Agenda and minutes

 

Apologies for absence were intimated from Councillor Alister MacAlister, Frances Webster, Skills Development Scotland, and Jane MacLeod, Mid Argyll Chamber of Commerce.

 

None declared.

Economy Thematic CPP Group 31 August 2011

 

With reference to item 6 - Partner Updates, Robert Pollock advised that concern had been raised at the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Local Area Community Planning Group that his progress report on the CHORD Programme had not included an update on Oban.  Robert advised that he had confirmed to the Group that the update for Oban had been included within his update on the Lorn Arc Project.

 

The Minutes of the Economy Thematic CPP Group meeting held on 31 August 2011 were approved as a correct record.

 

Sandy Mactaggart, Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure and Councillor Rory Colville, Spokesperson for Third Sector and Communities, of Argyll and Bute Council, together with Elaine Garman of Argyll and Bute CHP and Bill Stewart, Argyll and Bute Social Enterprise Network, gave a budget presentation on behalf of the Community Planning Partnership and highlighted the budget challenges that are being faced in the public sector and also how these pressures impact on the Third Sector.

 

A question and answer session followed the presentation which was recorded by the Council’s communications team and would inform the process.

 

Decision

 

1.             Noted the contents of the presentation;

 

2.             Noted that Douglas Cowan would discuss with Sandy Mactaggart a mechanism for investigating what the economic impact of cuts to budgets is across Argyll and Bute;  what the likely impact will be in the future as a result of further cuts; and what, if any, early interventions could be undertaken and to report back to a future meeting; and

 

3.             Agreed to invite Arlene Cullum of the Council’s Social Enterprise Team, to bring a report to the next meeting on work currently being undertaken by the Argyll and Bute Local Services Initiative, a partnership between the Carnegie UK Trust, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Argyll and Bute Council, Argyll and Bute Social Enterprise Network and the Third Sector.

Councillor Donald MacMillan joined the meeting during discussion of the foregoing item.

 

The Economy Thematic CPP Group scorecard has undergone repeated change over the past two years due in part to the agreement to have one scorecard to serve both the CPP Economy Thematic CPP Group and the Council’s Economy Policy and Performance Group (PPG).  At its meeting on 25 May 2011 the PPG agreed that it should have a separate Scorecard from the Thematic Group with direct links to the Economic Development Action Plan.  Consideration was given to a report advising that the Groups would be best served by a generic Economy scorecard as the local economy is affected by a range of issues, both within and outwith the influence of both Groups.

 

Decision

 

Noted that the PPG had agreed to keep both Scorecards separate at the present time.

 

Partners provided information on work currently being undertaken in respect of the Economy Community Plan actions.

 

HIE

 

Douglas Cowan confirmed that work had started on development of the Marine Science Park at Dunbeg and that the £7.5 m contract to create the first phase of development had been awarded to Robertson and was due to be completed by September 2012.

 

Douglas also referred to the economic circumstances on Bute and advised that he had hoped to pull together a paper for the Thematic Group and the CPP Management Committee regarding this serious issue and it was agreed that this could be a positive piece of work for Bute.  Reference was made to Bute Community Land Company taking some steps towards regeneration of the island and the  Ambitious for Bute vision document supported by HIE and the Council which set out a vision for the economic development of Island of Bute.  It was agreed to raise this as an issue at the next CPP Management Committee and to seek support from Partners in order to address concerns.

 

Argyll and Bute Social Enterprise Network (ABSEN)

 

Bill Stewart referred to the work of the Argyll and Bute Local Services Initiative and recent away day and advised that ABSEN had just appointed a Graduate as their Communications and Outreach Officer.  He also advised that Social Enterprise UK and Social Enterprise Scotland have joined forces to host the world’s biggest social enterprise event.  The Social Enterprise Exchange will take place on 27 March 2012 at the SECC in Glasgow and will host more than 1000 delegates and 150 business exhibitors.  Further information on the work of ABSEN between August 2011 and November 2011 is detailed in a report attached at item 12c of this Minute.

 

Scottish Enterprise

 

Eileen Wilson referred to a leaflet prepared by Scottish Enterprise.  The leaflet gave a short report on Scottish Enterprise (SE) activity in Argyll and Bute in the last six months.  Eileen advised that it was the intention of SE to gather this data and forward on a bi annual basis and that they were looking for feedback on the layout and content of the leaflet.  It was noted that the information contained only covered the Helensburgh and Lomond part of Argyll and Bute and Douglas Cowan agreed to consult with his colleagues to have information on the rest of Argyll and Bute included.

 

Argyll and Bute Council

 

Business Gateway

 

Robert Pollock advised that it had been a very positive second quarter of 2011/12 for Business Gateway and that business start ups supported was 52 against a target of 32, an increase of 52% over the first quarter and that they were broken down as follows:-

 

• 11 MAKI versus a target of 6; compared with 6 last year
• 22 OLI versus a target of 6; compared with 3 last year
• 5 B & C versus a target of 6; compared with 7 last year
• 14 H & L versus a target of 14; compared with 17 last year

 

He also advised that the number of existing businesses supported with advice or workshops was 78 (excluding H & L) in the second quarter compared to 115 in the previous quarter.  This takes the half year total to 193 against a target of 250 and were broken down as follows:-

 

• MAKI 26
• OLI 27
• B & C 25

 

Renewables

 

Robert referred to the third meeting of the Argyll and Bute Renewables Alliance (ABRA) and that they were currently reviewing  the Renewable Energy Action Plan (REAP) and that a report on this would be brought to a future meeting.  He also referred to the infrastructure improvements to the new quay at Campbeltown.

 

Lorn Arc Project

 

Robert advised that the Council had received confirmation from the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) on 1 November 2011 that they had been selected as one of three projects across Scotland to work with the SFT to develop a Full Business Case (FBC)  for the Lorn Arc Project which will focus on the extension of the Oban’s North Pier and the road infrastructure in order to stimulate private sector investment and economic development in the Oban, Dunstaffnage, Dunbeg, North Connel and Barcaldine area.  He advised that the Council would build on the support already received from public and private sector Partners to take the FBC forward.

 

Road Equivalent Tariff (RET)

 

Councillor Simon tabled a press release from Transport Scotland advising that the Minister for Housing and Transport, Keith Brown had announced that more islands were set to benefit from an extension of the RET following publication of the report on the RET pilot which showed clear indications that the pilot had boosted journeys by up to 31% benefitting tourism and local business.  It was noted that the following routes were included in the RET Plans:-

 

Confirmed to continue from Spring 2012

 

Western Isles: Oban-Castlebay, Oban-Lochboisdale, Ullapool-Stornoway, Uig-Tarbert, Uig-Lochmaddy

 

Coll and Tiree: Oban-Coll-Tiree

 

Confirmed to begin a pilot in October 2012

 

Colonsay: Oban-Colonsay-Port Askaig-Kennacraig

 

Gigha: Tayinloan-Gigha

 

Islay: Kennacraig-Port Askaig/Port Ellen

 

Confirmed to begin a pilot in October 2014

 

Arran: Ardrossan-Brodick & Claonaig-Lochranza

 

Confirmed to be rolled out within the term of this Parliament

 

Bute: Colintraive-Rhubodach & Wemyss Bay-Rothesay

 

Cumbrae: Largs-Cumbrae Slip

 

Iona: Fionnphort-Iona

 

Lismore: Oban-Lismore

 

Mull: Oban-Craignure, Tobermory-Kilchoan & Lochaline-Fishnish

 

Raasay: Sconser-Raasay

 

Skye: Mallaig-Armadale

 

Small Isles: Mallaig-Eigg, Muck, Rum, Canna

 

Sound of Barra: Barra-Eriskay

 

Sound of Harris: Berneray-Leverburgh

 

Decision

 

Noted the Partner updates and the agreed actions from these.

 

 

 

 

 

Report by Anthony Standing, Skills Development Scotland (to follow)

 

Consideration was given to a note of a meeting which reviewed the last six month’s activity of Employability Programmes.  Eileen Wilson advised that a representative from the Economy Thematic CPP Group to attend future meetings was still being sought and that it would be beneficial if someone with a background in training and employment could attend.  She confirmed that the meetings would be held twice per year by video conference.

 

Decision

 

Agreed that Eileen should contact Ishabel Bremner, Economic Development Manager, to see if Ray McIntosh-Walley, Employability Manager, or one of his Managers could attend these meetings.

 

(Reference: Notes of Meeting dated 16 November 2011, tabled)

Report by Anthony Standing, Skills Development Scotland (to follow)

 

It was agreed to continue consideration of this item to the next meeting.  Eileen Wilson advised that she believed Anthony Standing of Skills Development Scotland (SDS) was in a new role and agreed to contact SDS to clarify who should be invited to attend meetings of this Group along with Frances Webster.

Report by Gerry Wilson, IT Infrastructure Services Manager, Argyll and Bute Council (to follow)

 

It was agreed to continue consideration of this item to the next meeting.  It was noted that the HIE project was out to tender and an announcement on this was imminent and that the outcome of this would be reported at the next meeting.

Report by Community Planning Manager

 

The Community Planning Partnership (CPP) is currently working on the new combined Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) 2012-13.  The new plan will bridge the year from the end of the current SOA to the end of the current community plan.  Although new outcomes have been agreed the CPP Themes will remain the same and many of the success measures already being used for the current thematic scorecards will still be relevant to the new outcomes.  Consideration was given to a report detailing Outcomes and Success Measures relevant to the Economy Thematic CPP Group which were agreed at the CPP Management Committee on 19 October 2011.  Eileen Wilson advised of further success measures  to be added which she had received from the Third Sector Partnership.

 

Decision

 

Noted that Eileen Wilson and Douglas Cowan would finalise appropriate success measures for this Group and agreed that Partners should contact Eileen Wilson with any changes they wished to make to these in advance of the CPP Management Committee meeting on 14 December 2011.

 

(Reference: Report by Community Planning Manager, submitted)

Report by Audit Scotland

 

Consideration was given to the key messages from a report entitled “The Role of Community Planning Partnerships in Economic Development” by Audit Scotland.

 

Decisions

 

Noted the contents of the report and that information contained in the report would be taken on board when considering the success measures to be included in the Single Outcome Agreement/Community Plan relevant to Economic Development.

 

(Reference: Report by Audit Scotland, submitted)

 

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

 

Decision

 

Noted the activity that was undertaken by the Argyll and Bute Strategic Housing and Communities Forum during the period August – October 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

 

(Reference: Report by Argyll and Bute Strategic Housing and Communities Forum dated 11 October 2011, submitted)

 

Consideration was given to a highlight and exception report provided by the Argyll and the Islands LEADER Local Action Group.

 

A copy of the Argyll and the Islands LEADER Programme 2007 -2013 Annual Report for 2010/2011 was also tabled for information.

 

Decision

 

Noted the activity that was undertaken by the Argyll and the Islands LEADER Local Action Group during the period 1 August – 31 October 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

 

(Reference: Report by Argyll and the Islands LEADER Local Action Group, submitted)

 

Consideration was given to a highlight and exception report provided by the Argyll and Bute Social Enterprise Network.

 

Decision

 

Noted the activity that was undertaken by the Argyll and Bute Social Enterprise Network during the period August – November 2011 and the key challenges and actions to be addressed in the future.

 

(Reference: Report by Argyll and Bute Social Enterprise Network dated 16 November 2011, submitted)

 

None.

 

Consideration was given to the future work programme of the Economy Thematic CPP Group.

 

Decision

 

Agreed that the following items would be included on the agenda for the next meeting on 29 February 2012:-

 

Partner Updates

Performance Management – Scorecard

Future Work Programme

Highlight and Exception Reports

Completion and Drop Out Rates of Apprenticeships

Information to be included on Thematic Web page

Rural Broadband

Report on Argyll and Bute Local Services Initiative

 

It was agreed that the theme for the next meeting would be Housing and that an invitation should be extended to the Housing and Communities Forum to give a presentation on the impact of Housing on the economy across Argyll and Bute.