Agenda and minutes

Councillor Allan Macaskill welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced Peter Minshall the new Chief Executive of Argyll CVS, Pat Logan of the Argyll & Bute Volunteer Centre, Alison Taylor of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, Alistair MacAlistair and Mary MacGugan of the Association of Community Councils and Charlotte Lee of the Chose Life Initiative who were attending their first meeting of the Community Planning Partnership.

The Minutes were accepted as an accurate record of the meeting held on 2 July 2004.

Lolita Lavery reported that the recommendations of the National Community Planning Implementation Group, namely an annual high level summit, a network of sectoral and geographic community planning champions and a network of community planning practitioners would be discussed at the Highlands and Islands Convention on 8 November and that any actions forthcoming would be reported back at the next meeting.

 

Councillor Macaskill advised the meeting that Sergeant Neil Wallace had been promoted to the position of Inspector in the Oban office.  He expressed his thanks to Neil for his role in the Community Planning Partnership and wished him well in his new post.

Andrew Campbell advised that the Bute and Cowal Pilot was not progressing as anticipated as the Partnership had created a complicated structure which was causing confusion.  Lessons had been learned and he asked the Partnership to endorse the following proposals:

 

·         That in view of limited resources no new Level 1 structure be formed but that existing structures such as Community Councils, Community Care Forums, etc., be used in areas where gaps are identified (Dunoon outwith ADG, West Cowal etc.)

 

·         That Level 1 Support Staff identify appropriate Community Representatives to sit on the Area Partnership (and that whilst they do this they participate in the Area Partnership meetings to facilitate communication)

 

·         That publicity be put on hold until the Area Partnership has something concrete to promote.  In the meantime, Level 1 Support Staff will be given a briefing sheet from which to work (to give them information to address common questions and to ensure that there is a consistent approach across all areas)

 

·         That Community Representatives be paid childcare, travel expenses, etc. from the main CPP budget  (Capacity Building heading has been created for this purpose). If this budget is spent, partners will have to top up the budget as part of their annual contributions.

 

·         That George MacKenzie and Lolita Lavery meet with Level 1 Support Staff to discuss an appropriate way forward.

Andrew Campbell outlined some of the difficulties being faced in implementing the agreed target of 50% community representation at all levels of the new CPP structure and asked the Partnership to endorse the following approach:

 

·         That the CPP change the basis of community representation from one that focuses on 50% representation to one that focuses on a designated scrutiny role for any community representative

·         That the Management Committee be given responsibility to develop this further

 

It was, however, agreed that communities should still be at the heart of the community planning process and that a flexible approach be adopted for involving communities at the various levels of the CPP structure.

 

Lolita tabled a letter from Communities Scotland entitled “Support for Community Engagement in Community Regeneration:  Community Voices Programme” which is a new fund aimed at helping people living in the most disadvantaged communities to influence and engage in the planning and delivery of services.  It was noted that the resource allocation for Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership for the following three years would be:

 

2005/06            -            £60,000

2006/07            -            £53,000

2007/08            -            £53,000

This is a continuation of old money under a new name.

Andrew Campbell advised that Lynda Syed, the Council’s Communications Manager, would be tabling a paper on the Communications Plan at the next Management Committee meeting and that progress would be reported back to the next CPP meeting in March 2005.  He also mentioned that the CPP’s website was being redesigned and that the site should go “live” towards the end of the year.

Donald MacVicar outlined the content of the draft Regeneration Outcome Agreement which provides an outline of the overall approach that has been developed in relation to the implementation of the new Community Regeneration Fund.  The Community Regeneration Fund replaces the existing Social Inclusion Partnership and Better Neighbourhood Services Fund and has been designed to bring improvements to the most deprived areas within Argyll and Bute.  He advised that the final Regeneration Outcome Agreement had to be submitted to the Scottish Executive by mid December 2004 and that any comments on the draft should be submitted to him as soon as possible. The Partnership noted the planned expenditure over the next three year period.

Lolita advised that Eddy Graham from IBP Strategy and Research, the new consultancy firm appointed to oversee the Citizens’ Panel, had given a presentation to the Management Committee on the Citizens’ Panel process and had outlined some innovative ways in making optimum use of the Panel.   It was agreed that Eddy would be invited to the next meeting of the Partnership in March 2005. 

 

Lolita mentioned that the next questionnaire would be going out in January 2005.  Suggested topics included Community Safety, Equality, Volunteering and Green Issues.  Lolita advised that any other issues which partners wished to include should be submitted to her as soon as possible.

Theme Group One

Gavin Brown advised that the last meeting of the Group had been very productive and that the Joint Health Improvement Plan had been signed off.  He also mentioned that an event entitled “Health Improvement – Planning the Links” was to be held on 6 December 2004 and that invitations would shortly be issued to all Partners.  The achievements of the Drivesafe and Chose Life campaigns were noted.  Gavin advised that the Director for Public Health would be attending the next Theme Group meeting to speak on the Annual Public Health Report and it was hoped that as many of the partners as possible would be attending this meeting.

 

Theme Group Two

Alan Milstead advised that the Group had held a facilitated workshop on the 18^th October to define the role, remit and future of the Group.  Unfortunately no conclusions were reached and a small working group was asked to develop an appropriate way forward.  The Group were, however, in discussions about the possible formation of a Construction College in Mid Argyll and the production of a CD to encourage inward migration to Argyll.

 

Theme Group Three

Donald MacVicar advised that the Group had met in mid October.  Attendance was once again poor and an effort was being made to get more organisations represented.  Donald mentioned that a Transport Co-ordinator had been appointed to take the recommendations of the Napier University Study forward and that the Cultural Strategy for Argyll and Bute would be issued at the end of November.  The problems experienced in progressing the actions on renewable energy and energy conservation were also tabled. 

Lolita mentioned that Dr Andrew Goudie, Head of the Scottish Executive’s Finance and Central Services Department would be attending the next Management Committee meeting.  It was agreed that the issues outlined by Lolita be raised with Dr Goudie and that feedback be given at the next Partnership meeting. 

Lolita briefly outlined Audit Scotland’s proposed Community Planning indicators and advised that the Management Committee had submitted comments to Audit Scotland as they felt that the indicators were inappropriate to rural areas and did not add value to community planning.

 

James McLellan advised that Audit Scotland were in the process of auditing local authorities and that Argyll and Bute would be audited in 2005.  The Community Planning Partnership would be audited as part of this process.  He also advised that the Education Department would be audited at the beginning of December and that Community Planning Partners would be involved in this process along with parents, school boards and staff.

Charlotte Lee spoke to this report and advised that in 2002/03 there had been 17 suicides, 7 undetermined deaths and 149 incidents of recorded self harm in Argyll and Bute.   It was noted that an action planning seminar had been held on 9^th September in order to increase the awareness of “Choose Life”, identify gaps and priorities for development as well as people willing to be involved in the implementation and review of the action plan.  Two further seminars were planned for May 2005 and March 2006.   The Partnership endorsed the Chose Life Action Plan which has to be submitted to the Scottish Executive by December 2004. 

Lolita mentioned that the second CPP Review Day would be held in the Corran Halls in Oban on Friday 10 June 2005.  Ideas for topics or issues to be covered as well as possible keynote speakers should be submitted to Lolita prior to the Management Committee meeting in December.

Pat Logan advised that there would be a Seminar in Dunoon on Thursday 18 November 2004 on Time Banking.  The Time Bank Co-ordinator for Scotland would be giving a presentation and an invitation would be sent to all Partners.

 

Alasdair Oatts gave a brief overview on the work of the Argyll and Bute Care and Repair programme.

The next Community Planning Partnership meeting will be held at 11:00 on Friday 4 March 2005 in the Council Chambers, Kilmory, Lochgilphead.