Democracy Spraffa

Community Planning Partnership Management Committee Update

Argyll and Bute Council · 1 February 2023
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group — 1 February 2023 and its agenda

Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.

Original council PDF · Download plain text

Page 1

Argyll and Bute Community Planning
Partnership 
Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands
Area Community Planning Group 
1 February 2023 
Community Planning Partnership Management Committee Update 
This briefing relates to the meeting of the Community Planning Partnership (CPP)
Management Committee which was held on 7th December 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 November 2022 cycle of meetings.  The
meetings had been well attended with a variety of interesting presentations given.
Of particular interest was the appointment Ryan McIntyre, MSYP to the position of
Vice Chair of the OLI Community Planning Group; the update from Stan Phillips
regarding actions to take forward to address the climate emergency and the report
by The Centre for Economics and Business Research that had been
commissioned to better understand the needs of ferry users, island communities,
and the economic and social value of Hebridean and Clyde ferry services. 
 The Management Committee noted the current situation regarding the status of
some Community Councils that have changed following the elections on 20
October 2022 and that Committee Services had been representing the Returning
Officer at associated inaugural meetings. It was noted that new Community
Councils would be invited to attend their associated Area Community Planning
Group. 
The CPP Management Committee met on the 7th December 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 2

CROSS CUTTING THEMES 
Climate Change 
Stan Philips provided a brief update report on the work of the Climate Change
Working Group (CCWG). Stan advised that work is currently ongoing to secure
funding for a Climate Change Project Manager to take forward the development of a
climate change action plan, with £90k of the required £120k secured. 
Financial Inclusion and Child Poverty 
Mandy Sheridan advised that the 3rd Child Poverty Action Plan review would be
published shortly. She noted the production of a one page graphic child friendly
version of the plan would be used for engagement, which would link to resources,
further help and information. 
The Argyll and Bute Data Cost of Living Crisis Group is looking at mapping data
factors to a geographic map, cross referenced between 2 date periods, to pinpoint
those most in need. Interest has also been submitted in the area becoming part of a
pilot project by the Improvement Service to cross reference SEEMIS data with
Council Tax Reduction claimants in Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation zones. 
A report produced for the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights in October,
analysed 10 of last year’s Local Authority action plans (including Argyll and Bute’s).
The report made 5 key findings - most lacked any focus on race despite links
between ethnicity and poverty and information on current action to address Black,
Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) child poverty, existing plans focus primarily on
gypsy/travellers, Local Authorities acknowledge poverty for BAME families yet this
did not lead to actions and issues with lack of data available at a national level are
exacerbated at local level. 
Community Wealth Building (CWB) 
Takki Sulaiman on behalf of the Argyll and Bute TSI advised that the Board have
agreed substantial funds for research to cover 3 main strands - drawing together
existing strategies, identifying best practice suitable to Argyll and Bute’s geography
and virtual food hubs . It was agreed that an advisory panel would be established
with a full proposal and draft statement for anchor institutions (including what this
means) to be considered at the next meeting. 
There was some discussion around the merit of this work, specifically that it helps to
establish the wellbeing context of the area (the diverse and different needs, not a
one size fits all). The importance of funding was also highlighted.   
Building Back Better

Page 3

Kirsty Moyes advised that she would be leading on work regarding the impact of the
pandemic and that an engagement exercise would soon begin that would ask
participants to discuss themes and make informed choices in their top 3 priorities.
Work is also ongoing looking at training needs in communities and reviewing the
micro grants scheme that enabled the council to distribute funding to village halls
impacted at the height of the pandemic. 
Review of ABOIP (including Results of Consultation by MSYPs) 
Rona Gold updated the Management Committee on the approach being taken to
review the Argyll and Bute Outcome Improvement Plan (ABOIP). Research by the
team has identified key priorities within Argyll and Bute (including digital, transport,
housing, climate etc.), the consultation survey will ask responders to rank their top 3
priorities from these. The survey will be open until the end of January 2023 and links
to the survey and a QR code has been sent to partners. A focus groups will be
established during the early part of spring to explore the outcomes of the
engagement which will form the priorities over the next 10 years in Argyll and Bute. 
Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) engaged with youth to
determine what is important to young people. With around 900 responses received
half of young people felt that their area was run down and felt they had no
opportunity to have their voices heard. Climate concern and lack of meaningful or
appropriate mental health support are also key issues for young people. 
Digital Communities 
Iain MacInnes advised the R100 project has started successfully making live
connections across Argyll and Bute, and this will ramp up significantly over the next
few years although there are significant challenges and expense in rolling out a full
fibre programme. Iain is in contact with Openreach to engage with roads and
planning services to streamline the process and find innovative solutions to mitigate
any potential delays or disruption. 
Work continues on the Scottish Government 4g programme - there are now 3 of 9
sites live across the area to target 4g “not-spots”. This is a £1b project by the
Scottish Government, UK Government and the mobile industry (Cornerstone, O2
and EE). Iain met with the shared rural network team recently to find solutions to
accelerate the programme to build 11 remote sites in Argyll and Bute, which is to be
completed by 2024. Digital hubs have also secured £11k funding from the Island
Infrastructure Fund to develop hubs across 4 islands. 
Community Justice Partnership Annual Report 
Mary Holt spoke to the recently submitted Community Justice Annual Report, adding
that Community Justice applies to all involved in or affected by the justice system
and the Community Justice Scotland Act 2016. The local model for community
justice aims to deliver an extensive change programme centred on increasing
prevention of offending/reoffending through improved leadership and collaboration;

Page 4

evidencing and delivering improved outcomes; learning, development and
innovation; and workforce development across multi-agency statutory partners. 
A Community Justice Outcome Improvement Plan, due to be published in April 2023,
will align with the Argyll and Bute Outcome Improvement Plan and is dependent on
the Outcome Performance Framework from the Community Justice National
Strategy and the geographic diversity in Argyll and Bute. 
Local Transport Strategy and Case for Change   
The Management Committee noted that the Highlands and Islands Transport
Partnership (HITRANS) are keen to attend a meeting in the New Year to discuss
their regional transport strategy (the timeline, what they are doing and what it
involves are detailed in the paper). 
For further information, please contact: 
Stuart McLean, Committee Manager, Argyll and Bute Council (01436) 657605
Stuart.mclean@argyll-bute.gov.uk