Agenda and minutes

Apologies were intimated from the following:-

Councillor James Robb

Councillor David Kinniburgh

Councillor Andrew Nisbet

George Watt – Chamber of Commerce

Vivien Smith – NHS

Morevain Martin – Community Development Manager

Inspector Paul Robertson – Strathclyde Police

There were no Declarations of Interest

The minute of meeting 23 November 2011 was approved as a correct record subject to the addition of apologies received from Nick Davies, Cove and Kilcreggan Community Council.

Councillor Freeman advised that the minute referred to updates being provided by Derek Leslie NHS (page 2, para 4) and Sally Loudon (page2, para 7) but these had not been received.

The Group was briefed by Iain Jackson, Governance Officer, that a planning application has been launched for the refurbishment of a number of houses in the Churchill Estate, details of which can be found on the website.

Councillor Dance confirmed that a planning application was also in process for the construction of 580 single units of accommodation within the Faslane Naval Base.  Councillor Freeman advised that during the consultation period for this application, only six people had attended the hearing, two of which were local members.

Decision

Agreed to note  the update from the Governance Officer.

The Group was provided with an informative presentation from Neil Black and Marie Harvey, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park on the structure, history and role of Rural Development within the National Park.  Mr Black highlighted details of activities undertaken over the past year which included  projects such as Park Paths, Going Green, Rural Housing Enabler, the Callander Charrette and the Argyll Mausoleum.

Marie Harvey, outlined the role of the Community Partnership, a charitable company, established to assist communities to take forward their action plans.  She advised that any Community  or voluntary organisation can apply for the free membership which would ensure their eligibility for priority notice of training and events.

Ms Harvey advised that the main focus for 2012 was to enhance the already successful apprenticeship scheme that 19 young people had benefitted from and that that financial assistance towards the purchase of any necessary protective clothing and travelling costs would be available to them. 

Ms Harvey distributed her contact details in order that any enquiries or suggestions for membership of the Steering Group may be directed to her.  A copy of the Apprenticeship Report is available upon request.

Decision

1)      Agreed to note the contents of the presentation

2)      Agreed to distribute a copy of the presentation to all members of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group.

(Ref: Copy of Presentation of LLTNP – Rural Development, submitted)

The Group was informed by Iain Jackson, Governance Officer, that the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Plan was still under development and awaiting information for incorporation from several partners despite previous requests for this.  He asked that all partners look at the success measures attributed to them in the Plan to ascertain if these were current and relevant and come back with any additions or changes as necessary.

The Group considered the Plan and several outcomes for which there was little or no likelihood of funding available to enable objective to be achieved were recommended for removal.

Nick Davies, Cove and Kilcreggan Community Council asked for clarification on outcome 3.1 of the current plan as he was aware of an earlier plan which referred to ‘Vibrant Village Centres’and Iain Jackson agreed to come back to him with the relevant information.

Decision

1)      Agreed to note the current Local Area Community Plan for Helensburgh and Lomond.

2)      Agreed to request partners to come back with updates or amendments to information contained within the Local Area Community Plan at the earliest opportunity.

3)      Governance Officer to contact Mr Davies with clarification of the queries raised by him over contents of Plan.

4)      Agreed to Invite local Police Inspector to provide update to future meeting, on effectiveness of renewed operational scheme.

The Group noted the visio document demonstrating the network of groups involved in Community Planning and how other sub groups linked into these.

Decision

1)      Agreed to note the visio document.

2)      Agreed that partners would be asked to e-mail the Area Governance Assistant with any suggestions for changes or additions for incorporation to document as necessary.

The Group was briefed by Eileen Wilson, Community Planning Manager, on the Highlight and Exception report and were advised how this should be best utilised.

Decision

Agreed to note the update by the Community Planning Manager.

No report was available for this item, and the Chair asked for confirmation of why it was on the agenda.

The Group was asked to note a report summarising the continued progress made by the Social Affairs Thematic Group.

Decision

Agreed to note the contents of the submitted report.

(Ref: Report by Executive Director, Community Services, dated December 2011, submitted)

The Group was asked to note an updated report from the Environment Thematic Group on 17 November  2011.

Decision

Agreed to note the contents of the submitted report

Ref: Report from Environment Thematic CPP Group  dated 17 November 2011, submitted)

The Group was asked to note a report by the Economy Thematic Group which provided a summary of the key issues covered at a recent meeting on 29 November 2011.

Decision

Agreed to note the contents of the submitted report.

(Ref: Report by Economy Thematic Group, dated 14 December  2011, submitted)

Eileen Wilson asked whether there should be a report from the Third Sector and Communities (CPP sub-Group) with this item and it was agreed that Iain Jackson would raise the matter with the Area Governance Officer.

The Group was briefed by Eileen Wilson, Community Planning Manager, on

the draft Argyll and Bute Community Plan and Single Outcome

Agreement for 2012-13. She advised that this was the final draft of the

document and that there was still an opportunity for final comments to be

incorporated into it  in advance of the management meeting on 1^st February and subsequently to its  anticipated signing off by the full Partnership

in mid February following which it would be launched as a Community

Planning document with information broken down into area levels. Ms

Wilson advised that the four main themes would still feature although

these may change in the future and that the document would remain in

place for one year after which it would be reviewed and further developed.

Ms Wilson requested that any comments for submission should be with her within the next few days in order that they may be considered at the CPP Management meeting. 

Decision

1)      Agreed to note the briefing by the Community Planning Officer.

2)      Agreed to forward comments for consideration at the CPP Management Meeting to the Community Planning Officer.

The Group was briefed by Katrina Sayer, Argyll Voluntary Action, on the ‘Involve to Devolve’ project, now renamed as ‘Influencing Change’, which focuses on  the harder to reach members of the community.  She advised that funding had been secured to deliver training through the STEPS training programme which affords these  individuals and groups the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills and self-confidence to engage in community processes. Katrina advised that close working with partners would be integral to this project.  The Group were asked to forward details of any persons or groups that they felt would benefit from the project to Ms Sayer.

Decision

Agreed to note the verbal presentation by the Community Empowerment Outreach Worker.

Neil Sturrock, SPT, informed the Group that the Draft Capital Programme for 2012-2013 currently indicated an Infrastructure Upgrade budget of £70k allocated to bus stops and  £75k to Improvements to Helensburgh Town Centre. 

The Park and Ride proposals are ongoing and information on the progress of this will come to the February Area Committee for discussion. 

There was some discussion around the proposed withdrawal of the Helensburgh/Kilcreggan ferry service and Councillor Reay agreed to raise concerns over this at the forthcoming SPT Partnership meeting.

Decision

Agreed to note the updates provided by partners.