Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Anne Horn; Councillor David Kinniburgh; Gregg McMillan, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue; Derek Leslie, NHS Highland.

None.

Social Affairs Thematic CPP Group 8 November 2010

The Minutes of the Social Affairs Thematic CPP Group meeting held on 8 November 2010 were approved as a correct record.

·         CHP Access to Pyramid Pilot

·         HIPPAG Outcome Measure

With regard to item 14 (CHP Access to Pyramid Pilot) it was agreed, having noted Derek Leslie’s apologies, that this would be continued to the next meeting, and that Derek would be requested to submit a short progress report to Members prior to the March meeting of the Executive.

With regard to the HIPPAG Outcome measure Cleland Sneddon advised that a suggested measure had been produced and that this would be circulated to all Members.

With regard to item 5 (Education Attainment) Cleland Sneddon advised that examination results had not been published on the education website as the SQA had not published the data, he advised that as soon as they made this information available it would be published on the website.  He advised that Islay High School would be making a presentation on 9 May 2011.

With regard to item 9 (REAP – Issues to raise at consultation event) Cleland Sneddon advised that Audrey Martin had received very few comments from Partners other than those received at the Groups.  He advised that Marine Scotland and Scottish Power Renewables would be attending the CPP event on 9 March 2011.  He advised that with regards to the provision of a bond to secure decommissioning, with offshore windfarm developments this would be covered by a Section 75 Agreement and that the consenting process would lie with Marine Scotland.

With regard to item 12 (3^rd Sector Representation on the Argyll and Bute Action Protection Committee) Cleland Sneddon advised that Katrina Sayer of AVA had been nominated.

Verbal Report by Cleland Sneddon, Executive Director – Community Services and Thematic Lead

Cleland Sneddon, Executive Director – Community Services and Thematic Lead gave a verbal report on the budget settlement and advised that Argyll and Bute Council’s Budget Meeting had taken place on 10 February 2011.  The Council’s 3 year budget had been set on the basis of a 1 year settlement and the funding gaps for the next three years would be £13.4M for 2011/12, £14M for 2012/13 and £17M for 2013/14.  Mr Sneddon told the Group that every part of the Council had been scrutinised to identify savings and that there was a significant impact on employees through the reduction of posts.  He advised that Social Affairs would be affected by a reduction in the Supporting People budget and a reduction in Special Islands Needs budget.

Decision

The Group noted the verbal budget settlement report by the Executive Director – Community Services.

(Reference:  Verbal report by Executive Director – Community Services)

Presentation by Moira MacVicar, Housing Services Manager

Moira McVicar, Housing Services Manager, Argyll and Bute Council gave an informative presentation on the Council’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) which sets out how investment in affordable housing will be directed over a 5 year period.  Information was provided on the process, content, resources, 5 year plan, current projects and future of SHIP.

Moira responded to a number of questions arising from her presentation.

Decision

The Thematic Group -

1. Noted the content of the presentation.

2. Expressed their concern in regard to the implications of reduced funding in the future, and the risk to other projects should this funding not be available.

(Reference:  Presentation by Moira McVicar, Housing Services Manager, Argyll and Bute Council)

Presentation by Glenn Heritage, Third Sector

Glenn Heritage gave a presentation to the Group on the Third Sector Partnership which works to promote the third sector in Argyll and Bute. She advised that Partnership provides support for voluntary and community organisations, support for volunteers and the promotion of volunteering, support for social enterprises and maintains close links with community planning partners. 

Glenn responded to a number of questions arising from her presentation.

Decision

The Thematic Group –

1. Noted the content of the presentation.

2. Agreed to encourage information sharing through the use of the Consultation Diary, a mechanism which had been put in place by the Community Planning Partnership to enable access to information from consultation exercises that had been carried out, with a view to reducing duplication.

(Reference:  Presentation by Glenn Heritage, Third Sector)

Consideration was given to a highlight and exception report provided by the Strategic Housing and Communities Forum.

Decision

Noted the activity that undertaken by the Strategic Housing and Communities Forum during the period April to October 2010 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

(Reference: Highlight and exception report by the Strategic Housing and Communities Forum, submitted)

Consideration was given to a highlight and exception report provided by the Early Years Partnership.

Decision

Noted the activity that undertaken by the Early Years Partnership and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

(Reference: Highlight and exception report by the Early Years Partnership, submitted)

Consideration was given to a highlight and exception report provided by Child Protection Committee.

Decision

Noted the activity that undertaken by the Child Protection Committee during the period November 2010 to February 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

(Reference: Highlight and exception report by the Child Protection Committee, submitted)

Consideration was given to a highlight and exception report provided by Argyll and Bute’s Children.

Decision

Noted the activity that undertaken by Argyll and Bute’s Children during the period October to December 2010 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

(Reference: Highlight and exception report by Argyll and Bute’s Children, submitted)

Consideration was given to a highlight and exception report provided by the Community Safety Partnership.

Decision

1. Noted the activity that undertaken by Argyll and Bute’s Children during the period April 2010 to January 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

2. Noted that Moira Paten of NHS Highland would be making contact with the Chair of the Community Safety Forum with regard to work she was carrying out on domestic violence.

(Reference: Highlight and exception report by the Community Safety Partnership, submitted)

Consideration was given to a highlight and exception report provided by the Third Sector Partnership.

Decision

Noted the activity that undertaken by the Third Sector Partnership during the period 1 October to 31 December 2010 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

(Reference: Highlight and exception report by the Third Sector Partnership, submitted)

Report by Jim Robb, Head of Adult Care

Allen Stevenson, Service Manager – Adult Care, Argyll and Bute Council spoke to a report on the revised model of care as part of the Scottish Government’s Reshaping Care for Older People Agenda and the range of measures that were currently being Developed; and the Out of Hours Social Work Service/Telecare Service within Argyll and Bute.  The report also contained information on an out of hours mental health service provided to ensure that the Council meets its statutory duties and responsibilities under mental health legislation.

Decision

The Thematic Group -

1. Noted the content of the report.

2. Asked Allen Stevenson to ensure that the out of hours numbers provided in the report were included on the Councils Out of Hours Contact List.

3. Agreed that the contact number for the Out of Hours Mental Health Officer Service would be passed to Members Services for distribution amongst Councillors.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Adult Care, dated February 2011, submitted)

Report by Jon Belton, Service Manager – Criminal Justice

Dougie Dunlop, Head of Children and Families, Argyll and Bute Council spoke to a report on Community Payback Orders.  In response to recommendations contained within the report by the Scottish Prisons Commission, Community Payback Orders would be introduced to replace Probation and Community Service; and Supervised Attendance Orders.  The report provided information on the development implementation of the Orders.

Decision

The Thematic Group:-

1. Noted the issues involved in the development and implementation of the Community Payback Orders; and

2. Expressed concern that implementation of the terms of the legislation was not backed by additional funding.

(Reference:  Report by Jon Belton, Service Manager – Criminal Justice, dated 28 January 2011, submitted)

Verbal update from Cleland Sneddon, Executive Director – Community Services and Thematic Lead

Cleland Sneddon, Executive Director – Community Services and Thematic Lead, Argyll and Bute Council advised that this item would be continued to a future meeting.

Eileen Wilson, Community Planning Manager, Argyll and Bute Council advised of some deletions to outdated information David Clements was proposing on Pyramid and sought approval for these changes.

Decision

The Thematic Group -

1. Noted that this item would be continued to the next meeting and that partners would be consulted individually regarding their access to the Pyramid System.

2. Agreed that the following items be deleted from the Pyramid System as they were outdated –

Helensburgh Swimming Pool

Number of Children Visiting Dentist

(Reference: Verbal comments by Cleland Sneddon, Executive Director – Community Services and Thematic Lead, Argyll and Bute Council and Eileen Wilson, Community Planning Manager, Argyll and Bute Council.

Report by Eileen Wilson, Community Planning Manager

The Thematic Group considered the revised Strategic Partnership List for Highlight and Exception Reporting submitted by Eileen Wilson, Community Planning Manager.  The Group were asked to suggest any areas in which the list could be rationalised. 

Decision

The Group –

1. Noted the revised list.

2. Noted that the Childcare Partnership should be now be known as the Early Years Group.

3. Agreed that further suggestions for rationalisation of the list should be passed to Eileen.

(Reference: Strategic Partnership List for Highlight and Exception Reporting, submitted)

Verbal update from Eileen Wilson, Community Planning Manager

Eileen Wilson, Community Planning Manager, Argyll and Bute Council gave a verbal update on the Community Plan and Single Outcome Agreement.  Eileen advised the Group that there had been little progress with the plan and that community planning Chairs would come together to discuss the new combined plan.

Decision

The Thematic Group noted the verbal report by the Community Planning Manager.

(Reference:  Verbal report by Eileen Wilson, Community Planning Manager, Argyll and Bute Council)

Verbal updates from all Partners

Cleland Sneddon, Executive Director – Community Services and Thematic Lead, Argyll and Bute Council advised that this item had been placed on the agenda  with a view to promoting joint working initiatives between partners.  Partners would be asked to come forward and provide presentations and updates on current initiatives which might benefit from other partners becoming involved in ways other than in terms of finance.

Decision

Noted that this would be placed on the agenda for the next meeting of the Group with suggested framework.

(Reference:  Verbal report by Cleland Sneddon, Executive Director – Community Services and Thematic Lead, Argyll and Bute Council)