The Local Action Group (LAG) was made up of representatives from public and private organisations. Angus Council sat as the accountable body for the group. We had 14 members on our board. The LAG met quarterly to discuss applications and make decisions. Meetings were held the first Wednesday of the months March, June, September and December.
LAG Minutes 2020 – 2021
LAG Members
Dougie Pond
Chair, Friockheim & District Community Council
Dougie worked in Education, training and publishing, across the UK and internationally.
On his retirement he was appointed secretary of his local Community Council and Chair of the FriockHub project since 2012.
An avid railway enthusiast, his other interests include photography, the cinema and enjoying the glorious environment of Angus.
Alison Smith
Vice Chair, Angus Council
With 18 years’ involvement in EU funding including LEADER as a LAG member and latterly lead officer for delivery on behalf of Angus Council of the Rural Tayside LEADER Programme 2007-2014, I am experienced in the delivery and implementation of LEADER. I have been involved in rural development through working on a range of projects and with communities and businesses across the area and was a member of the SRDP RPAC assessment group. Through my role as head of economic development in Angus Council I continue to be involved in influencing and delivering rural policy through my involvement in networks at national and EU level.
Mike Strachan
Forestry Commission
I have represented Forestry Commission Scotland on LEADER Local Action Groups for over 7 years and currently sit on 4 groups. I have a strong interest in an integrated approach to land management and in promoting partnerships and collaboration between groups and individuals. I have a strong interest in LEADER as it is an excellent mechanism for delivering transformational change at the local level where it is needed most and also looking wider to see what opportunities there are for groups to work together at regional, national and international levels.
Gina Ford
Scottish Enterprise
I work with SE’s partners in Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen and Tayside, and with other LEADER groups in Aberdeenshire and Perth and Kinross.
Hopefully my experience of community engagement, joint working and project assessment is useful to the Angus LAG.
Graham Galloway
DD8 Music
Graham Galloway runs the DD8 Music community project in Kirriemuir. The group offers a variety of music based youth work from their recording studio base. They also run Bonfest, the annual rock music festival in honour of Bon Scott, which has become the busiest weekend of the year in the town. Graham is a trustee of the Kirriemuir and Dean Area Partnership charity, and through that works as project co-coordinator of the Dementia Friendly Kirriemuir Project. He also chairs the committees for the local Christmas lights group and the annual Splash charity swimathon.
Hugh Campbell Adamson
Scottish Land & Estates
Chairman of Stracathro Estates Ltd, farming, renewables and Property Company in North Angus. Chairman Salmon and Trout Conservation (Scotland), and Director of Wildlife Estates Scotland.
Jeremy Parker
NFU Scotland
Jeremy is a Group Secretary to the Angus Branch of NFU Scotland and is also Senior Agent for NFU Mutual Insurance & Financial Services, based in Forfar. He has over 20 years experience with NFU in Scotland and previously in England dealing with rural and agricultural businesses and is keen to encourage family businesses, in particular, to make the best of their skills and assets in taking advantage of business development opportunities.
Caroline Warburton
Visit Scotland
Regional leadership director for Perth and Kinross, Fife and Dundee
Mark Cessford
Montrose Community Council
Chairman of the Montrose community council since May 2015, General Manager of Rix shipping with 12 years as Production Manager with Angus Fertilisers Ltd, Scotland’s then leading supplier of blended fertiliser. 15 years as owner of a Haulage & Storage company based outside Montrose.
Gill Lawrie
Vice chair, Royal Highland Education Trust
Gill is part of a farming family near Arbroath. For many years she has hosted farm visits by schools and other interested groups to explain about farming, food production, the working countryside and the importance of vibrant rural communities.
She has worked with voluntary groups all her life, both as a member of staff and also as Trustee at national level of organisations such as the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) and the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG). She was also a Board member of AAVO (Angus Association of Voluntary Organisations). Her skills lie in bringing diverse organisations and communities together in order to overcome ‘silo’ thinking and working.
Gill was part of the first Scottish Enterprise Rural Leadership Programme and was a member of Rural Tayside LEADER LAG and is currently a member of the Angus Local Access Forum. Hobbies include ski-ing and Hill Walking and anything to do with food! She is a Fellow of the RSA and also of the Royal Agricultural Societies.
Shelley Hague
Accountable Body Representative – Angus Council
Participating on the group to ensure legislation and regulation are upheld
