Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and general introductions were made:

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of;

Councillor Sir Jamie McGrigor;

Councillor Elaine Robertson;

Joan Best – Manager, Crossroads North Argyll;

Morag MacLean – Manager, North Argyll Carers Centre;

Brian Murphy – Local Manager, Housing & Neighbourhood Services, ACHA;

Scott Douglas - Community Learning Worker;

Alison McGrory – Health Improvement Principal, HSCP; and

Morag Evans – Oban Youth Forum

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The minute of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group meeting held on Wednesday 13 November 2019 was approved as a correct record.

Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) and Police Scotland

Councillor Kieron Green spoke about how the HSCP welcomed the request from Alastair McGregor, Chief Executive of ACHA, for a meeting with partners and stakeholders in relation to recent drug related issues in Oban but they were keen not to duplicate existing structures by arranging additional meetings and did not want to put undue pressure on existing groups.  He stated that the Argyll and Bute Drug Partnership would be the best partner to coordinate any discussion on this matter.

Mr McGregor agreed that he did not want to duplicate work or cut across services but wished for a stakeholders meeting so that they could draw a robust response in relation to drug dealers so their position was clear and that they can do all they can to evict drug dealers and protect vulnerable tenants. He stated that he has requested a meeting in order to have a conversation to see what is missing and build on what they already have. He highlighted that in all of Argyll and Bute area Oban has the highest level of drug related issues. He advised that the Scottish Government have announced £12.7 million in additional funding but they need a coordinated approach to apply for funding.

Councillor Roderick McCuish – Secretary, ACHA questioned if the Addaction forum had run its course and what was required was a radical review and look at Oban to be run as a pilot.

Inspector Mark Stephen, Police Scotland, stated that although the issue will never be resolved entirely there was a lot of good work being done in relation to education, support officers and funding across the board but agreed all partners need to continue to work together. 

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group;

1.    agreed to show their support for a stakeholders meeting, led by the Alcohol and Drug Partnership, to explore and work up project ideas to access Government funding, and  the possibility of progressing a pilot locally; and

2.    agreed to highlight the matter to the Community Planning Partnership Management Committee for information.

At this point in the meeting Councillor Green, Councillor McCuish and Alastair McGregor left the room and no longer took part in the meeting.

Police Scotland

Inspector Stephen explained to the Group that the contact call handling assessment was up and running in the area and positive feedback had been received particularly around diary appointments for non-urgent calls.  The Group noted that the roll out of office software on mobile devices is expected to be complete by the end of March enabling Officers to do their paperwork whilst still out in the community rather than having to return to a station. 

The Group noted that an additional Officer had been posted to Oban full-time and that it is anticipate that a further 2 Officers will join the team for the summer period.

Community Planning

Laura MacDonald – Community Development Officer advised that training for Third Sector organisations and Community Councils will be held on 26 and 27 March 2020 and asked that anyone interested to contact her at communitydevelopment@argyll-bute.gov.uk The Group further noted that there will be Participation Requests workshops on 25 March 202o at the Rockfield Centre. 

Oban and Tiree High Schools

Lauren Morrison - Depute Head Teacher, Oban High School expressed her support in what the Police were doing in building relationships and doing preventative work with young people in the school.

She explained to the Group that Oban and Tiree High School now have 4 depute heads in place. She stated that following on from their recent inspection at Tiree that the senior leadership and the partnership working between the two schools was particularly praised.

Verbal Update by Governance Officer

The Governance Officer advised the Group that the HSPC Budget Consultation has been approved by the Integrated Joint Board (IJB) and partners and community groups were invited to participate via the link below;

https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/consultations/health-and-social-care-partnership-budget-consultation

Verbal Update by Peter Darling and David Entwhistle

The Group gave consideration to an update by Peter Darling and David Entwhistle, Dove Centre. The Group noted that the Centre was open 5 days per week from 9am-5pm and offers many services such as a drop-in service for people who have had chemotherapy before they head home. They run open, organic and generic groups, aimed at generally taking people’s mind away from their medical treatment so they feel relaxed.  They offer therapies, but are not a medical place, as they focus on mental and physical wellbeing including mental health support around end of life. The sessions are run in collaboration with other support groups.

The Group heard how the Dove Centre encouraged all communities to come in and see what they do and see what individual’s donations are doing. Mr Darling and Mr Entwhistle expressed deep gratitude to local business donating goods, services and labour as well as all funds raised locally and in conjunction with Oban Hospice.

Discussion focussed on how the Dove Centre was a large part of the Oban community and how it is hoped that the specialist therapies and services offered can be extended  to the islands by a befriending scheme.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group thanked Mr Darling and Mr Entwhistle for the informative update and congratulated them on the good work being done.

(Reference: Verbal Update by Peter Darling and David Entwhistle, Dove Centre, dated 19 February 2020)

Report by Governance Manager

The Group considered a report which asked them to review and confirm the governance arrangements of the Oban, Lorn & the Isles Area Planning Group (Area CPG) specifically the Terms of Reference, membership and future meeting dates.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group;

1.    considered and adopted the Terms of Reference as submitted in the report (Appendix 1) as amended to reflect the updated terminology;

2.    agreed that the Terms of Reference be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure their ongoing currency and appropriateness for the work of the Area CPG as it develops over time;

3.    considered and agreed the membership of the group as submitted in the report (Appendix 2) with addition of Mull & Iona Community Trust; and

4.    agreed the meeting schedule and dates as detailed in paragraph 3.3 the report.

(Reference: Report by Governance Manager, dated 19  February 2020, submitted)

Report by Community Planning Manager

The Group considered a briefing note which related to the meeting of the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Management Committee held on Wednesday 4 December 2019 where issues raised by the Area Community Planning Group Chairs was considered.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group Group noted the information provided.

(Reference: Report by Community Planning Manager dated 19 February 2020, submitted)

Report by Community Planning Manager

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.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group;

1.            noted the information provided; and

2.            as action OLI09 (evaluate out of hours health and social car provision on the islands) had not been progressed it was agreed to refer the matter to the Community Planning Partnership Management Committee.

(Reference: Report by Community Planning Manager dated 19 February, submitted)

Verbal Report by Community Planning Manager

The Community Planning Officer updated the Group on the results of the Place Standard Analysis and Engagement Consultation which aimed to gauge an understanding of the place respondents live in with the results feeding into the CPP Management plan and area plans. 

The Group noted that a total of 1548 responses had been received, a third of which were from the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area, which is triple the number of response from the previous exercise and that the analysis and suggested actions for improvement under each outcome would be available to the public by the end of February 2020.

The main issues for the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area were discovered to be;

1.         public transport;

2.         traffic and parking; and

3.         housing and communities.

The Group noted that the CPP Management Committee plan to look at the actions identified in March and to host a half day workshop with partners in May (date to be confirmed).

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group noted the information provided.

(Reference: Verbal update by Community Planning Officer dated 19 February 2020)

Report by Alison McGrory - Health Improvement Principal, Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership

Consideration was given by the Group to a report which provided an update about Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) health and wellbeing activity during 2019. The progress update was in relation to Outcome 5 of Argyll and Bute’s Community Plan which aims to enable people to lead active, healthier and independent lives. 

Having submitted their apologies there was no officer present from the HSCP therfore the Governance Officer agreed to take any questions or comments back to the HSCP on behalf of the Group.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group;

1.    noted the contents of the report; and

2.    agreed to forward suggestions for local actions that could be delivered under the new outcome 5 actions to the Health Improvement Principal.

(Reference: Report by Alison McGrory, Health Improvement Principal, Argyll and Bute HSCP, dated 19 February 2020, submitted)

Presentation by Arlene Colewell and Morag MacLean - Young Carers Service Co-Ordinators

Having submitted their apologies there was no officer present to provide an update.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group agreed to continue the item to a future meeting.

Verbal Report by John Sweeney, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

The Group gave consideration to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Annual Update by John Sweeney, Oban Station Commander as attached to this minute.

The Group noted that the Tobermory Young Fire Fighter’s Unit will be coming live within the next couple of months and it is hoped a unit will be started in Campbeltown soon; that there had been a spike in attendance to false alarms; Oban as a trial station for cardiac arrests was rolled out with an aim to roll out the service  across Scotland; Claire Brown had formalised the partnership to target youth groups which tied in with the drug strategy; 600 people attended the Oban open day; free cinema passes were issued to people who signed up for a home safety check; no incidents were reported on Bonfire night which was due to a proactive approach; home safety visits are now offered at pre-natal stage; the 12 week mentoring programme takes someone identified as vulnerable and aims to build confidence and give direction; investment in community safety activities virtual reality headsets simulating RTCs aimed at 14-15 year olds; and Community facilities were well used in 2019 and are free of charge to any not for profit organisations.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by John Sweeney, Oban Station Commander dated 19 February 2020)

Verbal Update by Regeneration Project Manager

The Regeneration Project Manager update the Group on the current positon of the Strategic Framework Development. The Group were informed that the requirement for Oban to have a strategic development plan came out of the Main Issues Report from the last Local Development Plan (LPD) the aim of which was to map key activities that are happening and planned within the next 10-15 years.

The Group noted that the aim was not to produce a list of projects but to identify critical points and challenges that future developers might face; as an outline programme of activities of who is doing what and when; as a mapping exercise detailing activity, connectivity, ICT, transport connections, grid provisions; how organisations are approaching the carbon agenda, fuel poverty; and to inform HSCP future service provisions.  Once these facts are mapped then there will be a public consultation.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group;

1.    noted the information provided; and

2.    agreed that Councillor representatives serving on the Group would keep the Group informed of future progress .

(Reference: Verbal Update by Regeneration Project Manager dated 19 February 2020)

Discussion facilitated by the Governance Officer on items for inclusion on the Agenda for the above meeting.

Outcomes to be discussed:

Outcome 1: The economy is diverse and thriving; and

Outcome 2: We have infrastructure that supports sustainable growth.

The Group noted that the next meeting of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group would take place at 2.00pm on Wednesday 13 May 2020 in the Corran Halls, Oban. 

The Group noted that the focus of May’s meeting would be on;

Outcome 1: The economy is diverse and thriving; and

Outcome 2: We have infrastructure that supports sustainable growth.