Agenda and minutes

Apologies were intimated from:-

Councillor Daniel Kelly

Councillor Ellen Morton

Neil Black – Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park

Viv Smith – NHS

Anthony Davey – Cardross Community Council

There were no Declarations of Interest

The Minute of Meeting 17 January 2012 was approved as a correct record.

Inspector Paul Robertson, Strathclyde Police, provided the Group with an update following the implementation of the restructuring measures.  Inspector Robertson informed that the flexible shift patterns now allowed more officers to be present at key times and that there was a heavy focus on improving community group links with a view to highlighting relevant issues.

In the Helensburgh town area, measures to address issues such as antisocial behaviour, youth disorder, assaults had proved successful.  Figures taken over the three month period prior to the implementation of the new structure when compared, had indicated a 48% reduction in complaints from the public.  The inspector indicated that this was very impressive and could be attributed to the hard work and dedication of the local police officers.  He referred to various locations in the town which had been targeted and to the good relationship which now exists with the local housing associations.  Links with local partner agencies had also seen improvement. 

The villages outwith the town had also seen increased presence and there had been improved links with local community councils, with all but two of these being attended by a police officer.   

A mobile police station deployed in local villages had been attended by in excess of 100 people, many of them youths which Inspector Robertson felt was very encouraging.

Inspector Robertson gave assurances that the current level of service would continue ahead of the proposed single force merge in 2013 and urged anyone with concerns to contact him at the earliest opportunity.

Decision

To note the update by Inspector Robertson

The Group was briefed by the Area Governance Manager that Charles Reppke, Head of Governance and Law,  had recently been in discussion with Capt Jack Tarr and that they intend to meet up again shortly. Further information will be available for the new council once in place.

Fergus Murray continues to assist the MOD with various pre-application planning applications relating to developments both on and outwith the base.

Decision

To note the update by the Area Governance Manager

The Group was provided with a presentation by Morevain Martin, Community Development Officer, which gave them with an overview of the  Better Community Engagement Resource Pack, produced as part of the national community engagment project. She advised that the pack should be used as a resource to enhance engagement with communities and hoped that it would contain something useful for everyone.  The various resources, which included the Community Engagment Tent which can be hired, were explained and Morevain encouraged any interested parties to contact her if they wish to  make use of these.

Decision

Noted the presentation by the Community Development Officer.

The Group was provided with an informative presentation by David Millward, Community Safety Advocate, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue (SFR), on the free Home Safety Visit service being promoted by SFR.  The safety checks include a free survey of the home to highlight possible dangers, free checking,  provision of and installation of smoke detectors where necessary, and personalised action plan.  Mr Millward explained that the visits could only be arranged at the wish of the householder or resident and he encouraged partners to promote awareness of the service. 

Contact details were provided to the Group and a copy of the presentation will be distributed to all. 

Decision

1. To note the contents of the presentation by the Community Safety Advocate SFR.

2. To distribute a copy of the presentation to all members of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group.

Eva Lovell, Argyll Voluntary Action, informed the Group about the ‘Reshaping Care for Older People (RCOP) Initiative’ introduced by Scottish Government to encourage local communities to take a more active role in engaging with the 60+ group, and outlined her role in promoting this.  She advised that a local ‘Grey Matters’ focus group meets every Saturday Morning in the Colquhoun Street premises from 10.30am to 12.30 had been set up at which common, relevant issues could be discussed.

Inspector Robertson offered his assistance with contributions to the newsletter and the provision of speakers as necessary and this was welcomed.

Gillian Barclay, AVA, informed that Alzheimers Scotland and the Carers’ Project were also involved in this initiative.

Councillor Nisbet, as spokesperson for Social Affairs, agreed to come along to a future focus group.

Decision

To note the presentation by Argyll Voluntary Action.

Alastair MacGregor, Chief Executive, ACHA, began by expressing his condolences following the death of Councillor Al Reay, who had been a member of the ACHA board for five years.

A presentation provided the Group with an update of the current and ongoing investment programme to improve ACHA’s properties in the Helensburgh and Lomond area by 2015 in line with the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

He highlighted the ongoing initiatives and advised that the Welfare Rights Service provided by ACHA would continue, and that this was not the case with the other local housing associations in the area.

The Charity status now held by ACHA would provide the opportunity to access funding previously not available to them and Mr MacGregor thanked the councillors for their assistance in this.

The Chair thanked Mr MacGregor for what had been a very informative presention,

Decision

1. To note the presentation by the Chief Executive, ACHA

2. To circulate a copy of the presentation to all Group members.

The Group was updated by the Area Governance Manager, on the current progress of the Helensburgh CHORD works.  They were informed that the Council had decided not to continue with the current procurement procedure regarding the contract for the Helensburgh town centre and West Bay public realm works and that the Authority intends to re-tender the works as soon as possible and the reasons for this were outlined.

Assurances had been made in a statement released by the council’s Executive Director of Customer Services that there would be no impact on the scale or quality of any of the works to be carried out.

Decision

Agreed note the update by the Area Governance Manager

The Group was asked to consider a report by the Community Planning Manager, in which they were advised that the information gathered during the recent consultation exercise had now been fed back and collated.  The Group highlighted the lack of community council representation at the meeting and suggested that this should be addressed in order that relevant information could be exchanged and disseminated to their local commnities.

There was general agreement that today’s meeting had been very informative and productive but that there still needed to be more representation from core partners.

Decision

Noted the report by the Community Planning Manager.

(Ref: Report by Community Planning Manager, dated 20 March 2012, submitted)

The Group was asked to note an updated report from the Environment Thematic Group on 17 November  2011.

Decision

Agreed to note the contents of the submitted report

Ref: Report from Environment Thematic CPP Group  dated 17 November 2011, submitted)

The Group was asked to note a report by the Economy Thematic Group which provided a summary of the key issues covered at a recent meeting on 29 November 2011.

Decision

Agreed to note the contents of the submitted report.

(Ref: Report by Economy Thematic Group, dated 14 December  2011, submitted)

The Group was asked to note a report summarising the continued progress made by the Social Affairs Thematic Group.

Decision

Agreed to note the contents of the submitted report.

(Ref: Report by Executive Director, Community Services, dated December 2011, submitted)

The Group was asked to note a report regarding the progress made by the Third Sector and Communities CPP sub-group in continuing to develop its Plan as part of the SOA/Community Plan and that Partners are contibuting to the Plan with success measures to meet the agreed outcomes.

Decision

Agreed to note the contents of the report and the progress of the Third Sector and Communities CPP sub-group

(Ref: Report by Community Development Manager, dated 14 December 2011, submitted)

The Group was briefed by the Area Governance Manager that owing to the 2012 Local Government Elections taking place on May 3^rd, it may not be feasible to hold the next meeting of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group on proposed date of 15^th May and she suggested therefore, that it would be beneficial to re-schedule this to a date in June which would be confirmed following the Local Government Election.

Decision

Agreed to reschedule the next meeting of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group to take place in June with a possible date of  Tuesday 19^th .

It was noted that Councillor Morton’s apologies had not been recorded on the distributed minute of meeting 17^th January although they had in fact been intimated.