Forming a community company
FC and JOP explained that many of the objectives in our Community Action Plan would not be considered as charitable and we would not be able do these if we were to form a company with charitable status. Being a charity does however have financial advantages concerning rates, tax and VAT. The advantages of a Community Interest Company which is a Private Company, limited by guarantee were outlined. It is a not for profit company, which can be quickly and easily formed.
After much discussion, CS proposed that we should form a Community Interest Company, this was seconded by LH – all were in agreement.

Forming a community company
FC and JOP had taken the decision to form a Community Interest Company further.
The name of the company would be Barrhill Community Interest Company.
It was necessary to decide upon the first subscribing directors who would be responsible for forming a company. Additional directors would be co-opted onto the board once the company was formed. All directors would need to resign at the first AGM and replaced by elected directors.
It was agreed that the maximum number of directors would be 9 and that FC, JOP and DH would be the subscribing directors with DH as the company secretary.
The Community Action Plan will be used as the basis for the memoranda and articles.
The Community Association will be approached to ask if the address for Barrhill Community Interest Company may be the Memorial Hall.

Forming a Barrhill Community Company
It was agreed that the company should have the power to receive funds from any potential source.
Both Frank and John had done a considerable amount of work studying the DTAS “Tool kit” about forming a company.
JOP gave an outline of the memorandum and articles and the name of Barrhill Development Company was proposed. Other issues included specifying a quorum, defining our area, the inclusion of non-residents, and support and training for directors. CS suggested having non-executive and executive directors.

This Action Plan is a clear statement about the type of place the community wants Barrhill to be – and what needs to be done.

There are five sections:
An outline of our community profile
A summary of our community’s views
A vision for the future
The issues that matter most, and
Priorities for action

1.Community Action Plan
1.1.Text content
The wording of the Community Action Plan was discussed in detail and modifications noted. These will be incorporated into the document and a further draft issued.
1.2Action Steps Workshop
A short workshop was held to discuss each of the seven strategies within the Action Plan. The actions identified will be included in the next draft.

1.1.Community Open Day
(a)PT thanked all who had worked hard to make the Open Day so successful
(b)AT went through the findings from the day.
Indications include:
The vision statement: Barrhill... Thriving in the 21st century, was put forward.-
To thrive, Barrhill needs to be a good place to live work and play, and we need to have a vibrant economy.
The representative from Ayrshire Housing was supportive of the identification of more land to be designated for development. There is a need for car parks for the school and Memorial Hall; at the station and at the foot-path heads. A feasibility study is required for the development of the hall and its use.

1.1.Stakeholder Interviews

(a) Interviews within the community have been carried out with Solway Precast, Medical Services, Head Teacher, Trout Inn, Shop, Play Group, Teens, Long term residents, new residents, Community Association.
(b)It was suggested that people from the farming community should also be interviewed such as from Bents, Blair and Loch End.
(c)Stakeholder interviews from around the community have included, John Thorburn (Economic Development), W McKissock (Rural development and LEADER), John Coller (SNH). A meeting with Chris Doyle has been arranged for the 17th April.

1.2.Community Profile
DH presented a draft of the population section of the community profile. Other sections nearing completion include: Business and employment, Health and Education. These have been passed to AT for use on Open Day. FC thanked DH for the work being carried out.

6.Community Futures Project

6.1 Community Views Survey. Work carried out by community agents and STAR group. The document was approved and discussed.
Comments - Question One. pleasantly surprised that community spirit featured strongly. The feeling is that this has improved in the last few years.

Question two - lack of post office. This has been raised by the CC on its closure and no strong feeling was expressed at the time. Feeling may therefore have changed. Also discussed - public toilets. A feeling that SAC is not fully consulting on such matters. There is a need for communities to be kept fully informed, perhaps through elected members. Housing - raised by a small number of people but this is a huge issue to those affected.

Paul Torrance (Chair) opened the meeting by welcoming attendees and visitors from other communities and elected members.

Chairmans Report

A lot has been achieved over a short time period. Discussions have been held with developers of the windfarms and funding is being negotiated.
Funding was secured to employ the STAR group. There is still more work to be done. A move towards the set up of a charitable company is underway and to be confirmed this evening. Effects to be felt in the short term with wind farms to start this year and funds to start as construction starts.

Treasurers Report
We are grateful for an award of £10,000 from Awards for All, Big Lottery Funds which is being used to employ the STAR group to help us with the Community Futures Programme .
Force9 & Scottish Power donated £2500 each to start the BDA. South Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership contributed a further £2000. Total raised £17,000.

Interest to date £200.00
£3500 outgoings - community project costs. Accounts are currently being audited.
The developers have promised extra funds in case of need.

Forming a Community Company
JOP and FC had read through the Development Trust Association (Scotland) (DTAS) start-up toolkit. This toolkit is guidance on the best way to go about forming a company and includes:
(a.) Understanding what Development Trusts are
(b) Developing a Governing Document and registering a company and
(c). Roles and Responsibilities of Company Directors.
JOP suggested we should have a plan to take us through all the steps necessary to form a successful company; FC added that this should be synchronised with the Community Futures Programme so that we would be ready to form a company as the programme came to its conclusion.

1 Barrhill Community Futures Project

1.1 Community Agents.
Maggie Rigg, Louba Hodgkinson, David Bowling, Irene Allison, Doug and Lily Niven, Len Clark and Dave Holtom will carry out much of the work of the community agents. Fionnadh Ratchford has offered to help whenever she can and Caroline Alcanter has offered to do graphic art work. Most of these people have had several meetings with AT to gain an insight into the Community Futures process.

1.2 Publicity and information.
i A press announcement has been made concerning the lottery award and project launch, and has been published in the Carrick Gazette.

ii A launch event, to be held on the evening of 29th November, has been organised by the community agents. A programme for the evening is attached. Invitations will go /have gone to Peter Linton, John Thorburn, Martin Mathers, David Butterworth, Chris Doyle, Bob Baillie Cathy Jamieson, Sandra Osborne, Councillors, Neighbouring Ccs, Stan Corcoran(FC) , David Murdoch (Barrs), Carrick Gazette. Invitations will be sent to all households in Barrhill. A small poster will also be placed at locations within Barrhill.

Barrhill Development Association (BDA) is about to start the preparation of a Community Action Plan for the future of our village and the surrounding area.

We will do our best to involve as wide a cross section of the community of Barrhill as possible ~ young and older, long term residents and new-comers, working people and those who have retired.

As part of the Barrhill Community Futures Project, Barrhill Development Association is seeking at least 4 or 5 local people to work as part time Community Agents. Community Agents will work on behalf of the whole community to carry out the majority of the work involved in the preparation of Barrhill’s Community Action Plan.

1 Matters Arising
1.1 Force9 are optimistic that a decision will be made by the executive in the foreseeable future.
1.2 The workshops proposed by Scottish Power, for local communities to consider community funding, could be delayed until the next financial year.
1.3 The new school head, Mrs Templeton, has expressed an interest in the possibility of the pupils being involved with providing art work for logos, letter headings etc. DH will follow up.

The STAR Group was ratified by general consensus to undertake our community appraisal. AT discussed the project and the plans. All funds are now in place and DBo outlined and produced a budgetary overview. PT asked for the leaflet produced by the BDA regarding Community Futures to go out to all groups in the area.
A discussion took place regarding a steering group and it was decided that the regular members of the BDA would act as the steering group and this business would be conducted first at the general BDA meeting, with a normal meeting from this.

Community Action Plan
AT summarised the process of creating a community action plan. The background information gathered during the planning process: community views, local information, stakeholder knowledge and independently researched information about our area; will provide evidence to create and justify action plans. These plans will also need to be periodically reviewed. The SCARF Community Appraisal would be a useful tool in providing valuable information and suggestions.
AT provided a recently completed Community Action Plan for Burnfoot Community. DBa offered to photocopy this for circulation as it shows the type of document that we could produce for Barrhill.

Windfarm Community Benefits
PT outlined the formation of the BDA, summarised the Hadyard Hill situation, outlined our current position and summarised our concerns. It was also noted that we should not have to apologise for our pro-active approach within the wider community.

NL agreed to negotiate with the windfarm companies on our behalf regarding funding levels, not on geographic distribution.

Objects
2. The association has been formed to benefit the community of Barrhill as defined by the electoral ward of Barrhill Community Council. The association has the following objects.
(a) Promote the social, economic, environmental and cultural development of Barrhill for the benefit of the community.
(b) Involve the community of Barrhill in the formation of strategic development plans.
(c) Establish a community company for the implementation of community agreed strategies.

A recent visit by Shetland Isles Council was very successful.
A discussion took place to try to achieve clear distinction between Barrhill Community Council and Barrhill Development Association to ensure clarity and avoid duplication of effort. This will continue to be discussed as matters arise.

DH handed out draft copies of the lottery application & highlighted the salient points. DH queried the number of Barrhill residence, 2001 census gives approx 400, not 300 as used by SCARF. Use of the electoral role/postcode data my explain anomaly.
Higher figure is more advantageous to the lottery bid.
Draft lottery bid has been submitted at the beginning of this week.