Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and general introductions were made.

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of:

Lauren Worrell, NFU Scotland;

Rhona Altin, Argyll College UHI;

Jean Maskell, Sandbank Community Development Trust;

Becs Barker, Carr Gomm; and

John Weir, Bute BID.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The Minutes of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group meeting held on Tuesday 7 February 2023 were approved as a correct record.

The Committee Manager outlined a number of changes to the membership of the Group. The Group noted the changes to the contacts for some organisations and approved the updated membership.

Presentation by Community Planning and Development Team

Consideration was given to a presentation by the Council’s Community Planning team on their recent consultation ‘Improving Lives in Argyll and Bute’. The presentation included information on the promotion of the consultation; the support provided for non-digital participation and Community Groups and the responses received from the survey. It was noted that the top three priorities were transport and infrastructure, housing and community wellbeing. Information on how the information collated from the consultation would be used to progress the 2023-2033 iteration of the Argyll and Bute Outcome Improvement Plan (ABOIP) was also provided.

Decision

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

(Reference: Presentation by Community Planning and Development Team, Argyll and Bute Council)

Report by Committee Manager

Consideration was given to a briefing note which provided information on matters discussed during a meeting of the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Management Committee, held on 23 March 2023.

The Committee Manager outlined a number of key highlights from the meeting including the Child Poverty Report; the work around financial Inclusion; the community wealth building audit and the digital communities work.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Committee Manager, Argyll and Bute Council, dated 2 May 2023, submitted)

Consideration was given to an update which included information on the ongoing work of the Service and provided information on road safety; the relaunch of the Dunoon and Rothesay Police Scotland Youth Volunteer (PSYV); fraud prevention; an Emergency Services Day planned in Dunoon and the roll-out of Naloxone to officers in Argyll and West Dunbartonshire which is near complete.

Discussion took place in relation to the new shift patterns proposed for the Bute and Cowal Area. Sergeant Eddie McGunnigal advised that all shift patterns are posted on Police Scotland’s website.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Police Scotland, submitted)

The Group gave consideration to a report highlighting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) FQ4 review of local performance across Bute and Cowal for the period 2022-23. The report included information on the local firefighter training plan; incidents during this time period; unwanted fire alarm signals; road and water safety campaigns; community engagement activities; East and West Dumbartonshire and Argyll and Bute Local Senior Officer Activities and home fire safety. 

Decision

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

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

Consideration was given to an update by Sheena Finlay, UHI Argyll. The update provided information on an open day held on the 28 March; Scottish Apprenticeship Week; courses being offered and funding which was awarded to allow them to employ a science, technology, engineering and mathematics Lego Facilitator to work with Primary schools.

The Group noted that UHI Argyll are currently seeking non-executive directors to join their board of Governors with applications closing on the 12 May.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by UHI Argyll, submitted)

The Group gave consideration to an update by Scenic Sandbank which highlighted that they had been awarded funding from the Scottish Land Fund to purchase vacant ground in Sandbank for a community garden. It was advised that they had produced a booklet at the start of the year which contained a survey in which they got 48 responses with everyone looking forward to the new garden.

It was noted that Scenic Sandbank are participating in the Keep Scotland Beautiful initiative again this year and are encouraging the community join in.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group:

1.    considered and noted the information provided; and

2.    noted that in the absence of a representative from Scenic Sandbank, any questions could be forwarded to them following the meeting and any responses circulated to the Group.

(Reference: Report by Scenic Sandbank, submitted)

Consideration was given to an update from Ailie Law, Community Development Officer at Argyll and Bute Council. The update included information on assessments which are currently being undertaken for Argyll and Bute Council’s 2023/2024 Supporting Communities Fund which closed for applications on 30 March 2023.

The Group noted that recommendations would be made to Elected Members at Area Committees in June for consideration on which organisations would receive funding.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Community Development Officer, Argyll and Bute Council, submitted)

The Group gave consideration to an update from Rhona Grant and Ann Kennovin Live Argyll - Community Learning Services. The update provided information relating to youth work in the area such as the Friday night football 7 week programme which ran in February and March; the Easter GIVE programme; the collaboration with Dunoon Grammar School on 2 school programmes and the Scottish Youth Parliament Elections which are being held in November.

The update also provided information on the continuing work on the SAWA New Scots/Refugee project in Bute.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Team Leader – Community Learning Services, Live Argyll, submitted)

Consideration was given to a quarterly update from Argyll and Bute Citizen’s Advice Bureau which provided statistical information highlighting the rise of clients and advice being given by the Bureau in 2022/23 compared to 2021/22. The update also provided information on the recruitment of volunteer advisors and the advice and support CAB can provide.

Partners noted that they could participate in a survey and give their views on the work that the Bureau does in the community, which could be found at: Argyll and Bute CAB Community Partner Survey 2023 (smartsurvey.co.uk)

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group:

1.    considered and noted the information provided; and

2.    noted that in the absence of a representative from the Argyll and Bute Citizens Advice Bureau, any questions could be forwarded to them following the meeting and any responses circulated to the Group.

(Reference: Report by Argyll and Bute Citizen’s Advice Bureau, submitted)

Dunoon Area Alliance Community Development Trust

Ann Campbell provided the Group with a verbal update which included information on funding which the Trust had received from the Scottish Government Investing in Communities Fund Round 2 and from the National Lottery Community Fund. Ann highlighted that the funding will cover posts for 3 years with recruitment under way for 1 full time and 2 part time posts. It was added that once the Manager is in post they will be working with Partners to look at developing a Local Place Plan for Dunoon.

Report by Project Lead - Dunoon

Consideration was given to an update by Becky Hothersall, Community Link Lead for Shaping Places for Wellbeing Dunoon The update provided information on Data gathering on inequalities in Dunoon and Place and Wellbeing assessments.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Community Link Lead, Shaping Places for Wellbeing, Dunoon)

Report by Health Improvement Lead, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership

The Group considered a public health report on the ongoing wellbeing and prevention activities overseen and delivered by the HSCP Public Health Team in Argyll and Bute. The Interim Health Improvement Lead presented a number of key messages from the 2022 annual report of the Director of Public Health on Prevention. The full report can be found at:- NHSH DPH Annual Report 2022 (adobe.com)

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Interim Health Improvement Lead, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership, submitted)

Presentation by SSEN Engagement Delivery Team

Consideration was given to a presentation by Samantha O’Connor from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN). The presentation included information on who SSEN are; what a Home Energy Plan is and the benefits of having one; support and help available through the Priority Services Register and the benefits of joining. It was also highlighted that SSEN have partnered with Home Energy Scotland (HES) to offer customers free and impartial expert energy efficiency advice.

The Group noted that Communities could apply for up to £20,000 of funding for building resilience in the community through SSEN’s Annual Resilience Communities Fund which would be opening for applications within the next 2 months.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Regional Customer Relationship Manager, SSEN, submitted)

Report by Martin Gerrish

The Group considered a report by Martin Gerrish on the Grow Food, Grow Dunoon Project. Martin advised that the project is being delivered in collaboration with Dunoon Community Development Trust and Kirn Primary school and that there are now 8 volunteers with more wanting to join. Information was also provided on school pupil’s involvement and on their highly productive food growing approach.

It was highlighted that last year the group had grew enough food to sell and made over £600 selling locally and at farmers markets.

It was noted that a short video and slide show of pupils talking about their experience in the garden could be found at: www.thegrowfoodproject.co.uk  

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Martin Gerrish, Grow Food, Grow Dunoon, submitted)

Presentation by Robert Trybis

Consideration was given to a presentation by Robert Trybis from the Dunoon Gourock Ferry Action Group. Mr Trybis highlighted that Dunoon to Gourock was the first car ferry service in Scotland and that should the service be reintroduced it would be a profitable one.

Mr Trybis advised that the area suffered from poor connectivity due largely to the uncertainly of the Rest and Be Thankful and the lack of integration between the existing ferry services and the rail network. It was the contention of DGFAG that the economy and population of Dunoon was suffering as a result with many young people choosing to leave the area to study rather than commuting to and from the area.

It was noted that the DGFAG hoped that if the service was to remain as passenger only that the vehicle service would be put out to tender in the near future.

Reeni Kennedy-Boyle advised of a HITRANS consultation, which could be found at https://hitrans-case-for-change-consultation-stantec.hub.arcgis.com/

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group:-

1.    considered and noted the information provided; and

2.    requested that the Committee Manager relay the concerns of the Group regarding the lack of a car ferry to service to Dunoon to the next meeting of the CPP Management Committee. 

(Reference: Verbal report by Robert Trybis, Dunoon Gourock Ferry Action Group)

Report by Chair of Climate Change Working Group

Consideration was given to a report which highlighted the ongoing work of the Climate Change Working Group. The report outlined the proposal to produce a strategic Action Plan as a means to address the climate emergency in Argyll and Bute; the approved governance arrangements to support the Climate Change Project Manager post and the ongoing work on the recruitment of a Project Manager.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group:

1.    considered and noted the information provided; and

2.    noted that in the absence of a representative from the Climate Change Working Group, any questions could be forwarded to them following the meeting and any responses circulated to the Group.

(Reference: Report by Chair of the Community Planning Partnership Climate Change Working Group, dated 27 April 2023, submitted)

Presentation by Argyll & Bute Regional Network Engagement Coordinator, Scottish Communities Climate Action Network (SCCAN)

Consideration was given to a presentation by Marie Stonehouse, Argyll & Bute Regional Network Engagement Coordinator, Scottish Communities Climate Action Network (SCCAN). The Presentation included information on the definition of regional networks; Marie’s role as Regional Network Engagement Coordinator; events attended by the network in the local area; the network hub; and upcoming events.

Decision

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

(Reference: Verbal report by Argyll & Bute Regional Network Engagement Coordinator, Scottish Communities Climate Action Network)

There were no verbal updates provided under this item.

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 15 August 2023.

The Chair thanked everyone in attendance at the meeting, and thanked all partners for their continued proactive work in the community.

The Group noted that the next meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group would take place on Tuesday 15 August 2023.