Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of:

Councillor Jim Lynch, Argyll and Bute Council;

Michelle Mundie, ACHA;

Fergus Murray, Head of Economic and Development Growth, Argyll and Bute Council;

Kirsty McLuckie, Community Development Officer, Argyll and Bute Council;

Petra Pearce, Argyll and Bute TSI;

Jane Fowler, Head of Customer & Support Services, Argyll and Bute Council ;

Inspector Lee Page, Police Scotland;

Susan MacRae, Skills Development Scotland; and

Caroline MacArthur, NHS Highland.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The Minutes of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group meeting held on Tuesday 7 February 2024 were approved as a correct record.

Having noted the commitments of those in attendance, the Chair agreed to vary the order of business. This Minute reflects the order in which discussions took place.

Report by Committee Manager, Argyll and Bute Council

The Group gave consideration to a report providing information relating to the appointment of Chair of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group and outlined the expected time commitment and information on the role.

The Vice-Chair Colin Buchanan advised that he would be happy to stand for this position and with there being no other nominations, this became the decision of the group.

The Committee Manager advised that due to Colin’s new position, a report would be considered at the next meeting seeking nominations to the Vice-Chair position. The Committee Manager encouraged partners to consider whether this was a role that they would be interested in fulfilling and if so to please contact him for further details.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group agreed that Colin Buchanan be appointed as Chair.

(Reference: Report by Committee Manager, Argyll and Bute Council, dated 8 May 2024, submitted)

Report by Committee Manager, Argyll and Bute Council

The Group gave consideration to a report which outlined matters discussed during a meeting of the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Management Committee held on 10 April 2024.

Stuart McLean, Committee Manager advised of a proposed new governance structure for the Community Planning Partnership to assist in delivering actions from the Argyll and Bute Outcomes Improvement Plan (ABOIP); updates to the Transport Infrastructure, Housing and Community Wellbeing ABOIP outcomes; and progress with relevant projects, including an update to the Terms of Reference for the Climate Change Working Group.

Rona Gold, Community Planning Manager, provided clarification in relation to discussions about the governance structure of the Community Planning Partnership, having noted some disagreements with the proposals expressed at the Management Committee meeting and within a report that featured on the agenda for this meeting. It was highlighted that no decisions had been made in relation to this matter and partners would be working together to ensure that the meetings taking place were meaningful, and allowed as much time and resource as possible for action and progress on the ABOIP outcomes. It was noted that a development session with CPP partners would be held in June, and details of this session would be circulated to relevant partners in due course.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Committee Manager, Argyll and Bute Council, dated 8 May 2024, submitted)

Report by Governance Officer, Argyll and Bute Council

Consideration was given to a report which provided an update on the membership of community councils in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area following the closure of the nomination period for the interim by-elections.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Governance Officer, Argyll and Bute Council, dated 8 May 2024, submitted)

Report by the Health Improvement Senior, NHS Highland

Consideration was given to a public health update from NHS Highland. The update focussed on The Annual Report of the Director of Public Health 2023 (NHS Highland): ‘Medication & Public Health – Do the Right Thing. The report examined public health challenges and the benefits and drawback of prescribed medicines, with a focus on escalating levels of pharmacotherapy and its impacts on both individuals, and the population and their environment, including the rise of antibiotic resistance and the environmental pollution caused by medicines.

The report also provided information on the following key issues: The Environment: How medication can make out environment sicker; Hepatitis C: How medication is transforming treatment and prevention; Social Prescribing: How an alternative to medication can work; and Prescriptions for Pain: How medication can have long-lasting effects on public health. A case study regarding how medication and other measures can work together to improve health was also considered.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Health Improvement Senior, NHS Highland, submitted)

Presentation by Dr David Gould, Research Associate of Includem

The Chair advised that David Gould, Associate Researcher, Includem was unable to attend the meeting and it was noted that there was information on this item within the agenda pack, for anyone to review.

Decision

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

Report by Local Manager, Argyll Community Housing Association

Consideration was given to an annual report from Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) which provided information in relation to their stock in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area; investment programmes; the Warm Homes Fund project; Investment in Sheltered Housing complexes; a review of ACHA’s sheltered housing services; allocation and re-letting of properties; opportunities for communities to engage with planned Estate Walkabouts; an ongoing consultation on ACHA’s Customer Involvement Strategy;  welfare rights services; adaptations for vulnerable customers; success at the Scotland Housing Awards, Scottish Energy Efficiency Awards and Tenant Advisory Service Nation Excellence Awards; awards for local schools as part of ACHA’s 10 10 10 initiative; and the feedback from customer satisfaction surveys.

The report also encouraged applications to ACHA’s Community Action Fund, advising that a number of awards from the Fund had already benefitted local groups.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by Trainee Local Manager, Argyll Community Housing Association, dated 8 May 2024, submitted)

Verbal presentation by Place Director, Scottish Government

Consideration was given to a presentation by Rachael McGruer, Place Director at the Scottish Government. The presentation highlighted that the role of Place Directors is to understand how public services can best work together and support partners to work with communities across Scotland. The presentation also included information on Place Directors responsibilities; the history of Place Directors with it being highlighted that they have existed since 2008 and prior to 2022 were known as Location Directors; and personal involvement such as attendance at CPP meetings and supporting visits for the Permanent Secretary and Travelling Cabinet.

Decision

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

(Reference: Presentation by Place Director, Scottish Government)

Report by CEO, Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface

Consideration was given to a report and presentation in relation to Community Wealth Building. The report confirmed that the Community Planning Partnership Management Committee formally received the Community Wealth Building report commissioned in 2023 at its meeting of 10th April 2024. It was highlighted that the recommendations in the report were categorised in five sections: spending; workforce; inclusive ownership; finance; and land and property.

It was noted that the Community Planning Partnership had requested that Area Community Planning Group provide feedback in relation to the implementation and priority actions identified in the report and appendices.

Decision

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

1.    noted that a steering group of CPP partners oversaw the delivery and production of the two reports at Appendix 1 and 2;

2.    agreed to forward any comments on implementation and priority actions within the final report Community Wealth Building in Argyll and Bute: A framework for action at appendix 1 following the meeting to the Committee Manager to pass to the CEO, Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface for consideration and action as appropriate; and

3.    agreed to forward any comments on the implementation and priority actions within the two ‘Models of Opportunity’ at appendix 2 following the meeting to the Committee Manager to pass to the CEO, Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface for consideration and action as appropriate.

(Reference: Report by CEO, Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface, dated 8 May 2024, submitted)

Presentation by Carol Flett, Living Well Network Co-Ordinator

The Group gave consideration to an update and presentation from Carol Flett, Oban, Lorn and the Isles Living Well Network. The presentation included information on who the Living Well Network are and what they do; network events and meetings and the Living Well Network priorities for Oban, Lorn and the Isles.

Carol also advised that following the last meeting where concerns were raised around optometry services she had gathered information from a number of people and wrote a document detailing the challenges around this provision and that this was sent to the Locality Planning Group. Carol suggested that she share the response with the Chair and Jim Tolmie who had originally highlighted the issue then respond to the HSCP with a specific list of questions.

Decision

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

(Reference: Presentation by Oban, Lorn and the Isles Living Well Network Co-ordinator)

Consideration was given to an update which provided information on the ongoing work of the Service and information on staffing changes; the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme; management changes; the monitoring of anti-social behaviour caused by youths and bespoke areas of patrol and the National NHS project ‘Lifelines Scotland’ which is a project aiming to support the Wellbeing of the emergency services staff and volunteers in Scotland.

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) FQ4 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 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. 

Robert Taylor advised that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was currently running a survey on the future of the service and that community engagement events would be held in fire stations across Scotland. Further information on the survey can be found at: Shaping Our Future Service: Your Say - Scottish Fire and Rescue Services - Citizen Space

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)

Consideration was given to a report from Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface (TSI), which provided an update on actions taken during financial quarter four of 2023-24. The update included information in relation to changes to the Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Act 2023; local strategic partnerships; the Community Wealth Building report; Community Planning Partnership organisational changes; funding for 2024-2025; the Funders Fayre 2024 held in Oban; a fourth year of funding of the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund; TSI Board member recruitment; testing of new models of co-location; work by the Argyll and Bute Climate Action Network; the Sustainable Food Partnership online event; consultations on a new strategy and a local sustainable funding campaign; research proposal for mapping Argyll and Bute’s early intervention services; and TSI’s hosting of a Wellbeing Development Manager post, funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and the Health and Social Care Partnership.

Decision

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

(Reference: Report by CEO, Argyll and Bute TSI, submitted)

Crossroads North Argyll

Joan Best highlighted that Crossroads North Argyll provide respite for unpaid carers and that as well as having the service in Oban they also have a service on Mull and have started a service on Tiree. Joan advised that they can take referrals from anyone and although they do have a waiting list of around 20 people they do ask that if people know of anyone who could do with some help, then to advise them to get in touch.

Hope Kitchen

Rachel Heald highlighted that The Hope Kitchen have opened a new community shop which also has workshop space for use in 113 George Street, Oban and that they will also be starting a Rescue Food Service within the next few weeks. It was highlighted that this is led by the Hope Kitchen but is ran by The Collective.

Argyll and Bute Council

The Committee Manager highlighted that the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee are Trustees of the following of Trust Funds:

The John of Lorn Bequest which has been available for some time and  is open to anyone that is aged 16 and over and resident of the Burgh of Oban. Successful individual applicants will receive £50, while those that are applying on behalf of their family will receive £100. 

The Archibald Dow Bequest which is for people aged 16 and over living in Taynuilt. Individuals who fulfil the criteria for support will receive £50 and families can claim £100.

The Mackinnon Ledigham Bequest is aimed at people who are of state pension age and live within the Ross of Mull. Applicants can receive £50 and a maximum of one award per calendar year.

Coals for the Poor Oban offers awards of £50 to individuals and £100 to families. To be eligible you should be over 16-years-of-age, in receipt of a qualifying benefit and resident in the burgh of Oban. The funds must be used to buy coal.

The Committee Manager advised that he would circulate a link to each fund at the conclusion of the meeting and asked that partners promote these funds to anyone that they think could benefit from them.

Report by Climate Change Project Manager, ACT

The Group gave consideration to a report providing an update on the Community Planning Partnership’s Argyll And Bute Climate Action project: developing a Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan for Argyll and Bute.

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group noted the approach and status of the project as outlined in the report.

(Reference: Report by Climate Change Project Manager, dated 16 April 2024, submitted)

There were no verbal updates provided under this item.

The Group noted that the next meeting of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group would take place on Wednesday 14 August 2024.

It was noted that members of the Group would like the option to attend future meetings in person and it was agreed that the Committee Manager would conduct a survey to ascertain the preference of the Group as a whole as to meeting arrangements going forward.