Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated from Councillor Alison Hay, Councillor Anne Horn, Councillor John McAlpine, Chief Inspector Baillie, Ishabel Bremner, and Gregg McMillan.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 13 January were recorded as a true record.

A report by Iain Jackson, Area Corporate Services Manager to follow.

Iain Jackson advised that, after discussion with Mid Argyll Partnership (MAP) and the Kintyre Initiative Working Group (KWIG) it was agreed that a rota system should be used to ensure appropriate representation for Community Councils at LACPG meeting

A rota had been prepared and issued to the Community Councils.  In the event of a CC representative being unable to attend a meeting, then they should contact either Linsay MacPhail or Theresa McLetchie who would ensure that a substitute CC member was invited. 

James Martin, Campbeltown Community Council (CC) representative, voiced concerns regarding the proposed rota for CC attendance at future meetings.  The responsibility of consolidating views and the potential difficulties of disseminating information was considerable.

Iain Jackson stressed the need to overcome logistical problems and disseminate information in a structured reporting process.

It was hoped and envisaged that this would enable a two-way communication  - a means of sharing and sourcing information and facilitating more communities to inject their views and opinions into the local planning process. It was suggested that Minutes from the Mid Argyll Partnership (MAP) and the Kintyre Initiative Working Group (KWIG) be brought to meetings.

Councillor Donald Kelly reiterated the need to foster a wider remit and not replicate existing partnerships.

Discussion took place regarding the need for Terms of Reference (ToR) for the core partners within the group and Iain Jackson advised that these would evolve with the fuller development of the Group.

Members agreed that it was essential to define the ethos and structure of the LACPG and how it would operate.

Councillor Currie questioned the representation from Islay, Jura and Colonsay and Iain Jackson replied that a meeting had been scheduled for 15^th March to discuss this issue.  

John Dreghorn, NHS Locality Manager – MAKI, reiterated the need for multi-agency groups across the local area to work together.

The Chair summarised that it was necessary to overcome these initial difficulties and ensure the LACPG developed into a collaborative and strategic partnership.

Councillor Donald Kelly wished it recorded in the Minutes that, in his opinion, groups who would be participating with the burgeoning LACPG already had historical and tangible links with the existing Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee.  

Councillor Anne Horn joined the meeting at 11.10a.m.

Brian Barker, Policy and Strategy Manager, stated the next stage of the process would be to identify Third Sector representation at meetings.

Councillor Colville reported that there was no Third Sector representation on the KIWG.  Discussion followed with regard to different areas having different issues to address.

Brian advised that to ensure equitable Third Sector representation, then the process must be fully managed and that the chosen representative was committed to reflecting the variety of views across the Third Sector..

Maryanne Stewart, Argyll Voluntary Action (Kintyre) voiced concerns that the onus on 1 representative to attend forums and meetings could be pressurising.  In Campbeltown alone there were 120 organisations.  Louise Louge, Argyll Voluntary Action (Mid-Argyll) reiterated that she could envisage problems in joint representation.  

Councillor Semple stated that the Third Sector would decide on a strategic representative and develop a workable and manageable process.

A report by Iain Jackson, Area Corporate Services Manager (to follow).

Discussion ensued around the draft Area Plan, which necessitated some amendments.

Iain Jackson would email partners again  for their views and any particular issues they wished to insert.  The timeline would be to ensure it was completed prior to the Community Planning Partnership Seminar. 

Councillor Colville stressed the need to look over the Plan to ensure it was meaningful and comprehensive.  The Plan, at present, was a good starting point; however, it needed community input.

Councillor Kelly enquired if any new projects would be on the Area Plan.  He felt that it was predominantly Argyll and Bute Council projects.

John Dreghorn would ensure further contribution from NHS Highland.

Hector Thomson, CC representative from South Knapdale, related other issues of interest and concern in the local area:

Ø      Windfarms

Ø      Small day unit at Mid Argyll Hospital, Lochgilphead – providing chemotherapy

John Dreghorn informed the Group that the new day unit would provide standard, routine chemotherapy.  Anyone who required more lengthy and complicated treatment would still go to Glasgow.

Action: Iain Jackson would email partners for views and any particular issue they wished to include.

Action: Iain Jackson would liaise with ACHA to ascertain if they had made contact with the other local Housing Associations in the MAKI area.

An update by Brian Barker, Policy and Strategy Manager. 

Brian informed the Group that the Conference had been postponed to later in the year.  Local seminars had been planned prior to the Conference and the first one was in Bute and Cowal on Saturday, 6^th March.

He provided details of a further event:-

Ø      The Scottish National Rural Network on 30^th March in Oban.

Discussion ensued between Members to decide on the date and venue for the MAKI Community Planning Partnership Seminar. 

This would be held on:-

Ø      Saturday, 19^th June – Tarbert

Support would be needed to organise this Community Engagement event and decide on the content.   

After due discussion, Group members decided that forthcoming LACPG meeting would  be held in the morning and the MAKI Business Day meetings would be scheduled for  2.00p.m.  

Members decided that the Seminar planned for 19^th June would suffice and it would not be necessary to hold a meeting in late June or early in July.