Highland Network Meeting Minutes

Weds 19th August, 09:30 – 12:30, Spectrum Centre, Invereness

Attendees

First Name / Surname / Company / Email
Rhionna / Mackay / Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust /
Jo / Smith / Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust /
Sara / Bellshaw / Arisaig Community Trust /
Alison / O’Rourke / Arisaig Community Trust
Charlotte / Hatto / Lochaber Environmental Group /
Fraser / Christie / Keep Scotland Beautiful /
Martin / Sherring / Transition Black Isle /
Caroline / Vawdrey / Highland Environmental Network /
Alan / Grant / Home Energy Scotland /
Elizabeth / Goudie / North Coast Connection /
Richard / Wilson / Grampian Housing /
Helena / Macleod /
Stephen / Carr / CARBON CLEVER (Highland Council) /
Russell / Gill / Keep Scotland Beautiful /
Mhairi / MacSween / Home Energy Scotland /

Apologies:

Nicholas / Kelly / Broadford & Strath Community Company /

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 MhairiMacSween from HES gave an update.

  • 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
  • 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 ( 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

  • 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 (
  • 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.
  • 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.”

  • 6th October – Community Renewable Energy event Perth
  • 23rd September – Changeworks Fuel Poverty Conference – Edinburgh
  • EAS forum 16thSeptember - Inverness Leisure, Bught Lane, Inverness, IV3 5SS (see PDF and booking forma attached. Closing date to register is 9th September. Email/phone Rose Ann Porteous0141-226 3064/ )
  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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)

  • ACTION ALL – Suggestions to RG on speakers (specific ideas, or requests for topics)