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Meeting Details

Forum for Empowering Communities
17 Nov 2015 - 16:00 to 18:00
Occurred
  • Documents
  • Attendance
  • Visitors
  • Declarations of Interests

Documents

Agenda

Agenda
Notification
Committee Members
Membership
L O’Brien, Barnados; I McLean, Bridgewater Housing Association; A Fraser, Linstone Housing Association; J Wilby, Paisley West End & Central Community Council; S McLellan, RAMH; S Cruickshank, Renfrewshire Access Panel; K Taylor, Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau; J Cram, Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership; and J Kiddie, Renfrewshire Law Centre.
Chair
Alan McNiven
Alan McNiven presided.
Standard Items
Members of the Press and Public
Members of the press and public wishing to attend the meeting should report to reception where they will be met and directed to the meeting.
Further Information
This is a meeting which is open to members of the public. 

A copy of the agenda and reports for this meeting will be available for inspection prior to the meeting at the Customer Service Centre, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley and online at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/agendas. 

For further information, please either email
democratic-services@renfrewshire.gov.uk or telephone 0141 618 7112.
Present
A McNiven, Engage Renfrewshire; S Cruickshank, Renfrewshire Access Panel; J Cram, Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership; and S McLellan, RAMH.
In Attendance
I Cunningham, S Graham, K Miller and S Miller (all Engage Renfrewshire); and A McNaughton and C MacDonald (both Renfrewshire Council).
Order of Business
A McNiven advised that Item 4 had been deferred to the next meeting of the Forum.
Items Of Business
Apologies
Apologies from members.
Lynne O’Brien, Barnardos; K Taylor, Citizens Advice Bureau; J Wilby, Paisley West & Central Community Council; and I McLean, FLAIR.
Declarations of Interest
Members are asked to declare an interest in any item(s) on the agenda and to provide a brief explanation of the nature of the interest.
There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to commencement of the meeting.
Minute of Meeting held on Tuesday 1 September, 2015.
1
There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Renfrewshire Forum for Empowering Communities held on 1 September, 2015.

Under reference to Item 3 – Digital Strategy, it was noted that a meeting was due to take place with D Webb on Digital Strategy on 7 December, 2015. S Cruickshank advised that the Access Panel had offered the use of JAWS Software, a screen reader developed for computer users whose vision loss prevents them from seeing screen content, to beta test the new Council website.

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.
Report by Director of Finance & Resources, Renfrewshire Council.
2
The Rolling Action Log was submitted for approval.

DECIDED:

(a) That actions RF.10.09.13(4) and RF.27.01.15(4) be removed from the action log as both actions were now complete: and

(b) That the updated Rolling Action Log be approved.
Report by Director of Finance & Resources, Renfrewshire Council.
3
A report was submitted by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to an update on the Community Council elections.

The report advised that 21 community councils had been established until 2019 following the four-yearly elections held throughout Renfrewshire to return members. It was noted that a total of 308 residents were now members of their local community councils and of these, 122 were new members engaged in representing their communities for the first time.

It was noted that an exercise had been carried out to determine the diversity of Community Council membership and a copy of the analysis of the data would be passed to Engage Renfrewshire.

DECIDED:

(a) That an analysis of the data from the equalities monitoring form would be passed to Engage Renfrewshire; and

(b) That the report be noted.
Verbal Update by A Conboy, Acting Education Manager, Children's Services, Renfrewshire Council.
Report by Lead Officer of Forum for Empowering Communities.
4
A report was submitted by the Chair of Renfrewshire Forum for Empowering Communities relative to the development session held for members in the Tannahill Centre, Paisley on 30 September, 2015.

Forum members agreed at the Development day that they valued participation in the Forum, considered that good progress had been made since the Forum was established in May 2013 and saw a significant role for the Forum in addressing emerging issues within the context of the Community Planning Partnership. The Community Planning outcomes that the Forum was responsible for and the Mission Statement agreed by the Forum in May 2013 were considered to have continued relevance for the future. Forum members also identified a set of core issues to be addressed, but recognised that contribution to the outcomes of the other Thematic Boards should also be developed. Proposals for progressing this work and developing a revised Action Plan were identified.

DECIDED:

(a) That the key points from discussion at the Development Day on 30 September, 2015 as outlined within the report be agreed:

(b) That the list of core items for Forum business identified within the report be agreed;

(c) That it be agreed that the Forum invite members of other Boards to a development session to discuss the contribution of the Forum to other thematic agendas;

(d) That the approach to development of the Forum Action Plan as outlined within the report be agreed; and

(e) That it be agreed that the Forum Members originally co-opted for the duration of the Advice Services review confirm that they wish to retain their place on the Forum, following the conclusion of the review.
Discussion led by Lead Officer, Forum for Empowering Communities.
5
The Chair of the Forum for Empowering Communities gave a verbal update relative to the progress of the Tackling Poverty Commission strategy. A copy of the “Tackling Poverty Strategy 2015/17” booklet which was published by Renfrewshire Council on 20 October, 2015 was circulated to Members.

He intimated that the Tackling Poverty Steering Group had discussed how to measure and evaluate the evidence from the action plan. The Forum for Empowering Communities had been asked to look at how to measure and evaluate the success arising from the action plan.

Discussion took place on how to measure attitudes, perceptions and information on qualitative evidence. The Chair intimated that if anyone had any research or approaches that would help to achieve the outcomes then they should share it with the group.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.
Verbal Update by Lead Officer, Forum for Empowering Communities.
6
The Chair of the Forum for Empowering Communities gave a verbal update relative to the stakeholder and media launch of the Paisley City of Culture 2021 bid which took place on 13 November, 2015 in Paisley Town Centre. He intimated that the public launch event, scheduled to be held on 14 November, 2015, had been postponed as a mark of respect for those who had died in the Paris terrorist attacks.

The Board were advised that Jean Cameron, the Project Director Paisley 2021 City of Culture, was keen to meet with Forum Members to discuss the need to formulate a distinctively Paisley vision statement and the desirability of engaging with the local community in its development. She had also intimated her desire to hold localised events with the help of the Forum.

DECIDED: That the update be noted.
Report by Lead Officer, Forum for Empowering Communities.
7
A report was submitted by the Chair of Renfrewshire Forum for Empowering Communities relevant to an update on activities relating to the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.

The report advised that a presentation by the Scottish Government on the Community Empowerment Act would be given at the Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Board meeting on 9 December, 2015 which would provide the Partnership Board with an overview of the content of the Act. It was noted that information from the presentation would be reported back to the next meeting the Forum on 27 January 2015.

It was noted that a wider asset transfer conference for third sector organisations in Renfrewshire would be organised early in 2016. It was intended that this conference would inform local organisations about the implications of the Community Empowerment Act and help shape dialogue with Public sector partners.

The report also intimated that the Scottish Community Development Centre had published a briefing paper on the Act which was attached as an appendix to the report.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be noted that the Scottish Government would make a presentation on the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 to the Community Planning Partnership Board meeting on 9 December, 2015 and information from the presentation would be reported back to the next meeting of the Forum on 27 January, 2015;

(b) That it be noted that Engage Renfrewshire would organise an event around transfer of assets early in 2016, following the publication of Scottish Government Guidance on the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act; and

(c) That the publication of advice on the Community Development (Scotland) Act by the Scottish Community Development Centre be noted.
Verbal Update by Lead Officer, Forum for Empowering Communties.
8
A verbal update was given by the Chair of the Forum for Empowering Communities relative to issues of concern surrounding young people with disabilities in schools and colleges and the barriers to appropriate work placement opportunities.

S Cruickshank advised that PVG checks were also required for jobs which involved working with protected young adults and this in turn limited the number of work placements available.

After further discussion it was agreed that the issue of barriers to appropriate work placement opportunities for young people with disabilities would be raised with the Children & Young People Thematic Board and the Forum would look at third sector employment engagement strategies for young people with disabilities and collate a list of organisations that could provide work placements for disabled young people.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be agreed that the issue of barriers to appropriate work placement opportunities for young people with disabilities be raised with the Children & Young People Thematic Board; and

(b) That it be agreed that the Forum look at third sector employment engagement strategies and collate a list of organisations that could provide work placements for disabled young people.
Report by Director of Finance & Resoources, Renfrewshire Council
9
Feedback reports from the members who had been present at the various Thematic Boards were submitted in respect of

• Greener Renfrewshire Thematic Board
• Jobs & the Economy Thematic Board
• Safer & Stronger Renfrewshire Thematic Board
• Children & Young People Thematic Board; and
• Community Care Health & Wellbeing Thematic Board

DECIDED: To note the feedback provided in the reports.

Attendance

Name
No other member attendance information has been recorded for the meeting.
NameReason for Sending Apology
Mr Joe Ferrie 
Ms Adele Fraser 
Mr Ian McLean 
Ms Lynne O'Brien 
Mr John Wilby 
NameReason for Absence
Mr Alan Bradford 
Mr Jon Kiddie 
Ms Kay Taylor 

Declarations of Interests

Member NameItem Ref.DetailsNature of DeclarationAction
No declarations of interest have been entered for this meeting.

Visitors

Visitor Information is not yet available for this meeting