Agenda and minutes

Apologies were intimated from Councillor William Petrie, Councillor James Robb, Councillor Gary Mulvaney, David McCaughey, Inspector Mark Lundie, Murdo MacDonald, Jan Crawford, John Tacchi, Anne Helstrip, Tony Davey, Isaac Owens.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

The Minute of Meeting 18 May  2010 was approved as a correct record subject to the following amendment in attendance list to read:-

David McCaughey – Strathclyde Fire and Rescue

Partners were updated by Jo Smith, Communications Manager, on the current situation which is that the Council are now in the process of pulling together the budget for the next financial year.  She outlined the aims of today’s session and distributed post-it notes for partners to consider where savings could be met and what services should remain unchanged.

Sally Loudon, Chief Executive, gave a presentation on the Corporate Budget overview.  This explained the current situation and how it would be imperative to deal with things in a structured manner. Mrs Loudon informed that over the past 10 years, spending was continually rising whilst funding to public sector and local councils was reducing, indicating that we are responding to a national, unsustainable situation.

Mrs Loudon outlined how the Council’s budget was distributed and indicated that the largest expenditure was in staffing costs and payments to outside Service Providers.  She added that a different approach would be made to this year’s budget and that there would require to be more engagement with partners, public, trades unions and communities. The various steps towards the transformation of existing services were  also highlighted.

The Consultation Process, of which today’s responses would form a part,  would include focus groups, briefing, web and the result of feedback from consultation with partners.

The next steps in the process will be feedback to the Budget Working Group and the continuation of community and consultation events.  It is anticipated that a Draft Budget will be with members by November when preparations for decision making can be made.

Some discussion then followed and Mrs Loudon advised that many of the issues raised today would be addressed in the Service Reviews.

Decision

To note the presentation by the Chief Executive.

The Group were briefed on a report by the Community Planning Manager which advised them that, following the restructuring of the Council and the changes undergone by Community Learning and Regeneration as a result of the Best Value Review, the Action Plan for delivering on the Community Engagement Strategy has been reviewed and updated.

Decision

1. Agreed to note the contents of the report.

2. The Group agreed to acknowledge the progress made in delivering the Community Engagement Strategy

(Ref: report by Community Planning Manager, dated 21 September 2010, submitted)

The Group were briefed in a report by Eileen Wilson, Community Planning Manager, informing them of the 4 main outcomes, contained in the CPP Community Engagement Strategy and Action Plan approved in June 2009 and actions to achieve these.  A pro forma has been developed to begin the information gathering process on any planned, current or recent consultation.  Information gathered will be collated both a local and Argyll and Bute level and subsequently made available to all partners.

Decision

1. Agreed to the proposed format for gathering and sharing information.

2. Agreed that partners use the form to gather information and return any completed forms to their local LACPG contact within the agreed time.

3. Agreed that information be collated and made available to all partners

4. Agreed that ‘Consultation Diary Update’ be an agenda item at every second LACPG ( four-monthly)

(Ref: report by Community Planning Manager, dated 21 September 2010, submitted)

The Group were briefed in a report by Jane Fowler, Head of Improvement and Strategic HR, of the Council’s commitment to reviewing its vision and values  in line with the changing external environment, the review of its Corporate Plan and the implementation of its new Communications Strategy.  Ms Fowler explained that the vision which is as a  ‘Leading Rural Area’ should explicitly reflect the outcome based focus contained in the Single Outcome Agreement. 

Decision

That the Helensburgh and Lomond Local Area Community Planning Group:-

1. Agreed to note the contents of the submitted report and provide feedback on the proposed new vision and values highlighted within the report, in relation to the identified priorities in the area.

2. Agreed to note that a further report will be provided to the CPP Management Committee once feedback from the areas has been gathered.

(Ref: Report by Head of Improvement and Strategic HR, dated 1 September 2010, submitted)

The Group were briefed in a report by the Community Planning Manager which considered the extent to which there is community support for, and understanding of the local plan outcomes. The Group were asked to consider the information presented in the Third Sector Partnership’s Forward Together Report and to note the areas of agreement and mismatch between the plan and issues raised by participants, identified in the appended tables.

Decision

That the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group:-

1.      Agreed to continue consideration of the report to allow the formation of a Working Group to fully discuss the issues contained therein.

2.      Agreed to appoint Eileen Wilson, Jane Fowler, Geoff Calvert, Glen Heritage and one member of Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee as representatives on Working Group.

3.      Agreed to forward a copy of the Third Sector Partnership’s Forward Together Report to each of the Helensburgh and Lomond Community Councils for their feedback and comments.

4.      Agreed to hold the second Community Seminar event on Saturday 13^th November at a venue to be decided.

5.      Agreed to commend Chris Carr, Policy and Strategy for her work analysing and collating the data from the Forward Together Report.

(Ref: report by Community Planning Manager, dated 21 September 2010, submitted)

The Group were asked to note the contents of the Helensburgh and Lomond Local Area Community Planning Group Partnership Agreement (Draft – August 2010 which forms part of the Governance and Accountability Framework for the Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership.  The Agreement sets out the principles and working arrangements to which members of the LACPGs are committed.

Decision

Agreed to note the contents of the Partnership Agreement.

(Ref: H & L LACPG Partnership Agreement – Draft August 2010 – submitted)

The Group noted the contents of the Glossary.

There was no Other Competent Business.

Tuesday 16 November 2010, Victoria Halls, Helensburgh