Mull and Iona Chamber of Commerce

Board Meeting 1^st Oct 2007

Craignure Village Hall, 8pm

Present: Sandy Brunton, Michael Ackerley, Georgia O’Neil, Derek Crook

Apologies: Brendan Walsh

The Memorandum of matters discussed at the last meeting were used as a basis for discussion after those present agreed to present both that memorandum and a similar memorandum for this meeting for approval at the November2007 meeting.

Matter ariisng

• Sandy had spoken to Sian Scott re the vacancy for an admin assistant but she was too busy to take it on.

           AP. Georgia to follow up possible interest from one more candidate and if  

           there was no interest then to re-advertise the post on notice boards on the        

     islands.

• There was no news of further development in the matter of the Salen re-route

     except for continued local opposition to the proposed scheme.

     AP. Chamber to continue to monitor .

                                                 AGENDA ITEMS

• Travel Expo. John Cable had contacted the Chamber to enquire what action it proposed to take over attendance at the Travel Expo. The Chamber position was re-affirmed that Holiday Mull was the marketing organisation for the industry on the island and any action needed to be initiated by them although the Chamber was ready, as before to assist.

      AP.  Georgia to inform John Cable of the Chamber’s position.

• Business to Business Networking Event. Members were to be emailed regarding placing this event in Feb 08 at the Isle of Mull Hotel. AP Georgia
• Possibility to be discussed at the next meeting that the format was to be on the lines of “speed-networking.”  AP. Agenda item for Nov 07 meeting.
• Isle of Mull Hotel to be contacted re a Feb date. The Isle of Mull Hotel was also to be thanked for its offer to accommodate future monthly meetings of the Board. Craignure Village hall to be informed that the Chamber was moving its meetings from the Hall. AP Michael
• All present agreed to email Georgia by 8^th Oct with suggested wording for the event for Georgia to prepare the email to member.  AP. All present.

• Royal Mail. Regarding the proposed re-scheduling of Royal Mail deliveries to the islands which would result in mail deliveries ( and newspapers) not reaching islanders until the afternoon, Sandy had taken the following action: –

1.      He had contacted the Community Council. No reply.

2.      He had contacted Jim Mather MSP who had replied that he was disturbed by the development and was proposing to contact the PO Chairman and was issuing a press release. Already he had received a letter from the PO claiming that there was no truth in reports of chaos at the sorting station in Oban, a claim met with bitter mirth by all present.

3.      He had contacted Jamie McGrigor MSP and had received  a limp reply that did not appear to meet the Chamber’s concern and which appeared to follow the line that the Royal Mail knew best.

4.      He had contacted Alan Reid MP who also expressed strong disapproval of the proposal, intended to write to the PO Chairman, issue a press release and also contact The Transport Minister in Westminster since the PO was justifying to proposal by reference to EU regulations regarding drivers’ hours and vehicle speed limits.

5.      He had contacted both Argyll and Bute Councillors based on the Island and also the Chair of Argyll and Bute Area Committee who had all expressed strong support for the Chamber’s attitude and actions.

AP Sandy to contact John Purvis MEP to ascertain whether the PO’s action was based on “gold-plating” of European legislation, something John Purvis had previously warned the Chamber was not unknown.

President’s Report.

Under this heading the meeting discussed Chamber administration. It was agreed that draft minutes should reach Georgia within one week of a meeting so that they could be circulated to all Chamber members at a time appropriate for the next meeting. AP Derek and Georgia.  Those circulated draft minutes to include a notice that any items for the next meeting had to reach Georgia by one week prior to the scheduled meeting.

Treasurer’s Report a credit balance of £4259.42

AOCB: Quarterly Report from Mull and Iona Environmentally Sensitive Solutions (MESS). This showed continued increase in tonnage of textiles, cans and plastic bottles diverted from landfill,  increased sale of goods from Island Castaways, a start with production of diesel oil from waste cooking and an increase in the number of commercial premises asking for plastic bottle and can collections. Progress was being made, with MESS help, in turning Mull and Iona into a plastic bag free island. (The Chamber is one of the sponsors of the MESS programme). MESS to be congratulated. AP Derek

DATE OF NEXT MEETING>5^TH NOV 2007 AT 8PM AT THE ISLE OF MULL HOTEL.