Membership Memo: The First Minister’s Travelling Cabinet Visit to Inveraray
Monday, 2nd October 2023
Meeting Subject:
Inspire Inveraray and the Community Council were invited to meet with the First Minister, Humza Yousaf, to discuss the community ownership of pier and its refurbishment and other projects within Inverary.
Attendees:
Kris Clark, Alyssa Stewart, Linda Divers, and Julie Hendry attended a private meeting with First Minister Yousaf, Collin McAllister (Chief of Staff), John Paul Marks (Permanent Secretary), Pippa Milne (Chief Executive of Argyll and Bute Council), Jenni Minto (MSP).
Summary of Business:
Inspire Inveraray had produced a report on the projects withing the community, discussing the pier and its refurbishment, detailing the history, funding raised and future plans. The report also included information on Inspire’s other projects including, The Community Hall, Sports Field, and Fyne Community Shed.
Challenges raised and discussed were volunteer burnout, private land ownership and lack of investment in leisure facilities for the community and the youth of the community.
We spoke of the support from the community, sponsors, funders, Argyll and Bute Council, TSI, InspirAlba and Ridge Clean Energy.
The Community Action Plan was very much central to the discussion and the First Minster and Cabinet kept copies.
The First Minister was invited to visit the pier, one prominent question he asked was “with all the funds raised and investment in the pier, how do you know it’s not going to eventually end up in the same state of disrepair” to which Linda replied, “Because the community own it, and the community love the pier, that’s the difference!”
The meeting was very positive, and the First Minister was supportive of all that we are trying to achieve.
You can view the Scottish Government’s Coverage of the Travelling Cabinet Visit Here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/23993686210245842
You can download a copy of the Presentation discussed with the Cabinet Here: FINAL-First Ministers Visit September 2023.pdf
