Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from:

Councillor Alison Hay

Councillor Anne Horn

Councillor Donald Kelly

Councillor John McAlpine

Yvonne Litster, ACHA

Stewart Farmer, Federation of Small Businesses

Stuart Irvine, East Kintyre Community Council

Robert Colburn, Red Cross

Elizabeth Ball, West Kintyre Community Council

Bob Millar, Lochgilphead Community Council

Peter Kastelein, Lochgilphead Community Council

The Minutes of the previous meetings, 11 January 2012 and 1 February 2012,  were approved as a true and correct record.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

An update by Charles Reppke, Head of Governance and Law.

Charles Reppke advised the group that he was aware of concerns which had been raised in regards the style of Minutes and recent omissions.  He continued that staff had endeavoured to modify the Minute process; however none of his staff were trained in shorthand and it had proved somewhat difficult to fully minute the meeting ad verbatim. 

The issue which had been raised in regards,  Diageo, had been rectified in the Minute of the meeting held on 11 January 2012.  He stated that,  in practice, a Minute is not approved until the subsequent meeting.  It is at this point, it is approved or members are able to make suitable alterations, additions or deletions to the said Minute.

Charles Reppke continued on the issue raised by Hamish Campbell (Islay Jura Community Voluntary Service), he stated that both the Leader and the Chief Executive had extended their apologies for their unavoidable late arrival at the November LACPG. Mr Reppke was keen to ensure that all Minutes were suitable for purpose.

He continued that  the January LACPG and the special LACPG held in February, where he was present at both, were extremely positive. Mr Reppke stated that the local Community had come together, engaged and the meetings had been very effective.  He hoped that the LACPG would agree their priorities and continue forward in the same positive manner.

Mr Reppke stated that his department would always be open to being corrected and endeavour to do their best for the local community.

Councillor Semple stated that the group needed to be in receipt of strong and relevant information.  The reports contained within the Agenda pack were not, in his opinion, substantive.  He continued that there was a need to share information and be in receipt of written reports, not verbal updates.  These reports should be disseminanted prior to the meeting to enable group members to be fully up-to-date and well versed on relevant issues.

A presentation by Christina West, Locality Manager – Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islay.

Christina West gave a presentation to the group detailing proposals for the new Reshaping Older Peoples Services. 

After the presentation. Christina West invited questions from the group. 

Hamish Campbell  stated that, in his view, the policy changes were driven ultimately by cost.  As a service user, he felt that to reduce quality care resulted in a saving cost.  If services were provided by the private sector, he felt this resulted in an inferior service. 

Christina West replied that the detrimental impact of the ailing Scottish economy was endemic across the country.  This was a demographic problem and the policy changes directed by the Scottish Government were driven by economy. 

The new service was being tailored to peoples choices, which had indicated independent care, and not within  large institutional centres.

She continued that the Partnership, which was in place,  would monitor the process and any concerns in regards private providers would be tackled timely and effectively.  She stated the need to guard against any sweeping statements made in regards to the private sector.

Lesley Anderson replied that the Scottish Government were well aware of the problems in coping with an ageing population.  The problem had been apparent from as long as  20 years ago and there was a need to be more proactive as opposed to being reactive.  Christina West agreed the need for incremental steps to ensure significant changes.

Councillor Colville voiced his concerns in regards the service delivery locally, which constituted a wide geographical area.  He highlighted delivery of services undertaken by local organisation, such as AVA/ABSEN, as examples of flexible, community working.

Christina West replied that Glenn Heritage, CEO, Argyll Voluntary Agency (AVA) was on the Partnership board and was a key partner in the delivery of local services.  Jeanette Laughton raised concerns in regards the lack of respite care which would be available to local carers.  She stated the need for the provision of more help as opposed to reductions being undertaken.  Christina West stated that the Scottish Government had decreed that 20% of the budget be spent on carers.  She continued that work streams would be implemented to ensure that this was adhered to and address carers needs.  In addition, training would be given to enable carers to look after themselves effectively.

Councillor Semple submitted further questions to Christina West:  These included:

1. Would the roll out include elected Members

2. The Model of Change  - would this take account of any learning process from Bute

3. How would Housing be involved in the process

Christina West replied that

1.  Members would be included on joint groups

2. In regards any learning from Bute ..here they had closed beds and resources saved had been invested into the local community

3.  It had been a struggle to scheduled meetings between the Housing Associations  - who were a key route to housing adaptation.  After several requests, ACHA had agreed to join the group. 

Councillor Semple replied that in regards to question 2, beds were needed.  He could not see the correlation in bed reduction and investment into the community.

Christina West stated that beds were dependent on patient’s length of stay, when acute and complex care was required.  Community nurses could administer antibiotics at home and this was the preferred option for many patients.  Whereby, they could receive care in their own homes.

Councillor Semple reiterated the need to get the Housing Associations round a meeting table to address housing issues.  

An update by Christina West, Locality Manager – Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islay.

Christina West advised that adverts for the provision of a GP in Bowmore and on Jura had been placed in the British Medical Journal on 18 February and the closing date for receipt of applications was 10 March.

The Islay Community Council sub-group were engaging with the Press and an open letter had been compiled, detailing the benefits of living and working on Islay.  Links had been made available to enable interested parties who were interested in the post to view the Bowmore and Jura websites.  She envisaged that interviews would be conducted around April and some provisional dates had been scheduled.

There were intermittent technical problems with the VC equipment and both Islay and Campbeltown lost visual and audio power for periods during the meeting.

Discussion followed in regards parking difficulties encountered by some patients visiting the GP surgery within the hospital.  Councillor Currie stressed the need for NHS Highland to liaise with the local community to ascertain and gauge local views.  He enquired if NHS Highland were looking at alternative property to house the GP surgery.

Christina West could not give any assurance that this would be undertaken.

Councillor Currie urged that this issue be addressed, as in his view,  the hospital site was not convenient.  Christina West replied that some patients reported that  the GP surgery was convenient; however others did not agree.

At this point in the meeting, the VC connection was lost between Islay and  Campbeltown.  Members attending from the Servicepoint in Bowmore left the meeting.

An update by Rod Clayton,  Area Manager – MAKI.

Alison Hunter gave a brief review of the Older Peoples Review and the process of transferring elements of work.  She detailed the number of voluntary redundancies within the service and the new management structure for Adult Care. 

Overall, the MAKI area was doing better than the global figure. 

The Chair thanked Alison for her attendance at the meeting.

Robert Colburn had forwarded his apologies to the meeting, and Murdina Clark had agreed to attend the meeting in his place.

She reported that they had received further funding for a 3 year period. 

Councillor Philand asked the group for agreement for representation to be made to the forthcoming meeting of the Executive of Argyll and Bute Council by the Mid Argyll and the Islands Local Area Community Planning Group to support the maintenance and continuation of the Rural Transport Grant which is made to the Red Cross, which they are dependent on to contune their valuable work in transporting patients in the MAKI Area.

Action:  The group agreed to the request made by Councillor Philand that representation be made to the Executive meeting of the Council in this regards. 

Andy Maclure, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue informed the group on the procedure for initiating a visit.  The visit would be by a minimum of 2 officers who would carry out a risk assessment of the house and provide general fire safety advice or risk specific advice if required.  Smoke detectors will be supplied and fitted if required and the service was free.  He detailed the risk of fires to ageing populations and related the groups  which Strathclyde Fire and Rescue aimed to target.  Andy Maclure continued that it was usually the case that  these groups were receiving help and input from other partners.

The Chair thanked Andy for his attendance at the LACPG.

Shirley MacLeod advised that she was awaiting the completion of a draft Scorecard and hoped that this would come to the next LACPG meeting for the group to agree.

Eileen Wilson reported that a draft would come to the next LACPG at the same time as the Scorecard.  It had been a challenge to reach agreeance on the final list of scussess measures.  The next step would be to have the draft signed off by the Leader, Chief Executive and Derek Leslie, General Manager Argyll and Bute CHP, NHS Highland.

Shirley MacLeod reported on endeavours to try and determine the linkages between local groups and the LACPG and then build upon these.  She hoped to detail this information at the next meeting and provide the governance arrangements for groups. 

Jeanette Laughton stated that, in her view, the last few LACPG meetings had been positive.  However, a lot of the Community Council representatives who had previously attended  would not be returning to future meetings. 

Councillor Semple felt that the LACPG structure  was academic and it was not undertaking what it had been set out to do.

Councillor Philand stated that of the 18 Community Councils in the MAKI area, there was only attendance from 2 of them at this meeting.

Shirley MacLeod replied that the Self-Assessment exercise would indicate the structure which partners wanted and which would ultimately work.  The outcome of the Self-Assessment should come to the next meeting and would give a clear indication of the way forward.

Maryanne Stewart reported on changes which she would notate to Theresa McLetchie in regards amending Third Sector group details.

Eileen Wilson reminded the group that the Consultation Diary was there to be used.  She detailed the 29 consultations on the diary.  However, none were currently active.

Councillor Semple informed the group of 2 important consultations in force:-

The Ferry Review

Referendum   

Eileen Wilson reported that issues in each area had been identified and would come to the Management Committee scheduled  for 21 March.  The clarifying of success measures was an ongoing process.

Overall the plan was moving forward.  However it would be for the LACPG to make their own changes.  She continued that within MAKI there were structures (– Mid Argyll Partnership and the Kintyre Initiative  Working Group) which carried out effective local community planning, and it was appropriate for the LACPG to recognise this NOW and work within these structures. In regards the Islands, an overview would be needed to determine an effective forum which would work there.

Shirley MacLeod informed the group that the 3 papers which had been tabled were reports from the Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership meeting held on 15 February.  These were updates to advise the group of strategic issues arising and to help across the framework.

Councillor Semple raised his concerns that the papers had only been received that day and this afforded little time to review them effectively prior to the meeting.  Shirley replied that she would ensure that reports were disseminated 1 week in advance of the meeting to allow for review. 

Shirley MacLeod opened the discussion in regards scheduling a date for the next meeting.

Discussion followed in regards the need to bring representation from both the Mid Argyll Partnership (MAP) and the Kintyre Initiative Working Group (KIWG) to the next meeting. 

Councillor Colville urged that the issue of an island forum be addressed.

The group agreed that Shirley MacLeod would identify a date in June for the next meeting and advise the group accordingly, and that MAP, KIWG and effective representation from the island communities would be asked to send representation to the meeting, but there would not be a need fro community groups who attend these forums also to attend the LACPG.  The LACPG would, however, remain the meeting which was attended by Core Partners and organisations across the MAKI area.

Shirley MacLeod would endeavour to co-ordinate a date which suited MAP,  KIWG and Island attendees.

The Chair thanked the group for attending the meeting.