Agenda and minutes

Apologies were intimated from Councillor Hay, Councillor Philand, Yvonne Litster, Eileen Wilson, Betty Rhodick and Alan Parker.

The Minutes of the previous meeting held on 3 November 2010 were approved as a true record.

Bob Chicken from Tarbert and SKipness Community Council  referred to Item 6 – Local Community Plans, Page 5 where Councillor Semple reiterated the need for Community Councils to be more involved with the LACPG.

Discussion followed whereby group members detailed difficulties in attending meeting venues.  The Chair stated that all Community Council members could attend LACPG meetings which were open to the public.  Alison Younger detailed that Community Council attendance at LACPG  was encouraged, but there was a need to constrain numbers for practical purposes and that the principles of representation and participation had been previously agreed with all partners of the group.  She notes that there were other existing structures – e.g. Mid Argyll Partnership (MAP) and the Kintyre Initiative Working Group (KIWG) where community councils had regular involvement.  However, the LACPG was an important mechanism albeit, a more strategic community forum.  She advised that Margaret Fyfe’s team were in the process of reviewing how community groups were operating and the issue of expenses being paid for Community Council attendance was under discussion.

The issue of Community Councils disseminating and sharing information was also discussed.  Councillor Semple queried the correlation between the LACPG with  MAP and KIWG.  Alison Younger stated that MAP and KIWG meetings were scheduled 2 weeks prior to the LACPG meeting.  Thus giving MAP and KIWG attendees the chance to submit issues for discussion at LACPG meetings.  She reiterated the need for Community Councils to develop an effective way of sharing information received.  Alison welcomed any ideas from Community Councils which would progress and develop an effective method of channelling information.         

There were no Declarations of Interest.

The Chair agreed to take this as a late item and Chief Inspector Marlene Baillie informed the group that Road Policing would not be detrimentally affected by the restructuring within Strathclyde Police.  She reported that Neil Wallace would be retiring on 22 February and advised that a  new temporary Acting Inspector – Alistair Davidson had been appointed.

The Road Policing operation would now cover a full 24-hour period and Marlene advised that Area Commanders would be in control of this.

John Bakes enquired if the proposed national force restructuring would have an impact across the Argyll and Bute area.  Marlene replied that various restructuring options were being discussed, but she envisaged that the existing format would still prevail.

Councillor Colville enquired if traffic wardens would still be operational.  Marlene replied that discussions were ongoing between Strathclyde Police and the Chief Executive of Argyll and Bute Council in regards to this issue.

The LACPG asked that their good wishes and thanks be passed onto Neil Wallace on his forthcoming retirement.

Alison Younger informed the group that this was an issue which had been referred from the last MAP meeting.  She detailed the problems which had been encountered in the Ford area in relation to a fire where water capacity issues had resulted in the tank being completely emptied.  Discussion with Scottish Water had been productive.

Tommy Keay related that fire appliances had been recently upgraded which enabled them to carry more water.  He stated that Strathclyde Fire and Rescue evaluated water supply capacity in local communities routinely.  If they determined that an area did not have sufficient water capacity, then this would be dealt with by changes to the  ‘pre-determined response’’ if an incident occurred which necessitated Fire and Rescue attendance – e.g. increased number of appliances would respond.     

Tommy would liaise with Dunadd Community Council with regards to this issue.

Action:  Theresa McLetchie would provide contact details to Tommy Keay.

A verbal report by Tommy Keay, North Argyll Station Commander.

Tommy Keay reported that, as yet, discussions were still ongoing in regards to budget decisions.  He could not provide an update on Strathclyde Fire and Rescue service.

Alison Younger advised that the Consultation Diary would be issued in advance of the LACPG meetings.

Lynda Thomson reported to the group that this was also on the Council website.

Alison Younger advised the group that these reports provided information and details of issues which were discussed at the various forums. 

She stated that issues which were not resolved at these meetings could be escalated to the LACPG. 

The LACPG agreed to note the reports.

Alison advised the group of the ethos of the Thematic groups, in that they were responsible for measuring and monitoring specific outcomes – e.g. Single Outcome Agreement.

Discussion followed in regards to the wording and use of terminology written in the reports.  The consensus of opinion was that it would be beneficial if the wording was more simplistic to enable recipients to better understand and comprehend the context of the report.    

The LACPG agreed to note the reports and requested that future reports be better worded for LACPG consideration.

A presentation by Eileen Wilson, Community Planning Officer.

The group heard a presentation by Angela Moohan, L.W.T.T. regarding effective means of communities being involved in decision making process at local level. 

Margaret Fyfe introduced the group to the new Community Development officer – Audrey Baird.  She presented slides to the group detailing how the LACPG would link into the Argyll and Bute Corporate Plan.  Margaret said that the LACPG was still in a developmental stage and welcomed guidance and ideas from external advisers.  She asked group members of any case studies which would generate a learning process and enable other Community Councils to overcome common issues/problems.

Eileen Wilson would be emailing Community Councils for their ideas and feedback.

The LACPG agreed a local training session to be held on Monday, 21 February.

This training would be open to all LACPG members including - Community Councils, Community/Third Sector groups, MAP and KIWG members.

A further event was scheduled for:-

Wednesday, 30 March – Inveraray – 10.00a.m. – 4.00p.m.

This event would be open to 4 individuals.  Margaret Fyfe and Audrey Baird would be the point of contact for more information on this.   

She detailed the success of the Forward Together 2 event which had been held on 30 October.  Audrey Baird advised that further meetings on Islay had resulted from the event.  Councillor Colville commended this.  However, he advised caution in not replicating meetings groups and to be aware of existing groups and forums in communities.

John Bakes expressed his concerns and stated that he felt the LAPCG was negative in regards to their engagement with local communities.  Jim Martin affirmed this view.

Nancie Smith stated that the local community in the Kintyre area was robust and working hard to cement community engagement.  She detailed the involvement between Campbeltown Community Council and the South Kintyre Development Trust to find a sustainable use for the Town Hall in Campbeltown.  She advised that she was attending a seminar in Blantyre – ‘Communities Taking on Assests’.

Councillor Horn reported on the strong community involvement in Tarbert and welcomed more contact with the new Community Development officer.

Councillor Colville stressed that local communities needed to strengthen themselves more – especially in the prevailing economic climate.  Angela Moohan reiterated this and stated that local communities should share good practice and the proposed training day would help to address some of the issues raised at the meeting.

Alison Younger advised that the Area Plan had been circulated and this would be discussed at the March LACPG.  Lead Council officers would be accountable and monitored by the group.  

The following items were requested as future agenda items for the LACPG agenda:

            Use of videoconferencing

            A83

The group discussed issues surrounding the rota of attendance.  Councillor Colville suggested that all Community Councils be invited to LACPG meetings. 

Alison Younger stated that if the group wished they could ask for changes to the core membership and clarify the principles of representation.  Councillor Colville stated that Community Councils should be consulted to ascertain what representation they wished at meetings.  Councillor Semple suggested that all Community Councils and representatives from the Third Sector be invited.  Alison Younger informed the group that Community Council representation was fundamental to the group and that under the existing principles of representation, attendees from Community Councils were representing other Community Councils.  She advised that some Community Councils liked the use of an attendance  rota.

Margaret Fyfe advised that some of these issues would be addressed at the training day on 21 February.