Councillors Caldwell, Andy Doig, Gilmour, Hood, and I McMillan.

Councillor Gilmour, Convener, presided.

L Brown, Elderslie Community Council; J Anderson, Howwood Sports & Hobbies Group; A Stevenson, Johnstone Castle Community Learning Centre; A McBain, Johnstone Seniors Forum; D Blair, Kilbarchan Community Council; M Lavery, Quarrelton Tenants' & Residents' Association; N McBride, Renfrewshire Early Years Forum; W Crawford, Renfrewshire Walking Network; and J Black, Sandyflats Tenants' & Residents' Association.

Inspector S Wright (Strathclyde Police); S Lavers (Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership) and S Gallacher (Renfrewshire Leisure)

S Allan, Head of Amenity Services (Lead Officer) and M Corrigan, Enforcement Manager (both Community Resources); D Low, Senior Committee Services Officer (LACs) and A McNaughton, Senior Committee Services Officer (both Finance & Resources); and J McCrystal, Community Learning Officer (Children's Services).

The Convener intimated that an additional application had been received for grant funding from Johnstone Business Consortium that had not been included in the notice calling the meeting. The Convener, being of the opinion that the item which is dealt with at item 6 of this Minute was urgent, authorised its consideration.

Councillors Bibby and McGee, D Wadsworth (Elderslie Community Council), J Ross (Greensyde Carers), G Nicholl (Lochwinnoch Community Council) and M Dougan and C McIntyre (both MSYPs).

Councillor I McMillan declared a non-financial interest in item 6 on the agenda with regard to the application for funding from St Paul's Kirk and intimated that he would remain in the meeting during discussion of the application but would not take part in any discussion and decision thereon

There was submitted a report by the Head of Planning and Health Improvement, Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership relative to the integration of health and social care services in Renfrewshire.

It was proposed that further information on the composition of the Integration Joint Board be submitted to the next meeting of this Local Area Committee (LAC).  This was agreed. 

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted; and

(b) That further information on the composition of the Integration Joint Board be submitted to the next meeting.

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 Johnstone & the Villages LAC area during the period 1 April to 30 June, 2015.





The report contained statistical information for the Johnstone & the Villages LAC  area 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 on community safety; 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 Child Protection Committee. In addition, the appendix to the report detailed the Street Stuff initiative timetable between 29 June and 16 August, 2015.

The Community Resources Enforcement Officer delivered a presentation about diversionary activities to reduce youth disorder, highlighting the wide range of services working together to address youth disorder and its causes.

DECIDED: That the report and presentation be noted.

(a) Town Centre Regeneration

J Anderson, Howwood Sports & Hobbies Group requested that information about the regeneration of Johnstone town centre be provided at the next meeting.   This was agreed.

DECIDED: That information about the regeneration of Johnstone town centre be submitted to the next meeting.

(b) Ward Boundaries

J Anderson, Howwood Sports & Hobbies Group requested that maps detailing the proposed new boundaries for local authority Wards be provided at the next meeting.

It was noted that full details of the Local Government Boundary Review for Scotland (LGBRS), including maps of the proposed new Wards boundaries for Renfrewshire were available for examination in all local libraries, at Renfrewshire House, and on both the Council website and the LGBRS website. Members were encouraged to share their views with the LGBRS by participating in the consultation.

DECIDED:

(i) That it be noted that full details of the Local Government Boundary Review for Scotland (LGBRS) proposals, including maps, were available for examination in local libraries, at Renfrewshire House, and through both the Council and the LGBRS websites; and

(ii) That it be noted that members were encouraged to share their views with the LGBRS by participating in the consultation.






(b) Review of Local Area Committees

Howwood Sports & Hobbies Group requested that feedback be provided in relation to the review of Local Area Committees being undertaken by Engage Renfrewshire and, in particular, the results of the questionnaire issued to members.

It was noted that an update would be sought from Engage Renfrewshire.

DECIDED:  That an update be sought from Engage Renfrewshire on the review of LACs..

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the process, which would commence on 1 September, 2015, of electing members to community councils in Renfrewshire.

The report intimated that a public notice would be placed in local newspapers during the week commencing 31 August, 2015 announcing that community council elections to fill membership places were under way. Information about these elections would also be available on the Council’s website and advertised on Facebook and Twitter. Existing community councils would receive publicity material to promote the election and raise awareness in their local area.

Candidates for membership of community councils must complete and return a nomination form to the Council by 30 September, 2015.

DECIDED: That it be noted that the four-yearly Council-wide elections to community councils would commence on 1 September, 2015.

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

Appendix 1 to the report provided details of the expenditure committed by the LAC to date together with available budgets.

The report advised that the LAC also received funding from the Renfrewshire Council Citizens Fund and details of the expenditure committed to date together with the remaining balance were contained in Appendix 2 to the report.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to applications received for LAC funding.





It was proposed that, due to the urgent nature of an application by Johnstone Activity Group, which had been omitted from the agenda for consideration at the meeting held on 21 May 2015, the action of the Director of Finance & Resources in consultation with the Convener to approve an award of £300 be homologated. This was agreed.

It was noted that Johnstone Food Co-op Group had returned £1,820.88 being the unspent portion of the grant awarded previously.

It was further proposed that £1,000 be ring-fenced to meet the potential costs incurred due to the late cancellation of the Lilias Day event in Kilbarchan due to severe weather. This was agreed.

DECIDED:

(a) That the action of the Director of Finance & Resources in consultation with the Convener to award £300 to Johnstone Activity Group be homologated;

(b) That the return of £1,820.88 from Johnstone Food Co-operative be noted and that the group, and in particularly Isabel Hamilton, be thanked for many years of service to the community;

(c) That £1,000 be ring-fenced to meet the potential costs incurred due to the late cancellation of Lilias Day event in Kilbarchan due to severe weather; and

(d) That the applications for funding be determined as follows:-

Elderslie Community Council – provision of a community notice board – awarded £1,000;

Farrier Court Sheltered Housing Tenants Association – craft classes – awarded £499;

Johstone St Paul's Kirk – help towards cost of marquee for 2015 commemorations – awarded £1,350;

Lochwinnoch Elderly Forum – rent, administration costs and art materials – awarded £1,500;

Johnstone Business Consortium – cost of licences and hall hire for events – awarded £500; and

Breastfeeding Network – salaries, training new volunteers, expenses etc – awarded £500 and any balance remaining in budget.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Johnstone & The Villages Local Area Committee would be held in Johnstone Town Hall at 6.00 pm on Thursday, 19 November, 2015 .