Councillors Cameron, E Devine and Glen.

Councillor Glen, Convener, presided.

P Campbell, Charleston Tenants’ & Residents’ Association; H Muir, Foxbar Resource Centre; S McLean, Glenburn Community Forum; J Creighton, Glenburn Tenants’ & Residents’ Association; J McQuade, Renfrewshire Visually Impaired Forum; E McWaters, Hawkhead & Lochfield Community Council; O Nadeem, Scottish Youth Parliament; J McPhail, Renfrewshire Environment & Restoration Group; and D Kingston, Corsbar District Residents Association.

Inspector Thomson, Police Scotland.

A McMillan, Head of Resources (Lead Officer) and J Trainer, Acting Head of Early Years and Inclusion (Children's Services); K Markwick, Senior Manager Roads & Transport and C Robertson, Warden Services Manager (both Community Resources); and R Devine, Senior Committee Services Officer and D Low, Senior Committee Services Officer (LACs) (both Finance & Resources).

The Convener intimated that there was an additional item of business in relation to an application for grant funding received from Glenburn Seniors Forum, which had not been included in the notice calling the meeting. The Convener being of the opinion that the item, which was dealt with at item 9 of this Minute, was urgent, authorised its consideration.

There was submitted an application for grant funding received from Glenburn Seniors' Forum. The report intimated that the Group sought funding amounting to £500 from the Paisley Burgh Citizens Trust Fund in respect of a trip to the Transport Museum, Glasgow and lunch at the Watermill Hotel, Paisley.

DECIDED: That it be recommended to the Finance & Resources Policy Board that £500 be awarded from the Paisley Burgh Citizens Trust Fund towards the costs of the trip.

Councillors Henry, M Macmillan and Mack and E Eck, Scottish Youth Parliament; D Polson, Greater Foxbar Community Building; and F Dolan, Thursday Club.

There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to commencement of the meeting.

There was submitted a report by Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership relative to the formation of an inclusive Strategic Planning Group to support the Integration Joint Board and to ensure that stakeholder groups had a voice and influence in the delivery of health and social care services.

DECIDED: That the position be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Resources providing an overview of the activities of the Safer & Stronger Renfrewshire Partnership, consisting of Renfrewshire Council, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service and other community safety agencies for the Paisley South Local Area Committee (LAC) area during the period 1 July to 30 September, 2015.

The report contained statistical information which had been provided by a number of community planning partners including Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Renfrewshire Community Safety Partnership.

The report provided information on Paisley South community safety statistics; environmental enforcement and improvement activities; protecting vulnerable residents; building safer communities; diversionary activities; the integrated control room and CCTV system; and the work of the Renfrewshire Adult Protection Committee.







The Warden Services Manager advised that a section of paragraph 6.3 of the report had been corrected to reflect amended awards of £2,007 to Loud 'n' Proud for a series of pop up interactive music events in an unused space in the centre of Paisley and £1,900 to the West End Community Council for the clearance and improvement of two derelict sites. Renfrewshire Council and Engage Renfrewshire were currently working with a number of other organisations on their applications.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted; and

(b) That the corrections made to paragraph 6.3 of the report be noted.

The Senior Committee Services Officer (LACs) advised that no questions had been submitted for consideration at the Open Session.

DECIDED: That it be noted that no questions had been submitted for consideration at the Open Session

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the establishment of 21 community councils throughout Renfrewshire following the recent four-yearly elections. The report detailed the community councils, including those in the Paisley South LAC area, that had achieved at least the minimum amount of nominations to be established.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the progress made in establishing additional Families First Core Teams in Gallowhill, Johnstone and Foxbar localities.

The report intimated that the Council at its meeting held on 25 June, 2015 approved proposals for deploying significant investment in response to the recommendations contained in the Tackling Poverty Commission report. The Council agreed to allocate £1 million from the tackling poverty fund to extend the successful and innovative Families First Core Team approach into three new localities of Gallowhill, Johnstone and Foxbar.

Work was being taken forward to recruit staff to Core Teams and it was expected that the new service would commence early in 2016. In addition a community engagement process had commenced to ensure that the priorities for the Families First Core Team would be identified by local parents and children in each of the localities.



DECIDED:

(a) That the Council decision to allocate £1 million to extend the provision of the Families First model to Gallowhill, Johnstone and Foxbar be noted;

(b) That it be noted that the recruitment process had commenced and the additional Families First Core Teams service was expected to commence in Gallowhill, Johnstone and Foxbar early in 2016; and

(c) That it be noted that a process of engaging the local community had commenced to ensure that the Families First priorities were identified by local parents and children.

O Nadeem, a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, gave a presentation on his election, highlighting the function of the Scottish Youth Parliament, and outlining his priorities during his term in office and achievements to date.

DECIDED: That the presentation be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the timetable of Paisley South LAC meetings to May 2017.

Reference was made during discussion to the reducing attendance at recent meetings of the LAC by community representatives and the ongoing review of LACs being undertaken by Engage Renfrewshire. It was proposed that the comments made by the members of the Committee in connection with the LACs method of operating be shared with the Conveners of the other LACs and also passed to Engage Renfrewshire. In addition it was proposed that a report on the local implications of implementation of the Communities (Scotland) Bill be prepared and submitted to a future meeting of the Committee.  This was agreed. 

DECIDED:

(a) That meetings of this LAC be programmed for 23 August and 15 November, 2016 and 14 February, 2017;

(b) That meetings of the LAC continue to be held at 6.00 pm in Renfrewshire House;

(c) That the comments made by the members of the Committee in connection with the LACs method of operating be shared with the Conveners of the other LACs and also passed to Engage Renfrewshire; and

(d) That a report on the local implications of implementation of the Communities (Scotland) Bill be prepared and submitted to a future meeting of the Committee.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the Paisley South LAC budget for 2015/16.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Paisley South LAC would be held in the Council Chamber, Renfrewshire House, Paisley at 6.00 pm on 16 February, 2016.