Present: Mark Lazarowicz; Stuart Hay; Andrew Tait; Stan Eadie; Pat Carr, Pete Roche.
Apologies: Steve Downie, Ian Cooke, Hugh Donnelly & Liam Young. Jackie McKenna has intimated her intention to resign.
Matters Arising from previous minutes:
(1) Climate Challenge Fund Project. A letter of confirmation between Changeworks and the Co-op is required. A draft copy was available at the meeting. CCF will want sight of it. Andrew has checked it over for the Co-op and Changeworks Finance Dept is checking the details.
(2) It was agreed a sub of the Board be established to oversee the project. Members to be Andrew Tait, Ian Cooke, Steve Downie.
CCF Project Update
(3) Update from the project –Stuart – targeting two Leith Council Wards with info about an insulation deal. Council tax discount applies; £95 for cavity £135 for loft. It’s a flat price. Mail-out will go to 35,000 houses. Letter has been designed and will go out next week. Anyone who phones will get through to the Energy Advice Centre. Other half of letter tells people about this project and asks people to fill in survey. Survey assesses how much interest there is in getting involved in a community energy project.
(4) Pete has contacted community centres throughout the area as well as members of the Neighbourhood Partnership.
(5) The insulation offer is covered by Changeworks insurance. ML will make enquries as to whether any additional insurance might be required for the Coop..
(6) Pete now has access to the Co-op website and has started a new section on the “Leith Renewable Project”.
(7) Energy Day Event arranged for Saturday 15th October at Norton Park. It was agreed that a brief AGM could be held for the Coop at the end of this event, at 1.30 pm. The Board will also hold a meeting on 24th September at Changeworks to the finalise accounts.
Speakers and presentations for the morning will be organised by the CCF Project.
(8) General Co-operative record keeping will be done by Stuart. Liam will provide an updated list of members.
(9) It was agreed to consider at a later stage membership of Co-ops UK
(10) Agreed to join Green Energy Net which is free.
(11) It was agreed to refund out of pocket expenses incurred by Andrew Tait for doing the contract tendering process. (Printing, postage etc). Agreed £50.
(12) Noted that Stuart was to be reimbursed £118.50 for costs of advertising tender process.
(13) SWAT Analysis produced by Andrew – in relation to the Contract Tendering process. Copies presented to the Board.
(14) First step should be to strengthen the board, and the AGM could be an opportunity to get new people onto the Board with some of the required skills. We should also seek funding for paid staff for the Co-op’s core activities.
(15) The project CCF includes £720 training budget. Stuart will circulate what is available through CCF. A training day would be organised later in the year.
(16) It was agreed that members seek to bring information to the Board meeting on 24th September about possible funding applications for core funding A wider strategy meeting for the Board meeting would be held in November after Andrew is back.
(17) Stuart & Pete met with Greener Leith. Discussed web advertising. They updated us on their turbine project. They will present at the Energy Day on 15th Oct. Hydro project is effectively dead, but could be looked at again.
AOB – We should seek to get the Co-op included in the Council’s A-Z.
Stan Eadie would be able to circulate posters for the meeting on 15th October.
Andrew advised that he needed to return the recruitment checklist, amd the contract between Changeworks and the Coop to send to Jenny Brotchie at the CCF. It was agreed that Andrew sign the contract on behalf of the Board.
It was noted that Changeworks will deal directly with CCF on behalf of the Co-op
Claims for funds to CCF will go into Co-op’s Bank account and then go to Changeworks for disbursement.
