Issue - meetings

Opportunity for verbal updates by Community Planning Partners

Community Development – Argyll and Bute Council

Laura MacDonald informed the Group that a community engagement event would be taking place on the 21^st May in Lorn House, Oban with further information to be circulated by e-mail.  She also advised that an email containing a survey and information on free sanitary items to help tackle period poverty would also be circulated.

North Argyll Carers

Morag MacLean reported a 38% increase in registrations and that a presentation on their caring together project which has recently been launched will be brought to a future meeting.

Ms McLean highlighted the importance of correctly identifying what constitutes a carerthat will then allow support to be offered to those who require it.

Police Scotland

Inspector Stephen updated the Group on the current conditions of Oban Police Station citing that conditions were not as poor as had been reported in the press advising that an improvements group had been set up to identify different options for upgrading the building.

Inspector Stephen extended an invitation to the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Elected Members to visit the building.

Opportunity for verbal updates by Community Planning Partners

Cowal Youth Forum

Blair McColm and Xavier Graysmark informed the Group of the importance of the Cowal Youth Forum in providing opportunities, activities and support to young people in the community who wouldn’t otherwise have these opportunities. They also raised awareness of the impact the proposed funding cuts would have to the service and drew the Groups attention to ways in which meetings and partnership working could be altered to encourage more participation from a younger age demographic.

Bute and Cowal CAUCUS

Willie Lynch advised that current issues they are dealing with include, people accessing health services out with the Cowal Area and the suitability of the ferry infrastructure as well as outpatient travel costs. Meetings had been set up with Caledonian MacBrayne and the Health and Social Care Partnership to try and address the situation.

Live Argyll

Nicola Hackett advised that Live Argyll had launched a new reduced rate membership which had generated six hundred new members in four weeks across Argyll and Bute.

Live Argyll are currently involved in the McMillan Cancer Charity Move More programme and library service plan to help assist cancer patients.

Ms Hackett also advised that a further four years investment had been agreed for Active Schools which would include more targeted work with Police Scotland and youth services to support young people.

Health and Social Care Partnership

Jane Williams advised that work was ongoing to provide a three chair dialysis unit and trained nurses on Bute which would eliminate the need to travel for four dialysis patients living on the Island.

The Area Committee Manager informed the Group that a press release on the restructure of the Locality Planning Groups would be circulated to the Group at the conclusion of the meeting.

Opportunity for verbal updates by Community Planning Partners

Antonia Baird, Community Development Officer

Ms Baird advised that she was hosting an “Engaging with Communities” event in the Community Centre, Lochgilphead on Tuesday, 11 June 2019 and invited all to attend. 

Islay Community Council

Mr Porteous advised that the Community Council had put a case forward to Argyll and Bute Council for additional funding, he advised that they hadn’t heard anything for a while and were concerned that it had been lost in communication.  The Area Committee Manager advised that it had been given consideration by the Policy and Resources Committee, but had been continued until their meeting on 16 May 2019 to allow for further information to be provided. 

Carradale Community Council

Mr Brodie read out a statement from the Planning Sub-committee, Carradale Community Trust highlighting their development strategy for 2019-2022.  Mr Brodie advised that Carradale Community Trust would be attending the next meeting of the ACPG on 7 August 2019 to present a full update. 

Scottish Fire and Rescue

Watch Manager Duncan Litster provided a breakdown of incidents relating to the MAKI area for quarter 4 of 2018/19.  He highlighted activities taking place within local communities including the successful Fire Skills Course for 12 – 18 year olds in Campbeltown and the recruitment campaign for Port Charlotte which requires 5 retained firefighters, and confirmed that it would be possible for the training programme to be carried out on the island and at weekends.  Mr Litster provided information on the upcoming Biker Down campaign and advised that Lochgilphead Fire Station had recently received a kit from the Smoky Paws Society to assist in animal recovery. 

Lochgilphead Community Council

The Chair, Mr Buntin provided a progress update in relation to the Front Green and Colchester Square regeneration project and outlined areas of funding being sought.  Mr Buntin urged Partners passing through Ardrishaig to stop at Pier Square and visit the mini Kelpies.  He also advised that the paddle steamer, the Waverley was due to visit Ardrishaig on Friday, 2 August 2019. 

Clyde Fisherman’s Association

Kenny McNab thanked the group for inviting the Association to join the membership of the group.  He outlined the background to the Association and the Inshore Fisheries Alliance and advised that he would provide a full presentation to the next meeting of the ACPG in August 2019.  HE also highlighted the current discussion paper on the future of fisheries in Scotland and urged members of the group to take part.  The discussion paper can be accessed using this link:-

https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-discussion-paper-future-fisheries-management-scotland/pages/1/  

National Farmers Union of Scotland

Garry McLean highlighted the increasing number of livestock worrying in Argyll and spoke of the proposals for new legislation for repeat offenders and the possibility of increasing the penalty.  He stressed that it is important for people to be aware of the responsibilities that come with using the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. 

Young person involvement in Area Community Planning

The Area Committee Manager advised on work which is ongoing to enable more participation from young people in Area Community Planning and talked about the possible barriers in regard to attendance at meetings.  It was noted that representatives from the Youth Forum would be invited to the next meeting of the Group in August.