DEVELOPMENT MANAGER'S AND PROJECT OFFICER'S MONTHLY REPORTS

Project Officer's Report October 07

Project/Marketing Officer’s Report October 07

Lodge Redevelopment
The bid to HIE for around £250,000 is currently being processed, with some further information to be sent over the next few days, in response to specific questions from HIE.
The application for £30,000 towards energy-saving / carbon reduction measures was unsuccessful.
The application to a Scottish charitable trust has been submitted. Their panel will meet around 20th November.
A meeting has been held with a representative of HICEC to discuss the bid to HICEC for match funding. We have 2 full quotes for the purchase and installation of the woodchip boiler, and the beginnings of a third quote.
We have registered for the ERDF (European Rural Development Fund), which is a possible source of match funding.

Lodge Bookings
A painting has been donated by the JMT group who stayed in the lodge for their ‘Art in Assynt’ week. The Reforesting Scotland group had lunch in the lodge on Sunday 30th, provided by Dorothea.
We have three bookings coming up in October: a stalking group, a self catering booking with some stalking, and then another of Mandy’s writers’ retreats. After that things go quiet. While this is the low season anyway, we would probably have had a number of bookings if this period had not been held back for renovation work.


Stalking
Two occasions occurred where a third stalker had not been found for guests. On one occasion two clients had a day on the ACT estate with their stalker, to get them out. We have been using two other people as third stalkers. John and Steven have been working very hard and succeeding in getting groups the numbers of stags they have booked. The weather has been better lately which also helps.
One of our two trainee stalkers has left us and the Highland College course. Best wishes to him for the future. A replacement trainee, also from the Highland College, has also now moved on. Our other trainee James meanwhile is still going strong, or at least he would be but for his knee injury…
Over the last few weeks there have been various vehicle troubles, with parts for the polaris and argo having been ordered, and John helping out with maintenance and repair.

Website
A section has been added for DM and PO reports.
Another section has been created to give details of equipment, kayaks etc. for hire. This will be made live soon.
The Christmas and New Year weeks are now re-advertised on the website, given set-back of start date for the redevelopment.

Our web technician has suggested a revamp of the website, given the increased potential from the upgraded clikpic system, and his increased knowledge of html. (See his recent change to the slideshow on the homepage.)

Communications
We have asked Inver Park Stores for permission to have an AF notice board outside the shop and they have agreed. Suggested location for another notice board is near the turn in to the Glen Canisp road. I assume we should request permission for this from the Community Council.
Board meetings are now being advertised locally with agendas, emphasising that Assynt residents are welcome to attend.

Other stuff
Elphin School: Additional information requested has now been sent to HC, with which to form the statement to the Scottish ministers regarding removing the educational use burden from the building.