Agenda and minutes

Apologies were intimated from:

Councillor Maurice Corry

Councillor Vivien Dance

Councillor James Robb

Councillor Ellen Morton

Councillor Aileen Morton

Commander Ian Riches

 Neil Black,

Linda Skrastin

Lorna Crawford

Yvonne Litster

There were no Declarations of Interest.

Helensburgh and Lomond Community Planning Group held on  9 September 2014

The Minute of the Meeting of Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group, 9 September 2014 was approved as a correct record.

Matters Arising:

SPT Item 7(b)

John Tacchi highlighted further confusion which had arisen since the bus stops had been moved.  Neil Sturrock, SPT advised that Mr Tacchi should document his complaint in letter to the Operations and Traffic Commissioner.

Amenity Services Item 7©

John Tacchi requested confirmation in regards the acquisition of new street cleaning machinery for Helensburgh Town Centre.  The Chair clarified that 2  machines had recently been trialled, but as there was no representation from Amenity Services he could not confirm the status of  this issue.

Report by the Community Planning Manager.

The group gave consideration to a report which outlined the highlights from the Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership Management Committee meeting on the 31^st October 2014. 

Decision

The group agreed to note the report.

(Reference: Report from CPP Management Committee, dated 31 October 2014, submitted).

Report by Community Governance Manager.

The group gave consideration to a report which provided an update on the progress of the current  Area Community Planning Group (Area CPG) Terms of Reference(TOR)  and Membership Review

Decision

The group agreed to note the report.

(Reference: Report Head of Community and Culture, 9 December 2014, submitted).

The group gave consideration to the proposed initial  membership list   Included in the Area Community Planning Group (Area CPG) Terms of Reference (TOR) and Membership Review. There was discussion around the level of representation of community councils on the group. It was felt that it would be appropriate to have three Community Councils, one from each ward in the area, sitting as members of the group.

Decision

1.              The group agreed to note the report and to write to the organisations listed in the report inviting them to join the Area CPG

2.              It was agreed that,  to give flexibility, all community councils would be able to attend meetings but voting would be limited to one vote per ward

Reference: Report by Community Governance Manager, 9 December 2014, submitted).

Update by Community Governance Manager .

The group gave consideration to a  report which provided an update to Area Community Planning Group  members on progress relating to the  development of the SOA Local: Helensburgh & Lomond.

A skeleton draft of the SOA Local: Helensburgh & Lomond was tabled at the meeting. Members requested that a copy of the completed draft be circulated round the group once available 

The group noted that the completed draft would be reviewed at a workshop on the 15^th of January and that members unable to attend the workshop would be able to feed in comments via e-mail to either Lorna Elliott or Audrey Baird.

Decision

The group agreed to note the report.

(Reference: Report by Community Governance Manager, 9 December 2014, submitted).

Report by Area Governance Officer.

The group gave consideration to a report which provided an  update for partners on the membership of community councils in Helensburgh & Lomond following the annual community council by-elections.

Decision

The group agreed to note the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director of Customer Services, dated 14 November 2014, submitted)

The group heard an update from Inspector Claire Miller, Police Scotland who advised the group on recent initiatives undertaken and the latest statistics for the area.

She highlighted the implementation of the new Drink Drive limit and the publicity drive to reinforce this.  The recent Counter Terrorism week held on 24 November had taken place in crowded places and transport hubs to raise public awareness.  She reported on joint working with the MOD Police and visits undertaken to local marinas.

Currently, Police Scotland was involved in the Festive Campaign which was both a force wide and local initiative.  This would involve visits to licensed premises to deter anti-social behaviour. Plans were also in place to counter domestic violence.  Inspector Miller reported on high visibility local police patrols during the Festive period and Party and Home Safe initiatives.

She advised on a further initiative – Rural Watch - which was well established in the local area.

Statistics across the 3 Wards for violent crime were 50%, as was anti-social and dangerous behaviour.  Prevention measures were in place to counter acquisitive crime (house breaking), figures for which were slightly raised. The Traffic Department were a visible presence on the local trunk roads and serious and minor accidents were down by 10%.

Tony Davey enquired if the mobile police office would be in situ in Cardross over the Festive period. Inspector Miller replied that the van would not be used over the Festive period.

Councillor Freeman enquired on the number of people who had registered for Rural Watch.  Inspector Miller agreed to provide this information.

Decision

The group agreed to note the update.

.

The group were given an update by Andrew Maclure, Group Commander Community Safety.

He reported that the Service had recently implemented – Unwanted Fire Alarm Campaign – locally. He detailed the high cost involved in responding to these incidents and the need to reduce this. 

The Festive Campaign was underway and this involved highlighting the danger from tea lights and candles.  Scotland Fire and Rescue were currently working with Trading Standards to try and eliminate the number of cheap lights being sold which did not adhere to British Standards.

Mr Maclure highlighted the Post Domestic Incident response which involved fire officers offering residents Home Fire Safety advice.

The Chair thanked Mr Maclure his informative update.  

Decision

The group noted the update.

As there was no representation, there was no update from the Scottish Ambulance Service. 

Presentation and update by Yvonne Litster, ACHA Regional Manager.

Due to the severe weather conditions, Yvonne Litster, ACHA Regional Manager had been unable to attend the meeting.

The Chair invited advised that if the group had any questions in regards the ACHA presentation, then they should be submitted to:-

Lorna Elliott, Community Governance Manager who would arrange to circulate the responses  round the members

There was a general discussion around housing provision within the area and Tony Davey gave some information on Dunbritton Housing Association activities

Decision

The group agreed to note the presentation.

Presentation and update by Development Officer for Community Broadband Scotland

The group heard an update from the Development Office for Community Broadband Scotland.

Decision

The group noted the update

Report by Business Gateway representative

The group gave consideration to a report from Business Gateway which provided information on funding sources.

Leaflets giving further information were tabled at the meeting

The group noted the report.

(Reference: Report by Business Adviser, Business Gateway, dated 9 December 2014, submitted) 

Report by Neil Black, Community Development Officer, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

The group gave consideration to a report by the Community Development Officer updating on issues at the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority.

Decision

The group agreed to note the report.

(Reference: Report by the Community Development Officer, dated 9 December 2014, submitted)

There was no update provided by Commander Riches, MOD.

Discussion followed and the group heard an update from Neil Sturrock in regards veterans’ concessionary travel. He stated that the criterion was defined by the (TCTS) Transport Concessionary Travel Scheme Board of which SPT was a partner.  He reported that he had written to ATOC (Association Train Operator Companies) requesting changes being made to allow veterans free travel.  The response received from ATOC was such that Strathclyde was in line with other areas of Scotland. With regards to  free bus travel with a discretionary rate for travel on Trains and Ferries.

Mr Davey questioned the numbers of veterans with a disability who were resident in the Strathclyde area, dependant on their postcode. He continued that there were t distinct organisations:-

1.            Disabled veterans

2.            Veterans discharged with a disability after their service

Neil Sturrock advised  Mr Davey to write directly to TCTS on this issue.

Mr Tacchi enquired on the proposed car parking on the old Gasometer site. The Chair affirmed the likelihood that  this would be a single storey car park if it was acquired

 The group agreed to note the update.

Report by Community Governance Manager

The group noted the report which outlined recent activity by the Duchess Wood Committee. 

Decision

The group noted the report.

(Reference: Report by Community Governance Manager, dated November  2014, submitted.)

A report by Lorna Crawford, Project Worker

Due to the severe weather there was no representative from NHS to speak to the report.

Decision

The group noted the report.

(Reference: Report by Senior Health Improvement Specialist, dated 21 November 2014, submitted)

Report by Joint Project Manager-Integration

The group gave consideration to a report which outlined the procedure that Argyll and Bute Council and NHS Highland are actively planning for the implementation of new arrangements to meet statutory duties and responsibilities that will shape the future delivery of Health and Social Care in Argyll and Bute as outlined within the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014.

Discussion followed and Mr Davey raised his concerns in regards only 1 NHS central store operating in the Helensburgh area which closed daily at 4.00p.m. He highlighted the scenario of patients’ discharges being delayed due to the store closure.

Decision

The group agreed:-

1.                  To note the report.

2.                  That the issue of the sole central store being escalated to Grace MacDonald and Allen Stevenson.

(Reference: Report by the Joint Project Manager – Integration, dated 31 October 2014, submitted)

Catriona Sayer tabled a short update and informed the group that the Helensburgh Food Bank was now fully operational with 30 volunteers.

The Chair thanked Catriona Sayer for her informative update. 

The group noted the update.

Mr Tacchi drew attention to recent flooding issues on John Street and asked for an update.  The Chair responded that talks were scheduled to be held in January 2015 between Scottish Water and Argyll and Bute Council officers. 

Mr Tacchi highlighted a further flooding issue in Sinclair Street. The Chair replied that he would raise this with the CHORD Programme Manager.

There was none.

The group gave consideration to future meeting dates for the Helensburgh & Lomond Area community Planning Group (Area CPG) for 2015/16.

The Chair affirmed that future Helensburgh and Lomond meeting dates would be circulated to the group.

The Chair thanked everyone for attending and for their informative updates.