Venue: Corran Halls, Oban
Contact: Danielle Finlay - Area Governance Assistant - 01631 567945
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APOLOGIES Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from:- Councillor Mary-Jean Devon Douglas Blades, Argyll and Bute Council Veronica Kennedy, NHS Highland |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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MINUTES |
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Minutes of the meeting of 11 June 2013 PDF 71 KB Minutes: The Minutes of the previous meeting of 11th June 2013 were approved as a correct record. |
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CORE PATHS AS AN ECONOMIC TOURISM DRIVER PDF 29 KB Presentation by David Adams McGilp Minutes: David Adams McGilp from Visit
Scotland gave a presentation on core paths as an economic tourism driver in the
area. He discussed integration, collaboration and development in
relation to core paths and explained how they only work if they are all joined up
and this creates a good business opportunity. Decision The Group noted the information provided. (Ref: Presentation by David Adams McGilp, Visit Scotland dated 11th September 2013, submitted). |
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PARTNERSHIP UPDATES |
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Sexual Health Media & Cultural Influences – Report by Laura Stephenson Minutes: Laura Stephenson from Argyll & Bute CHP spoke to the
Group on the need to promote sexual health and wellbeing at local, regional and
national levels. She advised the group
on the Scottish Government’s Sexual Health and Blood Borne (BBV) Framework
2011-2015 and how it identifies that Sexual Health Strategy Groups should have
strong links with BBV Managed Clinical Networks, Alcohol and Drug Partnerships
and Community Health Partnerships. Outcome The Group:-
i. Noted
the information provided;
ii. Agreed
to contact the Executive Director of Community Services to seek his support for
promoting this in schools to address issues raised;
iii. Agreed
to consider how the points in the paper might be incorporated into the proposed
locality community engagement events; and
iv. Agreed
to help as much as possible to promote sexual health in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area. (Ref: Report by Laura Stephenson, Argyll and Bute CHP dated 11th September 2013, submitted). |
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POLICE SCOTLAND Minutes: Alistair Davidson from Police Scotland gave an update on
serious and violent crime in the area, he advised that there has been a
reduction in assaults and there have been no robberies this year. He also advised that street drinking has been
reduced by 20%, anti-social behaviour stats are down and across the board
things are comfortable in the area. Alistair informed the Group that injuries sustained by
accidents on the road was unfortunately still high and this is due to the A85
being a highly used road which they are looking into and concentrating on making
the road safer. He advised that Police Scotland are moving back to road
policing units to give a more proactive approach to driving problems. Councillor Iain MacDonald congratulated Alistair and Police Scotland
for their improving performance across the board. Councillor Robertson asked Alistair if Police Scotland could look into more signage for drivers to be more aware and safer on the road. Councillor Hall asked that the project on Mull, whereby multi lingual road safety leaflets are widely distributed, could be extended to the wider OLI area. |
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SCOTTISH FIRE & RESCUE Minutes: Eddie Renfrew from Scottish Fire and Rescue updated the
Group on the new Local Fire Plan which provides information on operational
analysis to the Community Safety Forum being fed back into the Community
Planning Group and to look at strategies they have been using. He updated the group on the recent home fire safety visits
that have take place since 1st April – 10th September and
there have been 81 in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles
are with 17 people declining a visit, 9 accidental fires, 9 following incident
procedures and 2 Social Work referrals. Eddie advised the Group that a home fire safety visit is a
free service and they provide smoke detectors and asked the Group to encourage
people to accept the visit as it is a risk reduction and people do not realise
they can be at risk. He advised that there is competition in primary schools just
now for children to draw a picture for Bonfire night and the prize will be a
visit to Oban Fire Station. Councillor Hall asked if Scottish Fire and Rescue could revisit fire safety for next year by looking into the blocked cars that run along certain roads in the area as they are blocking access for the fire engine. |
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SCOTTISH WATER Minutes: There was no one present from Scottish Water so this item will continue to the December meeting. |
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ACHA Minutes: Iona MacPhail from ACHA updated
the group on the high demand for Affordable Housing in the area. She advised they are building 44 houses at Glenshellach in Oban, 2 at Bonawe
and 8 at Dalmally. She informed the group ACHA now have an Area Committee which
is made up of tenants locally and that they have judged the garden competition
for this year and cups are going out to tenants. She advised that ACHA have received a secure lottery funding
award of £300K to provide financial advice to tenants. ACHA have agreed to use this money for
welfare rights advice services including assistance at tribunals and appeals. She was also delighted to advise the group of the new rent payment methods which was introduced in 2011. This provides additional ways for tenants to pay their rent with extended hours and there was £3M taken in the last year and Tesco in Oban is one of the busiest places in Argyll for taking in money. |
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Minutes: Oban Community Council Duncan Martin from Oban Community Council updated the Group
on the recent visit they were hosting this summer for Kells
Town Council which was very successful and enjoyable. He thanked Councillor
Macintyre, Marry Malloy and Kate Winton who helped arrange the event and
thanked the businesses who supported and entertained them. Duncan advised a small group would be paying a return visit
at the end of September to return the Book of Kells. Ardchattan Community
Council Margaret Adams from Ardchattan
Community Council asked the Group if there had been a date set for the Dawn
Fresh Planning application to be considered.
Connel Community Council Les Stewart from Connel Community
Council advised that he had received a letter from Infinis
plc, outlining the company’s plans to erect a 16 turbine wind farm at Musdale Farm, 7km south of Kilmore. He informed that their plans could produce up
to 64 MW of power and create a community benefit of £224,000 pa. Les advised that the sums involved in this proposal were substantial and might prove divisive to rural communities. He had taken the matter up with Audrey Martin, Projects and Renewables Manager, Development and Infrastructure Services, Argyll & Bute Council, who had explained that the Council were considering the issue and meeting with other ‘stakeholders’ and partners to discuss the distribution of these large sums. |
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THIRD SECTOR PARTNERSHIP PDF 41 KB Report by Glenn Heritage Additional documents: Minutes: Glenn Heritage from Argyll Voluntary Action updated the Group on the social media class they have recently set up which gives people the opportunity to learn about IT and this will be held in Oban Library. |
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COMMUNITY SAFETY HIGHLIGHT/EXCEPTIONS REPORT PDF 83 KB Report by Area Governance Officer Minutes: A report updating the group about the items discussed at the
most recent meetings of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles
Community Safety Forums was considered. Decision The Group noted the work undertaken. (Ref: Report by Area Governance Officer dated 2nd September 2013, submitted). |
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BROADBAND AND RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS PDF 251 KB Report by Moray Finch, Mull and Iona Community Trust Minutes: Moray Finch from Mull and Iona Community Trust updated the Group on the poor broadband coverage in some of our rural areas in Argyll and Bute. He advised that some rural communities are unable to get the broadband coverage or speeds they need to fully benefit from being online. Campbell Cameron from Community Broadband Scotland advised that by 2020 Scotland will be the world leading nation for next generation broadband. He advised Community Broadband Scotland has been set up to help communities in the 15% ‘harder to reach’ areas that will not benefit directly from the Step Change programme which is part of the Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Action Plan to provide infrastructure in those areas that the market will currently not go. Community Broadband Scotland is a £5 million initiative which works to encourage and support the development of successful and sustainable community broadband projects, capable of delivering next generation speeds, through the use of established technologies and business models. Decision i. The Group noted the information provided; ii. Councillor McCuish advised he is happy to work with them; and iii. Councillor McCuish invited Moray Finch to the next Argyll and Bute Renewables Alliance (ABRA) meeting. |
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HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ENTERPRISE PDF 843 KB Presentation by Ailsa Raeburn, Scottish Land Fund Advisor Minutes: Ailsa Raeburn from Highlands and Islands Enterprise gave a
presentation on supporting communities to acquire and manage sustainable
assets. She discussed the principles of Community Land Ownership and
where the funding comes from and at present there are more than 420,000 acres
in community ownership with the Scottish Government wishing to generate another
500,000 acres within the next 7 years. She advised the aim of the group was to support rural communities to become
more resilient and sustainable through the ownership and management of land and land assets. Decision The Committee noted the information provided. (Ref: Presentation by Ailsa Raeburn, HIE dated 11th September 2013, submitted). |
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EFFECTIVE INTEGRATION OF LOCAL TRANSPORT NETWORKS Report by Douglas Blades (to follow) Minutes: This item will be taken at the December Community Planning Group meeting. |
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STREETSCENE SERVICE REVIEW IMPLEMENTATION Report by Head of Roads and Amenity Services (to follow) Minutes: Given recent political decisions the detail of the proposals for each area has not yet been finalised to a point where effective consultation can take place, and discussion of the item is therefore postponed to a future date. |
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PROPOSED AREA FORUMS PDF 92 KB Report by Community Development Officer Minutes: A report considering the decision by the Community Planning
Group on 22nd August 2012 to hold four Area Forum events to enable
consultation and feedback on the SOA 2013-23, was considered. Decision The Group:-
i. Agreed
to encourage participation in the consultation process as detailed in the
report;
ii. Agreed
that the Area CPG steering group
established to consider and plan the Area Forum event is delegated to
further consider the format of the event(s) and appropriate questions for the
area;
iii. Agreed
that the Area CPG steering group
identify partners to facilitate and record at workshop/discussion groups
and agree dates; and
iv. Agreed
that the Area CPG steering group consider ways of processing ideas that come
forward from the event to ensure people feel they have been able to actively
contribute to community planning. (Ref: Report by Community Development Officer dated 6th August 2013, submitted). |
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CAUCUS UPDATE Update by Community Development Officer Minutes: The Community Development Officer advised she has not had a caucus meeting since December 2012 and due to the meeting in August being postponed there is no update for the Community Planning Group today. |