Weekly Update, 20th September 2010

• The CNSRP Executive Board met this week in Wick under the Chairmanship of Sir Anthony Cleaver. We heard from the NDA’s Competition team how the consultations with local stakeholders on the importance of socio-economics within the Dounreay PBO competition have been incorporated into the ongoing process. We also heard from HIE’s Area Manager about delivery of key aspects of the regeneration programme. We also discussed learning points taken from our recent trip to Cumbria. These included better communication within and ouwith the partnership, stronger political engagement and ways to further enhance our joint work on project funding.
• I also chaired a meeting of the Partnership’s Delivery Group this week, where we discussed progress with the area’s interest in elements of the international Fusion project as well as making progress with our programme’s two priority areas of energy and business services.
• Rt Hon Michael Moore MP, the Secretary of State for Scotland, was in Caithness this week to speak at the Annual Dinner of Caithness Chamber of Commerce. Together with Trudy Morris from Caithness Chamber and Simon Middlemas from DSRL I met with Mr Moore and John Thurso MP to outline our plans to address the challenges posed by Dounreay Decommissioning. Mr Moore listened carefully to our views – we emphasised the very positive approach being taken by both public and private sector, and also highlighted the importance of key enabling infrastructure such as digital connectivity, ports & harbours.
• I met with the General Manager of Scrabster Port Services, to hear of the encouraging progress being made by this company from its base at Scrabster Harbour. The company currently operates contracts with several major players in the oil & gas sector, and it was good to hear of the potential for this to develop further as the Scrabster harbour redevelopment project progresses.