Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of:

Charles Dixon-Spain (Chair);

John McLuckie, Community Planning Partnership Lead, Argyll and Bute Council;

Sue McKillop, Scenic Sandbank;

Juliette Gill, Hunters Quay Community Council;

Councillor Gordon Blair, Argyll and Bute Council;

Councillor Daniel Hampsey, Argyll and Bute Council;

Councillor Audrey Forrest; and

Tom McFarlane, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The Minutes of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group meeting held on Tuesday 2 May 2023 were approved as a correct record.

Presentation by Community Development Officer

Antonia Baird, Community Development Officer Argyll and Bute Council, provided the Group with an overview of Community Planning in Argyll and Bute. The presentation included information on the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015; the roles and responsibilities of the Community Planning Team; where the Area Community Planning Groups fit into the partnership and their relationship with the Management Committee; cross cutting themes and principles of effective community planning.

The presentation also included information on the development day which is held once a year; action plans for each of the Area Community Planning Groups as well as the Argyll and Bute’s Outcomes Improvement Plan and how the Community Planning Team communicate with partners and members of the groups.

Decision

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

(Reference: Presentation by Community Development Officer, 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 22 June 2023.

The Committee Manager highlighted that the CPP Management Committee recognised the issues raised by the Dunoon Gourock Ferry Action Group at the last Area Community Planning Group meeting and that the Management Committee were uncertain on what action the Group wanted.

The Committee Manager advised that the Community Planning Team have offered to facilitate a discussion between the Chair of the CPP Management Committee, the Chair of Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group and the Chair of the Dunoon Gourock Ferry Action Group if the Group deemed this appropriate.

Decision

The Bute and Cowal Community Planning Group:

1.    considered and noted the briefing note; and

2.    agreed that a discussion, facilitated by Community Planning Team, involving the Chair of the CPP Management Committee, the Chair of Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group and the Chair of the Dunoon Gourock Ferry Action Group be organised.

(Reference: Report by Committee Manager, Argyll and Bute Council, dated 15 August 2023, submitted)

Report by Contract Officer, Argyll and Bute Council

Consideration was given to a Transport Update by the Contract Officer at Argyll and Bute Council. The update provided information on the work being done in preparation of pupils returning to school after summer; the continued operation of the call centre team in Berwick in handling Pingo calls and the planned replacement of damaged bus stops in greater Dunoon.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Contract Manager, Argyll and Bute Council, dated 15 August 2023, submitted)

Verbal update by Transport Scotland

The Group gave consideration to a presentation by Transport Scotland and Atkins WSP Joint Ventures on the permanent solution for the A83. The presentation included information that had been delivered at both virtual and in person public exhibitions within in the locality, specifically key features and benefits of the preferred route; the preferred route plan; the scheme assessment process and the next stages of the assessment and construction phases.

Decision

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

(Reference: Presentation by Transport Scotland and Atkins WSP Joint Ventures)

Presentation by Managing Director

Gordon Ross of Western Ferries provided the Group with an overview of the service provided. Gordon advised that in June 2023 Western Ferries celebrated 50 years of service and that they were currently celebrating the 10^th anniversary of the naming ceremony of their newer boats the Sound of Seil and the Sound of Soay.

Mr Ross advised that Western Ferries provide approximately 32,000 sailings a year from 6am until midnight, 365 days a year adding that they provide a reliable, frequent and flexible service to the community. It was also highlighted that Western Ferries provide a free out of hour’s service for emergency services in Dunoon and have a stand by crew permanently on call.

Discussion took place in relation to the lack of joint working with bus operators to provide a bus link at Hunters Quay into Dunoon.

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 connectivity between ferry services and bus services to the Contract Officer.

(Reference: Verbal Report by Managing Director, Western Ferries)

Presentation by CLES

The Group gave consideration to a presentation on Community Wealth Building from Charlie Murphy from CLES (Centre for Local Economic Strategies). Charlie highlighted that the CLES mission is to develop local economies which work for people, planet and place and that it is the lead organisation for Community Wealth Building in the UK.

Charlie advised the Group that CLES have been commissioned by the TSI on behalf of the CPP to conduct research on Community Wealth Building in Argyll and Bute.

It was highlighted that CLES would be running a workshop in Dunoon on the 5^th September exploring Community Wealth Building in Argyll and Bute.

Decision

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

(Reference: Presentation by Researcher, Centre for Local Economic Strategies)

Consideration was given to an update which included information on the ongoing work of the Service and provided information on the expansion of the Partners intelligence portal; the emergency services day held in Dunoon; youth engagement activities; the ‘Move in May’ challenge which Police Scotland staff took part in; Progress Pride flag’s journey around Argyll and West Dumbartonshire Division and the Keep Safe scheme.

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 Police Scotland, any questions could be forwarded to them following the meeting and any responses circulated to the Group.

(Reference: Report by Police Scotland, submitted)

The Group gave consideration to a report highlighting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) FQ1 review of local performance across Bute and Cowal for the period 2023-24. 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 Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute Local Senior Officer Activities and home fire safety.

Decision

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

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

The Group considered a public health update from Angela Coll, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership on the ongoing wellbeing and prevention activities overseen and delivered by the HSCP Public Health Team in Argyll and Bute. The update highlighted information on the Public Health Intelligence Team (PHIT); the Money Counts Level 1 awareness raising sessions; the Living Well Networks and the merge of the Living Well Strategy and Prevention Board.

Decision

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

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

The Group gave consideration to an update from Rhona Grant, Live Argyll - Community Learning Services. The update provided information relating to youth work in the Bute and Cowal area such as the GIVE summer programme; the Friday night football being run once a month in partnership with Police Scotland and Black Park cages; the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers (PSYV); the work with Developing Young Work Force (DYW) and the summer exchange programme.

The update also provided information on adult learning with it being highlighted that both Bute and Cowal now have a Community Learning Worker who works as an Adult Learning Lead in a part time capacity.

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 an update by Rhona Altin, UHI Argyll. The update highlighted that all UHI centres held an open day on the 14^th June in which people were encouraged to drop into their local centres to enquire about courses and find out what support is available to them and information on new NQ, NC and Access courses that are available.

It was noted that UHI Argyll staff have been attending some local events during the summer months and are currently preparing for the new academic year and the intake of new students.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by UHI Argyll, dated 2 August 2023, submitted)

The Group gave consideration to an update from Susan MacRae, Skills Development Scotland. The update included information on the work that career advisors have been doing in Dunoon Grammar School and Rothesay Joint Campus; the support they have been providing to school leavers; the Partnership Action for Continuing Employment initiative and the annual participation measures which are due to be published on 31st August.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Area Manager, Skills Development Scotland, submitted)

Argyll and Bute Citizens Advice Bureau

Jen Broadhurst highlighted that Argyll and Bute Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) have been very busy and have supported just under 800 clients in the last 3 months with 370 of those being new to the bureau with the majority being in relation to welfare rights. Of those clients 218 were provided with welfare rights support, 41 were supported to access digital, food or fuel crisis funding.

Jen added that the overall client financial gain, generated from the advice provided was just under £360,000 with 78% of the funding being generated by Welfare Rights.

Jen also provided information on other areas such as the new data hub which provides statistical data on the range of clients that they support across the region; debt advice; the Armed Services advice project which has been extended until the end of the year; energy advice; the adviser training programme; the cost of care research; the updating of the Bureau’s business plan and the wellbeing networking event which is to be held on the 13^th September.

It was also highlighted that CAB have partnered with Dunoon Foodbank to offer appointments and drop ins every couple of weeks.

Dunoon Community Development Trust

Ann Campbell highlighted that Dunoon Community Development Trust has just completed a recruitment phase following a successful grant application and advised that she has been appointed as Partnership and Development Manager with there also being a part time information engagement co-ordinator and a part time volunteering for wellbeing co-ordinator. Ann added that they are currently in the process of establishing the Trust as an employer and once confirmed as such further information will be shared with partners.

Report by Community Link Lead - Dunoon

The Group considered an update from Alex Wilde and Becky Hothersall, Shaping Places for Wellbeing Dunoon. The update provided information on the recent work of the service, with it being highlighted that they can support organisations create their own Place and Wellbeing Assessment and that they are also planning to work with local partners on exploring active travel plans for Dunoon.

It was also highlighted that since the last meeting the team has co-ordinated a Place and Wellbeing assessment of the Health and Social Care Partnership’s Joint strategic plan and joint commissioning strategy, and the Argyll and Bute Local Policing Plan 2023-26.

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, submitted)

Presentation by Jim Osborne, Bute Community Councillor

Jim Osborne from Bute Community Council provided the group with an update on the consultation exercise currently being undertaken by the Community Council. Jim advised that the new Community Council agreed last year to revisit a conversation that took place in 2015 on how the Community Council can improve Bute and reverse depopulation on the Island.

Mr Osbourne advised that the Community Council had organised a public meeting in Rothesay at the end of March where around 60 people attended and presented their views on how to improve the Island with 7 main themes emerging, the top 3 being, facilities for visitors, town regeneration and facilities for young people.

Jim advised that a couple of follow up meetings with other communities on Bute had been organised with similar outcomes emerging, with facilities for the elderly being added as a main theme.

It was also highlighted that the Community Council are still in the process of Community engagement and at this time need to set up meetings with other communities and with young people on Bute to find out their thoughts and what they would like to see in the area.

Decision

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

(Reference: Verbal Report by Jim Osborne, Bute Community Council)

Presentation by John Park, Director

The Group considered a presentation by John Park, Director of Sandbank Community Development Trust which was established in 2002 to provide social and community facilities, environmental improvements, preservation of local heritage and support for local businesses. Mr Park also provided information on the Community Action plan and the ongoing activities of the Trust such as the Ardnadam Community Park and Holy Loch Nature Reserve.

Decision

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

(Reference: Presentation by Director, Sandbank Community Development Trust, dated August 2023, submitted)

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 the Committee Manager following the meeting and any responses circulated to the Group.

(Reference: Report by Chair of the Community Planning Partnership Climate Change Working Group, dated 2 August 2023, submitted)

Verbal Update by Friends of Glenan Wood

Consideration was given to a presentation by Robin Webster of Friends of Glenan Wood which provided information on the woodlands which is 148 hectares of unique Atlantic temperate rainforest located in Portavadie. Robin highlighted that the woods were acquired by the local community from Forestry Scotland via the Scottish Land Act in 2019 and now has approximately 80 local members and 7 local trustees.

The presentation also included information on what visitors can expect to find in the woodlands; grants that they have received; work parties for volunteers; the weekly ‘brew and blether’ and the challenges they are facing.

More information can be found at: https://www.glenanwood.org.uk/.

Decision

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

(Reference: Verbal Report by Secretary, Friends of Glenan Wood)

Update by Argyll and Bute TSI

It was noted that a written update from Argyll and Bute TSI would be circulated to the Group following the meeting and that any questions should be sent to the Committee Manager to forward to the Argyll and Bute TSI for consideration and response as appropriate.

There were no verbal updates provided under this item.

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 31 October 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 31 October 2023.