In order to maximise the opportunity for as many community members to participate and to ease concerns over travel, we vary the location, venue, and timing of our four Area Community Planning Group meetings in a number of different ways:
- In Oban, Lorn and the Isles, we alternate the time between an evening meeting and an afternoon meeting, with the venue occasionally at the High School to attract young people to attend
- In Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands, the venue is alternated between Lochgilphead, Campbeltown and Islay – three very separate and distinct areas. We also ensure that Video Conferencing facilities are available
- In Bute and Cowal, we rotate between Dunoon and Rothesay.
- In Helensburgh and Lomond the meeting was traditionally always held in Helensburgh and recently the meeting has started touring the area with meetings held in neighbouring rural communities. One meeting held in Arrochar had an excellent turnout by the local community and they were very appreciative of this.
Three out of the four Chairs of our Area Community Planning Groups are also community members with the other being from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Two Vice-Chairs come from the community, one from Third Sector Interface and one is an elected member. The Chairs all attend the CPP Management Committee and raise area-level issues for action where appropriate. This gives a real voice to local matters and a genuine partnership working between local and strategic areas of work in Community Planning.