Agenda and minutes

Andrew Campbell welcomed everyone to the meeting.   The Management Committee expressed their wishes for Lolita Lavery’s speedy recovery.

The Minutes of the meeting of 5 October 2005 were accepted as an accurate record.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2005 were accepted as an accurate record.

Response to Health Board Consultation – Comments on CPP meeting

The Management Committee discussed the results of the latest Citizens Panel survey which was taken into account in the response on behalf of the CPP to the Health Board consultation.

The need for CPP partners to engage in and comment on local and national issues beyond the remit of their organisation was re-emphasised.

There could be a need for further development work/training on community planning that could be incorporated into work arising from the Best Value Audit.

The link with Andrew Goudie at the Scottish Executive needs to be strengthened.  James McLellan to make contact.

Stock Transfer vote due to be reported on 15^th December 2005.

There had previously been circulated Note of the Argyll Islands Steering Group held on 20^th October 2005, the main item of the agreement was that if the Group were successful in enabling the communities to interact with the CPP there would be no need for a local steering group and this group could be stood down.  This was seen as an objective for the next 12 months.

The terms of the report were noted by the Management Committee.

Copies had previously been circulated of reports from the Three Islands of Coll, Jura and Colonsay, which were snapshots of the formal agreement.

Hugh Donaldson spoke to the Management Committee outlining staffing, travel etc. difficulties.  The islands required to be more visible and supported.  The Management Committee discussed the importance of getting partners round the table, discussing proposals, prioritising, signing up with partners. 

So that distant communities were not working in isolation, the CPP could assist the islands by providing, for example, assistance at officer level with projects.  Communities Scotland Housing Trust’s Housing Officer to meet regarding budget evidence.

Regarding sustainable Health Services on remote islands, Josephine Stojak offered to provide details of the proposals, on request, regarding the Jura ferry link where the NHS were re-designing patient “services” for Islay and Jura.

The debate highlighted issues where Scottish Water could be able to facilitate developments.  Brian Barker to contact Scottish Water to encourage more regular attendance at CPP meetings to aid local understanding and help to set priorities.

Brian Barker provided a verbal feedback to the Management Committee on SEERAD research on Rural Service Priority Areas (RSPAs)

Priorities need to be agreed between the CPP and the Executive on issues highlighted within the research.

Concerns with the research consultant’s approach have been raised with SEERAD.  £100,000 may be available for each RSPA area next year.  The report for Jura, Colonsay and N. Islay is still outstanding.

This was noted by the Management Committee.

Detailed data is not yet available.  The response rate of 50-55% is good but not as good as usual.  Changes will be made in the next survey.

Brian Barker provided a report, copies having previously been circulated, in in regard to responses received to the second request for funding bids from

the Capacity Building Budget.  It was recommended:-

·       Provision of requested amount for the YACES project;

·       Part-funding of Kintyre Toolkit and Carers Support projects;

·       Declining the request for funds from the Voluntary Sector Policy

·       Group and Nadair Trust.

The Management Committee agreed to the recommendation.

·         Health and Wellbeing Theme Group (Gavin Brown)

·         Argyll and the Islands Local Economic Forum (No progress to report since last paper to CPP Management Committee on 5 October 2005.  Next Meeting: 14 December 2005)

·         Dunbartonshire Local Economic Forum Strategy 2006-2009 – Report by Aileen Edwards, Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire

·         Sustaining and Developing our Communities, Culture and Environment Theme Group (No progress to report since last paper to CPP on 11 November 2005.  Next Meeting: 26 January 2006)

Health and Wellbeing Theme Group 1: 

Gavin Brown spoke to the Health and Wellbeing Theme Group report, copies having previously been circulated. The Management Committee noted the report on the activities by the Health and Wellbeing Group.

Argyll and the Islands Local Economic Forum:

The Management Committee noted that there was no progress to report since the last Management Committee meeting on 5 October 2005.  The next meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Group would be held on 14 December 2005.

Dunbartonshire Economic Forum Strategy 2006-2009:

The Management Committee received the Dunbartonshire Economic Forum Strategy 2006-2009, copies of which had previously been circulated.  The general focus on  building on areas to add value was welcomed.  Concern was expressed about local sensitivities with regard to the lack of mention of Helensburgh.

Sustaining & Developing our Communities, Culture & Environment Theme Group 3:

The Management Committee noted that there was no progress to report since the CPP meeting held on 11 November 2005.  The next meeting of the Sustaining and Developing our Communities, Culture and Environment Group would be held on 26 January 2006.

Presentation by Audrey Martin, Senior Development Officer, Argyll and Bute Council

Audrey Martin, Senior Development Officer, Argyll and Bute Council, delivered a presentation on an Agricultural Strategy for the Argyll area prepared by members of the Argyll and Bute Agricultural Forum, explaining the main themes and objectives of the Strategy, copies of which were circulated.

It was noted that the purpose of the Forum was to:

• Raise awareness of agricultural issues across Argyll and Bute
• Act as a forum for discussion about agricultural issues in Argyll and Bute
• Promote the sustainable development of agriculture in Argyll and Bute
• Create a unique opportunity for all agencies with an interest in land use sectors to work together

Audrey Martin and Steven Dott answered various questions put by the Management Committee

The agricultural strategy for the Argyll and Bute area was welcomed by the Committee and it was agreed that Audrey Martin would report back to the Forum on the discussion she and Steven Dodd had had with the CPP Management Committee.

Report by European Manager, Argyll and Bute Council

Following a presentation by Audrey Martin, Argyll and Bute Council, on Rural Development Regulation post-2006, copies having previously been circulated, the CPP agreed, in principle, to the recommendation to respond to the SEERAD RDR consultation proposing local, integrated RDR delivery in Argyll and Bute to achieve some of the key CPP objectives.  It was also agreed that CPP support the principle of local delivery of appropriate elements of the RDR using a LEADER approach.

It was agreed that Jane Fowler, European Manager, Argyll and Bute Council, draft a letter to respond to the SEERAD consultation.  The letter should be drafted for Allan Macaskill as Chair of the Community Planning Partnership.

Report by Jim McCrossan, Community Learning and Regeneration Manager, Argyll and Bute Council

The Committee considered a report by Jim McCrossan, Community Learning and Regeneration Manager, Argyll and Bute Council, on National Standards for Community Engagement.  The CPP has 6 days’ free consultancy and the report recommends using these to promote the standards to organisations, people training and offer surgeries for CPP Partners to use for particular issues.

After discussion the Management Committee agreed the recommendations in the report regarding the proposals and dates for use of the time available from the Scottish Community Development Centre, to consider adopting the standards and to use the time available through the training and consultancy to raise awareness of these standards and to resolve any obstacles to their adoption.

The Management Committee noted that there was a projected surplus of £22,762 in the CPP budget for this financial year and agreed that contributions should remain at the same level for 2006/7.

Letters confirming the 2006/7 contributions will be sent to all partners.

Andrew Campbell had recently met with Eric Thompson, Argyll and Bute Councillor for the Helensburgh East Ward, who had raised several issues in relation to funding and community regeneration, and it was noted that these had been satisfactorily dealt with and Andrew would visit the Helensburgh ADG.

The next meeting would be held on Wednesday, 8 February 2006 at 10.30 am in the Scottish Natural Heritage Offices, Kilmory Industrial Estate.

Dates of future CPP Management Committee meetings –

Wednesday 19 April

Wednesday 14 June

Wednesday 16 August

Wednesday 4 October

Wednesday 6 December

To take place within the SNH offices, Kilmory Industrial Estate, Lochgilphead

(10:30 – 13:00 hours)