Living Streets Scotland AGM 2007

Saturday 14th July 2007

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Present: David Leslie, John Russell, Elisabeth Carnall, Steven Copeland.

Apologies were received from Tom Conway, Sandy Cook, George Gammack, Morag Haddow, David Hunter, Sandra Knight, John Schofield, Paul Tetlaw, Graham Tuley.

Introduction

JR opened the meeting and apologised for its unsatisfactory timing in the holiday period. The proposed link with the UK national conference in Edinburgh had not proved possible this year, and the UK agm and conference were now to be held in October.

Progress Review and Prospects / Priorities for LS in Scotland

Copies of Sandy Cook's Annual Report to March and an update to July were circulated and discussed. This report is available on the LSS website and summarises the activities of LSS and of SC as the LS Organiser in Scotland. The meeting noted the extensive list of activities by SC and his impressive and dedicated work over the past year.

[George Gammack provided copies of a report on 'Activities in Dundee in 2006-7', which unfortunately arrived too late for distribution at the agm. Copies have been forwarded to those who attended the meeting and JR will be glad to send a copy to any other member who requests one.]

Discussion of priorities for the coming year confirmed the following general order of priorities:

1. Engagement / Liaison with Ministers, MSPs, Councils, NGOs and other groups in order to pursue LSS's agenda, set out in the 'Manifesto for Scotland's Streets'
2. Policy Development and Campaigns, including media relations
3. Practical Action with Community organisations, including Community Street Audits and consultancy
4. Promotional events and conferences

It was fully recognised that progress in tackling this extensive agenda would inevitably be limited without more resources to back up SC's efforts. SC had been working at capacity without even any secretarial support. It was hoped that more support could be made available through the LS central office over the coming year. Progress within the Forum and at local levels also depended on the emergence of more active members and local groups.

Tom Conway had raised concern over the absence in provision of footpaths or 'green routes' alongside roads in rural areas, both within and between villages. Walking was being deterred by the dangers associated with such roads. It was agreed that LSS needed to link with other organisations (such As Paths for All) in campaigning on this issue in order to give it higher priority. JR agreed to take this up initially through SC and Paths for All. Action JR

Secretary's Report

JR reported that LSS Forum Activities over the year were as listed and summarised within SC's updated Annual Report.

One involvement not listed was membership of the Scottish Accident Prevention Council's Road Safety Committee. The Council was currently in the process of reorganisation and it was hoped that this would make it a more effective lobbying organisation. (It has largely been talking shop dominated by local authority representatives in the past.) It was agreed that an engagement with SAPC should be retained in the light of this reorganisation and JR agreed to nomination as a LSS representative on the road safety committee.

In addition to the submissions/ consultation responses listed in SC's updated report submissions had been made to City of Edinburgh Council (CEC), notably in commenting on the CEC's draft 'Standards for Streets' guidance.

Future of the Edinburgh Branch

The proposal to formally wind up the Edinburgh Branch, subject to a resolution at the Branch AGN, was discussed. The proposal arose from the lack of any level of activity or group of activists in Edinburgh as distinct from that within LSS. The forging of links with active groups rather than the formal development of branches was also seen as a better priority nationally.

EC expressed some concern at the proposed wind up given the desirability of having an active Edinburgh group. Following discussion it was agreed that in the absence of any revived activity by mid-October then (subject to the resolution at the Edinburgh Branch agm) the wind up should proceed.

Treasurer's Report and Accounts

Details of the annual accounts were circulated with the 2006 agm minutes. These showed a small positive balance of £83.81. DL reported that expenditure had been low this year in part because of the advance purchase of stamps, stationary and printing materials from the Awards for All grant last year.

Payment of an annual 'branch' grant to the LSS Forum had been agreed by the headquarters office based on the number of LS members in Scotland. Even so the remaining balance would not be sufficient to cover operating costs over the coming year.

It was agreed that some funds would need to be transferred from the Edinburgh Branch account if the Branch continues to exist as a separate entity.

The accounts were approved and the meeting thanked DL for his work as treasurer.

Motions of Thanks

The meeting passed motions of warm thanks to SC for his work as Organiser over the past year and to Morag Haddow for her excellent work in continuing to develop and update communications through the website.

Election of Officials and Executive Committee

The meeting reappointed the following members of the Executive Committee (EC); on the assumption of continued willingness to serve in the case of some members not in attendance at the meeting:

Elisabeth Carnall, Steven Copeland, John Russell, and David Leslie (all from Edinburgh); Morag Haddow (Dunbar); Tom Conway (Eyemouth); Graham Morrison (Aberdeen); John Schofield (Dumfries)

DL was reappointed Treasurer and JR was appointed as Chair rather than Secretary. JR would continue to fulfil the necessary secretarial duties of the Forum, but with most communications and secretarial work concerning LSS now through the LS office in Scotland and SC as Organiser, it was considered that the possibility of any confusion would be reduced by the appointment of a Chair rather than Secretary. Expanded activities within the Forum would make it desirable to appoint both a chair and secretary at some stage.

Minutes of the LSS 2006 AGM

The minutes were approved as a correct record of the meeting.

Date of next AGM

It was agreed that the date of the LSS AGM next year should depend on any possible link with the UK national conference, but that it would be set as soon as possible in order to give more advance notice to members. Action JR