Bill Calderwood, Tom Tracey, Andrew Stirling, Vicki Yuill, Tom Jessop, Jude King, Sheila Gilmore, Timothy Billings, Neil Arthur, Sheena Borthwick-Toomey, Linda Johnston, Alastair Dobson, Susan Foster,

Apologies from Sarah Baird, Ruth Betley, Ian Staples

• Summary of Notes:

Identify Issues and Priorities for Ministerial discussion: The primary objective is to be heard above the loud voices of Island and Mainland neighbours.

Population:

• Clyde Island 12% of the population and 61% of the depopulation. Arran population declined by 8% in the last Census.
• Arran has 23% of housing stock empty or second homes. There are twice as many second homes as social homes. Arran has a critical shortage of affordable homes.
• Arran has 139 staff shortages (HSCP, Education, Private Sector) from recent survey. Using FoA baseline data, this represents £5.4m GVA hit to the Arran economy. The private sector survey received 6.4% responses. Conservatively, 200 or £7.9m GVA is the more likely impact. Additional 200 staff needed for 2030 growth plan.
• Staff shortage comparison: UK data shows that vacancies represent 2.5% of working population. On Arran it is 7% or 10%. NAC unemployment rate is joint second

highest in Scotland. Go figure?

Transport:

• Clyde Islands has 21% of CalMac’s serviced population and 49% of passengers.
• Ardrossan to Brodick is the busiest Ferry Passenger route in Scotland. Both pieces of data emphasise the dependency on Tourism.
• Fraser of Allander study indicated that the ferry service represented £170k GVA/Day.

Economic Impact:

• Fraser of Allander identified a high dependency on tourism in the Arran economy with a significantly disproportionate COVID impact on the economy and community.
• Over the last two years the Arran economy reduced by 65% and 22% respectively on

2019 levels. Primarily caused by COVID restrictions, helped by poor ferry service.

Conclusion:

Most Islands suffer from Service Access Inequalities ( Transport, Health and Housing). In addition, it costs more and pays less. This is balanced by a strong sense of community and high quality of life. COVID significantly exaggerated these issues on the Islands. When negatives exceed positives, depopulation is the result. Clyde Islands are the primary source of Island depopulation.

COVID apart, the unreliability ferry service and the lack of affordable housing are the primary reason for Arran’s population decline, staff shortages and economic slowdown. The problems are significant. The response should match the scale of the problem.

Details:

• The objective of the meeting was to identify and prioritise our issues supported by facts where possible and projection based on facts and stated assumptions based on papers already distributed.

• Transport/Ferry: Bill, pulled together the CalMac data which is the base for much of the work. A subset of the AFC met with the Transport Minister. (Unofficial notes issued separately by Sheila). Same message delivered for 3 years +. We need a Commercial. Problem solving, Customer focused Operator with a “can do attitude) On the plus side the Minister had taken the time and was listening. A good start but we need visible measurable actions now to improve the service.

• Economic Impact: Tom Jessop, using Bill’s carrying numbers as a baseline and STEAM spend data calculated the Economic Impact on Arran’s tourist economy, including carry over expenditure into other sectors. The projection is £54m for 2021 or £15m. 22% down on 2019. Add this to the 2020 impact of £45m or 65% and we have a £60m negative impact to the Arran Economy over the two years. One consistent piece of information was that almost all businesses are working below capacity because of staff shortages. This may need to be another factor added into the model. We will work on and finalize this through next week. General discussion on linking this information to other sectors through the FoA data and getting NAC do it and own it. We should be able to reference everything back to the £170 k/day Ferry Benefit to the Island. Will discuss how this can best be achieved with NAC. Tom T.

• Staff Shortages: Sheila did an excellent piece of work in identifying staff shortages supported by Ruth, Susan and Shirley. In summary there are 139 identified from the survey ( Education 13, HSPC 19, VA 107). The HSCP has been running at this level for the last 3-4 years with increasing workload. Similar duration in Education. VA membership have identified a sharp increase in vacancies with many operating below capacity for the first time ever. The Primary reason for vacancies, as in every survey back to 2017, is a lack of affordable housing with the addition of Brexit and Covid. General stress caused by additional work falling on fewer people was highlighted as a significant and growing issue.

We need to do more work to extrapolate the 107 number up to reflect the position on the island’s full tourist sector and make some assumptions on the “others”. We need this to make comparisons with other Islands and the mainland. Tom T will work with Sheila on this.

Also, need to re-invigorate the Skills Training Plan and put it to actions. Alastair agreed to follow up on this.

Identify Issues and Priorities: Tom T distributed the paper with amendments added by the group. This was the basis of the discussion.

Several comments: In general the right stuff. Needs a little work to top and tail. The primary objective is to be heard above the loud voices of Island and Mainland neighbours.

Clyde Island 12% of the population and 61% of the depopulation.

Clyde Islands 21% of CalMac’s serviced population and 49% of passengers.

Ardrossan to Brodick the busiest Ferry Passenger route in Scotland.

• Several comments against each of the sections which where all Strategic Objectives from NIP and as such part of the 2030 Plan.

Population: As we decrease in population so does our share of funding.

Housing: Need to give it more of a bite. Vicky, Timothy, Sheena happy to take input. If it can be made “bullety”. Alastair, suggested just support the ADT may do it as encompasses the detail but perhaps lacks the bite. More work. Will issue update next week.

Delivery Plan Update: As per Sarah’s mail:

Vicky commented that the consultation needs to avoid talk of strategy and talk about Outcomes and Actions. General agreement from the group. Folk are tired of consultations. Need to focus on specific pieces of work. Vicky would like to be involved in the Short Life Oversight Group that will be working with the communities to validate and prioritise their needs. A few folks have asked to be involved in this and as there is only one rep from each Island I will kick it off we will figure out how we can do this.

The next ARG meeting will be on the 10^th September and the primary update will be from Sarah on progress and timings with the Delivery Plan

Timothy updated the group on correspondence with Craig Hatton which recognised and supported Arran 2030 Island in Balance. Timothy also informed the group that Audrey Sutton will be off work for the next 8 months. All members of the group which Audrey well and a safe return. An interim Director will be appointed, and we will continue our Governance conversations with them.

ARG Response to Island Bond Consultation:

• Paper issued earlier: General agreement with paper. Additional comment that it needed a transparent process for distribution of funds. We should use the fact that we have a 2030 Plan to attract people to the Island. That is; we have a plan for their medium- and long-term future.

Thank you for your support and engagement. The next meeting will be the 10^th

Tom Tracey 20^TH August:

P.S

Digital Connectivity: I log this an issue for discussion at a subsequent meeting.     However, Andrew and Alastair asked to include it as a holding position. Data and Communications

Establish a Digital Readiness Hub, to support businesses and residents in reaping the benefits of data & digital technology [supplementing and supporting the valuable work that ACVS has been doing for vulnerable members of the community]. The hub will aim to start work on establishing a data platform   accelerate moves to co-creation by empowering

(b)

• Work with the community to ensure that all are included in the planning/implementation of fixed and mobile broadband network enhancements. Also work with the community on the integration of new infrastructure in an environmentally sensitive way [This includes work relating to the recently published Shared Network Plans for increasing mobile coverage – where the use of more numerous and higher masts is the traditional approach

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Summary:

COVID 19 and the Transport Service: Understanding the impact on our Island Community is high from our Local Authority, our MSP, Transport Minister and the Community Board and soon the Islands Minister and the Deputy First Minister. What we need now is focus and leadership to resolve the issues. ( May be nothing, but a 80 meter Catamaran Ferry is docking at Brodick Pier as I write).

Arran Recovery Plan will now move to the next phase with the development of the Delivery Plan. More to follow on this soon.

VOX POP puts real lived experiences in front of decision makers to show the human side to the devastating economic impacts of COVID-19 and our Transport Service. Thanks to Sheila, Jude and Chris for pulling it together as well as a big thanks to participants.

Updates on engagements to progress the Recovery. Tom/Bill/Alastair

Tom: The issues outlined in the summary document provide the basis for our changed assessment on the speed of recovery from 18 months to 2 years to 3 to 5 years.

Primary cause of reassessment is the past experience and current performance of our Transport Service. There is little or no confidence in the current structure for delivery. This needs to be urgently addressed. As the Fraser of Allander study pointed, our island economy and social structure is completely dependent upon this service. Low confidence means slow economic and social recovery and a negative impact on population.

NAC’s senior team agreed to a meeting to discuss the issues and look for resolution. The meeting was very positive, and a letter will be sent today from Joe Cullinane NAC, Ian Thomson AFC and Tom Tracey ARG to the Minister for the Islands to ask for a meeting to discuss the issues and ask for her leadership in resolving the issues.

We are pressing the right buttons and now need to establish a timescale for results

Bill:

• Community Board met with senior managers from Transport Scotland, CMAL and CalMac.
• Very pleased that Mr Dey MSP (Minister for Transport) joined the meeting to introduce himself and provide initial engagement from his first 6 days in office.
• Confirmed he had already had discussions with his officers and met with service providers. He confirmed that the recent experiences were unacceptable.
• Recognised the need for new tonnage and discussions were underway to understand what could be provided but no specific routes or vessels could be confirmed.
• The need for contingency planning was emphasised and also the process for procurement and operations. Current contracts needs to provide a service. Other matters raised were the annual service and dry docking and reassurance was sought that this work was not being constrained by time.
• Minister confirmed that community voices should be a key input and they should be reflected in any actions going forward.
• Further discussion with the service providers built on these points and we requested visibility of any draft contingency options being considered to ensure they were comprehensive and appropriate.
• CMAL gave an overview of their 3-5 year plans which are supported by the £580m funding from Government and these will be further developed.
• The Community Board had submitted questions ahead of the meeting which were covered in the press, and we will follow up on these.

Alastair:

It is a complex time with many moving parts, including COVID recovery, BREXIT and a new Scottish Parliament with relevant new Ministers. Arran’s issues need to be amplified but in a way that is understood from a Local Authority, regional and national perspective. To support this, Alastair has written to John Swinney, in his position as Covid Recovery Minister. Recovery will be supported from all levels of Government JS is keen that delivery and enablement will be through LAS but at a sub local authority level. Notwithstanding all the issues above, due to the work AEG has developed with the Arran 2030 – Island in Balance Plan, Arran is in a better place than most to highlight the problems and the opportunities that will lead to sustained recovery. As such, Alastair was advocating Arran as a demonstrator case in how best to achieve recovery.

In addition, Alastair highlighted that our plan Arran 2030 Island in Balance is well regarded within government and government agencies.

With his work with the National Tourism Recovery Task Force, Alastair was also able to present the high level ambition of the Arran 2030 – Island in Balance Plan to Transport Scotland officials. Current issues, opportunities and threats were discussed with a follow up meeting to be arranged.

Agreed we needed to make sure Arran issues are amplified on a nationwide issue. To support this, Alastair has written to John Swinney, in his position as Covid Recovery Minister. Recovery will be supported from all levels of Government but will actually happen at sub local authority level. Notwithstanding all the issues above, Arran is in a better place than most to highlight the problems and the opportunities that will lead to recovery. deliver this recovery. As such, Alastair was advocating Arran as a lead case in how best to achieve recovery.

In addition, Alastair highlighted that our plan Arran 2030 Island in Balance is well regarded within government and government agencies. The Strategic Tourism Group – has provided the latest opportunity to present to the full team around recovery and growth opportunities

All: NA) We are on the right track but response is the proof, previous experience has shown fast starts fizzling out and there is a need to keep the pressure on.

1. TB) Council meeting there has been a robust response and more dynamism and acceptance that there is a transport problem, Concern that Troon may become port of choice

Updates on progress of the Delivery Plan: Sarah

Context: The Arran Recovery Plan provides a comprehensive statement of the programmes required to deliver the objectives of Arran 2030.The Delivery Plan will focus in on areas within the Arran Recovery Plan that are funding focusses for Governmental agencies. The ARG plan is aligned with the Objectives of the National Islands Plan. Therefore, in time, all areas will become focus areas.

Sarah delivered a short presentation on the Delivery Plan. Highlighted items from the presentation:

• The Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 introduces a number of measures to ensure that there is a sustained focus across Government and the public sector to meet the needs of island communities now and in the future
• Implementation Route map with input from Islands Stakeholders published March 2021 – Living document to shape policies
• SG published an NIP Annual Report, outlining progress and spend. Would hope next year projects from Arran will be featured.
• Islands Strategic Group – membership is comprised of council leaders and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands
• Ministers set up NIP Delivery Group that will support implementation of the Plan and ensure that work is driven forward in a collaborative way that truly involves island communities. Sarah confirmed she sits as a member on the Delivery Group, ensuring the voices of NA Island communities are strengthened at local and national level.
• Having Arran 2030 Island in Balance plan and Sarah in post, puts us in a strong position to feed into Islands Strategic Group and Delivery Group
• Sarah is a member of both island Locality Partnerships (Arran and North Coast & Cumbrae), works across council services including regeneration/transport/housing/growth & investment to ensure that current and future Council activity and policy is island-proofed including maximising the potential of major programmes of investment in North Ayrshire.
• Sarah has regular pilot progress meetings with SGov and HIE
• Currently participating in a working group looking at population zones to address population decline
• The Arran Recovery Plan provides a comprehensive statement of the programmes required to deliver the objectives of Arran 2030. The ARG plan is aligned with the Objectives of the National Islands Plan, in time, all areas will become focus areas.
• Currently drafting the island plan much of which will be lifted from Arran Recovery plan with national and stakeholder input added
• Island Programme funding coming on stream soon – £30M investment form SG Infrastructure investment plan – capital/infrastructure funding covering transformation and well-being projects
• NAC applied to UK Community Renewal Fund for an Island Green Programme – an NA islands specific integrated package of 3 projects – business support fund/accelerating towards net-zero and an island connectivity study.
• TT asked if because plan not ready would that prevent Arran accessing the £30M fund – Sarah confirmed no and that we should be developing projects and going for funding now as projects will fit in with, and align to the plan in its development.
• Sarah hopes this provides some context as we progress with the development of the island plan. She then provided a timeline indicating the key milestones this year and that it was important that Arran recognises this is the island communities plan and not a local authority or government plan. It is key that the work of the Locality Planning Partnership in undertaking their priority refresh is considered and that it’s essential the priorities identified are included in the island plan.

BC 17^th June is next locality meeting TB will ask for Island Governance to be put on agenda. Meeting agreed that we need clear guidance and leadership to support the delivery of the plan. TT suggested that the next scheduled meeting on the 25^th June could be a face to face (or as much as possible) to help further development of The Delivery Plan.

The formal meeting ended at 11.00 am

AOB/ Vox Pop: Context: Lots of numbers, now need real life experience input from Islanders.

All: Heart felt inputs from a cross section business, community and age groups These are honestly held beliefs and would be generally supported across the Island.They are therefore real and should be shared. if those beliefs are not correct, they can be addressed separately but they indicate people’s perception.

Next steps: Agreement from participants for further distribution. A cover note will be added to explain the exceptional circumstances and then shared with media outlets.

Brodick Hall: Brodick hall transfer of ownership is a key issue it is the islands key community facility, consultation was done at a poor time, a stand needs to be taken against ongoing community ownership and management of assets. If ongoing costs are going to be covered elsewhere why not for Brodick Hall. Suggestions to Tom on how to progress this issue

Regards Tom

14/06/21

The post Notes from our ARG Meeting on the 11th June appeared first on Arran Recovery Group.

CalMac/CMal does not have the capital or labour to provide their contracted service. In addition and by design, there is a lack of commercial problem-solving and customer service ethos. That is; no measurements of their impact on the communities they service.

The Impact on Arran:

Again, Arran’s Recovery is impacted by a continuing deterioration in the level of service. This is manifest in lost revenue, reduced quality of life, increased cost, depopulation, and inability to attract new residents. Redeployment of existing ferry capacity has meant this year is worse than last year.

What needs to be done:

Immediately: Highlight the issue to senior levels of Government. This has started with Marc Crothall and Frances Pacitti, HIE, and Governmental organisations.

Short term: Need support from NAC to keep the FoA study alive and provide analytical data on non-economic issues. In addition, progress feasibility study into providing additional passenger capacity.

Medium-term: Ministerial-level review of the current situation and the creation of a resilience plan, that is in the public domain, that shows how we resolve/mitigate these issues.

More detail Notes:

Health and Social Care Capacity:

• We will assume that we have no HSPC capacity constraints unless we are informed of them by Ruth and the team.
• Meeting on Tuesday to review what the “Pathway” is for folks who have tested positive on the Island. The meeting should identify a) Rules b) Protecting Availability. C) Funding. It is assumed that this is not a critical capacity constraint at this time as there is enough accommodation capacity available in the short term.

Demand Capacity:

• Business: Auchrannie has identified £83k of losses from the current disruption. If this is increased pro-rata for accommodation providers, it would be approximately £500k loss of business. Total losses from day-trippers and support services would be significantly higher.
• Accommodation providers asked to try and encourage demand away from the weekend and onto midweek. Likewise, divert freight to the Lochranza route.
• Community: This lack of ferry availability is also impacting the community’s quality of life and ultimately encouraging people to leave and preventing people from relocating. Anecdotal evidence needs to be quantified with help from CC, Arran CVS, and HSCP with support from NAC.

Ferry :

• Two meetings with Transport Scotland and CalMac revealed what they cannot do:
• No extra capacity on the Brodick route between now and 17^th
• No prospect of a Bookable service on the Lochranza route.
• What CalMac will/may do:
• “Endeavor” to do clear any backlog on the Lochranza Route on the day.
• Look at using live Social Media updates to inform potential customers of availability.
• Provide clarity on the operation of the 80/20, 90/10 rule.
• A non-bookable service is of very limited value to accommodation providers.
• Accepting the limitation between now and the 17^th of May, there is a need for a strategic contingency plan that either adds capital or labour into the current mix to allow extra capacity for these ongoing issues.
• Another meeting with CalMac Transport Scotland is being organized for next week.
• AFC will seek an urgent meeting with the Transport Minister as soon as he is appointed after the forthcoming elections.

Regards

Tom

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• The group welcomed Sarah Baird as the Senior Island Officer in this new post. Sarah and the new position have everyone’s full support.
• Arran 2030,Island in Balance. The new and last name change for The Island Plan.
• Revision 8 of ‘Arran 2030,Island in Balance’, will not be complete until the 19^th
• Population decline and demographic means that we do not start in Balance. Lack of Affordable housing remains the primary cause.
• Programmes to achieve Balance are in line with National Island Plan Objectives.
• “COVID 19 and CalMac have a critical effect on every business. COVID 19 has had the biggest impact on Island businesses, ever.”
• Once CO2 baseline has been established, funding will be required to drive net zero by 2030. For what and how much, to be determined.
• Community Empowerment and the organisations and Governance that go with it, will be key to Implementing The Islands Plan and the Locality Planning Principles.

Notes from the Meeting:

Apologies from Ruth, Susan and Vicki

Welcome:

Welcome to Sarah Baird and Heather Gough: We have been pushing for a Senior Island Officer for years but fortunately it did not happen, until now.  With Islands legislation and implementation plan, this is the right time to create a role that combines the work of NAC, HIE and the Scottish Government.

Everybody introduced themselves to Sarah who commented that she was very happy to be in the new role and was looking forward do giving support to Arran and Cumbrae, providing a strong voice and access to available funding.

Recap on where we started and where we are: Tom

Start Point:

Began with the Arran Economic Group (AEG) in July 2019 looking at 2030 outcomes Getting historic information and then projected forward 10% increase in population and 20% tourism increase 50k traffic movements. The task was to define how to mitigate negatives and propagate positives. To ensure we were on the right track we had a public meeting in Jan 20 with more planned for March. Then COVID. Followed up by 2 survey’s 1200 respondents with over 40k separate inputs which confirmed the direction and prioritised the programmes.

Arran Recovery Group formed as a tactical group and the 2030 plan was woven into a Recovery Plan. This should now move back to the Strategic work of the AEG, with the ARG picking up on the tactical work of safely starting and optimising the economy and community.

Arran 2030, Island in Balance: Metrics

By popular acclaim the plan is now called ‘Arran 2030, Island in Balance’. I suggest this remains the name as long current members of the team are involved.

Balance will be measured using four Metrics: Quality of Life,(QoL) Gross Value Add (GVA) Population and the new metric of CO2. We have no baseline for CO2 and there will be work started to develop this. Our data for GVA growth and QoL put us in a good position. Our population data tells us that we are in an unsustainable position, economically and socially. That is, we start in a position that is NOT in balance.

Programmes:

To achieve the required ‘Balance’ we have identified 14 programmes that are already established or are being established and are outlined in the The Plan. These programmes broadly agree with the 13 Objectives outlined in the National Island Plan.

Conclusion: Lots of voluntary work gone into getting the plan to this place. Specific thanks to Jude and Sheila in helping to pull it together. Sarah’s arrival will help us get focussed on the priorities and making it happen. Revision 8 Concluded March 19^th.

House Keeping:

Please supply updates to document in the format of the plan document. Ideally Current State, Future State, How we move from Current to Future (Programmes) with supporting metrics and timescales. All of this on one page is be really helpful. Hyperlinks to a website or detailed plan can be added for those that need more information.

Sustainable Economy:  Alastair. 

Update now lodged using Current State, Future State method.

Future state Arran is recognised as an exemplar of economic development and environmental champions who embrace 3^rd sector start-ups. Feedback on matrix and the overall Plan has been congratulatory, confirming our direction of travel.

Specific points:

• Covid and Calmac have/are critically affecting all business.
• Business support, public transport and housing are significant issues.
• No Arran Business Development Plan and lack of commercial development understanding
• Ensure commercial activity is environmentally neutral in the future.
• Set up group of doers to develop Business Development Plan, Look at funding from a sectoral view.
• Relations with Council and Gov have improved as a result of AEG group.
• Need to increase number HIE supported businesses Employee-owned businesses.
• Ensure businesses have a net zero plan.
• Need to recognise Covid has had most negative impact ever.
• Help coming to VisitArran and Food and Drink sector from SMAS. Need to understand and engage with non VisitArran businesses.

• Group comments
  TB: Need to understand Arran’s economy being the basis for everything else we do.
• AD: Working Age population are being the most effected, in QoL survey (2019) no under 30’s responded about quality of live.
• 14: Critical pillars are key to supporting each other and maintaining population.
• Getting digital right is key to make economy work.

Transport: Bill/Claire 10 min
STPR2 Strategic Transport Projects Review will focus on land-based transport, Active and Passive. For both land and sea-based transport, equality of access is a fundamental principle that needs to be central to all plans.

Claire will focussed on land-based transport Strategy. Bill will stick with the sea-based issues on behalf of AFC.

• Ferry Ardrossan needs to be started as quickly as possible timetabled Sept 2022.
• Ardrossan berth would be closed by 18-19 months.
• Glen Sannox in service Autumn 2022 update expected next month.
• Gourock linkspan refurb now completed but needs a long-term plan.
• Caley Isles reaches its end-of-life Gov funding allocated to replace enough vessels to cover this so aim to have 2 relatively new vessels within the next 10 years

Group comments

• LJ : Have resilience problems been identified and is there a plan to resolve them taking account of continuing deterioration.
• BC: Stats shared with CalMac for them to develop a mitigating plan. Asked them to reconsider effectiveness of annual maintenance programme. Hope for update at next week’s AFC Meeting.
• NA: Booking system closed to move things over due to Covid. BC helped get it sorted.
• BC: Terminals closed out with sailing times due to misuse by non-ferry use visitors.
• TT: Need for separate tactical discussion around various Ferry and Demand and Supply issues ahead of opening up the Island.

Environmental Programmes: Jude

Jude commented that The Environmental sections of the plan had not changed significantly from the last revision and folks had just been getting on with it. However, to fully achieve all the goals and objectives more finance and support was needed.

• We need a carbon audit to establish a CO2 baseline.
• Followed by metrics and targets and probably more programmes to achieve net zero by 2030. Eco Savvy is supporting Jude in establishing the baseline.

Group Comments

CB: Food like many other areas cuts across many sectors e.g. Sustainable Economy, Health and Wellbeing etc. It needs to be included across the various programmes.

TT: Likewise, Third Sector and work of ACVS appears in several areas and needs to be included in the relevant areas.

Community Empowerment: Timothy:
Timothy has issued a paper and has received a few comments in response and much more discussion is needed. Please get in touch with Timothy if you want to be involved in this group. The issue is integrating the work of the various groups to coalesce around a plan that:

• Recognises the NAC and NIP programmes and priorities.
• Integrates these with the Island Priorities.
• Creates a structure and Governance process, based on Locality Planning, that incorporates all of the above and produces/endorses a Plan for the Island.

We have all the pieces of the jigsaw to make this work. We just need some leadership help to join them together.

Group Comments

• NA: There is some confusion and for all bodies to be properly constituted.

Community Council has been statutory body We now have Locality Planning as well

Not sure we are pushing in the same direction as we should and if we all understand each other’s roles.

• TT: Locality Planning will be the primary way localities determine their priorities, futures and budgets. How localities organise within this framework should be determined by the Locality and the Local Authority. In keeping with the principles of Locality Planning, this should be bottom up rather than top-down process.
• Linda: Essential that we find a way for everyone to be represented though the process and it should not be too political.
• SB: Commented that her role is to ensure we all pull together and that we get the island plan that we all want.

Arts & Culture: Heather

• Plan and matrix have been updated. Arran is massively creative, but infrastructure is behind, only Island that doesn’t have an exhibition centre. This would positively impact on visitor economy and wellbeing. Need an arts coordinator beyond current two days. Working towards making this full time and longer term a permanent exhibition centre.
• Post Covid need to build back events and community engagement.

Group Comments

• SBT – Looking at community asset transfer possibilities and exhibition centre could be part of that.

Others:

Housing– Good work by on housing. ADT at a critical point.

Digital connectivity– Andrew would like to set up a team to solidify plan. Along with ACVS and Community Council. Please contact Andrew directly.

Education – Plan updated: Outdoor Centre has been done and will be added.

What does an increasing population do to various school years?

The post Notes from Arran Recovery Group March 12th appeared first on Arran Recovery Group.

Apologies: Ruth Betley

• Summary:

• The objective is to update our current plan to the next revision by March 12 and integrate programmes with NIP Objectives, providing an ‘asset register’ of Arran programmes that support the delivery of NIP Objectives.

• Great progress made by some sections from Health and Social Care plan complete, to draft plans updated and requiring further review in Environment and Education to setting up review group in Economy and Business and everything in between.

• I possible/appropriate, include one major metric for your programme e.g. GVA, Quality of Life, CO2 levels. Need help from NAC to establish Arran CO2 baseline.

• STR2 will form the basis of medium- and long-term Transport Strategy.

• Governance is an issue that needs some urgent attention. Integration of the various players may be relatively simple and a great win for the new Island Manager.

• Please provide your summary of programmes as you complete them. I will issue a weekly summary status against each programme, based on your input.

• We will conclude by March 12^th. Anything that does not make this revision will be included in the next, which hopefully the Senior Island Manager will oversee.

Thanks for everyone’s hard work in getting us this far. I am sure it is appreciated by all involved. It gives us a unique picture of what is happing across the Island, now and in the future, to improve our community, environment and economy.

Tom Tracey

2 Community

1. Health: Tom from Ruth’s written input. NIP Objective 7

Arran Recovery and Beyond: One-page summary complete and ready to go.

Arran Pandemic Response – Update.

• The small number of cases have further reduced on Arran
• Must continue to follow FACTS
• Preparing for the return of schools
• Local health and social care staff are testing using Lateral Flow Testing followed up by PCR at Brodick Testing centre if required
• Low levels of requests from Arran community for Testing – need to encourage people to use the testing centre
• The testing centre will remain on Arran for at least another 12 months. Separate staffing now in place for the Testing centre and Contact Tracing.
• The vaccination programme has given the first dose to Care home residents; frontline health and social care staff; Over 70s and 80s; clinically vulnerable and shielding and all housebound patients. Mass vaccination clinics held at Arran High School. The next cohort will be 50-70s. Arran are ahead of the national programme and this is down to the excellent effort of the local team
• Staff are weary and it has been a very long 12 months for health and social care teams. Mental health support and staff wellbeing are key.
• Vaccination is the light at the end of the tunnel but COVID 19 is endemic and we will need to make sustainable plans to deliver vaccines as we do for Flu – work underway to plan for this.

Question Open for Ruth: What is the testing process for returning school children.

1. Arran CVS Overview: Vicki Yuill. Work maps to at least 4 NIP objectives

Good update from Vicki on the current and future work of Arran CVS. The presentation is attached and provides an overview of both the network and the work of ACVS. This will form the basis of the next revision for Arran Recovery and Beyond plan.

A few takeaways, More detail in the attached documents:

A few takeaways, More detail in the attached documents:

• ACVS a) Provides support backbone service for Third Sector organisations and advocacy at both Local and Scottish Government levels.

1. b) It provides activities directly in support of identified need, fitting with charitable objectives e.g. Alcohol and Drug research collaborative, social isolation projects

• The work of ACVS supports at least 4 of the NIP Objectives.
• Strategic objective Separate document to be circulated
• Volunteering in North Ayrshire/ Arran contributed £63m of value in time.
• Community Zoom Facility set up and available to all groups/training provided– Should be useful for this group and subgroups.
• Community forum feedback- Looking to provide a service for most socially isolated and support for people who have been isolated in returning to activity
• Set up an overarching community transport programme- to provide equity of access for people facing barriers to social transport.
• Support development of role for community outreach worker, alcohol & drugs

1. Education: Susan Foster. NIP Objective 12

Susan provided a very helpful update on the 4 areas within the Education section: The current plan has been changed but all the changes have not been shared with colleagues yet so is not available to share but it’s close.

Update on current issues:

• Education is uncertain plan a blended approach.
• Plan B all in
• Then plan C all out.
• Plan D blended mode P1, p2 p3 plus senior pupils to undertake practical work.
• SQA uncertainty over taking examinations.
• Need SDS but limited access as many pupils go on to do apprenticeships ships in hospitality and construction.
• Priorities to get primary pupils back in
• Early years provision centres preparing to meet the increased demand for 3–4-year-olds, will need extra staff to make this work. Brodick priorities are a need for funding and a centre.
• Primary using seesaw pre-recorded learning sessions. High school is using various platforms, often fall offline. Upskilling taking place to improve the effectiveness of online learning.
• Support received to increase digital access.
• Health and wellbeing provision is a priority through various programs, a number of youngsters are struggling.
• Argyll college unlikely to reopen until August but online is working well for them.
• The education landscape has changed, with some opportunities but a different way of working.
• Digital infrastructure is still weak. Digital tools a mixed bag but getting better. Digital support has been fantastic but is under threat and would be very damaging if lost.

Group input

Message received by Councillor Billings and will input into budget setting at NAC.

Arran Skills Plan could be updated and bought back into use, it needs to make sense to AHS and taken to SDS to make things happen. Not clear who owns this.

1. Community Council: Neil Arthur: Could map to NIP Objective13

Neil, being new to the process is absorbing the information ahead of developing a specific plan. However, very Interested in the Islands manager role and Islands plan and Recovery / 2030 plan

Likes the idea that everybody works towards those plans. CC ready to play its part in developing, monitoring and implementing these plans and objectives

Group input

CC has a key role to play to bring information back from villages/communities and to recognise the value of volunteers.

Metrics are important to drive plan

• Environment, Jude King Maps to NIP Objectives 8,9
  Jude provided a slide presentation and clear updates to the existing plan in the 4 areas covered by the Specific areas covered:

Food localisation Plan

• Land improvement use ongoing.
• Carbon audits ongoing
• Integrated supply chain work done through COVID, woodside farm vending machine bid successful.
• Arran Milk Zero waste Scotland funding approved.
• Working to establish metrics for ‘Use more local food by restaurants’
• Engage with Ayrshire CWB more reporting needed.
• Education AES and AFJ results announce in March around behaviour change
• Carbon reduction, need a carbon baseline
• Needs to be part of a wider Arran App
• Labelling system for carbon Arran could be a pilot for this could start in April subject to

Funding.

Circular economy

• Food waste composting program being explored.
• Covid has prevented Repair Reuse and Repair, ARCAS and Arran for sale and wants are finding ways to continue online. Platforms being explored to aid this.
• Food share has remained at the COOP and looking at how that can evolve post-pandemic.
• Community café idea still a possibility post-Covid

Energy and Buildings

• Arran Community Renewables is looking at increasing renewable generation on the Island. Although there have been some significant challenges, progress is still being made.
• Not many updates on other areas of the plan. Need to be clear who is delivering the updates.

Land and Nature Restoration

• Flood and resilience plan to be shared in the final version of the plan.
• Deforestation Arran has a catastrophic impact form infected Larch. Progress with NTS and ACLI and other organisations. Arran Geo Park progressing their objective of gaining UNESCO status.

Marine Environment

COAST to report at another meeting. Objectives in the plan unlikely to change although timescales and metrics to be added.

Group input

Although the environmental issues above are covered by two specific Objectives in the NIP, Environment runs through Islands Plan in every Objective.

Some dissatisfaction about how Pioneer Project has been set up using a council adopted single track road as no pre-consultation before the site was set up.  Jude will pass the contact details of the person managing the programme to Neil, who will work it with them directly.

Observation: While on the face of it, this issue might seem trivial, it is not. This is a real example of the ‘Balance’ principle being brought into sharp relief: A very local community has to decide on environmental/amenity gain v possible community disruption. Interesting, could boil down to an issue of communication.

4 Economy: Alastair Dobson. Maps to NIP Objective 2.

Alastair is in the process of setting up a focussed business group with support from NAC and HIE to feed into the Arran Recovery and Beyond by 12^th March.

General comments:

• This group is vital to support solving problems raised within the various sections.
• All other sections of this plan crosscut with and affect economic recovery.
• Arran businesses have been impacted more than the rest of Scotland in part due to our hospitality sector being the dominant player.
• Should recognise the responsible behaviour of our businesses and employers.
• Most infections are driven from retail, not hospitality, need for bigger retailers enforce the behaviour of the community in their stores.
• Need to protect and grow our tourism industry in a safe and sustainable way and we should also look to broaden our business base beyond tourism.

5 Affordable Housing, Sheena Borthwick: NIP Objective 1 and 4

Sheena confirmed that the Arran Development Trust (ADT) are on track with short- and medium-term plans for affordable housing on Arran. Updates will be made to the current Arran Recovery and Beyond plan. Outlined below are a summary highlights of recent activity:

• Planning permission granted for 18 affordable homes at Rowarden.
• The tender process now completed after separating into 9 work packages and have come in in line with Budget
• Work on the first site to start in April, Houses will have solar panels and rent levels set at reasonable
• Accommodation providers have provided competitive rates for workforce following an intervention by VistArran. This helps keep the overall build costs down.
• First tendering process will provide a good cost template for the second site
• Serviced self-build plots to be made available that will only be useable as full-time residential properties with a burden in the title to prevent the use as second homes.

Group Input

When the project started no plan for new affordable houses on Arran. NAC Social Housing Islands Needs Plan (SHIP) now has 50 by 2021. The first 34 of these will be in Brathwic and will be very welcome. Every sector of Arran community and economy is short of workforce largely driven by a lack of affordable housing. It is also a primary driver in the depopulation of working-age residents and the inability to recruit.

NAC is going to consult on Arran specific rental policy for Brathwic. This could potentially favour locals or those who come to Arran for work. Aim to revisit those that have been on the housing list long term. No decision yet on how/if this will work. Until it changes, existing rules apply.

6 Transport, Louise Kirk: NIP Objective 3

Louise Kirk gave a very useful update to the group on the development of the new strategic plan and how the Arran Community could get involved. The presentation is attached and Survey links sent separately. A summary of some of the discussion is outlined below. Clearly, this STR2 process and everything that flows from it will provide the input to the Medium and Term Transport Strategy that will be used at a local level in the Arran Recovery and Beyond and the NIP Objective 3.

• National Transport Strategy sets out priorities and feeds into strategic transport review
• Regional Transport groups working to direct policies
• STR2 extensive stakeholder engagement. Consultation on Pri0rities for next 2-3 year.Next phase for the next 17 years, part of the growth deal project to look at regional transport needs
• Regional strategy by SPT last updated in 2008 A lot of improvements have come from the SPT programme
• Local transport strategy 2015 due to be updated 2020 but delayed because of delays to National and Regional strategies and Covid-19, will include an active travel plan. Existing LTS sets out a range of actions in relation to Arran.
• STPR2 Consultants have worked through the feedback obtained to the public consultation to date including options generation to identify priorities. Consultation live now on TS website until 31 March.
• Topography poses some challenges with Brodick to Lamlash active travel route, discussions ongoing with the funder, Sustrans.
• Brodick to Corrie, ongoing engagement with NTS, good support from Sustrans for this route.

Group Discussion

Tom thanked Louise for her comprehensive update in a very short space of time and welcomed her back at any time for another update.

7 Digital Technology, Andrew Stirling Maps to NIP objective 6

Andrew provided a baseline template to open the discussion which he will now take up with other interested parties. Themes for further discussion are:

• Arran Digital Future and Vision.
• Getting data and communications in the right place
• Data Comms Connectivity Skills
• Arran Digital Twin
• Connectivity – Create a local pot to fill significant gaps
• Digital skills for all – Digital hub to support businesses and organisations – Local digital champions. Already working with Arran CVS to deliver support in the community.
• Vision – Opportunity to diversify beyond tourism; Arran mobility app . Arran Food App – foster a circular economy and reduce waste.

Group discussion

Test ideas with those that can input cuts across many of the group’s activities.

8) Governance : Timothy Billings. Maps to NIP objective 13

Timothy has created a discussion paper ahead of updating the existing Governance section in the plan. This will be circulated for wider discussion. Highlights of the main topics that are being looked at:

• NAC developing locality approach Islands Mgr. will need a clear understanding of how all the organisations fit together
• NAC developing a locality hub model. How does this fit?
• How to make it real – How does community link into this, what it will mean for individuals, how will they engage, how to have community development and cohesion how do all groups link into this.
• A paper will be circulated – How do we see existing groups CC AEG Locality Partnership liking together and join up with plan. Please feedback and then we can use it to have a wider discussion.
• The community council take control of engaging with communities with others feeding in. They have the remit to make sure it is happening and members have input

Group discussion

• Islands manager will be the key person to drive this
• Linking groups together will make the individual parts much stronger eg. Beekeepers group can also have a role in accessibility and mental wellbeing

9) Communication: Sheila Gilmore. Maps to NIP objective 13.

Sheila confirmed the communication plan was in progress. Highlights of discussion:

• Communications plan, important to see everything interlinked.
• We don’t have Arts and Culture Fuel Poverty that are in NIP. Should we add them or cover them in another section. Sheila to take soundings and recommend.
• If we are updating the plan in March something should go in the national media
• Put all comms through central comms to have continuity of communication.

10 Conclusion:  Tom Tracey

Thanks to the team for this mammoth exercise and everyone appreciated the hard work that went into it, remarkable.

The post Arran Recovery Group Meeting 12th Feb 2021 appeared first on Arran Recovery Group.

Summary:

• Arran will have lost approximately £35m or 50% less tourist income in Calendar 2020. This is our best estimate based on ferry passenger numbers.
• Business is now unlikely to open before April. This will mean only 4 months of trading in Fiscal 2020/21. Not possible to overstate the impact on tourist infrastructure over the long term. At best, dept will increase and repayments extend, reducing the ability for future investment. We will continue to push for special financial support for Islands in general and Arran in particular.
• Full impact on the community is still to be realized. Front line folks have the pressures of too much to do, others the opposite. Both very stressful.
• As the new year begins, we need to refocus; away from a reactive operational agenda, to implementing the programmes in: ‘Arran Recovery and Beyond ‘.We will return to a more reactive agenda, in separate discussions, as the needs arise
• Vaccine roll out over the weekend provides a welcome light at the end of the tunnel.

Present: Tom Tracey, Alastair Dobson, Linda Johnston, Cameron Bruce, Sheila Gilmore, Jude King, Vikki Yuill, Bill Calderwood, Susan Foster, Sheena Borthwick Andrew Stirling, Timothy Billings, John Maguire, Daryll Urquhart-Dickson.

Apologies: Ruth Betley, Ian Staples, Lucinda Gray.

1. Welcome and Introduction

Update from Sheena – Planning permission granted for the site at Rowarden, some standard conditions to planning. Build costs at or around budget. Good progress on this key change initiative.

Visitor Economy Economic Outlook – Cameron’s work on visitor numbers, based on passenger numbers, suggest that visitor volume is down by – 60% in 2020. Revenue is down by – approximately 50%. The difference is a change in visitor profile. i.e. less day visitors. This gives an estimated spend of £35m in 2020 compared with £69m in 2019

STEAM data will allow a more accurate assessment and is expected in April May

Taking a step back

Update

• The current agenda reflects work done since May and has been reactive and operational, through necessity. For this new year, we need to refocus, implementing the programmes in ‘Arran Recovery and Beyond ‘.
• We will return to a more reactive agenda, in separate discussions, as the needs arise.
• Monthly meetings with core update on: Community, Environment, Business. Community probably should be Health and Social Care and the wider Community. Ideally, each should have a coordinator. Jude for Environment, Alastair for Business and Ruth for HSCP are relatively easy. The wider Community will need more discussion.

Actions in one area impact others. So, the idea is to keep everyone up to speed with progress and get support as required. This keeps everyone up to speed and provides the basis for wider community communication. This should not slow any communications already planned

• All of this is in the wider context of appointment of Islands Manager (IM) who will be in place mid-March. ARG will have two meetings ahead of this on the 12^th Feb 12^th March to ensure we have an updated plan to support the IM.

Group input

• This will give better balance to the work of the group. The plan is bold and brave and needs to be put in the front of the ARG website rather than reports of ARG meetings. Senior Managers at NAC are on board. ARG should be involved in the IM announcement.
• Everybody’s responsibility to make sure the document reflects what is happening in their area and is relevant and updated. It also needs to be easily found on the ARG and other websites.
• There was discussion around confusions on the name of the plan. Referring to it as one thing and then another. I for one have been guilty of this. It has led to the mistaken believe that there are multiple plans. To be clear, there is only One Plan. It is called; ‘Arran Recovery and Beyond’, There was a link to it on our last Community Survey, so it is already public. I have attached the PDF for clarification. If we want to change the name at the next Rev, we can.

2. Communications Jude/Sheila

Update

Public meeting has not happened yet but still planned and needs to be done to include community and focus in on areas of greatest concern:
1. Mental health that had good output form ACVS getting info into the Banners, 2.Transport update still in the planning.

Group Input

• Now is the most important time to get communication right with start of IM imminent. This can be achieved by highlighting 2-3 key areas. Need to involve IM in future communication activity. Community wants to hear about direction and progress in simple form.
• Meetings with NAC about Arran Recovery and Beyond – focus on land-based transport i.e. roads and active travel. Russel McCutcheon has assigned a person to work on this. We need to create an overall Island Transport plan led by NAC.
• Group needs to familiarise, scrutinise and own The Plan. Community needs updating. Meeting notes could be more related to plan. Only one form of communication.

3. Business Linda/ Sheila

Update

• Businesses closed with no opportunity to get restarted any time soon so not making any announcements, now closed for 6 months with an expectation of another 2 out of the last 12 months.
• Borrowing to fund fixed costs as level of support is not sufficient yet this will need to be paid back and will impact on future product investment.
• Hoping for further announcement of a one-off grant, there is light at the end of the tunnel, but we need to get there.

Some businesses have not had funding as yet, Impact is as great on small businesses as large even though the financial scales are different. SG offering help with identifying correct funding. There is a vast array of funds that are difficult to navigate and insufficient.

• Market readiness – It will be harder for businesses to restart the longer this goes on. Businesses just trying to survive, Supply chain is also on its knees.

• Arran’s whole economy relies on visitors, this needs to be understood, Level 3 will not enable businesses to reopen it is more dangerous to open up at this level if operating costs are higher than being closed and would-be taking business from others who could survive on it

Group input

• Retail and Hospitality funding will include Arran businesses, the cut off on rateable value is £51k there is a huge difference between a business at this level and a large business such as Auchrannie but there is no gradient in funding.
• NAC is getting a discretionary fund but trying to spot the gaps is difficult with changing criteria of other funds.
  Self catering fund is also coming. Top up for hospitality businesses doesn’t relate to B&B’s and self-catering businesses Caravan parks and campsites because other funds are expected for them but not yet announced ( A lot of these will now also be getting 4 weekly top up payment) Those who qualify for top ups will receive an email and finance expected to arrive by Weds 27^th Retail properties will get 6k or 9K payments going today.
• Other Island communities in level 3 are getting level 4 support, Arran should be able to access this as principle already set.

4. Ferry Status – Bill

Update

• December numbers hopefully formalised next week
• Single vessel as of today
• Gourock link span is progressing and barge should arrive over the weekend weather dependant, should be operational in 3 -4 weeks.

Group input

• Discussions improved plans for the dry dock period next year have started and plans to do more locally and get contracts signed earlier are progressing. The Ferry committee is keeping the pressure up on this and we need to be aware of impact on our vessels from incidents across the network.
• Cannot lose sight of the fact that there is still no apparent plan for stranded passengers in the event of Ferry Failures through weather or mechanical difficulties. Will bring this up at the next ARG/NAC meeting to get clarity on who is responsible. Not a problem at the moment obviously but we need to know the answer before we are in the problem.

5. External Agencies Alastair

Update –

• Arran Recovery and Beyond: ( For presentation purposes, Alastair has renamed The Plan ‘Arran Island in Balance ‘ in presentations to SG.) It have been very well received and is a very useful tool to present to agencies showing Arran with one voice. The Project/Program review document, extracted from The Plan answers the question: “If we gave you £5m what would you do with it.”?

• A SG sponsored wellbeing and place based steering group has been set up which Alastair is inputting to.
• HIE and NAC are joint funding IM role so this is strategically important opportunity to engage with them particularly HIE.
• NAC good engagement on Arran Recovery Plan which positions Arran strongly
• When NAC appoints a person to be responsible for a workstream we need to give them the right work to do

Group Input

• Need to be aware when dealing with non-NAC leads on AEP they may not be aware that Arran comes under HIE and UHI and not the normal Ayrshire bodies.

Action CB to recirculate proposals for projects, they are valued and mapped against CWB They are split short and long term projects

6. AOB

Arran CVS update -Vikki

• Connecting Scotland 20 Ipads handed out with 10 digital champions giving support Bid in for further 10 to support low-income families with schoolchildren

• Alcohol and Drug study reached phase 5 with output supported by multi-disciplinary steering group. Excellent feedback from report as it captures hidden problems and what happens on other islands
• Most of our addiction support services are on the mainland which can be very problematic, particularly when we have ferry disruptions. To solve this we need Arran based support: – Job spec written for a combined full time role that will enable other support to be offered. For example, direct support to individuals and families affected by alcohol and drug use and a single point of contact for all for all services for information, co-ordination and training.
• Prior to the Christmas period, Community groups and Arran CVS arranged circulation of information on support services and community activities to be delivered to every household via volunteers, enduring everyone was reached and well informed of who to contact if required.

Group Input

Good progress being made on these very important community issues.

Outdoor centre Update – Daryll

• Working with young people of key workers. Hub is at status quo provided 25 emergency hampers, financial support and prescriptions
• Feedback from Christmas period – People have been using it Ian and Daryll manned the hub over Christmas to provide continuity

Group input

Good to see the Outdoor Centre is still providing the community Hub while getting back to working with young people.

AHS Update -Susan

• Time with Outdoor Centre alleviates amount of time young people spend sitting in front of screens
• 55 Chrome books and internet connections given out to ensure young people have online learning. IT support post offering help to overcome difficulty of accessing online platforms
• Health and Wellbeing important therefore offering weekly drop ins.
• Uncertainty for SQU students evidence based or teacher assessed not yet determined
• Learning has been consistent apart from fortnight of Covid outbreak
• Use of no coverage hotspots for students would be useful, Mobile has been a solution

Group input

• Andrew offered to help if required with poor connectivity issues.
• Another great example of adaptability in teaching methods combining with new technology, and new logistics to give us the best results possible.

Thanks to everyone who participated.

Regards

Tom Tracey, 25^th January

The post Arran Recovery Group Meeting – Jan 22nd 2021 appeared first on Arran Recovery Group.

• Covid-19 outbreak contained. HSCP Resources at full stretch as Arran takes on pilot status for Care Home testing, Covid and Flu vaccine inoculation, and normal winter pressure.
• With some notable exceptions, many Island businesses are closed over the Christmas period. Uncertainty is causing severe distress within the business community which is filtering into the wider community through potential job losses, which in turn, feeds Mental Health issues.
• Arran needs a Financial Island Recovery package. Fraser of Allander provided the academic evidence. We should not require business closures to provide the practical.
• Mental Health requires a full discussion with the experts present. Our brief discussion with the non-experts could not find the necessary cohesion. Good Banner coverage.
• Focus on land-based Travel and Transport. A discussion will follow a short film be organized by Eco-Savvy on Tuesday to get a better understanding of “Who is driving the bus ?” and more importantly “Where is it going?”
• https://fb.me/e/5HBxvgNMr ZOOM details sent to all the folks that register.

Business Update – Sheila

• Most businesses closed Businesses uncertain. Douglas is open plus four other Businesses offering a Christmas Service.
• New guidelines for Self-Catering (SC) – Bubbles can stay in SC if one is from the Local Authority Area, Onus on the operator to police.
• Shop local has been embraced by the community.
• A cross-party group made up of Operators, Stakeholders, and MSP’s was very poorly attended by MSP’s with only one out of a possible 17 turning up. Either the MSP’s do not understand the dire situation within the Industry, or they do understand it and can do nothing. Either way, this absence of attendees points to an absence of leadership in an industry that employs 12% of the population.

• LJ Auchrannie closed because of uncertainty. The Tier system is killing Accommodation businesses who cannot trade out width their Tier. Auchrannie has six-figure monthly fixed costs to cover. To open would have meant more money being lost. It is critical that we get to a period of less uncertainty. That will be when we are all in tier 2, where we can trade with the wider Scottish and UK population. The current situation cannot persist into February. If it does, we are at severe risk of major reductions in tourist infrastructure and the accompanying loss of jobs, direct and indirect. In addition, there will be a reduction in the sector’s ability to respond to the expected Spring and Summer upturn.

Auchrannie’s closure ( Along with The Kinloch) means there is no pool or gym facilities on the Island. This will have knock-on impacts on the health and wellbeing of the Island Community.

• JM Emerging guidance from Scottish Government’s Strategic Framework Business Fund is moving to a position where businesses who voluntarily close will not receive the ongoing support, due to being in (only) tier 3 restrictions. However, NAC has used their discretionary power to override this for Cumbrae and Arran.

• AD Arran’s ecosystem of businesses is struggling, money is hemorrhaging. Islands are different. Accommodation, trading conditions, and transport add cost in normal times. In normal times with effort, this can be managed. Scottish Government has recognized these differences in legislation. In a pandemic, issues that were manageable become unmanageable. We need strong voices reminding all those that need reminding that Islands are different and need different levels of support. The ARG will be part of this.

Healthcare Update – Ruth Betley

• The outbreak is contained but the Impact of the outbreak being managed still, Hospital very busy and at a critical level due to the impact on staffing levels due to the COVID outbreak. Part of the increased workload is preparing Arran for extending testing for health and social care staff, COVID Vaccination programme, Flu programme, workflow changes to urgent care. In addition, Montrose House has been selected as a pilot for Care Home testing. There will be significant logistics of getting the vaccine to the island. There is still potential that the second wave due to Christmas lifting of restrictions will hit in January. (The business update suggests that there will be very little tourist business over the Christmas holidays, so perhaps that will be some comfort). Mental health work is an ongoing issue for all the services and lots of teams dealing with this but it is part of ongoing service delivery and is being managed within the other demands created by the pandemic across the service. However, we now have a vaccine, and we will get there. The group offered Ruth and HSPC Team their full support and thanks for all the great work they are doing.

Mental Health – Open discussion

• We Could not have the full discussion on the topic as Vicki had other work commitments and Ruth had to leave early to deal with some of the issues highlighted above. This topic needs to be carried over to another time when we have the ‘experts’ to lead us through the issues and highlight how we can help. In the meantime, the work of ACVS has been published in this week’s Banner and hopefully, that will inform people what is available and may elicit some comment on what additionally is needed.
• AD We should tackle Root causes. Largely financial implications and isolation – reach out to support each other as a community and let experts deal with symptoms. We have a fantastic community; support is there but needs to focus on point of need. Resilience group needs to be more visible. ( Banner article should help)
• LJ Anxiety for businesspeople comes from navigating through ever-changing challenges and that the hospitality sector is bottom of the pile. Need to feedback to the government on how businesses are feeling.
• IS Supporting people who are shielding with a weekly phone call. Need to make sure list is complete
• BC ACVS has a list of those who do receive calls. Worthwhile for ACVS and IS to work together, confidentiality is a real issue and needs //to be considered especially around vulnerable people.
• SG IS JK Is service disjointed? Service needs to work cohesively despite demand on physical health resources.
• JK Others mental health issues came out in survey, do we need a holistic approach and focus on positive aspects ?
• AS Information sharing platform could help with fragmentations and information provision.
• TT response feels unstructured.

Travel and Transport – Jude King

• Eco-Savvy are hosting a workshop on Tuesday evening. It is focussed on Land-based Travel and Transport. This will be used to test the strategies already in the Arran Recovery Plan and uncover potential new approaches and methods of implementation. The objective: a) Explain the need for a Travel and Transport Strategy. b) Validate or change the strategy c) Identify how the strategy can be implemented. d) Identify resources needed to make it happen. e) Identify: “ Who is driving which particular bus”. A large ask that may need more than one meeting but at least this lays out the ambition. This will not give answers to all the issues but will start to lay out a framework that can be discussed and agreed upon. If the Banner is willing, an update of the land-based strategies could be provided but not until the following week.

Comments from the discussion:

• Need a transport committee, not a ferry committee to include SPT start with a workshop.
• Support strategic transport solution. Kick-off with a workshop, not a group and use previous input. A solution could cost less than the current system, does need to have a top-down approach.
• supports the forming of a strategic group with a workshop with a facilitator to kick it off. This fits in with various Government activities. For example, there is a framework for a Strategic Transport projects review. Ayrshire growth deal has a transport focus. We need an Arran solution with possible support through the Scottish Islands Group green recovery fund.
• Needs traction and possible NA resource, and we need to be on their agenda. We’ve already had a workshop. From the next one, we need to know who will lead the actions.
• Need to go beyond local government.
• Promote Tuesday’s meeting then follow up with a wider public meeting and take output to NAC

Thanks to everyone for their active participation. The next meeting and the last for this year on the 18^th December at 10.00 am.

Best regards:

Tom.

The post Arran Recovery Group Notes 4th Dec 20 appeared first on Arran Recovery Group.

• We have had Covid Infection on the Island. Our local Test, Track and Trace is working well. Follow the rules and continue the strong community spirit.

• The combination of Arran’s high dependency on year-round tourism, winter demand from the central belt and the current Tiering restrictions, combine to make our tourism economy and its direct and indirect supply chain non-viable. This again underscores Fraser of Allander findings. We need a tailored financial support package, for Islands in general and Arran in particular. Specific suggestions to follow.

• Assuming numbers and local HSPC support, it is not clear if a lower Tier would provide any support for business. The first pass suggests it could do the opposite. Work ongoing to understand implications and inform opinion.

• Survey analysis will be available by early next week to let us better understand Business and the Community position in the current crisis.

1.            IntroductionTT welcomed everyone to the call and tendered apologies from RB, VY and mentioned BC would be late joining the call.

   2.            HSCP

   TT delivered the Arran HSCP update on behalf of RB;  there had been over 500 tests carried out on approx. 300 people.  There had been cases of Covid 19 but the situation was being managed effectively. There has been an adverse and fearful reaction by some residents which has on occasion become personal and unfriendly. Personal health records will remain private and confidential as I am sure everyone will expect. By and large, this was not the Island we know, and Ruth reminded us this was a global pandemic. Blame was inappropriate, understanding and compassion was appropriate and more in keeping with the Island we know.

Arran has peaks and troughs on normal demand for HSPC services. With the people putting things off and the effects of long periods of isolation the services have been operating at a sustained peak for some time. Eight months of high Covid alert sustained peaks in non-Covid demand means that folks are tired. The system continues to function well, but it is fragile.

In summary, we are better placed than many local and Island Communities. We have our own test, track and trace resources that are working well. A community based integrated service and if we need it, a12 bed hospital and our ICU beds in Crosshouse, less than 1 hour away.

The best thing we can do is to practice the basics: Hand Wash, Masks, and Distance and Book a Test and Isolate, if you have any of the 3 main symptoms, a new cough, temperature or loss of taste or sense of smell. We must all support one another and work to maintain our strong community spirit to get through the Winter and this unprecedented time.

3) Funding v Projects:

Cameron and John gave a quick overview of a prioritised project plan v funding and positioning against Community Wealth Building (CWB) when appropriate. It is not the finished article but a good start. To move this to the next step, the project owners need to:

• Review your project and change as required. Pay particular attention to where you are with CWB and specifically what help you are asking for.
• Your supporting project plans. This may vary from a large book (Affordable Housing) to a couple of pages (Fisherman’s Walk). Whatever is appropriate.

This needs to be done before the next ARG review with NAC on the 9^th of November. Programmes with the necessary supporting project plans will be put forward as the priorities. Please provide your updates to the spreadsheet through Cameron.

4. Ferry Capacity

BC update: These are interim numbers awaiting release but doubt very much they will change.

The forward capacity looks like demand has dropped significantly even before the announcements today with availability this weekend going off with vehicles only lightly restricted but foot passengers have unrestricted availability. Going into November there are only 4 sailings onto the island unavailable and they are the 07:00 from Mon -Thursday Going off, only 7 sailings are unavailable to book for the next week and thereafter every sailing on and off is available until year-end!

5. Survey Updates (Business)AD mentioned that there had been 86 responses so far to the business survey but had been based on historic data and circumstances.  If a new survey were to be commissioned, the landscape of results would appear very different due to the constant rate of change.  Responses had been received from an excellent cross-section of the business sector (self-catering, retail, manufacturing, restaurants/cafes etc).  Arran needs to be recognised as “different” and not just part of NA or Scotland. Fraser of Allander study did this by emphasising the Islands primary dependency on tourism. Publishing of the survey currently was questioned and it was suggested a new survey may be more appropriate after the 10^thof November to take account of the new guidelines for business.  It was agreed further analysis of the current results was required before a decision on the level of detail to publish to whom.

Action: John/Alastair

Community:
SG/JK reported on the community survey which had received 291 responses to date and shared the current results on-screen with the group.  Some comments had been received that the survey was “too difficult/complicated” but overall it was a positive response.  It was agreed to share the results mentioning “the ferry” with the Arran Ferry Committee for reference.  There had been a low response from the younger population in general.  It was agreed the results should now be analysed and a zoom call with the Arran community organised by SG/JK.  It was also agreed that this zoom call should have a theme in order to focus on relevant items.  An additional incentive for participants was also mentioned.  It was also suggested that the ARG’s achievements to date should be republished.

• Look for professional help to analyse the survey as first choice: Vicky
• Second choice: Issue standard formats to topic owners for data analysis. Need first pass by the 7^th Jude/Sheila

6. Tiering System

This discussion came about as we try to understand the impact of the Tiering System on Business and the Community. Also in recognition that Arran is different from most other Islands in that we have a year-round tourist business.

There was a suggestion that the Islands could be placed in a different Tiering from the mainland if the numbers and the community supported it. The questions: 1) Will this increase the risk of Covid infection on the Island.? If no:  What would be costs and benefits? On balance, is this a good idea? To be clear, in any scenario we will remain with Ayrshire and Arran Health Board with Crosshouse as our primary hospital. If we were all convinced that this was a two/four-week discussion, probably not worth having, but it is almost certainly with us to the Spring.

• 75% of Arran Winter Tourism business comes from the Central belt. 20% comes from NA. Present guidelines say that accommodation providers should only accept bookings from NA. This level of business will not sustain accommodation providers.
• Current guidelines say that as well as no non-essential movement between Local authorities there is also no non-essential movement between Tiers. Tier 1 and 2 demand amounts to 10% of winter demand for accommodation. It would also require an amended summer service on the Lochranza ferry.
• Lower tearing (2 or 1) could mean more freedom for retail, restaurants and other hospitality activity and the community at large. However, it is unlikely that local demand is enough to maintain most of these businesses.
• It is probable that changing Tiering from NA would mean increased restrictions on travel to and from the Island. How would this impact the community and business.?
• At face value, the lower the Tiering the better for the Health and Well Being of the community. However, employment is part of Health and Well-being and lower tiering would mean more job losses, with current support packages.
• Again, at face value, it looks like Arran’s current tiering, with only NA as its market 20% of winter demand) will not sustain the accommodation businesses. Also, Tier 3 effectively closes non-accommodation hospitality business e.g. restaurants and bars.

The combination of Arran’s high dependency on year-round tourism, winter demand from the central belt combined and the current Tiering restrictions, combine to make our tourism economy and its direct and indirect supply chain non-viable. This again underscores Fraser of Allander findings. We need Islands a tailored financial support package for Islands in general and Arran in particular.

The next steps are to pull some of the data together so that the community can take an informed position which we can push for. With help from others I will get something out later this week. When issued please review and feedback to make sure we have the correct communication for the wider community.

It would be useful to get some HIE help with this discussion and process.

Thanks to everyone for their active participation and patience in trying to figure out the best way forward.

Tom Tracey

November 3^rd.

The post 30th October Arran Recovery Group Notes appeared first on Arran Recovery Group.

The link to complete the Community Survey is here:

https://forms.gle/YzkQWCUR61ETzp6RA

This is also available on the DiscoverArran website and through social media. The deadline is 30th of October and the survey will only take 5-10 mins to complete.

The post Arran, Covid Recovery & Beyond Follow-on Survey appeared first on Arran Recovery Group.

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP):

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Fraser of Allander institute report,

“The Impact of Covid-19 on the Arran economy”, including its comments on how this has affected tourism. (S5O-04662)

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism (Fergus Ewing): 

I agree that the situation is concerning. We know that Covid-19 continues to have a profound impact on our island communities. We are currently working closely with our partners, including North Ayrshire Council, Taste of Arran and the Arran Economic Group.

I do not underestimate the impacts and I understand that a tailored approach will be necessary. Our £30 million pledge to deliver the national islands plan and our new £2 million islands green recovery programme will be vital in stimulating new economic activity across our islands, helping businesses recover from the impacts of the pandemic and creating new high-quality jobs.

Kenneth Gibson: 

The report states:

  “on average, each day of ferry operation contributes just under £170,000 to Arran’s economy.”

That is just more than £62 million a year. How can the Scottish ministers optimise the ferry service at this difficult time?

Can the cabinet secretary go even further than he has already gone in supporting island businesses, to ensure that Arran’s economy survives and can ultimately thrive?

Fergus Ewing: 

I absolutely agree that the ferry is essential to Arran.

It is a lifeline service and the gateway for everybody who visits the island. It is a marvellous tourism offering and there have been real difficulties over the Covid period. Businesses have been facing constraints during the lockdown and beyond.

Mr Gibson is absolutely right to say that we need to ensure that the ferry service is reliable, and we need to look to the future to see what more we can do for the service. As the Fraser of Allander institute recognises, the Arran economy is extremely different from the North Ayrshire economy.

I know that Mr Gibson, who has been a forthright advocate for Arran over the years, will continue to ensure that the arguments are kept to the fore.

ENDS

The post Kenneth Gibson question and answer with Fergus Ewing appeared first on Arran Recovery Group.