Agenda and minutes

The Vice-Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group.

An apology for absence was intimated on behalf of Alastair MacGregor – Argyll Community Housing Association.

Councillor Audrey Forrest declared a non-financial interest in relation to item 6 (b) Community Learning Service Update, as detailed on the published agenda, as a board member of Live Argyll. Having taken note of the updated Standards Commission Guidance in relation to declarations (issued 7 December 2021) with specific reference to section 5.4(c) she did not consider that she had a relevant connection and as such would remain in the meeting and take part in any discussion.

Councillor Jim Anderson declared a non-financial interest in relation to item 6 (b) Community Learning Service Update, as detailed on the published agenda, as a board member of Live Argyll. Having taken note of the updated Standards Commission Guidance in relation to declarations (issued 7 December 2021) with specific reference to section 5.4(c) he did not consider that he had a relevant connection and as such would remain in the meeting and take part in any discussion.

Councillor Liz Mccabe declared a non-financial interest in relation to item 6 (d) Isle of Bute Business improvement District (BID), as detailed on the published agenda, as a board member. Having taken note of the updated Standards Commission Guidance in relation to declarations (issued 7 December 2021) with specific reference to section 5.4(c) she did not consider that she had a relevant connection and as such would remain in the meeting and take part in any discussion.

Councillor Jean Moffatt joined the meeting during the forgoing item.

The minutes of the Bute and Cowal Community Planning Group meeting held on Tuesday 2 November 2021 were approved as a correct record.

The Vice-Chair ruled, and the Group agreed, to change the order of business to facilitate Partners’ attendance. The items were discussed in the order in which they are minuted.

Report by Committee Manager

The Group considered a report providing information relating to the appointment of a Chair of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group. The Committee Manager invited nominations from those in the meeting.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group agreed to elect Charles Dixon-Spain as Chair for the next two year period.

(Reference: Report by Committee Manager, dated 1 February 2022, submitted)

Report by Committee Manager

The Group reviewed the current Terms of Reference, membership and meetings up until May 2023.

The Committee Manager encouraged partners to consider and nominate other groups that meet the criteria for membership.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group;

1.    considered and adopted the Terms of Reference as attached to the report (Appendix 1) and agreed that they be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure their ongoing currency and appropriateness for the work of the Group as it develops over time;

2.    considered and agreed the membership of the Group as attached to the report (Appendix 2) with the addition of the Department of Work and Pensions;

3.    agreed that the membership of the Group be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure currency and appropriateness for the work of the Group as it develops over time; and

4.     noted the meeting schedule and dates submitted in the report.

(Reference: Report by Committee Manager, dated 1 February 2022, submitted)

Presentation by Lucy Sumsion National Farmers Union, Argyll & the Islands Regional Manager

The Group considered a presentation, as attached to this minute, from Lucy Sumsion, National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS), in relation to climate change and farming for the future.

Discussion focused on the diverse nature of farming in Argyll which includes large areas of extensive grazing. The Group noted that many lambs require to be moved to other areas of the country to be ‘finished’, currently this can only be achieved on a small scale in Argyll. The Group also noted there was a need for more collaborative working with farmers and local food initiatives to develop a consistency in supply.

Partners also focused on the two abattoirs in Argyll; one on Mull, which is operated by a collaboration of farmers, and one on Islay which had potential for improvements. The Group noted that the challenge nationally was to ensure economies of scale to be able to support all sectors involved.

In respect of funding since the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, the Group noted that as agriculture is a devolved issue the Scottish Government had given a commitment to retain support until 2024. It was hoped that new support schemes would be developed to target activity rather than land area which was the focus of EU funding. This approach was being supported by the NFUS along with climate change and biodiversity.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group noted the presentation.

(Reference: Presentation by Lucy Sumsion, National Farmers Union Scotland dated 1 February 2022, tabled)

Report by Committee Manager

The Group considered a briefing note which provided an overview of the discussion which took place at the Community Planning Partnership Management Committee held on 8 December 2021.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group noted the briefing note.

(Reference: Briefing note by Committee Manager, dated 1 February 2022, submitted)

Report by Barry Colvan - Watch Commander, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

A report highlighting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) Q3 review of local performance within Cowal, Isle of Bute and Dunoon for 2021-22 was considered by the Group.

The Group noted that should any household require advice on the smoke detector legislation, then they should contact SFRS directly.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group reviewed and noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by Watch Commander, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, submitted)

Update by Community Learning Service Team Leader

The Group considered an update from Argyll and Bute Council’s Community Learning Service (CLS) which included detail on the new Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament, Youth Action Groups, Adult Learning and the Youth Work Recovery Outdoor Education Programme.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group considered and noted the information provided.

(Reference: Update by Community Learning and Development Assistant, dated 1 February 2022, submitted)

Update by Elizabeth MacBrayne, Department of Work and Pensions

Partners considered an update from the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) which detailed data on the number of customers and various initiatives they are involved in including Flexible Support Fund, Dynamic Purchasing System, Access to Work grants and support for people with a physical or mental health condition or disability.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group considered and noted the information provided.

(Reference: Update by Customer Service Leader - Department for Work and Pensions, dated 19 January 2022, submitted)

Update by John Weir – Manager, Isle of Bute Business Improvement District

The Group considered an update from the Isle of Bute Business Improvement District which included details on the initiatives being developed to help increase visitors to Bute.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group noted the information.

(Reference: Update by John Weir – Manager, Isle of Bute Business Improvement District, dated 1 February 2022, submitted)

Skills Development Scotland

Susan MacRae, Skills Development Scotland, advised that school leaver destination data would be available for the next meeting and that career advisors were now back in schools from January 2022 and that the Queens Hall in Dunoon was open for appointments.

Police Scotland

PI Forrest advised that after a busy festive period Police Scotland were now targeting doorstep crime bogus callers as well as poor driver behaviour in specific localities. PI Forrest further advised that younger Officers were being trained in using speed device equipment; checks of road worthiness of vehicles was ongoing; summer secondments for Dunoon would be advertised soon and a Youth Engagement Officer had been appointed to work with schools.

PC Evans advised that the Keep Safe initiative is aimed at increasing awareness of disability hate crime. The initiative is designed for residents and visitors with 12 business signed up in the Bute and Cowal area, all of whom are committed to creating safe spaces. Training can be provided online or face to face and takes around 20 minutes. In addition the Group noted that the Herbert Protocol supports families with elderly or dementia members to quickly respond should they go missing, by gathering information that the Police can quickly access and circulate.

The Group noted that the updated legislation Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2021 had come into force and whilst there was a drive on educating people about dog worrying livestock the penalties had increased to maximum fines of £40,000 and up to 12 months imprisonment.

Verbal Presentation by Robin Miller, Cowal Elderly Befrienders

The Group gave consideration to an update from Robin Miller regarding the work of the Cowal Elderly Befrienders. The Group noted that they were a volunteer led organisation which employs 6 staff and has 30 volunteers. The service is based on a traditional model of one to one and peer befriending and is tailored to the individuals’ requirements. During 2021 272 people had been supported with 70% being referrals from the HSCP, there had also been a slow increase in the number of men engaging with them. The Group noted that the Befrienders work closely with partners as well as grass roots initiatives and have an umbrella project in Bute called Elderly Befrienders on Bute.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group noted the information.

Discussion facilitated by Vice-Chair

Fiona Gillespie, Bute Resilience, spoke about their involvement in resilience projects, specifically during lockdown. It was noted that Bute Resilience, which comprises of 25 members, helped those receiving palliative care on Bute by driving them to Beatson in Glasgow; assisted 5,000 people with shopping, setting-up computers etc. to aid communication with families that were off the island, performed regular welfare checks, helped the Community Food Project with food parcel deliveries, medication runs and that they had now taken responsibility for the community emergency plan from the community council. The Group noted that Bute Resilience continue to be well supported by local councillors and the council as a whole.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group noted the information.

Report by Committee Manager

The Group gave consideration to a  report asking them to consider the nomination of a representative to represent the Bute and Cowal ACPG on the Climate Change Working Group.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group nominated Charles Dixon-Spain as a representative to represent the Bute and Cowal ACPG on the Climate Change Working Group.

Minutes of Climate Change Working Group as held on Thursday 16 December 2021

The Minutes of the Climate Change Working Group Minutes held on 16 December 2021 were noted.

The Chair stated that carbon offset was an important topic as parcels of land were being sold off to companies wishing to plant woodland in an act of greenwashing and that the Climate Change Working Group was looking to ameliorate the difficulties this presents. The Group noted that Argyll and Bute was closer to achieving net zero than many other regions and that the aim was to become carbon positive by 2045.

Future meeting dates will be confirmed in due course.

The Group noted that the next meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group would take place at 10.00am on Tuesday 19 April 2022 with venue details to be confirmed in due course