Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received by:-

Dee James, Homestart Majik

Sharon Erskine, Homestart Majik

David McKenzie, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park

No declarations of interest were intimated.

The minute of the Bute and Cowal Community Planning Group meeting of 14^th February 2017 was approved as a correct record.

The Area Governance Manager advised that the next meeting of the Chair and Vice Chairs of each Area Community Planning Group is scheduled for May.

Report by Community Governance Manager

The Area Governance Manager informed the Group that the election of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Bute and Cowal Community Planning Group was due.

The Current Vice Chair of the Bute and Cowal Community Planning Group invited nominations from around the table for both positions.

Decision

It was agreed to elect Willie Lynch and Alistair McLaren as Chair and Vice Chair of the Bute and Cowal Community Planning Group respectively.

(Ref:  Report by Area Governance Manager dated 18^th April 2017, submitted).

The Area Governance Manager took the Group through a report which provided discussion points raised from the Community Planning Partnership Management Committee meeting on 30^th March 2017 which includes:-

• Issues raised at previous Area Community Planning Groups, focussed on Locality Planning and further issues detailed in the report
• A focussed discussion on points highlighted by the MAKI Area Community Planning Group
• Updates to progress on the delivery of actions contained within the delivery plans for Outcome 1: Economy and Outcome 5: Health

Decision

The group noted the contents of the briefing note. 

(Ref:  Briefing Note by Community Planning Manager, dated 18 April 2017, submitted).

Update by Area Manager, HIE

The Group gave consideration to a briefing note providing a progress update on the key activities for Outcome 1 which included information on the multi-agency group looking at joint recruitment strategies and the actions they are progressing; the progress made by the Argyll and Bute Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) group and the work being undertaken to produce a report highlighting maritime industry training opportunities.  Consideration was given to the recent report from the Argyll and Bute Economic Forum which highlighted the good progress achieved so far on the recommendations made in the original Forum report and highlighted areas where greater emphasis was suggested for progression in 2017, which included upping the game in the tourism offering; engaging business with local schools; further development of Argyll College and SAMS; mobile connectivity and road improvements.   

Decision

The Group noted contents of the briefing note.

(Ref:  Briefing Note by Area Manager, Highlands and the Islands Enterprise, dated 18th April 2017, submitted).

Update by Community Development Officer, Argyll and Bute Council

The Group gave consideration to a presentation outlining how Participatory Budgeting is recognised internationally as a way for local people to have a direct say in how, and where, public funds can be used to address local needs.   The Community Development Officer advised of the money available in Argyll and Bute to strengthen and grow Gaelic.  She outlined the steps taken in the process to generate ideas from members of the public, with at least one application being received for each administrative area throughout the Council area.  Ms MacDonald further advised that voting had opened on 6 April for a period of one month at www.abpb.co.uk and urged partners to spread the word. 

Decision

The Group noted the contents of the presentation.

(Ref:  Presentation by Community Development Officer, dated 18^th April 2017, submitted).

·         Bute Island Alliance Update by Paul Duffy – Bute Island Alliance Coordinator

·         Dunoon Charrette, Think Dunoon – Update by Austin, Smith, Lord Consultants

Bute Island Alliance

Paul Duffy from Bute Island Alliance gave a presentation to the Group.

He spoke about Active Travel, hyper local level business activity, digital connectivity and the business landscape. There has been a lot of work taken forward in making connections between local business level activity and the developing business landscape, making links and providing work spaces as part of the Townscape Heritage Initiative and trying to progress community owned workspaces for new start/small scale businesses. The project is now at the stage of looking at mutual opportunities for progress and more strategic planning, and will be using the Place Standard toolkit to get an updated engagement profile of the area.

Decision

The Group noted the presentation.

Dunoon Charrette

Douglas Wheeler gave a presentation to the Group on the work of the Dunoon Charrettes project. This group is at an earlier stage than the Bute Island Alliance but has had workshops and has early finding from those to progress in terms of Dunoon development. Douglas spoke of the need to ensure wide cross sector involvement, and the need to link in with the Smarter Place initiative was highlighted.

Decision

The Group noted the presentation.

Update by Health Improvement Principle

The Group gave consideration to a briefing note, which highlighted some key achievements for the Health Improvement Team during 2016-17.  Having established that the aim of the Health Improvement Team is to take a preventative approach to health problems in order to improve the health of the population of Argyll and Bute,   Yennie Van Oostende spoke of the four themes of the strategic priorities; getting the best start in life; working to ensure fairness; connecting people with support in their community and promoting wellness not illness.  She also outlined the unique small grant funding opportunity through the local Health and Wellbeing Networks and provided some information in relation to projects this has funded over the year.

Ms van Oostende advised that a more comprehensive report had been prepared outlining the activity of the team during 2016-17 and is available at www.healthyargyllandbute.co.uk  and urged partners to think ahead as a Community Planning Group as to how they could promote the preventative measures outlined. 

Decision

The Group noted the contents of the briefing note and annual report. 

(Ref:  Briefing Note by Health Improvement Principal dated 18 April 2017, submitted).

Update for Fit for the Future and IJB Strategic Plan relating to Bute and Cowal

The Local Area Manager, Ms Lawrence-Wynch, updated the Committee on the current position with Thomson Court and Struan Lodge.  She also gave an update on the Quality and Savings Plan, Locality Planning Groups and Delayed Discharges.

Ms Lawrence Wynch confirmed that Bute and Cowal have a new Locality Manager, Alison McKerracher, who took up post on 20^th March 2017. She was welcomed to her first meeting of this group and it was noted that she will be attending future CPG meetings.

Decision

The Group noted the information provided.

(Ref:  Verbal update by Local Area Manager dated 18^th April 2017, submitted).

Briefing Note by Co-ordinator Prevention and Management of Falls, NHS Highland

The Group gave consideration to a briefing note outlining the ongoing work in the prevention of falls in older people; the importance of the strength and balance exercise programme and the challenge of communities to understand that falls can be prevented through individuals investing in physical activity to reduce risk and minimise injury. 

Decision

The Group agreed to note the contents of the briefing note.

(Ref:  Briefing Note by Co-ordinator for Prevention of Falls, NHS Highland, dated 18 April 2017, submitted).

Verbal update by Sara Maclean, Branching Out Argyll Coordinator

Sara MacLean gave a presentation to the Group on the Argyll & the Isles Countryside Trust and Branching Out Argyll.

She spoke about the 3 year project partners and funders, what the projects offer, the activities they provide and the outputs to date.

She provided the group with a Youtube link which gives more information on what the project offers -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXE1Pb2xeCs

Decision

The Group noted the presentation.

(Ref:  Presentation by Sara MacLean, Branching Out Coordinator

Opportunity for verbal updates by Community Planning Partners

Police Scotland

Inspector Paul Robertson of Police Scotland gave an update to the Group and advised they have not been off to a good start this year with their being two incidents involving knifes, one being a serious assault and the other being an attempted murder.  He confirmed these incidents were unrelated and the people involved are remanded in custody.  He also confirmed that there are now extra patrols in the area with no wider public safety concerns.

Inspector Robertson advised that in Bute they have been proactive in their anti-social behaviour and drug misuse intelligence, resulting in drug dealing charge which has been helped with working alongside the community, partners and the anti-social behaviour group.

He advised that a new Youth Community Engagement Officer has now started in post and is based in Dunoon Police Office and Dunoon Grammar School and they will engage with young people, supporting children with vulnerabilities, substance misuse issues and violence.

Inspector Robertson confirmed that the 2026 Police Scotland Strategy is now out for consultation and you can find this on the Police Scotland website.

Decision

The Group noted the information provided.

Scottish Fire & Rescue

Russel Byrne updated the Group on statistics over the last quarter for Scottish Fire and Rescue in the Bute and Cowal area.  He advised that there has been an increase in deliberate fires and false alarms have improved in Dunoon.  He advised there is a new Road Safety Officer now in post and home fire safety visits are still available.

Mr Byrne gave a presentation to the group on the local area plan consultation for 2017.  He spoke about the national overview and the local overview, the management structure and the operational activity overview.

Decision

The Group noted the information provided and the presentation.

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park

Susan Brooks gave an update to the Group on the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Partnership Plan, noting that the consultation period on this takes place from 10^th April until 3^rd July, and urged all  partners to take part in that consultation process.

Discussion around items to be raised at the CPP Management Committee in June

The Area Governance Manager advised that the next Management Committee meeting on 29^th June will be focusing on Bute and Cowal and noted that the Chair of the group had indicated at pre agenda that he felt that issues to be raised should focus on infrastructure and employment. Having noted the input to today’s meeting on matters relating to staff recruitment and retention, problems with second homes and the impact that has on housing accommodation for incoming workers, and the work that the Charrettes are undertaking in regards infrastructure and development , it was agreed that Willie Lynch, Chair of the group, would pull together a briefing note on these matters for circulation to the group for agreement prior to submission to the Management Committee meeting on 29^th June.

The group noted that the date for the next meeting of the Bute & Cowal Community Planning Group was yet to be confirmed.