July 2007

MULL AND IONA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Minutes of Board Meeting on 2^nd of July 2007 at Craignure Village Hall

PRESENT: Derek Crook, Georgia O’Neil, Michael Ackerley, Brendan Walsh, Sandy Brunton

APOLOGIES from Jo Currie and Barry Morley

No minutes of the last meeting were available.

Recruitment :3 new members were reported. Derek was asked to prepare Chamber News for inclusion in local papers.

President’s report. It was likely that up to 500 Post Offices in Scotland would be closed under the “efficiency” reorganisation. Which Post Offices would close had not yet been revealed but it was likely that Argyll would be amongst the first areas to be affected.

Agreed to support the campaign to make Mull a plastic bag free island and to endorse the presented draft letter to retailers. It was accepted that more work was needed to make the scheme acceptable to retailers and to include the subject at the agenda for the next meeting.

Secretary’ Report. The post of admin assistant was being advertised. The terms would include taking the minutes at meetings, distributing the minutes and preparing an e-bulletin for members and occasional other tasks.. The postholder would be self-employed and would be required to work for four hours a month averaged out over a year at a rate 0f £8.00 per hour.

AOCB. Paul outlined his difficulties over Glen Forsa airstrip. Argyll and Bute Council is being unnecessarily and bureaucratically obstructive and this had caused a very substantial decrease in the movements at the airstrip. In view of the importance of the airstrip to the island economy – particularly the tourist trade – the Board viewed this report with alarm as well as the report that among leisure flyers the Council administration was regarded as very unhelpful. Contact with new Councillors had not so far brought about any progress to resolve these difficulties. It was resolved that Sandy contact both Councillors resident on Mull to see if they could investigate the situation further and help resolve these difficulties.