Agenda and minutes

Venue: Eaglesham House, Rothesay

Contact: Stuart McLean, Committee Manager - 01436 658717 Adele Price-Williams, Senior Committee Assistant - 01546 604480 

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

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

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of -

 

Liz MacBrayne – Department of Work and Pensions; and

Michelle Rusden - Local Authority Liaison Officer Argyll and Bute

 

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Minutes:

Councillor Jim Findlay raised a non-financial interest at item 6 (a) Area Community Planning Action Plan Update on Progress as a board member of Rothesay Pavilion Charity Committee. Councillor Findlay advised this was a council appointed position and remained in the room for the entirety of the item.

 

3.

MINUTES

3a

Meeting of the Bute and Cowal Community Planning Group held on Tuesday 6 August 2019 pdf icon PDF 82 KB

Minutes:

The minute of the Bute and Cowal Community Planning Group meeting held on Tuesday 6 August 2019 was approved as a correct record.

 

4.

PARTNERS UPDATE

4a

Mount Stuart Trust - Strategy 2020

Presentation by Colin Boag, Managing Director, Mount Stuart Trust

Minutes:

The Group gave consideration to a presentation from Colin Boag, Managing Director, Mount Stuart Trust.

 

Mr Boag introduced a number of commercial projects and initiatives that the Trust were undertaking, all of which were focused on adding social and economic value to Bute. Mr Boag spoke of the many raw materials that were available on Bute and that the Trust had a renewed focus on adding value to these before they were exported as well as diversifying the local economy. This, he felt, would help secure long term employment on the Island.

 

The Trust hope to have a brewery, distillery and restaurant and open a dairy by Easter weekend 2020. This would help add to the already excellent offer for tourists.

 

Mr Boag concluded that the future of the Trust was secure, however, the biggest challenge to the Trust was accessing low cost loans and growth funds. It was anticipated that the, soon to been launched, Bute Enterprise Fund may help support and facilitate future economic growth on the Island.

 

Discussion took place on the opportunities offered by the Trust to young people to gain skills in horticulture and timber management.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group thanked Mr Boag for the informative presentation and noted the information provided in the presentation.

 

(Reference: presentation by Colin Boag, Managing Director, Mount Stuart Trust, dated 5 November 2019)

 

At this point in the meeting the Chair ruled and the Group agreed to take item 9 (a) Rothesay Joint Campus - Pupil Council out of sequence in order to assist the early departure of attendees.

 

4b

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service - Cowal, Isle of Bute and Dunoon - FQ2: 1 July 2019 to 30 September 2019 pdf icon PDF 472 KB

Report by Watch Commander, Local Area Liaison Officer / Argyll and Bute, East Dunbartonshire and West Dunbartonshire

Minutes:

A report highlighting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) FQ2 review of local performance within Cowal, Isle of Bute and Dunoon for 2019-20 was considered by the Group.

 

Iain Cameron, Watch Commander, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, welcomed the downward trend in the number of incidences that required the attendance of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service which, he felt, had been as a consequence of the number of community safety activities that had been undertaken.

 

Clarification was sought and received as to the procedure where two appliances would ordinarily be deployed if a fire alarm signal was received. Watch Commander Cameron confirmed that if an unwanted alarm was included in the buildings risk assessment, a responsible person can confirm it as a false alarm, at which point only one appliance would be deployed to undertake a further check.

 

Watch Commander Cameron reported that he was continually impressed by Youth Champions taking ownership as responsible persons when dealing with Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals (UFAS).

 

Decision

 

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

 

(Reference: FQ2 2019/20 Report by Watch Commander, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, submitted)

 

4c

Opportunity for verbal updates by Community Planning Partners pdf icon PDF 53 KB

Minutes:

Police Scotland

 

Douglas Wilson, Chief Inspector, Police Scotland and the Chair introduced the Purple Alert application (app) which can be downloaded onto smart phones.  The Chair detailed how the app was made in conjunction with the Herbert Protocol (a multi-agency initiative which compiles useful information to be used in the event of a vulnerable person going missing) and can be used to notify users if a person with dementia has gone missing in their local area.  The Chief Inspector confirmed that the Adult Protection Committee would be notified of the app at their next meeting.

 

Discussion focussed on how it could be beneficial for bus drivers to have the Purple Alert app installed on their phones and how other community groups such as the Scottish Women’s Institute and the Rotary Club could be made aware of the app.

 

In addition the Chief Inspector highlighted that revised opening hours for the front counter at Kaimes and Lochgoilhead Police Stations would be announced soon.  It was also reported that 5 new probationary constables (3 in Bute and 2 in Dunoon) had been recruited and Special Constable applications available.  Front line Officers would soon be receiving new mobile devises that would reduce the amount of time required to be in the Station and therefore enhance Officers visibility within the community.

 

5.

AREA COMMUNITY PLANNING ACTION PLAN - TRACKER pdf icon PDF 126 KB

Report by Community Planning Manager

Minutes:

The Community Planning Officer outlined the engagement plan for the next iteration

of the tracker and took the group through the progress of actions currently identified

on the Area Community Planning Action Plan tracker.

 

Discussion took place in respect of the one action (BC06) which was classed as ‘not on track’ and members of the Group noted that the action marked as such was at the request of the partners.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group;

 

1.    noted the information provided;

 

2.    agreed to keep BC06 classed as ‘not on track’;

 

3.    agreed to reclassify BC02 and BC04 as ‘not on track’;

 

4.    agreed that the Chair, on behalf of the Group, would write to Dunoon BID outlining their frustration at the lack of engagement with the Group; and

 

5.    agreed that data from smaller schools would be included in action BC05 in future.

 

(Reference: Report by Area Community Planning Manager, dated 5 November 2019, submitted)

 

6.

COMMUNITY PLANNING PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UPDATE pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Report by Community Planning Manager

Minutes:

The Group considered a briefing note which related to the meeting of the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Management Committee held on Wednesday 18 September 2019 where issues raised by the Area Community Planning Group Chairs was considered.

 

Decision

 

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

 

(Reference: Report by Community Planning Officer dated 5 November 2019, submitted)

At this point in the meeting the Chair ruled and the Group agreed to take item 8 (a) Growing Islands Revival Update out of sequence in order to assist the early departure of attendees.

 

7.

ARGYLL AND BUTE OUTCOME IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2013-2023 - OUTCOME 1 (THE ECONOMY IS DIVERSE AND THRIVING)

7a

Social Enterprise in Argyll and Bute - FirstPort

Presentation by Colin Davidson, Firstport

Minutes:

The Group gave consideration to a presentation from Brian McMillan, FirstPort. The Group heard that the organisation offers start-up grants and business training support to help individuals grow social enterprises. 

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group thanked Mr McMillan for the informative presentation and noted the information provided in the presentation.

 

(Reference: Presentation by Brian McMillan, FirstPort, dated 5 November 2019)

 

7b

Dunoon BID

Report by Colin Moulson, Dunoon BID Manager (to follow)

Minutes:

No Officer was present and no update was submitted.

 

8.

ARGYLL AND BUTE OUTCOME IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2013-2023 - OUTCOME 2 - (WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

8a

Growing Islands Revival Update pdf icon PDF 129 KB

Update by Cathleen Russell, Chair of Bute and Cowal Community Planning Group

Minutes:

The Chair introduced the Islands Revival Declaration that had resulted from discussions at the 2 day islands revival workshop.  Mrs Russell outlined how other island groups in Scotland had sought to address population decline and what lessons could be learnt by Argyll and Bute.

 

Decision

 

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

 

(Reference: Update by Cathleen Russell, dated 5 November 2019 submitted)

 

 

9.

ARGYLL AND BUTE OUTCOME IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2013-2023 - OUTCOME 3 - EDUCATION, SKILLS AND TRAINING MAXIMISES OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

9a

Rothesay Joint Campus - Pupil Council

Presentation by Pupils, Rothesay Joint Campus

Minutes:

The Group gave consideration to a presentation from the Pupil Council, Rothesay Joint Campus. The Pupil Council explained that their role was to maintain order and fun within the school as well as organising school events, all of which require a great deal of leadership, hard work, dedication and patience both inside and outside of the school timetable. 

 

The Pupil Council work alongside the senior leadership team at Rothesay Academy as well as other captains from schools across Argyll and Bute and have supported various projects, including:

 

-           organising a dedication to two, world war memorial benches;

-           attending an outward bound trust event;

-           organising multiple events within the school such as discos and charity events; and

-           introducing an eco-committee and an ethos group.

 

The Pupil Council also introduced their future plans which included developing an outdoor classroom and more opportunities for young students to attend leadership courses.

 

Discussion took place about how the pupils would make great candidates for Community Councils.  The Chair and Vice Chair offered to mentor and possibly nominate anyone who expressed an interest where a Community Council had a space to co-opt new members.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group thanked the pupils for the informative presentation and noted the information provided in the presentation.

 

(Reference: presentation by Pupil Council, Rothesay Joint Campus, dated 5 November 2019)

At this point the Vice Chair took over as Chair to allow the early departure of the Chair who had to attend another meeting.

10.

COMMUNITY FOCUS

10a

Baird of Bute Society

Verbal Report by Christopher Markwell, Chair of Baird of Bute Society

Minutes:

Isobel Strong, Baird of Bute Society, updated the Group on the activities of the Society and how they aim to inspire young people’s interest in science technology, electronics and mathematics through information events and the uptake of scholarships which are open to applications from schools across Scotland.

 

Decision

 

The Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group noted the presentation.

 

(Reference: Verbal update by Isobel Strong, Baird of Bute Society, dated 5 November 2019)

11.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will take place at 10.00am on Tuesday 4 February 2020, Timber Pier Building, Dunoon

Minutes:

The Group noted that the next meeting of the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group would take place at 10.00am on Tuesday 4 February 2020 at the Timer Pier Building, Dunoon.