Minutes of the meeting of Coleraine Probus Club

Attendance: 38 members were in attendance.

Apologies: Joe Alcorn, John Dobson, Noel Finlay, Jim Gordon, Ronnie Gray, Brian Green, Hammy Houston, Des Johnston, Graham Kane, Norman Maxwell, Aubrey McElhinney, John McKegney, Ian Murray, James Nesbitt, Billy Platt, Jim Torrens and Joe Wishart. (17)

Club President Jim Archer welcomed members and guest Colm McCluskey to the meeting. This morning’s speaker, David Jackson, was then introduced, the topic of his talk being “The Future for Us”. David is the CEO for The Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

David gave a comprehensive outline of his extensive career path from attending RBAI, to a Kibbutz in Israel, then University for a Civil Engineering course followed by a term in the British Army. Finally before his appointment as CEO of the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, a period as a Management Consultant with Price Waterhouse Cooper. The 2009 Review of Public Administration lead to the reorganisation of Local Authorities resulting in the amalgamation of the Coleraine, Limavady, Ballymoney and Moyle Councils. 141,000 people live in the new Council area, a region of outstanding natural beauty extending from Ballykelly to seven of the nine Glens of Antrim and taking in the Northern edge of the Sperrins.

Although the area has huge manufacturing and environmental difficulties which require addressing, David did give hope for 450 high value jobs in the area, the development of small and medium business enterprises together with the DARG Ballykelly site, the Enterprise Zone at the Ulster University, the 2019 British Open Golf Championship and the possibility of hosting the Irish Open at Portstewart Golf Club in 2017, all of which will give a welcome exposure for the Council area.

The council, in order to engage with the people will organise a series of face to face road shows which will give contact with Councillors, MLA’s and MP’s.
The Club members, being highly impressed with David’s presentation engaged in an enthusiastic question and answer session.

A brief summary of this talk is available in the speaker’s record book and here on the club website.

A vote of thanks proposed by John McHenry was passed on to David Jackson by The President. The members showed their appreciation.

Weekly Business:
Minutes: The minutes of 12th April 2016 were read and approved by the members. These were then signed by the President.

Matters arising: None not covered by the agenda.

Correspondence: None.

Social: Mike Turner said that the Menus for the Club Lunch on Tue. 10th May 2016 are now available. The lunch cost of £12:00 includes tea or coffee and biscuits before the Probus Club Quiz.

Welfare: Cecil Spotten reported that James Nesbitt is in hospital surgery 1 ward awaiting test results. Ronnie Gray is now in the Bowhill Care Home and has difficulty in communicating. The President informed the members that Norman Maxwell was this morning taken to hospital suffering from low blood pressure.

Treasurer: Nothing to report.

A O B: No other business.

Next Speakers Meeting: Will be on Tue. 26th April 2016 when the guest speaker will be Maria McGilly who is the Rotary Ireland Vocational Chairperson.

The President, closing with his usual humorous tale, thanked members for attending and hoped all would be able to attend at the next meeting.

The meeting closed at 12:06 pm.

Signed: Mike Turner
Vice President
Date: 26th April 2016