Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of:-

Mary McCallum-Sullivan, Ardrishaig Community Council 

Jim Porteous on behalf of Islay Community Council

Bobby Tourish, Scottish Fire and Rescue

There were no declarations of interest intimated. 

The minutes of the meeting of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Community Planning Group held on Wednesday, 7 November 2018 were approved as an accurate record. 

Matters Arising

The Chair provided an update in relation to item 4(b) Lochgilphead Regeneration.  He advised of the progress made in relation to agreeing two dates for  public consultations and requested that the Senior Committee Assistant circulate a leaflet providing information on these to the wider Area Community Planning Group by email.  He advised that further information on the progress of the project could be found at www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/frontgreen. 

Presentation by Head Teacher

David Fyfe, Headteacher of Campbeltown Grammar School provided a verbal update outlining the recent challenges faced by staff and pupils following a year which had seen the move from the old school premises to the new building together with an inspection which ran at the same time.  Mr Fyfe outlined the key areas of focus, which are vision and values; curriculum and learning and teaching and gave a brief update on each area.  Mr Fyfe praised not only the staff but the pupils and their parents for their resilience during this time. 

Discussion took place in relation to the provision of homework for those who do not have regular broadband access; staffing issues and recruitment difficulties within the area and the availability of subjects due to these issues with Mr Fyfe outlining the measures put in place within the school to provide as many as possible, particularly modern languages.  

The Senior Committee Assistant agreed to circulate the improvement plan to the wider Area Community Planning Group by email. 

The Chair thanked Mr Fyfe for the information provided. 

Decision:

The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group agreed to note the contents of the presentation.

Report by Community Planning Manager

The group gave consideration to a briefing note outlining the consideration given by the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) to issues raised by Area Community Planning Group Chairs within their respective areas and highlights from the Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership Management Committee meeting held on 20 November 2018. 

Discussion took place in respect of the Scottish Water issues with the Area Committee Manager advising that a representative from Scottish Water is due to attend the MAKI Area Committee meeting on 6 March 2019.  She confirmed that she would feedback the concerns of the group to the representative and report back to the next meeting.  Further discussion in relation to the regeneration of East Kintyre was had with Mr Brodie, Convenor of East Kintyre Community Council providing an update on the progress of the project.  The Community Development Officer offered to work with the community to help establish links and provide a means for tying everything together.

The Chair requested that clarity be sought in relation to the rumour that Kintyre Recycling had given 3 months notice.  Councillor Armour agreed to investigate if there was more information available. 

Decision:

The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group agreed to note the contents of the briefing note.

(Ref:  Briefing Note by Community Planning Manager, dated 6 February 2019, submitted.)  

Report by Community Planning Manager

The group gave consideration to the Argyll and Bute CPP Annual Report for 2017-2018 and noted that this was now available on the website at https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/sites/default/files/abcpp annual report 2017-2018 final.pdf.  It was noted that for the next report there would be more focus on the 4 administrative areas with sections for reporting on the work that is happening locally.  The Community Planning Officer advised that any information on suitable projects would be welcomed. 

Decision: 

The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group agreed to note the contents of the Argyll and Bute CPP Annual Report 2017-2018.

(Ref:  Annual Report by Community Planning Manager, dated 6 February 2019, submitted.)

Report by Area Committee Manager

The group gave consideration to a report confirming the governance arrangements of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group (Area CPG) specifically the Terms of Reference, membership and future meeting dates.

Discussion took place in respect of the current membership list with members suggesting that Kintyre Youth Forum be added.  Other suggestions included a representative from the NFU and the local fishing community.  The Area Committee Manager agreed to extend an invitation to those outlined.   Members sought clarity that Community Councils were invited to each meeting due to the lack of attendance.  Discussion in relation to the difficulties faced by Community Councillors, who are volunteers, in attending meetings was had.  Elected Members agreed to speak with Community Councillors at their Community Council meetings and the Area Committee Manager agreed to write to all Community Council’s outlining their role on the group and ensuring that they are all aware that they are invited to participate at each meeting of the ACPG.  Ms Barton agreed to provide feedback to the next meeting.      

Further Discussion took place in respect of proposed venues with the Area Committee Manager agreeing to look into booking venues in Inveraray (August 2019); Campbeltown (November 2019); Lochgilphead (February 2020) and Islay (May 2020).

Decision:

The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group agreed:

1.    to adopt the Terms of Reference submitted in the report (Appendix 1) and agreed that these be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure their ongoing currency and appropriateness for the work of the Area CPG as it develops over time;

2.    to adopt the membership of the group as outlined in the report (Appendix 2), with the addition of representatives from Kintyre Youth Forum, the NFU and the local fishing community;

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

4.    to adopt the meeting schedule and dates submitted in the report.

(Ref:  Report by Area Governance Manager, dated 6 February 2019, submitted.)

Report by Community Planning Manager

The Community Planning Officer took the group through the progress of actions currently identified on the Area Community Planning Action Plan tracker.  Discussion took place in respect of each action, with members of the group being satisfied that actions are being progressed where necessary and work is ongoing to pursue the actions previously identified. 

Decision:

The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group agreed:-

1.    that action MAKI03 be moved to complete; and

2.    that action MAKI04 be moved to on track.

(Ref:  Report by Community Planning Manager, dated 6 February 2019, submitted.)

Verbal Update by Community Planning Manager

The group gave consideration to a presentation by the Community Planning Officer, who advised on the current position in relation to the action plans; the challenges faced in trying to shape actions that are appropriate to the administrative area; the opportunities afforded by the engagement of communities and the timeline for establishing new plans in April 2021.  Ms Somers sought input from the Area CPG on improvements; engagement and thoughts on the timescales and process.  A questionnaire was also circulated to all those in attendance.   

Discussion took place in respect of the timescales involved in producing the next iteration of the Community Planning Action Plans with members highlighting the importance of the community being involved in the creation of the plan.  Other points raised included the use of plain language; the possibility of using the place standard tool for each of the three areas within the MAKI area; the possibility of a minimum base line of place standard tool and the possibility of a similar system to Participatory Budgeting being used to collate results.  The Community Planning Officer advised that she intended to write to all Community Council’s with a view to seeing them participate and would consider attending community events such as galas to encourage participation from all categories and age groups within a community.  

Decision:

The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group agreed to note the information provided and agreed to forward any further comments to the Community Planning Officer by the end of February. 

(Ref:  Presentation by Community Planning Officer, dated 6 February 2019, submitted.)

Update by Community Development Officer

The group gave consideration to a report providing further information on the difficulties faced by young people and families who reside in villages along the A816 in accessing extra-curricular activities which are predominantly based in larger towns. 

Decision:

The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group agreed to the formation of a Steering Group, supported by the Community Development Officer comprising of representatives of Craignish and Dunadd Community Councils; the local Parent Teacher Associations and local stakeholders to address issues with feedback to be provided to a future meeting of the ACPG.   

(Ref:  Report by Community Planning Manager, dated 6 February 2019, submitted.) 

Verbal update by Cathi Bertin

The group gave consideration to a presentation by Cathi Berton, the Project Director of Befrienders, which is a registered charity, whose principal aim was to provide a befriender service to children across Argyll and Bute.  Ms Berton advised that the referral based service was run by herself and two part time staff and a number of volunteers from across the area.  She also advised that the Management Committee was entirely volunteers.  Ms Berton advised that referrals have grown by 28% from the previous year with their complexity also increasing.  She outlined the broad spectrum of clients and reiterated that they were not only from deprived backgrounds.  Mr Berton gave an example of a young man who originally came to them at the age of 9, and now at the age of 21 has received awards for being the Scottish and UK Apprentice of the Year.  She advised that he credits his success in part to the relationships he formed thanks to the Befrienders scheme. 

The Chair thanked Ms Berton for the information provided, and requested that the Senior Committee Assistant circulate the presentation to the wider Area Community Planning Group by email.

Decision:

The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group agreed to note the contents of the update. 

Verbal update by Fiona MacAlpine

The group gave consideration to a verbal update from Fiona MacAlpine and Kirsty Young of MACPool.  Ms MacAlpine advised the group that MACPool was a charitable organisation which relied heavily on bursary and grant funding.  She outlined a number of volunteer initiatives run by the pool in order to offer a lifeguard service but also training opportunities to younger users of the pool.  Ms MacAlpine advised that she had recently joined the MACPool team and had been busy working to secure the re-establishment of school swimming, and provide families on low incomes with ways in which they could get their children into the water.  She highlighted the services already in place which included the successful Learn to Swim programme and Mid Argyll Dolphins swimming group.  Ms MacAlpine also outlined the work undertaken by the pool to stay relevant within the local community and the additional activities which they offer such as the Crinan Puffer, a successful annual event which sees running enthusiasts run from Crinan to Ardrishaig along the 8 and a half mile Crinan Canal. 

Ms Young spoke of the challenges faced by the pool in maintaining the running costs and the recruitment and retention of staff, who require an extensive training programme. 

The Community Development Officer offered to attend the pool to speak with both Ms MacAlpine and Ms Young on ways in which they can tie in with the A816 Steering Group. 

The Chair thanked both Ms MacAlpine and Ms Young for the information provided. 

Decision:

The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group agreed to note the contents of the update.

Update by Youth Services, Argyll and Bute Council

The group gave consideration to a presentation from Dawn Park and Aimee McSporran from Kintyre Youth Forum highlighting the Year of Young People 2018 and the activities which had seen them visiting the elderly; working on outdoor community projects such as communal garden areas and creating healthy relationships with other Youth Forums as well as taking part in discussions such as “The Big Conversation”, and working towards strengthening the community as a whole.  Ms Park and Miss McSporran outlined ways in which the forum works towards finding fun or educational activities that offer them the chance to learn something new, challenge their abilities and enjoy activities they would not otherwise have had the chance to experience.

Ms Park spoke of a video highlighting the work of the Youth Forum, which can be viewed at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m3Q5mavqr0&feature=youtu.be.

The Chair thanked both Ms Park and Miss McSporran for the information provided.

Decision:

The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group agreed to note the information provided. 

(Ref:  Presentation by Youth Services, Argyll and Bute Council, dated 6 February 2019, submitted.)

Update by Scottish Fire and Rescue

The group gave consideration to a verbal update from Crew Manager Kelly McSporran of Scottish Fire and Rescue on the Young Firefighters scheme currently running in Campbeltown.  Ms McSporran advised that she had been a member of the scheme when it first began in 2008.  She outlined the training opportunities available for kids between the ages of 12 and 18, and the opportunities it affords those that wish to progress into a career with Scottish Fire and Rescue.  She spoke of how popular the course is advising that the unit can only take 20 youths at one time and that there is currently a waiting list of 14.  Ms McSporran advised that Scottish Fire and Rescue are looking to standardise the Youth Fire Fighter units throughout Scotland in the coming years.

The Chair thanked Ms McSporran for the information provided.

Decision:

The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group agreed to note the information provided. 

Opportunity for verbal updates by Community Planning Partners

Police Scotland

Inspector Julie McLeish outlined the staffing arrangements within the area, highlighting the roll out of 7 new officers within the Mid Argyll and Kintyre areas and the current officer based in Carradale plans to move on.  She advised that this may have implications for the area, as the likelihood was that the office would be sold off, however she stressed that there would be an opportunity for community consultation in this regard. 

She further advised that Police Scotland were currently working with Argyll and Bute Council in planning for the year’s events. 

Councillor Anne Horn

Councillor Horn highlighted the hard work of a group of youths in refurbishing the old tennis courts in Tarbert and also advised that the old Visit Scotland office would be opening to the public in due course as a Community Hub.  She advised that she would forward the dates to the Senior Committee Assistant for circulation as soon as she was aware of them.

Scottish Fire and Rescue

Crew Manager Kelly McSporran provided a breakdown of incidents relating to the MAKI area for quarter 3 of 2018/19.  She highlighted incidents of note, which included the fire at Machrihanish Golf Club; the Community Safety Activity and the special service provided by Scottish Fire and Rescue as part of their first responder role.  

The next meeting will take place at 10.00am on Wednesday, 1 May 2019 within the Columba Centre, Isle of Islay, PA43 7LN.

Discussion facilitated by the Area Committee Manager on items for inclusion on the Agenda for the next meeting.

Outcomes to be discussed:

OUTCOME 5: PEOPLE LIVE ACTIVE, HEALTHIER AND INDEPENDENT LIVES

OUTCOME 6: PEOPLE LIVE IN STRONGER AND SAFER COMMUNITIES

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, 1 May 2019 within the Columba Centre, Isle of Islay.