Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Cathy Bertin, Befrienders.

The Chair apologised for the late start of the meeting which was due to another scheduled meeting which ran on.

The Chair ruled and the Group agreed to let Veronica Kennedy and Dr Peter Thorpe, Clinical Lead from NHS Highland to be taken first on the agenda to address the specific questions that had been raised by an elected Member in advance of the meeting, and to allow them to leave the meeting early due to the fact that Dr Thorpe had a clinic.

Veronica Kennedy from NHS Highland spoke to the Group on 3 specific points that she was asked in advance of the meeting to update Members on.

The Group noted their disappointment at the elected Member who raised these issues was not present.

Oban Dental Surgery

Veronica updated the Group on the excellent facility and advised that they are in negotiations with the lease holders and that they have contracts for 3 dental surgeries sitting with their lawyers and they hope this will be resolved in the very near future.

Oban Hospital Development

Veronica updated the Group on the MacMillan Unit that has recently opened in the hospital.  She advised they had an opening ceremony and that the previous unit had been there for 10-12 years.  She advised that there has been great support from the Doctors and they were looking to expand their services.

The Chair asked Veronica if the Minutes of the PPF could be sent to all Members.

She informed the Group that Lucy Haycock, the lead for the unit has moved on and Donna MacKenzie is the new lead for this unit.

She updated the Group on the Decontamination Unit and advised that this is the only site in Argyll and Bute receiving a new unit as Oban is the hub and provides a service for the whole of Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands and Bute and Cowal.

Dr Thorpe advised that there is a new surgeon post in place, and John Abreham is fulfilling this post.   He advised he is a well established surgeon and that the surgical service in Oban can now develop further and move forward.

Veronica further updated the group that the podiatry service at Oban Hospital  will be developed over the next 6 months with a degree of upgrading and refurbishment due to be carried out.

Dialysis

Veronica updated the Group on the activity of dialysis across the CHP and the requirement for services and predictions in terms of the future.

The impact of a potential new Hospital in Fort William was discussed, but not confirmed.  The group noted the potential for the 2 hospitals to develop specialisms and support each other with integrated services.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

Oban, Lorn and the Isles Community Planning Group – 11 December 2013

The Minutes of the previous meeting of 11^th December 2013 were approved as a correct record subject to the amendment on page 5, item 11, Margaret Fyfe, the Service Officer for Community Regeneration and Voluntary Support attended the meeting, not Laura MacDonald the Community Development Officer.

The Area Governance Manager advised that under NHS Update, due to staff absences, the Food and Health paper will be continued to the June meeting.

Verbal update by Police Scotland

Alistair Davidson from Police Scotland advised the Group that as we are approaching the new financial year, the multi member ward plans for the current year are in place and they have 2 draft plans.

He informed the Group their number one priority at the moment remains road safety issues due to the amount of serious road accidents last year.  He advised the three main factors are enforcement, how they perform and drive down accidents, education where they are working closely with Scottish Fire and Rescue and Road Safety Campaigns; and engineering, where they will look at the road layout and contribute information to the formed working group.

He updated the group on the other priorities in Oban South which are drug dealing and drug misuse where they are working closely with police intelligence to crack this down and vandalism and anti social behaviour cases.

He advised that in Oban North their other priorities are rural thefts where they are looking to work with partners and crime breakers.  He informed that Police Scotland have plans to address all these issues.

Alistair finished off by telling the Group that the Police Scotland consultation process was now finalised, Oban, Lorn and the Isles and Mid Argyll will be covered by Chief Inspector Marlene Baillie.

The group noted Alistair’s update and thanked him for his commitment to the Oban Lorn and the Isles area while carrying out the post of Chief Inspector.

Verbal update by Scottish Fire and Rescue

Eddie Renfrew from Scottish Fire and Rescue updated the Group on the Wild Fire Groups that have been set up in Oban, Lochgilphead, Dunoon and Helensburgh to discuss muirburn fires.  He discussed the campaign for spring strategy and advised that Martin Hill from Scottish Fire and Rescue, Julie McLeish from Police Scotland, the Forestry Commission and the Farmers Union are all in discussions to prevent the same number of fires that occurred last year.

Eddie informed the Group that they are adding resilience and capacity to the Tiree Music Festival this year by sending another fire engine over to the island in case any incidents happen.

He advised there has been a very successful referral process from the Police, ACHA, Hospital and Social Work and Home Fire Safety Visits have been carried out.

He informed the group that 6 post domestic incidents had been carried out recently, where unfortunately they all declined a Home Fire Safety Visit.  Eddie asked people to please contact him, or refer anyone they know that may be vulnerable, for a Home Fire Safety Visit as it is important that they address these issues.

He advised that there are amendments to be made to the new fire plan and they hope to have it finalised for the new financial year.

Kate Winton from Oban Community Council raised an issue about the fire alarm going off in the sheltered housing.

The Area Governance Manager agreed to forward this issue to the Social Work department.

The Group noted the information provided.

Verbal update by Joanna Peebles, Scottish Water

There was no one present from Scottish Water so this item will continue to the June 2014 meeting where Joanna Peebles, the new Regional Community Team Manager will hopefully be present.

• Alcohol

Report by Craig Mcnally

The Group gave consideration to a report by Craig McNally, Senior Health Promotion Specialist (Alcohol & Drugs). 

The report detailed information and a number of inter-related strands to ensure that individuals and communities have access to appropriate information, knowledge and skills which enable them to make positive, well informed, choices regarding their alcohol use.

Decision

The Group:

1. Noted the paper;
2. Agreed to encourage an increase in the delivery of or participation in alcohol education and interventions by stakeholders; and
3. Agreed to encourage engagement in Local Drug & Alcohol Forums (or Substance Misuse Groups).

(Ref:  Report by Craig McNally, Senior Health Promotion Specialist dated January 2014, submitted).

Verbal update by Iona MacPhail, ACHA

Iona MacPhail from ACHA updated the Group on the significant housing development programme in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area.  She advised there is 44 new houses being built behind the hospital in Oban that will be ready for the winter, 2 at Bonawe and 8 at Connel.

She advised that she has been in contact with Ardchattan Community Council in regard to the 2 houses at Bonawe and they would like to try and encourage families with children kids into the community who would then attend their school.

She informed the group that there has been a recent serious noise and disturbance case in Oban which is currently going through the courts and they hope to receive an eviction from this.

She updated the Group on the empty homes process in conjunction with the Council to try and bring empty homes back into use.  She advised the Council offers grants and loans and they are dealing with a different client group and hopes this is successful.

The Group noted the information provided.

Alistair McLaren updated the group on the referendum debate which took place in Oban High School and advised it was the most successful debate in Argyll and Bute to date.

He advised there is a new link club in Oban that helps people with learning disabilities. 

He also advised that the Befriending Service is looking for extra volunteers and that the Volunteer of the Year Awards will be happening soon and asked if anyone had any volunteers to please let the Argyll Voluntary Action Group know.

It was agreed that the Area Governance Assistant would send the nomination forms round to all Community Planning Partners.

The Group noted the information provided.

Duncan Martin from Oban Community Council informed the Group that the Scottish and Southern Electric have attended a meeting with Oban Community Council, and suggested it would be a good idea for them to be invited to the next meeting of the Community Planning Group .

It was agreed that Duncan would forward the information onto the Area Governance Assistant who would contact them to make the necessary arrangements.

Duncan also raised a query in relation to a rotating Chair for the Community Planning Partnership and asked if this could be done with the Local Group.

The Area Governance Manager advised that Community Planning had recently been taken over by the Head of Community and Culture and that there was currently a post advertised on the Council website for a Manager to help drive the local Community Planning Groups forward in line with the Single Outcome Agreement and advised this was something they could possibly take forward when they are in post.

Councillor Glen-Lee updated the Group on the Food and Film Festival that is taking place in Oban Cinema at the end of April where there will be a community debate.  She advised they are also getting an advert made for Oban and the auditions are taking place this Sunday at 2pm if anyone was interesting in going along.  She advised the auditions would be for a singer, a couple and a voice over part and when the advert is finalised it would be shown in all cinemas across Scotland.

There were no issues raised by Third Sector Partnerships.

Presentation by Cathi Bertin, Befrienders

Unfortunately Cathy Bertin from Befrienders could not attend this meeting so this item has been deferred to the next meeting in June.

Report by Area Governance Officer

A report updating the Area Community Planning Group regarding the main pieces of work undertaken by the Area Community Safety Partnerships was considered.

Decision

The Group noted the work undertaken.

(Ref: Report by the Area Governance Manager dated March 2014, submitted).

Report by Community Development Officer

A report updating the Community Planning Group on the progress to date for the Area Forum Events, was considered.

Decision

The Community Planning Group:

1. Noted the progress to date of the delivery of community engagement events to consult on the SOA 2013-23; and
2. Agreed to a further; more detailed, report to be presented at the June meeting.  At this time, the Group can consider how best to utilise the information gathered at the events to ensure feedback is used by partners to inform future planning and activities of the group, including the area Economic Development Action Plan (EDAP).

(Ref:  Report by Community Development Officer dated 25^th February 2014, submitted).

Verbal update by Area Governance Manager

The Area Governance Manager advised that the dates had now been approved for the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Community Planning Group meeting cycle 2014-15 and the dates are as follows:-

• Wednesday 11^th June at 6:30pm in the Corran Halls, Oban
• Wednesday 10^th September at 2pm in the Corran Halls, Oban
• Wednesday 10^th December at 6:30pm in the Corran Halls, Oban
• Wednesday 11^th March at 2pm in the Corran Halls, Oban

The Group noted the information provided.