the roads.  Mr Clark suggested lobbying all 7 list MSPs and sending a petition to the Public Petitions Committee.  Sandy will forward this information to, and liase with, the ‘Keep Mull Moving’ committee.

ANNUAL DINNER:

John Puris MEP has confirmed that he will attend as guest speaker on 10^th March.  A discussion took place about possible businesses for Mr Purvis to visit in the afternoon prior to the dinner.  Jo Currie kindly offered to provide lunch for our visitor.

Publicity.  <Georgia> will send info to R&A and email Chamber members.  <John> will find out if notice of our AGM and the Postwatch meeting can be circulated amongst the membership of Holiday Mull.

POSTWATCH:

The event will take place at the Isle of Mull Hotel on 8^th March.  <Georgia> will email details amongst Chamber members and also to MICT to be passed on through their mailing list and also make posters.

Topics to discuss:  Rural Post Office network under threat; Lack of Government support; Opening up the competition; The Universal Rate; Costs of delivery by other carriers to the island.

TRAVEL EXPO:

Travel Show 26^th – 27^th April 2006.  John brought along the latest designs for the new display boards.  <John>  will update details on the VisitScotland website.

There have been plenty of offers of help for manning the stand at the show.

MARINE PARK:

No new info available from SNH.  John had attended the meeting of the Land & Sea Forum. 

All present agreed that more information about the implications of becoming a marine park is needed before any decision can be made about supporting the scheme.

RENEWABLE ENERGY FORUM:

There have been very few meetings of the forum and all but the first few meetings have been poorly attended.  As it is a sub committee of the Community Council, <John> will email the CC to ask about the future of the forum.

PRESIDENT:

Sandy has been invited to attend another meeting to progress the Local Transport Strategy on 28^th February.

WEBSITE:

Sandy reported that the contact page on the website was not functioning <Georgia>  will remedy this.

SECRETARY:

<Georgia>  will compile a list of board members due for re-election at the AGM

TREASURER:

No report in Tom’s absence

AOCB: