Fairer Scotland Fund Board
Note of meeting held on Thursday, 7th November, 2013
Present:Cllr Barney Crocket ACC (Chair)
Cllr Gordon Graham ACC
Cllr Jim Noble ACC
Arthur Forbes Aberdeen Civic Forum
Andy MacLeod Aberdeen Civic Forum
Acky Stewart Regeneration Matters
Fay Morrison Regeneration Matters
Aileen Davidson Regeneration Matters
Jody Reid Regeneration Matters
Andy Verreydt Police Scotland
Adrian Watson Police Scotland
Joanne Adamson NHS / In Attendance:
Dave Kilgour Aberdeen City Council
Anne Knight Aberdeen City Council
Susan Thoms Aberdeen City Council
Agenda Item / Notes / Actions
1. Apologies / Cllr Yvonne Allan ACC
Moyra Mair Regeneration Matters
Sylvia Davidson Regeneration Matters
Nick Bruce Regeneration Matters
Joyce Duncan ACVO
Linda Smith NHS (Joanne Adamson deputising)
2. Note of meeting held on 10th October, 2013 / Notes approved
3. Matters Arising / No Matters arising
4. Financial Update / The Financial Update gave details of unallocated funding from 2013-14 and the recommendation of using £20K to develop the Credit Unions in schools through subsidizing initial membership by £10 for every school pupil attending St Machar, Torry and Northfield Academies. - Agreed
The Board was asked to recommend to Community Planning Aberdeen at its next meeting on the 18th November a change of name for the Fairer Scotland Fund Board to the Fairer Aberdeen Board. - Agreed
The Board was informed of the total amount of unallocated funds £96,749 from 2012-13 underspend and £42,628 current unallocated funding for 1012-2013 totalling £119,377. - Agreed
5. Proposals for potential funding / Susan discussed with the Board her paper “Background information on current neighbourhood spend”. This detailed paper highlighted the FSF funded projects, some dedicated to one particular neighbourhood and other projects that covered multiple neighbourhoods. The paper also illustrated the number of the most deprived data zones in each of the neighbourhoods ranging from 0-5% to 0-15%.
The Board agreed that the unallocated funding would not go to open bidding. A number of proposals were put to the Board for consideration. The first of the proposals were drawn from unsuccessful applications that ACC had applied capital grants for, these were:
· Development of Health Hub at Hilton Sports Barn
· Wallace Tower Tillydrone Community Trust Development
· Riverbank School/Lads Club All Weather Pitch and Changing Facilities
· Seaton “Backies” Project
· Introducing Engineering & Welding to Young People in Northfield
· Museum Collections Centre
A lengthy discussion was held on all of these applications and the following decisions were made.
Health Hub at Hilton Sports Barn – This original bid to the Scottish Government was for £300,000 which however there was discussion with the FSF team that a sum of £22,000 could provide funding to allow building work that urgently needs to be undertaken and the purchase of some equipment.
The Board agreed to this project submitting an application.
Wallace Tower Tillydrone Community Trust Development – this group had been given a year to seek funding to progress this project. It was felt that this group would not be able to use funding before the end of the financial year.
The Board did not agree for this project to submit an application
Riverbank School/Lads Club All Weather Pitch
The Board did not agree for this project to submit an application
Seaton “Backies” Project – This is a £1.2 million project to implement key regeneration proposal for the Seaton area. The Board spoke highly of the work which had already been completed in Seaton and recommended that the FSF could fund a smaller piece of work.
The Board agreed to this project submitting an application
Introducing Engineering & Welding to Young People in Northfield – The Board discussed the potential of this skilled based project as an important part to play in the training of young people to get them into the work force. The original bid for this project was £170,00 and the Board felt that it could contribute reduced funding to purchase any equipment that may be required if the project is still ongoing.
The Board agreed to this project submitting an application
Museum Collection Centre
The Board did not agree for this project to submit an application
Previous FSF applications
The Board decided that they would look at past applications for capital expenditure which were declined in the previous applications for 13/14. Susan was asked to contact the identified projects to ask if funding was still required and if so to either submit updated applications or to inform them that their original applications will be reviewed for funding.
The Board agreed to relook at the following applications:
· Aberdeen lad’s Club – resurfacing and sealing of gym floor
· Old Torry Sports Centre – as their original application including staffing the Board would now only look at a capital spend application
· “Big Noise in Torry” – look at purchase of instruments
6. AOCB / A concern was raised by one of Board members regarding how decisions are perceived locally and how representatives of the board are personalized about the decision making process. Support team asked for details to be provided.
7. Date of next meeting / TBC – 5th December or 12th December 2013