Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from:-

Iona MacPhail, ACHA

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The Minutes of the Bute and Cowal Community Planning Group meeting of 2 September 2014 were approved as a correct record.

Report by the Community Planning Manager

A report providing the highlights from the Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership Management Committee meeting on the 31^st October 2014 was considered.

Decision

The Group noted the report.

(Ref: Report by Community Planning Manager dated 2^nd December 2014, submitted).

Report by Community Governance Manager

The group considered a report which provided an update on the progress of the current Area Community Planning Group Terms of Reference and Membership Review. The Community Governance Manager expressed to the group that this report would help create a more focused approach to the Community Planning partnership and she also advised that a new programme of meeting dates would be used from April 2015 onwards.

Decision

The Group

1. Noted the information provided.
2. Agreed to issue invitations to join the Area CPG to all the organisations listed in the proposed initial membership list.

(Ref: Report by Community Governance Manager dated 2^nd December 2014, submitted).

Report by Community Governance Manager

This item was taken jointly with item 5. (a) of the agenda.

Decision

The Group

1. Noted the information provided.
2. Agreed to invite the Organisations listed as minuted at agenda item 5. (a)

(Ref: report by Community Governance Manager dated 2^nd December 2014, submitted).

Report by Community Governance Manager

The group considered a report which informed the Area Community Planning Group on the progress relating to the development of the SOA Local plan for Bute and Cowal. A skeleton draft plan was also circulated for information only at this stage.

The Community Governance Manager asked the group for representatives to sit on a Focus Group in relation to a mapping exercise for Dunoon.

The agreed representatives are: Max Barr, Dunoon Community Council, Iain McNaughton, Sandbank Community Council and a representative from Police Scotland. A date and venue for the first meeting will be circulated to the group by the Community Governance Manager.

The Area Governance Manager informed the group that a large amount of work by the Community Governance team had been completed in order to get to this stage.

Decision

The Group

1. Noted the information provided
2. Agreed for members of the group to participate in the working group which will take forward the development of the SOA Local: Bute and Cowal.

(Ref: Report by Community Governance Manager dated 2^nd December 2014, submitted).

Report by Area Governance Officer

A report providing the group with an update on the membership of community councils in Bute and Cowal following the annual community council by-elections was considered.

Decision

The Group noted the information provided.

(Ref: Report by Area Governance Officer dated 2^nd December 2014, submitted).

Verbal update by Police Scotland

Gary Stitt from Police Scotland gave an update to the Group and advised that the new Roads Traffic Department is working well with a reduction in fatalities from ten in 2013 to five in 2014, he also reported a drop in serious and minor road accidents.

Serious Crime statistics were also reported as being down this year with nineteen serious crimes reported in 2013 and only seven for 2014 in the Bute and Cowal Area.

Gary updated the group on the various campaigns that Police Scotland will be fronting over the festive period including a campaign to raise drivers awareness of the new drink driving limits coming into force this month, as well as campaigns relating to domestic abuse and licensed premises.

Iain McNaughton, Sandbank Community Council highlighted the risk of deer to motorists at this time of year and suggested that the media could be used to raise motorists awareness of the problem. Gary will look into this matter and the possibility of using local press and twitter.

Decision

The group noted the update provided

Verbal Update by Scottish Fire and Rescue

Mark Easton from Scottish Fire and Rescue provided the Group with a verbal update on statistics for the last quarter, reporting that there had only been two fires attended to and both were in Rothesay.

Mark updated the group in relation to Scottish Fire and Rescues involvement in road safety awareness which included presentations to youth groups that were currently being rolled out.

It was noted that the new representative from Scottish Fire and Rescue for the Bute and Cowal Area will be Joe Gallacher.

Decision

The Group noted the update.

Report by Community Governance Manager

Two reports were presented to the Group by the Community Governance Manager giving the highlights and exceptions of the Bute Community Safety Forum and the Cowal Community Safety Forum.

Decision

The Group noted the report.

(Ref: Report by Community Governance Officer dated 2^nd December 2014, submitted).

Report by Business Gateway Representative

A report by Business Gateway, updating the group on information on potential funding routes that could be accessed by Argyll and Bute Council was considered.

Decision

The Group noted the report.

(Ref: Report by Lead Officer, Business Gateway dated 2^nd December 2014, submitted).

Report by Community Governance Manager

A report was presented to the Group by the Community Governance Manager giving the highlights and exceptions of the Forward Dunoon and Cowal Group.

Decision

The Group noted the report.

Verbal update by Community Governance Manager

The regeneration project manager gave the group a verbal update on the progress and current position of the CHORD project in Dunoon with particular emphasis on the proposed regeneration of the Queen’s Hall Building and Dunoon Pier.

He took the group through the different stages of refurbishment for the Queens Hall and the timescales being implemented for each stage of the works and gave a brief summary on the proposed works to the pier with a timescale of tendering dates for each phase.

Decision

The Group noted the work undertaken.

Presentation by Development Officer for Community Broadband Scotland

The Development Officer for Community Broadband Scotland gave a presentation to the Group on the benefits of Community Broadband within the local area, in particular informing the group that once implemented the broadband speeds could be five to eight times faster in the Bute and Cowal area than they currently are.

Decision

The Group noted the information provided.

Mental Wellbeing

Report by Sam Campbell

A report providing a general update regarding local and national mental health and wellbeing issues was considered.

Sam Campbell took the group through the report highlighting the main issues affecting mental health in the Argyll and Bute area which included a direct link between depression and loneliness and also  the impact that dementia has in local areas.

Sam informed the group that they were currently waiting to see if funding would be available in 2015/2016 to continue the Choose Life initiative which tackles suicide prevention.

The group discussed issues around the lack of mental health out of hours care and in particular how this affects the Police who are generally the first point of contact in these situations, it was noted that the NHS recognise this gap in the service.

Decision

The group noted the report.

(Ref: report by Mental Wellbeing coordinator dated 21^st November 2014, submitted).

Verbal update by AVA Representative

Max Barr, Dunoon Community Council informed the group that he had very recently being voted onto the board for Argyll Voluntary Action and for future meeting will provide a report and update on the local progress and activities being implemented by AVA.

Decision

The group noted the update.

Report by Project Manager - Integration

A report providing an update on the implementation of the Integration of Health and Social Care was provided by the Project Manager – Integration for consideration.

Decision

The Group noted the Report.

(Ref: Report by Project Manager – Integration dated 2^nd December 2014, submitted).

Verbal Update by Community Governance Manager

The Community Planning Officer provided the Group with a verbal update on the Legacy of the Olympic and Commonwealth Games specifying that a legacy plan is in place and is currently published on the Argyll and Bute Council website.

The group were also informed that Christopher Caskie will be the new go to person with matters relating to the legacy plan and how it will be implemented in the local areas.

Decision

The Group noted the update.