Heritage Lottery Fund Committee for Scotland Summary report of the meeting of the Committee for Scotland held on 14 June at 10:00 a.m. in the Edinburgh Office. Members: • Seona Reid (Chair and Trustee) • Sam Anderson • Gillian Findlay • Alice Mayne • Simon Pepper • Martyn Wade Apologies: Liz Davidson Committee Business 1. Chair’s Report Oral The Chair welcomed: • Alice Mayne and Martyn Wade to their first official committee meeting • Nicholas Meny – Grants officer • Audrey Dunn following a period of maternity leave • Bet McLeod, Grants Assistant and • Amy Koyman – intern from Leonard Cheshire Disability Charity The Chair congratulated: • and bid farewell to Amy Eastwood • Morven Mercer , who had been promoted to Acting Grants Officer The Chair announced: • the appointment of a new Chair for Wales, Baroness Kay Andrews. • The arrival of Ros Kerslake, new Chief Executive, HLF, on 4 July • Alex Patterson, had been appointed as Chief Executive, Historic Environment Scotland; currently Chief Executive Officer, Highlands and Islands Enterprise • welcomed the reappointment of Fiona Hyslop MSP as Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs in the Scottish Government noting the addition of Tourism to her portfolio and noted other cabinet secretary and ministerial appointments relevant to HLF namely Roseanna Cunningham (Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform), Fergus Ewing (Rural Economy and Connectivity), Angela Constance (Communities, Social Security and Equalities), Jamie Hepburn (Employability and Training) • noted that HLF would write to relevant ministers and seek meetings. Members commented that John Swinney MSP’s remit as Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills covered youth employment and might therefore be a useful contact for HLF. The Chair updated Committee on recent board discussions. 1 The Chair mentioned 14-18Now,the art commissioning initiative funded by HLF to commemorate the First World War and mentioned a number of Scottish projects including: • the launch of a Dazzle ship in Leith • The 306: to commemorate the 306 UK soldiers executed for cowardice and desertion • Poppies in Perth and Orkney and • East Neuk Festival’s UK wide choir commission. The Chair reported on the discussion at the Board regarding • the Western Atlantic Woodlands • Developing the Fruitmarket Gallery. 2. Declarations of Interest CS 2016 (2) 2 Nicholas Meny, Grants Officer declared a conflict for • Cambo (item 16) as his partner was employed by Cambo Heritage Trust, the applicant. Simon Pepper reported declarations for: • Item 8 Golden Eagle project – Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) were a project partner and funder • item 11 Southern Scotland project: SNH were a partnership funder • item 18 Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape: SNH were a project partner and potential partnership funder. Simon, was an ex-Board Member of SNH, and had had no involvement with any of the applications. Gillian declared a connection with: • River Life (item 17) as the City of Edinburgh Council, her employer were listed as joint partner in the project. She had no involvement with the project. Alice Mayne, as LEADER Programme Manager for Cairngorms National Park Authority only, noted that the following applications had indicated other sources of LEADER partnership funding • Calanais Visitor Centre (Item10) • Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape Partnership (Item 21) • Aden Country Park (Item 24)and • Mugdock Country Park (item 26). She had had no involvement with any of the projects. Liz Davidson had reported a declaration for • Govan Townscape Heritage (item 20) in her capacity as ex-employee of Glasgow City Council, the applicant organisation and in working with the project manager. She had had no involvement with the current bid Committee noted all the declarations. 2 3. Minutes from the meeting on 8 March 2016 CS 2016 (2) 3 The minutes were approved and signed as a true and correct record. 4. Matters arising from the minutes Oral • Items 10, 13 and 18: Officers updated Committee on activities following the rejection of these applications. • Item 21: Paisley Museum had been rejected at the Board. • Item 26: September Awayday; the theme would be Resilience. Discussion would initially reflect on HLF funding programme experience to date, to include Transition Funding, Catalyst, Endowments and Start-up grants. Financial sustainability would be a key strand together with the challenges organisations were now facing and the wider impact of reduction in partnership funding. Officers were developing a programme which hopefully would include examples of different funding models. Committee requested the discussion at the awayday included consideration of: o the challenges faced by urban in comparison with rural based applicants and grantees and o both the built and natural environment. 5. Scotland Overview Report CS 2016 (2) 5 Lucy Casot, Head of HLF Scotland, presented the paper and drew attention to: • The welcome for the new committee members • Successful Scotland applications at the March and May Board meetings including St Peter’s Seminary, Celebrating Scotland’s Art and Seven Lochs Heritage Project • Networking opportunities and key meetings including the one with Karen Watt ( Director of Culture, Tourism and External Affairs) with colleagues • The imminent launch of Skills for the Future and the development of the Young People’s initiative • Crowd funding pilot which would take place in Scotland and the North West • Culture White Paper, which in placing heritage at the centre of culture, represented a key opportunity for HLF • Tailored Review - this replaces the Triennial Reviews that were previously undertaken on Arms- Length Bodies. The Culture White Paper confirmed that alongside Arts Council England HLF would have a Tailored Review this year. This will be led by DCMS. • 2017 Year of History Heritage and Archaeology; this presented another key opportunity for officers to work closely with government to demonstrate the value of our work in the sector • Historic Environment Scotland’s Corporate Plan. Committee members commented on • Their attendance at recent project launches and openings and suggested these be included in future overview papers with an opportunity for members to update the committee at the meeting. 6. Land Reform (Scotland) Act CS 2016 (2) 6 This item was postponed and would be delivered at a future committee meeting. 7. Scotland Budget CS 2016 (2) 7 Caroline Clark, Casework Manager, outlined the budget for the June committee meeting. 3 The total grant request was £5.2million. The first round budget for this meeting was £2million. Officers reported that the pipeline of applications for September was currently £8.3million. None of the applications had been assessed as yet. The Committee noted that the budget could be adjusted to reflect the demand at each meeting, This would suggest a budget of £1.5m at June. There was sufficient budget to support the second-round application and the grant increase applications should committee agree to do so. SF4 First round applications for discussion and decision: Heritage Grants 8. South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project CS 2016 (2) 8 Applicant: The Langholm Initiative Project: This strategic project, delivered in partnership, would translocate eagles from across Scotland to Dumfries and Galloway to increase the population in the South of Scotland. A methodology had been established and approved by statutory organisations. A programme of public awareness and community engagement would also be delivered. Committee AWARDED a first round pass of £1,150,500 including a development grant of £50,900, 57% of eligible development costs. 9. Restoration of glass houses and Victorian fernery at Hospitalfield CS 2016 (2) 9 Applicant: Hospitalfield Trust Project: Proposals focussed on restoring and telling the story of Hospitalfield's gardens and listed garden buildings from the 13th century to the Victorian period. The B listed 19th century fernery would be restored and the fallen glazed roof replaced. Walkways and balustrades would be installed enabling visitors to navigate the two storey building facilitating public access for the first time. This project represented a specific phase in the wider redevelopment of the estate and included the garden restoration (forecourt and walled garden), car parking facilities, restoration of the fernery, a new Victorian-style glasshouse accommodating a café and a kitchen upgrade. Committee AWARDED a first round pass of £561,600 including a development grant of £20,700 39% of eligible development costs. 10. Calanais Visitor Centre Redevelopment Project CS 2016 (2) 10 Applicant: Urras Nan Tursachan Request: First round pass of £1,055,200 including a development grant of £75,200, 94% of eligible development costs. Project: The expansion and upgrade of the existing visitor centre for the Calanais Standing Stones and the development of a new outreach programme. The capacity of the centre would be increased and facilities and interpretation improved. Additional car parking and a children's outdoor learning space would be installed and the area surrounding the centre will be sympathetically landscaped. The application was REJECTED in light of the concerns raised. 4 11. Reviving the Wild Heart of Southern Scotland CS 2016 (2) 11 Applicant: Borders Forest Trust Request: First round pass of £967,700 including a development grant of £39,300, 92% of eligible development costs. Project: The project would develop and implement ecological restoration work across three major