Bridgend Inspiring Growth Meeting Minutes 24/03/2013

Present: Will Golding John Knox Julie Nowak Apologies: Anna Danby Jamie Ross Ellie Forgan Chris Macefield Steven Hendry

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1. Minutes of last meeting Proposed by John. Seconded by WG 2. Fields in Trust John updated us on his communications with them. Council John to contact Colin currently in discussions with FIT regarding the release of the Rennie from FIT again, farmhouse from their land so it can be sold. and if necessary to John will contact Colin Rennie from FIT for more details and to arrange a date for us inform them about BIG and our intentions. Aim is to seek an to meet with him in agreement in principle for the uses of the farmhouse that we put Edinburgh forward under BIG's ownership, in line with FIT's charitable aims so that in can remain under FIT land and there is no need for them to have to release it from their protection. 3. New members Will informed us that there were 6 new members to BIG. These joined the organisation on February 24th at Bridgend Potato Day. Some live locally, others come from other parts of Edinburgh. 4. Events Bridgend Potato Day February 24th. Anna and Will attended with information on the farmhouse and potatoes to decorate. Had some positive and encouraging conversations, gathered some new ideas and 6 new members joined us. Thanks noted for Bridgend Growing Communities for hosting this. Tree-Planting Day at Liberton High School John attended and spoke to the new Headteacher and other teachers about BIG and the farmhouse project. Said it was a very impressive event and well attended. Organised by Ellie Forgan and Active schools. Gilmerton Health Week Marketplace stall with info Friday May 3rd 12-2.230. Can anyone attend? Edinburgh South Orienteering Festival Friday May 31st. Anyone able to attend and have a stall or help take part in activities? BIG Summer event Still to organise. Need to set a potential date and tie this in with our options appraisal presentation event, and work with consultant to get first phase done by now. Anna to update membership info with details of new members

Suggestion of dates of July 13th or July 20th weekends either the Will to check with Ellie saturday or sunday. if either would be better for local schools Decided we would like to host this at Bridgend Allotments Barns. and tie in with any Plans to start now to get this going soon. local summer programs, or avoid 5. Training clashes. Will updated that he has sent on training info to committee members that had indicated interest in the last meeting. Option is open for anyone still who would like support or assistance in getting training as a member or committee member in whatever area would help them to participate, learn and develop. Will to ask if members Ellie Forgan has offered training in practical orienteering in the and any of the week beginning May 27th. If you are interested in attending please committee are let us know. interesting in attending 6. Timebank Sandra Darling has been looking into since last meeting. It was noted that skills and time shared are more for things that are not specialist and this may be relevant later on, but probably not at this stage. Need to consider it as part of feasibility study though. 7. Renovation work Jamie Ross has been looking into this, and contacting colleges, local tradesmen and potential contractors and apprenticeship schemes. Current barrier is access to the site and negotiating under what conditions others could enter the building, and what could be done on the farmhouse. Jamie looking into this further. To check with Sandra any extra info she found out for next committee meeting Will to ask Jamie for update/report for next committee meeting on this.

8. Just Enterprise Will met with Penny Morriss from Forth Sector at the end of February and provided all the background information on the Will to arrange with project. She will be offering 5 days of professional support for free Penny about this as part of the Just Enterprise support program. This will be meeting. primarily desk-based, consolidating what we have done so far and putting together some ways forward and options that could direct the options appraisal work. Penny will meet with the committee to present her work and ask for comments and feedback before finalising. To meet her at Bridgend Allotments portacabin on Monday April 29 th 7pm. 9. Feasibility study Will informed us that we had been successful in our two funding applications for money for feasibility work and business planning. We were awarded 9'990 from the BIG Lottery Investing in Ideas fund, which must be spent within a year, and 1000 from Royal Institute of Architects Scotland Community Projects Fund, which has to be spent within 6 months. The 1000 is only given to us

after we have spent it and completed the project and shown them the report, so we will need to pay this out ourselves first, and will need to consider how we could do this. This money is for putting together an options appraisal, an event to encourage people to contribute to decision on an option, a subsequent feasibility study and business plan, and further event and distribution of a final report and plan, with accompanying community engagement all along the way. Will has prepared a rough timeline for the work we want to be carried out and the beginnings of a brief for consultants. John presented three briefs we have received so far and comments from Anna. Discussion over how best to spend the money. Various options and consultants considered and weighed up. Decision was to look for one key lead professional consultant, but Will and john to look to ask them that they work with a team of other experts or into over next month specialists, that would could help choose, and let us employ local and contact range of people to carry out certain tasks that specialists are not needed for possible consultants. as part of the project. We intend to find a consultant or group of consultants that: Lives in or near or knows the area Has experience in financial feasibility and business planning for community groups and buildings Will work with our conditions and brief as suggested above and in the brief Has some expert legal and planning advice to ensure that all plans for use and development fit within these potential limitations. We aim to research different options and have our decision made by the meeting at the end of April and employ a consultant in May to start work then. Discussed other things that should be included in the brief. 10. Next Meetings: Monday 29th April 7-9pm Bridgend Allotments Portacabin and Thursday 9th May 6-8pm Bridgend Allotments Portcabin Will to contact BGC to ask if we can make use of portacabin that evening Will to distribute to committee to comment on and add to or edit