Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from:-

Councillor Mary-Jean Devon

Douglas Blades, Argyll and Bute Council

Veronica Kennedy, NHS Highland

There were no declarations of interest.

The Minutes of the previous meeting of 11^th June 2013 were approved as a correct record.

Presentation by David Adams McGilp

David Adams McGilp from Visit Scotland gave a presentation on core paths as an economic tourism driver in the area.

He discussed integration, collaboration and development in relation to core paths and explained how they only work if they are all joined up and this creates a good business opportunity.

Decision

The Group noted the information provided.

(Ref:  Presentation by David Adams McGilp, Visit Scotland dated 11^th September 2013, submitted).

Sexual Health Media & Cultural Influences – Report by Laura Stephenson

Laura Stephenson from Argyll & Bute CHP spoke to the Group on the need to promote sexual health and wellbeing at local, regional and national levels.  She advised the group on the Scottish Government’s Sexual Health and Blood Borne (BBV) Framework 2011-2015 and how it identifies that Sexual Health Strategy Groups should have strong links with BBV Managed Clinical Networks, Alcohol and Drug Partnerships and Community Health Partnerships.

Outcome

The Group:-

                                          i.   Noted the information provided;

                                        ii.   Agreed to contact the Executive Director of Community Services to seek his support for promoting this in schools to address issues raised;

                                       iii.   Agreed to consider how the points in the paper might be incorporated into the proposed locality community engagement events; and

                                      iv.   Agreed to help as much as possible to promote sexual health in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area.

(Ref:  Report by Laura Stephenson, Argyll and Bute CHP dated 11^th September 2013, submitted).

Alistair Davidson from Police Scotland gave an update on serious and violent crime in the area, he advised that there has been a reduction in assaults and there have been no robberies this year.  He also advised that street drinking has been reduced by 20%, anti-social behaviour stats are down and across the board things are comfortable in the area.

Alistair informed the Group that injuries sustained by accidents on the road was unfortunately still high and this is due to the A85 being a highly used road which they are looking into and concentrating on making the road safer.

He advised that Police Scotland are moving back to road policing units to give a more proactive approach to driving problems.

Councillor Iain MacDonald congratulated Alistair and Police Scotland for their improving performance across the board.

Councillor Robertson asked Alistair if Police Scotland could look into more signage for drivers to be more aware and safer on the road. Councillor Hall asked that the project on Mull, whereby multi lingual road safety leaflets are widely distributed, could be extended to the wider OLI area.

Eddie Renfrew from Scottish Fire and Rescue updated the Group on the new Local Fire Plan which provides information on operational analysis to the Community Safety Forum being fed back into the Community Planning Group and to look at strategies they have been using.

He updated the group on the recent home fire safety visits that have take place since 1^st April – 10^th September and there have been 81 in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles are with 17 people declining a visit, 9 accidental fires, 9 following incident procedures and 2 Social Work referrals. 

Eddie advised the Group that a home fire safety visit is a free service and they provide smoke detectors and asked the Group to encourage people to accept the visit as it is a risk reduction and people do not realise they can be at risk.

He advised that there is competition in primary schools just now for children to draw a picture for Bonfire night and the prize will be a visit to Oban Fire Station.

Councillor Hall asked if Scottish Fire and Rescue could revisit fire safety for next year by looking into the blocked cars that run along certain roads in the area as they are blocking access for the fire engine.

There was no one present from Scottish Water so this item will continue to the December meeting.

Iona MacPhail from ACHA updated the group on the high demand for Affordable Housing in the area.  She advised they are building 44 houses at Glenshellach in Oban, 2 at Bonawe and 8 at Dalmally.

She informed the group ACHA now have an Area Committee which is made up of tenants locally and that they have judged the garden competition for this year and cups are going out to tenants.

She advised that ACHA have received a secure lottery funding award of £300K to provide financial advice to tenants.  ACHA have agreed to use this money for welfare rights advice services including assistance at tribunals and appeals.

She was also delighted to advise the group of the new rent payment methods which was introduced in 2011. This provides additional ways for tenants to pay their rent with extended hours and there was £3M taken in the last year and Tesco in Oban is one of the busiest places in Argyll for taking in money.

Oban Community Council

Duncan Martin from Oban Community Council updated the Group on the recent visit they were hosting this summer for Kells Town Council which was very successful and enjoyable. He thanked Councillor Macintyre, Marry Malloy and Kate Winton who helped arrange the event and thanked the businesses who supported and entertained them.

Duncan advised a small group would be paying a return visit at the end of September to return the Book of Kells.

Ardchattan Community Council

Margaret Adams from Ardchattan Community Council asked the Group if there had been a date set for the Dawn Fresh Planning application to be considered.

Councillor McCuish advised that there has been no date set yet, it would need to go through the PPSL first and that a notification would be sent to her when the meeting date has been set.

Connel Community Council

Les Stewart from Connel Community Council advised that he had received a letter from Infinis plc, outlining the company’s plans to erect a 16 turbine wind farm at Musdale Farm, 7km south of Kilmore.  He informed that their plans could produce up to 64 MW of power and create a community benefit of £224,000 pa.

Les advised that the sums involved in this proposal were substantial and might prove divisive to rural communities. He had taken the matter up with Audrey Martin, Projects and Renewables Manager, Development and Infrastructure Services, Argyll & Bute Council, who had explained that the Council were considering the issue and meeting with other ‘stakeholders’ and partners to discuss the distribution of these large sums.

Report by Glenn Heritage

Glenn Heritage from Argyll Voluntary Action updated the Group on the social media class they have recently set up which gives people the opportunity to learn about IT and this will be held in Oban Library.

Report by Area Governance Officer

A report updating the group about the items discussed at the most recent meetings of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Community Safety Forums was considered.

Decision

The Group noted the work undertaken.

(Ref:  Report by Area Governance Officer dated 2^nd September 2013, submitted).

Report by Moray Finch, Mull and Iona Community Trust

Moray Finch from Mull and Iona Community Trust updated the Group on the poor broadband coverage in some of our rural areas in Argyll and Bute.

He advised that some rural communities are unable to get the broadband coverage or speeds they need to fully benefit from being online.

Campbell Cameron from Community Broadband Scotland advised that by 2020 Scotland will be the world leading nation for next generation broadband.

He advised Community Broadband Scotland has been set up to help communities in the 15% ‘harder to reach’ areas that will not benefit directly from the Step Change programme which is part of the Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Action Plan to provide infrastructure  in those areas that the market will currently not go.  Community Broadband Scotland is a £5 million initiative which works to encourage and support the development of successful and sustainable community broadband projects, capable of delivering next generation speeds, through the use of established technologies and business models.

Decision

                i.     The Group noted the information provided;

              ii.     Councillor McCuish advised he is happy to work with them; and

             iii.     Councillor McCuish invited Moray Finch to the next Argyll and Bute Renewables Alliance (ABRA) meeting.

Presentation by Ailsa Raeburn, Scottish Land Fund Advisor

Ailsa Raeburn from Highlands and Islands Enterprise gave a presentation on supporting communities to acquire and manage sustainable assets. 

She discussed the principles of Community Land Ownership and where the funding comes from and at present there are more than 420,000 acres in community ownership with the Scottish Government wishing to generate another 500,000 acres within the next 7 years. 

She advised the aim of the group was to support rural communities to become more resilient and sustainable through the ownership and management of land and land assets. 

Decision

The Committee noted the information provided.

(Ref:  Presentation by Ailsa Raeburn, HIE dated 11^th September 2013, submitted). 

Report by Douglas Blades (to follow)

This item will be taken at the December Community Planning Group meeting.

Report by Head of Roads and Amenity Services (to follow)

Given recent political decisions the detail of the proposals for each area has not yet been finalised to a point where effective consultation can take place, and discussion of the item is therefore postponed to a future date.

Report by Community Development Officer

A report considering the decision by the Community Planning Group on 22^nd August 2012 to hold four Area Forum events to enable consultation and feedback on the SOA 2013-23, was considered.

Decision

The Group:-

                                        i.     Agreed to encourage participation in the consultation process as detailed in the report;

                                      ii.     Agreed that the Area CPG steering group  established to consider and plan the Area Forum event is delegated to further consider the format of the event(s) and appropriate questions for the area;

                                     iii.     Agreed that the Area CPG steering group  identify partners to facilitate and record at workshop/discussion groups and agree dates; and

                                    iv.     Agreed that the Area CPG steering group consider ways of processing ideas that come forward from the event to ensure people feel they have been able to actively contribute to community planning.

(Ref:  Report by Community Development Officer dated 6^th August 2013, submitted).

Update by Community Development Officer

The Community Development Officer advised she has not had a caucus meeting since December 2012 and due to the meeting in August being postponed there is no update for the Community Planning Group today.