Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from:

Margaret Adams, Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group

Andrew Campbell, Scottish Natural Heritage

Elaine Garman, NHS Highland

Shirley MacLeod, Argyll & Bute Council

Alison McGrory, NHS Highland

Pippa Milne, Argyll and Bute Council

Gordon Wales, Scottish Government

Jim welcomed Andy Buntin and Stuart McLean to their first Management Committee meeting following the decision to have the Area Community Planning Group Chairs sit at the Management Committee.

The Action Tracker was updated and approved as an accurate reflection of current actions.

It was agreed to remove Action 48 as this was now business as usual and mark action 92 as complete.

Lorna Elliott presented the information from the November meetings of the Area Community Planning Groups.

The Management Committee discussed the four points raised by the Area Community Planning Groups and the response is below each point.

Advise whether a current Chair can stand for re-election at the end of their two year tenure in the position of Chair

The Management Committee had no issue with the current OLI Chair to stand for re-election should she wish to, and commended her on the splendid job she was currently doing.

It was agreed that the Terms of Reference be looked at in the new year, and two to three cycles (of two years) for Area Community Planning Group chairs be considered.

Provide further advice and guidance on what is required under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act with regards to locality planning before the February round of meetings

Following discussion, it was agreed that the preferred approach would be to embed, encompass and reference existing plans into a locality plan rather than rewriting and creating additional plans. It was agreed that the February Area Community Planning Groups would be the start of the journey and that the locality plans would have a targeted focus on communities within the four areas.

Consider the impact of the increase in the number of camper vans/mobile homes visiting the area and issues relating to the level of facilities provided for the vehicles on both island and remote mainland communities

It was agreed that better information, marketing and promotion was needed for camper vans/ mobile homes visiting the area to tackle the negative issues experienced by communities. Work on this requires working with Calmac. It was agreed that this was an action for the Council’s Roads and Amenity Services Department to consider further. Jennifer Nicol commented that HIE are supporting some communities with this and could link in to an action on this.

Consider how best to ensure that funders are aware of the particular challenges faced by third sector organisations and community groups running services, projects and initiatives within the Argyll and Bute CPP area.

Cllr Walsh emphasised the need for funding organisations to take better consideration of rurality in their assessment process, and the need to fund things that work, with less emphasis on new.

Glenn Heritage advised that the TSI were already talking to the Big Lottery regarding Health and Social Care Partnership Locality Plans and are encouraging groups to tie the outcomes of projects to local outcomes sighted in plans to have a much better opportunity to demonstrate value and gain funding.

It was agreed that Lorna Elliott would put those requiring assistance in touch with Glenn Heritage.

It was recognised that the development of ‘locality plans’ for Community Planning will be helpful for discussions with funders such as The Big Lottery. It was agreed to keep this on the agenda in order to broker a solution in future

Action: Lorna Elliott to amend the Terms of Reference regards tenure of ACPG chairs, for agreement at February Area Community Planning Group meetings.

Action: Council’s Roads and Amenity Service team to consider the better promotion of facilities and parking for mobile homes/camper vans working with partners within the tourism sector, including Calmac and HIE.

Action: Lorna Elliott to put those requiring assistance with funding applications in touch with Glenn Heritage.

Action: ‘Funding Challenges’ to remain on agenda.

Stuart Green presented the report which provided an update on the sector specific workgroups of the forum. The targeted effort to raise the profile of Argyll and Bute was noted. Stuart emphasised the momentum felt by the Economic Forum following growth in sectors and funded activity supporting this.

The Management Committee noted the report.

Rona presented the report and advised that feedback had been positive. A comprehensive note of the day and presentations are available upon request.

Rona presented the report and advised the Management Committee of the work required to ensure the current Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) is compliant with the requirements of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act.

The Community Planning team were actioned to undertake the work necessary to ensure the current SOA transitions into the Local Outcome Improvement Plan.

Discussion was held on the terminology of LOIP. Rona confirmed that, following discussion with civil servants, the document name didn’t need to be ‘the LOIP’ the importance was meeting the criteria set out under the title LOIP in the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act.

The following points were put forward and considered by Management Committee members:

• The SOA has taken many years to “bed in” and is now at a stage where this is recognised
• There are several plans already that start with Local/Locality and a LOIP may create confusion
• The question of what is ‘local’ creates different meaning in different contexts.

It was agreed that the Area Community Planning Groups should have an opportunity to comment on the terminology.

Rona was tasked to compile suggestions on what the CPP may wish to alternatively name the LOIP taking on board the considerations of the Management Committee, which included Local Outcome Agreement, and Argyll and Bute Outcome Improvement Plan, and present options for a decision at the meeting in March 2017.

Action: ACPGs to consider the terminology for the LOIP/SOA.

Action: Rona to compile suggestions for terminology of the LOIP/SOA and present options to the Management Committee for a decision in March.

Fraser went through the activities of the delivery plan for Outcome 3.

Anne Paterson advised that the Education Department was in contact with the Western Isles regarding “E-sgoil” and that a pilot using Lync was currently underway with 4 secondary schools.

It was confirmed that the Argyll and Bute Family Pathway should sit within Outcome 3 and that it was currently being rolled out in the Cowal area with roll-out plans for OLI and MAKI. Anne Paterson advised that the Early Years Collaborative no longer exists in its previous format and had merged with another forum to become the Children and Young People’s Improvement Collaborative, sitting under Argyll and Bute’s Children. It was agreed that this action be changed to On Track.

It was confirmed that further guidance was being waited on regarding Named Persons and that a response had been submitted to the Scottish Government regarding their recent consultation on this.

Action: Samantha to amend activity on Family Pathway to On Track following update.

Anthony spoke firstly on the announcement made by the Scottish Government with regards to a Workforce Development Fund which removes the public sector eligibility restrictions that had been in place previously, enabling public sector bodies to have the same access to funding as the third sector/private sector. Anthony also advised that there would be more opportunities for apprentices for those aged over 25 which he believed would benefit the demographic of Argyll and Bute.

The Modern Apprentice Expansion Plan for Argyll and Bute is part of the Highlands and Islands Expansion Plan. Anthony had hoped to share the draft plan at this stage but it will not be available until mid-January at the earliest when the Board meets.

Anthony emphasised the desire to grow MA’s in Argyll and Bute, and that the promotion of them to employers, young people and teachers is really important.

Louise Long commented she would like to be involved in MA’s in connection to looked after children.

Jenny circulated the Phase 1 report, published in October 2016 looking at the roles of HIE, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council.

Jenny advised that the report recognised the socio-economic challenges facing the Highlands and Islands area and that there was a commitment to keep dedicated support in this area. The report also stated that a new statutory body would be established to coordinate the four agencies, all of which will retain their Chief Executives and legal status.

Phase 2 of the review runs from November 2016 to March 2017 and will be looking at implementing the Phase 1 recommendations.

Cleland asked whether the boundary split within Argyll and Bute would be looked at further and Jenny advised that she believed that point was still open for discussion.

If any partners have any further questions regarding the review, it was agreed that they should be submitted to Jenny. Jenny also agreed to circulate the report electronically to all Management Committee members.

Action: Jenny to circulate link to Phase 1 of Enterprise and Skills Review

Louise provided an update in relation to the activities contained within the delivery plan.

Stuart McLean advised that the first Fire Reach course had taken place recently with pupils from Hermitage Academy which had been successful and that they were looking to progress a Young Firefighters unit at Helensburgh.

Louise advised that plans for a Youth Engagement Officer within Dunoon Grammar School were not going to be taken forward and that Gail McClymont was looking to see whether an Officer could be recruited elsewhere.

It was suggested that addressing child poverty may sit well within the new Children’s Services Plan.

Action: Ann Marie Knowles to advise whether child poverty sits under new Childrens’ Services Plan.

Louise advised of the “Too Cool to Talk” initiative for mental health in young people which had been developed by NHS Tayside where young people can ask questions online and have them answered within 24 hours.

Louise said that funding had been obtained to take this forward through the Alcohol and Drugs Partnership, however was keen to ensure that it was sustainable and that partners recognised that it was wider than the Health and Social Care Partnership.

It was noted that there were less exceptions than the previous meeting and that this was good progress in addressing issues.

Action: Jenny Nicol to pick up with Jane Fowler on a written update under outcome 1, activity: Create opportunities for young people to enter the public sector.

A report that was submitted to the Policy Leads (elected members) of Argyll and Bute Council was tabled by Anne Paterson for further information.

Anne gave an overview of the consultation and the questions posed within it and advised that a response was due by the 6^th January 2017. The Education Department would be leading on the consultation response but any other partners who wished to respond to any of the questions were encouraged to do so.

Louise advised that she was keen to respond from a Children and Families perspective to aspects of the consultation. It was agreed that Anne would send Louise the draft response for Louise to take to her Management Committee that Friday (23 December).

Action: Louise to draft response to aspects relevant to Children and Families.

As Margaret Adams, Chair of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group was not present, Lorna Elliott opened the discussion referring to the paper highlighting the support for Young Carers and the current Parking Review.

Support for Young Carers

Christina West advised that statutory funding to carers centres is available through the Carers Network and that the Health and Social Care Partnership were looking at the Carers Act 2018 and mapping this against current activity.

It was confirmed that Linda Currie was the Health and Social Care Lead working with Carers Centres and she would continue to assist Carers groups access funding outside the Health and Social Care Partnership

Cllr Morton highlighted significant challenges facing the future of Carers in Helensburgh.

It was agreed that Cleland would speak to Gordon Wales to press the matter that statutory duties (carers) should be accompanied by funding from the Scottish Government.

Parking Review

Lorna advised that the ACPG would like all partners to contribute and give strategic input into the current parking review consultation and highlighted challenges to parking such as Home Carers going into see clients, or Islanders parking at convenient places to enable them to be foot passengers on the ferry.

Action: Cleland to speak with Gordon Wales regarding new statutory duties (carers) and the need for associated funding from Scottish Government.

Action: all partners to provide strategic input into the parking review consultation

Sybil gave a presentation on the plans for the launch of the Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2) which would seek to find out what communities wanted in terms of land development and designate appropriate land for planning purposes. It was noted that the Place Standard tool would be used as an online means of engagement to capture the thoughts of residents and the results of this would be shared with partners.

Sybil also advised of the Future Needs 2020 – 2030 plan and the Single Investment Plan which was still open for comment from CPP partners.

Discussion followed on the links of the LDP2 to the Smarterplaces work, potential variation to HMDA through the Islands Bill and the opportunity of the LDP2 to bring together all the objectives of communities and partners.

The importance of the Local Development Plan engagement and consultation was agreed.

Louise advised that the Criminal Justice Partnership between Argyll & Bute Council, West Dunbartonshire Council and East Dunbartonshire Council would be dissolved and therefore an Argyll and Bute specific plan was now required to be in place by the 1^st April 2017.

A draft outline plan is in existence and representatives from the Third Sector, Skills Development Scotland, Housing and Health (Mental Health) are required, in particular, to attend a working group to develop the outline plan.

It was agreed that representatives from the above organisations would be nominated and attend the meeting dates set out in the report.

Action: Nominations to attend Community Justice working group to be fed back to Louise Long in particular from Third Sector, Skills Development Scotland, Housing and Health (Mental Health).

Louise advised that the scoping work into this had been completed and that a National Forum and major advertising campaign would be launched in January. Partners were advised that anyone who wishes to report historical abuse be directed to the National Forum helpline as a single point of contact.

Morag advised that the Council had agreed to increase the number of families being resettled in Argyll and Bute through the Family Reunion route. Morag also said that the focus of the Refugee Resettlement Group was towards employability. Jim Hymas commented that this was an excellent example of partnership working.

FINDINGS FROM COMMUNITY TRANSPORT WORKSHOP

Glenn advised that the findings from the Community Transport Workshop held earlier in the year had now been published. It was agreed that this could form part of the agenda for the Management Committee Development Day on the 1^st March.

Action: Samantha to circulate the link to the report to all Management Committee members

COMMUNITY SAFETY STRATEGY

Lorna advised that the 2016-2020 Community Safety Strategy was being launched today (20^th December 2016) and that the link would be circulated to all Management Committee members.

Action: Samantha to circulate link to Community Safety Strategy to all Management Committee members

AREA COMMUNITY PLANNING GROUPS

Jim requested that Management Committee members attend Area Community Planning Groups where possible.

Area Community Planning Groups:

·         Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands: Wednesday 8^th February, 10.00, Lochgilphead

·         Bute and Cowal: Tuesday 14^th February, 10.00, Rothesay

·         Oban, Lorn and the Isles: Thursday 16^th February, 14.00, Oban

·         Helensburgh and Lomond: Tuesday 21^st February, 09.30, Helensburgh

Management Committee Development Day – 1^st March 2017

Management Committee in 2017

·         30^th March

·         28^th June

·         20^th September

·         5^th December

Full Partnership – 15^th November

Area Community Planning Groups:

• Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands: Wednesday 8^th February, 10.00, Lochgilphead
• Bute and Cowal: Tuesday 14^th February, 10.00, Rothesay
• Oban, Lorn and the Isles: Thursday 16^th February, 14.00, Oban
• Helensburgh and Lomond: Tuesday 21^st February, 09.30, Helensburgh

Management Committee – 30^th March 2017