There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Community Planning Partnership Board held on 24 February 2016. In relation to Item 3 – Renfrewshire: Full Youth Employment Initiative Proposal it was agreed that a Partnership report on the Full Youth Employment Initiative be submitted to the next meeting of the Board.

DECISION:

(a)  That a Partnership report in relation to the Full Youth Employment Initiative be submitted to the next meeting of the Board; and

(b)  That the Minute be noted.

There was submitted a report and presentation by the Director of Community Resources which provided a summary of progress against Safer and Stronger actions measured over the first three years of the Community Plan;  an overview of the agreed strategic priorities and focus for the Thematic Board; and the key areas of work being taken forward by partners over the next year.

The presentation gave a brief overview and background information; outlined the outcomes and performance measures; highlighted key achievements; summarised the agreed priorities and strategic focus; defined the future priorities; and detailed the issues and challenges.

DECIDED:   That the progress of Safer & Stronger actions and impact measures as highlighted within the report and presentation be noted.

With reference to the discussion on financial settlements which took place at the Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership meeting on 24 February 2016, D Amos introduced a round-table update discussion on the budget settlements 2016/17 for partner organisations.

DECIDED:  That the position be noted.

A presentation was given by G Hunt, Head of External Engagement, University of the West of Scotland (UWS) relative to the Strategic Partnership Agreement recently concluded between UWS and Renfrewshire Council.  The presentation outlined the background to the collaboration; summarised the strategic themes and key priorities; and detailed the governance arrangements around the agreement.

DECIDED:  That the presentation be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the aspect review on the implementation of the Community Learning and Development Regulations. 

The report indicated that the Council was one of eight areas identified by Education Scotland to participate in an Aspect Review on the implementation of the Community Learning and Development Regulations.  The review would focus on strategic aspects of community learning planning and partnership work and the quality of work undertaken by local authorities and their partners in meeting the requirements of the CLD Regulations.  It was agreed that the aspect review would be undertaken on Friday 29 April 2016.  The outline for the visit was attached as an appendix to the report.  Unlike previous inspections, it was not envisaged that the Council would receive a Renfrewshire specific report but that Education Scotland would publish their findings from across all eight areas.

A copy of Renfrewshire’s Community Learning and Development plan 2015-2018 was also attached as an appendix to the report.

DECIDED:  That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Head of Policy & Commissioning relative to the Community Empowerment Act Guidance.

The report intimated that the Scottish Government had invited consultation on a number of aspects of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) 2015 Act and the guidance which would emerge following the consultation would provide the framework for Community Planning Partnerships to work within when implementing the provisions of the Act.

It was proposed that Renfrewshire Council officers would co-ordinate a partnership response to the consultation and that the Renfrewshire Forum for Empowering Communities Thematic Board would approve the responses to the guidance at its meeting on 1 June 2016.  It was noted that Community organisations would have a specific opportunity to input into the response at the daytime community planning conference event on 20 May 2016 and finalised guidance would be presented to the Partnership Board once it had been agreed by the Scottish Government.

DECIDED:

(a)   That it be agreed that Renfrewshire Council co-ordinate a partnership response to the consultation on guidance regarding the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015; and

There was submitted a report by the Head of Policy & Commissioning relative to an update on initial recommendations to Parliament and proposals for Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Board to provide oversight regarding the delivery of the prevention agenda within Renfrewshire.

The report intimated that the Finance Committee of the Scottish Parliament was currently conducting an inquiry into the delivery in Scotland of the prevention agenda, as recommended by the Commission for Public Service Reform (Christie Commission) in 2011.  It was noted that Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership would be reviewing its partnership arrangements and delivery during 2016 and as part of this work, the Community Planning Partnership would take the opportunity to embed long term prevention of inequalities and future demand on services as a specific focus of the review, in line with the recommendations emerging from the Scottish Parliament inquiry.

DECIDED:

(a)   That it be agreed that the Partnership Board would provide oversight on activity being carried out across Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership to ensure that the prevention agenda had the appropriate focus in planning and delivering services;

(b)   That it be agreed that an overview of prevention activity across all the Thematic Boards be included within the annual performance report to be submitted to the Partnership Board in September each year; and

(c)   That it be agreed that the work being progressed to review Community Planning arrangements and strategic needs specifically considers prevention as a key focus of long-term activity.

There was submitted a report by the Head of Policy & Commissioning relative to the development of the Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership.

The report intimated that arrangements had been made for initial visits by Renfrewshire Council, Chief Executive’s officers to discuss the views of key Community Planning Partners on the current arrangements and opportunities and the strengthening of these in the future to ensure that they added value for the strategic priorities of each partner.

DECIDED:

(a)   That the programme of visits and the topic areas outlined within the report be agreed; and

(b)   That it be agreed that Partners would identify any additional topic areas they would like included in the initial round of review meetings.

There were submitted and noted the Minutes of meetings of the following Thematic Boards:-

(a)   Children & Young People Thematic Board held on 4 February 2016.

(b)   Jobs & the Economy Thematic Board held on 8 February 2016.

(c)   Forum for Empowering Communities Thematic Board held on 9 February 2016.

(d)   Safer & Stronger Renfrewshire Thematic Board held on 23 March 2016.

(e)   Children & Young People Thematic Board held on 31 March 2016.

(f)   Greener Renfrewshire Thematic Board held on 1 April 2016.