Agenda and minutes

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

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of:-

 

David Adams-McGilp, Visitscotland

Marri Malloy, Oban Community Council

Councillor Andrew Vennard

Inspector Mark Stephen, Police Scotland

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The Chair ruled and the Group agreed to vary the order of business in order to facilitate officer attendance.

The minute of the meeting of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Community Planning Group held on Thursday, 16 August 2018 was approved as an accurate record subject to a change at item 1. Welcome and Apologies – Laura MacDonald, Community Development Officer to be recorded as an apology.

The Group considered an update on the management of defibrillators within the Oban area and discussed potential ways forward to ensure that access is available to the machines in an emergency and that the public are aware of the locations of the machines.  It was agreed that the points raised at the meeting would be forwarded by the Area Governance Officer to Superintendent Gibson and that the Area Governance Officer would also distribute his recent email to the Group.

Scottish Fire and Rescue

 

Bobby Tourish of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service provided a statistical update for Quarter 2 2018/19 for the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area:

·         Zero fire fatalities

·         1 Non-fatal fire casualty

·         5 accidental dwelling fires

·         2 deliberate fires

·         2 Non-domestic fires in Cowal

·         8 Special services incidents including 2 fatalities

·         2 road traffic casualties

·         47 False alarms

 

Incidents of Note

12 incidents of note including 9 traffic incidents, 1 house fire and two incidents of assisting paramedics gain access to dwellings.

 

Home Fire Safety Visits

·         129 undertaken

 

Community Safety Activity

·         British Heart Foundation – 3 sessions with 30 people trained in CPR.

·         Cut it out road safety presentation with 17 pupils from Tomermory High School.

·         23 Post domestic incident responses.

·         Fireworks Presentation delivered to 6 schools and a total of 75 pupils.

·         3 Falls prevention referrals

 

Future Community Safety Activity

·         Real time crash scenario multi agency event on the 3^rd December 2018 in Oban.

·         Fire skills future courses dates to be confirmed.

·         British Heart Foundation session to take place in Taynuilt on the 21^st November.

 

 

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

 

As Outcome 1 lead, Jennifer Nicoll provided the Group with a written and verbal update providing an overview of HIE’s activity across Argyll and Bute for the period July to September 2018 including:

 

Working with Oban Communities Trust – Rockfield Centre re-development

SAMS Transformation Plan

Coll Hotel expansion and the development of Tobermory Light Industrial Units.

 

(Reference: HIE CPP Argyll Updated October 2018, tabled)

Update by Jennifer Nicoll, HIE

The Group considered a briefing update on developments at the European Marine Science Park (EMSP) and the co-working space now being occupied by PatoGen.  They also received an update from the HIE owned site at Glenshellach which has been identified as a potential suitable site for small business units to be erected.

 

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group noted the contents of the briefing note and the email from Karen Kerr.

 

(Ref: Briefing note by HIE dated 14 November 2018, tabled; and email from Karen Kerr, submitted)

Update by Corporate Affairs Manager

The Group gave consideration to a briefing note submitted by Scottish Water that provided updates on the Top up Tap for Oban campaign, current level of investment by Scottish Water into Oban and the plan to deliver a long term, sustainable Waste Water Treatment System for the Isle of Seil. 

 

A discussion followed regarding plastic reduction strategies and the potential to site the Top up Tap at the Clock Tower.

 

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group noted the contents of the briefing note and it was agreed that Councillor Robertson would pass on contact details for “Plastic Free Oban”.

 

(Ref: Briefing note by Ruaridh MacGregor, Scottish Water dated 14 November 2018, submitted)

Verbal update by Traffic and Development Manager

The Traffic and Development Manager provided the Group with a verbal update on Oban’s parking arrangements, the following was noted:

• Phone payments can now be made for parking, accounts can be set up through the Council website.
• A trial of cashless payments at car parks is currently being undertaken in Luss and Arrochar.  If successful this will be rolled out.
• It was noted that the current parking arrangements in Oban are continually monitored and reviewed on an ongoing basis.  A review would be held once the summer figures had been collated.
• The Group held a conversation around the lack of promotion and advertising around the new parking legislation and how it affects the Oban area. It was noted that clearer guidance is needed as where parking is available and the cost breakdown.  Bid4Oban Ltd had agreed to assist in the preparation of a leaflet. It was suggested that this could be downloaded by those wishing to make copies available rather than incurring print costs.
• Off-street parking permits can be purchased for 3, 6, 9 or 12 month periods at a cost of £135, £250, £360 or £475 respectively.
• It was noted that if a customer has an Argyll and Bute Council parking permit this can be used in any car park across the local authority.
• Information about parking is available on the website - https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/car-parks-oban-lorn-and-isles

 

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group noted the contents of the verbal update.

 

(Ref: Verbal update by Traffic and Development Manager)

Update by Senior Planning and Strategies Officer

The Group gave consideration to a briefing note outlining the Oban Strategic Development Framework: strategic transport and land use planning for Oban’s growth.

 

Decision

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

1.    Noted the contents of the report

2.    Noted the requirement for partnership support as highlighted at 3.1 of the submitted report and in effort to assist requested that Kirsteen MacDonald, Regeneration Project Manager, attends the February meeting to provide a further update.

 

(Ref: Report by Senior Planning and Strategies Officer dated 14 November 2018, submitted)

Big Listen Event

Laura MacDonald, Community Development Officer informed the Group that two community engagement events will be taking place afternoon and evening of the 5^th December 2018 (12 Noon to 2.30pm in the Corran Halls and 5.30pm to 8.30pm in Rockfield).  Bookings are being co-ordinated through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/local-governance-review-18025966634

 

Health and Wellbeing Network

Alison Hardman informed the Group that the Health & Wellbeing Group were piloting a participatory budgeting scheme in February 2018 with 2 grants for £2500 being available.  Eleanor McKinnon is the point of contact for the event, applications should be with her by 17^th January 2019.  She also advised the Group that the Health and Social Care Partnership, jointly with Argyll and Bute Council, would be launching a 6 year sign language plan on their websites during November.

 

Police Scotland

Kathleen Lennie and Jeremy Moore on behalf of Police Scotland provided the following verbal update:

• A major investigation is ongoing following a murder in Dunollie and Police Scotland are continuing to engage with the community to address concerns and provide reassurance.
• Continued push on road safety especially due to a recent fatality due to a road traffic accident.
• Drink driving campaign will be launched in December.
• Police Scotland Youth Volunteers is continuing its success in the Oban area.
• It was noted that Terrorism is still a real threat to all areas of the country and port security within the Oban area is of particular importance to Police Scotland.

 

Update by Ewan Masson, Scottish Parliament

Ewan Masson from the Scottish Parliament provided a verbal update highlighting the work currently being undertaken by the Scottish Parliament in relation to local community engagement activities. He highlighted that the Scottish Parliament are currently building networks to help local communities engage on issues that are going through Parliament and communicate through their local MSPs.

 

Decision

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group noted the contents of the verbal update and agreed to add Ewan to their distribution list.

 

(Ref: Verbal Presentation by Outreach Services Officer)

Update by Avich and Kilchrenan Community Council

John Fleming from Dalavich Improvement Group (DIG) provided the Group with a verbal update on Dalavich Community plans, the following was noted:

 

• DIG is a registered charity who owns and manages assets on behalf of the Dalavich community.
• Current assets include; Dalavich Community centre which contains a bar, restaurant, laundrette, art room and therapy room. Current land owned includes the Village green, playing fields, play park, boat shed and 2 acres of loch shore.
• DIG also own a hydro scheme managed by Awesome Energy Dalriada Ltd which is a community benefit society.
• Future plans include; Loch shore glamping pods; purchasing additional land from forestry commission; funding 4 to 5 additional units of affordable housing; provision of local bike hire and public toilets/shower facilities; and initial talks are underway to build and locate small boat houses.

 

Decision

 

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group noted the verbal update and John requested that his thanks to Malcolm Cullen and the Roads Team be recorded for doing a brilliant job in resolving local issues for their community.

 

(Ref: Verbal update by DIG representative, John Fleming)

Update from Visit Scotland (to follow)

The Area Governance Officer advised that a report on activities by Visitscotland has been anticipated by that their apologies had been received.  She informed the Group that she had received some information from Visitscotland regarding events funding for the 2020 year of Coasts and Waters.  It was agreed that this would be forwarded to the Group.

Discussion facilitated by the Area Governance Officer on items for inclusion on the Agenda for the above meeting.

 

Outcomes to be discussed.

 

Outcome 3 – Education, skills and training maximises opportunities for all.

 

Outcome 4 – Children and young people have the best possible start.

The date of the next meeting was noted and it was agreed that suggestions for agenda items for Outcomes 3 and 4 (Education, skills and training maximises opportunities for all and Children and you people have the best possible start) should now be forwarded to the Area Governance Officer.

Duncan Martin, Oban Community Council, spoke regarding his involvement in preparing a community energy plan and that another community councillor to lead on this was currently being sought.  He discussed the harbour as a valuable asset to the town, raising the possibility of a community transfer down the line and noting that it was the second biggest port in terms of movement of ferries in the UK.