Wednesday 26 May 2021, Via Zoom
Present
Mike Barnacle (Chair), Lucy Espeland (Development Trusts Association Scotland), Lena Hutton (Development Trusts Association Scotland), John Wheatley, Marion Anness, Callum Purves, Alastair Lavery, Nicola Marchant, Jim Pritchard
Apologies
Cameron Brown, Trudy Duffy, Rev. Liz Stenhouse
Late Apologies: Sandy Morrison
Introductions
LE suggested each attendee introduce themselves, where they are from and state their interest in the Fossoway Development Trust.
CP – Local Councillor, lives just outside the DT area. Keen to provide link to the council.
MB – Local Councillor, lives in Crook of Devon. Noted that Dev Trusts are given a lot of cognisance at the council and likely to be a good way to influence PKC.
NM – Member of CC, lives in Powmill.
LH – Been involved in community and local development for many years. Joined DTAS a couple of years ago. Passionate about bottom-up community development.
LE – Membership and Engagement officer at DTAS. Organise networking and peer to peer training.
JP – Lives in Crook of Devon, interested in community council business, website expertise.
AL – moved to area 20 years ago. Lives in Carnbo, served on community council.
JW – retired lawyer, 50 years in Crook of Devon. Previous chair of community council.
MA – Lives in Solsgirth, just outside Blairingone. Teacher at Perth High and interested in helping young people in the area.
Presentation on the Development Trusts Association Scotland Given by LE
LE will send the slides to us tomorrow.
Q&A
JW requested copies of the templates of articles of association and constitution. LE will share these.
LE said it is very useful to have a good idea of what activities and purpose FCDT will have to inform what type of legal structure we should go for.
LH mentioned that the well-known third sector solicitors, Burness Paull produced the templates for DTAS. Also noted that it is not a requirement for DTs to have charitable status.
AL thinks we might end up going for charitable status. Could be useful to go to Dollar to find out more about what they are doing.
LH said that Dollar and Alloa are quite well-developed trusts. DTAS could facilitate meet ups with other trusts, even before FCDT is formed.
NM said that we are a dispersed community with a number of villages. How can we get views from all these places without ending up with a huge shopping list? How can we help local businesses flourish to help our community flourish and become more sustainable?
LH: As you are a dispersed area, you might want to name the trust “X and district Development Trust” or similar. Generally, it is easiest to define the area of interest using postcodes. Might need to try a number of ways to bring the community in – using village halls etc. Good idea to go for quick wins to show the benefit of the trust. Can be useful to have a big map on the table to help with engagement (Local Council can provide maps), identify what people want in different areas of the trust. The more that can be done in local communities to spend money within their local area, at their local shop etc, the better. E.g. West Kilbride.
LH: Can search members by tag on the DTA website e.g. community shops etc.
JW: Happy with info on legal structures. Will likely have more questions after we’ve done some more work.
LH: Community should have a strong voice and council should have a delivery model. Rather than top down OR bottom up, both should work together. Current systems are very complex and can put communities off. FCDT should work alongside the community council, not take over.
Mike suggested a stall at upcoming Fossoway Gathering event to recruit members, in conjunction with CC.
LH: Can have different levels of membership but most members must come from the area of benefit. Junior category also available (Marion?) and this is good for succession as well as providing a younger voice.
MB: Need min 20 members. Role of steering group is to set up the organisation so it is fit for purpose?
LE: Yes. Need 20 members plus the board. Aim to get 100 members or 10% of the community, whichever is smaller.
Actions From the Minutes
Legal status: Alistair and John are happy with DTA presentation and hope to progress SCIO with their help.
Chair to pursue PKC re initial funding with Nicola suggesting CC could hold funds.
Scope of trust – Nicola had circulated vision, mission statement and aspiration on A4 sheet on the 14th of May. Still welcoming comments thereon. Alistair happy with document.
Engaging community: chair suggested a combined CC and embryonic FCDT stall at the gathering, possibly with DTA representative, display documents and take members interest.
Chair asked to locate large map of Fossoway for this and future public meetings re Trust.
Blaringone: Chair had spoken with Johnny Stewart of Arndean who was happy to facilitate play area as long as not too fixed equipment. Marion had canvassed views locally and would send Chair summary for discussion with PKC (Dave Stubbs). Discussed feasibility of opening school for public meeting re play park and FCDT. Councillors Barnacle and Purves highlighted failure of previous requests and Chair stated profile projects may be prepared for use of old church building.