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