Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated by:

Councillor Jim Anderson

Councillor Alan Reid

Jim Wilson, Hunters Quay Community Council

Cathi Bertin, Befrienders

 

No declarations of interest were intimated.

The minute of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group held on the 14^th August 2018 was approved as a correct record.

Report by Area Committee Manager

The Group considered a report that outlined the requirement for a vice-chair to be appointed to the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group agreed to carry this item forward to the February 2019 meeting due to no candidates being nominated for the position.

 

(Ref: Report by Area Committee Manager dated 06.11.18, submitted)

 

Presentation by Senior Development Officer

The Group considered a presentation and verbal update on the Shopfront Improvement Scheme 2017-2022 which aims to improve and enhance historic buildings within Rothesay town centre, with particular emphasis on the bank enterprise space that is currently being created to accommodate small local businesses.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group:

 

1. Noted the contents of the presentation and verbal update and;

 

2. Noted the on-going work by officers to source and implement all the proposed changes.

 

(Ref: Presentation by Senior Development Officer dated 6^th November 2018, submitted)

 

Update by Trust representative

A representative from the Isle of Bute Trust was not able to attend and therefore no update was provided.

 

Update on installation of cycle hubs around Bute

David Hayes from Bute Community Cycling Club provided a verbal update on the installation of Cycle hubs on Bute, including an overview of the clubs aims and objectives. The following was noted:

 

• The Club was launched during national cycle week to encourage people to get more active.
• A launch ride took place in July with roughly 50 people taking part.

 

• Through fundraising and funding from the Rothesay Common Good Fund, Cycling Scotland and the Health and Well-being network they have managed to fund three all-weather public maintenance  cycle hub stands on Bute.

 

• They have also facilitated public sessions on educational safety, maintenance and health and well-being.

 

• Since May 2018 the club has developed quickly and will continue to raise public awareness and fund raise to grow the club.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group noted the contents of the verbal update.

 

(Ref: Verbal update by Bute Community Cycling Club representative dated 6^th November 2018, submitted)

 

Update by Ann Campbell and Tom Warren

Anne Campbell and Tom Warren provided an update on the Dunoon Area Alliance including current and future projects.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group noted the contents of the report.

 

(Ref: Report by Anne Campbell, Dunoon Area Alliance dated 6^th November 2018, submitted)

 

Update from visit Scotland (to follow)

A report was not submitted and a representative was not present. Therefore no update was provided.

 

Update by Corporate Affairs Manager

Ruaridh MacGregor provided an overview of the completed and ongoing projects in the Cowal area, specifically Innellan, Toward, Kilmun and Strone. He expressed thanks on behalf of Scottish Water to the local communities for their patience whilst works were being undertaken.

 

Concerns were raised regarding a sewage blockage in the West Bay Area of Dunoon. Ruaridh encouraged individuals to report concerns direct to Scottish Water at the time of the incident.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group noted the contents of the report.

 

(Ref: Report by Ruaridh MacGregor, Scottish Water dated 6^th November 2018, submitted)

 

Update by Digital Liaison Officer

Iain MacInnes, Digital Liaison Officer introduced the various digital infrastructure projects within Bute and Cowal, including next generation access and mobile communications.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group noted the contents of the report.

 

(Ref: Report by Digital Liaison Officer dated 6^th November 2018, submitted)

 

Police Scotland

 

Inspector Duncan McLean provided the Group with the following verbal update:

 

• The recent dog fouling campaign in Bute and Cowal had been very successful with a 65% reduction in complaints. Overall 11 warnings, 1 fixed penalty notice and 4 formal letters were issued to dog owners. Police Scotland would be looking to rerun the campaign in the future and hope to include visits to schools.

 

• Rural Watch continues and is being led by PC’s Smith and McKay. It was noted that this is currently working very well and Community Councils appreciate a Police representative attending community council meetings.

 

• Events and festivals over the summer months generally went well with no reported incidents for Cowal or Bute Highland Games. Butefest caused some temporary accommodation issues due to in climatic weather.

 

• Inspector McLean informed the Group that he would be retiring on the 1^st December 2018 and his replacement would be Inspector Fiona Davidson. It was also noted that Chief Inspector Paul Robertson would be retiring at the end of 2018 and a further update on this would be provided to the Group.

 

The Chair of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group thanked Inspector McLean for his help and hard work and wished him well in his retirement.

 

Scottish Fire and Rescue

 

Bobby Tourish of Scottish Fire and Rescue provided a statistical update for Quarter 2 2018/19:

 

• Zero fire fatalities
• 1 Non-fatal fire casualty in Dunoon
• 2 accidental dwelling fires in Cowal and 4 in Bute
• 5 deliberate fires – 3 in Cowal and 2 in Bute
• 3 Non-domestic fires in Cowal
• 6 Special services incidents – 3 in Cowal and 3 in Bute
• Zero road traffic casualties
• 78 False alarms – 56 in Cowal and 22 in Bute

 

Incidents of Note

 

• In quarter 2 there were 6 primary fire incidents 3 in Bute and 3 in Cowal – 4 were kitchen fires, 1 within a gas boiler and 1 caused by an electrical fan.

 

• In quarter 3, to date, there were 3 primary fire incidents 2 in Cowal and 1 in Bute, 1 well developed house fire, 1 caravan fire and 1 caused by medical oxygen.

 

Special Service Incidents

 

·         In quarter 2 there had been 3 special service incidents – 2 Cowal, 1 Bute and consisted of a 68 year old man collapsing, 7 lost children and assisting in removing a casualty from a property.

 

·         To date there had been 4 special service incidents in quarter 3. 3 for Cowal and 1 for Bute and consisted of diverting water from properties and assisting an occupant who was locked within a bedroom.

 

Home Fire Safety Visits

 

• 68 undertaken in Cowal and 35 in Bute.

 

Community Safety Activity

 

• British Heart Foundation – 5 sessions with 39 people trained in CPR.
• Fire skills delivered to Rothesay Academy school on the 3^rd September and Dunoon Grammar School on the 24^th September.
• 30 Post domestic incident responses.
• Real time crash scenario undertaken at Rothesay joint campus and one planned for Dunoon in the future.

 

Bute and Cowal CAUCUS

 

Cathleen Russell raised concerns regarding the lack of carers available in the Lochgilphead area. It was noted that this has been raised with the Health and Social Care Partnership.

 

Councillor Moffatt informed the Group of proposals for Loch Striven to be used as an area for decommissioning oil rigs.

 

Discussion facilitated by the Area Governance Manager on items for discussion on the Agenda for the next meeting.

 

Outcomes to be discussed.

 

Outcome 3 – Education, skills and training maximises opportunities for all.

 

Outcome 4 – Children and Young People have the best possible start.

The date of the next meeting was noted and it was agreed that suggestions for agenda items should be forwarded to the Area Committee Manager.