Highland Network Meeting Minutes
Weds 19th August, 09:30 – 12:30, Spectrum Centre, Invereness
Attendees
First Name
Surname
Company
Email
gkofficer@kyleofsutherland.co.uk
Mackay
Kyle of Sutherland
Development Trust
gkassistant@kyleofsutherland.co.uk
Smith
Kyle of Sutherland
Development Trust
Bellshaw
Arisaig Community
Trust
O’Rourke
Arisaig Community
Trust
charlotte@lochaberenviro.org.uk
Charlotte
Hatto
Lochaber
Environmental
Group
Christie
Keep Scotland
Beautiful
Fraser.Christie@KeepScotlandBeautiful.org
Fraser
Martin
Sherring
Transition Black Isle
martin@pennyandmartin.co.uk
carolinevawdrey@gmail.com
Vawdrey
Highland
Environmental
Network
alan.grant@hi.homeenergyscotland.org
Grant
Home Energy
Scotland
treasurer@northcoastconnection.org.uk
Elizabeth
Goudie
North Coast
Connection
Richard
Wilson
Grampian Housing
richard.wilson@grampianhousing.co.uk
Helena
Macleod
Rhionna
Jo
Sara
Alison
Caroline
Alan
smbellshaw@arisaigcommunitytrust.org.uk
helenamac44@btinternet.com
Stephen
Carr
CARBON CLEVER
(Highland Council)
Gill
Keep Scotland
Beautiful
Russell.gill@keepscotlandbeautiful.org
Russell
mhairi.macsween@hi.homeenergyscotland.org
MacSween
Home Energy
Scotland
Mhairi
Stephen.Carr@highland.gov.uk
Apologies:
Nicholas
Kelly
Broadford & Strath
Community Company
nicktorrin@hotmail.com
Networks Update
RG welcomed everyone and updated on what was being done by other regional networks.
Fife – arranged joint-funding bids
Forth Valley – joint events and meeting up to share problems and best practice.
Glasgow – online sharing of evetns/resources/etc.
Edinburgh – project visits
Home Energy Scotland
Alan Grant and Mhairi MacSween from HES gave an update.
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Warmer Homes Scotland – new fuel poverty scheme to replace EAS will launch early
September. More details to come but likely to be similar to EAS. Will be delivered by new
outfit called ‘Warmworks’ (Changeworks/EST/Everwarm)
£50,000 interest free loans available for EVs
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/organisations/funding-and-support-0
Green Homes Week – Energy fairs in Kilchoan/Kilmally (Lochaber Environmental Group); in
Arisaig 2 homes open with Green Energy Trail and Electric Bikes between them; Transition
Black Isle – 9 homes open. See (www.greenhomeenergyweek.org.uk) for more information.
Home visits available through HES – specifically Home Renewables experts and Solid Wall
experts.
Although it’s been in the news that the Green Deal has ended Green Deal Asssessments are
still the ‘ticket’ to access most schemes
Events/Announcements
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Road to Paris – Stop Climate Chaos Scotland event hosted by RSPB in Inverness. Information
on Paris, ways to get involved, etc. 27th September 12:00 – 16:30 New Drumrossie Hotel
(http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/events/training-day-paris-and-beyond-inverness)
Pebble Trust – The Pebble Trust, established in 2014, has a vision of a more sustainable and
equal society, where constraints on fossil fuels lead to a more localised economy with
stronger, more resilient, communities, and where human activities take account of climate
change and the wider environment. The Trust supports projects in Scotland, and particularly
in the Highlands and Islands. Looking for a Trustee pref. from western Highlands.
http://www.thepebbletrust.org/
Martin from Transition Black Isle introduced a project they are involved in – they are looking
for about 9 community groups to join them. Anyone interested in finding out more should
contact Martin Sherring.
“This is a proposal to establish a network of renewable-powered rapid electric vehicle charge
points around the Highlands. The idea is to address a number of problems – the difficulty of
getting grid connection for renewables > 50kW in much of the Highlands, the shortage of EV
charge points in “destinations” (i.e. places people would anticipate spending an hour or so
anyway) away from trunk roads, limited availability of 3 phase grid connections for rapid EV
charge points in rural locations, re-use of rechargeable batteries (ex-MoD and electric vehicles),
and (last but not least) generating funds for local communities. The project is being led by
Highland Council, with TBI, Community Energy Scotland, Caithness Renewables and two technical
consultancies partnering, and has funding from Local Energy Scotland for an initial feasibility
study. This will look at technical issues, including modelling likely usage, optimum size of
renewables and battery storage, and also determining the most suitable locations. This second
bit will be done partly through a consultation process with other local groups, so we are looking
for about 9 other groups to participate in the project.”
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6th October – Community Renewable Energy event Perth
http://briefings.holyrood.com/community-energy-tuesday-06-october-perth
23rd September – Changeworks Fuel Poverty Conference – Edinburgh
http://www.changeworks.org.uk/news-and-events/events/23-sep-2015/changeworks-fuelpoverty-conference-2015
EAS forum 16th September - Inverness Leisure, Bught Lane, Inverness, IV3 5SS (see PDF and
booking forma attached. Closing date to register is 9th September. Email/phone Rose Ann
Porteous 0141-226 3064/eas@eas.org.uk )
Love Food Hate Waste event 18th September (ZWS) – can’t find any information about this
online.
Final Report Workshop from CCF beginning of November (TBC)
Network
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How do we learn from past projects?
What can we do in-between meetings?
How can we continue to communicate in order to access the network for ad hoc
needs/support/offers?
Final Reports and completed projects; There was a desire to be able to access a list of CCF projects
that have completed and access their experience and knowledge. There were also questions as to
how we can access final reports of these projects and learn from them. It was suggested that in
future final reports should be accompanied by an abstract.
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ACTION RG feedback to CCF team about this and discover what can be done
Ongoing Sharing of Learning/Reflection: Following on from this there was a suggestion that we
could share ongoing learning and reflection, integrating the monthly reports into this.
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ACTION: RG to suggest this to DOs.
ACTION ALL: Suggestions for a way that groups could do this now – a shared spreadsheet on
Google Drive/Dropbox etc.??
Mentors/Peer Learning: There was a desire for there to be a network of mentors for new and
establishing projects. We discussed various online platforms for sharing information. These
included Facebook/Dropbox/Sharepoint. Initially we will set up a spreadsheet with contact
details/areas of expertise/project areas
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ACTION ALL: Email RG with 1. Areas of work your organisation operates in 2. Areas of
expertise you feel you could offer support to new/establishing groups.
ACTION: HEN willing to support online sharing (RG to contact CV and discuss)
DONM
November (2 weeks after final report workshop)
Invite a speaker (on final reports/on a theme/on securing a legacy – e.g. funding/energy
advice/sustainable transport)
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ACTION ALL – Suggestions to RG on speakers (specific ideas, or requests for topics)