Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of:-

Tracy Preece, Argyll and Bute Choose Life Coordinator, NHS Highland

Alison McGrory, Health Improvement Principal, NHS Highland

Campbell Cameron, Community Broadband Scotland

Jean Mary Knowles, Islay and Jura Transport Forum

Margaret Wallace, Argyll Third Sector Interface

Mary MacCallum Sullivan, Ardrishaig Community Council

Betty Rhodick, Lochgilphead Community Council

There were no declarations of absence intimated. 

The Minute of the meeting of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group, held on 19 April 2017 was approved as a true record. 

Matters Arising:-

·         An update in relation to item 6(a) Health and Wellbeing Team – Annual Update, was circulated.  The Senior Area Committee Assistant agreed to circulate the update by email to the distribution list for partners who were not in attendance. 

·         The Community Planning Manager provided an update to the item 5(d) Participatory Budgeting.  She advised that the recent project to strengthen and grow Gaelic had been a success and that Council had agreed that the Supporting Communities Fund be allocated through Participatory Budgeting as a pilot project in 2018/19.  Ms Gold further advised that the Community Development Officer would continue to provide support and assistance to applicants.  

Report by Area Governance Manager

The group gave consideration to a report highlighting the revisions to the Area Community Planning Group (ACPG) Terms of Reference (TOR). 

Decision:

The Group agreed:

1.    to adopt the revised Terms of Reference contained in the report;

2.    to adopt the meeting schedule and dates submitted in the report; and

3.    that the Terms of Reference for the group would be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure their ongoing currency and appropriateness for the work of the group as it develops over time. 

(Ref:  Report by Area Governance Manager, dated 4 October 2017, submitted.)

Report by Area Governance Manager

The group gave consideration to a report outlining the current membership detail together with changes and additional organisations who have, through local circumstances, joined the ACPG since membership was agreed in March 2015.  Discussion took place in respect of organisations from a number of sectors where there is currently no representation.  The Area Committee Manager agreed to seek appropriate representation from those sectors which were highlighted.

Decision:

The Group agreed:

1.    the changes and additional organisations, as outlined at Appendix 2 of the report and subject to the inclusion of representatives from the sectors highlighted during the discussion; and

2.    that the membership of the group would be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure currency and appropriateness for the work of the group as it develops over time.

(Ref:  Report by Area Governance Manager, dated 4 October 2017, submitted.)

Report by Area Governance Manager

The group gave consideration to a report relating to the appointment of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Community Planning Group. 

Councillor Horn nominated Andy Buntin as Chair, this was seconded by Inspector McLeish.  Andy Buntin accepted the nomination and continued in his role as Chair.

The Chair asked for nominations for the position of Vice Chair.  Discussion took place, with Members failing to agree on a suitable replacement.  Having noted that it would be desirable to have another community representative as Vice Chair, the Area Committee Manager advised that she would contact the members of the Group and highlight that this would be discussed at the next meeting.

Decision:

The Group agreed to continue consideration of the appointment of a Vice-Chair to the next meeting.   

(Ref:  Report by Area Governance Manager, dated 4 October 2017, submitted.)

Report by Community Planning Manager

The group gave consideration to a briefing note outlining the consideration given by the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Management Committee to issues raised by Area CPG Chairs within their respective areas and highlights from the Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Management Committee meeting held on 20 September 2017.

Discussion took place in respect of the form in which highlights are brought to the public forum, with partners noting that the document could be circulated in the wider community.  Further discussion was had in relation to the possibility of including a link to the website on fortnightly bulletins and annual reports as a means of encouraging the general public to look further into matters within their local areas.  The Chair encouraged all partners to share the information in their own communities and suggested that Community Council’s also have a responsibility to distribute information.  The Community Planning Manager agreed to take the points raised on board, and suggested that it may be useful to produce highlights from the ACPG meetings.  The Area Committee Manager agreed to take this matter forward. 

David Smart of Highlands and Islands Enterprise gave a brief update in relation to the works being undertaken to ensure a wider coverage of mobile and broadband provision across Argyll and Bute.  

Decision:

The Group agreed to note the contents of the briefing note.

(Ref:  Briefing Note by Community Planning Manager, dated 4 October 2017, submitted.)

Report by Community Planning Manager

The Community Planning Manager took the group through the requirement placed on the Council by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 to produce locality plans, and the process by which the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Community Planning Action Plan was devised.  Having given consideration to the Plan, partners expressed dissatisfaction and concern at the content particularly as it failed to cover issues that have been expressed in a number of areas within the locality, with many advising that they were not in a position to agree to the current version of the Plan.   

Decision:

The Group agreed:-

1.    To the formation of a Short Term Working Group, comprising of 5 or 6 partners to determine the issues they wish to see contained within the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Community Planning Action Plan; and

2.    That the Working Group would progress this with the process to be complete by the end of November to allow it to be considered by the Community Planning Partnership Management Committee prior to it being brought to the next meeting of the ACPG in February 2018 for agreement.

(Ref:  Briefing Note and Area Community Planning Action Plan by Community Planning Manager, dated 4 October 2017, submitted.)

Update by Convenor of West Kintyre Community Council

The group gave consideration to the West Kintyre Community Action Plan 2017-2023, which is a “living plan” designed to tackle issues such as rural depopulation; health and wellbeing; transport; infrastructure; enterprise and development within the area.

Discussion took place in respect of housing for single people; the acquisition of land and bursaries and grants for start-up businesses within the West Kintyre area. 

Decision:

The Group agreed to note the contents of the West Kintyre Community Action Plan 2017-2023.

(Ref:  West Kintyre Community Action Plan, submitted.)

Update by Scottish Fire and Rescue

The group gave consideration to a presentation outlining the transformation strategy of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.  Information was provided in relation to the financial implications, delivery model and the plans for the future firefighter as well as the implications of a failure to transform the service.  Further information can be found at  http://www.firescotland.gov.uk/transformation.aspx .

Decision:

The Group agreed to note the contents of the presentation.

(Ref:  Presentation by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, submitted.)

Opportunity for verbal updates by Community Planning Partners

David Smart of Highlands and Islands Enterprise provided details on the Argyll Enterprise Week, running from 6 to 10 November 2017, and asked Partners to circulate the information within their communities and through their social media channels.

Inspector McLeish provided a brief overview of the activities of Police Scotland within the area.  She updated on the number of road traffic accidents at Strone Point in Inveraray and of the concerns raised in relation to the signage and diversion routes in place for this area.  Inspector McLeish also advised of the new resources for the Campbeltown area; the local recruitment programme, which would begin towards the end of October; the ongoing review of Police estates and the Your View Counts website survey.  She asked that Partners take the time to complete the survey and encourage communities to take part.

Andy Buntin provided a brief update on the activities of Lochgilphead Community Council, which included the administration of a micro-grant scheme and the pursuit of an upcycling/recycling shop at Lingerton Waste Disposal Site.  Mr Buntin also advised of the change in arrangements for this year’s Remembrance Sunday Commemorations and the Crinan Charette, which was holding a show of plans relating to proposed works in Ardrishaig and at the Corran roundabout, and invited partners to attend. 

The next meeting of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Community Planning Group is scheduled for Wednesday, 7^th February 2018 at 10.00am. 

The Group noted that the next meeting of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group would take place at 10.00am on Wednesday 7^th February 2018 within the Council Chambers, Kilmory, Lochgilphead with VC facilities available in the Burnett Building, Campbeltown and the Customer Service Point, Bowmore, Isle of Islay.