Minutes

Everyone was asked to check the attendance list from December’s meeting was accurate.

• Pippa Milne stated that officers had attended the meeting to discuss flooding issues.
• Cleland Sneddon stated that Islay meeting will take place on 4 April 2018 which will engage industry, community and CALMAC.

• Pippa Milne stated that the Environment, Development and Infrastructure meeting had recognised the success of the Wild About Argyll campaign.
• It was noted that Arrochar Development Trust and community are looking for a commitment to assist with their community-led plans.
• Support was requested in regards of road closures in OLI and the need for clear and accurate communication with the community was raised. The possibility of using local Forestry Commission roads in the event of road closure was queried.
• Cleland Sneddon said there was a need for a working group on integrated transport strategy with the Scottish Government. A second letter has been sent to Humza Yousaf, Scottish Government Minister for Transport and the Islands.
• It was noted that transport should be the highest priority in OLI’s ACPG and suggested by the Chair of OLI Area Community Planning Group that local resilience plans could have something within them on communications in an emergency.

Actions agreed:

• Jim McNeil agreed to task a senior officer to look at bringing appropriate people together (from Police, Fire and Ambulance) to find a solution to the communication issue of road closures and identify any simplification within road closure procedures.

The chair of the H&L ACPG reported that the Arrochar community feel very strongly that the main road should be ‘smartened up’, and that Rosneath and Clynder would like more support and feel that there should be less of a Helensburgh centric approach. He also raised the issue of Out of Hours services at the Vale of Leven Hospital and the lack of communication to the H&L ACPG regarding this. The last ACPG meeting was a productive meeting, for example SPT agreed to speak to their staff to support the promotion of Arrochar and its facilities.

Cleland stated he is aware of Arrochar’s aspirations. The Community Development team are engaged with the community on their community-led action plans and support will be given where possible.

Actions agreed:

• Robin Creelman to provide an update with the position of the Out of Hours service at the Vale of Leven Hospital to Stuart for the Area Community Planning Group.

Donna Bell sent her apologies.

Presented a potential way in which to incorporate the new action plans into ACPG meetings and to link these to community items to support a focussed and action –orientated discussion.

Margaret Adams raised a concern that if the items are focused to one or two actions each meeting that partners not involved in that action will not attend.

Action: RG to discuss with Shirley potential plan for incorporating community focus and area community action plan actions into agendas.

Cleland gave an overview of the events and workshops due to take place and gave an invitation to partners to attend.  Rona commented that phase 2 CPP structure will be discussed at June’s meeting and any thoughts on this should be sent to her.

Noted that the consultation document is well set out and easy to read and that the pattern of need in Argyll and Bute is different to urban areas. The inclusion of Slip, Trips and Falls was noted as a valuable contribution. Jim will be attending the council’s Members Services Committee to talk through the plan.

Action: Consultation to be circulated. Any further comments are to be emailed to Jim McNeil.

Ailsa delivered a presentation on the contribution made by social enterprise in Argyll and Bute and the challenges faced.

A discussion also took place regarding the need for the capacity capability to be strengthened and how diversification can assist this. The good work of InspirAlba was noted.

Spaces will are available for the conference to be held on Friday 16 March and partners are welcome to attend. It was emphasised that service redesigns will not be taken forward with the intention of filling positions with volunteers. 

It was noted that there is a need to portray the benefits of volunteering and managing expectations.

A discussion took place on youth volunteering and the benefits experienced by the young people and the groups they volunteer with.

Cleland presented his paper and noted that the new layout was as a leaflet, allowing an easier read and simplifying the information, making it accessible for all.