“Tha na cothroman againn, tha planaichean againn, tha àrd-amasan againn agus tha an lèirsinn againn. Tha gach nì a tha dhìth againn gus soirbheachadh. Nach tòisich sinn, agus dèanamaid sin an-dràsta fhèin e.”

Sin na faclan brosnachail a labhair Ceannard Comhairle Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid, an Comhairliche Dick Walsh, aig coinneamh iomlan den Chom-pàirteachas Planaidh Coimhearsnachd a chaidh a chumail an t-seachdain sa chaidh aig Port-adhair  Mhachaire Shanais ann an Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain.

Thàinig còrr is 90 riochdaire bho bhuidhnean poblach is prìobhaideach bho air feadh Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid còmhla airson coinneamh den Chom-pàirteachas Iomlan fo bhratach na h-abairt, “A’ Dèanamh Adhartas Còmhla”. Am measg nan daoine a bha an làthair bha Macro Biagi BPA, am Ministear airson Riaghaltas Ionadail is Cumhachd do Choimhearsnachdan a thug seachad òraid air an Achd airson Cumhachd do Choimhearsnachdan.

Am measg nan luchd-labhairt eile bha Nicholas Fearghasdan, cathraiche an Fhòraim Eaconamach, a dh’inns do dhaoine mu mar a bha dol don Fhòram Eaconamach. Thàinig an iomairt seo, a tha air a stiùireadh leis an roinn phrìobhaidich, gu bith mar thoradh air Àrd-chruinneachadh Eaconamach ann an Dùn Omhain an-uiridh a bha air leth soirbheachail. Bha a’ cho-labhairt sin airson togail air rudan a bha a’ Chomhairle agus a luchd com-pàirt air a dhèanamh mu thràth gus cothroman eaconamach ann an Earra-Ghàidheal is Bòd a leasachadh is a leudachadh.

’S e aon eisimpleir de sin, na pròiseactan ath-nuadhachaidh a tha a’ dol air adhart ann am meadhan còig diofar bhailtean: Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain, Baile Eilidh, An t-Òban, Baile Bhòid agus Dùn Omhain. Leis an iomairt seo, far am bithear a’ cosg nam milleanan de notaichean, tha a’ Chomhairle a’ dol a dhèanamh leasachaidhean mòra air meadhan a’ bhaile anns na còig bailtean sin agus sna pàirtean de na bailtean sin a tha ri taobh na mara. 

Tha com-pàirteachas dlùth ann eadar a’ Chomhairle is Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean agus bha Stiùbhart Robasdan, an Stiùiriche airson Gàidhealtachd is Eileanan Didseatach aig HIE, an làthair cuideachd gus bruidhinn air mar a gheibhear fuasgladh air nithean a tha cur bacadh air a’ bhann-leathann san sgìre.

Thug Iain Kelly bho EKOS iomradh air na toraidhean bhon sgrùdadh, ‘Compelling Argyll and Bute’, a chaidh a dhèanamh o chionn ghoirid agus thug luchd-labhairt bhon Chomhairle agus bho NHS na Gàidhealtachd fiosrachadh às ùr seachad air ‘Ga Chumail gun Tachairt: Caidreachas nan Tràth-bhliadhnaichean’.

Bha cothrom aig an fheadhainn a bha an làthair pàirt a ghabhail ann an grunn sheiseanan breithneachaidh air feadh an latha. Bha iad sin a’ toirt sùil air diofar chuspairean, a’ gabhail a-steach mar a ghabhas seirbheisean slàinte is cùram sòisealta am fighe còmhla, buidseatan com-pàirteach agus co-obrachadh.

A’ bruidhinn air an latha, thuirt an Comhairliche Walsh: “Chan eil dòchas is misneachd – a’ gluasad air adhart còmhla – againn dìreach mar chuspair no tiotal. Ann an Earra-Ghàidheal is Bòd, sin dìreach mar a tha sinn a’ smaoineachadh agus ’s e sin a bhios sinn a’ dèanamh. Nuair a thig e gu planadh coimhearsnachd, ’s e lèirsinn is àrd-amasan a tha cudromach, agus na nithean sin a sgaoileadh agus a bhrosnachadh sna coimhearsnachdan againn. ’S e am prìomh amas a th’ aig muinntir Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid, gum fàs àireamh an t-sluaigh agus an eaconamaidh. Tha pàirt aig a h-uile duine ann a bhith toirt sin gu buil – ag obair còmhla gus sgìre Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid a neartachadh, agus a dèanamh soirbheachail is dèanadach.

“Tha sinn air adhartas iongantach a dhèanamh mu thràth le bhith toirt còmhla a’ Chomhairle, an NHS, na seirbheisean èiginn, buidhnean eile bhon roinn phoblaich, bhon roinn phrìobhaidich, an treas roinn agus ar coimhearsnachdan gus an t-Aonta Singilte airson Bhuilean aig a’ Chom-pàirteachas Planaidh Coimhearsnachd a lìbhrigeadh. Tha amas soilleir aig cridhe an Aonta Shingilte ’s a tha aig a h-uile duine – a’ tarraing barrachd dhaoine is obraichean gu Earra-Ghàidheal is Bòd agus sin a dhèanamh còmhla. Tha seo a’ toirt dhuinn bunait air leth làidir air am faod sinn togail, chan ann dìreach an-diugh ach gach latha a tha sinn ri obair is gnothachas.”

Lean an Comhairliche Walsh air, “Chan e dìreach aon duine a nì seo, ach a h-uile duine againn. Ma dh’obraicheas sinn còmhla, ann an com-pàirt taobh a-staigh ar buidhnean agus còmhla ri càch, cuidichidh sin sinn le bhith ruighinn air an targaid air a bheil sinn uile ag amas.

“Tha sinn a’ cur ar taic ri Earra-Ghàidheal is Bòd agus tha fios againn gu bheil daoine eile ri ar guailnean gar cuideachadh is a’ cumail taic rinn. Tha neart ann an aonadh, agus cruinn còmhla an-diugh tha daoine ann le eòlas, sgilean, fios am pailteas a tha gu dealasach a’ cur romhpa gun tig adhartas ann an sgìre Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid.”

“We have opportunities, we have plans in place, we have ambitions and we have ideas. We have everything we need to succeed. Let’s get started, let’s do this now.”

These were the uplifting words of Argyll and Bute Council Leader, Councillor Dick Walsh, at a Full Partnership meeting of the Community Planning Partnership held last week at Machrihanish Airbase in Campbeltown.

Over 90 representatives from public and private sector organisations from across Argyll and Bute gathered for the “Moving Forward Together” meeting of the Full Partnership, including Marco Biagi MSP, Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment who delivered a speech about the Community Empowerment Act.

Other key speakers included Nicholas Ferguson, chair of the Economic Forum, who provided attendees with an update on the progress of the Economic Forum. This private-sector driven initiative grew as a result of last year’s successful Economic Summit in Dunoon.The conference was focussed on building on actions already being taken by the Council and its partners to develop and grow Argyll and Bute’s economy of opportunity.

One example of this is the town centre regeneration projects which are taking place in Campbeltown, Helensburgh, Oban, Rothesay and Dunoon. This multi-million pound initiative by the Council will see major improvements to the town centres and waterfronts of all five towns.

The Council has a close partnership with Highlands and Island’s Enterprise and Stuart Robertson, Director of Digital Highlands and Islands HIE, was also in attendance to talk about overcoming the barriers of broadband in the area.

John Kelly of EKOS highlighted findings of the recent ‘Compelling Argyll and Bute’ study and speakers from the Council and NHS Highland provided an update on Prevention: The Early Years Collaborative.

Those in attendance were also given the opportunity to take an active part in a number of breakout sessions throughout the day. These focussed on various subjects including health and social care integration, participatory budgeting and co-production.

Talking about the day, Councillor Walsh said, “The spirit of positivity – of moving forward together – is much, much more than a title or a theme. Here in Argyll and Bute it is, quite simply, how we think and what we do. Community planning is all about having ambition, and sharing and developing this in our communities. For Argyll and Bute our main ambition is to grow our population and economy. Everyone has a part to play in this – working together to build a strong, prosperous and vibrant Argyll and Bute.

“We have already made amazing progress at bringing together the Council, NHS, emergency services, other public sector organisations, the private sector, third sector and our communities to see delivery of the Community Planning Partnership’s Single Outcome Agreement (SOA). The SOA has at its core a very clear, shared objective – bringing more people and more jobs to Argyll and Bute and doing it together. This offers an incredibly strong foundation to build upon, not just today but every day as we go about our business.”

Councillor Walsh continued, “Making it happen is not about one of us, but about all of us. Working together in unity, in partnership both inside our own organisations and outside with others, will help us achieve the common goal each one of us here shares.

“We are backing Argyll and Bute and we know that others are alongside us, backing us and supporting us too. We are about strength in numbers and today, assembled here together, have considerable expertise, skills, knowledge and commitment to making good things happen in and for Argyll and Bute.”