Councillors E Devine, Henry, Mack and McCartin.

Councillor Henry, Depute Convener, presided.

P Campbell, Charleston Tenants’ & Residents’ Association; H Muir, Foxbar Resource Centre; S McLean, Glenburn Community Forum;  D Polson, Greater Foxbar Community Building; O Nadeem, Scottish Youth Parliament; and F Dolan, Thursday Club.

Inspector Thomson, Police Scotland and Dr C Johnstone, Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

J Cameron, Bid Director (Paisley 2021); A McMillan, Head of Resources (Children's Services) (Lead Officer); K Markwick, Senior Manager Roads & Transport and C Robertson, Warden Services Manager (both Community Resources); and E Currie, Senior Committee Services Officer and D Low, Senior Committee Services Officer (LACs) (both Finance & Resources).

L Devine, Community Engagement Officer (Stronger Communities).

The Convener welcomed Mr S Yerokun of the Association of African Communities in Renfrewshire to the meeting. Mr Yerokun gave a presentation on the origins of the Association and the educational, social and cultural activities undertaken by it to promote community integration, cultural identity and encourage capacity building.

DECIDED: That the presentation be noted.

Councillors Cameron, Glen and M Macmillan and J Creighton, Glenburn Tenants' & Residents' Association and J McQuade, Renfrewshire Visually Impaired Forum.

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

There was submitted an update report by Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership relative to the development of a draft Strategic Plan for the Partnership which set out what the Partnership wanted to achieve, how it planned to improve services and make best use of available resources. The draft Strategic Plan had been the subject of a consultation exercise which ended on 3 February 2016. The finalised Strategic Plan would be presented to a future meeting of this Local Area Committee (LAC).

DECIDED:

(a) That the consultation exercise be noted and that it also be noted that feedback had been sought from members of the LACs; and

(b) That it be noted that a further report would be brought to a future LAC meeting providing a copy of the final Strategic Plan.

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 and Rescue Service and other community safety agencies for the Paisley South LAC area during the period 1 October to 31 December 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 development of the integrated control room and CCTV system; and work related to tackling gender based violence. In addition, the appendix to the report detailed the Street Stuff initiative timetable in relation to the five LACs between January and March 2016.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

The Bid Director, Paisley 2021, gave a presentation on Paisley’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2021.

The presentation included background to the UK City of Culture competition, the assets Paisley had to offer in terms of objects, stories and people and the potential benefits of becoming UK City of Culture.

DECIDED: That the presentation be noted.

L Devine, Community Engagement Officer, Stronger Communities, provided a verbal update on the progress made by the Stronger Communities project in Glenburn.

Ms Devine advised that Stronger Communities was a partnership programme delivered by Save the Children, Aberlour, Action for Children, Barnardo’s Scotland, CHILDREN 1ST and One Parent Families Scotland.  The programme aimed to make Glenburn a better place for children to grow up in and key themes of safe, active and included had been identified following a community engagement process.  A number of working groups would be set up in the community to take the key themes forward. 

DECIDED:  That the update be noted.

The Senior Committee Services Officer (LACs) advised that the Association of African Communities in Renfrewshire would give a presentation on their organisation, activities and use of LAC grant funding after the presentation by Stronger Communities.

DECIDED: That the position be noted.

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 at 6.00 pm on 17 May 2016 in Renfrewshire House.



At the conclusion of the meeting S McLean advised the LAC that Councillor E Devine was this year’s recipient of the Pat McCarthy Memorial Trophy, an annual award which recognised work and commitment in Paisley’s Glenburn community. The LAC congratulated Councillor E Devine on his award.