Community Land Scotland

Annual General Meeting

Thursday 27th May 2016

An Lanntair, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis

1 Welcome

All were welcomed to the fifth annual general meeting of Community Land Scotland by Lorne MacLeod, Chairman.

Members Present:

Aigas Community Forest, Assynt Foundation, Bute Community Land Company, Findhorn Village Conservation Company, Helmsdale & District Development Trust, Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust, Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust, Keose Glebe Estate, Knoydart Foundation, Leadhills Community Company, Machrihanish Airbase Community Company, Mull & Iona Community Trust, North Harris Trust, Pairc Trust, Sleat Community Trust, South West Mull & Iona Development, Stòras Uibhist, The Stornoway Trust, Urras Baile Fhlòdaigearraidh Community Company, Urras Sgire Oighreachd Bharabhais, Urras Oighreachd Chàrlabhaigh, Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, West Harris Trust, Wanlockhead Community Trust.

Names of those present:

Carola Bell, Ivan Brown, Sandy Brunton, Amanda Bryan, Sharon Campbell, David Cameron, Emma Cooper, Nicole Edmonds, Morven Gibson, Paul Harrington, John Hutchison, Stephen MacAulay, Noreen Macdonald, Angus MacDowall, Polly MacInnes, Iain MacIver, Lisa MacLean, Kenny MacLennan, Lorne MacLeod, Angus MacMillan, Malcolm MacMillan, Duncan MacPherson, Community Land Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland SC041864, and company number SC385572 Davie Newton, Margaret Nicolson, Brendan O’Hanrahan, Martin Pinkus, Susan Pinkus, Agnes Rennie, Sally Reynolds, Androulla Richford, Lincoln Richford, Kirsteen Shields, Angus Smith, Fergus Waters

2 Apologies

Apologies were received from Ballachulish Community Company, Barra & Vatersay Steering Group, Colonsay Community Development Company, Comrie Development Trust, Culbokie Community Trust, North West Mull Community Woodland, Tiree Community Development Trust, and from Ian Hepburn, Jim Hunter, Peter Peacock, Angela Williams.

3 Minutes of AGM on 21st May 2015

The minutes were unanimously accepted as a correct record.

4 Chairman’s Report

Lorne MacLeod reported on a busy year of activity including work on the Community Empowerment Bill, the Land Reform Bill, the one million acres strategy group, and various consultation responses.

Membership had grown to 67, with increasing interest in community land ownership from the South of Scotland.

He reported that Community Land Scotland had been very successful in being awarded funding from various bodies during the year including; Scottish Government (£175,000), HIE (£90,000), Big Lottery Investing in Ideas (£10,000), Big Lottery Awards for All (£10,000), Carnegie UK (£10,000).

Funding support from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar towards the costs of running the conference was also acknowledged.

It was noted that work was being undertaken to finalise an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund to help record the oral history of community land ownership.

Community Land Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland SC041864, and company number SC385572 Lorne MacLeod stated that members had achieved a great deal in the last year, and the immense contribution by numerous volunteer boards, together with energetic and committed staff, had resulted in major advancements for the sector.

Tribute was paid to Peter Peacock, Policy Director, Linsay Chalmers, Development Manager, the Board of Community Land Scotland, and the membership, for their great contribution during the year.

Special thanks were given to John Hutchison, retiring Director and Company Secretary, for all his hard work on behalf of Community Land Scotland over the years.

5 Receiving of Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2015, together with Report of the Directors, and Independent Examiner’s Report

The accounts had previously been approved by the board of directors and on the recommendation of John Hutchison, Company Secretary, the meeting was content to receive the accounts.

6 Re-appointment of Independent Examiner

It was reported that the board recommended R A Clement Associates, Chartered Accountants, be re-appointed as Independent Examiner and this was approved by the meeting.

Community Land Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland SC041864, and company number SC385572 7 Appointment of directors

The Company Secretary reported that four candidates had been nominated by the deadline for the four vacant positions on the board:

• David Cameron, nominated by the North Harris Trust;

• James Hunter, nominated by the North West Mull Community Woodland and the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust

• Agnes Rennie, nominated by Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn

• Angela Williams, nominated by the Knoydart Foundation

It was, therefore, agreed that all four candidates be appointed to the board.

8 Any other competent business

9 Conclusion of meeting

The meeting concluded with Lorne MacLeod thanking everyone for attending.

Community Land Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland SC041864, and company number SC385572