Supplementary Pack 1
Argyll and Bute Council · 6 December 2024
Back to Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership - Management Committee — 6 December 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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4 December 2024 SUPPLEMENTARY PACK 1 ARGYLL AND BUTE COMMUNITY PLANNING PARTNERSHIP - MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE will be held in the ONLINE VIA MS TEAMS on FRIDAY, 6 DECEMBER 2024 at 10:00 AM I enclose herewith an additional report in respect of agenda item 3 (Area Community Planning Group Update). ADDITIONAL REPORT 3. AREA COMMUNITY PLANNING GROUP UPDATE (STUART MCLEAN) (Pages 3 - 12) – May Area Community Planning Group Update Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership - Management Committee Public Document Pack
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Management Committee Date: June 2024 Agenda Item: Area Community Planning Groups – April/May 2024 Meetings 1. Purpose This paper presents key matters arising during the Area Community Planning Group meetings that were held in April and May 2024. 2. Recommendations The Management Committee is asked to: a) note the highlights detailed at section 4 of the report. b) note that Gill Simpson (Helensburgh Community Hub) was appointed to the position of Vice-Chair of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group. c) note that Colin Buchanan (Luing Community Council) was appointed to the position of Chair of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning and that the Group will seek to appoint a new Vice-Chair at the next scheduled meeting. d) note and consider the concerns of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Community Planning Group regarding the recent A83 road closures. 3. Background There are four Area Community Planning Groups, one in each of the Council’s administrative areas (Bute and Cowal; Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands; Helensburgh and Lomond; and Oban, Lorn and the Isles). Meetings were held on a variety of platforms, including purely virtual and on a hybrid basis using Microsoft Teams. The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Groups met in the Ionad Chaluim Chille Ile (Islay Gaelic Centre), Islay. Page 3 Agenda Item 3
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Prior to the meetings discussion took place with the Area Chairs and Vice Chairs and a standard agenda template was agreed. All 4 meetings were well attended by a variety of partners. 4. Highlights All Groups considered: • Update on Community Council Interim By-Elections Consideration was given to a report which provided an update on the membership of community councils across all 4 areas following the closure of the nomination period for the interim by-elections. • Community Wealth Building in Argyll and Bute – A framework for Action Takki Sulaiman presented a report and associated presentation in relation to Community Wealth Building. Takki confirmed that the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Management Committee formally received the Community Wealth Building report commissioned in 2023 at its meeting of 10 April 2024. It was highlighted that the recommendations in the report were categorised in five sections: spending; workforce; inclusive ownership; finance; and land and property. Community Planning Group Partners were encouraged to forward any comments on the implementation and priority actions within the final report and the within the two ‘Models of Opportunity’ to Committee Services following the conclusion of each meeting. • Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership - Public Health Update: 'The Annual Report of the Director of Public Health: Medication and Public Health - Do the Right’ Consideration was given to a public health update from NHS Highland. The update focussed on The Annual Report of the Director of Public Health 2023 (NHS Highland): ‘Medication & Public Health – Do the Right Thing. The report examined public health challenges and the benefits and drawback of prescribed medicines, with a focus on escalating levels of pharmacotherapy and its impacts on both individuals, and the population and their environment, including the rise of antibiotic resistance and the environmental pollution caused by medicines. The report also provided information on the following key issues: The Environment: How medication can make our environment sicker; Hepatitis C: How medication is transforming treatment and prevention; Social Prescribing: How an alternative to Page 4
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medication can work; and Prescriptions for Pain: How medication can have longlasting effects on public health. A case study regarding how medication and other measures can work together to improve health was also considered. • Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Update Each Group gave consideration to a report highlighting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) FQ4 review of local performance across the local authority area for the period 2023-24. The report included information on the local firefighter training plan; incidents during this time period; work to reduce call outs for Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals (UFAS); road and water safety campaigns; community engagement activities; the activities of the East and West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute Local Senior Officer; and ways to request a home fire safety visit. • Police Scotland Update Police Scotland provided an update on the recent work and activities within the local authority area. The report included information on management changes and additional resource in the area; work to reduce instances of youth disorder; and engagement with the Lifelines Scotland project. The update also provided information and literature in relation to the Neighbourhood Watch Scotland initiative. • Live Argyll Community Learning Services Update Live Argyll Community Learning Service provided an update on Adult Learning. The update included information in relation to different workstreams, including Core Skills for Life Learning and Work; Health and Wellbeing; Digital Skills; and Your Voice. The update particularly highlighted work taking place in the Mid Argyll Adult Learning Hub, on the organisation of a second LGBTQ+ community engagement event and with the Lochside Enterprise Group; Let’s Grow Group; MS Argyll – Snowdrop Give Back Group; and Community Centre Garden Project. • Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface Update Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface provided an update on their work during financial quarter four of 2023-24. The update included information in relation to changes to the Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Act 2023; local strategic partnerships; the Community Wealth Building report; Community Planning Partnership organisational changes; the Sector funding for 2024-2025; the Funders Fayre 2024 held in Oban; a fourth year of funding of the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund; TSI Board member recruitment; testing of new models of colocation; work by the Argyll and Bute Climate Action Network; the Sustainable Food Partnership online event; consultations on a new strategy and a local sustainable funding campaign; research proposal for mapping Argyll and Bute’s early intervention services; and TSI’s hosting of a Wellbeing Development Manager post, funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and the HSCP. Page 5
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• Argyll and Bute Climate Action: developing a Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan for Argyll and Bute The Group gave consideration to a report providing an update on the Community Planning Partnership’s Argyll and Bute Climate Action project: developing a Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan for Argyll and Bute. • UHI Argyll Update (Bute and Cowal and Oban, Lorn and the Isles) Rhona Altin, UHI Argyll delivered an update that included information on the Big College Open Week which was well attended with around 90 people visiting the centres; the success of the multiply programme and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) courses; commercial courses being ran in May and June; the MCR Pathways Programme which many UHI Argyll staff have volunteered for and the plan to reintroduce the “Keep Warm” project. • Argyll Community Housing Association (Bute and Cowal and Oban, Lorn and the Isles) Consideration was given to an annual report from Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) which provided information in relation to their stock in the Bute and Cowal and Oban, Lorn and the Isles areas; investment programmes; the Warm Homes Fund projects; a review of ACHA’s sheltered housing services; allocation and re-letting of properties; works completed and planned through the Exemplar Estates Initiative; opportunities for communities to engage with planned Estate Walkabouts; an ongoing consultation on ACHA’s Customer Involvement Strategy; welfare rights services; adaptations for vulnerable customers; success at the Scotland Housing Awards, Scottish Energy Efficiency Awards and Tenant Advisory Service Nation Excellence Awards; awards for local schools as part of ACHA’s 10 10 10 initiative; and the feedback from customer satisfaction surveys. The report also encouraged applications to ACHA’s Community Action Fund, advising that a number of awards from the Fund had already benefitted local groups. • ACT Climate Change Update (Bute and Cowal and Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands) The Bute & Cowal and Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Groups gave consideration to a presentation from Jamie Joyce, ACT Now Project Manager and Argyll and Bute Climate Action Network (ABCAN) Team Lead. The presentation provided information in relation to ACT Now’s local projects, including a community bicycle scheme and outdoor STEM learning projects. It was highlighted that funding was being sought to continue and expand the community bicycle scheme. Mr Joyce also advised that the ABCAN hub model was now up and running with a delivery team made up from community organisations, freelancers, Page 6
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and ACT employees who were delivering community climate engagement in all 4 administrative areas. The presentation included information on funding distributed to groups looking to act on climate change; the creation of the Argyll & Bute Specific Carbon Literacy Training Course; the delivery of 3 regional climate assemblies, focussing on Energy, Housing, and Food; the new ABCAN website and online network; and the ABCAN Aims for 2024/25. Bute & Cowal (Meeting Papers - LINK) Scenic Sandbank advised that following a successful financial award from the Scottish Land Fund and lengthy negotiations with Argyll & Bute Council, they had recently completed the acquisition of the former primary school site in the centre of the village for the purposes of a community garden. The update also highlighted that clearance of invasive plant species from the land was expected to be underway shortly and with the assistance of local volunteers and contributions, the garden would be developed through the summer months and in time would be growing flowers and vegetables and serve as a community meeting space for all. Reeni Kennedy-Boyle, on behalf of Fyne Futures, advised that an awards for all project would be running this year, with projects connected to growing and sharing food in the community welcomed. Reeni advised that Fyne Futures are working with primary schools on a project called ‘pizza in a barrel’ which is about growing plant based ingredients for making pizza and that the kids are doing projects in their school looking at soil health and climate change. Reeni also highlighted that they are looking at growing plants that can be used for dyes and that they are working with a local artist who is looking to make her art more sustainable and climate friendly by moving to natural pigments. Consideration was given to a report and presentation from Alex Wilde, Shaping Places for Wellbeing Dunoon. The update provided information on how they share their learning; Place and Wellbeing outcomes; Project Town activities; how they use data and evidence; Place and Wellbeing Assessments and associated recommendations. Susan Tuite, Senior Welfare Rights Officer Argyll and Bute Council delivered a presentation that included information on the welfare rights service; their aims and roles; what information/advice and help they can provide; 2023/24 highlights; partnership working; community engagement; customer satisfaction; what’s happening in 2024/25 and information on how to contact the Welfare Rights team. The Community Focus item was delivered by Iona Tytler, Castle House Museum, who advised that the Museum opened in 1998, and is a registered charity ran by Dunoon and Cowal Heritage Trust and that the objective of the Museum has always Page 7
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been to share and preserve the rich history of the local area. It was highlighted that they have an ongoing memory box project which aims to highlight the value of heritage in supporting a sense of place and in connecting people across the area with bookings for memory boxes available from June onwards. Helensburgh & Lomond (Meeting Papers - LINK) The Group gave consideration to an update from Sarah Davies, Helensburgh Community Council who advised on the current position in relation to the submission of a bid for the Waterfront; the recently opened Helensburgh Skatepark Project on the Waterfront; Police and road safety support; participation in the Helensburgh in Motion Study; spring clean initiatives; participation in the Big Conversation event; the petition to the Scottish Government to prioritise local participation in planning decisions and the Town Centre Group who continue to raise issues and resident concerns in relation to drains, bins repairs and parking; and Music in the Square funds. Sarah Davies, on behalf of Fun First, reported that they continue to provide sessions for pre-school children and their parents with at least one session available every day in either Helensburgh, Cardross, Garelochhead or Rosneath; staffing; committee members participation in First Aid for Mental Health training in November; training held in March to run outdoor sessions for parents and children, with Under the Trees Outdoor Learning from Falkirk delivering the training; a grant received from the TSI Health and Wellbeing Fund to fund Fun First Friends sessions this year and leaders; parties to raise funds and provide a positive social occasion; money received through the Coop Community Fund, the Argyll and Bute Council Supporting Communities Fund, the Argyll and Bute Climate Action Network and from the Argyll and Bute Early Years department and an EGM held to change Fun First’s constitution. Consideration was given to an update by Angela Anderson, Plastic Free Helensburgh. Angela provided information on the monthly beach cleans which restarted in March; the purchase of litter pickers, buckets and tubs with a grant received from the Argyll and Bute Climate Action Network; the Big Conversation event held; the support for a big clean at the playing fields and portacabin at Kirkmichael and a successful clean of Hermitage Park. Gill Simpson from Helensburgh Community Hub provided information on the Reading Minds Book Festival which was held on the 22-24 March in collaboration with Jean’s Bothy and Helensburgh and Lomond Carers Centre; a planned Dolly Drag Bingo event in September to fundraise for expanding the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and new activity In the Hub such as a social group for neurodivergent adults, wellbeing and crafting sessions, Monday monthly moves for people with memory problems or a dementia diagnosis and their carers and refugee integration conversations. Page 8
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Fiona Baker advised that Destination Helensburgh continue to promote the area by listing major events and updates on their social media channels and that they have been selling tickets for local musical events and continue to work with the Pier Regeneration Group. Fiona advised that visitor numbers have been increasing with many day trippers coming to the area due to the lovely independent shops and restaurants and that the proposed Pipers in the Square event is currently waiting for approval from the Council to play every Wednesday evening in June. Representatives from Save the Tower Community Buyout Steering Group delivered the Community Focus item. The presentation highlighted that the tower has been operational for 9 years as a cinema and arts centre and is currently privately owned. Donna Hicks advised that in March 2023 the Manager left and the owner decided to close the tower and at that point staff and volunteers asked the owner to keep it open and were given 90 days to run the cinema with certain targets to be achieved. It was highlighted that the targets were completed within a month which showed the communities love for the tower and its success. Following this deadline staff and volunteers agreed to establish a Community Buyout Steering Group. In February a community engagement event was held with proposals delivered to those attending. It was highlighted that the Group are currently at stage 1 of the application for funding from the Scottish Land Fund and that they have had many issues to overcome. Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands (Meeting Papers - LINK) The Group gave consideration to a report from Moving on Mid Argyll in relation to the ‘A Food Share Operation for Mid Argyll’ project. The report provided information in relation to the background and requirement for the project; the process followed to date; funding and equipment required; future key dates; and possible future workstreams. It was noted that a representative from Moving on Mid Argyll had been unable to attend the meeting, but they hoped to provide a presentation at the next meeting of the Group. Sidekick – Inclusive Islay and Jura delivered a presentation that provided information in relation to the background and creation of the Group, as well as the Group’s mission statement: ‘We will develop projects and resources to enable people with additional support needs on Islay and Jura to live life to the full’. It was highlighted that Sidekick was comprised of volunteers, who juggled the work alongside additional commitments. Kirsten McKenzie provided examples of Sidekick’s projects, including the implementation of an all-terrain wheelchair to allow those with different abilities to use the local beaches; the creation of an all ability bike network on Islay; the co-ordination of a summer activity week; and an appearance on Ben Fogle’s Scotland’s Sacred Islands television programme. Page 9
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Forestry and Land Scotland advised of work being taken forward within the locality. Information was also provided in relation to local Land Management Plans; work to combat phytophthora ramorum disease in larch trees; progress with peatland restoration; details of upcoming complex operations; engagement at a STEM event for local high school pupils; and the planned future use of electric vehicles. Jeni West advised that the Land Management Plan for Carradale had been amended, with an increase to four coupes being felled over the next 12 months. Jeni West agreed to provide details of this to East Kintyre Community Council, following the meeting. MSYP Alasdair Paisley advised of his work as a representative of the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP). The update included information about MSYP Paisley’s training; work on the SYP’s National Campaigns, including the identification of the most important topics for young people in Argyll and Bute; and MSYP Paisley’s anticipated attendance at the upcoming sitting of the SYP in June. Consideration was given to an update report from the Live Argyll Community Learning Service, which provided an update on Youth Work in Kintyre. The update provided information in relation to the work of the Kintyre Youth Action Group; feedback from young people and parents/guardians following the completion of the Friday Night ‘Street Sports’ Project and Kintyre Youth Filmmaking Project; Kintyre Youth Action Group’s ‘GIVE’ Easter programme; and participation of Campbeltown Grammar School’s pupils in the Dynamic Youth Awards. The update also provided information on regular ongoing projects, as well as scheduled future projects, including the upcoming RainbowFest. The Chair welcomed Ashley Glen and Dahlia Techner, who were in attendance to provide a verbal update on Kintyre Youth Action Group’s recent and ongoing activities. Campbeltown Community Council provided an update on progress on the Trench Point Path; continued promotion of a survey in relation to a new Campbeltown pharmacy; and planned improvement works to the road surface on the Esplanade. The Group raised concerns about the negative impacts on local people and businesses as a result of multiple simultaneous road closures on the A83, which were in close proximity to each other and asked that these be raised at the Management Committee. Oban, Lorn and the Isles (Meeting Papers - LINK) Consideration was given to a presentation by Rachael McGruer, Place Director at the Scottish Government. The presentation highlighted that the role of Place Directors is to understand how public services can best work together and support partners to work with communities across Scotland. The presentation also included information on Place Directors responsibilities; the history of Place Directors with it being highlighted that they have existed since 2008 and prior to 2022 were known as Page 10
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Location Directors; and personal involvement such as attendance at CPP meetings and supporting visits for the Permanent Secretary and Travelling Cabinet. The Group gave consideration to an update and presentation from Carol Flett, Oban, Lorn and the Isles Living Well Network. The presentation included information on who the Living Well Network are and what they do; network events and meetings and the Living Well Network priorities for Oban, Lorn and the Isles. Carol also advised that following the last meeting where concerns were raised around optometry services she had gathered information from a number of people and wrote a document detailing the challenges around this provision and that this was sent to the Locality Planning Group. 4.1 Further Actions It is requested that the Management Committee note the report and the successful meetings held in April and May 2024. 5.0 Implications Strategic Implications Meetings of the Area Community Planning Group held in May covered various Outcomes. Consultations No prior circulation of this report. Resources No direct resource implications however consideration of the issues raised and following courses of action may have a knock on effect on finance and/or staff resource Prevention Contributes to the prevention agenda Equalities Contributes toward reducing inequalities For More Information: Stuart McLean, Committee Manager, stuart.mclean@argyll-bute.gov.uk Page 11
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