The Forth Estuary Forum is a voluntary partnership of people and organisations around the Firth of Forth on the east coast of Scotland. The Forum’s remit extends from the tidal reach at Craigforth, Stirling to Fifeness in the North and Dunbar in the South. The partnership draws its membership from a wide spectrum of interests including business, statutory agencies, local authorities and voluntary groups. The Forum does not have any statutory powers or duties.
The Forum was set up in 1993 with a core group of members from a wide range of organisations. From these small beginnings it expanded to a membership of around 80, established an office in Rosyth with two permanent staff and led on many projects and initiatives over the years.
The Forum staff are:
Forum Manager: Chris Cutts chris.cutts@forthestuaryforum.co.uk
Forum Administrator: Sharon Waugh (Monday to Wednesday) sharon.waugh@forthestuaryforum.co.uk
The business affairs of the Forum are managed by the Directors and the strategic direction of the Forum is looked after by the Management Group.
The Forum is a charity registered in Scotland (No: SC027467). The Forum is also a company limited by guarantee (SC175839). The Forum is governed by Articles of Association which were revised in 2013
Management Group
The Management Group meets regularly to advise the Forum on projects and actions. The Group is made up of representatives from organisations around the Forth including local authorities.
Current Management Group members:
Barry Shafe, Chair, Forth Estuary Forum
Chris Cutts, Forum Manager, Forth Estuary Forum
Julie Dewar/Ken Tippen, City of Edinburgh Council
Johanna Willi, Fife Council
Derek McGlashan, Forth Ports Ltd
Zoe Clelland/Toby Wilson, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Malcolm Fraser, Scottish Natural Heritage
Christopher Murphy, Scottish Power
Paul Bancks, The Crown Estate Scotland
Graham Russell, RYA Scotland
Marine Scotland (Observer)
Scottish Coastal Forum (Observer)
Annual General Meetings
The Forum’s Annual General Meetings are usually held on the same day as the Annual Conference. Minutes of these meetings, the latest Forum Financial Statements and the Articles of Association are available to download here.
Agenda for meeting 12th November 2019
Accounts for the financial year 2018/2019
Accounts for the Financial Year 2017/2018
Accounts for the Financial Year 2016/2017
Accounts for the Financial Year 2015/2016
Accounts for Financial Year 2014/2015
Accounts for Financial Year 2013/14
Redefined Articles of Association 2019
Revised Articles of Association 2013
Minutes of AGM November 2014
Minutes of AGM November 2013
Minutes of AGM January 2013
Minutes of AGM January 2012
Minutes of AGM January 2011
The name chosen in 1993 was Forth Estuary Forum. Over the years there have been comments that the term ‘estuary’ is an English term and not in common use in Scotland. It is true that ‘Firth’ is a Scottish word with its roots in Old Norse. However the ‘Firth’ part of the Firth of Forth is commonly taken to mean the area of the Forth roughly from the Queensferry bridges downstream i.e. to the Forum’s outer limit. The ‘estuary’ is defined as the area of the Forth from the tidal limit at Stirling to the Queensferry Bridges. The River Forth is upstream of Stirling. By including the term ‘estuary’ in the name the Forum is including the whole of the Forth from Stirling to its outer limit i.e. a line drawn from Dunbar to Fife Ness.
