Minutes of First Steering Group Meeting

MINUTES

of the

FIRST MEETING

of

MILTON OF CAMPSIE SAVE OUR GREENBELT STEERING GROUP

held at 18 Hillside Terrace, Milton of Campsie

on WEDNESDAY 2ND OF JULY 2014 at 7.30pm.

• Present:

Jim Campbell (JC)

Morag Campbell (MC)

Liz Dempsey (LD)

Alan Harris (AH)

John Hinton (JH)

• In Attendance

Brian Reid (Lennoxtown Group, Say No To Green Belt Building in Campsie)

Margaret Weir (Minute Taker)

• Apologies

Apologies were received from or on behalf of Debbie Cronin, Andrew Mackenzie and Mary Marsh.

Both Sue Baxendale and Barbara McIntosh had indicated a willingness to help but did not wish to be part of the team.

• Name of Campaign Group

AH distributed a list of names that had been suggested by email. MC said “Campsie” should be used in case it becomes necessary to join with the Lennoxtown Group but LD pointed out that Campsie was a parish in its own right which included Milton of Campsie. It was generally agreed that the word “Greenbelt” should be included. After considerable discussion it was agreed to name the group MILTON OF CAMPSIE GREENBELT PRESERVATION.

• Aims & Objectives of the Group

After a brief discussion it was agreed that the object of the group was To Coordinate Action to Save and Protect the Greenbelt in Milton of Campsie.

• Membership of Steering Group

It was agreed that in order to facilitate discussion and decision making the Steering Committee should be restricted to 10 - 12 members. The quorum would be 50%+1. MC and JC said that one of them would drop out should it become necessary.

Appointments:

• AH suggested that interim appointments be made to be confirmed at the next meeting. This was agreed.

• Convener/Chair:

• The majority view was that the term Chairperson would be the most appropriate.

• JH proposed Morag Campbell, seconded by Liz Dempsey and agreed unanimously.

• Secretary:

• JH was asked if he wished to fulfil this position but declined.

• JC asked AH if he would be willing to take the position and he agreed. Morag Campbell as Interim Chair then proposed Alan Harris as Interim Secretary and this was agreed unanimously.

• JH proposed that a Minute Secretary be appointed but it was felt that the group was not large enough to warrant separating this function from the Secretary.

• Treasurer – deferred until more people were present.

• Publicity Coordinator - deferred until more people were present.

• Bank Account and Constitution

• It was agreed that a decision on a bank account be left meantime but an account could be opened at Lennoxtown Mutual Bank if necessary.

• JH offered to draft a constitution but this matter was remitted to the Secretary.

• Coordination with the Community Council

• It was agreed that it was very important to work with the Community Council but it was felt that communication was an issue as they did not use email or Facebook which were considered important in the this day and age.

• AH was instructed to write to the Secretary of the CC intimating the formation of the Group and Steering Committee and asking for the use of space in the CC Notice Board to publish Minutes and other documents.

• It was also agreed to invite a CC delegate to future meetings and to ask the CC for reciprocity.

• MC would obtain a copy of the CC Constitution.

• Consideration and response to East Dunbartonshire Council Meeting on 26 June 2014

AH spoke to his previously circulated Report of the Council Meeting, highlighting some of the contradictions in the Council documents and contributions to the debate from various Councillors. The Committee noted with satisfaction the support of Councillor Ritchie and the SNP Group and expressed regret at the lack of support from local Labour Councillors Welsh and Dempsey. The SNP amendment to remove Redmoss Farm from “preferred” status was lost by 14-10 despite support from the two independent Councillors Cumming and Young.

• Consideration of future action:

• It was agreed that it was important to purchase a domain name as soon as possible and mocgreenbelt.org was considered the most appropriate. AH undertook to set this up immediately after the meeting.

• The Secretary would write to the Kirkintilloch Herald intimating the formation of the group.

• Other agenda items were deferred to the next meeting.

• Any other competent business

JH suggested that he write an article for Scottish Review. This was agreed but if the article was to be published in the Group name then it should be submitted to the Chair and Secretary for approval.

• Date and venue for next meeting.

Sunday 13 July 2014 at 2.00pm in the Village Hall if available, failing which at 18 Hillside Terrace.

There being no further business the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chair at 9.30pm.