Agenda and minutes

Andrew Campbell welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Community Planning Management Committee 6 December 2006

The Minutes of the meeting of 6^th December 2006 were accepted as an accurate record.

Reference minutes of last meeting, item 7, it was agreed that Muriel Kupris be asked to inform the Management Committee of the response regarding additional funding.

Action note: Muriel Kupris to report back to next meeting on 18^th April

Reference minutes of last meeting, item 9, in regard to information on the website, Eileen Wilson advised that this would be discussed at the Community Planning Network meeting to be held on 8^th February and it would be suggested that this topic tie in to Community Safety Forum/Young Scot seminar.

Action note:  Eileen Wilson to report to Management Committee, 18^th April 2007

Reference minutes of the last meeting, item 10, Eileen Wilson updated the meeting on progress.  She had met with the Council’s Corporate Funding Officer who was progressing invitations to the local partnership ‘hub’ as well as arrangements for the panel to meet on the afternoons of each Management Committee meeting. The panel would be briefed prior to the next meeting on 18^th April.

Action note: Eileen Wilson/Arlene Cullum

Reference minutes of last meeting, item 12(a), Eileen Wilson advised that she and Fiona Ritchie were endeavouring to arrange a suitable date for both of them to meet prior to the next Management Committee meeting, to which Fiona would be invited.

Action note: Eileen Wilson

Reference discussion at the last meeting, item 12(c), when it was agreed there would be a report back regarding Construction, one of the key sectors for growth, Sue Gledhill advised after consultation with the industry locally a number of areas for attention had been identified and action was being taken to address them.  The Construction College at Kilmory was due to open later in 2007 and provide much needed local training opportunities helping to retain young people in the area.  A Construction Industry advisor had also been secured to focus on the Argyll area full time rather than covering as part of a wider area.

After discussion on the synergy and the possible involvement of young people, e.g. under the Not in Education or Employment Training (NEET) strategy, it was agreed that Sue would report back on progress made.

Lucinda Gray, Head of the Developing Skills Team at HIE Argyll and the Islands, would be happy to provide further details on the local initiatives within construction to any interested partners.   Her contact details are:-Tel: 01546 605408, e mail: lucinda.gray@hient.co.uk

Action note: Sue Gledhill to report to meeting on 18^th April on progress, providing a presentation on the involvement of NEET

Reference discussion at the last meeting, item 12(e), when Alan Milstead undertook to look at the problems which the islands were experiencing with Broadband, Sue Gledhill advised that Alan had received reports of various problems experienced in the Highland area.  Having looked into the matter, Sue advised that problems would be dealt with on an individual basis by supplying BT with name, address, telephone number and an explanation of the problem.  In order that problems in other rural areas within Argyll and Bute could be brought to the attention of BT it was agreed that Community Councils would obtain details of individual cases for Community Councils to forward to BT.

Action notes:           Julian Hankinson to advise Community Councils

in Argyll and Bute; and

                                                            Sue Gledhill to feedback to IatE

Eileen Wilson provided feedback from the Community Planning Partnership Day held on 23^rd January which produced a good, positive evaluation.   Eileen presented the first draft of the Community Plan, drawn up as a result of the Partnership Day, and went through the vision, key facts, themes and priorities, outlining the essential elements required for measuring progress and performance.

It was agreed that examples of good practice should be illustrated in the Plan and Eileen would contact those who attended the Partnership Day in January and feedback regarding recognition and promotion of what they are doing.

Eileen requested that partners submit photographs of people and evidence of partnership working for inclusion in the Community Plan document.

The meeting discussed how various groups, such as Community Safety Forum and Health and Wellbeing group involve young people in the community and the Police and Fire groups were also to be encouraged to involve youths in local CPP groups.

Action note:  Eileen Wilson to progress  and

All partners for photographs

Eileen Wilson spoke to the meeting regarding preparations for the CPP Biennial Conference to be held in June and advised she would visit the Pavilion, Rothesay in early course to look at the facilities available and at the logistics for ferry travel. The topics for the day would centre round the leading rural area vision and arrangements would now be made to invite a keynote speaker and look at the format for the day.

 Action note: Eileen Wilson

Report and Executive Summary (Nicola Debnam/Blair Fletcher)

Nicola Debnam discussed the report and executive summary consultative draft on the development of a local transportation strategy for Argyll and Bute, copies having previously been circulated.  It was noted that roadshow events were being held throughout January and February at Mull, Oban, Helensburgh, Bute, Campbeltown, Dunoon, Lochgilphead and Islay where a wide range of stakeholders would be consulted on the new strategy.  Nicola reported that comments so far were very positive.  The consultative draft would proceed to the Council’s Area Committees, Strategic Policy Committee, the full Council and to Community Planning Partnership at their next meeting on 2^nd March.

For details log on to the Local Transport Strategy box on the Council website Home Page at www.argyll-bute.gov.uk

10 minute Powerpoint Presentation (Martin Turnbull)

Martin Turnbull provided a presentation on the Argyll and Bute Youth Strategy and gave the definition of the Argyll and Bute Youth Work Plan.  Three defining features of youth work are - youth choose to participate; work must build from where young people are; and youth work recognises the young person and the youth worker as partners in the learning process.  The age group for youths is 11 to 25 year olds, with particular emphasis on the 11 to 18 year olds.  There had been a good rate of response on a consultation exercise. Availability of jobs, affordable housing, sports facilities, entertainment facilities and things for young people to do generally all rated poorly.  There was better feedback on an individual basis regarding young people’s local areas, e.g. a nice place to live, is usually safe, has a great environment and great people. Services received were rated highly and young people believed they gain significant wider benefits from taking part in youth work activities.

Martin answered various questions and advised on locally based activities.  It was felt that young people should be encouraged in volunteering work. The meeting also discussed links which could be made between the Youth Forum and the Partnership and agreed that the Partnership attend local events.  Further questions would be put to young people and a report back to the Partnership.

A full version of the Youth Link statement on youth work can be found on the Youth Link website:  www.youthlink.co.uk

Action note: Martin Turnbull to report back to Management Committee

(Brian Barker)

There had previously been circulated DTI consultation document on The Post Office Network and subsequent report which Brian Barker had prepared for submission to Argyll and Bute Council and which was provided as background to the consultation.

Following discussion it was agreed that the matter would come back to a future meeting once a definitive list of post offices facing closure was made available.

Action note: Brian Barker to report back to Management Committee

(i)                  Health and Wellbeing Group (Elaine Garman)

(ii)                Argyll and the Islands Economic Forum (Alan Milstead/Sue Gledhill)

(iii)               Dunbartonshire Economic Forum (Aileen Edwards)

(iv)              Strategic Housing and Communities Forum (Malcolm MacFadyen)

There was submitted and noted report by Shirley MacLeod, Bute and Cowal Local Community Planning Pilot Co-ordinator, copies having previously been circulated. 

Eileen Wilson reported on the successful seminar held in Strachur on 1^st December 2006.  A follow up meeting from the event had been held and themes agreed - Anti Social Behaviour, Health and Wellbeing, Local Economic Forums, Housing and Communities and Culture and Environment - should be progressed by existing groups where possible, with the critical factor for the pilot being to ensure that the identified issues are acted upon and progressed.  A small management group for the pilot would meet to ensure an overview of progress.

It is planned to hold a local event again later in the year, to continue networking and communication. It was proposed to repeat the seminar on an annual basis and this process may be considered for other localities in the Argyll and Bute area.

·         Isle of Jura report

·         Isle of Coll report

The updates from the islands of Jura and Coll, copies having previously been circulated, were noted.

Andrew Campbell confirmed that Fiona Carswell was the recently appointed Local Development Officer on Coll and that projects are progressing.   Most projects on Jura are doing quite well although the fast passenger ferry may not go ahead this year until funding is secured for the infrastructure.

Jane Fowler produced copies of the Council’s Sustainable Design Guidance leaflet for information. The aim of the guidance is to ensure that any proposed development is appropriate for its context and is sustainable into the future, that it does not simply meet the applicants’ immediate needs.

Further information and copies of the guidance can be obtained by contacting the Council’s Development Projects Unit, Email: catherine.mcnally@argyll-bute.gov.uk or by viewing the Council’s website at www.argyll-bute.gov.uk

Geoff Calvert advised that a 5-day course on Community Planning and Community Safety Partnership Working would be held at the Scottish Fire Service College, Gullane, from 26^th March 2007 to 30^th March 2007.

Action note:  Eileen Wilson to email details to CPP Management Committee

For further details log on to www.scottish-fireservicecollege.org

Eileen Wilson informed the meeting of an invitation from Dave Rushton, Institute of Local Television and Department of Geography and Sociology, University of Strathclyde to attend a forum to be held on 14^th February on Scotland’s Public Service Spectrum.  This forum would provide an opportunity to discuss Scotland’s future spectrum requirements for public service broadcasting and wireless broadband, to assist an informed response to Ofcom’s consultation on Digital Dividend access and regulation before the consultation closes on 20^th March.

For further details Email to: local.tv@virgin.net

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 18^th April 2007 at 10.30 am in the SNH Offices, Kilmory Industrial Estate, Lochgilphead.