D Wadsworth, Elderslie Community Council; H McAleer, Greensyde Carers; R Scarsbrook, Howwood Community Council; J Anderson, Howwood Sports & Hobbies Group; W Dean, Johnstone Community Council; A McBain, Johnstone Seniors' Forum; D Blair, Kilbarchan Community Council; N McBride, Renfrewshire Early Years Forum; J Black, Sandyflats Tenants' & Residents' Association; and M Dougan MSYP.

S Allan, Head of Amenity Services (Lead Officer) and C Robertson, Community Safety Manager (both Community Resources) ; A Moulson, Bid Manager (Paisley 2021) (Development & Housing Services); D MacPhee, Acting Adult Learning Manager (Children’s Services); and D Low, Senior Committee Services Officer (LACs) and A McNaughton, Senior Committee Services Officer (Community Councils) (both Finance & Resources).

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

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Resources providing an overview of the activities of the Safer & Stronger Renfrewshire and Community Safety Partnership carried out in the Johnstone & the Villages LAC area during the period 1 January - 31 March 2016. 

The report provided information on Johnstone & the Villages community safety performance statistics; environmental enforcement and improvement activities; protecting vulnerable adults; and a spotlight on the work of Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership.

It was noted that, in response to local concerns, the Head of Amenity Services would facilitate a meeting with Police Scotland, Transport Scotland, Transerve, and local residents to examine remedial road safety measures at the junction between Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch roundabout on the A737.

DECIDED: 

(a)  That the report be noted; and

(b)  That it be noted that the Head of Amenity Services would facilitate a meeting with Police Scotland, Transport Scotland, Transerve and local residents to examine remedial road safety measures at the junction between Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch roundabout on the A737.

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.

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 Johnstone & The Villages LAC budget for 2016/17, totalling £81,200 consisting of £55,940 General Grant Fund and £25,260 Youth Challenge Fund.  An appendix to the report provided details of the expenditure committed by the LAC in 2015/16.

It was noted that the total value of grant applications to be considered at this meeting of the LAC exceeded available budget resources.  

DECIDED:    That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Resources relative to the Street Stuff annual report and seeking an award of £5,000 funding towards the Street Stuff Programme.

The report intimated that Street Stuff had been delivering a programme of activities in Renfrewshire since 2009 that had contributed to a sustained reduction in reported youth disorder and anti-social behaviour. Over the last few years the LAC had been keen to consider funding additional activities within their own areas that would allow sessions to be increased to include delivery in areas where there was less anti-social behaviour or children living in poverty.  Given the scale of the core programme the report requested that a contribution of £5,000 per LAC area be considered, which was similar to the contribution in previous years. This funding would contribute to the costs of delivery of up to two activity sessions per week within the LAC area, through the peak summer, autumn and spring months, as well as attendance at local gala days and fetes.

It was proposed that the Street Stuff annual report be noted and that the request for funding be considered at item 6 of the agenda.  This was agreed.

DECIDED:    That the Street Stuff annual report be noted and that the request for funding be considered at item 6 of the agenda.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to applications for LAC funding, now including the applications from Active Communities, Lochwinnoch Chatterbox Trust and Kilbarchan Singers that had not been included in the agenda.

The Convener intimated his intention to consider the three applications from the 1^st/3^rd Johnstone Scouts as one application and it was noted that applications from Paisley Chess Club and Renfrewshire Seniors Forum had been withdrawn.

DECIDED:

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

Single Area

1^st Elderslie Brownies – 21^st Anniversary celebrations – Awarded £2,000

1^st/3^rd Johnstone Scouts – Scout hut refurbishment, 100^th Anniversary events and trip to Wiston Lodge – Awarded £10,000

Brewery Street Kids – Provision of youth club – Awarded £3,000

Calder Drama Club – Hall costs - Awarded £700

Elderslie Community Council – Sports programme for young children - Awarded £1,000

Elderslie Wallace Bowling Club – Refurbishment of gents’ toilet - Awarded £1,000

Evangelical Believers of Church International - Xmas community event - Awarded £500

Friends of Shanks Park - Provision of community garden - Awarded £5,000

Friends of Shanks Park – Play/exercise equipment – continued to next meeting

Howwood Community Council – Gala Day costs - Awarded £1,000

Johnstone Band – Band hall improvements, uniforms, concerts - Awarded £2,000

Johnstone Community Sports Complex – Equipment - Awarded £7,500

Johnstone Phoenix Theatre Group – Equipment - Awarded £7,500

Johnstone Seniors’ Forum – Exercise sessions - Awarded £900

Lochwinnoch Arts Festival – Hall and facilities costs – Awarded £4,300

Lochwinnoch Christmas Lights Society – Lights and switch-on event - Awarded £1,000

Lochwinnoch Country Dance Club – Tutor costs - Awarded £450

Lochwinnoch Gala Day – Gala Day costs - Awarded £1,000

Lochwinnoch New Year’s Day Dance – Hire of hall - Awarded £480

Lochwinnoch Scottish Women’s Institute – Hall rent and speakers - Awarded £300

West Lowland Battalion, Army Cadet Force, Johnstone Division – Duke of Edinburgh award equipment - Awarded £1,995

Active Communities – Salaries and physical activity programmes - Awarded £3,000

Lochwinnoch Chatterbox Trust – Printing costs - Awarded £1,500

Multi-area

Association of African Communities in Renfrewshire – Create centre for Africans in Renfrewshire to access information and tailored services – Declined

Basketball Paisley – Basketball project in primary schools – Awarded £500

Braehead Junior Ice Hockey Club – Ice costs – Declined

Breastfeeding Network – Provision of peer support/training - Awarded £500

Cat Rescue Service – Feed, care and neuter feral cats – declined

C-change Scotland – Friendship/dating project for adults with learning disabilities – declined

Cornerstone Drop-in Centre – Insurance/Utility costs - £375

Erskine Community Allotments – Upgrading of access road – declined

Feis Phaislig – Traditional music tuition for children – Awarded £500

Fitting-in – Health project for 5 – 18 year olds – Awarded £500

Forever Young – Exercise/relaxation/creative arts classes – Awarded £300

Greensyde Carers – Leisure garden at Milldale Centre – Awarded £100

Johnstone Pipe Band – Pipe and drum tuition/Linwood & Johnstone – Awarded £5,000

Kelburne Hockey Club – Promoting hockey/hosting tournament – Declined

Lamont Farm – Running costs – Continued to the next meeting

Loud ‘n Proud – Production of show at SECC – Declined

Paisley Pirates – Ice costs – Declined

Paisley Sea Cadets – Summer camp costs – Declined

Parkrun UK – Weekly park run sessions in Linwood – Declined

Phoenix Flyers Dog Agility Club – Purchase of toilet and new storage – Declined

Rainbow Turtle – School project/fair-trade producer visit – Declined

Renfrewshire Action for Mental Health – Event to inform/diminish threat of suicide - Awarded £400

Rays of Hope – Running costs - Awarded £500

Renfrewshire Access Panel – Phone line/running costs – Declined

Renfrewshire bowling under 25’s – Coach hire, uniforms, presentations and entrance fees – Declined

Renfrewshire Deaf Group – Social club for volunteers/interpreters - Awarded £600

Renfrewshire Sports Network – Implementation of sports strategy – Continued to next meeting

Renfrewshire Visual Impaired Forum – Rent/running costs - Awarded £300

Renfrewshire Youth Voice – “Positive about Youth” awards - £820

Shopmobility – Running costs - Awarded £494

St James Orchestra – Rehearsal accommodation costs – Continued to the next meeting

Stanley Athletic AFC – Football holiday camps/rebranding to a soccer academy – Declined

The Boys Brigade, Paisley & District – Upgrading of brigade headquarters - Awarded £700

The Wynd Centre – Cost of adult counselling service - Awarded £500

The Wynd Centre – Cost of young person counselling service - Awarded £500

Street Stuff – Expansion of activity programme - Awarded £5,000; and

(b)  That it be recommended to the Finance & Resources Policy Board that the undernoted awards be considered from the Renfrewshire Council Citizens Fund:

Kilbarchan Agricultural Society – Equipment for light horse section – Awarded £1,850

Kilbarchan Singers – Cost of tuition – Awarded £3,000

It was noted that the next meeting of the Johnstone & The Villages LAC would be held at 6.00 pm on 25 August 2016.