Area Community Planning Group Update (Shona Barton)
Argyll and Bute Council · 7 September 2023
Back to Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership - Management Committee — 7 September 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Management Committee Date: 7 September 2023 Agenda Item: 3 Area Community Planning Groups – August 2023 Meetings 1. Purpose This paper presents key matters arising during the Area Community Planning Group meetings that were held virtually in August 2023. 2. Recommendations The Management Committee is asked to: a) note the highlights detailed at section 4 of the report. b) note that Ryan Macintyre (Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament) was appointed to the position of Chair of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group. c) note that the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Community Planning Group will seek to appoint a Vice-Chair at the meeting scheduled for November. d) note that Councillor John Armour was appointed to the position of Chair of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group and Iain Brodie, East Kintyre Community Council, was appointed as Vice-Chair. e) note that the Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group agreed to the Community Planning Teams proposal to facilitate a discussion between the Chair of the CPP Management Committee, the Chair of the Area Community Planning Group and the Chair of the Dunoon Gourock Ferry Action Group. 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. 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.
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4. Highlights All Groups considered: Community Planning Antonia Baird, Community Development Officer Argyll and Bute Council, provided each Group with an overview of Community Planning in Argyll and Bute. The presentation included information on the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015; the roles and responsibilities of the Community Planning Team; where the Area Community Planning Groups fit into the partnership and their relationship with the Management Committee; cross cutting themes and principles of effective community planning. The presentation also included information on the development day which is held once a year; action plans for each of the Area Community Planning Groups as well as the Argyll and Bute Outcome Improvement Plan. Access to Argyll and Bute (A83) Transport Scotland and Atkins WSP Joint Ventures delivered a presentation on the permanent solution for the A83. The presentation included information that had been delivered at both virtual and in person public exhibitions within the locality, specifically key features and benefits of the preferred route; the preferred route plan; the scheme assessment process and the next stages of the assessment and construction phases. Centre for Local Economic Strategies - Community Wealth Building All Groups gave consideration to a presentation on Community Wealth Building from Charlie Murphy from CLES (Centre for Local Economic Strategies). Charlie highlighted that the CLES mission is to develop local economies which work for people, planet and place and that it is the lead organisation for Community Wealth Building in the UK. Charlie advised that CLES had been commissioned by the TSI on behalf of the CPP to conduct research on Community Wealth Building in Argyll and Bute. Climate Change Working Group Stan Philips, Chair of the Climate Change Working Group, submitted an update report that highlighted the ongoing work of the Climate Change Working Group. The report outlined the proposal to produce a strategic Action Plan as a means to address the climate emergency in Argyll and Bute; the approved governance arrangements to support the Climate Change Project Manager post and the ongoing work on the recruitment of the Project Manager. Police Scotland Consideration was given to updates which included information on the ongoing work of the Service and provided information on the expansion of the Partners intelligence portal; the emergency services day held in Dunoon; youth engagement activities; the ‘Move in May’
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challenge which Police Scotland staff took part in; Progress Pride flag’s journey around Argyll and West Dunbartonshire Division and the Keep Safe scheme. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service presented reports highlighting the Service’s 2023-24 FQ1 review of local performance across the locality. The report included information on local firefighter training plans; incidents during this time period; unwanted fire alarm signals; road and water safety campaigns and community engagement activities. Live Argyll Live Argyll provided information relating to youth work across the locality such as the GIVE summer programme; the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers; the work with Developing Young Work Force and the summer exchange programme. Argyll and Bute TSI Update The Groups gave consideration to a report from the Argyll and Bute TSI which highlighted that at the June 2023 Community Planning Partnership, the Argyll and Bute TSI Chief Executive Officer presented a fourth paper on moving the local Community Wealth Building agenda further forward and that at the end of June, TSI commissioned a three day Combined First Aid at Work and Paediatric First Aid course at Atlantis Leisure Centre in Oban for Third Sector organisations. Progress on Argyll and Bute Climate Hub Consideration was also given to a TSI authored report which sought to update Partners on actions being taken to draw together a range of community actors to coordinate, map and network build for the purposes of increasing community awareness concerning climate action. UHI Argyll UHI Argyll advised that all centres held an open day on the 14th June in which people were encouraged to drop into their local centres to enquire about courses and find out what support is available to them. It was noted that UHI Argyll staff have been attending some local events during the summer months and are currently preparing for the new academic year and the intake of new students. Skills Development Scotland Update Susan MacRae, Skills Development Scotland advised that career advisors have been visiting centres across the locality and that they continue to support school leavers. Susan added that the Partnership Action for Continuing Employment initiative and the annual participation measures are due to be published on 31st August.
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Citizens Advice Bureau Jen Broadhurst advised that the Citizens Advice Bureau have been busy and have supported around 800 clients in the last 3 months with 370 of those being new to the bureau with the majority being in relation to welfare rights. The Groups noted that the overall client financial gain, generated from the advice provided was just under £360,000. Jen also provided information on other areas such as the new data hub which provides statistical data on the range of clients that they support across the region; debt advice; the Armed Services advice project; energy advice and the adviser training programme. Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership - Public Health Update Each Group considered a public health update from Angela Coll, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership on the ongoing wellbeing and prevention activities overseen and delivered by the HSCP Public Health Team in Argyll and Bute. The update highlighted information on the Public Health Intelligence Team; the Money Counts Level 1 awareness raising sessions; the Living Well Networks and the merge of the Living Well Strategy and Prevention Board. Bute & Cowal (Meeting Papers - LINK) Gordon Ross of Western Ferries provided the Group with an overview of the service provided. Gordon advised that in June 2023 Western Ferries celebrated 50 years of service and that they were currently celebrating the 10th anniversary of the naming ceremony of their boats, the Sound of Seil and the Sound of Soay. Mr Ross advised that Western Ferries provide approximately 32,000 sailings a year from 6am until midnight, 365 days a year. It was also highlighted that Western Ferries provide a free out of hour’s service for emergency services in Dunoon and have a stand by crew permanently on call. Ann Campbell highlighted that Dunoon Community Development Trust has just completed a recruitment phase following a successful grant application and advised that she had been appointed as Partnership and Development Manager. Alex Wilde and Becky Hothersall, Shaping Places for Wellbeing Dunoon, provided information on their recent activities, with it being highlighted that they can support organisations create their own Place and Wellbeing Assessment and that they are also planning to work with local partners on exploring active travel plans for Dunoon. Jim Osborne provided the Group with an update on the consultation exercise currently being undertaken by Bute Community Council. Jim advised that the new Community Council agreed last year to revisit a conversation that took place in 2015 on how the Community Council can improve Bute. Consequently, the Community Council has organised a public meeting with 7 main themes emerging, the top 3 being, facilities for visitors, town regeneration and facilities for young people. It was also highlighted that the Community Council are still in the process of community engagement with further events planned. The Group considered a presentation by John Park, Director of Sandbank Community Development Trust which was established in 2002 to provide social and community facilities, environmental improvements, preservation of local heritage and support for local businesses. Mr Park provided information on the recently prepared Community Action Plan
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and the ongoing activities of the Trust such as the Ardnadam Community Park and Holy Loch Nature Reserve. Consideration was given to a presentation by Robin Webster of Friends of Glenan Wood. Robin highlighted that the woods were acquired by the local community from Forestry Scotland via the Scottish Land Act in 2019. The presentation also included information on what visitors can expect to find in the woodlands; grants that they had received; work parties for volunteers; the weekly ‘brew and blether’ and the challenges they are facing. Helensburgh & Lomond (Meeting Papers - LINK) The Group gave consideration to a written update by PC Drew Omand, Ministry of Defence Police. The update included information on the A814 roadworks at His Majesty's Naval Base Clyde; community drop in’s which had been introduced for local residents and base employees to discuss any issues or concerns; the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers and the summer football which was held. Sarah Davies provided an overview of Helensburgh Community Council’s activities as well as providing information on the 2 major projects affecting Helensburgh, specifically the Waterfront development and the Taylor Wimpey golf course housing development. Sarah also advised that Fun First ran throughout the summer holidays which was very successful. Consideration was given to an update from David Haggerty, Community Development Officer, Argyll and Bute Council. The update included information on the recent Supporting Communities Fund cycle of awards with Community Development Officers supporting both successful and unsuccessful applicants. The update also provided information on the development of Groups supported by the team such as the Princess Louise Hall Committee, the Welcome In Recovery Café, the Kirkmichael Community Development Group and the Climate Action Plan – Working group. Gill Simpson from Helensburgh Community Hub advised that the #essential sector campaign would be launched in November; the volunteer recognition event held in June was a great success.. Gill highlighted that the Hub had now been open for 2 years and an open day is planned for 16 September to celebrate. Morevain Martin advised that Garelochhead Station Trust are currently in negotiations with Network Rail for the lease of the station building and hope to have the lease secured by the end of the year. Morevain also highlighted that they have been working with the UHI to explore how well the Station Trust are delivering services and that they were the only organisation in Argyll and Bute and 1 of 7 organisations in Scotland to be chosen to be part of The Ideas Fund. Angela Anderson advised that Plastic Free Helensburgh had secured money through the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund to get skips for beach cleans and for litter picking stations with 40-50 volunteers regularly attending. Fiona Baker, on behalf of Destination Helensburgh, highlighted that there had been a 30- 50% increase in footfall. Fiona also highlighted that the first cruise ship, the Silver Seas Endeavour, arrived in May with Destination Helensburgh organising excursions, the most popular being the walking tours to Rhu and Glenarn.
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Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands (Meeting Papers - LINK) The Group gave consideration to a presentation from the Scottish Ambulance Area Service Manager for the West Region. Mr Benton provided an overview of the increasing demand for the Scottish Ambulance Service and the different services provided and gave a breakdown of calls received in 2021 which were dealt with by 7,000 staff and 1,200 volunteers. Mr Benton outlined the new triage system in place for responding to calls, together with hospital turnaround times. He advised the next steps in ensuring investment in staff to improve wellbeing; enabling people to receive the highest quality of care; working alongside communities to improve population health; making shared decisions with people to support self-management and embracing data and technology to add value to the services already provided. Consideration was given to a report and a short presentation by Tarbert Arts and Leisure Centre (TALC) on their Creative Arts, Technology and Education Programme, which was founded in 2014. Anna Dawton and Nicole Heidtke provided an overview of the timeline of the programme and advised that TALC delivers workshops in areas of art, design, technology, media and interdisciplinary projects, which are not offered at school and they also deliver CPD training for teachers. It was noted that TALC is the only organisation who is not a top-ranked Art School who was invited to send young people to the Professional Development Programme of Scotland and Venice. Oban, Lorn and the Isles (Meeting Papers - LINK) The Group gave consideration to a report and general introduction to the Connecting Communities Collective, which is a new partnership involving Hope Kitchen, Atlantis Leisure, Lorn Health Options, ALIenergy and the Youth Café. Catriona Petit advised that the Collective secured funding from the Community-Led Local Development Fund and Investing in Communities Fund to develop health and wellbeing programmes and events for community members, especially those experiencing hardship associated with access to food, fuel poverty and mental health. Judith Hawcroft, on behalf of North Argyll Carers, highlighted that they are currently supporting 817 unpaid carers, 150 of which are young carers and that referrals were constant. Judith advised that the carer vacancy on Tiree had been filled, but that the post on Coll remains vacant. It was also noted that during the summer 22 young carers were taken to the Young Carers Festival, where they had the opportunity to relax and enjoy being children and shrug off their careering responsibilities. The Group considered a presentation by Maurice Wilkins of Keep Oban Beautiful which provided information on how the Group was started. Maurice also highlighted some of the projects the Group had been involved in such as the removal of invasive plants, tree planting and providing a seating area overlooking the burn and the Oban Spring Clean. Future plans for the Group include a waterfall walk on wasteland adjacent to Oban High School and McCaig’s Tower, planters and boxes within the town and campaigning for better protection of Oban’s green spaces.
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4.1 Further Actions It is requested that the Management Committee note the report and the successful meetings held in August 2023. 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