Suite 27
Stirling Business Centre
Wellgreen Place
Stirling
FK8 2DZ
tel: 01786 469002

CRNS More Than Furniture Conference 2005

Welcome Address by Provost Bob Scott, Perth & Kinross Council

Ladies & gentlemen - Good morning

May I extend a very warm welcome to the Community Recycling Network for Scotland (CRNS) "More Than Furniture Conference". It is a pleasure to offer greetings from the Fair City of Perth. I understand your conference is being organised in partnership with the Scottish Council for the Single Homeless, with delegates attending from the length and breadth of Scotland from England and Northern Ireland.

One of the great advantages the City of Perth has in the Conference and Events market is its location. It is estimated that 90% of the Scottish population can reach Perth in 90 minutes or live within 90 miles. Hence the ever increasing number of outdoor and indoor functions which are attracted to Perth.

We are fortunate in having the Dewar's Centre, it is easily located from the City by-pass and parking does not present a problem. The multi purpose nature of the building enables it to adopt readily to cater for events such as Conferences, Seminars, Trade Fairs, Motor Displays and sporting occasions. I feel quite at home in this building being here on a fairly regular basis.

The new £20m Perth Concert Hall opens next month, this will further extend the range of facilities and events which can be held in the City. I trust you enjoy our floral displays.

I note from your programme you have a number of interesting items up for discussion with the emphasis on effective partnership working and re-cycling with a visit also taking place to the Furniture Project in Perth.

I had the pleasure to formally open the "Furniture Project Perth" in July last year under the title "Don't Dump It - Donate It" campaign. Whereby we encouraged everyone living in Perth & Kinross to think twice prior to dumping their unwanted furniture - what is maybe not of use to one family can make a huge difference to another. I have first hand experience of how grateful families and individuals have been for the assistance they have had from the Furniture project.

The Project also offers training and employment to people who, for various reasons, may be excluded from the main stream opportunities. In addition your work prevents tonnes of reusable household items from going to waste in landfill sites.

The Furniture Project is also the home to "Starter Packs", a partner organisation who redistributes the smaller items required in the home, such as crockery, cutlery and bedding. I note I have a diary appointment to re-visit this unit in September.

Another facility I have been involved with is "Community Re-Paint" based at the "Walled Garden" project, in Perth. This takes left over domestic paint from householders, painters and decorators and retailers and gives it away, free of charge to local community groups, charities, people on low income and those in need.

I was quite amazed to learn that over 300 million litres of paint are sold each year (that's a lot of paint) however about 38 million litres is unused, we appear to buy in excess of our needs and this is then stored at home or just thrown away.
Finally I wish you all well in your endeavours, keep up the good work, it can mean so much to so many people. I therefore trust you will have a very enjoyable, a very rewarding and successful 2005 Conference and that you return home with more knowledge and understanding gained from the Conference or from networking and also with some fond memories of Perthshire.

Thank you for coming to Perth.