Issue - meetings

The group considered a draft of the Area Community Planning Group’s Terms of Reference with revisions.

Discussion was had in relation to the possibility of setting up a caucus of Community Council’s, with the Area Governance Manager confirming that there is a caucus in the Bute and Cowal area, which works well with five out of the twelve members in regular attendance.  She further advised that they proactively include items on the agenda for CPG meetings. 

Mrs MacLeod outlined the significant restructuring of the Governance Team and advised that Lorna Elliott had recently been appointed as the Community Governance Manager and Melissa Stewart was currently working as the Community Council Local Liaision Officer, and through their roles both were working towards finding out what works best.  She stressed that there was no “one size fits all” and that the possible partnership idea was still being looked into. 

Further discussion was had in relation to budgets for training and travel for Community Council representatives on the group and also the need for the agenda of the CPG meetings to be constructive and meaningful where decisions are being made. 

The Community Planning Manager explained that there would be no budgetary decision making powers available to the CPG as there were set budgets for the next financial year, she further advised that if there appeared to be a logic developing around budgetary powers , this would be investigated and addressed at a later date. 

Decision:

The group agreed that the proposed Terms of Reference be adopted at the Community Planning Partnership Management Committee meeting on 31 October 2014.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Community and Culture, dated 3^rd September 2014, submitted.)