Community Planning Partnership Management Committee Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 2 May 2023
Back to Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group — 2 May 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group 2 May 2023 Community Planning Partnership Management Committee Update This briefing relates to the meeting of the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Management Committee which was held on 23rd March 2023. The briefing is for noting and relevant discussion. Summary HIGHLIGHTS Matters Arising from Area Community Planning Groups An update was provided on the discussions which had taken place at all 4 Area Community Planning Groups during the February 2023 cycle of meetings. The meetings had been well attended with the terms of reference and membership of each Group agreed. Of particular interest was the re-appointment of Councillor John Armour as Vice Chair of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre & the Islands (MAKI) Area Community Planning Group, and Kevin Champion as Chair for Oban, Lorn and the Isles (OLI). It was also noted that Reeni Kennedy-Boyle was appointed as Vice Chair in Bute and Cowal. The Management Committee noted the concerns raised by the MAKI and OLI ACPGs regarding the introduction of car parking charges by Forestry and Land Scotland, specifically the lack of engagement on the proposals and the negative effect charges may have on tourism and visitor numbers. The Management Committee agreed that the Chair would prepare a response on behalf of the Management Committee which will be forwarded to Forestry and Land Scotland. The CPP Management Committee met on the 23rd March 2023 with the meeting being held virtually. This update provides an overview of the discussion which took place. Reports which were discussed at the meeting can be found by following this link - Agenda for Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership - Management Committee on Thursday, 23 March 2023, 10:00 am - Argyll and Bute Council (argyll-bute.gov.uk)
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CROSS CUTTING THEMES Climate Change Stan Philips provided a brief update report on the work of the Climate Change Working Group. It was noted that work continues to secure funding for a Climate Change Project Manager to take forward the development of a climate change action plan, with £90k of the required £120k secured. Pippa Milne added that the council had achieved bronze carbon literacy status, with 65% of elected members now trained by Argyll and the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust. Child Poverty Mandy Sheridan advised that the associated report contained a summary of the framework on the requirements to achieve implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. She highlighted the importance of needing to move away from the idea that this is just an issue for child-facing departments and organisations, and requires a whole council approach. Pippa Milne and Councillor Robin Currie noted that the papers contained complex information on work that sits alongside many other council duties i.e. island impacts, environment and social. Mandy responded that it is her plan to hold an event once the action plan had been firmed up, to communicate to stakeholders that the implementation journey would need to build new skills and approaches and best practice may take time to develop. It was noted that a review of the Child Poverty Action Plan would begin shortly and is the first to include a target year of monitored work. Fiona Davies was optimistic that having come close to meeting current targets, the plan would help to achieve a reduction in child poverty in Argyll and Bute, she also advised that £197,000 had been awarded from the Scottish Government for Island Support. Financial Inclusion Fergus Walker highlighted the range of different work around financial inclusion, including crisis grants, concessionary housing payment, flexible fuel and food fund and the Love Local cards. Community Wealth Building (CWB) Takki Sulaiman advised that work was being taken forward on a CWB audit, and following consultation the brief had been split into separate lots. The separate lots being: - how we look at land and assets to how we currently procure, - identification of relevant replicable case studies, - development of strategy and action, and - can business cases and models be developed for us?
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Takki confirmed that CLD funding had allowed a collection of groups in Oban to explore opportunities that take advantage of CWB as a methodology. Digital Communities Iain MacInnes reported on the significant work regarding the R100 programme in the Oban area and shared the maps of completed premises that now have access to full fibre across Argyll and Bute. The Digital Scotland website shows where fibre is available or when it is expected. Iain highlighted there may now be residents in areas that can access full fibre but are not aware. Regarding the resilience of the Carradale mobile masts, Iain advised that the network coverage by EE is very good whereas other networks have poor signal. Iain confirmed that each ESN mast has power outage resilience via wind, solar or generator power as they must be active at all times. Iain advised that a contract to provide IT equipment to the island hubs (Islay, Coll, Jura and Tiree) has been agreed and that the equipment would be installed in late April 2023. Funding has been applied to extend this work further into 2023/24. Alex Edmonstone advised that the CLD Partnership will reconvene next month and that the digital sub-group has been working with Takki Sulaiman on digital mapping to review existing activity and identify the support need to deliver essential skills to communities. Building Back Better Kirsty Moyes advised that the Community Development Team had provided support to non-digital and hard to reach groups to support participation in the Argyll and Bute Outcome Improvement Plan (ABOIP) consultation. Takki Sulaiman provided a link to the TSI volunteer survey findings and gave an overview of the key points: - 106 responses to the survey covering 40 organisations and individual volunteers, - qualitative and quantitative findings aligned to national research by SCVO on the cost of living crisis and its impact on volunteering, - many organisations are struggling to recruit to volunteering roles - further conversations needed by TSI on how to provide support to volunteers - volunteers and organisations are interested in incentive schemes (discount cards etc). - results suggest that the cost of living crisis has not directly impacted volunteer behaviour but it has directly impacted volunteer families, and - the response regarding having a single volunteer system to on-board volunteers was inconclusive. Takki advised that a successful, family friendly, volunteering event took place in Hermitage Academy, Helensburgh, where Community Councils and 60 groups got together and matched those organisations with a surplus of volunteers to those with shortages.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE OUTCOME IMPROVEMENT PLAN CONSULTATION RESULTS AND NEXT STEPS. Rona Gold presented information on the Argyll and Bute Outcome Improvement Plan survey, methodology and participation rates, highlighting that over 1,900 responses had been received, over 1,000 paper copies of the survey were issued, with 230 posters and 500 fliers placed across Argyll and Bute to advertise the survey. The survey was also promoted via ebulletins, the Chief Executives podcast, twitter and Facebook. The team monitored the incoming survey results and then targeted promotion to increase participation across geographical areas and protected characteristics. Kirsty Moyes presented highlights on the support by the Community Development Team to engage potential non-digital and hard to reach groups to participate in the survey. Paper surveys were widely distributed and interactive sessions were provided to support the completion of the forms, adapting to the audience with easy to read resources, different voting methods including QR codes and bucket voting. Central collection points and prepaid envelopes were also provided to ensure no costs were associated with the return of completed paper surveys. Over 40 community groups were supported to participate covering approximately 520 individuals and a video showcasing the engagement was played to the attendees. Lucy Dunbar presented the work undertaken to engage young people. Promotion included church groups, young carers, development trusts, youth cafes, schools, scouts and guides. A further 18 youth organisations were contacted directly and there was also work with the LiveArgyll Youth Work team and CLD Partnership. Feedback received after targeted promotion was that young people were not engaged by the online survey, so an adapted single page survey was created in a more youth friendly format and language. John McLuckie highlighted the overall top 3 priorities for Argyll and Bute are Transport Infrastructure, Housing and Community Wellbeing. A fourth priority theme of Financial Inclusion was also identified. It was noted that the survey would close on 31 March 2023. Rona advised the next step would be to analyse the survey results in more depth at a development day. Rona advised that John was currently preparing a key and handbook for the anonymised data, other steps include: - sending thanks to all participants with an outline of next steps, - holding CPP development day (May / June dependent on diaries), - deep dive with online / offline groups over summer / autumn, - definitions of housing, community wellbeing and transport are agreed, - identify what needs to be improved, - long term actions agreed, - re-consult with stakeholders to ensure our understanding of the priorities and the actions proposed to address these matches those of our communities, - draft report published (with consultation at this point required under legislation), and - plan published.
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For further information, please contact: Stuart McLean, Committee Manager, Argyll and Bute Council (01436) 657605 Stuart.mclean@argyll-bute.gov.uk