Meeting January 19, 2009
Cittaslow Linlithgow Steering Group
19.1.09
7.30pm Low Port Centre
Present: Phil Murray (Chair)(PM),David Tait (DT) Tom Kerr(TK) Jean Long(JL) Rona Gold(RG) Ken Richardson(KR)
1.Apologies:Jim Hay(JH),John Masson (JM),Alan Young(AY),Michael Bennett(MB)
2.Minutes of Previous Meeting
Minutes agreed as accurate record-no matters arising
3.Updates
- Finance: PM advised that our long submitted cheque for Cittaslow assessment day fee plus our initial year’s membership, had now been cashed by Cittaslow UK; other recent expenditure included room hire and travel expenses for PM to attend Cittaslow UK meeting in York; current balance ££1391.46
- Slowfood Linlithgow-no report due to MB’s non availability; PM to ask MB to provide a regular written update if his schedule prevents regular attendance at Steering Group meetings Action: PM
- Plastic Bags Campaign; PM reported headline findings from pre Christmas shoppers’ survey which indicated overwhelming support for minimising use of plastic bags in Linlithgow; next stage is to prepare a strategy for a retailers survey to ascertain their requirements and to secure funding for an initial supply of an agreed design and specification bag; TK confirmed that via Town Centre Management Group Capital Programme such funding should be available; KR has pursued this successfully within TCMG Action: PM to develop survey strategy(numbers of surveyors/number of outlets/timetable) for consideration at next meeting;(NB 1:Soroptimists Group has offered to assist in survey process; NB 2-‘town logo’ currently under consideration for Town Centre banners could potentially be adapted for the bag-for-life)
- Cittaslow UK: PM reported on key outcomes of initial meeting of Cittaslow UK attended in York 17.1.09, including re-establishment of Cittaslow UK as Community Interest Company limited by guarantee, of which individual representatives of all UK Cittaslow towns are designated Directors; PM’s role as Director on behalf of Cittaslow Linlithgow was endorsed by the meeting; general dissatisfaction with the governance of Cittaslow International, particularly in relation to collection of fees and what individual towns get out of the international organisation; the agreement to have a co-ordinated Springclean event in all Cittaslow UK towns in April. Action: Agreed that PM should maintain attendance at Cittaslow UK meetings as appropriate, feed in information/concerns on behalf of Cittaslow Linlithgow and report back key outcomes/decisions…….Action:PM
Re Springclean PM to liaise with Leslie Aitken Burgh Beautiful…Action: PM
4. Cittaslow Linlithgow-The Way Forward
Discussion continued over the strategic direction for Cittaslow Linlithgow, as a result of which it was agreed that an Awareness Campaign was necessary using all appropriate media to help attract wider interest/participants/associates/supporters for Cittaslow Linlithgow.
Action: PM to prepare appropriate strategy for consideration by next appropriate meeting of Steering Group, reflecting so far as possible the discussions to date, including the Draft Vision statement/objectives/KR’s analysis of potential actions/potential relationship with the ‘SUN’ group(Linlithgow Aspires).
PM asked DT to update the group re progress with Linlithgow Aspires-he reported that there is now a Project Manager in place (Big Town Plan), who will shortly be launching a website to ascertain breadth of support for the initiative over the course of Feb/March; if successful, intention is establish a framework to take the long view 15/20 years for the future development of the town. Cittaslow Linlithgow will be invited to future information meeting with Civic Trust/LUCS
…………………………………………………………………….Action: DT
5.Any Other Business
- Reflecting the discussion under Item 4 JL stressed the importance of attracting in other groups within Linlithgow as associates of Cittaslow to help raise the collective profile………………………….Action:Agreed
- JL also expressed wish to see Cittaslow Linlithgow website made more user friendly perhaps by direct tie in with Linlithgow.com
Action: JL/KR to investigate possible options for such a link
- RG advised that What’s On booklet for April-September period currently being prepared by Hazel Hay; opportunity for Cittaslow Linlithgow to raise its profile?
- Amber Watch Signs- concern was expressed about potential implications of this proposal, as a result of which paper to be submitted to next TCMG
…………………………………………………………………….Action: PM
- Linlithgow Climate Challenge Funding-Success of funding bid (£93k) noted
6. Date of Next Meeting
Wednesday 18 February 7.30pm Low Port Centre