Public reports pack
Argyll and Bute Council · 8 November 2022
Back to Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group — 8 November 2022 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Kilmory, Lochgilphead, PA31 8RT Tel: 01546 602127 Fax: 01546 604435 DX 599700 LOCHGILPHEAD 1 November 2022 NOTICE OF MEETING A meeting of the HELENSBURGH AND LOMOND COMMUNITY PLANNING GROUP will be held ON A HYBRID BASIS BY MICROSOFT TEAMS AND IN THE MARRIAGE ROOM, HELENSBURGH AND LOMOND CIVIC CENTRE on TUESDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 2022 at 10:00 AM, which you are requested to attend. BUSINESS 1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 3. MINUTES (a) Meeting of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group held on Tuesday 23 August 2022 (Pages 3 - 18) 4. FUTURE MEETING ARRANGEMENTS - SURVEY REPORT (Pages 19 - 28) 5. PARTNER UPDATES (a) Scottish Fire and Rescue Update (Pages 29 - 34) (b) Police Scotland Update (Pages 35 - 38) (c) Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership - Public Health Update (Pages 39 - 42) (d) Helensburgh Community Council Update (Pages 43 - 44) (e) Fun First Update (Pages 45 - 46) (f) Jean's Bothy update (Pages 47 - 48) Public Document Pack
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(g) Destination Helensburgh Update (Pages 49 - 50) (h) Live Argyll - Community Learning Services Update (Pages 51 - 52) (i) Argyll and Bute TSI Update (Pages 53 - 54) (j) Opportunity for Verbal Updates 6. CEBR - THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CALMAC FERRIES Report presented by Robert Beauchamp, Centre for Economics and Business Research (Pages 55 - 128) 7. COMMUNITY FOCUS (a) Helensburgh and Lomond Foodbank (b) Helensburgh Community Hub (Pages 129 - 132) Update by Gill Simpson, Development Manager, Helensburgh Community Hub (c) Vision for Helensburgh Presentation by Norman McNally 8. CLIMATE CHANGE (a) Report by Chair of Climate Change Working Group (Pages 133 - 134) (b) Time for Change Argyll and Bute Update (Pages 135 - 136) (c) Plastic Free Helensburgh Update (Pages 137 - 140) 9. ALIENERGY UPDATE Presentation by Rachel McNicol, Deputy Manager, ALIenergy 10. COMMUNITY PLANNING PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UPDATE Report by Governance Manager (Pages 141 - 146) 11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Group will take place on Tuesday 14 February 2023 Helensburgh and Lomond Community Planning Group Contact: Julieann Small, Senior Committee Assistant - 01546 604043
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MINUTES of MEETING of HELENSBURGH AND LOMOND COMMUNITY PLANNING GROUP held BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on TUESDAY, 23 AUGUST 2022 Present: David Moore (Chair), Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Shona Barton, Committee Manager, Argyll and Bute Council Angela Anderson, Time for Change Argyll and Bute/Plastic Free Helensburgh Paula Darbyshire, Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface Sarah Davies, Fun First/Plastic Free Helensburgh/Helensburgh Community Council Rhona Grant, Live Argyll – Community Learning Service Thomas Guy-Conroy, Live Argyll – Community Learning Service John Lewis, Males Tales/Females Tales Morevain Martin, Garelochhead Station Trust George Freeman, Garelochhead Residents Association Susan MacRae, Skills Development Scotland Kirsty Moyes, Community Development Officer, Argyll and Bute Council PC Drew Omand, Ministry of Defence Police Alison Gildea, Grey Matters Active Ageing Jayne Burnett, Visiting Friends Councillor Gemma Penfold Councillor Fiona Howard Andrew Galloway, Local Democracy Reporter 1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting highlighting some new members of the Group including the newly elected Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament, and the three Elected Member representatives, Councillors Gemma Penfold, Fiona Howard and Mark Irvine who had been appointed as members of the Area Community Planning Group for the term of this Council following the recent Local Government Elections. The Chair then outlined the process for the meeting. Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of:- Jen Broadhurst, Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Sam Campbell, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) Allan Comrie, Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) Fiona Baker, Rhu and Shandon Community Council and Destination Helensburgh Duncan MacLachlan, Arrochar & Tarbet Community Development Trust, Friends of Loch Lomond & the Trossachs and Argyll & the Isles Coast & Countryside Trust Theresa Bain, University of Highlands and Islands (UHI) Gordon Boyle, Scottish Fire and Rescue Page 3 Agenda Item 3a
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Carol-Anne McDade, Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) Lucy Dunbar, Community Planning Team John McLuckie, Community Planning Team Chief Inspector Samantha Glasgow, Police Scotland Christopher Casey, Scottish Fire and Rescue Charlotte Wallace, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Colin Crichton, Live Argyll PC Laura Evans, Police Scotland Neil McFarlane, Transport Scotland Alasdair MacCuish, Helensburgh Gaelic Group Councillor Ian Shonny Paterson 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest intimated. 3. MINUTES (a) Meeting of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group held on Thursday 21 April 2022 The minutes of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group meeting held on 21 April 2022 were approved as a correct record. 4. PARTNER UPDATES (a) Scottish Fire and Rescue The Group gave consideration to a report highlighting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) FQ1 review of local performance across Helensburgh and Lomond for the period 2022-23. The report included information around incidents during this period, recent community safety activity and the local firefighter training plan. Decision The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group considered and noted the information provided. (Reference: Report by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, submitted) (b) Police Scotland Having noted that there was no one in attendance from Police Scotland, the group gave consideration to a written update which included information on the ongoing work of the Service; staff resourcing; a number Page 4
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of initiatives including Keep Safe – Ukranian Support and Doorstep Crime Guidance. Information in relation to road safety, youth engagement and suicide prevention was also provided. The report also outlined the details of this year’s annual Police survey. The Chair advised that any questions or comments for Police Scotland in relation to the update should be forwarded to the Committee Manager, who would feed these back and request an update at the next meeting. Decision The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group considered and noted the information provided. (Reference: Report by Police Scotland, submitted) (c) Argyll & Bute Citizens Advice Bureau Community Planning Update August 2022 Having noted that apologies had been received from Jen Broadhurst, the group gave consideration to a written update which highlighted the unprecedented rise in requests for advice and support from clients across all areas of Argyll and Bute and outlined that the impact of the cost of living crisis had pushed energy enquiries up by 89% between September and July compared to the same period last year. Information was also provided on the relocation of the office to the Helensburgh Community Hub; the recommencement of the Volunteer Adviser Training Programme and the upcoming AGM, which is scheduled to take place on 22 November 2022. The Chair advised that any questions or comments for the Citizens Advice Bureau in relation to the update should be forwarded to the Committee Manager, who would feed these back and request an update at the next meeting. Decision The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group considered and noted the information provided. (Reference: Report by Argyll and Bute Citizens Advice Bureau, submitted) (d) Public Health Having noted the apologies of the Health Improvement Principal, the group gave consideration to a written update which provided information in relation to the Money Counts Level 1 Training Course; Smoke Free Hospital Ground’s Legislation and Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Strategy Consultation. The Chair advised that any questions or comments in relation to the update should be forwarded to the Committee Manager, who would feed these back and request an update at the next meeting. Page 5
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Decision The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group considered and noted the information provided. (Reference: Report by Health Improvement Lead, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership, submitted) (e) Helensburgh Community Council Consideration was given to an update from Sarah Davies, Helensburgh Community Council, which paid tribute to the sad passing of two prominent members of the Community Council, John Tacchi and Roger Ferdinand. The update also provided details of an annual review on a number of areas, including Visions for Helensburgh; The Pier and Helensburgh Leisure Centre. It also highlighted areas considered an issue which included the maintenance of the infrastructure of the town; communication and engagement issues between the Community Council and Argyll and Bute Council and the need to look at ways of improving consultation processes. Sarah took the opportunity to seek assistance from Partners in the recruitment of new members for the Community Council in the upcoming Community Council Elections. Decision The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group considered and noted the information provided. (Reference: Report by Helensburgh Community Council, submitted) (f) UHI Argyll Having noted the apologies of Theresa Bain, the group gave consideration to a written update which included information on the commencement of the forthcoming academic year and outlined the courses that were available in the Helensburgh area. It was noted that applications were still being taken for the available courses. The Chair advised that any questions or comments in relation to the update should be forwarded to the Committee Manager, who would feed these back and request an update at the next meeting. Decision The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group considered and noted the information provided. (Reference: Report by Argyll UHI, submitted) Page 6
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(g) Argyll TSI The group gave consideration to an update by Paula Darbyshire of Argyll TSI which included information on the recent Volunteer of the Year Awards; the distribution of the Community Based Adult Learning Fund; the announcement expected from the Scottish Government on the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund; the new Joint Commissioning Strategy, as agreed by the Integration Joint Board, at its meeting on 30 March 2022 and the YPG Mentor and Volunteer Placement Programme. Decision The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group considered and noted the information provided. (Reference: Report by Argyll TSI, submitted) (h) Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) Having noted the absence of Alan Comrie, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), the Group considered an update which included details of their agreed capital programme for Argyll and Bute. The update also included information on supported bus services and other work streams, which included developments led by CMAL at Kilcreggan and Gourock/Cowal; rail service timetables and the recently launched consultation on the Regional Transport Strategy. It was noted that the consultation could be accessed at https://www.spt.co.uk/spt-across-the- region/what-we-are-doing/regional-transport-strategy/vision/ The Chair advised that any questions or comments for Strathclyde Partnership for Transport in relation to the update should be forwarded to the Committee Manager, who would feed these back and request an update at the next meeting. Decision The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group considered and noted the information provided. (Reference: Report by Senior Transport Planner, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, submitted) (i) Opportunity for Verbal Updates (Pages 17 - 44) Fun First Sarah Davies provided a short update on the ongoing work of the Fun First charity, which included information on their scheduled sessions and activities; the forthcoming fundraising activities and the charities success in being awarded a grant from Comic Relief. Sarah spoke of the need to recruit new trainers and leaders to the group and urged Partners to direct Page 7
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any young families who would benefit from meeting other families, to the group’s Facebook page. Having previously advised of their nomination for Military Charity of the Year at the Celebrating Forces Families Awards 2022, Sarah advised of their success in winning the award, which has helped raise the profile of Fun First both locally and nationally. On behalf of the group, the Chair congratulated Sarah and her team on their success and for continuing to deliver a valuable service across the Helensburgh and Lomond area. Garelochhead Station Trust Morevain Martin provided a short update on the ongoing work of Garelochhead Station Trust. She advised of the many activities that are planned in the near future including a special Hawaiian Brunch Club and regular monthly bus trips with planned visits to the Royal Yacht, Britannia and the Burrell Collection. Morevain advised of the upcoming office move to the Garelochhead Station Building, and advised Partners that she could be contacted by email (morevain@garelochheadstationtrust.co.uk) and telephone (07541 777559). Skills Development Scotland (SDS) Susan MacRae advised of the current workloads of the Skills Development Scotland team with Creative Advisors back in schools supporting senior phase pupils in making future plans and in working with Partners to ascertain the destinations of those just left. She advised of the deadlines involved in this workload and advised that she was hopeful that she would be bringing a report back to this meeting in February 2023 highlighting the outcomes. Susan provided an update on the refreshed partnership working between the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and SDS and confirmed that SDS were working in the Helensburgh Job Centre on an adhoc basis. Jean’s Bothy An update was provided by Katrina Sayer on the workstreams of Jean’s Bothy, which included the work of focus groups to look at the lockdown impact on mental health; the annual fundraising cycle around the island of Millport in support of ENABLE Scotland and the development of the play “Included” which is due to go on tour in October with the launch taking place in Greenock and then travelling around Argyll and Bute with scheduled performances in Helensburgh, Dunoon, Oban and Campbeltown. MOD Police Having noted that this was his first time in attendance at the meeting, Constable Andrew (Drew) Omand took the opportunity to introduce Page 8
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himself to the group and outlined his role within the community working with Police Scotland, Argyll and Bute Council and the Base Warrant Officer from HMNB Clyde. Drew advised his of his contact details which are as follows: Andrew (Drew) Omand Constable | Defence Community Police Officer (DCPO) Churchill Community Police Office, Churchill Square, Helensburgh, G84 9HL, UK Phone: 01436 678 046 Mobile: 07773 973088 Email: andrew.omand100@mod.gov.uk Plastic Free Helensburgh Angela Anderson spoke to the terms of the written update that had been circulated by email to the group prior to the meeting: This Saturday 27th August and Saturday 24th September HCC Beach Clean at the pier. On Saturday 17th September East Bay Clean as part of the Great British Beach Clean On Saturday 2nd October PFH is running a sustainability Event in the Parish Hall Colquhoun Square as part of the Climate Fringe Week We have continued holding monthly steering group meetings and are keen to recruit some new members to the core team. We continue to support HCC with their last Saturday in the Month Pier Beach clean and organise regular cleans at the East Bay. We undertook a large scale clean at Craigendoran Pier with Scottish Water, a visiting church group and a number of our regular enthusiast. There is still a high volume of Sewage related plastics and wipes on the beaches. We think these are coming from elsewhere but ask everyone to remember the three pees. Pee, Poo and Paper. Anything else puts a burden on the system. We continue to survey local take a ways on the single use plastic ban and distribute leaflets from the GRAB Trust. Together with HCC we re-surveyed the litter bins along the front and Colquhoun Square and sent the results and pictorial evidence to A&B. We subsequently meet with the amenities manager and expect some improvement in the capacity of public bins soon. We were invited by KSB (Keep Scotland Beautiful) to speak at a seminar in Dumbarton and gain at the Glasgow Science Centre. This has linked us up with groups from other LAs who are part of the Upstream Clyde Battle. We have attended various meeting etc with SAS (Surfers Against Sewage) and continue on the journey as an accredited plastic free town Page 9
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and are working in unison with Plastic Free Fife on a number of issues and consultations.We were invited by SEPA to walk the beaches and point out where debris collects and continue to pass on information. We had a follow up meeting with SEPA, Scottish Water and Marine Scotland again arranged by Jackie Ballie and have a good understanding of how the sewer system works here and up and down the Clyde. Work has been undertaken to remediate the problem areas we identified and there is a working agreement to continue to monitor the outflows etc. We gave a talk to Rhu Primary P1,2 and 3 and also to P4, 5, 6 & 7. Our social media is busy with requests for school uniforms. Time for Change, Argyll and Bute Angela Anderson spoke to the terms of the written update that had been circulated by email to the group prior to the meeting: As part of Climate Fringe Week Sunday 2nd October 2022 1600 – 1800 at Lochgilphead High School. A conversation on the use and care of Argyll’s Land and Sea Climate Action Hub Appointment of Marie Stonehouse Argyll & Bute Regional Network Engagement Coordinator Time for Change are encouraging participation in Community Councils and Elections We have a meeting with Jenni Minto MSP for the rest of Argyll. This is Stop Jackdaw week of action. Jackdaw is the largest gas field to be approved by the UK government since the IEA said we can't have any more new fossil fuel projects if we want to stay within safe climate limits. It would be on Stream until 2026 and will produce for some 40 years. Community Learning Service Rhona Grant provided an update in relation to Adult Learning and confirmed the recent recruitment of an Adult Learning Worker. She also introduced the Lead Youth Worker for Live Argyll, Thomas Guy-Conroy to the group. Thomas provided a short update on the work he has been undertaking in relation to tackling anti-social behaviour in youths, which included running a Friday night football session for 12 -16 year olds with input from the National Football Unit on hate crime and anti-social behaviour within communities. Thomas advised that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service had purchased the equipment needed to enable this Page 10
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session, and took the opportunity to thank them publically for their help and support. Thomas further advised of the Youth Action Group which was now up and running in the Helensburgh area. Visiting Friends Jayne Burnett provided a short verbal update on the ongoing work of the Visiting Friends group. She advised of the dip in volunteer numbers and outlined ways in which the group were focussing on retaining their current volunteers. Jayne spoke of a number of events including the joint event which took place in July with the Pavilion Café in Hermitage Park and the upcoming joint event with Garelochhead Station Trust to the Burrell Collection. Further information was provided in relation to the Visiting Friends Coffee morning in the Helensburgh Community Hub which was due to take place on Saturday 3 September and encouraged everyone to participate. Community Development, Argyll and Bute Council Kirsty Moyes provided a short update in relation to the Risk Management training that is due to take place on 24 and 25 August 2022 in partnership with Argyll TSI and Live Argyll. She thanked everyone who had taken the time to complete the training needs analysis questionnaire and advised that she would take away an action to consider the difficulties in recruiting and retaining volunteers. Community Council Elections Shona Barton provided a short update on the process of the Community Council elections. She advised that there were 56 Community Councils across Argyll and Bute and that nominations were now open. She advised that the closing date was 8 October 2022 and provided the following link to nomination packs:- https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/community-council-elections-20-october- 2022 Helensburgh Gaelic Club In the absence of Alasdair McCuish, the Committee Manager provided the following update:- The Helensburgh Gaelic Group will re-start on Tuesday 20 September at 2:00pm in Helensburgh Parish Church An additional evening session may be available is there is sufficient interest Christie Moore is calling a meeting in Helensburgh to develop a Gaelic Hub. Page 11
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The Chair, David Moore advised that the following updates had been circulated by email prior to the meeting:- Rhu and Shandon Community Council Rhu and Shandon Community Council (RSCC) has, as usual, spent the vast majority of its time reacting to various issues affecting the community. These include: The Empowering Educators ‘consultation’ which has proved a contentious issue throughout Argyll and Bute and the CC is grateful for the input from Rhu Primary School Parent Council. Investigating and recording road safety issues in the villages. Assessing and responding to several planning issues. Request to Argyll and Bute Council to tidy up some areas of the village which we are advised this is in hand. Request to Argyll and Bute Council to provide two defibrillator signs to alert the public to the presence of a defibrillator at Rhu Football Club. This is proving rather difficult to achieve and is ongoing. Forestry matters including the imminent commencement of in-forest road building for the new plantations at Letrault and Stuckenduff and the resumption of harvesting of Highlandman’s and Torr forests. RSCC have objected to the use of Pier and Station Roads for timber haulage since 2017 and continue dialogue with Scottish Woodlands and Scottish Forestry to secure the construction of a new forest road that would remove 44 ton timber lorries using the roads through the village which are steep and too narrow for vehicle pass-through, with blind summits, a 90° turn and no pavements in places. At Torr Farm approximately one hundred native woodland trees, in excess of the permitted felling allowance for native woodland, were felled early in 2021. Scottish Forestry first indicated enforcement action would be taken but have subsequently supported the landowner with developing a draft management plan for the felling of 685 trees or 26% of the woodland. The CC assessed the draft management plan, canvassed local opinion and submitted a response. A revised management plan will be circulated for consultation in due course. Rhu War Memorial The Royal British Legion Scotland Helensburgh and District Branch have undertaken a great deal of work in cleaning and tidying up Rhu War Memorial. They have been assisted by HMNB Clyde and new bedding plants in the Legion’s blue and gold colours were provided by Argyll and Bute Council. We are grateful to the Legion, the Navy and Mark the gardener from A&B C for their efforts. The memorial has been cleaned Page 12
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and the benches refurbished and a lot of gardening has been done. The Memorial won first place as the Best Kept War Memorial in the new entries section and is now in the running against all memorials in Scotland for RBLS’s best kept war memorial. Aldonaig Farm Aldonaig Farm continues to be a source of problems in Rhu. The landowner asked the current tenants to leave several months ago and the former tenant is now squatting on the land. 400 sheep were removed by the SSPCA after we contacted various authorities including DEFRA in July following high numbers of dead animals on the site. The issues are ongoing with more concerns of animal welfare, environmental pollution, quad and scramble bike noise and damage, and a great deal of local upset at the flag of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban flag) being flown at the site. The CC continue to engage with various authorities to try and resolve the situation. Destination Helensburgh Destination Helensburgh have undertaken various promotional activities over the summer and have noted a distinct increase in visitor numbers at the visitor information centre in Helensburgh. We are currently undertaking statistical analyses of the first year of operations which we hope will be useful in building a baseline picture of visitor demographics over a year. In 2022 we have hosted social media influencers Scotland with the Wee White Dug and Watch Me See. The social media reach for the influencers was 254k with 38.5k engagements. We also supported the BBC TV series Escape to the Country on their recent visit to the area, and worked with the Green Action Trust (John Muir Way) on a social media campaign promoting their new cycling route through Glen Fruin. Print advertising has been placed in two issues of The Scots magazine, Holiday West Highland, and the Sunday Mail. A digital billboard campaign showcasing outdoor adventure in H&L ran at Queen St rail station over 2 weeks, reaching footfall of approximately 861k. Four promotional videos (HELLO Winter, HELLO Adventure, HELLO Spring and HELLO Holidays) have been filmed, and these will be embedded on our website and promoted on social media at the appropriate times of the year. These will be a major promotional tool going forwards. We have also commissioned professional photography to build up our image bank of the area. We completed a contract for Argyll and Bute Council to provide the content for a new app Discover Helensburgh. The app features eight walking trails with information on marked points of interest and includes an eye spy game featuring little details around the town such as the stone cat on the Municipal Buildings. Discover Helensburgh can be downloaded free from the App Store and Google Play and we will shortly be supporting Page 13
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the Council with a launch campaign. We continue to promote and support local businesses and community organisations through advertising services and events on our website and online events calendar, social media and through flyers and posters at the visitor information centre. Arrochar and Tarbet Community Development Trust Most of our Directors time and focus has been on maintaining our Three Villages Community Hall in operation with events and activities to encourage local groups and visiting hires to return, to use our facility which has not seen a return to previous booking levels as zoom / MS Team meetings are now the new normal, rather than gathering for face to face meetings in Arrochar as had been very popular pre-pandemic. A double edged sword with a number of NHS bookings for Covid Vaccination Clinics and public meetings being held for planning consultations on SSEN Power line upgrades, Fish Farm developments, Forestry Harvesting Operations and private development at the Former Torpedo Range site. Community Council and Trust members have been involved in a Steering Group that is conducting a Community wide Survey that will inform an updated Community Action Plan or as it is currently called a Local Place Plan. There has been further consultation and involvement with Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park on improved Visitor Infrastructure and services on West Loch Lomond following intervention and temporary seasonal arrangements that have been necessary in the last two years, since the large scale emergence from lockdown and resulting Staycation experience. This prompted production of a strategic document for submission and consideration by Visit Scotland for Rural Tourism Infrastructure Funding to realise necessary improvements. Meantime the A&T Development Trust with collaborative partners the Friends of Loch Lomond & the Trossachs secured funding to continue to operate our Two Lochs Villages Visitor Services project. This funding has come from: Nature Scot’s Better Places Green Recovery Fund Round 3; Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park Authority; Argyll & Bute Council and a number of Lochside Businesses, who now sponsor Litter Bins in the A82 Lochside Laybys and a twice weekly uplift service. A pedestrian bridge restoration over the Tarbet Burn was funded for the local community by the Hannah Stirling Loch Lomond Fund and co- ordinated by the Trust and Friends of Loch Lomond in time for the Queen’s Jubilee celebration. As outlined to ACPG members previously we installed temporary toilets at both Car Parks at the Head of Loch Long, along with a 7 day per week Visitor Warden Service, operating around Arrochar and Succoth, and at the request of LL&T NP to visit the Tarbet Pier Car Park and Picnic Area Page 14
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which was experiencing high volumes of activity and littering, including its use as base for touring Motorhomes and Campervans. The wardens then assisted visitors to understand the National Park Authority's change of rules for the Tarbet Pier Car Parking area that no longer could accommodate motorhomes and campervans parking overnight. Dispersal arrangements were introduced to other locations around the Arrochar & Tarbet area, including Commercial sites, F&LS sites at Tarbet Isle, Ardgartan and Honeymoon Bridge which has been working quite well to date. This operation has contributed to a pilot proposal for overnight Aires parking in the area, which is now published for consultation and has been adopted in other parts of Scotland experiencing similar pressures. A copy of the pilot is attached to this Minute. The efforts of the Wardens, now up to full strength with 4 local village residents employed on a part-time rota, provide a community-wide service, looking after the temp toilets, litter picking around the 2 Lochs area, attending to overgrown bushes and shrubs, blocked drainage and minor repairs on local paths and pavements. They also provide information and advice to visitors unfamiliar with walks and outdoor activities in our area. We’ve continued again this season a small scale the cutting back of overgrown vegetation and self-seeded trees on the West Loch Lomond Cycleway, to open up viewing “Windows on the Loch” and surrounding hills for cyclists, walkers and vehicles travelling along the A82, to enable them to actually see the “Bonnie Banks”. We are currently working at a section south of Culag Farm towards the Luss Camping Ground – have a look the next time you are passing to see the difference it makes. Our Wardens have undertaken training and development on Loch Lomond and Camping By-laws to better assist the public. They regularly meet and discuss issues with A&B Council Car Park Wardens along with the Council’s Seasonal Staycation Officer for the area. They also work alongside LL&T NP environmental officers and Park Rangers to counter the never-ending amounts of litter and fly-tipping that they have to deal with. They also integrate with the Community Service Team who are also actively picking up litter around the Lochside areas, behind the scenes in undergrowth and along stretches of the shorelines. The combined efforts are making a difference beside roads, paths and open land areas used for picnics and camping, which then leaves the Lochs and marine litter which the GRAB Trust and local efforts try to clean the waterborne litter that arrives on our shoreline. The VS Wardens will continue to undertake the work as detailed above and target a few more community benefit activities, as visitor numbers tail off with the onset of Autumn and early Winter weather and the project draws to a close at the end of October. Apologies if I’ve missed anything else of common interest in this brief summary and wish all the other communities around Helensburgh & Page 15
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Lomond all the best in their ongoing projects and activities. On a positive note, amid all the fears and concerns for the coming winter, costs of energy and general living, the small Arrochar Community Hydro Scheme has donated significant funds to the communities in Arrochar and Luss from good levels of generation this year, for the benefit of residents and those living and working in the villages. Residents in Arrochar are looking to organise more daytime activities in a fully heated 3 Villages Hall that could help offset individual heating issues at home, during this difficult time. This being an unfortunate example of a circular economy. Tarbet Burn Bridge following restoration in 2022 5. COMMUNITY FOCUS (a) Males Tales and Females Tales - Mental Health and Wellbeing Database John Lewis of Males Tales/Females Tales gave a short guided tour of the Mental Health and Wellbeing website, which provides a guide to Mental Health organisations and support groups throughout the Helensburgh and Lomond area. John highlighted the “Crisis and urgent assistance required” section of the website, which provided details of different types of crisis’ with information and details on the appropriate action to take and advised how other organisations and support groups could apply to have their information included in the website. Page 16
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The website can be found at www.hlwellbeing.com Decision The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group considered and noted the information provided. (Reference: Guided Tour by John Lewis, Males Tales/Females Tales) 6. CLIMATE CHANGE (a) Report by Chair of Climate Change Working Group Consideration was given to a report which 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 development of governance arrangements and structures to support the Climate Change Project Officer post. Information was also provided on the funding options for the project. It was noted that should anyone wish to discuss anything relating to the update further, they should contact Angela Anderson of Time for Change and she would direct them to the appropriate Partner. Decision The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group considered and noted the information provided. (Reference: Report by Stan Phillips, Chair of the Climate Change Working Group, submitted) 7. COMMUNITY PLANNING PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UPDATE Consideration was given to a briefing note which provided information on matters discussed during a meeting of the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Management Committee, held on 22 June 2022. Decision The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group considered and noted the briefing note. (Reference: Report by Shona Barton, Committee Manager, Argyll and Bute Council, dated 23 August 2022, submitted) Page 17
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8. APPOINTMENT OF VICE CHAIR OF HELENSBURGH AND LOMOND COMMUNITY PLANNING GROUP The group gave consideration to a report which provided information in relation to the appointment of a Vice-Chair for the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group. The report outlined the expected time commitment and provided information on the role. Angela Anderson nominated Sarah Davies, this was seconded by the Chair, David Moore. Sarah confirmed that she would be happy to take up the post of Vice-Chair of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group. With there being no other nominations, this became the decision of the group. Decision The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group appointed Sarah Davies as Vice-Chair. (Reference: Report by Shona Barton, Committee Manager, Argyll and Bute Council, dated 23 August 2022, submitted) 9. REVIEW OF FUTURE MEETING ARRANGEMENTS The Committee Manager provided a verbal update on the review of future meeting arrangements. Discussion was had on the possibility of conducting a survey to ascertain the preference of the group as a whole as to meeting arrangements going forward. It was noted that the survey should include how meetings are to be conducted and preferred timings. Decision The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group:- 1. noted the information provided; and 2. requested that the Committee Manager conduct a survey of all Partners on future meeting arrangements and provide feedback at the next meeting of the Group. (Reference: Verbal Update by Shona Barton, Committee Manager, Argyll and Bute Council) 10. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The Chair thanked everyone in attendance at the meeting, and thanked all partners for their continued proactive work in the community. The Group noted that the next meeting of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group would take place on Tuesday, 8 November 2022 at 10am. Page 18
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Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group Tuesday 8th November 2022 Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group Meeting Survey Results This report relates to the results of a Meeting Survey carried out following agreement at the August meeting of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group (H&L ACPG). Summary At the H&L ACPG meeting held on 23 August 2022, it was agreed that a survey would be carried out in advance of the next meeting of the Group to gain feedback from partners on future meeting arrangements The results of this survey can be found at Appendix 1 of this report and feedback in relation to comments provided by partners can be found at Appendix 2. Recommendations The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group are asked: 1. to note the results of the survey; 2. to consider and discuss the ways in which the results of the survey could be used to best facilitate increased partner attendance at Group meetings going forward; 3. agree that a review of the arrangements is carried out in a year’s time. Key Points for Consideration The survey was issued on the 14th September 2022, with a deadline of 7th October 2022. The survey was sent to the entire Group membership, in total 33 people responded to the survey. Feedback in relation to the meetings is that a majority of respondents would like the option for either face to face or Hybrid meetings. Respondents were also happy to continue with daytime meetings with the majority in favour of morning meetings – there were no respondents who requested evening meetings. A majority of respondents have indicated that they would like to offer the opportunity to return to meetings taking place in other venues around the area – but with the option to have Hybrid arrangements in place. This would require any venue to have a reliable and robust broadband connection. In terms of respondents there were a variety of partners who responded as can be seen from the results. Page 19 Agenda Item 4
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Appendix 1 – PowerPoint Presentation setting out the results of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group Meeting Survey. Appendix 2 – Feedback in relation to the results of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group Meeting Survey and comments included therein. For further information please contact: Shona Barton, Governance Manager - 01436 657605 Page 20
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HELENSBURGH & LOMOND AREA COMMUNITY PLANNING GROUP Meeting Survey Results Page 21
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Q1. What would be your preferred method of attending meetings? Hybrid (10) Face to Face (9) No Preference (3) Virtually (11) Q2. What would be your preferred time for attending meetings? Morning (17) Afternoon (3) Evening (0) No Preference (13) Page 22
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Q3. Prior to the Pandemic, meetings were held at venues across the area. Do you think we should offer this option? Yes - on a face to face basis (6 Yes - but with the option to attend remotely (20) No (4) Page 23
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Q4. Tell us a bit about you, which type of organisation do you represent? Public Body/Organisation (15) Community Council (3) Voluntary Organisation (6) Community Group (4) Other (5) Page 24
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Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group – Meeting Survey Results Additional Comments Question Comment Feedback What would be your preferred method of attending meetings? reduces time away from office. One of the really useful things about the CPG pre-Covid was being able to multi- task and have useful side conversations before and after with other attendees - that's not possible with virtual meetings. I am happy to do a variety throughout the year. However it appears to me that the important thing is to maximise the number of groups in attendance. There are always a number of community groups, but community councils seem thin on the ground. These meetings would be a great place for Community Councils to make links and build relationships. This would I believe be of great interest to us all. The participation of Community Councils at the CPG meetings is being raised at the inaugural meetings which are currently taking place following the recent elections. Due to travel between all 4 ACPG virtual is my only option Virtually would be my favoured method - mainly due to time savings as regards travelling to/from Glasgow - but if it were felt that "in person" meetings were the most appropriate then I would have no issues. I think this option would promote the best opportunity for maximum attendance but Page 25
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Question Comment Feedback also provide an opportunity for face to face interaction demonstrating a commitment to our communities by making the effort to attend and reduce a feeling of isolation that some people may be experiencing I have caring responsibilities to having a hybrid option works well for me Hybrid may leave less flexibilty in venue Good wi-fi is becoming more common in venues and we would look to utilise venues where this was available. Depending on the size of the venue Although an in person meeting has become a thing of joy. What would be your preferred time for attending meetings? The length of the meeting is a bit of an issue for me - like many third sector managers I work part time so it's difficult to carve out such a long period of time even although it's only every few months. Again my preference would be for a time which ensures the greatest attendance. For many daytime meetings are difficult particularly those in full time employment, education or caring roles. I just find people more receptive and engaging during morning meetings before fatigue and meeting fatigue sets in. Not on Tuesday not available Not evenings Page 26
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Question Comment Feedback Morning or evening. Evening more accessible for community and daytime for partners. Late morning to allow travelling time. Prior to the Pandemic, meetings were held at venues across the area. Do you think we should offer this option? For reason as detailed in Q1 It is important with meetings to have a regular system to get into a routine. Hybrid may be technically difficult. It would be good to be in the room with other community groups Tell us a bit about you, which type of organisation do you represent? I am retired although I have a number of voluntary commitments with local groups, schools and charities. I do think that hybrid mtgs at varied times would maximise attendance and allow for sharing of a greater variety of views. I also feel that organisations give excellent updates and written reports on activities. It would be beneficial if elected councillors also reported to us on current activities and priorities. This would make the meetings much more of a two way dialogue between the community and A and B council. This is something which can be taken forward if the Elected Members were in agreement. Tourism Page 27
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Question Comment Feedback UHI Argyll- local Further and Higher Education College. Part of the University of the Highlands and Islands. TSI Page 28
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Helensburgh and Lomond CPG Briefing Report Q2 2022/23 Performance & Activity Report From: 1st July 2022 To: 30th September 2022 Page 29 Agenda Item 5a
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Introduction Welcome to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Community Board Performance Report. This performance report is designed to provide citizens, stakeholders and partners with information relating to Community Board based activity undertaken by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Whilst using historic statistical benchmarking data, consideration must be taken of the somewhat random nature of fire related incidents and events, and how this can pose difficulties in interpreting emerging patterns and trends. This is of specific relevance where Community Board level data is analysed due to the relatively small number of actual incidents/events that occur in Community Board areas. However, regardless of statistical anomalies, emerging patterns and trends in fire related incidents and events can assist the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Community Planning Partners plan and implement preventative intervention initiatives to target reducing fire related incidents and events. Local Firefighter Training Plan Below is a list of subjects the operational crews have been focusing on within this period. Each subject has been covered both practically and theoretically and recorded in the Fire Service Training recording system. Training Subjects July August September BA & CFBT Tac-Vent RTC & Extrication Casualty Care Knots Ladders & Pumps Water Awareness Building Construction Surface Spread of Fire Lithium-Ion Batteries Page 30
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Accidental Dwelling Fires (ADF) Ward 3 Year Average 2021/22 2022/23 Helensburgh & Lomond South 1.6 2 0 Helensburgh Central 2 2 3 Lomond North 0.3 1 0 Community Board Total 4 5 3 ADF Casualties Ward 3 Year Average 2021/22 2022/23 Helensburgh & Lomond South 0 0 0 Helensburgh Central 0 0 0 Lomond North 0 0 0 Community Board Total 0 0 0 Deliberate Secondary Fire Setting Ward 3 Year Average 2021/22 2022/23 Helensburgh & Lomond South 1.3 2 2 Helensburgh Central 3.6 8 0 Lomond North 3.6 1 5 Community Board Total 8.6 31 7 Page 31
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Fires in Non-Domestic Property Ward 3 Year Average 2021/22 2022/23 Helensburgh & Lomond South 0.3 0 0 Helensburgh Central 0.6 1 1 Lomond North 0.3 0 0 Community Board Total 1.3 1 1 Casualties from Non-Fire Emergencies Ward 3 Year Average 2021/22 2022/23 Helensburgh & Lomond South 1.6 2 1 Helensburgh Central 2 3 1 Lomond North 4.3 8 4 Community Board Total 8 13 6 Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals Ward 3 Year Average 2021/22 2022/23 Helensburgh & Lomond South 5 4 4 Helensburgh Central 16.6 15 25 Lomond North 11.3 14 6 Community Board Total 38 33 35 Page 32
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Incidents/Activities of Note Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals (UFAS) We are continually working with partners and targeting our top offenders which are Education including Infant/Primary/Secondary Schools, and Residential/Care Homes. A new UFAS Policy is currently being devised by SFRS with an aim at reducing UFAS Incidents further. Regrettably there is no timescale identified for completion of this Road & Water Safety campaigns We have also identified the need for further Road safety awareness, not only to residents, but also those visiting the area with partnership working alongside Police Scotland and Argyll & Bute Council. Our Community Advocates and operation crews have been assisting the PAWS group in delivering Water safety advice and training Community Engagement Activities • Post Domestic Incident Response (PDIR) • Fire, Water & Road Safety Talks –Presentations into schools with practical. demonstrations and interactive scenario floorboards. • Continue to deliver Fire Safety advice via telephone and provision of smoke detection where none is fitted. HFSV’s are carried out where there is a threat of fire from criminal activity. • Represented on the MARAC for those affected by domestic Violence. • Continue to support “Make the Call” Campaign and “On Call” recruitment drive for retained and volunteer stations. • Support and assist Police Scotland with Call blockers training and fitting of units. • Supporting PAWS group and engaging with the public, #RESPECTTHEWATER campaign. •Online training for partners with risk awareness within the training via MS Teams. • Engaging with communities for Summer TAP safety advice. Assisting with Ukrainian resettlement and information open days Enable Group, Helensburgh Community hub – Fire safety in the home presentation and discussion Helensburgh Stroke club, Victoria halls Helensburgh – Fire safety in the home/ new legislation presentation and discussion Eileen Kay Live Argyll, Helensburgh library – Meeting to set up engagement for Welcome in group Helensburgh Shearing vital Fire safety advice to Local campsites and caravaners Recruitment drive for Instructors YVS at Helensburgh Careers day at Hermitage Academy and Local Business Breakfast. Multi agency Crisis Management workshops Multi agency training day for local business at Loch Lomond Shores. Page 33
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Home Fire Safety As part of our commitment to building a safer Scotland we offer everyone in Scotland a free home fire safety visit. We'll help you sort out a fire escape plan and provide information about smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms. For a Free Home Fire Safety Visit, please: call 0800 0731 999 text "FIRE" to 80800 from your mobile phone. Twitter link: https://twitter.com/abewdhq Page 34
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL POLICE SCOTLAND AREA COMMUNITY PLANNING GROUP – HELENSBURGH AND LOMOND INSPECTOR ANDREW BARRON NOVEMBER 2022 We have a number of personnel changes throughout the coming weeks with an officer due to transfer to the Mounted Branch and an officer transferring on acting promotion to Dunoon. Another officer is acting up to Sergeant rank from within the office and an officer from Campbeltown due to transfer to Helensburgh at the end of November. Significant work is now underway with regard to the relaunch of the Police Scotland Youth Volunteer (PSYV) programme. This work is being led by our Youth Engagement Officer and is at the stage of recruiting youth volunteers and also crucially adult volunteers from within the local community who are vital to the operation of the scheme. Whilst the scheme is run and managed by the Police, many of the adult volunteers will be non police officers. Work is also ongoing to implement the ‘not at home’ part of the ‘Respect’ programme in the Argyll and Bute area part of which is a shift change in terms of how the police and partners deal with and risk assess missing young people from looked after accommodation. This has been operating successfully in many other local authority areas throughout Scotland and will be a positive step in delivering for children at risk and ensuring that partnership and policing resources are not overburdened where simply not required. The overarching intent of this is to reduce harm for our care experienced young people in Argyll and Bute. A major positive development within the area is the commencement of our newly established Community Policing Team which is a team of three officers who will develop local work in relation to community needs and problems as well as addressing the wider concerns around violence, drugs and anti-social behaviour. The team commenced work at the start of October and have already had a positive impact in the area. A bespoke training programme set up by an officer from Helensburgh in conjunction with the National Park Rangers has resulted in several of the local officers being trained to work alongside the park rangers on the boat in the Loch. Not so critical as winter months approach however looking forward to the spring, having many more officers trained will provide that resilient, joint working that is required to police the Loch effectively. A public facing campaign called ‘Don’t be that guy’ in relation to promoting the safety of women and girls through positively influencing male behaviour has begun and is being broadcast nationally. Local officers have a part to play in the reinforcement of this through their daily work. This links in to the wider policing strategy dedicated to disrupting violence against women and local officers will be involved in the ’16 days of action’ which starts at the end of November. Page 35 Agenda Item 5b
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM WORK Dementia Safeguarding Tag During the summer of 2021, the Herbert Protocol was launched in Argyll and Bute. This involved promotion of the Herbert Protocol for every person living with dementia whether they are living at home, or within another setting in the event they go missing in order that Police Scotland can use the information on the form to find them sooner and therefore, safer. This work has been well received and continued to be promoted with both statutory and third sector services as well as featuring regularly on social media and other platforms. Police Scotland are experiencing an increase in incidents pertaining to people living with dementia, who have been out in their community and have become distressed, confused or disorientated. Often this happens in cafes, retail outlets or on public transport. The normal response to this is that members of the public, normally those working in these premises, will engage with the person and try and lessen their distress. They will try and establish their name and an emergency contact. In most incidents, Police Scotland are contacted to assist as what we would class as a “concern for person” incident. Upon officers attendance, normally 2 officers in high visibility police uniform and a marked police car, they will try and establish their identity and of course, their wellbeing. Whilst officers will always be compassionate in their response, their very presence can often increase someone’s distress, mainly owing to the uniform and police car. The principal aim of the Dementia Safeguarding Tag is to provide everyone living with dementia, at least one Dementia Safeguarding Tag which can be attached to a handbag, mobile phone, walking aid, house keys, or item of clothing most worn. This would be for the person themselves or their family/support network to agree on based on the individual. The Dementia Safeguarding Tag looks like a keyring (around the size of a 2p coin) and contains what is known as Near Field Communication (NFC). NFC is the mechanism that enables chip and pin cards to work and can be operated by a mobile phone to use for payment means such as Apple Pay. Every modern mobile telephone has NFC technology within it, it simply needs to be enabled in the same way as Bluetooth or WIFI. This doesn’t require an app and does not cost any money. Each tag is individually programmed and when tapped against a mobile telephone populates a message relative to the wearer. Police Scotland have held a number of focus groups throughout Argyll and Bute involving people with lived experience of dementia. This has included those with their own diagnosis, those who have a family member living with dementia, or those providing support to people living with dementia. The focus groups have provided the design of the device itself as well as the wording to be contained when the device is tapped with a mobile phone. The focus groups have provided an overwhelming support of this project to be launched with 100% of those discussed saying this is a good idea and should be rolled out further. When tapped with a mobile phone, the tags will reveal the following: My name is [insert name] and I live in [insert town]. I am living with dementia. Page 36
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL If I require assistance, please contact [insert emergency contact name and telephone number]. This ensures no sensitive information is provided on the person that could make them more vulnerable. The town of residence is included in the event an emergency contact cannot be contacted. The way the tag works is that when this message comes up on the screen, you simply tap the number of the emergency contact and it will call them. To programme each device takes around 2 minutes and is extremely simple to carry out with a free app being downloaded to facilitate this. At the focus groups this was demonstrated and trialled by a number of members all succeeding in this quickly. We are aiming to launch the Dementia Safeguarding Tag at the end of November 2022 with support from Alzheimer Scotland which will include a video that can be shared on social media as well as posters and leaflets that partners can share for wider awareness. For more information please contact laura.evans@scotland.police.uk Page 37
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Argyll & Bute Community Planning Partnership Area Meetings Date: October 2022 Partner update – Public Health The paper provides an update on ongoing wellbeing and prevention activity overseen and delivered by the HSCP Public Health Team in Argyll and Bute, specifically around two areas of work: the Health and Wellbeing Annual Report and the Living Well Mid-strategy report. A summary of each is provided below and the full reports can be accessed from - https://www.ablivingwell.org/resources-publications. Public Health Team Annual Report for 2021-2022 The Public Health Team in Argyll and Bute includes health improvement, health intelligence/data analysis and the Alcohol and Drug Partnership support team. An annual work plan sets out the work of the team and this is reported at the end of each year. Throughout 2021 – 2022 there were ongoing demands on the team to support the pandemic response; however there was an active remobilisation of core work and recognition of the important contribution the team makes to pandemic recovery as well as addressing the social determinants of health and prevention. The full report provides detail on the range of activity delivered; highlights of this work include: Overseeing the commissioning of Community Link Workers in primary care Cool2Talk online support for young people Smoking cessation Smoke free education in primary and secondary schools Contribution to strategic priorities such as Suicide Prevention action plan, the Child Poverty plan and the Social Mitigation strategy Screening inequalities research Youth mental health first aid training Health behaviour change training Income maximisation and child poverty work Type 2 diabetes, physical activity and health weight work Covid-19 health surveillance, testing and vaccination activity Pathway for residential rehabilitation for people with drug problems Implementation of treatment pathways for people with drug problems Naloxone training for those at risk of drug overdose Living Well Mid-Strategy Report for 2019 – 2021 Page 39 Agenda Item 5c
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The Argyll and Bute Living Well strategy is Argyll and Bute’s five-year self- management strategy and was launched in September 2019. It makes a commitment to support people living with long-term conditions and those at risk of developing them. The strategy focuses on supporting people to manage their own health and supporting communities to build groups and networks which can link people together. The Living Well Strategy was developed following extensive engagement and consultation with communities in Argyll and Bute. This included multiple focus groups, online Facebook discussions and questionnaires for members of the public, 3rd sector organisations and Argyll and Bute HSCP staff. This engagement resulted in a Living Well Implementation Plan which was aligned to the HSCP strategic intentions under four themes: People – People living in Argyll and Bute have the tools and support they need to support them to Live Well Community – There are a wide range of local services to support people to Live Well Workforce - Staff are able and motivated to support the people they see to Live Well Leadership – Effective Leadership is in place to support the delivery of the Living Well strategy There are a wide range of actions included under each of the above themes and the full strategy, engagement report and implementation plan can be downloaded from here - https://www.ablivingwell.org/living-well-strategy. In September 2022, the Living Well mid-strategy report was published. The report demonstrates the wealth of work undertaken by Living Well partners, the Living Well Networks and via the Living Well grant fund during the first 2.5 year. The interim report reflects on the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and looks ahead to the future of Living Well, including the next steps for ensuring that people living in our communities are supported to Live Well. Some of the highlights from the report include: HSCP Primary Care Link worker models scoped and developed for Argyll and Bute, with the Community Link Working service now available in a range of GP practices across Argyll and Bute. Further information available here - https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/what-we-do/community-links/ Supported several self-management and pain events across Argyll and Bute Emotional wellbeing self-care tool developed and tested in partnership with ACUMEN, and subsequently funded for 1 year from the Living Well community capacity fund Health & Wellbeing Networks were rebranded as Living Well Networks and supported the Living Well Strategy by selecting a local priority from the Living Well Implementation Plan. There are 8 Living Well Networks supporting community capacity building in health and wellbeing across Argyll and Bute. Further information is available on page 4 of the Public Health Annual report - https://www.ablivingwell.org/s/Final-ABPH_Report2021-22.pdf or via https://www.ablivingwell.org/living-well-networks Page 40
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Living Well Community Capacity fund awarded £69,973 in 2019-2020 and £76,000 in 2020-2021 to projects and services which met the aims and outcomes of the Living Well strategy. Further details about these projects can be found in the report Increased access to physical activity, including virtual and new physical activity pathways between HSCP & 3rd sector developed Developed and managed the Emotional Support Service as part of a joint COVID-19 Caring for People response Three grants for mental health engagement activity awarded to inform local service development Virtual sessions held for healthy weight and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention and access to several digital apps increased Identified and promoted relevant training and development courses such as reflective practice and health behaviour change courses. Subsequently, five reflective practice sessions on person-centred care held across Argyll and Bute and a new model of NHS Education for Scotland Health Behaviour Change training was introduced. The full report can be accessed here - https://www.ablivingwell.org/resources- publications. REPORT AUTHOR AND CONTACT Author Names: Sam Campbell, (Interim Health Improvement Principal); Laura Stephenson and Jenny Dryden (Health Improvement Leads) Email nhsh.abhealthimprovement@nhs.scot Page 41
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Helensburgh Community Council Update The dust has settled on our community council election process and, unlike other less fortunate community councils in Argyll & Bute, we ended up with a full house of candidates to fill our 20 vacancies. Because we filled the exact total there was no need to go through an election process and it did ensure that those who had volunteered their services were not disappointed. We now sit with a finely balanced male and female membership from across the town. Our inaugural meeting will be held on Thursday 27 October at the Civic Centre Annex. There are a number of local issues affecting the town that can be continued now that the electoral process has been completed and it would be great to continue to receive community support as we start to reconcile these issues for the benefit of the town. The completion and operation of the new leisure centre is a major boost to sport and recreation for the town and the Lomond area. Once the demolition of the old swimming pool is complete, the area it encloses will be left unfinished with a surface layer of Type 1 rock aggregate, until a decision is made regarding the development of the site. There is a difference of opinion between the Council and the community as to whether the site should be used predominantly for retail development, or the community view that it should be retained as leisure, recreation and tourism space. We will be taking action to ensure our views are heard and taken account of and we would appreciate continued community engagement with this position as the situation develops. The community input to our surveys in past years and the culmination of these into the exhibition in March this year as the ‘Visions for Helensburgh’, underpins everything we do and we are committed to realizing community wishes for the town. The litter bin survey we recently conducted has yet to be actioned; the refurbishment and replanting of the Memorial Garden in Hermitage Park remains a work in progress; the saga of the Helensburgh to Dumbarton cycleway continues and there is the positive development of a future role for the town pier. These are just a sample of our concerns for the town. We shall continue our maintenance of the shrub beds in the square and of course our monthly beach cleans remain a feature, in conjunction with Plastic Free Helensburgh. We owe an enormous vote of thanks to our many volunteers who help out on both activities on a regular basis. We also hope to re-instate the ‘Show and Tell’ day which nosedived previously due to COVID. This will be an opportunity for all clubs and societies in the town to advertise their particular interests and encourage membership growth. Hopefully it will also provide information on outlets for the youth of the town to channel their energies. Page 43 Agenda Item 5d
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Fun First Update Fun First continues to run six Funtime and one fitness session weekly for parents and under fives. These are in Helensburgh, Rhu, Garelochead, Cardross and Rosneath. Details and booking take place on our Facebook sites Fun First and Fun First Babies. Or by contacting us on contactfunfirst@gmail.com We also run Baby massage sessions in blocks. We are currently training two new leaders and ensuring all our leaders are trained in Makaton. A recent and successful initiative are our monthly Fun First Friend Sessions for prospective parents, new parents and to welcome new families to the area. These are held at Drumfork Community Centre with a chance to socialise and gain useful information. Details on Facebook We recently advertised for new committee members and were fortunate to find three excellent new volunteers from the community More than forty families will be attending our Halloween Party with games, crafts, stories and dressing up. We have a Christmas Party planned for 15th Dec with a visit from Father Christmas. Parties are held in the Victoria Halls and once again can be booked via our Facebook pages Fundraising-We are lucky enough to have been selected by the Co op Community Fund for next year, if you shop at the Co op we would be really grateful if you could select us as your cause. We will have fund raising stalls at the Hermitage Academy Christmas Fair and Stepping Stones Nursery Christmas Fair. Please encourage local families with young children to join in our activities, they are run on a pay what you can basis and open to all in the area. We aim to offer support in many ways and this is going to be particularly important during the cost of living crisis and the hard winter ahead. We signpost to support in a variety of ways whenever we can. We are looking to support Helensburgh and Lomond Home Start befriending service and an early literacy programme being initiated by the Community Hub. Page 45 Agenda Item 5e
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Jean’s Bothy report to November H&L CPG Jean’s Bothy is a mental health & wellbeing hub based in Helensburgh. Anyone over age 16, living in Helensburgh & Lomond can join to be a member, accessing therapeutic activities, workshops and sessions to improve their own mental health and wellbeing. We have a monthly programme which includes a variety of regular sessions as well as one-off taster sessions. IncludED the stageplay – Over the last 3 years our members along with Glasgow based Mark MacNicol (Creative Change Collective) have worked on writing a stageplay. Starting with a blank sheet of paper and the question “Who was Jean of Jean’s Bothy” weekly workshops were delivered for members to share their ideas in a safe space. A full 45 page script was formed and funding was finally secured earlier this year to take it to the stage and on tour! We received funding from AB Council to develop the play and take it to Helensburgh, and funding from ABTSI Community Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund to tour with it. The tour started in Helensburgh, went to Greenock, around A&B and finished in Glasgow. Over 500 people attended the show. The play was directed by Libby McArthur and the 2 characters Jean & Sally were played by professional actors Rachel Ogilvy & Caroline Guthrie. Theatre audiences are struggling and although audience numbers were smaller in some of the venues than we would have liked the responses we had from those attending were really positive. The themes explored were inclusion, disability, mental health, equality and campaigning. There are future possibilities to take this to other areas in Scotland. Our members saw a positive impact on their own mental health being involved in the process too. The title of the play was taken from ENABLE Scotland’s “IncludED in the Main” campaign 22 steps on the journey to inclusion for every pupil who has a learning disability Art Exhibition in Helensburgh Library – Our Art Group have worked with Karlyn Marshall (Helensburgh Art Hub) for the last couple of years. A collection of their work over that time is currently being displayed upstairs in the Helensburgh Library. These pieces are also for sale. Open for anyone to go along and have a look during Library Opening Hours. Our members have grown in confidence and ability during their sessions. Co-op Local Cause for this year – Jean’s Bothy has been selected as one of the 3 local causes that the Co-op will fundraise for this year. Anyone using their co-op membership card when they shop will have the opportunity to select Jean’s Bothy as the one to support. There is a process to go through online to select the cause and then it’s just remembering to use your card when you’re shopping! We will use these funds to deliver nutrition and wellbeing courses to our members (we recently carried out a pilot stage with Gillian Paterson (Lomond Nutrition & Wellbeing) and also cooking sessions which will include budgeting and learning basic skills. Versus Arthritis will be delivering a Pain Management Workshop on Wednesday 9th November to members. A high percentage of our members have chronic pain and these sessions are not just for those with arthritis. We expect it to be a full course! Magic Torch Comics recently completed a 4 week Comic Workshop. Paul Bristow worked with 6 members to create comic strips related to their memories and connection with Hermitage Park, as well as taking some voice recordings too. We are working with Albatross Arts to offer members Arts & Wellbeing Craft Workshops, using different materials and methods to improve their skills and wellbeing through creativity. There will be a joint exhibition created at the end with a number of different organisations Page 47 Agenda Item 5f
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We have recently introduced a New Members Meet – last Wednesday of every month. This allows for any new members or those who haven’t been along for some time to meet others in the same position, to ask questions and visit Jean’s Bothy for the first time. We have a HNC Social Work student on a work placement with us for the next 6 - 8 weeks, working alongside some of our activities in group settings. This will allow her to achieve her SVQ level 3 and give her some experience in mental health support. Mindfulness Sessions with Wendy Alexander start in December. These will run every month alternating between a topic and then a follow up session. Member have requested mindfulness sessions for a while. Jean’s Bothy is looking forward to having Wendy with her wealth of knowledge and experience supporting our members. Membership Numbers – Our membership number has reached 291 since it opened in September 2018. Not all are current and active. We have 198 currently on our mailing list who receive a daily email. Helensburgh Lions Club recently donated funding for a Bike Shed which is now being built by members. We hope to have the lions club along in the next few weeks to officially “open the bike shed” A number of cycling initiatives and activities are planned over the next few months including: 2 members completed their Cycle Leader Training and we hope to offer another 5 places before April. Bike Marking Event took place on Wednesday 26th Oct. Local police came along to support members to register their bikes to prevent theft and increase security. Bike Maintenance will be delivered by Helensburgh Cycles. Beginners Cycling will be delivered to members in the new year. Our recent annual cycling fundraiser around Isle of Cumbrae raised £710 which will help support future activities at Jean’s Bothy as well as improving members confidence in cycling and their fitness levels. Our Photography Group meet weekly and are currently producing a Bothy Calendar 2023. These should be available to buy from Saturday 19th November. Page 48
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Helensburgh and Lomond Cultural Centre Ltd. Registered in Scotland No. 612010 VAT No. GB371467288 Registered Address: 23 Millig Street, Helensburgh, G84 9LD, Scotland. https://destinationhelensburgh.org Helensburgh and Lomond Community Planning Group. November 2022. Destination Helensburgh has collated and analysed the visitor numbers to the Visitor Information Centre in Sinclair Street for our first year of trading. We are seeing a steady increase in visitor numbers, and repeat customers, and this summer was certainly much busier than last year. Our gift shop Highlandman’s Road is proving to be popular with locals as well as visitors and is of course crucial for generating the income to fund our promotional activities. In the first year up to July 2022 we had 6.4k total visitors of which 22% were specifically seeking visitor information. 60% of our visitors who declared an origin described themselves as local, which is not surprising considering Covid and we think there has been an increase in visitors coming from further afield this summer. We also estimate the age groups of visitors and found that 40% are over 60 with over 30% aged 40-60 and 25% aged under 40. We hope as we go forward, and Covid recedes into the background, we will be able to utilise our demographic data to help target seasonal campaigns. We continue to promote Helensburgh and Lomond through various media channels including print advertising in The Scots Magazine and Holiday West Highland newspaper. Our four commissioned promotional videos (HELLO Winter, HELLO Adventure, HELLO Spring and HELLO Holidays) are now embedded on our website and will be promoted on social media at the appropriate times of the year. Our Gateway to Argyll visitor map should be ready for launch next Spring. Membership of the organisation is increasing as is our social media following and website visitors. Our Calendar of Events is the most visited page on the website. The Discover Helensburgh walking trails app has now launched and is receiving very positive feedback from visitors and local residents alike. Fiona Baker fiona@destinationhelensburhg.org 07710 400 748 24 October 2022 Page 49 Agenda Item 5g
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Community Learning Services LiveArgyll Update Adult Learning Helensburgh continue to provide support within the Priority themes laid out in the CLD Partnership Plan. Below laid out are some new projects underway for Adult Learners and in response to the recent Adult Learning and Partner consultation and request for Digital ICT support. Weekly Drop In Learning Hub in Partnership with other local Organisations. The Learning Hub drop in session be held every Wednesday from 2pm-3.30 in the Bethesda Church hall Colquhoun Square Helensburgh. Partners are DWP. SDS & Argyll & Bute Council Employability Team, Christians against Poverty will also be in attendance to provide information on benefits, training etc. as well as supporting the Learners with Employability related tasks. Learners have access to Laptops and Internet and can work on a variety of different including Employability and Life skills including Study and Education access to online learning and Employability Platforms. Numbers will vary weekly depending on the needs of the learners Digital Drop In support: at Drumfork Community Centre a digital drop in service will be provided on a monthly basis initially using LA laptops and learners own devices. The CL worker will attend for 2 hours and provide assistance. Learners will come primarily from the adult MOD community, although it will be open to anyone to attend. Learners will be directed to appropriate further learning. This may be through the new Get IT stared programme or Learn My Way, Global Community Foundation and iDea online training resources, with CL worker support. Digital Boost: (Closed Group) Learners are previous attendees of the Get IT Started programme as well as others who have been identified as requiring digital upskilling. This need has been identified through consultation with LiveArgyll library staff and the consultation that was carried out in early 2022. Weekly drop in service for all clients to access. We can take a maximum of 6 learners at any given time. Primarily using supported online learning via Learn my Way and Global Community Foundation. Learners will increase skills, employability and wellbeing. The project will commence in late September 2022. Initially the project will run for 3 months until December 2022, when it will be reviewed. Get I.T Started: Need identified through consultation with partners in local community. Digital skills requested from all partners in Helensburgh and Lomond area. Community Survey highlighted digital need for learners. CLD Plan highlighted gaps in this area also. It will run as 4 x 2 hour sessions covering basics of computers, internet and email. Using library PCs. Maximum 6 learners per course. Learners will come from pool of pre identified list from existing partners and from advertising. Learners will predominantly come from an older age group without computing skills, and younger learners lacking skills for life and job seeking. Jean’s Bothy Digital Drop in Fortnightly drop in service for all clients to access. Maximum of 6 learners at any given time. Primarily using supported online learning via Learn my Way and Global Page 51 Agenda Item 5h
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Community Foundation. Initially the project will run for 4 months until November 2022, when it will be reviewed. Online Safety SDS Post school leaver’s who have been identified through Skills Development Scotland. Need has been identified by SDS workers, through consultation with learners. Short 90/120 minute IT session covering online privacy/security/safety as well as core skills for job seeking, using Word and email - templates/uploads/attachments, online form filling skills. Possible progression to Prep for Employment. Ad hoc one off course to run throughout the year as need dictates. Welcome in Digital Drop in Learners are café friends of Welcome In, a local addictions Fortnightly drop in service for all clients to access. Maximum of 6 learners at any given time. Primarily using supported online learning via Learn my Way and Global Community Foundation. Youth Services Helensburgh: H&L Youth Action Group – Group working together on becoming a constituted group and are working toward creating a consultation in the near future. Newbies residential – 15 x S1 pupils attended a residential at Ardroy Outdoor Centre to work with other young people from across A&B that need support with the transition into S1 from P7. Hermitage Academy – School Provision has recently just started with five groups taken place for a full day on Wednesdays. We have a new pilot running out of the Academy called Escape2Learn. This group will consist of 6-8 young people who will take part in a Personal Development programme through Outdoor Education. The young people will be taking part in outdoor activities but also we are looking for partners to take deliver some sessions like water safety and first aid courses that the young people can take part in. Please contact Thomas if you are interested in participating. Thank you. MSYP – Chloe our MSYP recently took part in a sitting in Edinburgh which was a huge success. The next sitting will be online in the New Year. Page 52
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1 | P a g e Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface Partner Update – Helensburgh & Lomond Area Community Planning Group, 8th November 2022 The Scottish Government has confirmed that year 2 funding for the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund will be £282,303.16. Two consultation events were held in September to review local and national priorities for the fund, an online application tool has been built linked to A&B TSI database and the fund was formally opened locally on 17th October 2022. Full applications to the fund will not be considered without the submission of an Expression of Interest (EOI). The deadline for EOI’s is the 21st November 2022. The Cost-of-Living Crisis combined with rising energy costs has dominated the policy agenda locally and nationally and TSI’s have been thinking hard as a sector about how best to support our communities and third sector organisations. In August A&B TSI introduced a Cost of Living Crisis Information page - Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface (argylltsi.org) At September’s Community Planning Partnership (CPP), the TSI CEO presented a paper on moving the local Community Wealth Building agenda forward. The proposal which was accepted was to deliver a piece of research to baseline local best practice in terms of CWB related economic and social activity as well as identify key local opportunities arising from this new model. The TSI will seeking to tackle the cost-of-living crisis in a sustainable way through recycling locally generated profits, developing social enterprise and helping place the local economy on a sustainable footing. The new A&B TSI database now contains over 1400 services across the region and has powered the Argyll and Bute Community Directory which launched on 6th September 2022 (https://abcd.scot/). This is a very exciting development for the TSI and our members, as not only does it provide a referral route for third sector services (and some statutory services) but it provides a means to analyse the strengths and gaps in local provision as well as map this against data such as that on poverty, health inequality and demographics. As a next step TSI will be developing a self-service module so groups can keep their data up to date. TSI has secured funding for its successor programme to the Young Person’s Guarantee – Argyll and Bute Positive Destinations. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund have granted an award of £127k over 2.5 years for the delivery of pre-employment support services via the provision of a mentor and a volunteering placement. The funding enables support to be extended to other vulnerable groups not included in the predecessor programme with approximately 20 people per year benefitting from the service. Further applications are in the pipeline, and it is intended that 60 people per year will be supported. Page 53 Agenda Item 5i
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2 | P a g e The Argyll and Bute Volunteer Conference has been announced for 9th December 2022. TSI are looking to develop a pan-Argyll and Bute approach to identifying and sharing volunteers as well as to underline the distinction between paid and voluntary activity as the public sector prepares to further reduce expenditure given what is likely to follow from the upcoming UK Chancellor’s statement. The TSI is offering the Inveraray Hub as a space for community groups to meet instead of heating their own space and subject to further thought TSI is thinking of compiling a warm spaces list with opportunity for activities list, so it is not just a list of places to go without an activity i.e. to reduce stigmatising people. TSI CEO has accepted an invitation to Chair Argyll and Bute’s Corporate Parenting Board (CPB) which reports to the Community Planning Partnership Board. Key responsibilities of the CPB include ensuring effective collaboration between all agencies involved in supporting care experienced young people and care leavers and to challenge partners to improve. Page 54
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Centre for Economics and Business Research The socio-economic impact of CalMac ferry services: Phase 2 Report Page 55 Agenda Item 6
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Centre for Economics and Business Research Authorship and acknowledgements This report has been produced by Cebr, an independent economics and business research consultancy established in 1992, partnered with Connected Economics Ltd. The views expressed herein are those of the authors only and are based upon independent research by them. The report does not necessarily reflect the views of CalMac Ferries Ltd or the Ferries Community Board. Disclaimer Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the material in this document, neither Centre for Economics and Business Research Ltd, Connected Economics, nor the report’s authors will be liable for any loss or damages incurred through the use of the report. London, September 2022 Page 56
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Centre for Economics and Business Research Executive Summary Introduction This report was commissioned by CalMac and the Ferries Community Board to better understand the needs of ferry users, island communities, and the economic and social value of Hebridean and Clyde ferry services. The ultimate purposes of the research are to: • Identify island needs as part of an ongoing strategic conversation; • Help better reflect the value of service improvements to island communities; • Inform the ongoing debate about value for money from ferry expenditure; and • Provide information to help prioritise investment or plan services to deliver improved island outcomes. The project is divided into two Phases as follows: • Phase 1: Qualitative exploration of how ferry service characteristics are linked to island outcomes, based on a programme of virtual interviews with Community Board members, businesses, public service providers and residents across the network. The Phase 1 report can be found here. • Phase 2: Quantitative analysis of the impacts of CalMac as a company (employment, GVA, turnover, and employee compensation supported directly and through the supply chain) and of impacts of service levels on island communities (ferry users’ welfare, economic activity, employment, population), based on Phase 1 findings, desk research, analysis, fieldwork, and socio-economic modelling. This report is the outcome of Phase 2. Hebridean and Clyde ferry services operate in a very distinct context and are not a typical economic activity. Island life is reliant on ferry services, for: • Residents who need to access mainland services, employment, social and leisure opportunities. • Businesses and public services which move goods to and fro, generate business travel, and need access to visitors and staff. • Tourists who want to visit these distinctive locations, and who in doing so support island economies. In recent years, capacity and reliability challenges have become evident on parts of the network. These reflect the enormous and growing popularity of the islands as tourist destinations, residents’ changing needs for access to travel (for example as an ageing population needs to reach mainland health services), and increases in demand brought about by lower prices under RET – a popular policy, but one which has created pressure for capacity growth. Moreover, CalMac’s existing fleet is ageing, with associated growth in maintenance requirements. Page 57
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Centre for Economics and Business Research Scenarios The headline impacts estimated in this report are based on a comparison of two future scenarios for CalMac’s operations in 2032: • In the Optimistic scenario, an ambitious Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan enables the growth and modernisation of the fleet and retirement of the oldest vessels, delivering capacity and reliability enhancements across the network. • In the Pessimistic scenario, only commitments already delivered or underway come to fruition: Hull 801 and Hull 802 enter service on the Ardrossan-Brodick and Uig Triangle routes respectively, and MV Loch Frisa joins the Oban-Craignure route. Meanwhile the fleet as a whole continues to age, reducing reliability in most of the network. Full specifications are detailed in the main report. CalMac’s economic footprint Direct, indirect, and induced impacts for CalMac’s operations between FY 2016-17 and FY 2020-21 were estimated. In the key analysis year of FY 2019-20, CalMac directly: • Generated £227.2 million in turnover, with an aggregate footprint of £350.6 million; a multiplier of 1.54. • Generated £95.8 million in Gross Value Added (GVA), with an aggregate impact of £162.9 million; a multiplier of 1.70. • Supported 1,513 FTE jobs, with a total of 2,527 across the economy; a multiplier of 1.67. • Supported £92.9 million in employee compensation, with a total of £127.5 million across the economy; a multiplier of 1.37. CalMac also supported significant business turnover and GVA across its network through provision of ferry services to business users. Table 1 summarises direct, indirect, and induced impacts under the future scenarios. Table 1. Aggregate national economic impacts, £m and FTE jobs, 2032 Metric 2032 Scenario Direct Impact Indirect Impact Induced Impact Aggregate Impact Turnover (£m) Optimistic £246.1 £65.0 £68.8 £379.9 Pessimistic £232.0 £61.3 £64.8 £358.0 GVA (£m) Optimistic £114.7 £34.2 £46.2 £195.1 Pessimistic £107.4 £32.0 £43.2 £182.6 FTE employment (jobs) Optimistic 1,819 556 664 3,039 Pessimistic 1,693 518 617 2,828 Employee Compensation (£m) Optimistic £112.7 £22.8 £19.2 £154.7 Pessimistic £104.8 £21.2 £17.9 £143.9 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis Page 58
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Centre for Economics and Business Research Socio-economic impacts Our socio-economic modelling of the two future scenarios estimated the following benefits associated with realisation of the Optimistic rather than Pessimistic scenario in 2032: • Annual passenger journeys 6.1% higher, at 6.1 million rather than 5.7 million. • Generalised cost savings to travellers of £67.7 million annually (15-year present value of £571.9 million1). These benefits mainly represent value of time savings from improved capacity, reliability, and frequency. o The biggest relative increases by journey purpose are for business and tourist travellers. o The biggest growth in absolute demand is for Ardrossan-Brodick, with almost 100,000 additional passenger journeys made. o Big reliability improvements also deliver large growth in passenger numbers for the Islay routes and routes out of Mallaig to Skye and the Small Isles. • The 172,000 additional tourist journeys are estimated to result in £13.8 million of additional tourism spending per year, resulting in over 200 more tourism jobs with associated earnings of £4.3 million. • Growth in freight journeys would support an additional 10 million bottles of whisky production (roughly half the current output of Islay’s largest distillery), associated with 46 jobs and £1.6 million of earnings. • Agglomeration benefits of £1.5 million per year and competition benefits of £1.2 million per year, directly increasing GVA. • 429 jobs (including the tourism/whisky jobs estimated separately), with an earnings impact of £11.9 million. • In 15-year present value terms, the combined value of generalised cost savings, agglomeration benefits, competition benefits, and earnings impacts is £695.0 million. • Over 1,000 additional island residents attracted by improved connectivity and quality of life – around 2% of the islands’ current population. 1 This present value figure and the £695.0 million figure including other benefits are for 2032-2046, so implicitly assume realisation of full benefits throughout this period. Caveats around these figures are explained more fully in the main report. Page 59
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Centre for Economics and Business Research Table of contents 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 The context and purpose of this study ............................................................................... 1 Anatomy of economic impacts ........................................................................................... 1 Study geography ............................................................................................................... 2 Future scenarios ................................................................................................................ 2 Report structure ................................................................................................................. 2 2. CalMac’s operations ...................................................................................................... 4 The route network ............................................................................................................. 4 Fleet and infrastructure ...................................................................................................... 4 Key activities ..................................................................................................................... 5 Levels of service provided ................................................................................................. 5 3. Current economic footprint of CalMac ............................................................................ 8 Direct economic impacts ................................................................................................... 9 National impacts ............................................................................................................................. 9 Regional impacts ........................................................................................................................... 13 Aggregate economic footprint of CalMac ......................................................................... 15 National impacts ........................................................................................................................... 15 Regional Impacts ........................................................................................................................... 19 - Lewis and Harris .................................................................................................................... 20 - Skye and Raasay .................................................................................................................... 20 - Bute ....................................................................................................................................... 20 - Mull and Iona ........................................................................................................................ 21 - Arran ..................................................................................................................................... 21 - Islay ....................................................................................................................................... 21 Downstream impacts ....................................................................................................... 22 The Northern Regions ................................................................................................................... 23 The Southern Regions ................................................................................................................... 23 4. Economic footprint under alternative scenarios ............................................................ 24 Methodology .................................................................................................................... 24 National impacts .............................................................................................................. 25 Regional impacts ............................................................................................................. 26 5. Connectivity: enabling island activities ......................................................................... 29 The role of Hebridean and Clyde ferry services ............................................................... 29 Model structure ................................................................................................................ 32 Headline results ............................................................................................................... 32 Page 60
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Centre for Economics and Business Research Breakdowns of core results........................................................................................................... 34 6. Supporting prosperity ................................................................................................... 37 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 37 Impacts on key island industries ...................................................................................... 37 Supporting island tourism ............................................................................................................. 38 Growing the island whisky industry .............................................................................................. 40 Further economic impacts ............................................................................................... 42 Agglomeration .............................................................................................................................. 42 Competition .................................................................................................................................. 43 Employment .................................................................................................................................. 46 Attraction of key workers .......................................................................................... 47 Addressing population decline ......................................................................................... 47 A confident and secure island future ................................................................................ 50 Appendix: Sensitivity testing ................................................................................................ 51 Increased reliability benefits/disbenefits ........................................................................... 51 No exogenous demand growth ........................................................................................ 52 New Islay vessels in Pessimistic scenario ....................................................................... 53 Appendix: Islanders’ feedback ............................................................................................ 55 Appendix: List of consultees................................................................................................ 57 Appendix: Island GVA by broad sector ................................................................................ 60 Appendix: Full results tables ............................................................................................... 62 Bespoke Regional Multipliers .......................................................................................... 62 Type I Multipliers .......................................................................................................................... 62 Type II Multipliers ......................................................................................................................... 63 Regional Aggregate Economic Impacts ........................................................................... 64 Gross Value Added (GVA) ............................................................................................................. 64 Employment .................................................................................................................................. 65 Employee Compensation .............................................................................................................. 66 Page 61
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1 Centre for Economics and Business Research 1. Introduction The context and purpose of this study The Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) and Connected Economics were commissioned by CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) and the Ferries Community Board to produce a study into the socio-economic impacts of the Hebridean and Clyde ferry services they provide across the west coast of Scotland. The focus of this study is: • An assessment of economic activity and employment directly generated by CalMac, and indirectly through its supply chain activities; and • An assessment of how the connectivity provided by CalMac supports islands’ prosperity, and how different levels of service could affect island development. The provision of ferries to island and remote mainland communities is not a ‘typical’ economic activity. It fundamentally enables island life and enables island businesses to operate. These impacts can be difficult to quantify but are undoubtedly important and include the policy benefits of sustainable island communities, social and cultural benefits of greater choice over where to live, and greater access to leisure, culture, and services. Our analysis considers both the wider economic value of improvements to services, and the wider economic costs of service limitations such as limitations in capacity or imperfect reliability. A Phase 1 study produced in late 2021 and published in early 2022 provided detailed qualitative insights, based on the project team’s desk research and online or telephone conversations with stakeholders across the network (mainly community representatives but also some businesses and public service providers). The Phase 1 report therefore details the impacts of the ferry services in a qualitative way and describes the island and remote mainland communities which depend on them. This report represents the output of the Phase 2 work, building on the Phase 1 report by quantifying socio-economic impacts for CFL services today, and for alternative future scenarios using input-output and socio-economic modelling. These draw on: • Further meetings, mainly with businesses, conducted either virtually or during two fieldwork trips in March and April 2022. • Passenger survey responses collected during fieldwork. • Financial and operational data provided by CFL. • Secondary desk research. Anatomy of economic impacts The aim of this study is to produce the most comprehensive and wide-ranging assessment possible of the economic impacts of Hebridean and Clyde ferry services provided by CFL. These can be categorised into: • Supporting impacts (further divided into direct, indirect, and induced) • Enabling impacts • Wider spillover impacts Figure 1 summarises these components, which reflect a progression from immediate impacts over which there is a high degree of certainty to broader impacts, which are less direct and sometimes harder to quantify – nevertheless it is these latter impacts which are most important in CFL’s lifeline role. Page 62
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2 Centre for Economics and Business Research Study geography The geographical area of interest for our study is the island and remote mainland locations served by CalMac. These can broadly be categorised as follows (key inhabited islands listed): • Outer Hebrides: Lewis and Harris, Uist (six islands, some linked by causeways, including North Uist, Benbecula, and South Uist), and Barra • Inner Hebrides: Skye, the Small Isles (Eigg, Muck, Rum, and Canna), Coll, Tiree, Mull, Iona, Lismore, Colonsay, Islay and Jura, Gigha • Clyde and South: Arran, Bute, Cumbrae, plus mainland locations in Kintyre and the Cowal and Rosneath peninsulas Future scenarios Our analysis estimates the impacts of CalMac today and for future scenarios which reflect different profiles for service provision, operations, reliability, and capacity. These are described in a separate section after the next chapter. Report structure This document reports our quantitative findings on the impacts of Hebridean and Clyde ferry services provided by CFL. It is structured as follows: • CalMac’s operations A brief overview of CalMac’s geographic scope, inputs, and outputs • Future scenarios Setting out the CalMac operational scenarios for which socio-economic impacts will be estimated Figure 1: Representation of CFL's total economic footprint Page 63
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3 Centre for Economics and Business Research • Current economic footprint of CalMac Direct, indirect, induced, and downstream impacts of CalMac today • Economic footprint under alternative scenarios Exploring impacts of different future ferry service patterns on economic footprint • Connectivity: enabling island activities Core outputs of the socio-economic modelling by scenario • Supporting prosperity Exploring further socio-economic impacts and drawing the research together • Appendices o Islanders’ feedback o List of consultees o Full results tables The Phase 1 report, which provides a detailed qualitative view, can be found here. Page 64
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4 Centre for Economics and Business Research 2. CalMac’s operations In this chapter we set out the basic structure of CalMac’s activities. We first briefly describe the places and routes served, before setting out the vessels, ports and other inputs and activities that are used to deliver these services. Finally, we sketch out the outputs that CalMac deliver with the current level of resources, including some basic information describing service frequencies, crossing times, capacity provided and reliability characteristics. This sets the stage for analysis in subsequent chapters where we explore the economic impacts of these operations and of the connectivity provided and explore how this could change under different future service development scenarios. The route network CalMac services are predominantly RORO ferries, able to carry foot passengers and a mix of all traffic including large commercial vehicles, though there are some exceptions and limitations. Services out of Gourock into Dunoon and Kilcreggan are passenger only, whilst for the Small Isles and Kerrera carriage of vehicles is available only for residents and essential services. As well as general vehicle services, the Ullapool-Stornoway route includes dedicated freight-only services. Oban serves as a major mainland hub, with services from there to Barra, South Uist (winter only), Lismore, Coll and Tiree, Mull, and Islay via Colonsay (continuing to Kennacraig on the mainland). Mallaig acts as a further hub, with services to Skye, the Small Isles, and South Uist. Other islands are generally connected to the mainland by one ferry connection, though in some cases multiple routes are available – for instance both Port Askaig and Port Ellen on Islay have services into Kennacraig, Mull has services to the Ardnamurchan peninsula as well as into Oban, and Arran has a seasonal service to Kintyre. There are also some island-to-island connections, for instance between Coll and Tiree, and between Uist and neighbouring Harris and Barra. For some smaller locations like Iona or Raasay, access to the mainland is via a larger neighbour only2. Finally, some routes connect one part of the mainland to another, including Kintyre and Cowal (Tarbert-Portavadie), and the seasonal service connecting Campbelltown to Ardrossan via Arran. Whilst CalMac is the dominant operator in the Hebrides and Clyde, there are also private and local authority-provided services. Like CalMac, Western Ferries runs a Gourock-Dunoon service – it offers poorer interchange with public transport but does carry vehicles. Council- operated services provide further connections, for instance between Islay and its neighbour Jura. Fleet and infrastructure CalMac currently operate a fleet of 34 vessels, ranging from the smallest – MV Carvoria, a 12 metre, 11 gross tonne landing craft which serves Kerrera, to the largest – MV Loch Seaforth, a 118 metre, 8,680 gross tonne RORO ferry with 376 lane metres of car deck space plus two hoistable mezzanine decks, serving the Ullapool-Stornoway route. Some vessels in the CalMac fleet are interoperable and the fleet is redeployed to provide a different service level 2 In the case of Raasay, only one ferry journey is required as Skye is connected to the mainland by a bridge as well as by the Mallaig-Armadale ferry service. Page 65
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5 Centre for Economics and Business Research during the quieter winter season when vessels go through their annual maintenance period. Vessels are also redeployed when relief cover is need – for example if there is a breakdown. Figure 2: Age profile of the CalMac fleet The average age of the fleet is now 24 years, with the oldest vessel in service (the MV Isle of Cumbrae) now 46 years old. The majority of vessels are now more than 20 years old, with implications for reliability and maintenance spend. Two large new ferries are due to be completed shortly to serve Arran and the Uig Triangle, allowing a vessel cascade which will benefit other routes. Further plans will see other new vessels added to the fleet over the coming years. These plans contribute to the scenarios that we have developed for future services described below. CalMac manage 19 harbours across their network and operate from 35 other ports which are managed by others. Key activities Roughly 1,200 of CalMac’s 1,900 staff serve on board vessels, with crews numbering as little as 2 on the smallest vessels and 30 or more on the largest. On major vessels, crew tend to follow weeks-on and weeks-off shift patterns and sleep on board. Other frontline staff manage arrivals and departures at ports. Over 70% of CalMac’s staff live in the island and coastal communities located around their network, and competitive pay and conditions make them a desirable employer, with staff often serving long tenures at the company. CalMac’s Gourock headquarters employs over 300 staff including management functions and customer call centre. Levels of service provided With the vessels, port infrastructure, staff and other resources available to them CalMac had scheduled 147,000 sailings in 2021. Different routes operate quite different frequencies with shorter routes tending to have much more frequent sailings. For instance, on the current summer 2022 timetable: • Sailings between Largs and Cumbrae Slip (a 10-minute journey) depart as often as every 15 minutes on peak days, and every 30 minutes on off-peak days. • 4 or 5 sailings per day in each direction are scheduled between Kennacraig and Port Askaig or Port Ellen on Islay (journey times are between 115 and 140 minutes). • On the 285-minute journey between Oban and Castlebay on Barra, there is just one sailing per day in each direction (with a second via Coll and Tiree on Wednesdays). Page 66
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6 Centre for Economics and Business Research Destinations with smaller populations also tend to see less frequent services. The Small Isles, for example, together get a daily service but each of the individual islands sees a complex timetable with opportunities to travel to or from the mainland around four days per week on average, and with connections between different island pairs on different days. Overall, around 96% of services operate as planned. Shorter crossings are usually more reliable as they tend to be more sheltered with less complex operational considerations. Reliability is generally lower on services with longer journey times – particularly as these crossings are often exposed to heavy Atlantic swells and strong winds. Disrupted sailings on longer and more remote routes are likely to have a larger impact on travellers because there are fewer service alternatives; for instance, whilst a journey within the mainland (or between the mainland and Skye) can be replaced by a longer car journey, travellers needing to get to the mainland from remote islands may have to wait a day or more for another sailing, or fly at considerable expense. Figure 3 shows how journey times, reliability, and frequency interact. Figure 3: Properties of sailings split by journey time group, 2021 Fares are set by Transport Scotland. For most passengers these are based on the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) which had been rolled out across the network by 2018. Reduced fares following RET have boosted demand on most routes – a Transport Scotland study estimated that in 2018 RET had increased total passenger carryings by 11.6% and car carryings by 20.6%3. Freight and coach fares are set separately. On parts of the network, capacity pressures are evident and securing a booking can at times be difficult. This reflects the popularity of island locations for holidaymakers, freight demands to serve households and businesses, increased demand under RET, and delays in the arrival of new capacity. Whilst booking as a foot passenger is almost always possible, many travellers do need to bring a vehicle – either because they are transporting freight or equipment, or because public transport options are sparse – so vehicle deck capacity is the constraint. For island residents, this can mean an inability to plan at short notice for social, leisure, work, or medical travel, especially in the busy summer months. 3 Evaluation of Road Equivalent Tariff on the Clyde and Hebridean Network, Transport Scotland, March 2021. Chapter 3, How did this change travel behaviour?. Link. Page 67
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7 Centre for Economics and Business Research Future scenarios Two scenarios for CalMac operations in 2032 are considered in our modelling. The first reflects the results of an ambitious investment programme, and the second reflects the meeting of existing commitments only, with much of the fleet continuing to age. In both scenarios, common assumptions on underlying or exogenous demand growth relative to today’s baseline are made. These scenarios drive different levels of turnover and employment in the economic impact analysis, and different levels of user benefits and wider benefits in the socio-economic analysis. Optimistic scenario In this scenario, an ambitious Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan enables significant growth of the fleet through new vessel construction, with retirement of some of the oldest major and minor vessels. • Hull 801 (Glen Sannox) and Hull 802 enter service on the Ardrossan-Brodick route and Uig Triangle respectively • Two new Islay vessels enter service in response to continued rapid growth in demand generated by the whisky industry and associated tourism • Cascade of other major vessels across network enabled by addition of MV Loch Frisa to Oban-Craignure route • Oldest vessels (major and minor) across network replaced with new, larger alternatives • Infrastructure enhancements, focused on those ports which frequently experience harbour-related disruptions • Increased digitisation and streamlining of booking and marshalling systems This ambitious programme would enable significant improvements in capacity, reliability, and frequency on those routes benefitting from new vessels – but not just on those routes. Under this scenario, the average age of the fleet falls from 24 years to just under 18. Some spare vessels are also assumed, increasing redundancy through having at least one in hot lay-up, and improved interoperability. Therefore, reliability and effective capacity would be improved across the network, especially for those non-lifeline routes which frequently lose their service in response to disruption elsewhere. On selected routes receiving new vessels, investments support timetabling and service development, enabling longer days on the mainland (which benefits business and commuting travellers in particular). Pessimistic scenario This scenario sees much more limited improvements, based on commitments already delivered or underway. The two new Islay vessels are not included – though given that contracts have been signed it is highly unlikely they will not be delivered. • Hull 801 (Glen Sannox) and Hull 802 enter service on the Ardrossan-Brodick route and Uig Triangle respectively • Addition of MV Loch Frisa to Oban-Craignure route, cascade of MV Coruisk to Mallaig- Armadale Whilst the addition of new vessels provides welcome capacity uplifts on certain routes, the generalised reliability improvements seen in the Optimistic scenario are not realised. The continued ageing of the fleet (from 24 years on average to 32) and lack of new investment in harbour infrastructure leads to worsening of reliability and therefore effective capacity. Page 68
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8 Centre for Economics and Business Research 3. Current economic footprint of CalMac Our starting point is to identify the contributions directly made by CalMac to the Scottish economy. Our analysis considered four key performance indicators: • Turnover – This represents the business revenue generated by CalMac. • Gross Value Added (GVA) – While turnover captures the entire cost of sales and provides an indication of the size of CalMac’s operations in Scotland, GVA contributions represent the ‘value-added’ to the economy by CalMac. In this report, we take the income approach to estimating GVA and define it as the total compensation paid to employees plus total operating profit. Subsidies (where not already recorded as an income source) are added in, on the logic that they are paid to induce a societally desirable outcome, generating at least the monetary value of the subsidy paid. For taxes on products for which the reverse is true, this tax is subtracted. GVA is also commonly known as income from production and is distributed in three directions – to employees, to shareholders and to government. It is often used as a proxy for estimating the contribution of a firm or industry to GDP. • Employment – Refers to the number of workers employed by CalMac. We typically present results as full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. FTE refers to the hours worked by one employee who is employed on a full-time basis and is used to standardise the hours worked by several part-time employees to one full-time worker. This is important for comparisons across industries or businesses, where the share of employees who work full-time varies. • Employee Compensation – Refers to the total compensation paid to employees in return for work done. This includes wages, benefits and employer pension and tax liabilities. In the following sub-section, we present results both on a national basis for Scotland as a whole, plus results on a more granular basis for 16 individual islands or island groups that are served directly by CalMac. Page 69
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9 Centre for Economics and Business Research Direct economic impacts National impacts While the key analysis year is for FY 2019-20, this sub-section details the direct economic impacts of CalMac across the Scottish economy at a national level between FY 2016-17 and FY 2020-21. Turnover Figure 4 illustrates the turnover that was directly generated by CalMac between FY17 and FY21, with the share of total revenue attributable to passenger fares highlighted for each year. Figure 4. Direct turnover of CalMac, £m, FY17 to FY21 Source: CalMac and Cebr analysis The direct turnover generated by CalMac increased consistently from FY17 to FY20, reaching a peak of £227.2 million in FY20, equivalent to a 16.9% rise from the start of the observation period (or an absolute increase of £32.8 million). However, for the year ending March 2021, direct turnover generated by CalMac fell by £26.3 million (-11.6%) compared to FY20 as travel was restricted due to Covid-19. As can be seen from Figure 4, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the share of total turnover that was generated by farebox revenue was relatively consistent at between 26% and 27%. The impact of the Covid-19 disruption is evident here through a decrease in total farebox revenue to £31.4 million in FY21 from £58.2 million in FY20, a 46.1% fall. Gross Value Added (GVA) Figure 5 illustrates the direct GVA contributions made by CalMac to the Scottish economy between FY17 and FY21. 26% 26% 27% 26% 16% £194.4 £208.9 £210.0 £227.2 £200.9 £0 £50 £100 £150 £200 £250 FY2016-17 FY2017-18 FY2018-19 FY2019-20 FY2020-21 Farebox Share Total Turnover Page 70
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10 Centre for Economics and Business Research Figure 5. Direct GVA contributions of CalMac, £m, FY17 to FY21 Source: CalMac and Cebr analysis As was seen for turnover, GVA increased consistently between FY17 to FY20, reaching a peak of £95.8 million in FY20, equivalent to a 20.7% rise from the start of the observation period (or an absolute increase of £16.4 million). Again, in the year ending March 2021, direct GVA contributions of CalMac fell. Here, the £3.9 million fall compared to FY20 levels represented a -4.1% contraction in direct value adding contributions to the Scottish economy. In order to provide some contextualisation for the scale of CalMac’s direct GVA contributions to the Scottish economy, we present some analysis comparing the GVA of CalMac to a range of other industries. Regarding sectors that are most closely aligned with CalMac’s activities, 38% of the GVA generated by the total water transport sector was attributable to CalMac in FY 2019-20. Further, in the same year, the entire air transport sector generated £416.1 million of GVA. To put this in perspective, the scale of this activity was approximately 4.3 times the size of CalMac’s direct GVA contributions. Figure 6 visualises some further context by comparing the GVA of CalMac to other sectors in the Scottish economy in FY 2019-20. These sectors are chosen as they reflect similarly sized industries in comparison to the magnitude of CalMac’s direct GVA contribution. As illustrated, CalMac contributes more in GVA than the manufacture basic metals and manufacture of furniture sectors, while the company is roughly equal in its GVA contribution to the Scottish economy as the whole of the crop and animal production, hunting and related service activities sector as well as the activities of membership organisations sector. Figure 6. CalMac GVA compared to selected other industries, £m, FY 2019-20 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis £79.4 £83.0 £88.5 £95.8 £91.9 £0 £20 £40 £60 £80 £100 FY2016-17 FY2017-18 FY2018-19 FY2019-20 FY2020-21 £95.8 £96.3 £56.5 £82.6 £188.7 £95.9 £0 £20 £40 £60 £80 £100 £120 £140 £160 £180 £200 CalMac Crop and animal production, hunting, and related activities Manufacture basic metals Manufacture of furniture Forestry and logging Activities of membership organisations Page 71
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11 Centre for Economics and Business Research Employment Figure 7 illustrates the direct employment contributions made by CalMac between FY17 and FY21 to the Scottish economy. Figure 7. Employment contributions of CalMac, FTE jobs, FY17 to FY21 Source: CalMac and Cebr analysis Unlike the other direct impact metrics, on an FTE basis, the employment contributed by CalMac to the Scottish economy increased monotonically over the observation period, from 1,358 FTE workers to 1,537, an increase of 178 (13.1%). The average growth rate of FTE jobs between FY17 and FY21 was 3.1% on a year-on-year basis. This increase in FTE employment from FY17 and FY21 outstrips wider FTE employment growth in Scotland’s labour market, which grew at an average of 0.3% year-on-year over the same period. While year-on-year FTE employment growth in the wider industry for transportation and storage (SIC H), increased by 0.4% in that same period. Figure 8. Productivity (GVA per FTE) and productivity growth, £, FY17 to FY21 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis 1,358 1,427 1,471 1,513 1,537 0 400 800 1,200 1,600 FY2016-17 FY2017-18 FY2018-19 FY2019-20 FY2020-21 £58,431 £58,172 £60,214 £63,329 £59,790 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 £52,000 £54,000 £56,000 £58,000 £60,000 £62,000 £64,000 FY2016-17 FY2017-18 FY2018-19 FY2019-20 FY2020-21 Productivity Index (FY17 = 100) Productivity, £ CalMac GVA per FTE, £ CalMac Productivity Industry Productivity Page 72
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12 Centre for Economics and Business Research CalMac productivity, in terms of GVA per FTE, fluctuates across the period. Initially, there was a 0.4% decline in productivity in FY 2017-18 from a starting point of £58,431, fuelled by the increase in the number of CalMac employees outstripping the growth in GVA in the same year. However, the year-on-year productivity growth was 3.5% and 5.2% in the subsequent years, with peak CalMac productivity in FY 2019-20 at £63,329, followed by a sharp decline in FY 2020-21 following the restrictions imposed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Compared to the wider productivity of the wider transportation and storage industry, at the start of the period, industry productivity growth outpaced the productivity growth of CalMac. Nevertheless, in the year prior to the pandemic, CalMac productivity grew by 5.2% while the wider transportation and storage industry productivity grew by just 1.9%. The Figure also shows that CalMac was able to better weather the impact of the pandemic compared to the rest of the industry, with CalMac productivity falling by 5.6% compared to a 21.7% fall across the rest of the industry. Employee Compensation Figure 9 illustrates the total amount paid in employee compensation by CalMac. Figure 9. Employee compensation paid to workers in CalMac, £m, FY17 to FY21 Source: CalMac and Cebr analysis The total compensation paid rose by £18.5 million from FY17 to FY2019-20, an increase of 24.9%. The total increase occurred gradually over this period, with year-on-year growth averaging £6.2 million per year. In line with turnover and GVA, there was also a drop in employee compensation between FY20 and FY21. The observed fall is a decrease of £6.7 million (-7.2%) for the year. However, with the exception of FY20, the FY21 total remains above all other years in the observation period. Given that the number of workers in CalMac has also been fluctuating, it is a more meaningful annual comparison to consider the average compensation paid per FTE employee. Figure 10 presents our results. £74.4 £78.3 £83.7 £92.9 £86.2 £0 £10 £20 £30 £40 £50 £60 £70 £80 £90 £100 FY2016-17 FY2017-18 FY2018-19 FY2019-20 FY2020-21 Page 73
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13 Centre for Economics and Business Research Figure 10. Average compensation paid per FTE worker in CalMac, £, FY17 to FY21 Source: CalMac and Cebr analysis In nominal terms, the average compensation paid per FTE employee in CalMac increased by £1,353 (2.5%) across the whole period, from £54,742 in FY17 to £56,095 in FY21. However, this increase in compensation did not occur consistently. Overall, employee compensation has increased over the period considered on both a total and per FTE level, however compensation per FTE peaked in FY20 at £61,383, the last full pre-Covid year. Regional impacts This sub-section details the aggregate economic footprint of CalMac in FY2019-20 at a regional level, with full results across all 16 islands and island groups analysed as a part of this study. Table 2 presents full results for the direct economic impact across the 16 island regions assessed in this report. In terms of FTE jobs for FY2019-20, employees living in these 16 regions accounted for approximately 27.8% of CalMac employment in Scotland. While in GVA and employee compensation terms, these 16 regions accounted for an estimated 37.3% and 31.6% of the total direct impact in Scotland, respectively. £54,742 £54,839 £56,897 £61,383 £56,095 £0 £10,000 £20,000 £30,000 £40,000 £50,000 £60,000 £70,000 FY2016-17 FY2017-18 FY2018-19 FY2019-20 FY2020-21 Page 74
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14 Centre for Economics and Business Research Table 2. Direct economic impacts for 16 island regions, £’000 and FTE jobs, FY 2019-20 Direct impact Island Region GVA (£'000) Employment (FTE jobs) Employee Compensation (£'000) Coll and Tiree Argyll and Bute £1,268 14 £1,012 Mull and Iona Argyll and Bute £3,249 36 £2,594 Kerrera and Gallanach Argyll and Bute £238 3 £190 Jura and Colonsay Argyll and Bute £475 5 £380 Islay Argyll and Bute £2,219 25 £1,771 Gigha4 Argyll and Bute £396 4 £316 Bute Argyll and Bute £3,249 36 £2,594 Barra Na h-Eilean Siar £4,067 42 £3,147 Eriskay and South Uist Na h-Eilean Siar £3,050 32 £2,360 Benbecula Na h-Eilean Siar £593 6 £459 North Uist Na h-Eilean Siar £1,610 17 £1,246 Lewis and Harris Na h-Eilean Siar £11,691 122 £9,048 Small Isles Highlands £155 3 £157 Skye and Raasay Highlands £2,225 38 £2,256 Arran North Ayrshire £1,111 34 £1,692 Great Cumbrae North Ayrshire £85 3 £130 Source: CalMac, BRES, ONS, and Cebr analysis The direct impacts across the Outer Hebrides are the largest within the assessed sample. The single island region with the largest impact was Lewis and Harris. In terms of FTE employment, the 122 jobs outstripped the next largest island, Barra, almost three-fold. This trend is reflected in both the direct GVA and employee compensation contributions by CalMac, with Lewis and Harris accounting for approximately one third of the total in-scope regional direct impacts. The remaining islands are part of the broader regions that make up the Inner Hebrides and the Islands of the Firth of Clyde. Within the narrower Highlands and North Ayrshire regions, Skye and Raasay and the Isle of Arran respectively dominate as the largest centres of CalMac’s direct economic activity. In Argyll and Bute, the direct impacts are more widely distributed, with CalMac contributing over £1 million of direct GVA in Coll and Tiree, Mull and Iona, Islay, and Bute. 4 The Gigha island group is defined by the 2011 Datazone S01007329. In geographic terms, this covers the island of Gigha, plus a portion of the western Kintyre Coast that is directly adjacent to and south of the island. Page 75
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15 Centre for Economics and Business Research Aggregate economic footprint of CalMac The wider footprint supported by CalMac is not constrained to the above direct impacts alone. Our approach conceptualises two further impact layers: indirect impacts and induced impacts. • Indirect impacts – CalMac place demands on their upstream supply chains, purchasing goods and services they need for operations. This supports further demand along supply- chains, and output and jobs amongst their suppliers. In turn, these suppliers place demands on their suppliers which supports further output and jobs. The indirect impact captures the revenue, GVA, employment and employee compensation supported along the supply-chains because of these operations. • Induced impacts – The workers who receive income and employment benefits through the direct (CalMac employees) and indirect (the suppliers to the sector and in turn their suppliers) channels spend their increased earnings on goods and services in the wider economy. This helps to further stimulate demand, supporting additional turnover, GVA, employment and employee compensation. The induced impact captures these wider- spending effects. Summing these direct, indirect, and induced impact layers allows us to estimate the aggregate footprint supported by CalMac in Scotland. Our approach is summarised below in Figure 11. Figure 11. Summary of economic impact layers National impacts In this sub-section, we will present results for the aggregate economic footprint of CalMac across the Scottish economy for the key analysis year, FY 2019-20. First, Table 3 presents the multipliers used to calculate the indirect and induced (and hence aggregate) effects from the direct CalMac economic impacts. For each of the below metrics, the multipliers highlight how a unit change in CalMac’s direct impacts will affect the economy as a whole. Page 76
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16 Centre for Economics and Business Research Table 3. Bespoke national multipliers for CalMac, Type I and II. National Multipliers5 Type I Multipliers – Indirect Impacts Type II Multipliers – Induced Impacts Turnover 1.26 1.54 GVA 1.30 1.70 FTE employment 1.31 1.67 Employee Compensation 1.20 1.37 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis Turnover CalMac directly generated an estimated £227.2 million in turnover in FY 2019-20. Through our input-output modelling, we estimate that this direct turnover supports an additional £60.0 million worth of turnover along the supply-chains (the indirect effect). Furthermore, it is estimated that the increase in wider-spending that occurs when CalMac employees (and the employees supported along the supply-chains) spend their earnings in the wider economy supports £63.5 million (the induced effect). Combining these direct, indirect, and induced impacts, it is estimated that CalMac supports an aggregate footprint of £350.6 million in turnover. The effects of the additional indirect and induced impacts are set out below, in Figure 12. Figure 12. Turnover multiplier results, £m, FY 2019-20 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis They should be interpreted as follows. For every £1 in turnover directly generated by CalMac, a further £0.26 of turnover is supported in firms along their supply chains. Furthermore, £0.28 of turnover is supported in Scottish businesses when individuals associated with the direct and indirect impact layers spend their earnings in the wider economy. Summing the indirect 5 For comprehensive definitions and practical illustrations of the multipliers for output, GVA, employment, and income, see the following publication from the Scottish Government. Page 77
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17 Centre for Economics and Business Research and induced layers together, we can say that for every £1 of turnover directly generated by CalMac, a further £0.54 worth of turnover is supported in the wider economy. Gross Value Added (GVA) In FY 2019-20, CalMac directly generated £95.8 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) contributions. It is estimated that a further £28.5 million worth of GVA contributions are supported along the supply-chains (the indirect effect) and £38.6 million is supported when CalMac employees (and employees along their supply chains) spend their earnings in the wider economy. The effects of these additional indirect and induced impacts are set out below, in Figure 13, leading to an aggregate impact of £162.9 million. Figure 13. Gross Value Added multiplier results, £m, FY 2019-20 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis Once again, it is possible to generalise this result by considering the ratios between the direct, indirect and induced impact layers. For every £1 in GVA directly generated by CalMac in the Scottish economy, a further £0.70 is supported through the indirect and induced impact channels. Employment In FY 2019-20, CalMac directly supported 1,513 jobs. Figure 14 illustrates our calculated employment multipliers for CalMac. Page 78
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18 Centre for Economics and Business Research Figure 14. FTE employment multiplier results, FTE jobs, FY 2019-20 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis The modelling shows that for every FTE job directly generated by CalMac, a further 0.31 jobs are supported along their supply chains. Moreover, a further 0.36 FTE jobs are supported when employees associated with the direct and indirect impact layers spend their earnings in the wider economy. By combining the indirect and induced impact layers, our modelling shows that for every FTE job directly generated by CalMac, a further 0.67 jobs are supported in the wider Scottish economy. Overall, on an FTE basis 2,527 jobs are supported across the economy. Employee Compensation Finally, we are interested in the aggregate compensation of employees supported by CalMac across Scotland. In FY 2019-20, total direct employee compensation was £92.9 million, while the aggregate impact totalled £127.5 million. The effects of the additional indirect and induced impacts are set out below, in Figure 15. Figure 15. Employee compensation multiplier results, £m, FY 2019-20 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis Page 79
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19 Centre for Economics and Business Research In addition to the direct impact, we estimate that the indirect and induced economic activity that is supported by CalMac, supports an additional £34.7 million of employee compensation in the wider economy. Hence, for every £1 of employee compensation directly generated by CalMac, a further £0.37 of compensation is supported through the indirect and induced impact channels across the Scottish economy. Regional Impacts This sub-section details the aggregate economic footprint of CalMac in FY2019-20 at a regional level, with selected results presented for six of the larger regions by aggregate impact. For a full breakdown of all multipliers used to calculate the regional aggregate economic impacts, see the appendices to this document. Also within the appendices, Table 33 details the aggregate economic impact for FTE employment as well as figures for the share of total island employment that is supported by CalMac’s economic footprint. This statistic provides useful contextualisation regarding the relative importance of CalMac in supporting economic activity in small, remote areas. Figure 16. Direct FTE employment contributions by CalMac across 16 island groups, FTE jobs, FY20 Source: CalMac and Cebr analysis From Table 2 as well as Figure 16 above, it is evident that there is not an equal distribution across the assessed regions in terms of direct FTE employment contributions by CalMac. The economy and population for a number of these regions is very small, hence, so too are the respective aggregate economic impacts of CalMac. For the brevity of the main report, we will highlight six of the largest island regions that span the length of the Clyde and Hebridean network; Lewis and Harris, Skye and Raasay, Bute, Mull and Iona, Arran, and Islay. Full results across all 16 islands and island groups analysed in this study have been tabulated and presented in the appendices. 3 3 3 4 5 6 14 17 25 32 34 36 36 38 42 122 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 Kerrera and Gallanach Small Isles Great Cumbrae Gigha and Kintrye Coast Jura and Colonsay Benbecula Coll and Tiree North Uist Islay Eriskay and South Uist Arran Mull and Iona Bute Skye and Raasay Barra Lewis and Harris Page 80
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20 Centre for Economics and Business Research - Lewis and Harris In FY 2019-20, 1 in every 52 jobs (1.9%) in Lewis and Harris was supported by CalMac's aggregate economic footprint in the region. Table 4. Aggregate economic footprint of CalMac in Lewis and Harris, FY 2019-20 Direct Impact Indirect Impact Induced Impact Aggregate Impact GVA (£’000) £11,691 £1,574 £1,618 £14,883 FTE employment (jobs) 122 17 27 167 Employee compensation (£’000) £9,048 £854 £844 £10,746 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis For every £1 of GVA directly generated by CalMac in Lewis and Harris, a further £0.27 of GVA is supported in the region's wider economy. For every FTE job directly generated by CalMac in Lewis and Harris, a further 0.4 FTE jobs are supported in the region's wider economy. For every £1 of employee compensation paid to CalMac employees in Lewis and Harris, a further £0.19 worth of compensation is supported in the region's wider economy. - Skye and Raasay In FY 2019-20, 1 in every 109 jobs (0.9%) in Skye and Raasay was supported by CalMac's aggregate economic footprint in the region. Table 5. Aggregate economic footprint of CalMac in Skye and Raasay, FY 2019-20 Direct Impact Indirect Impact Induced Impact Aggregate Impact GVA (£’000) £2,225 £32 £568 £2,824 FTE employment (jobs) 38 1 10 48 Employee compensation (£’000) £2,256 £21 £321 £2,598 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis For every £1 of GVA directly generated by CalMac in Skye and Raasay, a further £0.27 of GVA is supported in the region's wider economy. For every FTE job directly generated by CalMac in Skye and Raasay, a further 0.3 FTE jobs are supported in the region's wider economy. For every £1 of employee compensation paid to CalMac employees in Skye and Raasay, a further £0.15 worth of compensation is supported in the region's wider economy. - Bute In FY 2019-20, 1 in every 46 jobs (2.2%) in Bute was supported by CalMac's aggregate economic footprint in the region. Table 6. Aggregate economic footprint of CalMac in Bute, FY 2019-20 Direct Impact Indirect Impact Induced Impact Aggregate Impact GVA (£’000) £3,249 £266 £411 £3,926 FTE employment (jobs) 36 3 7 46 Employee compensation (£’000) £2,594 £161 £233 £2,987 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis Page 81
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21 Centre for Economics and Business Research For every £1 of GVA directly generated by CalMac in Bute, a further £0.21 of GVA is supported in the region's wider economy. For every FTE job directly generated by CalMac in Bute, a further 0.3 FTE jobs are supported in the region's wider economy. For every £1 of employee compensation paid to CalMac employees in Bute, a further £0.15 worth of compensation is supported in the region's wider economy. - Mull and Iona In FY 2019-20, 1 in every 33 jobs (3.0%) in Mull and Iona was supported by CalMac's aggregate economic footprint in the region. Table 7. Aggregate economic footprint of CalMac in Mull and Iona, FY 2019-20 Direct Impact Indirect Impact Induced Impact Aggregate Impact GVA (£’000) £3,249 £28 £464 £3,742 FTE employment (jobs) 36 0 8 44 Employee compensation (£’000) £2,594 £12 £263 £2,868 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis For every £1 of GVA directly generated by CalMac in Mull and Iona, a further £0.15 of GVA was supported in the region's wider economy. For every FTE job directly generated by CalMac in Mull and Iona, a further 0.2 FTE jobs were supported in the region's wider economy. For every £1 of employee compensation paid to CalMac employees in Mull and Iona, a further £0.11 worth of compensation was supported in the region's wider economy. - Arran In FY 2019-20, 1 in every 51 jobs (2.0%) in Arran was supported by CalMac's aggregate economic footprint in the region. Table 8. Aggregate economic footprint of CalMac in Arran, FY 2019-20 Direct Impact Indirect Impact Induced Impact Aggregate Impact GVA (£’000) £1,111 £40 £329 £1,480 FTE employment (jobs) 34 1 6 41 Employee compensation (£’000) £1,692 £37 £186 £1,916 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis For every £1 of GVA directly generated by CalMac in Arran, a further £0.33 of GVA is supported in the region's wider economy. For every FTE job directly generated by CalMac in Arran, a further 0.2 FTE jobs are supported in the region's wider economy. For every £1 of employee compensation paid to CalMac employees in Arran, a further £0.13 worth of compensation is supported in the region's wider economy. - Islay In FY 2019-20, 1 in every 61 jobs (1.6%) in Islay was supported by CalMac's aggregate economic footprint in the region. Page 82
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22 Centre for Economics and Business Research Table 9. Aggregate economic footprint of CalMac in Islay, FY 2019-20 Direct Impact Indirect Impact Induced Impact Aggregate Impact GVA (£’000) £2,219 £41 £299 £2,559 FTE employment (jobs) 25 1 5 30 Employee compensation (£’000) £1,771 £20 £169 £1,960 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis For every £1 of GVA directly generated by CalMac in Islay, a further £0.15 of GVA is supported in the region's wider economy. For every FTE job directly generated by CalMac in Islay, a further 0.2 FTE jobs are supported in the region's wider economy. For every £1 of employee compensation paid to CalMac employees in Islay, a further £0.11 worth of compensation is supported in the region's wider economy. Downstream impacts To this point, the economic analysis has focused on CalMac’s upstream supply chain6, which allows us to calculate the company’s aggregate contribution to the economy. However, CalMac also feeds into a “downstream” supply chain, whereby CalMac services are used by firms and industries to transport goods off-island to be sold and distributed from the mainland, for example. Subsequently, other firms use these goods as inputs into their own business activities where additional value is added before being sold to final consumers in either domestic or international markets. Using supply-use tables, we can trace the transmission of CalMac to other parts of the economy and estimate the value added that CalMac may facilitate through its role in suppling intermediate services to other firms. This only considers the value-added through firms purchasing CalMac services, not of private consumption.7 In this subsection, we will break these results down into two broad geographic groups8: o The Northern Regions – The Outer Hebrides and the Highlands including the mainland areas of Morvern, Malliag, Ullapool and Oban. o The Southern Regions – Argyll & Bute and North Ayrshire. This also includes the mainland regions of Ardrossan (and Saltcoats), Largs, Cowall and Dunoon, Kintyre, Campbeltown and Oban. It should also be noted that while the downstream impacts are not necessarily causal, the facilitation layer does provide an important indication of the value contribution of CalMac through its economic associations. 6 Defined as purchases of goods and services by CalMac from other firms to supply its own service 7 For example, an employee commuting to work who pays for his own trip on a CalMac ferry would not be included within this calculation. However, an employee travelling for work where the firm pays for the ferry ticket would be included. 8 Note that we include the mainland area of Oban within both regions. This is because it has ferry routes operating to the Outer Hebrides as well as many of the Southern Islands. As a result, it is not appropriate to sum the results from each geography to produce a single downstream impact for CalMac without appropriately accounting for the double counting of Oban. Page 83
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23 Centre for Economics and Business Research The Northern Regions The headline results of this analysis are as follows: • In FY 2019-20, CalMac supported £16.9 million of business turnover in the region’s wider economy, where firms relied on CalMac services in their production of final goods and services. • This turnover supported £7.1 million of GVA on a downstream basis, across the Northern Regions’ economy. The Southern Regions The headline results of this analysis are as follows: • In FY 2019-20, CalMac supported £10.0 million of business turnover in the region’s wider economy, where firms relied on CalMac services in their production of final goods and services. • This turnover supported £4.4 million of GVA on a downstream basis, across the Southern Regions’ economy. Page 84
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24 Centre for Economics and Business Research 4. Economic footprint under alternative scenarios To this point, we have produced analysis focussed on FY 2019-20. However, in the following section, we estimate the economic footprint of CalMac in 2032 under two forward-looking investment scenarios. Methodology The first of the two alternative scenarios reflects the impact of an optimistic investment programme, while the second reflects a more pessimistic scenario with investment levels meeting existing commitments only, while much of the fleet continues to age. These scenarios drive different levels of turnover and employment in the economic impact analysis, with the results presented below. To estimate the direct economic impacts at both a national and regional level, 2032 impacts have been estimated relative to a 2022 baseline for the key metrics. All results are in real terms based upon constant 2022 prices. • Turnover has been scaled proportionally to changes in passenger demand in 2032 versus 2022. • Full-time equivalent (FTE) employment is estimated based upon an ordinary least squares regression model that estimates a best-fit relationship between crew requirements and total network capacity (in terms of total passengers and car deck space). We are then able to estimate the required percentage increase in crew required under each investment scenario compared to 2022 levels based upon estimated network capacity in 2032. From this, an uplift to vessel staff is applied to produce a real FTE employment estimate under each scenario, with the staffing requirements for total head office and port staff held constant. • In real terms, compensation of employees (COE) is estimated based upon a nowcast of average COE per FTE for CalMac employees in 2022. Then, to estimate a total company-wide employee compensation figure in 2032, this per-FTE value is applied to the forecasted number of FTE employees in 2032 under each scenario. • Finally, gross value added (GVA) is triangulated by estimating the implied value- added figure through two approaches. Firstly, we use the average GVA-to-turnover ratio over the last five years, but this leads to the implied GVA figure being lower than total COE. The implication of this is that CalMac would be running an operating loss, a prediction that is not consistent with the trends seen in recent management account data. To recalibrate for this, the structure of CalMac over the last 5 years has seen total employee compensation account for an average of 95% of total GVA. Therefore, we have assumed that this relationship will be maintained and combine the turnover- linked estimate of GVA with a GVA estimate based on the average COE as a share of GVA over the last 5 years. These two methodologies are combined to produce a final estimate for gross value-added in 2032. Finally, to produce the indirect, induced, and aggregate economic impact layers, we have held the previously calculated bespoke multipliers constant, with only the direct economic impacts adjusting under each scenario. Page 85
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25 Centre for Economics and Business Research National impacts Before the results are presented, it should be stressed that the impacts are not limited to these financial and economic impacts. Additional welfare is generated through wider social and economic channels. Further details of these additional socioeconomic impacts are presented in 5. Connectivity: enabling island activities and 6. Supporting prosperity In addition, these figures are single-year comparisons. Higher investment is likely to lead to additional benefits every year, hence the total economic impacts that accrue over time because of higher investment are likely to be significantly larger than they appear in the single- year snapshot within Table 10. The key headline from this analysis is that the Optimistic investment scenario consistently outperforms the Pessimistic investment scenario in all metrics and across all impact layers. Table 10. Aggregate national economic impacts, £m and FTE jobs, 2032 Metric 2032 Scenario Direct Impact Indirect Impact Induced Impact Aggregate Impact Turnover (£m) Optimistic £246.1 £65.0 £68.8 £379.9 Pessimistic £232.0 £61.3 £64.8 £358.0 GVA (£m) Optimistic £114.7 £34.2 £46.2 £195.1 Pessimistic £107.4 £32.0 £43.2 £182.6 FTE employment (jobs) Optimistic 1,819 556 664 3,039 Pessimistic 1,693 518 617 2,828 Employee Compensation (£m) Optimistic £112.7 £22.8 £19.2 £154.7 Pessimistic £104.8 £21.2 £17.9 £143.9 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis The aggregate GVA impact of £195.1 million under the Optimistic investment scenario is £12.5 million larger (6.1%) than under the Pessimistic scenario in the 2032 analysis year. While for aggregate FTE employment, the Optimistic investment scenario outpaces the Pessimistic scenario by 212 jobs – equivalent to a 7.5% increase in the aggregate economic footprint of CalMac. Page 86
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26 Centre for Economics and Business Research Regional impacts This sub-section details the direct and the aggregate economic impacts of CalMac in 2032 at a regional level under both Optimistic and Pessimistic investment scenarios, with full results across all 16 islands and island groups analysed as a part of this study. In the absence of more accurate data, we have assumed proportionality of regional impacts between the current scenario and the two forward looking scenarios.9 For both investment scenarios, Table 11 presents full results for the direct economic impacts while Table 12 presents the full results for the aggregate economic impacts. These Tables highlight the importance of CalMac in terms of the organisation’s support of economic activity in lifeline areas, even in those regions for which it employs a very small number of people in absolute terms. For example, we estimate that CalMac supports the employment of 6 workers on an FTE basis in Jura and Colonsay, under both scenarios. In 2022, FTE employment in the region totalled 198. Therefore, approximately 3% of total employment is supported by the aggregate footprint of CalMac. It should also be highlighted that this figure is in the context of ‘upstream’ impacts and does not factor in the facilitation of economic activity that occurs across the “downstream” supply chain. Again, this is where CalMac services are used by firms and industries to transport goods off-island to be sold and distributed from the mainland. While quantifying the size of this impact under each investment scenario is not within the scope of this study, given that the islands are very remote and served primarily by CalMac ferries, one would anticipate the scale of this support to be large in relative terms, especially for a whisky producing island such as Jura. However, the island for which this is most apparent is Barra. The population of the island is approximately 1,300 people, with employment estimated to be 455 FTE jobs in 2022. On an aggregate level, 51 FTE jobs are estimated to be supported by CalMac under the Optimistic scenario (versus 47 under the Pessimistic scenario). This suggests that one in 9 jobs in Barra are supported by CalMac (versus one in 10 under the Pessimistic scenario). In relative terms, this highlights how critical the services provided by CalMac are for the viability and survival of the island’s economy, as approximately 11% of total employment is supported by the company. 9 The reason for this is that even though we know which runs a new ship might be put onto, and hence we know where any additional employees are likely to be needed, we do not necessarily know where these additional employees reside. We would need greater primary data to better map location of employment to home location. For example, in a hypothetical scenario where 25 additional workers are needed for a new Arran vessel, we do not know how many of these workers live on Arran versus how many live in mainland towns like Saltcoats, Ardrossan, or Ayr. In addition, a new Arran vessel does not necessarily employ workers from Arran. Hence, we do not know how the share of these additional impacts would be attributable to the specific island region versus the mainland. An additional unknown that must be considered is the reliability of older ships in 10 years’ time. These reliability concerns have cascading impacts across the network, and hence a new ship that is planned for a certain route may have to be diverted off that route as a result of significant and unforeseen reliability issues affecting other runs across the network. This is especially relevant in the Pessimistic investment scenario where investment levels the meeting of existing commitments only, while much of the fleet continues to age. Page 87
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27 Centre for Economics and Business Research Table 11. Direct regional economic impacts, £’000 and FTE jobs, 2032 Regional Direct Impacts - 2032 Island 2032 Scenario GVA (£'000) Employment (FTE jobs) Employee Compensation (£'000) Coll and Tiree Optimistic £1,579 17 £1,276 Pessimistic £1,482 16 £1,191 Mull and Iona Optimistic £4,046 43 £3,271 Pessimistic £3,798 40 £3,052 Kerrera and Gallanach Optimistic £296 3 £239 Pessimistic £278 3 £223 Jura and Colonsay Optimistic £592 6 £479 Pessimistic £556 6 £447 Islay Optimistic £2,763 30 £2,234 Pessimistic £2,593 28 £2,084 Gigha Optimistic £493 5 £399 Pessimistic £463 5 £372 Bute Optimistic £4,046 43 £3,271 Pessimistic £3,798 40 £3,052 Barra Optimistic £5,064 51 £3,969 Pessimistic £4,753 47 £3,703 Eriskay and South Uist Optimistic £3,798 38 £2,977 Pessimistic £3,565 35 £2,777 Benbecula Optimistic £739 7 £579 Pessimistic £693 7 £540 North Uist Optimistic £2,005 20 £1,571 Pessimistic £1,881 19 £1,466 Lewis and Harris Optimistic £14,559 146 £11,411 Pessimistic £13,664 136 £10,646 Small Isles Optimistic £193 3 £198 Pessimistic £181 3 £185 Skye and Raasay Optimistic £2,770 46 £2,845 Pessimistic £2,600 42 £2,654 Arran Optimistic £1,383 41 £2,134 Pessimistic £1,298 38 £1,991 Great Cumbrae Optimistic £106 3 £164 Pessimistic £100 3 £153 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis Page 88
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28 Centre for Economics and Business Research Table 12. Aggregate regional economic impacts, £’000 and FTE jobs, 2032 Regional Aggregate Impacts - 2032 Island 2032 Scenario GVA (£'000) Employment (FTE jobs) Employee Compensation (£'000) Coll and Tiree Optimistic £1,795 20 £1,400 Pessimistic £1,685 19 £1,306 Mull and Iona Optimistic £4,660 53 £3,618 Pessimistic £4,373 49 £3,375 Kerrera and Gallanach Optimistic £338 4 £263 Pessimistic £317 4 £245 Jura and Colonsay Optimistic £692 8 £536 Pessimistic £649 7 £500 Islay Optimistic £3,186 36 £2,472 Pessimistic £2,990 34 £2,306 Gigha Optimistic £559 6 £436 Pessimistic £525 6 £407 Bute Optimistic £4,889 55 £3,767 Pessimistic £4,589 52 £3,514 Barra Optimistic £5,582 59 £4,266 Pessimistic £5,239 55 £3,980 Eriskay and South Uist Optimistic £4,318 46 £3,275 Pessimistic £4,053 43 £3,055 Benbecula Optimistic £846 9 £640 Pessimistic £794 8 £597 North Uist Optimistic £2,285 25 £1,732 Pessimistic £2,145 23 £1,616 Lewis and Harris Optimistic £18,500 202 £13,623 Pessimistic £17,364 188 £12,710 Small Isles Optimistic £229 4 £219 Pessimistic £215 3 £204 Skye and Raasay Optimistic £3,516 58 £3,277 Pessimistic £3,300 54 £3,057 Arran Optimistic £1,843 50 £2,416 Pessimistic £1,729 46 £2,254 Great Cumbrae Optimistic £136 4 £181 Pessimistic £127 3 £169 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis Page 89
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29 Centre for Economics and Business Research 5. Connectivity: enabling island activities CalMac fundamentally provides connectivity to and from the islands of the Clyde and Hebrides. While the direct, indirect and induced impacts of CalMac’s activities are important, it is this connectivity which has the most profound impact on the areas in which CalMac operates. In this section, we analyse the connectivity that CalMac provides and explore how business, residents and visitors could directly benefit from improved services, in terms of economic welfare. In the following chapter we take this analysis further and examine potential wider impacts on productivity, business location, jobs and demography. This quantified analysis is new. Previous work by the Fraser of Allander Institute in 2015 examined CalMac’s economic footprint but did not examine the impacts of the connectivity it provides. To examine CalMac’s role in supporting activity on the islands we ask how island activity could be different if the ferry service changed. We use the scenarios outlined earlier in this report to examine how the costs to islanders, businesses and visitors could be different. This brings the analysis closer to that usually undertaken to support the business case for investment and codified in Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG). While we draw on similar techniques in our analysis, we have not conducted a STAG appraisal or examined the costs of potential ferry service changes in detail. The role of Hebridean and Clyde ferry services Here we briefly review the drivers of demand for CalMac’s ferry services. The headline user benefits and demand impacts in the later subsections of this chapter estimate the immediate impacts of improved ferry services; the following chapter considers wider impacts on employment, productivity, and quality of life arising from these. For residents across the network, ferries are essential for: • Visiting family and friends • Making shopping trips on the mainland, where a wider choice of goods and services is available, and prices are lower • Undertaking leisure, sporting, and cultural activities • Accessing health services and education Stakeholders indicated that younger islanders have greater expectations than previous generations of being able to regularly access these opportunities on the mainland; meanwhile ageing populations and the centralisation of health care facilities to the mainland have driven growing health travel needs. There are also commuting flows, especially in locations around the Clyde which enjoy reasonable journey times by ferry and rail into Glasgow, and onto islands like Arran with housing affordability issues and difficulties meeting demand for key workers or workers in the tourism sector. Public and private organisations across the network depend on ferry transport for goods in and out, business travel, and access to staff and visitors. Whilst business travel for meetings can increasingly be replaced by video calling, some cases require a person to be on site. For example, the islands are home to significant whisky production and aquaculture activities, highly reliant on sophisticated technology. Repair or maintenance of these systems requires that specialists travel over from the mainland, sometimes at very short notice. Freight carried on the ferries can be categorised into a few main types, namely: • Goods for use by island residents – food, fuel, medical supplies, other consumer items for retailers or ordered online for delivery Page 90
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30 Centre for Economics and Business Research • Inputs required for production of goods on-island, e.g. grain for whisky, hay for agriculture • Island ‘exports’ heading to the mainland for sale or further processing, e.g. whisky (mostly bottled on the mainland), livestock for slaughter Tourism plays an important role in economies across the CalMac network, with the islands welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each year10. Unreliability and capacity constraints can result in various costs to users, including: • Longer journeys because of delays • Stress associated with late arrival or uncertainty over ability to travel • Having to make alternative arrangements: using an alternative road or ferry route; flying; or travelling as a foot passenger rather than with a vehicle • Travelling at a sub-optimal time (whether later or earlier than planned) • Not being able to make a planned journey at all For island residents, journey disruption (whether cancellations, delays, or being unable to book due to capacity limits) can result in additional costs through diverted journeys or unexpected overnight stays, additional time spent waiting, or missing out on work, social engagements, or personal appointments. Beyond disruption impacts, timetables constrain the length of time that can be spent on the mainland in a day trip – this is particularly relevant for business and commuting travellers. For businesses, the costs of disruption include loss of access to visitors, having to pause production, being unable to get goods to market, warehousing to hedge against uncertainty, and extra travel and/or staff time costs – for instance overnight accommodation. Under the future scenarios explored, changes in capacity and reliability will affect these costs. Reliability and capacity enhancements would allow some of these costs to be avoided. The introduction of RET across the network in 2015 lowered vehicle transit prices for non-commercial vehicles, with major implications for islanders and tourists. Stakeholders generally saw RET as a positive development which supported island tourism and made accessing the mainland for shopping, social, medical, and other purposes easier. Despite these benefits, some problems were identified: • The increase in demand generated by RET was not matched by a corresponding increase in ferry capacity, intensifying capacity constraints across the network; recent delays in procurement and vessel reliability issues have exacerbated this. • The drastic reduction in fares for camper vans has led to many more tourists travelling with them rather than by car, taking up large amounts of space on the vehicle deck and – arguably – spending less on-island than they otherwise would (though recent increases in camper van fares are aimed at addressing this). • Island residents who need to travel at short notice, including for urgent medical or family purposes, feel these constraints most keenly. This is shown in Figure 17, which is based on the results of our passenger survey. o 33-40% of freight and tourist journeys were booked a month or more in advance. This reflects the fact that these journeys are often predictable rather than spontaneous. CalMac encourages freight users to block book well ahead of time, and stakeholders in the hospitality industry reported that they encourage visitors who have booked with them to do the same, in order to avoid capacity issues. 10 Tourism in the Outer Hebrides, Outer Hebrides Tourism. Link. In 2017, the Outer Hebrides alone welcomed 219,000 visitors. Page 91
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31 Centre for Economics and Business Research o Residents’ day-to-day journeys cannot always be anticipated in the same way. For ‘Other’ journeys (explained more fully in the following section) and business journeys only 10-15% are booked a month or more in advance. o Commuting journeys behave rather differently, with lots booked at short notice or on non-bookable services. Commuting journeys dominate on the Gourock-Dunoon and Gourock-Kilcreggan foot ferries, on which vehicle deck capacity is of course not a constraint in any case. Figure 17: How far in advance passengers booked, by journey purpose Future reliability and capacity enhancements could help to fully unlock the benefits of RET for island tourism and investment, whilst ensuring that residents can more easily access the mainland when they need to. In the remainder of this chapter and the following chapter, we draw together information from survey work and from some high-level modelling of transport costs and journey characteristics to examine how ferry connectivity is linked with ferry users’ benefits, demand for the services, and some wider economic outcomes. 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% Commuting Freight Business Tourism Other 1 month plus 1 week - 1 month 2 - 7 days Day of travel Non-bookable Page 92
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32 Centre for Economics and Business Research Model structure Our analysis is structured around CalMac routes11 and five different journey purposes: • Commuting: travel between home and a place of work done in non-work time. • Freight: transport of goods around the CalMac network – this may include food, medicine, and consumer goods to islands, or island products to mainland markets. • Business: travel in work time, i.e. by private contractors or public sector employees. • Tourism: leisure travel by those who live outside the CalMac network. • Other: a range of purposes, including travel to visit friends and family, shopping, and personal business. At the core of the analysis are generalised costs (GCs) of journeys. These include: • Monetary costs • Time (converted into monetary terms according to the relevant value of time), including boarding/alighting and expected delays • Capacity and reliability costs associated with the probability of being unable to make a journey; these are expressed in minutes and valued according to values of time Therefore, generalised cost savings do not represent growth in economic output, but an estimated willingness to pay for changes in frequency, capacity, and reliability. These benefits form a key part of the case for investment in ferry service improvements. Changes in fares would also appear in these benefits, but these are not included in our analysis – we assume that fare structure and levels do not change. GCs are estimated for the entirety of travellers’ journeys, including access and egress legs. Therefore, car or public/active transport costs associated with the journey either side of a ferry crossing are included; ultimately it is the total cost of the journey, not just the ferry leg of it, that determines whether or not it will be made. Changes in GCs are driven by ferry services though – we assume that characteristics of access and egress legs do not change. Our passenger survey was instrumental in understanding, among other things, the breakdown of journey purposes, party sizes, and access/egress distances and modes. Headline results Overall, as shown in Table 13, the monetised benefits in 2032 of the realisation of the Optimistic rather than the Pessimistic scenario are estimated at £67.7 million annually, with passenger journeys for the year expected to be 6.1% higher, at 6.1 million12. Table 13: Summary impacts of Optimistic scenario on demand and user benefits Demand (passenger journeys) Pessimistic 5,701,522 Optimistic 6,050,409 Change 348,887 Change % 6.1% Total generalised cost savings (£k) £67,677 Source: Cebr/Connected Economics modelling and analysis 11 In most cases these are straightforward, between two destinations – e.g. Ullapool-Stornoway or Sconser-Raasay – and a few which cover more than two ports in CalMac data are split out; for instance Uig-Tarbert/Lochmaddy (the Uig Triangle) is shown as Uig-Tarbert and Uig-Lochmaddy in this analysis. 12 This is 3.8% higher than 2019 demand (5.8 million). In the Pessimistic scenario, demand falls by 2.2% relative to 2019. Page 93
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33 Centre for Economics and Business Research The monetised impact here is for one year only and is undiscounted, consistent with the estimation of the economic footprint of CalMac; it is not adjusted to account for the future value of money. Using a 3.5% discount rate for 2022 onwards13, the single-year monetised benefit in 2032 is £48.0 million. Single-year values do not, however, capture the full scope of benefits from investment in ferry services, given that these investments are by definition long term. Table 14 shows 5, 10, and 15-year present values. These assume that full benefits of the Optimistic scenario (and full disbenefits of the Pessimistic scenario) persist from 2032 for the entirety of the period in question. Table 14: Generalised cost savings - 5, 10, 15-year present values Time period PV of generalised cost savings (£k) 2032-2036 £224,203 2032-2041 £412,977 2032-2046 £571,918 Source: Cebr/Connected Economics modelling and analysis Therefore, the estimated benefit in the 5 years from 2032 would be £224.2 million. Including an additional 5 or 10 years thereafter brings benefits to £413.0 million or £571.9 million respectively. Given the lifetime of ferry and infrastructure investments, a 15- year horizon seems entirely appropriate. The estimated benefits compare favourably to the £580 million planned investment by the Scottish Government – and there are further benefits not included in generalised cost savings but explored elsewhere in this document. Including the 15-year PVs of the agglomeration, competition, and earnings impacts discussed in the following chapter brings total benefits to £695.0 million. Our model is focused on estimation of 2032 benefits. These present value figures, which assumes those benefits persist until at least 2046, should be treated with caution, and some caveats should be noted: • At least some of the benefits of the Optimistic scenario will start before 2032 – for instance with the delivery of Hull 801, Hull 802, and the two Islay vessels – but these are not estimated in our model and not included in the PV calculations. • In the Pessimistic scenario, continued ageing of the fleet after 2032 would likely result in further reliability disbenefits. Other things being equal, this would increase the relative benefits of the Optimistic scenario. • Benefits of the investments made under the Optimistic scenario would begin to diminish in the absence of further continuing investment – i.e., to support harbour upkeep and further vessel replacement. For example, assuming that the two Islay vessels are delivered as planned in 2024 and 2025 they would each be over 20 years old by 2046, with potential implications for reliability and maintenance costs. • Any present value calculations, especially those which project decades into the future, are highly sensitive to one’s choice of discount rate. Using the 3.5% recommended by DfT results in a total figure of £695.0 million. Using 3.0% instead increases it to £752.5 million and using 4.0% decreases it to £642.4 million. 13 This means that for each year after 2022, values would be discounted by 3.5% more, with these discount rates compounding; 2022 values are not discounted, 2023 values are divided by 1.035, 2024 by 1.071 (i.e. 1.0352), and so on – 2032 values are divided by 1.411 (1.03510). The 3.5% discount rate is recommended by TAG Unit A1.1 – Cost Benefit Analysis (Link, paragraph 2.7.7). Page 94
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34 Centre for Economics and Business Research For the rest of this document, socio-economic benefits are generally presented in single-year undiscounted terms, with 15-year present values provided for selected impacts. Breakdowns of core results Benefits can also be broken down by journey purpose and by route. Table 15 shows that nearly half of the increase in demand is driven by growth in tourism, and the £34.8 million in benefits accruing to these users makes up half of the total. This is unsurprising given the existing importance of tourism demand, and the improvements delivered to tourist-oriented routes under the Optimistic scenario. The highest growth in percentage terms is for business travel, which increases by 7.6% – this reflects business travellers’ high value of time and resulting sensitivity to changes in GCs. Table 15: Impacts by journey purpose Commuting Freight Business Tourism Other Change in demand 46,961 4,905 14,581 171,961 110,477 % change in demand 4.7% 5.5% 7.6% 6.7% 6.0% GC savings (£k) £6,971 £1,632 £2,379 £34,785 £21,911 Source: Cebr/Connected Economics modelling and analysis Turning to impacts by route, which are shown in Table 16: • The biggest growth in absolute demand is for Ardrossan-Brodick, with almost 100,000 additional passenger journeys made. This is despite the route benefitting from the introduction of the Glen Sannox in either scenario; however, in the Optimistic scenario the greater improvement in reliability (on a route which presently suffers a lot of cancellations) drives significant increases in demand. • There is substantial demand growth, of nearly 20% overall, on the Kennacraig- Islay routes; this reflects the freight and tourist demands generated by the whisky industry there14 – in the Pessimistic scenario, there are no new vessels serving these routes so capacity continues to be a major constraint. • The Mallaig-Armadale, Mallaig-Small Isles, and Oban/Mallaig-Lochboisdale routes also see very high demand growth. This is driven more by reliability than capacity – in the Optimistic scenario cancellations decline sharply, and in the case of these routes they start from a high base. The Small Isles experience frequent cancellations due to harbour infrastructure issues, and these are assumed to be ameliorated. Mallaig-Armadale, as a non-lifeline route, is subject to its sailings being diverted to cover lifeline services elsewhere (including in the Small Isles) – greater redundancy in the fleet is assumed to reduce this issue substantially. • Benefits for Oban-Craignure and the Uig Triangle routes seem relatively modest given their importance. This is because these routes receive new vessels (Loch Frisa and Hull 802 respectively) in either scenario. • Kerrera-Gallanach already has a reliable service and is not expected to receive a new vessel in the Optimistic scenario, so there is no impact on this route. 14 Bespoke assumptions are made regarding underlying freight demand growth for Kennacraig-Port Ellen and Kennacraig-Port Askaig in the model, using VRDP forecasts provided to the authors by CalMac. Multiple stakeholders in the whisky industry on Islay expressed concerns around the ability of existing capacity to meet this demand. Page 95
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35 Centre for Economics and Business Research Table 16: Impacts by route Change in demand GC savings (£k) Passenger journeys % Ardmhor - Eriskay 2,416 3.9% £493 Ardrossan - Brodick 93,783 11.0% £17,165 Ardrossan - Campbeltown 959 11.3% £290 Brodick - Campbeltown 18 0.8% £5 Berneray - Leverburgh 4,327 5.9% £925 Claonaig - Lochranza 1,094 1.6% £178 Tarbert - Lochranza 286 7.1% £55 Colintraive - Rhubodach 2,566 1.3% £156 Fionnphort - Iona 4,461 1.9% £330 Lochaline - Fishnish 243 0.2% £38 Gourock - Dunoon 15,143 5.3% £2,338 Gourock - Kilcreggan 4,901 5.8% £361 Kennacraig - Port Ellen 29,204 22.3% £6,328 Kennacraig - Port Askaig 17,432 13.7% £5,022 Oban - Colonsay 798 6.8% £223 Port Askaig - Colonsay 1,025 10.2% £235 Port Askaig - Oban 753 7.4% £258 Kerrera - Gallanach 0 0.0% £0 Largs - Cumbrae Slip 18,239 2.4% £1,179 Mallaig - Armadale 47,058 15.9% £9,566 Mallaig - Lochboisdale 5,066 18.5% £1,913 Mallaig - Eigg 1,607 20.6% £444 Mallaig - Muck 1,440 21.1% £418 Mallaig - Rum 1,373 20.9% £396 Mallaig - Canna 1,342 17.0% £468 Oban - Lochboisdale 733 18.7% £339 Oban - Coll 1,207 6.4% £379 Coll - Tiree 1,450 7.7% £328 Oban - Tiree 1,075 5.7% £385 Oban - Castlebay 2,968 6.1% £1,225 Oban - Craignure 17,194 2.6% £2,655 Oban - Lismore 1,213 5.0% £199 Sconser - Raasay 864 1.0% £117 Tarbert (Loch Fyne) - Portavadie 3,548 3.9% £597 Tayinloan - Gigha 1,394 2.0% £195 Tobermory - Kilchoan 1,026 1.9% £182 Uig - Lochmaddy 2,932 2.8% £779 Uig - Tarbert 2,813 2.9% £742 Ullapool - Stornoway 15,597 5.4% £4,807 Wemyss Bay - Rothesay 39,339 5.7% £5,967 Source: Cebr/Connected Economics modelling and analysis Page 96
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36 Centre for Economics and Business Research One avenue not explored in our model is new connectivity brought about by restoring former routes or creating new ones. Nevertheless, such investments could have interesting impacts. CalMac’s operations are focused on the hubs of Oban and Mallaig, with other mainland ports serving individual islands and a few inter-island connections, e.g. within the Outer Hebrides and between large islands and smaller neighbours (like Skye and Raasay). Some defunct CalMac routes ended because fixed links or alternative routes have replaced them: for example Kyle of Lochalsh – Kyleakin (last sailing 1995), now served by the Skye Bridge, and Kyles Scalpay, Isle of Harris – Scalpay (1997). Other inter-island connections have, however, been lost as resources are focused on connecting islands to the mainland. Potential benefits from restoration of these routes depends on their location and economic context: • Between 1994 and 1998, a Brodick – Largs – Rothesay service linked the two popular tourist destinations of Arran and Bute. Nowadays, travel between these islands would require two separate ferry crossings with a car journey in between. Given the popularity of ‘island-hopping’ holidays, for instance within the Outer Hebrides, a new link between Arran and Bute could generate new tourist demand, as well as improving inter-island social and business connections. • From 1991 to 1994 a Mallaig – Tobermory – Coll – Tiree service was in operation. Ultimately this was discontinued due to a lack of demand and infrastructure constraints. Nevertheless, restoration of inter-island connections between Mull, Coll, and Tiree does present an interesting possibility. The two smaller islands have a population of less than 1,000 between them, so residents depend on journeys to the mainland for large shopping trips and various private and public services. Access to their larger neighbour would allow for some trips to the mainland to be avoided, and Tobermory’s ‘catchment area’ would be increased, allowing for a wider range of goods and services to be offered. Depending on the timetable, commuting into Tobermory may also become feasible. This service might replace the Oban – Coll – Tiree sailings, with travel to the mainland via Mull. The above impacts are speculative – evidence to robustly estimate them does not exist, and doing so goes beyond the scope of our modelling framework. Moreover, there may be significant infrastructure implications to route restoration/creation, and not just at ports – for instance Mull acting as a land bridge between Coll/Tiree and Oban would probably require significant road upgrades (and perhaps new public transport services) between Tobermory and Craignure. Page 97
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37 Centre for Economics and Business Research 6. Supporting prosperity Introduction In this chapter we draw together the findings of the research and examine the impacts that these could have on the long-term prosperity of the islands. Beyond the direct, indirect, induced impacts of CalMac’s activities and supply chains, and its downstream impacts as businesses and organisations use ferry services in their own operations, there is the potential for longer-term impacts on the economies of the communities served. These are the spillover impacts (sometimes referred to as catalytic impacts) introduced in Figure 1 in the Introduction. These impacts are inherently more uncertain than others assessed in this study but are clearly an enormously important component of CalMac’s activities given its lifeline role to most of the communities it serves. Figure 18 provides a high- level view of the impacts considered here. Figure 18: Overview of wider impacts and transmission mechanisms Impacts on key island industries The increased ferry demand generated by service improvements is not just a benefit for those making these journeys, but for businesses which rely on the flow of people and goods back and forth. In this section we review in more detail impacts on selected industries of service improvements. It is important to recognise that much of this output and employment growth will not be additional at the Scottish or British level. Growth on the islands and remote mainland locations will displace some growth from elsewhere. To give a practical example, improved ferry services might allow distilleries to continue expanding or opening on islands. In the absence of that improvement, those distilleries could expand or open on the mainland in response to global demand – so growth and jobs would have still been created, but not on the CalMac network. Similarly, tourists visiting the islands may have otherwise gone to the Scottish mainland or elsewhere in the UK rather than going abroad or not holidaying at all. Page 98
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38 Centre for Economics and Business Research Moreover, the significant business and freight user benefits estimated partially capture increased output impacts – discussed further in the Competition subsection15. Nevertheless, economic growth on the islands – whether it is additional at the national level or not – has strong policy support, as discussed in detail in our Phase 1 report. Supporting island tourism The tourist industry, vital to the economies of so many islands on the network, is of course heavily dependent on the connectivity provided by ferry services. Capacity challenges, especially in the peak summer months, and reliability issues do, however, add to the cost of island holidays and create challenges for businesses which rely on tourists. Tourist industry stakeholders reported that: • Experience and perception of unreliable services can deter tourists from making repeat visits or booking island visits at all. • Restricted capacity and the resulting difficulty in short-notice bookings means that last- minute vacancies cannot be filled. • Periods of disruption do not just result in lost patronage during that period: traffic backlogs take days to clear, and news of disruption leads to upcoming bookings being cancelled and not recovered. • Increased unreliability over the last few years has had measurable impacts on businesses. Auchrannie Resort16 on Arran provided some figures to the authors: o Occupancy in the first quarter of 2018 was 85%; in 2022 this was 74%. 12- month occupancy has fallen from 90% in 2017/18 to 85% in 2021/22. o An extended period of disruption in April and early May, during which only one ferry was operating, resulted in approximately £85k of lost revenue. • Staff have to spend significant time on managing disruption, rather than on their core job roles – this is stressful for them, may contribute to staff retention issues, and is ultimately a drain on productivity. • On routes where journey times are in principle suitable for commuters (e.g. Mallaig- Armadale, Ardrossan-Brodick), in reality the reliability and timetabling constraints do not allow this. Arran in particular faces housing supply issues on-island, so attracting and retaining staff is very difficult and turnover is high. Tourism has been a mainstay of the islands’ economies for a long time. Two recent phenomena have boosted demand further, however, making the opportunities from future growth greater: • RET, by lowering prices and making island holidays more affordable. • Covid-19. Stakeholders reported that the pandemic had resulted in many tourists who would otherwise have gone abroad holidaying in the islands, and in a lengthening of the tourist season beyond the traditional summer peak – and that these trends seemed to be persisting. 15 TAG unit 2.2. – appraisal of induced investment impacts, Department for Transport, September 2016. Link. Paragraph 4.1.2 states that, ‘In a perfectly competitive market the value of the output is equal to the cost of production. A reduction in generalised travel costs lowers the costs of production, which as noted in section 2 acts to raise the effective return to capital and induce investment. The value of the resulting increased output will equal the magnitude of the change in generalised travel costs. Therefore the welfare effects, associated with increased output, resulting from a transport investment will be fully captured by business user benefits.’ Perfect competition is, however, a strong assumption, and certainly one which does not hold in small island communities. 16 Auchrannie is a resort in Brodick, Arran which attracts roughly 45,000 overnight visitors per annum. Figures quoted are used with permission. Page 99
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39 Centre for Economics and Business Research This section explores the impact of improved services on the islands’ tourism economies. We focus on the scale and impact of increased overnight tourism to the islands in terms of number of visits made, total spending and nights stayed, and employment and earnings impacts. These estimates are based on: • The change in annual tourism ferry journeys by route made in the Optimistic vs. the Pessimistic scenario (172,000). • Assumptions on how many ferry journeys a tourist makes during one overnight trip; in the absence of hard data, we assume four for most destinations (allowing for some island-hopping or visits spanning multiple islands) and two for Na h-Eileanan Siar. • Average spending and nights per person-trip by local authority area from the 2019 GB Tourism Survey17. These are summarised in Table 17. • The estimated tourist spend required to create one additional job in the UK tourism sector – just over £65,000, based on a Deloitte and Oxford Economics report for Visit Britain18. • Average earnings per tourism job, drawing on the same report’s definition of the sector and earnings data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE)19. Impacts are produced by route and presented in Table 18, aggregated to local authority area. In total, these indicate an extra £13.8 million in annual spending (15-year PV £116.7 million) by tourists would result, translating into over 200 jobs with associated earnings of £4.3 million (15-year PV £36.4 million). Table 17: Overnight tourism characteristics by local authority Local authority Average per person-trip Spend Nights Argyll and Bute £294.84 4.3 Na h-Eileanan Siar £470.01 8.8 Highland £302.96 4.2 North Ayrshire £237.33 3.7 Source: 2019 GB Tourism Survey, Cebr analysis Table 18: Overnight tourism impacts by local authority Local authority Impact on Spending (£k) Nights Employment Earnings (£k) Argyll and Bute £4,561 66,061 70 £1,423 Na h-Eileanan Siar £2,516 47,115 39 £785 Highland £3,849 53,766 59 £1,201 North Ayrshire £2,881 45,326 44 £899 Total £13,807 212,269 212 £4,307 Source: Cebr/Connected Economics modelling and analysis 17 GB Tourism Survey (domestic overnight tourism): Latest results, Visit Britain. Link. 18 Economic impact and employment, Visit Britain. Link. £65,000 figure is based on conversion of £54,000 per job from 2013 to 2022 prices. 19 Earnings and hours worked, all employees: ASHE Table 5, ONS, 2022. Link. Figures from Table 5.7a. Page 100
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40 Centre for Economics and Business Research On the one hand, these may be slight overestimates because some tourists will switch to sailing from flying rather than being ‘new’ to the islands, but there are probably more reasons to think that true impacts could be even higher: • A more reliable ferry service will improve the profile of the islands as a place to visit, and may generate a more significant change in demand. • We have assumed that the duration and spend of tourist visits in the future stays the same as it does now. Improved perceptions of island holidays may result in longer stays. Moreover, ferry unreliability can shorten visits in more direct ways – either through delaying arrival or causing tourists to hedge against unreliability by leaving a night or two earlier than they otherwise might. • Earnings impacts only include salary and wages to employees. Given the prevalence of small, locally-owned businesses on islands, further earnings can be expected to accrue to owners as profit. Growing the island whisky industry Whisky is an iconic Scottish product – according to the Scotch Whisky Association, in 2021 exports of it were worth £4.5 billion, with the industry employing 11,000 people and providing £5.5 billion in GVA to the UK economy20. In 2016, Islay whisky production alone is estimated to have generated £196 million in excise tax revenue21. Most of the 130 malt and grain distilleries, including many of the largest producers by volume, are situated on the mainland, but the islands are home to several, including distinctive and high-end brands22: • On Arran, Lochranza Distillery and Lagg Distillery (both owned by Isle of Arran Distillers). • On Mull, Tobermory Distillery. • On Lewis and Harris, the Isle of Harris Distillery and Abhainn Dearg Distillery. Elsewhere in the Outer Hebrides, the North Uist Distillery has recently opened. • On Skye, Torabhaig Distillery and Talisker Distillery, plus Isle of Raasay Distillery on neighbouring Raasay. • Islay hosts nine active distilleries, plus one on neighbouring Jura, with more set to open in the coming years. The project team spoke to representatives of several distilleries as part of the stakeholder engagement process and is extremely grateful for their time and input. Ferry reliability and capacity concerns were widely voiced as posing difficulties in reliably bringing in inputs and sending outputs to market. Islay in particular is dominated by the whisky industry, generating significant freight demand and severe capacity challenges on the Kennacraig-Port Ellen and Kennacraig-Port Askaig routes. The success of Islay whisky means that the industry is expanding, but stakeholders felt this growth would be severely constrained without new capacity23. The two new vessels for Islay which have recently been ordered are expected to increase vehicle deck capacity on the Islay routes by almost 40%24. We estimate the impacts of improved services on the whisky industry in 2032. These are based on: 20 Facts & Figures, Scotch Whisky Association. Link. 21 The flipside of the Islay whisky boom, Scotch Whisky Association. Link. 22 Distillery Map, Scotch Whisky Association. Link. 23 At time of writing, the two new Islay vessels have been ordered but construction is not underway. Therefore, they have not been included in the Pessimistic scenario, which only includes new vessels acquired (MV Loch Frisa) or under construction (Hull 801/Glen Sannox and Hull 802). This means that the Optimistic scenario vs the Pessimistic scenario reflects the full impact of the new vessels. Sensitivity tests shown in an appendix include one which treats these vessels as part of the Pessimistic scenario. 24 New vessels for Islay, CMAL. Link. Page 101
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41 Centre for Economics and Business Research • The change in annual freight ferry journeys by route made in the Optimistic vs. the Pessimistic scenario (4,900). • Estimation of the relationship between HGV movements and whisky production, drawing on desk research and our conversations with distilleries. • To estimate the proportion of new HGV movements generated by whisky production: o For Lewis and Harris, Arran, and Mull, percentage of their GVA which is relevant to whisky manufacture25. o For Islay and Jura, we assume a higher share to reflect the growth of the whisky industry there and strong capacity constraints – on this basis it seems entirely plausible that whisky would make up an outsize share of any freight growth. o We do not estimate impacts for Skye – the Skye Bridge already provides a freight connection to the mainland, with Mallaig-Armadale primarily used by tourists and carrying very few commercial vehicles. • Estimation of the relationship between whisky production and employment generated, and an assumed £35,000 average salary for production employees. Impacts by island are shown in Table 19. Unsurprisingly, these impacts are overwhelmingly concentrated in Islay and Jura; impacts for other islands should be treated as very approximate. The employment impact may seem small, but this includes on-island production jobs only. Most of the distilleries we met with employed more people in their visitor centres – but these are not directly driven by production and in any case have been accounted for above under tourism. Moreover, mainland production jobs (e.g. bottling) may also result from this extra output. To put the production impacts into context, Caol Ila is by far the largest distillery on Islay, producing 3 million litres of pure alcohol per year26. Assuming 40% ABV this is about 20 million bottles per year. Therefore, for Islay alone, the impact is equivalent to adding a new distillery with half the output of its biggest existing producer. Table 19: Whisky industry impacts by island Production (75cl bottles, thousands) Employment Earnings (£k) Total 9,713 46 £1,596 Islay and Jura 9,222 43.3 £1,515 Lewis and Harris 173 0.8 £28 Mull 135 0.6 £22 Arran 183 0.9 £30 Source: Cebr/Connected Economics modelling and analysis 15-year PV of the £1.6 million annual earnings impact is £13.5 million. These impacts assume the geographical distribution and structure of island whisky production stays the same in the future. An improved ferry service could, however, lead to the opening of distilleries where there are none at present, or to existing distilleries moving more of their operations on-island; for example, Bruichladdich on Islay is unusual for bottling whisky on-site rather than transporting it to the mainland, but easier freight transport may lead to others following suit. 25 SIC Code 10-15, Manufacture of food, beverages, textiles and clothing. This will include non-whisky manufacturing for some islands. Given, however, the outsize freight demands generated by distilling this is likely to be a reasonable estimate. 26 Caol Ila, Islay.com. Link. Page 102
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42 Centre for Economics and Business Research Further economic impacts Improved connectivity through reduced transport costs can unlock various wider economic impacts. Most relevant in this context are: • Productivity-enhancing agglomeration benefits through improvements in effective economic density (as business-to-business transport costs are reduced) • Reduction in the ‘island premium’ through enhanced competition • Business location decisions and consequential employment impacts Agglomeration There is a wealth of economic evidence to support a link between effective economic density27 and productivity, that is to say output per worker. These agglomeration benefits can broadly be categorised as follows: • ‘Learning’ through knowledge spillovers, as the exchange of best practice and skills through business-to-business interaction and movement of employees between companies is facilitated by proximity of firms in the same or similar industries; • ‘Matching’ of jobs to workers, suppliers to firms and firms to customers. A high density of related firms means that, for example, employers can more easily hire workers who meet their specific skills requirements; • ‘Sharing’ of risk, opportunities for specialization, and access to intermediate inputs. For example as suppliers of intermediate inputs locate close to clusters of firms, they will enjoy lower average transport costs and increasing returns to scale. Whilst agglomeration benefits are more commonly associated with schemes serving dense urban centres, there is no reason to think that they do not apply in an island context. They were estimated based on the following: • For each of the 16 island regions assessed in 3. Current economic footprint of CalMac and 4. Economic footprint under alternative scenarios, the change in the demand- weighted average generalised cost of access28. o For Skye and Raasay, estimated impacts are substantially lowered, by 75%, as the Skye Bridge makes ferry connectivity a poor measure of overall connectivity. • Estimated compositions of GVA by sector (included in an appendix to this document). • The agglomeration elasticities used by the DfT in their Transport Appraisal Guidance (TAG)29. These elasticities are for Manufacturing, Construction, Consumer services, and Producer services30, with ONS sectors grouped into each of these. Estimated benefits are shown in Table 20. These relate to static agglomeration – that is to say they refer to benefits from increased productivity for existing economic activity, rather than assuming changes in land use (the location of employment). Dynamic agglomeration economies may drive further productivity benefits, through businesses physically relocating to better-connected areas, though in the absence of a full LUTI (land use/transport interaction) model these have not been estimated, as to do so at all robustly is not possible. 27 Economic density relates to the physical proximity of business locations. Transport improvements effectively increase it. 28 Only the change in the ferry element of travel is included, i.e. this change is for a port-to-port journey not including access and egress by car or public transport. 29 Based on Graham et al. (2010). 30 Elasticities are 0.021 for Manufacturing, 0.034 for Construction, 0.024 for Consumer services, and 0.083 for Producer services. Page 103
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43 Centre for Economics and Business Research Table 20: Agglomeration impacts by island region Island Agglomeration impact (£k) Coll and Tiree £31 Mull and Iona £32 Kerrera £0 Lismore £2 Jura and Colonsay £6 Islay £204 Gigha £1 Bute £168 Barra £21 Eriskay and South Uist £101 Benbecula £69 North Uist £9 Lewis and Harris £338 Small Isles £13 Skye and Raasay £340 Arran £150 Great Cumbrae £2 Total £1,488 Source: Cebr/Connected Economics modelling and analysis Therefore, an overall productivity uplift of just under £1.5 million per year for existing island firms is estimated (15-year PV £12.6 million). This is a modest impact, reflecting the relatively small population of the islands. Nevertheless, it amounts to roughly £26 per person, or £56 per household annually. Looking at results by island, these are largely a function of current economic size and scale of service improvements. Therefore, large islands like Lewis and Harris, Arran, Islay, and Bute see the biggest benefits – as does Skye, despite the penalty applied to reflect the presence of a bridge, because of the scale of reliability improvements on the Mallaig-Armadale route. Meanwhile Kerrera and Gigha are both small, already enjoy dedicated vessels, and only experience disruption relatively infrequently. Competition In TAG, the recommended rule of thumb for estimating the value of output change in imperfectly competitive markets in response to a transport improvement is to take 10% of business and freight user benefits31. Other work has suggested an upper limit of 30-40%32; we therefore assume 30% given the remote island context and greater potential for market isolation and therefore power to exist. These benefits, like agglomeration impacts, represent an addition to GDP as a direct result of lower transport costs. Estimates by route are shown in Table 21. 31 TAG unit 2.2. – appraisal of induced investment impacts, Department for Transport, September 2016. Link. Paragraph 4.3.1. 32 Wider economic impacts in remote areas, James Laird, 2009. Link. Page 6. Page 104
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44 Centre for Economics and Business Research Table 21: Output impacts from enhanced competition User benefits (£k) Value of output change Business Freight Ardmhor - Eriskay £49 £24 £22 Ardrossan - Brodick £748 £240 £297 Ardrossan - Campbeltown £2 £1 £1 Brodick - Campbeltown £0 £0 £0 Berneray - Leverburgh £94 £21 £34 Claonaig - Lochranza £0 £1 £0 Tarbert - Lochranza £0 £1 £0 Colintraive - Rhubodach £1 £4 £1 Fionnphort - Iona £11 £3 £4 Lochaline - Fishnish £0 £1 £0 Gourock - Dunoon £110 £0 £33 Gourock - Kilcreggan £17 £0 £5 Kennacraig - Port Ellen £258 £367 £187 Kennacraig - Port Askaig £204 £326 £159 Oban - Colonsay £10 £3 £4 Port Askaig - Colonsay £26 £9 £10 Port Askaig - Oban £11 £9 £6 Kerrera - Gallanach £0 £0 £0 Largs - Cumbrae Slip £13 £7 £6 Mallaig - Armadale £12 £6 £6 Mallaig - Lochboisdale £84 £25 £33 Mallaig - Eigg £25 £4 £9 Mallaig - Muck £24 £4 £8 Mallaig - Rum £22 £3 £8 Mallaig - Canna £26 £4 £9 Oban - Lochboisdale £8 £15 £7 Oban - Coll £17 £18 £10 Coll - Tiree £36 £17 £16 Oban - Tiree £17 £19 £11 Oban - Castlebay £30 £33 £19 Oban - Craignure £107 £40 £44 Oban - Lismore £8 £6 £4 Sconser - Raasay £5 £1 £2 Tarbert (Loch Fyne) - Portavadie £1 £4 £1 Tayinloan - Gigha £8 £5 £4 Tobermory - Kilchoan £1 £0 £0 Uig - Lochmaddy £19 £23 £12 Uig - Tarbert £18 £22 £12 Ullapool - Stornoway £112 £249 £108 Wemyss Bay - Rothesay £246 £113 £108 Total £2,379 £1,632 £1,203 Source: Cebr/Connected Economics modelling and analysis Page 105
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45 Centre for Economics and Business Research It is not possible to robustly attribute these outcomes to individual islands – some benefits will accrue to mainland areas which now have improved access to island firms, for example. Our conversations with island stakeholders do strongly suggest, however, that there is a great deal of scope for improved services to benefit island or remote mainland households and businesses through this channel: • Construction is subject to a significant 'island premium', adding to the cost of residential and commercial developments. To some extent this is inherent given the geographical remoteness of communities and thin labour markets, but is also affected by ferry services: o Stakeholders in the construction industry estimated this premium at about 15- 20% relative to the west coast of Scotland (itself subject to a roughly 10% premium versus the Central Belt). o For bigger deliveries such as construction materials, the Small Isles often rely on a charter vessel which is more expensive but flexible and not subject to the same capacity constraints; being able to receive more freight via CalMac would save some of this expense. o Where daily commuting is not feasible (or reliability/capacity constraints make it uneconomic), workforces have to be accommodated overnight, contributing to the overall expense of projects. • Aside from a handful33, businesses depend on the ferries for freight in and out. Reliability or capacity constraints can result in production stoppages and loss of revenue, and ultimately add to the cost of transporting goods. • Any business which uses specialist machinery – distilleries, cheese producers, fish farms – may need to have this machinery repaired by a specialist at short notice in the event of a breakdown. This can mean the cost of flying a specialist in (not an option if they need to bring heavy equipment) or having such a specialist in-house, or being subject to operational disruption whilst waiting for a ferry crossing to be available. • Labour supply limitations, even on larger islands like Islay and Arran, mean that skilled tradespeople e.g. electricians and joiners command a significant wage premium and may not be available at short notice, necessitating bringing in contractors from the mainland – in either case this results in time and money penalties to having work done. • Where an island's main ferry experiences frequently capacity and reliability issues, travellers may use more remote but more reliable services instead. For example, stakeholders on Mull and Arran consistently reported that the ferries out of Fishnish and Lochranza respectively provided more reliable access to the mainland than the Oban-Craignure or Ardrossan-Brodick services. These services do, however, tend to entail longer drives to ultimate destinations on the mainland, which comes with a direct monetary cost in wages and fuel. All of the phenomena above imply that prices will be above (and therefore quantities demanded and supplied below) those which would occur in a more competitive market. Improved ferry services would ameliorate these issues somewhat, leading to increased output. Using the 10% rule of thumb as advised by the DfT results in competition benefits in 2032 of £401,000. Using 40% – the absolute upper limit implied by the literature – would make them £1.6 million. The 15-year PV of the central £1.2 million estimate is £10.2 million. 33 For example, fish farms with very high feed requirements who use their own vessels. Page 106
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46 Centre for Economics and Business Research Employment Whilst employment generated in specific sectors is estimated in ‘Impacts on key island industries’, improved connectivity stands to generate employment across island economies. We estimate this overall employment impact in a similar way to agglomeration, based on changes in the demand-weighted average generalised cost of access for the 16 island regions. An elasticity of employment with respect to connectivity is then applied34, producing estimated impacts as shown in Table 22. Results for some of the smallest islands35 are grouped together – due to their small existing employment levels, impacts at the individual island level are not robust. The overall impact is a little under 2% of current employment level across the islands. Table 22: Overall employment impacts Island Employment impact Coll and Tiree 9 Mull and Iona 12 Islay 54 Bute 43 Barra 10 Eriskay and South Uist 25 Benbecula 8 Lewis and Harris 111 Skye and Raasay 80 Arran 62 Others 16 Total 429 Source: Cebr/Connected Economics modelling and analysis These employment impacts are not additional to those estimated by industry. The whisky and tourism jobs created through improved services – though calculated in more bespoke ways – are ultimately a result of better connectivity, so to include them separately from the above would be double-counting. Therefore, an estimated 429 jobs are created, of which 212 are in tourism and 46 are in whisky production. Total impacts, including earnings, are summarised in Table 2336. Table 23: Overall employment and earnings impacts Employment impact Earnings impact (£k) Total 429 £11,873 of which tourism 212 £4,307 of which whisky 46 £1,596 Source: Cebr/Connected Economics modelling and analysis 34 New Road Infrastructure: the Effects on Firms, Gibbons et al., September 2012. Link. Elasticity of 0.361 from Table 2, regression 5 used. 35 Kerrera, Lismore, Jura and Colonsay, Gigha, North Uist, Small Isles, Cumbrae. 36 Earnings and hours worked, place of work by local authority: ASHE Table 7, ONS, 2022. Link. Figures from Table 7.7a. Page 107
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47 Centre for Economics and Business Research As with some of the other impacts explored here, these are not necessarily additional to Scotland or Britain; they may simply be moving employment and earnings to island communities from the mainland37. In 15-year PV terms, the £11.9 million earnings impact is £100.3 million. Attraction of key workers An issue of particular concern across the islands is the attraction of key workers, including teachers, medical personnel, and local authority staff. Robustly estimating impacts of improved ferry services on these groups’ decisions over whether or not to live on the islands is not possible. Nevertheless, the available evidence suggests that a positive impact would follow. A Scottish Government study38 of public sector employers, ostensibly focused on affordable housing, found that: • Health Boards and councils operating in island and rural communities face significant problems with recruitment and retention of staff. • Drivers of these difficulties include geographic remoteness, cost of living (including public transport), and access to housing. • Lack of suitable accommodation is a particular problem in the attraction of fixed term or temporary staff, teachers and social care staff, and those on lower pay grades. These findings strongly reflect themes from our discussions with island residents and public sector employers. Improved ferry services which make coming and going easier, cheaper, and more flexible would effectively make island communities less remote. They can also reduce the cost of living – by allowing easier transport of goods from or shopping trips to the mainland – and make development of new housing easier. They could, therefore, bring more key workers to the islands. Ultimately, impacts would also depend on political decisions – where health services or local authority functions have been centralised to the mainland, attraction of key workers will be of limited benefit unless they are decentralised again. Addressing population decline Alongside the policy support for economic growth in the Scottish islands there is strong support – and indeed a strong desire on the islands themselves – for population to grow. Many island communities face declining, ageing populations as young people leave (at least temporarily) for employment and social opportunities elsewhere and incomers are disproportionately retirees. The factors driving depopulation are partly inherent to any remote, thinly-populated community, but interact with capacity and reliability issues on the ferries, and our engagement strongly suggested that service improvements could have positive impacts: • Lack of affordable housing suitable for young workers and families. This is driven by demand as well as supply, with the islands being popular destinations for those looking to move when they retire and second home buyers. Geographic remoteness and thin labour markets make housing construction on the islands inherently more expensive, but improved ferry services would mitigate this and help bring forward new construction. 37 TAG unit 2.3. – employment effects, Department for Transport, May 2019. Link. Conventional appraisal as covered in this document would value tax revenue impacts of increased productivity or employment – if they can be demonstrated – but, “it should be assumed as a starting point that transport schemes are not able to increase net national employment.” (paragraph 3.2.4) 38 Affordable housing for key workers, Scottish Government, August 2015. Link. Page 108
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48 Centre for Economics and Business Research • Limited range of jobs (particularly graduate and/or well-paid jobs) locally or commutable from home. In the Clyde (including Dunoon and Kilcreggan as well as islands) and other locations close to the mainland like Mull or Sleat, Skye, better services could open up access to mainland jobs. • Social and leisure limitations of island life, and difficulties in getting to the mainland at short notice for sporting, leisure, or family events. Increased capacity makes it less likely that residents would have to book services weeks in advance, allowing a greater degree of spontaneity. • Difficulty getting to the mainland for medical appointments made at short notice (exacerbated by centralisation of NHS services) – this is particularly challenging for ill and elderly residents. Overall demographic trends are illustrated in Figure 19 and Figure 2039. Since 2000, three of the four council areas in the Hebridean and Clyde network have seen population decline, while the population of Scotland as a whole has grown 8%. Highland has seen faster growth – but this area is dominated by mainland communities including Inverness. When looking at current age distributions, all areas have a lot of 55 and overs and few young adults and young working- age people (17-34) compared to Scotland as a whole. Figure 19: Population indices for Scotland and selected council areas 1981-2020 (2000 = 100) Source: Cebr analysis Figure 20: Population by age, Scotland and selected council areas 2020 Source: Cebr analysis 39 Data from Population Estimates Time Series Data, National Records of Scotland, June 2021. Link. 90.0 95.0 100.0 105.0 110.0 115.0 120.0 19811983198519871989199119931995199719992001200320052007200920112013201520172019 Scotland Argyll and Bute Highland Na h-Eileanan Siar North Ayrshire 0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0% 30.0% 35.0% Scotland Argyll and Bute Highland Na h-Eileanan Siar North Ayrshire 0 - 16 17 - 34 35 - 54 55 - 74 75+ Page 109
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49 Centre for Economics and Business Research In order to estimate the impact of improved services on island populations, we estimate the generalised cost savings which accrue to households by island40 and apply a migration elasticity41 which relates quality of life to residential choice. Resulting population impacts are shown in Table 24. These are estimated in terms of people then converted into households (according to average Scottish household size). Table 24: Population impacts Island People Households Coll and Tiree 18 8 Mull and Iona 49 23 Kerrera 0 0 Lismore 4 2 Jura and Colonsay 7 3 Islay 196 92 Gigha 3 1 Bute 99 46 Barra 35 16 Eriskay and South Uist 26 12 Benbecula 19 9 North Uist 24 11 Lewis and Harris 122 57 Small Isles 23 11 Skye and Raasay 3 1 Arran 375 175 Great Cumbrae 32 15 Total 1,034 483 Source: Cebr/Connected Economics modelling and analysis These results attempt to predict how improved ferry services will translate into people’s decisions to stay in or move to communities, some of which are very small. Therefore, impacts should be treated as very speculative – residential decisions are made over long periods of time and differences of one or two households either way would significantly change results for some islands. Realisation of population growth also depends on housing availability – either through regeneration of vacant, obsolete stock or new construction. Ferry reliability and capacity issues have been identified as a barrier to housing development across the network – though in theory improved services (especially for freight and business) should help to ease these constraints. Although these population impacts have been estimated independently of the employment impacts elsewhere, they are broadly consistent with them. In Scotland as a whole, the ratio of employment to population is 0.4942. The ratio of the estimated employment and population 40 By definition, tourist benefits do not accrue to island households, so these are not included. ‘Other’ journey benefits are weighted at 0.75, as this category includes travel to access shopping or services and visit friends and family, and seem more likely to accrue to islanders than mainlanders. Remaining journey purposes are weighted at 0.5. 41 The effect of expected income on individual migration decisions, National Bureau of Economic Research, March 2003. Link. Page 35: ‘Simulations of hypothetical local wage changes show that the elasticity of the relationship between wages and migration is roughly .5.’; therefore we use an elasticity of 0.5, thereby assuming that monetised generalised cost savings are equivalent to changes in income. 42 2,686,000 in employment (Labour market monthly briefing: June 2022; Link); population 5,466,000. Page 110
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50 Centre for Economics and Business Research impacts here (429 to 1,034) is 0.41, so slightly lower. Given the economic geography of islands, particularly in the Clyde, this is not surprising; some new residents may commute to the mainland full- or part-time, and some of the new population in places like Arran may be those who already work on the island but are unable or unwilling to live there (so they will be adding to population but not employment). Overall, given the islands’ current total population of a little over 55,000, this represents a population impact of 2% or so – given the relatively short timescale this would be a significant uplift. A confident and secure island future Improved ferry services therefore stand to support major improvements in island life and economies, by: • Supporting the growth of the tourism and whisky industries, and employment growth more generally • Growing the economy further through agglomeration and competition impacts • Making island life more appealing, combating depopulation trends and directly improving the lives of existing residents For the islands and islanders, these impacts go beyond what can be expressed in numbers. Island culture and heritage, including the Gaelic language, distinctive island produce like Islay whisky, and events like the HebCelt music festival, will be supported. Communities will be able to attract and retain more young people to work, start businesses, and raise children on the islands. Those from elsewhere will be more likely to visit the islands for pleasure, boosting their profile and reputation at home and abroad. In the long run, these factors could combine to kick-start a virtuous cycle of growth, investment, and renewal. This will build the case for further investment in ferry services in future. Page 111
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51 Centre for Economics and Business Research Appendix: Sensitivity testing Sensitivity tests adjust assumptions in the socio-economic modelling and present results based on these assumptions. This allows us to better understand the impact of different views of the future and of various factors in driving the core results. Summary results for the core scenario are presented alongside results for each sensitivity test, and the change that has occurred. Where impacts are focused on particular routes, summary results for those routes are also included. Increased reliability benefits/disbenefits Our core assumptions have a 20% generalised increase in unreliability (share of sailings cancelled or late) in the Pessimistic scenario and a 20% generalised decrease in the Optimistic scenario43. Further assumptions reflect the impact of new vessels and infrastructure improvements. This sensitivity test changes the core plus or minus 20% to plus or minus 25%, increasing the reliability impacts in each case. Table 25: Reliability benefits sensitivity test Core results Sensitivity test Difference Demand Pessimistic 5,701,522 5,670,545 -30,977 Optimistic 6,050,409 6,080,514 30,106 Growth 6.1% 7.2% 1.1% Changes in GCs, £k £67,677 £79,668 £11,991 Agglomeration, £k £1,488 £1,761 £273 Competition, £k £1,203 £1,425 £221 Employment 429 508 78 As % of current 1.7% 2.0% 0.3% of which tourism 212 247 36 of which whisky production 46 51 6 Earnings, £k £11,873 £14,036 £2,163 of which tourism £4,307 £5,034 £727 of which whisky production £1,596 £1,802 £206 Population 1,034 1,228 194 As % of current 1.8% 2.2% 0.3% Source: Cebr/Connected Economics modelling and analysis This increases impacts by about one-sixth across the board, demonstrating the important role of reliability in determining benefits. 43 This does not mean that cancellations or lateness increase or decrease by 20 percentage points, but that existing rates are adjusted by 20% as a percentage of original value. For example a route with 10% of sailings cancelled at present would see this change to 12% in the Pessimistic and 8% in the Optimistic scenario. Page 112
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52 Centre for Economics and Business Research No exogenous demand growth Our core assumptions have demand in both scenarios growing between 2022 and 2032 according to expected total incomes growth. This is based on forecast population growth to 2032 and extrapolation of recent growth rates in gross disposable household income. Due to declining population, this implies a small fall in demand between now and 2032, before other assumptions like new vessels or changes in reliability are accounted for. This sensitivity test simply assumes away any exogenous growth, i.e. baseline demand in the future is the same as it is today. Table 26: No exogenous demand growth sensitivity test Core results Sensitivity test Difference Demand Pessimistic 5,701,522 5,802,648 101,126 Optimistic 6,050,409 6,142,570 92,161 Growth 6.1% 5.9% -0.3% Changes in GCs, £k £67,677 £66,339 -£1,338 Agglomeration, £k £1,488 £1,491 £3 Competition, £k £1,203 £1,156 -£48 Employment 429 430 1 As % of current 1.7% 1.7% 0.0% of which tourism 212 207 -4 of which whisky production 46 31 -15 Earnings, £k £11,873 £11,898 £24 of which tourism £4,307 £4,222 -£85 of which whisky production £1,596 £1,076 -£519 Population 1,034 1,013 -21 As % of current 1.8% 1.8% 0.0% Source: Cebr/Connected Economics modelling and analysis The impact of this assumption is minimal. Demand growth is marginally lower, suggesting that higher demand in the sensitivity test interacts with capacity constraints to reduce potential passenger growth. Nevertheless, changes overall are negligible, demonstrating that these tweaks to the exogenous growth assumptions have very little bearing on results. Page 113
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53 Centre for Economics and Business Research New Islay vessels in Pessimistic scenario At time of writing, the two new Islay vessels have been ordered but are not under construction (like the Glen Sannox or Hull 802) or already built (like the Loch Frisa). Therefore, they were not included in the Pessimistic scenario. This sensitivity test assumes that they are delivered and enter service in both scenarios. Table 27: Islay vessels in Pessimistic scenario sensitivity test Core results Sensitivity test Difference Demand Pessimistic 5,701,522 5,726,529 25,007 Optimistic 6,050,409 6,041,574 -8,834 Growth 6.1% 5.5% -0.6% Changes in GCs, £k £67,677 £60,300 -£7,377 Agglomeration, £k £1,488 £1,366 -£122 Competition, £k £1,203 £980 -£223 Employment 429 396 -33 As % of current 1.7% 1.6% -0.1% of which tourism 212 195 -16 of which whisky production 46 15 -30 Earnings, £k £11,873 £10,958 -£916 of which tourism £4,307 £3,978 -£329 of which whisky production £1,596 £534 -£1,062 Population 1,034 910 -124 As % of current 1.8% 1.6% -0.2% Source: Cebr/Connected Economics modelling and analysis Table 28: Islay vessels in Pessimistic scenario sensitivity test - focus on Kennacraig - Islay routes Core results Change in demand GC savings (£k) Passenger journeys % Kennacraig - Port Ellen 29,204 22.3% £6,328 Kennacraig - Port Askaig 17,432 13.7% £5,022 Sensitivity test Change in demand GC savings (£k) Passenger journeys % Kennacraig - Port Ellen 6,888 4.8% £2,151 Kennacraig - Port Askaig 6,951 5.0% £2,079 Source: Cebr/Connected Economics modelling and analysis The effect of this assumption is that, for Islay services, the principal difference between the Pessimistic and Optimistic scenarios is the generalised improvement in reliability resulting from greater redundancy and interoperability in the wider fleet – in either case two new vessels are introduced and the MV Hebridean Isles is retired. This reduces impacts of the scenario Page 114
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54 Centre for Economics and Business Research change significantly; demand growth across the network falls from 6.1% to 5.5%, user benefits impact is £7.4 million per year lower, and whisky related impacts are substantially lower. On the Kennacraig – Islay routes all benefits fall by approximately two thirds. Of course, this does not reflect a worsening of conditions, just a smaller change between the two scenarios as most of the benefits are now realised in the pessimistic scenario. Page 115
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55 Centre for Economics and Business Research Appendix: Islanders’ feedback During the meetings held throughout the study, the project team heard a range of feedback, both positive and negative, on CalMac services. Although not all within the direct scope of our research, this feedback is briefly reflected here. The inclusion of feedback below does not indicate the authors’ endorsement or otherwise of the comments made. Overarching issues The below issues were widely identified by stakeholders across the network. • Poor interaction with public transport services – either that bus or rail services to and from ports did not coincide well with ferries, or that where they do there is little flexibility when ferries are delayed. This could lead to journeys being made by car instead of public transport or to extended journey times.. • Weather-related cancellations were occurring in conditions under which respondents felt sailings would once have gone ahead. • Comments about the service provided by port and vessel staff was overwhelmingly positive – for instance with regard to their management of services during periods of disruption and flexibility in getting locals onto services at short notice during periods of disruption. • Communication between CalMac itself and service users, however, was perceived less well, and was felt to have deteriorated in recent years as the organisation became more centralised in Gourock. • Some stakeholders favoured a move away from the ‘big boat’ model to a larger number of smaller boats operating more frequent, flexible services which would be less disrupted by one breakdown. • Island residents widely felt that the current booking system does not recognise that they sometimes need to travel at short notice, e.g. for medical appointments or family emergencies, and that a system should be put in place to facilitate this – e.g. reserving a proportion of tickets for residents, health/social care needs, or booking at short notice. Transportation of freight • Certain dangerous goods (e.g. oxygen, petrol, gas, hay) cannot be transported on closed-deck vessels – therefore when these are substituted for open-deck vessels at short notice the supply of these goods to islands is disrupted. • Live animals in transport are particularly time-sensitive – both due to animal welfare issues and because of inflexible market times. Some stakeholders reported positively that these vehicles were prioritised during disruption, though others had been unable to make their journeys as planned. • On the Small Isles, where freight is handled by CalMac directly, a few specific issues were identified: o The refusal (by Transport Scotland) of extra fridge storage at Mallaig means storage for food continues to be limited. o Visitors are only allowed to bring 14kg of luggage; given the need to be relatively self-sufficient when travelling to the Small Isles this can be challenging, and a solution might be to allow them to pay to bring extra. o CalMac increasingly relies on volunteer help to unload freight, rather than for instance keeping a forklift on the ferry. Especially when goods have to be unloaded quickly before the next departure, this can be difficult. o Transportation of bikes and kayaks by CalMac is not guaranteed – this poses challenges for the development of sustainable tourism on the Small Isles. Page 116
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56 Centre for Economics and Business Research o Difficulties in transport of dangerous goods, for instance multiple types cannot transported at once, and there are also limitations if a lot of passengers on board. Route-specific issues • The lack of a service between Coll/Tiree and Mull was raised by stakeholders on those islands. Proposed solutions included the use of Mull as a land bridge with through bus services. • Where vessels include a mezzanine deck, this was not always used due to time/staff constraints, effectively reducing capacity. • The ‘non-landing’ tickets formerly offered by CalMac were used by those who, for instance, wanted to go whale-watching around the Small Isles without disembarking. These provided a contribution to CalMac revenues without using capacity on the vehicle deck. Accessibility Potential improvements for those with disabilities or special needs were identified, including44: • Allowing a last-minute check-in and rapid access rather than boarding last. • More accessible disabled lanes in the vehicle queue – at present they are often less accessible – and not boarding disabled passengers on the mezzanine deck, which is narrow and therefore difficult to use with a wheelchair. • Allowing blue badge holders to book online and obtain the 25% discount on a vehicle ticket which CalMac offers on certain routes, rather than having to book by phone. • Quiet places on ships, e.g. for the use of those prone to sensory overload. • Improving harbour infrastructure and current vessel for the Gourock-Kilcreggan service, which are challenging for those in wheelchairs. 44 These were mostly with reference to the Ullapool-Stornoway service, but may be applicable elsewhere. Page 117
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57 Centre for Economics and Business Research Appendix: List of consultees The below table lists the consultees who contributed to this study through discussions with the project team, either through phone or video calls, or in-person meetings which took place during the fieldwork trips in Phase 2. These discussions with representatives of businesses, public services, charitable organisations, and regional development bodies were invaluable in ensuring that this work reflected the specific context, challenges, and opportunities of the islands as closely as possible. The project team is grateful for their time and contributions, as well as those of ferry users who spoke to us and completed surveys. Name Organisation(s)/role(s) Broad geography Location or remit Angus Campbell Ferries Community Board Chair National/regional National/regional Chris Wilcock Transport Scotland National/regional National/regional Douglas Cowan Highlands and Islands Enterprise National/regional National/regional Lucinda Gray Highlands and Islands Enterprise National/regional National/regional Lucy Sumsion NFU Scotland; Argyll and Bute Economic Resilience Forum National/regional National/regional Morag Goodfellow Highlands and Islands Enterprise National/regional National/regional Nicky Sobey Highlands and Islands Enterprise National/regional National/regional Richard Hadfield Transport Scotland National/regional National/regional Eoin MacNeil Ferries Community Board Member Outer Hebrides Barra Dave Adey Benbecula Community Council Outer Hebrides Benbecula Kate MacDonald North Uist Distillery Outer Hebrides Benbecula Margaret Mackenzie Harris Transport Forum Outer Hebrides Harris Rhoda Campbell Ferries Community Board Member Outer Hebrides Harris Ida Holmstrom Ferries Community Board Member Outer Hebrides Lewis Joe Mahony An Lanntair Outer Hebrides Lewis Murdo Maclean Ferries Community Board Member Outer Hebrides Lewis Neil Mackinnon Galson Estate Trust Outer Hebrides Lewis Anne MacLellan North Uist Community Council Outer Hebrides North Uist Joan Ferguson North Uist Community Council Outer Hebrides North Uist Claire Morris Autism Eilean Siar Outer Hebrides Outer Hebrides Erica Clark & youth representatives Western Isles Council Outer Hebrides Outer Hebrides Darren Taylor Stòras Uibhist Outer Hebrides South Uist Gail Robertson Ferries Community Board Member Outer Hebrides Uist Joanna Peteranna Ferries Community Board Member Outer Hebrides Uist Robert Currie Scottish Salmon Company Outer Hebrides Uist Kevin Peach Ferries Community Board Member Outer Hebrides Ullapool Isebail MacKinnon Small Isles Community Council Inner Hebrides Canna, Small Isles Alison Jones Development Coll Inner Hebrides Coll Kirsty MacFarlane Ferries Community Board Member Inner Hebrides Coll Camille Dressler Ferries Community Board Member, Small Isles Community Council Inner Hebrides Eigg, Small Isles Antonia Baird Argyll and Bute Council Inner Hebrides Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Isles Ruth MacEwen Small Isles Community Council Inner Hebrides Muck, Small Isles Page 118
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58 Centre for Economics and Business Research Name Organisation(s)/role(s) Broad geography Location or remit Andy Knight TSL Contractors Inner Hebrides Mull Brendan Reade Isle of Mull Cheese Inner Hebrides Mull Cara Gilbert Tobermory Distillery Inner Hebrides Mull Naomi Knight TSL Contractors Inner Hebrides Mull Olivier MacLean Tobermory Distillery Inner Hebrides Mull Elizabeth Ferguson Ferries Community Board Member (former) Inner Hebrides Mull and Iona Finlay MacDonald Mull & Iona Ferry Committee Inner Hebrides Mull and Iona Joe Reade Mull & Iona Ferry Committee Inner Hebrides Mull and Iona Colin Morrison Turus Mara - Staffa and Treshnish tours Inner Hebrides Mull and Ulva Duncan MacNeill Furan Gaelic Centre Inner Hebrides Oban Becky Hothersall Argyll and Bute Council Inner Hebrides Oban, Lorn and the Isles Fliss Fraser Small Isles Community Council Inner Hebrides Rum, Small Isles Ian Sargent NatureScot Inner Hebrides Rum, Small Isles Alex Stoddart Armadale Castle and Gardens Inner Hebrides Skye Anne Gracie Gunn Sonas Hospitality Inner Hebrides Skye Donald Angie MacLennan Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture Inner Hebrides Skye Rob Ware Ferries Community Board Member (former) Inner Hebrides Skye Alastair MacInnes Farm owner (beef, pork and lamb) Inner Hebrides Tiree Donnie MacInnes Ferries Community Board Member Inner Hebrides Tiree Dr John Holliday Tiree Community Council Inner Hebrides Tiree Robert Trythall Commercial marine expert Inner Hebrides Tiree Fergus Murray Argyll and Bute Council; Argyll and Bute Economic Resilience Forum Clyde and South Argyll and Bute Ishabel Bremner Argyll and Bute Council; Argyll and Bute Economic Resilience Forum Clyde and South Argyll and Bute Jane MacLeod MacLeod Construction; Argyll and Bute Economic Resilience Forum Clyde and South Argyll and Bute John Glen Bute Fabrics; Argyll and Bute Economic Resilience Forum Clyde and South Argyll and Bute Bill Calderwood Ferries Community Board Member Clyde and South Arran Chris Attkins Arran Ferry Action Group Clyde and South Arran David Henderson Kilpatrick Farm Clyde and South Arran Graham Omand Isle of Arran Distillery Clyde and South Arran Linda Johnston Auchrannie Resort Clyde and South Arran Peter Dunn Isle of Arran Distillery Clyde and South Arran Ruth Betley North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership Clyde and South Arran Sheila Gilmore Visit Arran Clyde and South Arran Stewart Bowman Isle of Arran Distillery Clyde and South Arran Tom Tracey Arran Recovery Group Clyde and South Arran Declan Brennan North Ayrshire Council Clyde and South Arran and Cumbrae Louise Kirk North Ayrshire Council Clyde and South Arran and Cumbrae Sarah Baird North Ayrshire Council Clyde and South Arran and Cumbrae David Herriot Ferries Community Board Member Clyde and South Bute and Cowal Anne Horn Argyll and Bute Council Clyde and South Campbeltown Page 119
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59 Centre for Economics and Business Research Name Organisation(s)/role(s) Broad geography Location or remit John Armour Campbeltown Ferry Committee; Argyll and Bute Council Clyde and South Campbeltown Angus Campbell Ferries Community Board Member Clyde and South Cumbrae Canon Alec Boyd Cumbrae Community Council; Cumbrae Churches Clyde and South Cumbrae Crawford Gillan Cumbrae Community Council; Cumbrae Resilience Team Clyde and South Cumbrae Eleanor Brown Cumbrae Community Council; Cumbrae Forum Clyde and South Cumbrae Graham Wallace Cumbrae Community Council Clyde and South Cumbrae Jackie Wilson Cumbrae Community Council; youth representative Clyde and South Cumbrae Leslie Stringer Cumbrae Community Council; North Coast Locality Partnership Clyde and South Cumbrae Lisa Christie Cumbrae Community Council Clyde and South Cumbrae Michael Breslin South Cowal Community Council Clyde and South Dunoon Willie Lynch Dunoon Community Council (former) Clyde and South Dunoon Allan Logan Bruichladdich Distillery Clyde and South Islay Ben Mundell Mundells Haulage; Islay Ferry Committee Clyde and South Islay David Turner Bowmore Distillery Clyde and South Islay Emma Clark Explore Islay and Jura; Islay Ferry Committee Clyde and South Islay Garry MacLean NFU Group Secretary; Islay Ferry Committee Clyde and South Islay Islay McEachern McEachern Bros Construction; Islay Ferry Committee Clyde and South Islay Jim Porteous Ferries Community Board Member Clyde and South Islay Paul Graham Ardnahoe Distillery Clyde and South Islay Ray Lafferty Museum of Islay Life Clyde and South Islay Christine Murdoch Cove & Kilcreggan Community Council Clyde and South Kilcreggan Nick Davies Cove & Kilcreggan Community Council Clyde and South Kilcreggan Ian MacFarlane Ferries Community Board Member Clyde and South Kintyre Page 120
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60 Centre for Economics and Business Research Appendix: Island GVA by broad sector Table 29 shows the GVA estimates by sector used for the estimates of agglomeration, based on the island profiles used for the economic impact modelling. Table 29: Estimated GVA by broad sector used for agglomeration estimates GVA, £m Manufacturing % Construction % Consumer services % Producer services % Coll and Tiree 20.6 21.5% 7.2% 21.9% 17.1% Mull and Iona 67.6 41.0% 3.9% 30.0% 3.9% Kerrera 0.4 20.7% 24.1% 34.2% 0.0% Lismore 3.1 33.2% 13.5% 27.6% 0.0% Jura and Colonsay 8.1 27.9% 6.5% 32.9% 0.0% Islay 104.3 46.7% 5.2% 18.1% 9.9% Gigha 2.3 53.3% 7.3% 13.3% 0.0% Bute 114.7 39.8% 3.3% 13.7% 16.5% Barra 19.0 24.7% 3.3% 42.8% 3.3% Eriskay and South Uist 29.7 21.8% 13.1% 23.7% 19.5% Benbecula 55.8 4.6% 3.4% 11.3% 57.0% North Uist 16.4 31.9% 3.7% 36.2% 8.3% Lewis and Harris 388.5 12.9% 5.9% 18.5% 18.9% Small Isles 3.6 37.4% 0.0% 24.0% 10.0% Skye and Raasay 255.3 20.6% 5.5% 25.4% 23.6% Arran 90.7 27.6% 9.1% 34.0% 3.9% Great Cumbrae 12.4 6.7% 4.0% 18.2% 0.4% Source: ONS, and Cebr analysis Total percentages in the table do not sum to 100% because there are sectors not considered subject to agglomeration economies: Public administration and defence; Education; Human health and residential care activities; Social work activities; Arts, entertainment and recreation; Membership organisations; repair of household goods; Other personal service activities; Households as employers and own use production. The four broad sectors used are defined as the following combinations of sectors by the Department for Transport: • Manufacturing: o Agriculture, mining, electricity, gas, water and waste o Manufacture of food, beverages, textiles and clothing o Manufacture of wood, petroleum, chemicals and minerals o Manufacture of metals, electrical products and machinery o Other manufacturing, repair and installation • Construction: o Construction of buildings o Civil engineering o Specialised construction activities • Consumer services: o Motor trades o Wholesale trade o Retail trade Page 121
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61 Centre for Economics and Business Research o Land, water and air transport o Warehousing, transport support, postal and courier activities o Accommodation and food service activities • Producer services: o Information and communication o Financial and insurance activities o Real estate activities, excluding imputed rental Page 122
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62 Centre for Economics and Business Research Appendix: Full results tables Bespoke Regional Multipliers Type I Multipliers Table 30. Bespoke regional Type I multipliers for CalMac Type I Multipliers – Indirect Impacts Turnover GVA FTE Employment Employee Compensation Coll and Tiree 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 Mull and Iona 1.01 1.01 1.01 1.00 Kerrera and Gallanach 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 Jura and Colonsay 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 Islay 1.02 1.02 1.02 1.01 Gigha 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 Bute 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.06 Barra 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 Eriskay and South Uist 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 Benbecula 1.00 1.01 1.01 1.00 North Uist 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 Lewis and Harris 1.11 1.14 1.18 1.10 Small Isles 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 Skye and Raasay 1.01 1.01 1.02 1.01 Arran 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.02 Great Cumbrae 1.00 1.01 1.01 1.00 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis Page 123
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63 Centre for Economics and Business Research Type II Multipliers Table 31. Bespoke regional Type II multipliers for CalMac Type II Multipliers – Induced Impacts Turnover GVA FTE Employment Employee Compensation Coll and Tiree 1.10 1.14 1.21 1.10 Mull and Iona 1.12 1.15 1.22 1.11 Kerrera and Gallanach 1.11 1.14 1.21 1.10 Jura and Colonsay 1.13 1.17 1.25 1.12 Islay 1.12 1.15 1.22 1.11 Gigha 1.10 1.13 1.20 1.09 Bute 1.18 1.21 1.28 1.15 Barra 1.08 1.10 1.16 1.07 Eriskay and South Uist 1.10 1.14 1.22 1.10 Benbecula 1.11 1.15 1.23 1.11 North Uist 1.11 1.14 1.23 1.10 Lewis and Harris 1.21 1.27 1.38 1.19 Small Isles 1.14 1.18 1.18 1.10 Skye and Raasay 1.20 1.27 1.27 1.15 Arran 1.26 1.33 1.20 1.13 Great Cumbrae 1.21 1.27 1.15 1.10 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis Page 124
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64 Centre for Economics and Business Research Regional Aggregate Economic Impacts Gross Value Added (GVA) Table 32. Aggregate regional economic footprint of CalMac, GVA (£’000), FY 2019-20 GVA (£'000) Island Direct impact Indirect impact Induced impact Aggregate impact Coll and Tiree £1,268 £1 £173 £1,442 Mull and Iona £3,249 £28 £464 £3,742 Kerrera and Gallanach £238 £0 £33 £271 Jura and Colonsay £475 £1 £79 £555 Islay £2,219 £41 £299 £2,559 Gigha £396 £1 £52 £449 Bute £3,249 £266 £411 £3,926 Barra £4,067 £1 £415 £4,482 Eriskay and South Uist £3,050 £3 £415 £3,468 Benbecula £593 £4 £82 £679 North Uist £1,610 £2 £223 £1,835 Lewis and Harris £11,691 £1,673 £1,492 £14,856 Small Isles £155 £0 £28 £184 Skye and Raasay £2,225 £32 £568 £2,824 Arran £1,111 £40 £329 £1,480 Great Cumbrae £85 £1 £23 £109 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis Page 125
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65 Centre for Economics and Business Research Employment Table 33. Aggregate regional economic footprint of CalMac, FTE Employment, FY 2019-20 Employment (number of FTE jobs) Island Direct Impact Indirect Impact Induced Impact Aggregate Impact Share of region employment supported by CalMac (%) Coll and Tiree 14 0 3 17 3.9% Mull and Iona 36 0 8 44 3.0% Kerrera and Gallanach 3 0 1 3 1.5% Jura and Colonsay 5 0 1 7 3.4% Islay 25 1 5 30 1.6% Gigha 4 0 1 5 2.9% Bute 36 3 7 46 2.2% Barra 42 0 7 49 10.9% Eriskay and South Uist 32 0 7 39 6.4% Benbecula 6 0 1 8 0.8% North Uist 17 0 4 21 4.5% Lewis and Harris 122 22 25 169 1.9% Small Isles 3 0 0.5 3 1.2% Skye and Raasay 38 1 10 48 0.9% Arran 34 1 6 41 2.0% Great Cumbrae 3 0 0.4 3 0.9% Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis Page 126
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66 Centre for Economics and Business Research Employee Compensation Table 34. Aggregate regional economic footprint of CalMac, Employee Compensation (£’000), FY 2019-20 Employee Compensation (£'000) Island Direct impact Indirect impact Induced impact Aggregate impact Coll and Tiree £1,012 £0 £98 £1,110 Mull and Iona £2,594 £12 £263 £2,868 Kerrera and Gallanach £190 £0 £19 £209 Jura and Colonsay £380 £1 £44 £425 Islay £1,771 £20 £169 £1,960 Gigha £316 £0 £29 £346 Bute £2,594 £161 £233 £2,987 Barra £3,147 £1 £235 £3,382 Eriskay and South Uist £2,360 £1 £235 £2,597 Benbecula £459 £2 £46 £508 North Uist £1,246 £1 £126 £1,373 Lewis and Harris £9,048 £910 £844 £10,802 Small Isles £157 £0 £16 £174 Skye and Raasay £2,256 £21 £321 £2,598 Arran £1,692 £37 £186 £1,916 Great Cumbrae £130 £1 £13 £144 Source: CalMac, ONS, and Cebr analysis Page 127
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Helensburgh Community Hub vision: “Helensburgh is a strong, compassionate and inclusive community” Update from Helensburgh Community Hub to the Helensburgh and Lomond Community Planning Group – November 2022 Promoting Reading for Pleasure Reading for Pleasure is a more powerful factor in life achievement than socio-economic background. (The Reading Agency) As home to Helensburgh’s second-hand community bookshop, a logical priority for the Hub is to promote reading for pleasure - something that supports our physical and mental wellbeing, increases self-esteem, reduces symptoms of stress and depression, develops skills including empathy and problem solving, brings us knowledge and increases our communication skills. We are therefore developing two major collaborations to promote reading for pleasure: (1) Dolly Parton Imagination Library We are excited to have the first public launch of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Argyll and Bute on Friday 2 December. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting programme devoted to inspiring a love of reading in the hearts of children everywhere. Each month, enrolled children from birth to age five, receive a high quality, age appropriate book in the post, free of charge. (from the Dolly Parton Imagination library website) Helensburgh Community Hub recently became an affiliate of the Imagination Library to offer the programme in our core area of Helensburgh Central and East in 2023, expanding to Helensburgh North and West in 2024. As an affiliate we will fund the wholesale price of the books, which is £25 per child, per year and promote the scheme in our area and support registration. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library does the rest. Initially we are using a percentage of Book Nook income and we will be fundraising throughout 2023 as uptake increases and to widen the coverage area. We are also working with the LiveArgyll community learning team and Helensburgh library to offer parent/child storytime sessions to encourage families to read together and to support adult literacy and digital literacy. The key to the success of this project will be making eligible families aware of it so the Hub would like to work with all statutory, third sector and commercial organisations to increase awareness of the Imagination Library. For more information about the Imagination Library go to: https://imaginationlibrary.com/uk/ If you are interested in working with the Hub to support the Imagination Library locally please contact Gill Simpson, Development Manager at manager@helensburghcommunityhub.org.uk Page 129 Agenda Item 7b
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(2) Spring book event in collaboration between Hub, Jean’s Bothy and H&L Carers We are working with Jean’s Bothy and Helensburgh and Lomond Carers on a shared project to support reading for pleasure, particularly around reading supporting good mental health. As well as connecting our book groups to share resources and connect with each other, we are working on an exciting book event for next year around World Book Day (March 2). This event is still in the early stages of planning so more information will be available for the next CPG meeting. Supporting volunteering across H&L Volunteering was an important factor in the initial discussions to set up Helensburgh Community Hub, and is part of the Hub’s vision, which includes offering volunteering opportunities and support for volunteering in the wider community. A recent Volunteer Scotland report has highlighted how aspects of the cost of living situation will potentially increase the need for volunteering but also impact on volunteers in terms of numbers and on their health and wellbeing (relevant to both formal and informal volunteering) - https://www.volunteerscotland.net/media/1794252/cost_of_living_report_- _volunteer_scotland.pdf From many conversations with volunteers and volunteer organisations we have identified need for more localised and face2face support including ongoing recognition of the vital contribution made by volunteering to the Helensburgh and Lomond community Work is ongoing involving Visiting Friends and photographer Kath Polley to put in place an exciting and creative long-term project during 2023 that will address these needs. Meanwhile on the back of a hugely successful Volunteer Fair in June we are planning another similar event in the New Year. For more information please contact Gill Simpson, Development Manager at manager@helensburghcommunityhub.org.uk Welcoming people in over the winter months Working in partnership with the Drumfork Centre, Centre 81 and Jean’s Bothy we are looking at how to address the potential need to provide welcoming spaces over the winter months to allow people to connect and socialise. We have started to put together a timetable of venues across Helensburgh and Lomond that are open to all and without any mandatory costs or requirement to access a particular service. We would like to make this as complete and wide as possible, so we welcome input from any organisation. For more information please contact Gill Simpson, Development Manager at manager@helensburghcommunityhub.org.uk Engaging with our community Page 130
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We recently held a very successful Open Day on October 12 to highlight the services and organisations now based within Helensburgh Community Hub. A&B Citizens Advice have recently joined Key Housing, A&B Rape Crisis, Red Cross mobility aids service and H&L Foodbank in having their Helensburgh base in the Hub. Following requests from other community organisations to highlight their services we are now planning a community open day in the New Year that will be open to organisations outwith the Hub. If you would like to participate in this event please contact Gill Simpson, Development Manager at manager@helensburghcommunityhub.org.uk Page 131
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Climate Change Working Group Date: 24 October 2022 Climate Change Working Group Highlight Report Argyll and Bute Climate Action 1.0 Executive Summary This CPP sub-group, known as the Climate Change Working Group are planning the production of a Climate Change Action Plan for Argyll and Bute. The Action Plan is proposed to be produced by employing a Climate Change Project Manager to lead the process. The Climate Change Working Group is currently focussed on attracting a funding package to carry out this work. 2.0 Highlight Report 2.1 Action Plan The purpose of the Action Plan is to establish a region-wide climate risk assessment and to develop an integrated set of adaptation, mitigation and engagement actions. The proposed post of Climate Change Project Manager will bring organisations, businesses and communities together to develop a shared vision and understanding of climate change risks and opportunities across the Argyll and Bute region. It will identify priorities for communities, areas and sectors that will establish where (both spatially and thematically) and how the region can increase resilience and adapt, mitigate and engage on climate change issues. It will identify, but not reproduce, climate change work either already happening or part of an organisation or business’s own responsibilities. 2.2 Governance Governance arrangements and structures have been developed in order to support the Climate Change Project Officer post. See previous highlight report for details. 2.3 Funding The Climate Change Working Group are currently pulling together a funding package to support the post of the Climate Change Project Manager. Some funds have Page 133 Agenda Item 8a
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already been forthcoming from CPP partners, and we are now pursuing external funding sources to complete the planned budget. The cost of a Project Manager post is estimated to be in the region of £120,000 over two years, which would include the salary of an appropriately qualified climate leader, associated employer costs, T&S costs, etc. Subsequent to previous calls for funding contributions, we have two firm contributions from partners: £20,000 NHS Highland - Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership £50,000 Argyll and Bute Council We are extremely grateful to these partners for their contributions. However, we currently have a shortfall of £50,000 towards our target of £120,000. The wider current financial difficulties mean that further contributions from partners are unlikely, and so are additionally looking at external funding sources for the remainder of the funding. 3.0 Summary 1. We propose producing a strategic Action Plan process as the best, and most thorough, way to address the climate emergency in Argyll and Bute. 2. We have an approved governance arrangement for the Climate Change Project Manager post. 3. We are continuing to pursue funding options for the project. Stan Phillips, Chair, CPP Climate Change Working Group For more information, please contact: Stan Phillips, Operations Manager, NatureScot stan.phillips@nature.scot Page 134
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C Community Planning Partnership Area Committee Report Time for Change Argyll and Bute October/ November 2022 https://timeforchangeargyllandbute.org/ https://www.facebook.com/timeforchangeargyllandbute/ As a group of residents concerned about climate change, TfC continues to meet fortnightly on zoom, raising awareness and campaigning on climate change. Members are currently pressing politicians to stand against expansion of oil and gas in the latest licensing round. TfC were please to welcome 60 plus residents, MSPs and Councillors to an in person Land and Sea event in Lochgilphead to listen to speakers and explore around a dozen stalls showing the good work around Argyll. https://timeforchangeargyllandbute.org/land-and-sea-event-goes-swimmingly/ RESILIENCE As a group we are increasingly concerned with need to build resilience in all areas and communities in Argyll and Bute. There was a great response from A&B Council, Public Sector Partners, the Third Sector and indeed neighbours and friends during the covid epidemic. People and Organisations at all levels are exhausted and this may in part reflect the number of Community Councils that will no longer be or are quorate in the 2022-2026 cycle. Unfortunately the current economic, energy and climate situation is almost certain to require another winter of pulling together. We ask those listening, as a Planning Partnership to think and build in, a longer term and broader view than just this winter. To use the difficulties we will face as a feed into cooperative strategic planning for what is acknowledge as the climate crisis and the need for community resilience. Public Sector Bodies are likely to be ahead within their own parameters and hopefully can and are building partnerships. Outwith this, in communities and in some third sector organisations there is lack of knowledge and surety as to what can be done or is allowed to be done. A great deal of resilience comes simply from knowing who can be turned to, who has capacity or access what is needed. Many Community Councils and community groups and organisations kept going through covid, with the use of teams or zoom but others either didn’t have the technical capacity or know what was ok, to keep in the way of data and email contacts etc. Our world is built around communication, can communities in whatever form build a resilient back up. Think of the recent instances where communities have been left stranded, to their own devices and do a ‘what if’ scenario. On the 20th Oct 2022 two cables carrying internet and telephone and mobile services to Shetland telephone were cut and there was potential for other services to be at risk. A major incident was declared. Weather events such as storm Arwen (Dec 2021) are likely to become more common. This brought down power lines, communications, closed roads and left many in the north-east on their own with no services and no way of calling for help or knowing who was in need. The inter connector to the Western Isles fractured in 2020, power and communications were lost. Due to the cable fault power was neither available from the GRID or was able to be exported, income from community wind farm enterprises was lost and polluting back-up diesel generators Page 135 Agenda Item 8b
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installed for around a year. https://renews.biz/64100/call-for-upgrade-to-failed-western-isles- interconnector/ BT has paused the national roll out (scheduled for 2025) of VOIP (voice over internet protocol) which works through broadband but many of us have been switched already and are vulnerable to power and internet outage. BT has admitted that they have more work to do on getting better back- up solutions in place when storms and power cuts disrupt the service. SPNetworks are beginning to install monitors but currently don’t know there is a power cut or how wider spread it is until enough of us call 105 to report it. If mobile phones are out of charge or towers are down we are on our own. E.g. Climate Ready Loch Ken in rural Galloway listed tractors and power saws, who had freezers or open fires etc, to provide clearing for storm or flood or snow or places where people could safely gather and share. This is a 10-year plan, we may need to react sooner. Climate change is approaching more rapidly than we think and world and national events are upon us now. https://lochken.org.uk/lochkenplan/ Warm spaces are opening to help communities through the winter energy crisis, could these be hubs for information to be permissively collected, who has a landline, what resources are locally available. This is not a harbinger of doom but an ask for everyone to think ahead strategically, not easy when fire fighting in a crisis and to ask at every turn will this action exacerbate or mitigate climate change, solve or promote problem in the future. Page 136
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Report Nov 2022 CPP Helensburgh and Lomond Area Plastic Free Helensburgh an Accredited Plastic Free Town. We continue to work with Surfers Against Sewage and to promote climate friendly initiatives and our Local Business Champions and Community Allies on our face book pages https://www.facebook.com/PlasticFreeHelensburgh Helensburgh Litter Pickers https://www.facebook.com/groups/729373511080067 Climate Emergency Training Many thanks to A&B for arranging this, TfC for encouraging them and to all Councillors attending this. We sincerely hope all councillors attend and that this training is extended to officers and employees across all A&B departments. Top Up Tap Many thanks to Scottish Water, hopefully this will appear shortly near the start of the John Muir Way. Please note the tap is programmed to run continuously for around 10 minutes a day to self cleanse. Events Reducing Bills and Mitigating Climate Change CardrossCan Warm Homes Event https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=162698516376974&set=a.158157910164368 Are you worried about paying bills this winter? Unsure what renewable options are suitable for your home? Would you like to find out more about how to save money or reduce your environmental footprint? Cardross CAN in association with Home Energy Scotland would like to invite everyone to our Cardross Warm Homes Event. Saturday 12th November 12pm-4pm. Drop in anytime and everyone is welcome. Lifts available upon request for those unable to access the event. Further details regarding our programme of talks/stands will be published closer to the time. Please feel free to spread the word to friends and family who may otherwise miss this event. If you are wondering about heat pumps, solar panels, battery storage, CMS Surveyors Smart Group Cleaner EV will be available to chat about your own home, and which renewable technology would suit best Take-a-Ways and Single Use Ban Our surveying finds local businesses embracing the change. Supplies are more readily available and ‘Scotland's single-use plastic ban will be exempt from the UK Internal Market Act from 12 August 2022, allowing the ban to be fully effective’. There remains a lack of facility to dispose of eco-ware type products for full composting. Talking Rubbish Plastic Free Helensburgh is about reducing all rubbish and suitable disposal. We await an outcome from our survey submissions and meetings with Corporate Services on the agreed need for better bins in the public realm in Helensburgh and note that the large bins on the pier site are really good, even although the post holes are tip-toe height for youngsters. Again partnering HCC, we are surveying the proliferation of bins serving businesses in the town, congesting pavements and cycle racks. There are multiple private refuse firms and multiple bins per business for separated waste, placed either permanently or overnight for collection. In our opinion, this is contrary to planning objectives, spoiling and failing to support the vitality and viability of our established town centres. Rubbish is Costing Us All Rubbish going to landfill is taxed, partially this is as an incentive to recycle better to just refuse and reduce. Page 137 Agenda Item 8c
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The long running case between Revenue Scotland and BARR, who run the landfill facility at Alexandria, serving H&L highlights just how much rubbish is costing people and the planet. Beach Clearing and Marine Debris The last of the seasons beach cleans with HCC is Saturday 31 October. During the summer period the beaches were thick with fine green Ulva algae, this discouraged the use of the beaches by visitors and townspeople. However, lighter wind conditions meant that in- bourn litter levels were reduced. The September storms, have again brought large quantities of litter strewn kelp and wrack and large timbers and leaves onto our beaches, burying the summer layers of Ulva. Once more seaweed washed onto the Proms bears a high percentage of old light plastics and small pieces. Based on our previous observation, we predict that debris will continue to pile in over the winter period. We intend to continue with storm cleans in the coming months. Currently the slippery seaweed is up to a metre deep and picking plastic and other debris from the beach is hazardous. Despite this two to three dozen people regularly turn out to PFH picks and many residents also remove litter on their daily walks. Retaining this community cohesion and pride in the town is endangered by the lack of external resource to dispose of the very large quantities driven into the town beaches over the winter. We strongly feel that we can rally a community response to gather storm debris on a large scale but there needs to be a comprehensive plan for disposal and removal. It is discouraging to see plastics and other debris washing in and floating back out in a continuous cycle and washing to sea is unacceptable as the remedy for disposal. Along with HCC we are grateful that A&B Council provide a skip to help with the spring clean but disappointed that the provision is far outstripped by the quantity of debris built up over the winter and lack of end of season skip provision and again wish to express gratitude to Heron bros for providing three additional skips to remove the spring pile. The remainder stands proud next to the sea wall, happily growing a covering in tomato plants sprouted from sewage outflow. As the lee shore for most storm conditions we see the build up of marine debris as a long term problem and seek solutions. This also chimes with the paragraph above on landfill, tax and in this case common good. Our marine debris is too contaminated to use as fertilizer, contains salts, sulphur and other chemicals that corrode incinerator plants and leaches climate warming methane as it rots in landfill. Once the biodegradable to landfill tax comes in, it seems that there is no where to go except plastics polluting the sea. Anchor Group Status https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/upstream-battle/inspiring-action/anchor-groups- clyde/Upstream Battle | Keep Scotland Beautiful https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org › upstream-battle Instigated by Keep Scotland Beautiful, Upstream Battle Clyde is an alliance, supported by all of the Local Authorities in the Clyde Basin from Inverclyde to West Dunbartonshire, bar Argyll. The mission is to change littering behaviour and prevent marine litter at source. In recognition of the work we do and our strategic position in the upper estuary where much of the litter gathers, PFH have been invited to become an Anchor Group. We are looking forward to strengthening the alliances made with groups from all of the local authorities keeping the Clyde and its tributaries clear of litter and monitoring the flow down-stream, up-stream, across the river and trapped circulating in the upper estuary on our door step. Other Activities and Events Page 138
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We have met with the SCANN Climate Hub coordinator and look forward to further cooperation and action. Steering group members joined the GRAB Trust, ‘sew your own pad’, period workshop. During the climate Fringe Week, we had an interesting morning at Helensburgh COOP, helping promote their soft plastic recycling bins and other measures reducing plastic, both on the floor and importantly further back in the supply and distribution chain. The main take a way from this, is that, while many people are committed and a lot are interested, there is a long way to go to change habits to thinking of the waste cycle and climate change as a priority in busy stressful lives. The description of “a hard crowd” was apt. Spirts were lifted the following day as one of the stalls at Time for Change Argyll and Bute, Land and Sea event in Lochgilphead. Inspirational speakers and displays of the great work going on in Argyll. There was interest from other areas in setting up Plastic Free Communities and opportunity to learn and share experiences. https://timeforchangeargyllandbute.org/land-and-sea-event-goes-swimmingly/ It was great to see our friends in Cardross there and hear more about their seagrass monitoring project. Page 139
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Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group 8 November 2022 Community Planning Partnership Management Committee Update This briefing relates to the meeting of the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Management Committee which was held on 6th October 2022. 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 August 2022 cycle of meetings. The meetings had been well attended with a variety of interesting presentations given. Of particular interest was the excellent partnership work in Helensburgh on youth antisocial behaviour and the mental health and wellbeing website from Males Tales / Females Tales; the cross-community work on the Inveraray Community Action Plan; work integrating new Scots; the Shaping Places for Wellbeing work in Dunoon; and the work on Carer Support Plans with partners across the Oban area. The Management Committee noted the current situation in regard to office bearer positions, noting that the position of Vice Chair on the Helensburgh and Lomond Group had been filled by Sarah Davies of Helensburgh Community Council. The Vice Chair of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Group had also been filled with Councillor John Armour taking on the role for a temporary period of 6 months. The Vice Chair position on the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Group remains vacant, with confidence high this would be filled at the next meeting. The CPP Management Committee met on the 6th October 2022 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 here Browse meetings - Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership - Management Committee - Argyll and Bute Council (argyll-bute.gov.uk) Page 141 Agenda Item 10
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Cost of Living Crisis There was a very full discussion about the cost of living crisis and partners were encouraged to signpost people to the council’s dedicated support page which can be accessed by following this link - https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/heat-your-home. CROSS CUTTING THEMES Addressing the Climate Emergency in Argyll and Bute Stan Phillips advised that the Climate Change Action Plan is ready to go as they have a good description of what the group wants to do and governance procedures are in place. The Management Committee noted that around £70k had been made available from NHS Highland - Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership and Argyll and Bute Council, to support a Project Manager, however there remains a funding shortfall of around £50k. Officers are considering approaching the private sector with an interest in Argyll and Bute, to see if they have capacity to support this important work. Child Poverty Mandy Sheridan provided an update on this theme with it being noted that:- - A multi-agency group had been working to ensure Children’s Rights Reports (which need reviewed in 2023) are embedded in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). They are also progressing accreditations for rights respecting schools and an online group has been set up to enable engagement with young carers. - An audit tool is being used to identify how ready organisations are to embed the UNCRC, and advice is being given on what this involves. It is hoped the audit tool can be used by the Council and other partners. - There is focus to produce a child friendly complaints procedure and the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman is supporting this at a national level. A draft procedure is expected to be available in April 2023. - The Child Poverty Action Plan 2021-22 had been completed and was approved at the Integration Joint Board. - The Child Poverty Action Group are developing an engagement and communication sub-group to map communication pathways for key messages and create an annual calendar for communications, i.e. promote school uniform support in spring. They are looking at different ways to promote Scottish Child Payments to those who should claim it and promote provision of free school meals. - Audit Scotland concluded longer joint planning is needed for Child Poverty in Scotland with more focus on tackling impacts rather than prevention. There is also a national effort to provide better data for remote and rural places to identify the different challenges those areas face. Page 142
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Financial Inclusion Fergus Walker advised that the Financial Inclusion and Advice Group, and a splinter group are looking at energy advice and are very busy looking at how to mitigate issues and impacts on citizens in Argyll and Bute. Some research has shown that inflation has increased the cost of food, travel and clothes by more than 13% (higher in Argyll and Bute than elsewhere), and that 70% of properties in Argyll and Bute would require an income of over £82k to mitigate this, yet the average income in the area is £30k per annum. While the Energy Price Cap was welcomed it was reported that the average cost of energy to homes in Argyll and Bute is double the price cap and many properties are off gas grid and rely on oil and electricity. Support for Argyll and Bute is being lobbied at senior levels in Government and there is work with multiple agencies to negotiate with energy companies and provide links to emergency support. Fergus reported that the Flexible Food Fund is ongoing and the roll out of “Loves Local” gift cards to those who are eligible continues. The cards will have £120 loaded to spend at over 140 local businesses. The total card value is approx. £800k. Once the contract for this has been finalised it is hoped more businesses will join the scheme. The Food Fund has helped 1,350 households with an overall gain to them (customer gain) of £1.8m since January 2021. Community Wealth Building Takki Sulaiman provided an update of some of the work contributing to the development of Community Wealth Building approaches in Argyll and Bute. The focus of which is to use levers, as appropriate, to keep wealth generated in local areas to remain in that local economy. The Third Sector Interface are working towards preparing a report which maps current best practice in Argyll and Bute, similar and interconnected initiatives and strategies, opportunities unique to Argyll and Bute and next steps for action. Digital Iain MacInnes gave a presentation on social tariffs for phone and broadband and Nicola Hackett reported on the conclusions and outcomes of the scoping exercise that had been undertaken by consultants Hall Aitken on behalf of the Argyll and Bute CLD Partnership. Nicola reported that Digital Skills are a critical part of the CLD Partnership plan and to ensure the delivery of core digital skills in Argyll and Bute we need to understand where the gaps are, what our existing assets are and how to take this forward in partnership. A survey was conducted, however there were not as many responses as hoped for, but that the methodology and approach from Hall Aitken was good and they gave clear recommendations on how to work together across partners and the CLD partnership to ensure our work contributes to digital skills. Page 143
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Corporate Parenting Board - Nomination of Replacement Chair Mark Lines confirmed to the CPP Management Committee that Takki Sulaiman had been appointed to be the new Chair of the Corporate Parenting Board. Takki will be asked to lead the delivery of the Corporate Parenting Plan and to support and challenge all Corporate Parents to deliver on their responsibilities and the transformation for care services as envisioned by The Promise. Priorities from engaging with young people through Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) roadshows Ann Kennovin advised that the MSYPs had taken a stall at Oban Highland Games where over 100 people stopped to engage with them. The MSYPs took time to explain what the Youth Parliament is about, their roles and the length of their appointment term. The MSYPs have also created a QR code linking to a survey on issues for young people across Argyll and Bute. This survey is still live, however emerging issues are around transportation and the problems with applying for a free bus pass, access to play areas (that are not part of paid clubs) and the quality of school buildings. The survey will close at the end of October. The theme of the next MSYP session is “Fast Fashion” and its impact on climate change. Shaping Places for Wellbeing Dunoon Project update Alex Wilde gave a presentation on the Shaping Places for Wellbeing in Dunoon project which aims to improve wellbeing by reducing inequalities. Alex advised that the project is looking areas where input can be given to support plans, policies and decisions impacting Dunoon and to promote the work already being done on the wellbeing outcomes. Alex introduced the place and wellbeing assessment tool which can be used by partners to review their decision making processes and plans. The project can support partners on Place and Wellbeing assessments by facilitating sessions, writing up reports on the discussions and providing recommendations. This support has been well received in other areas. Lochgilphead & Mid-Argyll Place Review Shirley Johnstone advised that as part of the Modern Workspace project to rationalise council assets, it was realised there was a wider scope of work needed for Lochgilphead and Hub North were engaged to interview stakeholders to identify what was needed. David Welsh gave a presentation on the action that has been taken so far and next steps. He explained that a place-based review works in a joined up way to look at how people work and live in a place and understand their priorities. The project team spoke to stakeholders in June 2022 and reviewed plans and ran workshops with Page 144
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local people in Mid Argyll. A place narrative was then developed to identify a shared story for change; explaining the context and setting out what makes a place distinct. Lochgilphead is a good place to live, and there has been visible investment to the area in the last year, however there is also a fragility to the area and this needs attention as to how demographic and economic changes can affect it. David advised that work needs to be done to attract visitors to the town, and that there is also a need for housing stock, extension of childcare and nursery provision, youth activities and social activities. In terms of next steps, work is continuing on Phase 1 (ends November 2022) and this includes a Place Brief, Place Program, Developing Funding, Determining Governance and Assurance and planning detailed additional engagement. Coll Engagement Sarah Griffin introduced the work of the Coll Collaborative Working Group which aims to ensure person centred, sustainable, affordable and integrated access to care on Coll. A needs assessment was undertaken in July 2022 and will inform work as it goes forward. The findings reported the main issues as being Situation and Transport (no public transport), Demographics, cost of living (high food and fuel costs), Housing (second home ownership, no supply), Health and Wellbeing (unpaid carers, good GP access but need to go off island for treatments) and Community (strong community and lifestyle on the island is important to residents). The results of the survey will be made public. Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership Annual Report Joe McKay provided an update of the Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership Annual Report which covered the twelve month period from 1 April 2021. The partnership had agreed to work together on topics such as climate change, building back better (strengthening communities), community wealth building, digital, safety in communities and addressing financial impacts including child poverty. Progress and achievements on these topics were outlined within the annual report, and included: - Monthly meetings for community organisations supporting people in need, to share experience and get support from other organisations in the area. - Creation of a Climate Change Action webpage hosting information on actions to address climate change across communities and organisations in Argyll and Bute. - Funding and distribution of call blockers to prevent telephone fraud and scams. - Over 6,000 Worrying about Money leaflets distributed - Funding to increase awareness of digital opportunities in communities. Review of Argyll and Bute Outcomes Improvement Plan Page 145
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Rona Gold delivered a presentation which detailed how Outcomes Improvement Plans are a requirement of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. The previous 10 year plan ends in 2023 and work needs to progress on forming the plan for the next 10 years. During July to September 2022 the CPP team met with multiple partners and other Community Planning Partnerships and reviewed all engagement in with communities in Argyll and Bute over the last 2 years. There are 9 needs that have emerged from that: Housing, Transport Infrastructure, Digital Inclusion, Climate Change, Financial Inclusion, Skills and Workforce, Diverse Economy, Community Wellbeing and Other (Community Voice, Volunteering). Rona reported that consultation will take place to identify the top 3 priorities which will be in the form of a survey across the population and CPP Partners. The CPP will also be surveyed regarding the existing level of partnership working on those themes. For further information, please contact: Shona Barton, Governance Manager, Argyll and Bute Council (01436) 657605 Shona.barton@argyll-bute.gov.uk Page 146