Agenda and minutes

Apologies were intimated on behalf of:-

Fergus Murray, Economic and Development, Argyll and Bute Council

Jane Fowler, HR and Improvement, Argyll and Bute Council

Fiona Bornman, Economic & Development, Argyll and Bute Council

Michelle Mundie, Chief Executive Argyll Community Housing Association 

Jen Broadhurst, Argyll and Bute Citizen’s Advice Bureau

Joan Best, North Argyll Carers

Becs Barker, Carr Gomm

Ali Martin, MECOPP

Laura Corbe, Climate Change

Lauren Worrell, National Farmers Union

Carol Flett, Oban and Lorn and the Islands Living Well Network

There were no declarations of interest.

The Minutes of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group meeting held on Wednesday, 8 February 2023 were approved as a correct record.

Presentation by Community Planning and Development Team

Consideration was given to a presentation by the Council’s Community Planning team on their recent consultation ‘Improving Lives in Argyll and Bute’. The presentation included information on the promotion of the consultation; the support provided for non-digital participation and Community Groups and the responses received from the survey. It was noted that the top three priorities within Oban, Lorn and the Isles were housing, transport and infrastructure, and community wellbeing. Information on how the information collated from the consultation would be used to progress the 2023-2033 iteration of the Argyll and Bute Outcome Improvement Plan (ABOIP) was also provided.

Decision

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

(Reference: Presentation by Community Planning and Development Team, Argyll and Bute Council, submitted)

Report by Committee Manager

Consideration was given to a briefing note which provided information on matters discussed during a meeting of the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Management Committee, held on 23 March 2023.

The Committee Manager outlined a number of key highlights from the meeting including the Child Poverty Report; the work around financial Inclusion; the community wealth building audit and the digital communities work.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Community Planning Group considered and noted the briefing note.

(Reference: Report by Committee Manager, Argyll and Bute Council, dated 2 May 2023, submitted)

Report by Health Improvement Lead, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership

The group gave consideration to a report which provided an update on ongoing wellbeing and prevention activity overseen and delivered by the HSCP Public Health team in Argyll and Bute. Rory Munro presented a number of key messages from the 2022 annual report of the Director of Public Health on Prevention. The full report can be found at:- NHSH DPH Annual Report 2022 (adobe.com)

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Interim Health Improvement Lead, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership, submitted)

Consideration was given to a report which provided an update on the recent work and activities of Police Scotland within the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area. The report included information on Road Safety, Fraud Prevention, the roll out of Naloxone to all officers across Argyll and West Dumbartonshire and the reinstatement of the Pub Watch programme.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Police Scotland, submitted)

The Group gave consideration to a report highlighting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) FQ4 review of local performance across Oban, Lorn and the Isles for the period 2022-23. The report included information on the local firefighter training plan; incidents during this time period; unwanted fire alarm signals; road and water safety campaigns; community engagement activities; East and West Dumbartonshire and Argyll and Bute Local Senior Officer Activities and home fire safety. 

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, submitted)

The Group gave consideration to the report from Hope Kitchen, Catriona Petit highlighted it has been a difficult time with the cost of living crisis and recent drug deaths.  Hope Kitchen has been working with partners and will hold information days where service users will be advised where they can access help.

Catriona also advised that the collaborative working with the Youth Café, Healthy Options and ALIenergy had been successful in receiving funding from the Investing in Communities Fund and that they will work alongside Atlantis Leisure to deliver the project, further details on this will be available at the next meeting of the Community Planning Group.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group considered and noted the update.

(Reference: Report by Hope Kitchen, submitted)

Having noted the apologies of Carol Flett of the Oban and Lorn and the Island Living Well Network, the Group gave consideration to a report which provided information on the next meeting of the Living Well Network which was scheduled to be held on 11 May 2023. It was also noted that a further 3 meetings would be organised throughout the year and will be held on Zoom.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Oban & Lorn and the Islands Living Well Network, submitted)

The Group gave consideration to a written report from UHI Argyll (Oban).  Theresa Bain had to leave the meeting prior to this item, the Committee Manager advised that he would relay any questions raised by partners for a response.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by UHI Argyll (Oban), submitted)

Having noted the apologies Jen Broadhurst of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) the Group gave consideration to an update from the Bureau. The update provided statistical information highlighting the rise of clients and advice being given by the Bureau in 2022/23 compared to 2021/22. The update also provided information on the recruitment of volunteer advisors and the advice and support CAB can provide.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Argyll and Bute Citizen’s Advice Bureau, submitted)

Consideration was given to a report which provided an update on the work of Argyll TSI during the period 16 February to 21 April 2023. The report included information on Local Strategic Partnerships; Future Funding opportunities as a result of the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund and events taking place across Argyll and Bute, which included the Volunteer of the Year event. Further information was provided in relation to the new and improved digital platform for volunteering; the Argyll and Bute Positive Destination programme and the Argyll and Bute Community Directory, which can be found at https://abcd.scot

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Third Sector Interface, submitted)

Live Argyll – Community Learning

The Group gave consideration to an update from Maureen Evans Live Argyll - Community Learning Services. Maureen provided information relating to drop-in session being held in Oban Library to support customers in undertaking job searches preparing C.V.’s, and basic IT support.

Maureen added that the post of Co-ordinator for Literacies Worker is out for advert, social media platform is being revamped, the recruitment for new MSYP’s will begin in May with elections being held in November and that they are currently planning the summer G.I.V.E. programme with you people being rewarded (trip or visit) for doing some volunteering in their local community.

Crossroads North Argyll

Linda Duncan advised that Crossroads continue to provide respite for unpaid carers with 61 clients receiving around 178 hours of support per week.  6 new carers have been recruited with 8 clients on the waiting list.  Crossroads continue to work in partnership with other agencies to facilitate more effective hospital discharges.

Skills Development Scotland

Susan MacRae advised that Skills Development Scotland (SDS) are awaiting on the results of the Wither’s review which was implemented by the Scottish Government to look at schools around Scotland, this should be available by end of May. Susan added that exams are ongoing with SDS advisors attending to give advice on positive destinations to the pupils.

Report by Chair of Climate Change Working Group

Consideration was given to a report which highlighted the ongoing work of the Climate Change Working Group. The report outlined the proposal to produce a strategic Action Plan as a means to address the climate emergency in Argyll and Bute; the approved governance arrangements to support the Climate Change Project Manager post and the ongoing work on the recruitment of a Project Manager.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Chair of the Community Planning Partnership Climate Change Working Group, dated 27 April 2023, submitted)

Colin Buchanan, Isle of Luing Community Trust, advised that they were successful in obtaining a significant grant to sustain and mitigate against shoreline erosion.

Decision

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

Presentation by Colin Buchanan, Chairman Isle of Luing Community Trust Board

Colin Buchanan from Isle of Luing Community Trust gave a short presentation on the exciting work that the Trust is carrying out on Luing, specifically the development of a small scale slate enterprise to regenerate the economy on the island. Colin advised that the Trust have the mineral rights to the slate with the income generated being used to support housing, employment and climate change related projects.  .

The Trust has been working with Historic Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland with extensive consultations undertaken.  A feasibility study suggested that the project will support 5 full time jobs and the extraction of 200 tonnes of slate per year.

Colin advised that Scottish slate has not been available for the last 60 years, with the majority of slate available being Spanish. This enterprise would provide material for walling stone, drystone dyking and high value craft products. The expectation is to bring in £100k per year to develop other projects.

A Screening and Scoping Application has been submitted to the Council and Marine Scotland, they have until the end of May to respond.

It is also hoped going forward that planning can be sought for a facility to be used as a visitor attraction, which will bring further income to the island through tourism.  

This is a major achievement for the Island and Argyll and further information can be found at https://isleofluing.org/about-isle-luing/isle-luing-community-trust

The Chair reminded partners that he would be standing down as Chair in August, and encouraged partners to consider volunteering for this enjoyable position.

The Committee Manager gave thanks to Kevin who has served almost 24 months in the chair and will be a huge loss to the Area Community Planning Group, to which all partners agreed and passed on their best wishes.

Date of the next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 16 August 2023.