Agenda and minutes

Stuart McLean welcomed everyone to the meeting and advised that Ryan MacIntyre (Chair) had submitted his apologies.

In the absence of Ryan MacIntyre, Councillor Kieron Green chaired the meeting.

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of:

Ryan MacIntyre (Chair)

Councillor Jim Lynch, Argyll and Bute Council

Kirsty McLuckie, Community Development Officer, Argyll and Bute Council

Ailie Law, Community Development Officer, Argyll and Bute Council

John McLuckie, Community Planning, Argyll and Bute Council

Fergus Murray, Development and Growth, Argyll and Bute Council

Laura Evans, Police Scotland

Inspector Lee Page, Police Scotland

Sgt Matthew Shaw, Police Scotland

Michelle Mundie, ACHA

Linda Duncan, Crossroads

Susan McRae, Skills Development Scotland

Judith Hawcroft, North Argyll Carers

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The Minutes of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group meeting held on Wednesday 16 August 2023 were approved as a correct record.

Report by Committee Manager

The group gave consideration to a report which outlined matters discussed during a meeting of the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Management Committee held on 7 September 2023. The report included information on a number of cross cutting themes such as Climate Change, Financial Inclusion and Community Wealth Building and an update on the development of the Argyll and Bute Outcomes Improvement Plan. 

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Committee Manager, Argyll and Bute Council, dated 8 November 2023, submitted)

Report by Committee Manager

Consideration was given to a report which provided information which related to the appointment of a Vice-Chair for the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group.  The report outlined the expected time commitment and provided information on the roles.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group appointed Colin Buchanan to the role of Vice Chair of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group.

(Reference:  Report by Committee Manager, dated 8 November 2023, submitted)   

The Group gave consideration to a report and presentation from Rory Munro, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership, on the adult health and wellbeing profile for the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Public Health Intelligence Team, dated March 2023, submitted)

Consideration was given to a report which provided an update on the ongoing work of the Service and information on fraud prevention and awareness, specifically Sextortion; bereavement support; road safety; community intelligence; youth engagement activities and coastline safety.

The report advised that the Partnership Against Rural Crime will be hosting an online Q & A session on 8^th November through the Police Scotland Argyll & West Dunbartonshire Facebook Page at 7pm, the partnership involves NFU Scotland, Forestry & Land Scotland and the British Horse Society.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Police Scotland, submitted)

The Group gave consideration to a report highlighting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) FQ2 review of local performance across Oban, Lorn and the Isles for the period 2023-24. 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 Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute Local Senior Officer Activities and home fire safety.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, 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 activities being undertaken to promote the priorities for this year, Signposting, Community and Patient Transport and the ADP Funding.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Living Well Network, dated 16 October 2023, submitted)

The Group gave consideration to an update from Live Argyll - Community Learning Services. The update provided information relating to adult literacy and numeracy provision and the new management structure within the service including a new Services and Support Manager; Commercial Operations Manager and an Active Schools and Sports Manager.

In addition to the written report, Maureen Evans, advised that following multi-agency meetings, in relation to anti-social behaviour within Oban’s Station Square, a Friday night football session had been started at the High School.  The Local Fire Service had also participated with the Fire Engine on site to give the kids an additional interest. 

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Live Argyll, Community Learning dated November, submitted)

Consideration was given to an update from Argyll and Bute Citizen’s Advice Bureau which provided statistical information on the number of clients  who had contacted the Bureau between January and September 2023; the annual programme of energy efficiency advice sessions and services that the Bureau provide. The recruitment campaign for volunteer advisors has been advertised with new volunteers expected to start out their training on 16^th January 2024.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Argyll and Bute Citizens Advice Bureau, dated November, submitted)

Jim Tolmie of the Oban District Access Panel gave a brief verbal update on the Panels petition to the Scottish Government, specifically to make it a statutory requirement for Braille to be put on all food packaging. Mr Tolmie advised that the petition will be presented to the Scottish Parliament Petitions Committee by the end of the month where he hopes it will find support.

Decision

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

(Reference: Update by Oban District Access Panel)

The Group gave consideration to a report which outlined the current workstreams of the Argyll and Bute TSI. The update included information on the work in response to the cost of living crisis; local strategic partnerships; and the work on the application to receive funding for the Climate Action Network.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Support Advisor, Argyll and Bute TSI, dated November, submitted)

North Argyll Carers

The Committee Manager read out a statement on behalf of Judith Hawcroft, the statement read:

‘I am concerned for my staff because of the increasing demand for support and growing complexity of the carers’ circumstances. I stated that unpaid carers are holding together an ailing social care system and that if they became unable to provide care because of burn-out, the repercussions would be very serious and far-reaching. I referred to my disappointment that £120,000 worth of carer support funding had been described as an “underspend” at the end of the 2022-23 financial year and had been reallocated to balance the budget, despite carers centres requesting the funding and describing practical preventative support they could provide, with the funding, to prevent carer breakdown’.

Report from Oban Community Council

Laura Corbe of Oban Community Council spoke to her presentation with respect to the Oban Place Plan and Community Action Plan project. Miss Corbe advised that Oban Community Council are undertaking the lead in a public consultation regarding what the public would like to see locally in respect of housing, new or retained local employment, new tourism/community facilities, open space, climate change adaption, local initiatives promoting active travel and community food growing, conservation environment and improvements to the town centre. 

Miss Corbe further advised that funding has been sought to raise the £35,000 to put the plan in place which includes the preparation of the required documentation, which must be carried out by a consultancy company and submitted to the Scottish Government.

Miss Corbe advised that Hope Kitchen are in the process of obtaining a shop front at 113 George Street, Oban which will be a collective shop, sign posting information on a host of services available to the public.  Oban Community Council will have a space within the shop for submission of opinions with a steering group being established for those interested in participating. 

Decision

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

(Reference: Presentation by Laura Corbe, Oban Community Council, November 2023, submitted)

Verbal Update from Climate Change Working Group Representative

Laura Corbe highlighted that across Argyll and Bute, Climate Change has been on everyone’s mind since the heavy rain fall of a couple of weeks ago and highlighted an article written by Councillor Currie and the Chief Executive of the Council on what we needs to be done and how much help is required.

Laura advised that the new CPP Climate Change Project Manager, Andy MacPherson, will be in position by 30^th November and that he has an excellent professional background in environmental and sustainable development projects in various authorities and public bodies. Andy’s focus will be on mitigation and adaptation at a strategic level for the CPP.

Decision

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

(Reference: Verbal presentation from Angela Anderson, Representative of the Climate Change Working Group)

Report by Luing Community Council

Members of Luing Community Council shared with the Group a report on Flooding Risks on the Island, in particular following the recent floods in October, where 3 houses within the Conservation Area were affected.

Mary Braithwaite advised that the Community Council are in the process of setting up advice and assistance on flooding within the Island, but lack the technical knowledge when navigating ownership of the different parts of the island. Councillor Kain offered to facilitate someone from Roads and Infrastructure to get in touch with the Community Council to discuss and offer technical advice.

The Committee Manager advised that the Council website also has a Flood Advice Page which can be accessed by following this LINK.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Luing Community Council, November 2023, submitted)

Presentation by Angela Anderson, Climate Change Hub

Angela Anderson had submitted a written report which highlighted that the consortium of Argyll and the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust (ACT), Third Sector Interface (TSI) and Time for Change had submitted an application for the Climate Hub and had presented the application to the Scottish Government Advisory Board on Friday 27^th October. They expect to hear of the outcome of the bid during the latter half of November.

Also highlighted was that the consortium had applied for funding for four part-time posts, one for each of the four administrative areas and that ACT will supply day to day support, TSI will provide ICT and secretariat assistance and TFC will assist as needed.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report from Angela Anderson, Time for Change Argyll and Bute)

The Group noted that the next meeting of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group would take place on Wednesday 7 February 2024 at 6.30pm. 

The Chair thanked everyone in attendance at the meeting.