Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated from:-

Gary Stitt, Police Scotland

Alistair McLaren, Argyll Voluntary Action

Donald Melville, Business Gateway

The Chair ruled and the Group agreed to take an additional item on the Economic Development Action Plan at item 12 of this minute to allow the Community Planning Group to feed comments back to the Economic Development Manager by Tuesday 18^th March before finalising her report to the Bute and Cowal Area Committee on 1^st April.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

Bute and Cowal Community Planning Group – 3 December 2013

The Minutes of the Bute and Cowal Community Planning Group Meeting of Tuesday 3 December 2013 were approved as a correct record.

Verbal update by Police Scotland

Gordon Anderson from Police Scotland updated the Group on the recent metal thefts that had been ongoing over the last few weeks and they plan to target these thefts by having a day of action in the near future to tackle this issue.

He advised that operation Monarda, which is a campaign to stop doorstep crime will be taking place between 7^th -18^th April and that Police Scotland are working closely with Trading Standards to raise everyone’s awareness of the crime.

He further advised that the current road traffic initiative where they are tackling speeding, will continue to the end of March.  He informed the Group that there is a 22% increase in the stats this year compared to last year for speeding and that their aim is to address road traffic offences such as using your mobile phone while driving.

Gordon updated the Group on the recent detections for drugs in the Bute area, he advised there has been 4 warrants issued and drugs found in each house. He advised that assaults and violence stats are down locally which is very good.

The Group noted the information provided.

Verbal update by Scottish Fire and Rescue

Eddie Renfrew from Scottish Fire and Rescue updated the Group on the Wild Fire Groups that have been set up in Oban, Lochgilphead, Dunoon and Helensburgh to discuss muirburn fires.  He advised the first meeting In Dunoon was held last month and the rest will be up and running before the grass season starts and they will be looking to reduce the figures for the number of fires started.

He advised that in Bute, there have been 25 referrals from agencies such as Social Work, Police and ACHA for home fire safety visits.

He informed the Group that the Leader of the Council, wrote to Scottish Fire and Rescue in regard to the number of fire attendances at Inellan Sheltered Housing complex.  He advised they are currently addressing the fire alarm incidences and are also looking at Ferfadd, Foley and Rothesay Court in Bute, which are all performing better now due to the new alarm system.

He advised that there are amendments to be made to the new fire plan and they hope to have it finalised for the new financial year.

The Group noted the information provided.

Verbal update by Joanna Peebles, Scottish Water

There was no one present from Scottish Water so this item will continue to the June 2014 meeting where Joanna Peebles, the new Regional Community Team Manager will hopefully be present.

• Alcohol

Report by Craig Mcnally

The Group gave consideration to a report by Craig McNally, Senior Health Promotion Specialist (Alcohol & Drugs). 

The report detailed information and a number of inter-related strands to ensure that individuals and communities have access to appropriate information, knowledge and skills which enable them to make positive, well informed, choices regarding their alcohol use.

Decision

The Group:

1. Noted the paper;
2. Agreed to encourage an increase in the delivery of or participation in alcohol education and interventions by stakeholders; and
3. Agreed to encourage engagement in Local Drug & Alcohol Forums (or Substance Misuse Groups).

(Ref:  Report by Craig McNally, Senior Health Promotion Specialist dated January 2014, submitted).

Verbal update by Iona MacPhail

Iona MacPhail from ACHA updated the Group on the recent drug dealing conviction of one of their tenants and advised that they await the outcome of his eviction.  She advised that all ACHAs drug dealing cases on Bute will now go through Greenock Sherriff Court.

She informed the Group that ACHA currently have work ongoing with the community at Strachur Play Park as it was closed last year and they have put this out to tender.

She advised that there has been an ongoing problem over the last few months with the litter around Ardenslate Shop in Dunoon as school kids have been dropping litter outside the shop which is blowing into their tenants gardens but they have been working with the Council and the community and hope to move this matter forward in the near future.

Iona advised there is still a low demand in Bute for tenement flats and that there is also a flat in Tighnabruacih free which they are trying to fill.

She informed the Group that the bedroom tax has been a big issue for them and has affected 550 of their tenants but the Scottish Government has helped with grant funding which the Council issued to all tenants and Iona thanked everyone for all their help in this process.

The Group noted the information provided and Iona agreed to bring full figures to the next meeting on anti-social behaviour.

Fiona Edwards from Argyll Voluntary Action updated the Group on the food bank pilot that is being operated by Bute Advice Centre.

She spoke about the Care and Connections Event which is being held in Arrochar this month and made the Group aware of the Volunteer of the Year Award being held on 13^th June.

She advised that there are 2 new posts being advertised, 20 hours a week in Cowal and 12 hours a week in Bute to go into sheltered accommodation and provide exercise classes for older people.

The Group noted the information provided and Councillor Strong put forward a nomination for the volunteer of the year awards.

Funding Application

The Caucus group had information that the Council has applied for £100 million of funding for new development in the Oban area and wanted to find out what this is for considering the already affluent area of Oban.

The Area Governance Manager advised that the Council had been successful in acheieving borrowing consent for  up to a £20m package of infrastructure improvements which will support the delivery of the local Development Plan and the Economic Development Action Plan, and that it is hoped that this will unlock up to £120m of private sector investment. She provided further advice on the economic regeneration initiatives being taken forward in both Bute and Cowal by the Council, primarily through delivery of the CHORD projects for Rothesay and Dunoon respectively.

Fly Tipping

The group were questioned by Caucus as to why it is apparently cheaper for local builders to transport waste construction materials by ferry to recycling centres on the other side of the River Clyde than to take it to the local Council facility.

The Roads Performance Manger advised that the fees are set annually and agreed by the Council.

Free Parking

Another issue the Community Council members had was why is there free parking around the centre of Gourock but not in Dunoon.

Councillor MacIntyre advised that Inverclyde Council have different policies to Argyll and Bute Council.

Dog Fouling

The caucus members had some recommendations they wished to make with regards to dog fouling and outlined these to the group.

Gordon Anderson from Police Scotland advised this issue is currently being addressed and joint patrols are underway in the evening between the Council and the Police which are successful.

Councillor Marshall agreed to take this issue to the next Cowal Community Safety Forum

Public Toilets

The caucus members enquired of the group if the Council had any intentions of installing vandal resistant toilets to rectify the current lack of facilities in Cowal and Bute.

The Roads Performance Manager agreed to look into the signage of public toilets and report back to the Group.

(Ref: Note of Meeting of Caucus of Cowal and Bute Community Councils held on the 12 February 2014 – submitted).

There were no issues raised by Third Sector Partnerships.

Verbal update by Transport Planner

Ken Barr, from the Caucus group (a collaboration of six community councils) spoke on a proposed project to provide a level coastal cycleway from Ardentinny to Toward.  He advised the group that each Community Council is in the process of expressing an interest in Climate Challenge Fund Grants and that Council support is essential in forwarding this project.

The Group noted the information provided and Councillor Marshall agreed to ask Max Barr from Dunoon Community Council and Moya Ingram, the Council’s Strategic Transportation Manager to the next meeting of the Forward Dunoon and Cowal Group.

Report by Area Governance Officer

A report updating the Area Community Planning Group regarding the main pieces of work undertaken by the Area Community Safety Partnerships was considered.

Decision

The Group noted the work undertaken.

(Ref: Report by the Area Governance Manager dated March 2014, submitted).

Report by Area Governance Officer

The group considered a report giving an update regarding the main pieces of work being undertaken by the Forward Dunoon and Cowal Group.

Decision

The Group noted the work undertaken.

(Ref: Report by Area Governance Officer dated 19 February 2014 – submitted).

Report by Quality Improvement Officer (to follow)

It was agreed that this item would be taken at the June 2014 meeting.

Councillor Marshall left the meeting.

Report by Social Economy Development Officer

A report updating the Community Planning Group on the progress to date for the Area Forum Events, was considered.

Decision

The Community Planning Group:

1. Noted the progress to date of the delivery of community engagement events to consult on the SOA 2013-23; and
2. Agreed to a further; more detailed, report to be presented at the June meeting.  At this time, the Group can consider how best to utilise the information gathered at the events to ensure feedback is used by partners to inform future planning and activities of the group, including the area Economic Development Action Plan (EDAP).

(Ref:  Report by Community Development Officer dated 25^th February 2014, submitted).

Verbal update by Area Governance Manager

The Area Governance Manager advised that the dates had now been approved for the Bute and Cowal Community Planning Group meeting cycle 2014-15 and the dates are as follows:-

• Tuesday 3^rd June 2014 at 2pm in Dunoon
• Tuesday 2^nd September 2014 at 2pm in Dunoon
• Tuesday 2 December 2014 at 2pm in Rothesay
• Tuesday 3^rd March 2015 at 2pm in Rothesay

The Group noted the information provided.

A report sharing the draft Bute and Cowal Economic Development Action Plan (EDAP) for the period 2013-2018 was considered.

The five year timescale has been selected to align with the overarching strategic EDAP for Argyll and Bute as a while with the Local Development Plan.  In particular, this local plan will complement and contribute to the Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) delivery plans developed by the Community Planning Partnership.

Decision

The Group noted the information provided and agreed to feed comments of the plan back to the Economic Development Manager by Tuesday 18^th March for a report going to the Bute and Cowal Area Committee on 1^st April.

(Ref:  Report by Economic Development Manager dated 4^th March 2014, submitted).