Developing Actions
Argyll and Bute Council · 6 December 2024
Back to Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership - Management Committee — 6 December 2024 and its agenda
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Management Committee Date: 06 December 2024 ABOIP outcomes – next steps 1.0 Purpose To provide the CPP Management Committee with a draft set of actions to deliver the agreed objectives under the three priorities of Transport Infrastructure, Housing and Community Wellbeing. 2.0 Recommendations The CPP Management Committee is asked to: • consider and agree the recommended actions • Note that work is ongoing to explore further actions 3.0 Background The Argyll and Bute Outcome Improvement Plan (ABOIP) priorities for 2024-2034 are 1. Transport Infrastructure, 2. Housing and 3. Community Wellbeing. A facilitated discussion at the CPP Full Partnership in September 2024 provided an opportunity for partners to discuss these in more detail and share information on ‘what is already happening and who is doing it?’, and explore ideas on ‘what is not already happening that the CPP can work on together to achieve the outcome?’. A set of recommended actions from those discussions are contained here for consideration. The appendices contain background information. For delivering the priority of Housing we have included here, for transparency, the CPP actions from the Housing Emergency Summit which were agreed at the CPP meeting in April, and the actions recommended following a meeting of partners to explore these more fully. The draft set of actions contained here are not a definitive list and work is ongoing to plan discussions in 2025 to further shape the actions needed to deliver the ABOIP. These are, however, a basis on which action may be able to start to take place for those actions contained here which the CPP is in agreement with. If the CPP agrees for the action related to research on Transport and inequalities there is a further paper in the pack to assist with the next steps for this.
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4.0 Recommended Actions 4.1 Transport Infrastructure Recommended Action Transport Objective this relates to Establish a transport integration working group Working with partners and communities to create a reliable, accessible, affordable and integrated public transport system for Argyll and Bute Consider establishment of community Active Travel network Working with partners and communities to ensure a resilient, well-maintained and safe road and active travel network across Argyll and Bute Research commissioned to understand areas of greatest transport-related inequalities and to create baseline for measuring successful delivery of this objective Working with partners to enhance provision of bespoke transport services for those experiencing the greatest inequality in ease of movement Contributing to local and national strategic transport plans to ensure the needs of communities experiencing inequalities in transport infrastructure are acknowledged and addressed Co-producing partners’ plans for elements relating specifically to tackling inequalities in transport infrastructure Work with Area Community Planning Groups to promote local options for car-pooling/ sharing Working with partners to enhance provision of bespoke transport services for those experiencing the greatest inequality in ease of movement Incorporate EV suggestions within CPP Climate Change Strategy 4.2 Housing Recommended Action from Full Partnership Housing Objective this relates to Establish a construction skills development working group Working in effective partnerships to ensure that everyone living and working in Argyll and Bute has access to affordable, warm homes of the right size, in the right place with access to the services, amenities and economic opportunities that communities need to thrive Local CPP communication strategy on housing to enhance development of Local Place Plans Ensuring that plans and policies are informed by communities’ needs and aspirations, especially those facing the greatest inequalities in housing related outcomes Facilitate discussion at Area Community Planning Groups using existing data and establish any demographic or geographic data gaps Working with partners and communities to ensure that everyone has the ability to have a say in shaping what housing looks like for their place
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Establish a partner land and assets working group Reviewing partners’ land and property assets to ensure resources are used effectively to support the provision of housing for key workers and others CPP and ACPG Communication plan on financial interventions to prevent homelessness Working together to identify opportunities for the prevention of homelessness through early intervention Incorporate Energy discussion points within CPP Climate Change Strategy Recommended action from partner discussion, June 2024 Agreed Action from Housing Emergency Summit Housing Objective this relates to Housing Services to commission an options appraisal for this action; CP team to support partners to contribute, providing insights and information and to be part of the creative process on solutions for workforce accommodation. Deliver seasonal and temporary workforce accommodation using short term occupancy agreements. Working in effective partnerships to ensure that everyone living and working in Argyll and Bute has access to affordable, warm homes of the right size, in the right place with access to the services, amenities and economic opportunities that communities need to thrive CP team to explore a more formal route for monitoring live demand and a more collaborative approach, with an evidence-based needs assessment, potentially dovetailing with HIE’s quarterly surveys for business. Develop a strategic approach to evidencing the need for workforce housing in the public sector. CP team to arrange information sharing seminar for Community Planning partners to understand the detail of this action point and to be able to represent it accordingly including carrying influence through their networks. Freedom to use Scottish Government housing funding more flexibly and as an allocation with local administrative control. Ensuring that plans and policies are informed by communities’ needs and aspirations, especially those facing the greatest inequalities in housing related outcomes Morag Goodfellow to check on HIREP Housing Sub Group work strands with Morven Fancey, and Morven to feed back to Morag who will take feedback on Create funding mechanisms for Development Trusts to finance feasibility studies, professional fees and approval process. Working with partners and communities to ensure that everyone has the ability to have a say in shaping what housing looks like for their place
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mechanisms to the CPP for consideration by partners; Housing team to gather examples where there are the gaps in the Rural and Islands Housing Fund and pass on to the CPP; CPP to understand how much community groups are spending on average on feasibility; Information to be collated by Housing team from Community Housing Network on site investigations under NPF4, then pass on to Morag for taking to regional group before it comes to the CPP. Availability of public sector land and buildings to be mapped against need with the potential for GIS usage - CP team to liaise initially with Council’s planning team which includes GIS staff. Identify public sector land and buildings which could provide workforce housing via repurposing and change of use; Map public sector land and buildings which could provide affordable housing via repurposing and change of use. Reviewing partners’ land and property assets to ensure resources are used effectively to support the provision of housing for key workers and others CPP to receive briefing on Housing Scotland Bill Working together to identify opportunities for the prevention of homelessness through early intervention 4.3 Community Wellbeing
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Recommended Action from Full Partnership Community Wellbeing Objective this relates to Broadening equality of access to Community Leadership opportunities Providing the community wellbeing pipeline – no wrong door approach - Look at funding mechanisms such as community benefit Furthering equality of access to services, facilities and community assets Consider options for ways of working that enable collaborative working on assets and services within a place Working with partners to maximise sustainability of community facilities and services Consider a CPP engagement group to support joined up approaches to engagement Enabling a voice in collective decision making Action above and: Consider a CPP data group to support data sharing between partners and with the community. Enhancing communication within communities Explore to what extent the Living Well Network maps community, social and volunteering opportunities, identify the gaps from this, and create partnership solutions to address the gaps. Engage with the community to better understand how communities achieve a sense of connection and belonging, and identify actions to support this where there are gaps in support. Better understanding how communities achieve a sense of connection and belonging
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5.0 Implications Strategic Implications - The recommendations in this paper directly address the objectives set out under each outcome in the Argyll and Bute Outcomes Improvement Plan 2024-2034 Consultations, Previous considerations Housing Emergency Summit, actions for CPP agreed at April CPP Meeting Resources - A number of recommendations will require in- kind contributions and participation from Community Planning Partners - Funding for the transport inequalities research commission – See separate paper - CP team resource for analysis and report compilation on completion of the transport inequalities research – See separate paper Prevention Equalities - The paper includes recommendations to address inequalities experienced by vulnerable groups in our society Climate Change - The paper makes mention of climate change- specific issues with recommendations linking those to the CPP climate change strategy For more information, contact: Rona Gold Communities and Partnership Manager rona.gold@argyll-bute.gov.uk References Argyll and Bute Outcomes Improvement Plan 2024-2034 (2024) https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2024-03/ABOIP%202024-2034%20- %20Support%20Document.pdf Appendices Appendix 1: The 5 agreed Objectives under Transport Infrastructure: suggestions on what CPP partners can do to deliver (from Full Partnership, September 2024, meeting). Appendix 2: The agreed Objectives under Housing: suggestions on what CPP partners can do to deliver (from Full Partnership, September 2024, meeting). Appendix 3: The agreed Objectives under Community Wellbeing: suggestions on what CPP partners can do to deliver (from Full Partnership September 2024, meeting)
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Appendix 1: The 5 agreed Objectives under Transport Infrastructure: suggestions on what CPP partners can do to deliver. Objective 1. Working with partners and communities to create a reliable, accessible, affordable and integrated public transport system for Argyll and Bute - Do the transport providers collaborate? – integrated timetables between modes of transport: Calmac, West Coast Motors and Scotrail - Joined-up thinking – transport links not meeting each other – longer waiting times - Transport integration – hard to integrate, difficult to change - Make it more joined up – train and ferry meeting bus timetables for individual - Joined up working across different authorities, e.g. Argyll and Bute Council, Inverclyde Council – sync bus and train times and ferries - Map use of island-mainland transport, e.g. getting to and from pierhead and avoiding putting car on ferry - Need to create better service options for public transport and ferries – fund operational costs to deliver the service people and business need - Bus companies could fit cameras to film road condition and report - Community connectivity for local journeys – bus services where leaving towns on time - Are there big public transport innovations happening? Objective 2: Working with partners and communities to ensure a resilient, well-maintained and safe road and active travel network across Argyll and Bute - More support for active travel/health walks/local third sector initiatives to develop hyper local walks/health walks/active travel initiatives – local support/regional information sharing and cohesion - Active travel initiatives intersect with wellbeing strongly – it would be good to develop stronger partnerships with the view of creating actionable, tangible change/comms Objective 3: Working with partners to enhance provision of bespoke transport services for those experiencing the greatest inequality in ease of movement - ‘Pingo’ – demand responsive transport for more areas, especially Lochside Resource Centre - Opportunities to support community based transport such as volunteer driver services to appointments/car share for work/shopping Objective 4: Contributing to local and national strategic transport plans to ensure the needs of communities experiencing inequalities in transport infrastructure are acknowledged and addressed - CPP can help get the community voice presented to those planning services - National agencies/Scottish Government to fully understand the implications of rural transport network - Logistics – flow – whisky – waste – use of sea freight Objective 5: Co-producing partners’ plans for elements relating specifically to tackling inequalities in transport infrastructure - Health and transport could be helped by CPP partners planning services and appointments in a joined up way Additional Transport Infrastructure comments from Full Partnership
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EV Charging - Charging points for electric cars - Grid capacity – EV charging or housing? - More charging points at faster speed - Community car charging network - Electric vehicle fast charging infrastructure - EV charging points Car Pooling/Sharing - Car share apps? - Is there a business case for a car pool, e.g. in Oban for islanders travelling on mainland - Car sharing - Post-Covid reboot of car sharing - Consideration given to joined up working with Further Education and transport – more use of pool cars/car sharing
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Appendix 2: The agreed Objectives under Housing: suggestions on what CPP partners can do to deliver (from Full Partnership, September 2024, meeting). 1. Working in effective partnerships to ensure that everyone living and working in Argyll and Bute has access to affordable, warm homes of the right size, in the right place with access to the services, amenities and economic opportunities that communities need to thrive - Opportunity to improve quality of housing through extending insulation grants/support – would benefit finances and health of population - Private homeowners upgrading, e.g. heat pumps, when RSL contractors are in the areas - Factor climate considerations into new build and retrofit – do repairs still have to be to same standard as original (e.g. wind damage) - Faster rollout of air-source heat pumps and other tech solutions - Insulation to old properties more accessible and free help with reducing heating costs - Focus required on different type and tenure of homes – across Argyll and Bute - More pragmatic approach to modular/caravan park homes - Short-term lets - affordable housing - Accommodation available for short-term, i.e. failed short-term housing market - Training shortages in planning, building – community benefit conditions on planning applications - Planning restrictions – skills - Skills gap – encouraging young people to go into construction or planning - Skills gap and workforce gap, particularly relating to Argyll and Bute Council Planning and Development Team – too few staff to process planning applications within timeframes – hold up/prevent development of single dwellings in rural parts - Assessment of viability of local materials – and reuse 2. Ensuring that plans and policies are informed by communities’ needs and aspirations, especially those facing the greatest inequalities in housing related outcomes - Highlight what is needed in the local areas and ensure that the outcomes meet the needs of the community - Better at consulting with hard to reach groups via good local networks - Sharing community engagement results – e.g. Local Place Plan engagement for housing feasibility - Support community organisations’ operational costs to deliver and manage housing 3. Working with partners and communities to ensure that everyone has the ability to have a say in shaping what housing looks like for their place - Support for community groups for self-build or community build – financial support for social housing construction costs on islands - Using existing networks to share information about available resources for communities in terms of warmer homes – building on existing work - Community benefit conditions for private sector developers/companies – i.e. build x homes in return for large capital public sector funding - Capacity to deliver – linking housing to Community Wealth building – linking other services to housing lead times with education the most important 4. Reviewing partners’ land and property assets to ensure resources are used effectively to support the provision of housing for key workers and others - CPP partners – look at land and property assets – make best use - Job-related accommodation – firefighters’ house - Mapping/shared ownership
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- Better understanding of ownership of land and assets – poor landlord behaviour - Build on existing projects such as Our Modern Workspace to identify assets which are surplus and can be utilised for a different purpose 5. Working together to identify opportunities for the prevention of homelessness through early intervention - Promote interventions to support financial information/skill to allow people to avoid homelessness due to finance - CPP partners can support staff, e.g. financial hardship funds to prevent homelessness – as well as clientele - Signposting to agencies
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Appendix 3: The agreed Objectives under Community Wellbeing: suggestions on what CPP partners can do to deliver (from Full Partnership September 2024, meeting) 1. Broadening equality of access to Community Leadership opportunities 2. Furthering equality of access to services, facilities and community assets - Identify and close gaps in universal services, e.g. optometry services - Providing the community wellbeing pipeline – no wrong door approach - Strength and balance activities consistently across areas, including villages - Could the (uneven) distribution of community benefit ££ be shared, e.g. projects such as community halls 3. Working with partners to maximise sustainability of community facilities and services - Older community spaces are getting more expensive to hire as costs go up - Crossover between employability, community wealth, recovery oriented system of care - Consider the employability pipeline model as best practice model - Collaboration on provision to parents, e.g. parental employability support and interventions funded by No One Left Behind employability monies - Better communication to ensure all partners are aware of the various work ongoing – utilising data for targeting certain areas for better decision making, collaboration and improvements 4. Enabling a voice in collective decision making - Communicating with communities so they feel listened to, especially hard to reach vulnerable – Gypsy travellers – victims of domestic abuse - There is a focus within the economic strategy for Argyll and Bute Council on a wellbeing economy, which will require community input/involvement 5. Enhancing communication within communities - Opportunity for joined up engagement and communication of data/information and joining up of activities 6. Better understanding how communities achieve a sense of connection and belonging - Find activities, e.g. beach cleans, community gardening tidy ups, etc – give people something to do – new members of the community come along – feel part of doing something useful, good – gets people outside - Heritage/place-based volunteering creates social outcomes