Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated from:

Marilyn Rieley, Argyll and Bute Council

Iain McNaughton, Sandbank Community Council

Colin Moulson, Dunoon Presents

Helen Dick, Argyll and the Isles Tourism

The Chair ruled and the Group agreed to take an additional item at item 2 of this Minute, in order to appoint a Chair of the Forward Dunoon and Cowal Group.

A report inviting members to appoint a Chair of the Forward Dunoon and Cowal Group was considered.

Decision

The Group appointed Councillor Yvonne McNeilly as the Chair of the Forward Dunoon and Cowal Group.

(Ref:  Report by Area Governance Manager dated 25^th October 2017, submitted).

Forward Dunoon and Cowal Group – 27^th February 2017

On the basis there were no attendees from the previous meeting present, the minute of the Forward Dunoon and Cowal Group of 27^th February 2017 was noted.

At item 4(c) of the previous Minute, Councillor Blair advised that PA23 BIDs deliver a really good job in Dunoon and have raised the town up by helping with events as they are well attended and feels that this BID is something that members need to support as an Area Committee to help keep the momentum going in Dunoon.

Councillor Anderson confirmed there is a workshop taking place tonight (Wednesday 25^th October), that the Dunoon BID representatives are attending to discuss how their BID business plan is shaping up.  He confirmed there at 40 BIDs in the UK, 25 across Scotland.  He praised the PA23 BID group for the amount of time they give up, including weekends, as volunteers who are not paid.

The Area Governance Manager advised that there would be an update on the BID to the Area Committee and to EDI Committee in December then to the P&R Committee for agreement.

Verbal update by HELP Manager.

Jim Moir from the HELP Project gave members of the Group a brief update on what services the HELP Project provides for the benefit of the newly elected Councillors.  He advised that they provide support to young people aged between 16-25 to sustain a tenancy, enter into employment, and or training and also provide them with counselling.  He advised that it was the groups 18^th birthday on 18^th October as they were formed in October 1999 as a partnership between Housing, Social Work and Community Learning within Argyll and Bute Council.

He confirmed the HELP Project secured funding from the local authority and the Big Lottery Fund which allowed them to take on 5 boys through the Community Jobs Fund, who have not had the opportunity in the past or have the right experience and the HELP Project has put them through training and helped them get into employment.

Jim presented the Group with a CJF taskforce update for Autumn 2017 which detailed some of the works which the HELP Project have recently carried out.  He advised that Astroturf has been laid on the bank at the Innellan War Memorial and have done general tidying up around Dunoon.

The Group noted the information provided.

Verbal update by Cowal Marketing Group.

There was no one present from the Cowal Marketing Group to provide an update.

Verbal update by PA23BID Manager.

There was no one present from Dunoon Presents to provide an update.

Verbal update by Cowalfest Manager.

There was no one present from Cowalfest to provide an update.

.

The Chair asked for feedback on where we go with the Forward Dunoon and Cowal Group and general discussion took place on how the group takes this forward.

Decision

The Group agreed to review the Forward Dunoon and Cowal Group by including the scope of the work in the discussion at the December meeting on the Area Committee workplan, noting that there would also be an opportunity for informal discussion with the Head of Economic Development at the November business meeting.