Issue - meetings

Takki presented an update on the mapping exercise being undertaken by CLES, funded by TSI on behalf of the CPP. CLES have conducted key informant interviews and held community based workshops in each of the administrative areas. A session will be held with the Management Committee as part of this meeting this afternoon. This will provide a deep dive into Community Wealth Building and Committee members will have the opportunity to discuss what the strengths and opportunities around Community Wealth Building are in Argyll and Bute.  Cllr Currie requested further information on Community Wealth Building, Lucy offered to circulate some further reading that may be of interest to the Committee.

ACTION - CP Team (LD) to share further information about Community Wealth Building

Takki gave a presentation on the Community Wealth Building - Audit, Strategy and Business Plans. CLES have been appointed as the consultant to produce these plans that will look at the five pillars of CWB (plural ownership of the economy, making financial power work for local places, fair employment and just labour markets, progressive procurement of goods and service and socially just use of land and property). CLES are Manchester based and have partnered with a local collective to do work on the ground working with local communities. 

The work CLES are being asked to do has been divided into lots:

-          Lot 1 is an audit of existing best practice and a mapping exercise against each of the five pillars,

-          Lot 2 is to identify case studies that can be replicated across Argyll and Bute and identify opportunities relevant to our local and strategic plans,

-          Lot 3 is the development of a CWB strategy and action plan, and

-          Lots 4 and 5 are the development of 2 business cases and models to move actions forward in two areas (proposed to explore a business model for Community Energy and a food hub but the final focus will be determined by the audit and mapping exercise).

The project will be managed by a steering group, the proposed members of which are Takki Sulaiman (TSI), Morag Goodfellow / Claire McMurchy (HIE), Chief Executive and Directors from Argyll and Bute Council (supported by John McLuckie), Anthony standing / Susan McRae (SDS) and Alison McGrory (NHS Highland). Terms of reference for the steering group will discussed at the first meeting and will approve project activity before reporting back to the CPP MC for ratification in December 2023.

The project will include interviews with partners in July - August 2023 and there will be a dedicated CPP workshop in August / September 2023 which will give an opportunity for all partners to deepen their understanding of CWB and how we can use it meaningfully. Citizen led workshops will be held from August to October 2023 (one in each administrative area) and these will be used to feed into plan outcomes before business cases are selected in October 2023.

Joe thanked Takki for his update on this. Cllr Currie noted a good existing example of CWB is Scottish Power proposing an offshore windward near Colonsay and Islay and they are actively looking to the community on procurement servicing and community benefit funds. Takki agreed and added that there are various ways energy model partnerships can function be it direct community benefit or profit sharing / shareholding, however the initial set up costs can be high for the anchor institutions although the longer term social and community benefits would be valuable. Joe said the Fire Service were already using local tradesman on islands for fire station contracts. David also gave examples of how Comhairle nan Eilean Siar have used CWB to deliver school coach contracts, land buyouts and grave digging services to great effect.

ACTION - All partners are requested to make time available for CWB interviews with CLES.

Rory added a link in the meeting chat to an article in the Lancet on the mental health and wellbeing impact of a Community Wealth Building programme in England for information.