Upload
octavia-wright
View
213
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Fyne Homes Ltd
Mixed and Sustainable Communities
Delivering community benefit
26th March 2009
Who are we?
Fyne Homes – formerly Bute HA 30 years old this year! Started in Bute in 1979 improving the town’s
housing stock Now operate throughout Southern Argyll,
around Loch Fyne – hence the name Governed by a voluntary management
committee from Rothesay, Dunoon, Lochgilphead and Campbeltown
Where do we operate?
What do we do?
Primarily we build, maintain and manage housing for rent and LCHO
We have approx 1400 houses in every settlement from Rothesay to Campbeltown
We have an active development programme – 07/08 £8M; 08/09 £4M
All of this has an active community focus
Working with communities
So what did we think about wider role?
It generated much debate at committee meetings
We didn’t think ‘it’s not housing so we shouldn’t do it’
We didn’t think ‘we can’t do this, let someone else do it’
We saw opportunities in communities where wider role investment could create local benefits
So we embraced it
What wider role projects have we grappled with?
A flavour of some projects
Bute biogas
ROVER
Environmental improvements
H is 4 A Play about homelessness
Commissioned by Argyll & Bute Council’s Community Services
‘A powerful and compelling account of one young person’s experience of homelessness.’
‘An extremely effective vehicle in raising awareness of
homelessness and related issues.’
Written and performed by Naomi Breeze
Bute Extreme Sports Park
and Bute Recycling Centre
Making recycling work
Started in 2002 with links to local recycling group
They collected cans but had nowhere to put them
We had a spare site in the middle of Rothesay Wider role funds and a cocktail of other funds
allowed us to build a recycling centre out of recycled materials
Local group handed the recycling baton to Fyne Homes
Opened for business in April 2004.
Recycling 2004
Agreed a SLA with the Council from day one Initially covered kerbside in Bute £40,000 per annum but strict landfill
diversion targets linked to weight 2004 target – 50 tonnes – achieved – round
of applause all round However 5 staff required to do this at an
overall cost of £80,000 Needed revenue support from the lottery to
achieve this
Recycling since 2004
Drive for sustainability – need to move away from grant dependency
Drive for diversification – need to expand what we do
Drive for efficiency – need to do things better
Recycling 2009
Still only 5 staff but use volunteers, local trainees and community service placements
Expanded area of operation into Cowal Increased income from SLA – now £85,000 Bought new custom designed trucks with
INCREASE funding Increased tonnage to 450 tonnes – 2000
participating households About to close 08/09 with £20K surplus and
no revenue support A fully fledged social enterprise
Recycling 2009 is more than kerbside
We now have a second hand furniture shop – Revive Rothesay
We now collect waste cooking oil and process into biodiesel to run the vehicles
We have put in place a business plan to expand biodiesel production
How is this now done? Enter Fyne Futures..
FF is a wholly owned subsidiary of FH – company limited by guarantee with charitable status
Formed to run the recycling service and other emerging wider role projects
Separates the risk from FH FH provides staff and services to FF for which
FF pays the going rate FF governed by board of 5; 3 from FH and 2
independents FH agreed to provide financial support to FF for
3 years after which it had to be self sustaining
The effect of this on recycling
The recycling centre was transferred to FF at nil value – FF has an asset
Staff were transferred to FF Annual business plan approved by FH and
then FF left to get on with it. So fair amount of freedom to develop.
FH services still there – an invaluable link.
Bute Produce
Growing local food for local needs
Bute Produce is an emerging project Currently 2 staff and 3 trainees and a big field Funded by wider role and leader Aim is to grow local fruit and vegetables for
local outlets – schools, cafes, green boxes Educational and training aspect too Business plan that allows 2 years revenue
funding support and self sustaining thereafter Again delivered via FF
Current thinking
FF board agreed to bring recycling and food closer together under FF umbrella
Share some costs Appoint a business manager to support and
develop both arms of the business This plan is about to be put in place
None of this is easy - the challenges
Remoteness Money Culture Staffing
But it does have benefits
Raised the profile of both FH and FF Community engagement – over 2000
households recycle and we are already putting names on a waiting list for a green box
Jobs – potential for 10 -12 jobs on Bute These jobs keep app £175,000 directly in the
local economy Indirect benefits too by using local services
to support our work
Other projects in the pipeline
Towards Zero Carbon Bute £213,000 from climate challenge fund to
employ a project manager to initiate a number of carbon reducing initiatives on the island
Wood waste review Travel plans for local businesses Energy efficiency works Electric car hire
Community wind park
Part of national RSL pilot 2 turbines in Kintyre Grid connected and revenue raising £40K per annum per turbine whilst paying off
loan; over £100K after loan paid off Community chest to disburse community
benefit
Why do we do all this?
RSL’s have skills to do it RSL’s understand community needs and
aspirations RSL’s know how to get money RSL’s increasingly understand the social
enterprise model
And it can be fun……………
Thanks for listening