THE FUTURE of the Montrose Area Partnership looks brighter, after a new chair was elected at the Annual General Meeting.
Montrose YM has taken over the responsibility of chairperson for the next two years, after a change was made in the constitution to allow an organisation rather than a single person, to head the group.
Val Cooper of the YM will chair the majorit
y of meetings, while Joe Barker, also of the YM, will be able to take over in her absence.
The partnership has been without a chair since George Taylor resigned from the position in October of last year.
Peter Stevens, chairman of the Fair Trade committee, will take on the role of vice-chair, while John Dempsey, who runs a community website, continues as treasurer.
Matt Henderson, Angus Community planning officer will support the partnership in the role of secretary, while David Pullar of Ferryden Community Council will become Publicity Officer.
New chair, Val Cooper said at the meeting that the partnership was important as it was their action plan that ultimately is submitted to the Scottish Government, through the Angus Community Planning Partnership.
She said: "I work in Montrose and I live in Montrose. Montrose has been very good to me and I want to give something back.
"Today is the first day. We need to look to the future and raise the profile of the partnership. By raising the profile of the partnership, we raise the profile of Montrose.
"There are a lot of talented people in Montrose, with skills. We need to find these people that have these skills."
Joe Barker said: "There are a lot of organisations that don't need the partnership, but the partnership needs them. When we can work together on something, we should, as the partnership can compliment them.
"I get the feeling a lot of people think the partnership is dead. If we don't do anything then it's dead and buried."
Publicity officer, David Pullar said: "We are the place to speak to, if you want to be heard."
The partnership discussed the possibility of a re-launch, similar to one which was held three years ago when the Links Hotel was packed with people.
Val Cooper said: "Montrose was quite capable then of making decisions about and for Montrose. Is that still the case? Montrose should decide what happens in Montrose."
The group agreed that they would like to see more voluntary organisations, businesses and charitable organisations joining the partnership.
The next meeting will be Monday, September 29, at 7pm in the Links Hotel, where discussions will take place on the action plan.
The full article contains 439 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
