Councillor Clark, Provost Hall, Councillors Holmes, J MacLaren and Noon.

Councillor Clark, Convener, presided.

A Clark (Bridge of Weir Community Council); G Lethorn (Bridge of Weir Tenants' and Residents' Association); A Johnstone, Brighter Bridge of Weir); M Dundas (Brookfield Community Council); J Taggart, (Erskine); R Finnie (Houston Community Council); N Barrington (Langbank Community Council); and P Brown, Linwood Community Council).

Inspector Wight (Police Scotland) and Dr Van Der Lee (Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership).

A McNab, Transportation Manager and M Hendry, ASIST Mediation Co-ordinator (both Community Resources); and K Graham, Head of Corporate Governance (Lead Officer) and D Low, Senior Committee Services Officer (LACs) (both Finance & Resources).

The Convener intimated that there were additional items in relation to applications for grant funding from St Conval's 2002, The Breastfeeding Network and Brookfield Community Council which had not been included in the notice calling the meeting. The Convener, being of the opinion that the items, which were dealt with at item 6 of this Minute, were urgent, in order to consider the applications timeously, authorised their consideration.

Councillor Noon entered the meeting during the following item of business.

Councillors M Brown and Harte; and I Cameron (Houston & Killellan Kirk).

There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to 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 Partnership, consisting of Renfrewshire Council, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service and other community safety agencies for the Houston, Crosslee, Linwood, Riverside & Erskine Local Area Committee (LAC) area during the period 1 April to 30 June, 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 Houston, Crosslee, Linwood, Riverside & Erskine 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 Child Protection Committee. In addition, the appendix to the report detailed the Street Stuff initiative timetable in relation to the five LACs between 29 June and 16 August, 2015.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

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.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

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

The report intimated that a public notice would be placed during local newspapers in 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.

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 Houston, Crosslee, Linwood, Riverside & Erskine LAC budget for 2015/16.

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

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

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

DECIDED: That the applications for funding be determined as follows:-

Fusion Youth Ministries – fireworks display - awarded £2,000 from the Youth Challenge Fund

React Basketball Ministries – restructure of leadership team at React Basketball – declined

Erskine Music & Media Studio – refurbishment costs – awarded £3,500 from the Youth Challenge Fund

St Conval's 2002 – winter training equipment – awarded £850

Johnstone Phoenix Theatre Group – production expenses, hiring/let of premises, printing and other production costs – declined

RCA Trust – refurbishment of office accommodation – awarded £500, being £361.26 from the Youth Challenge Fund and £138.74 from the General Grant Fund

Renfrewshire Environmental and Restoration Group – office start-up costs – declined

The Breastfeeding Network – salaries, training new volunteers, volunteer expenses and other associated costs – declined

Environmental Training Team – Heavy duty equipment and protective clothing – declined

Erskine new Interest Group – Rent and speaker costs – awarded £405, subject to the group attending the November meeting of this LAC to provide further information on the application

Erskine Parish Church of Scotland – community cinema project - declined

Brookfield Community Council – purchase and installation of defibrillator – awarded the balance of the General Grant Fund if required

It was noted that the next meeting of the Houston, Crosslee, Linwood, Riverside & Erskine Local Area Committee would be held at 6.00 pm on Wednesday, 25 November, 2015.