Printed minutes
Argyll and Bute Council · 19 October 2023
Back to Argyll Islands Sounding Board — 19 October 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE ARGYLL ISLANDS SOUNDING BOARD HELD BY MICROSOFT TEAMS ON THURSDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2023 Present: Councillor Liz McCabe (Chair) Councillor Robin Currie Councillor Kieron Green Councillor Amanda Hampsey Councillor Jim Lynch Councillor Dougie McFadzean Councillor Peter Wallace Attending: Fergus Murray, Head of Development and Economic Growth Audrey Martin, Projects and Regeneration Manager Aileen McNicol, Leadership Support & Members Services Manager Fiona McCallum, Committee Services Officer Julieann Small, Senior Committee Assistant 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. There were no apologies for absence received. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest intimated. 3. MINUTES The minute of the previous meeting of the Argyll Islands Sounding Board, held on 31 May 2023 was approved as a correct record. 4. NATIONAL ISLANDS PLAN REVIEW - DRAFT CONSULTATION The Argyll Islands Sounding Board members noted that the National Islands Plan was being reviewed as required by the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 through an online consultation, and following the decision of the Environment Development and Infrastructure Committee on 31 August a draft response had been prepared and was before members for consideration. The Projects and Regeneration Manager went through the consultation questions and members agreed to make the following amendments to responses: Question Amendment 2 Response to be changed to ‘Don’t know’ and to highlight that it is difficult to attribute positive impacts on the islands from this plan 4 No answer to be ticked and with it being highlighted that the content of the plan is too much. 5 No answer to be ticked with it being highlighted that it is
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difficult to provide realistic responses to the questions at question 5 as there is no way to quantify how much the plan has delivered on these strategic objectives. 6 ‘Just right’ to be unticked and response to highlight that there is too many strategic objectives. 9 Highlight the need for alignment of a meaningful budget to deliver the strategic objectives. 10 Respond by advising that a refresh of the plan rather than a new plan would be the best approach allowing changes to be made that would deliver a more focused plan with clear and measurable outcomes with a budget aligned to secure the delivery. The focus needs to be on delivery rather than on producing more plans. 11 Expand from Question 10 Decision Members of the Argyll Islands Sounding Board: 1. considered the draft response to the National Islands Plan Review on line consultation announced by the Scottish Government on 1 August 2023 with a closing date of 7 November 2023; 2. agreed a number of changes and additions to the draft response as highlighted above; and 3. noted that the Projects and Regeneration Manager would update the draft response and circulate to members for approval before submission. (Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, dated October 2023, submitted) 5. ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS Discussion took place in relation to items that members wished to have on the agenda for the next meeting. Decision It was agreed that members would like to invite a representative from SSEN to discuss the Scottish Islands whole system approach looking in to the electricity connections to the islands and that they would like to receive feedback from Island communities on the National Islands Plan. It was noted that if any members had any further suggestions for items that they could be submitted to the Chair or Committee Officer following the meeting.