Councillors M Macmillan and M Holmes; S Black, P MacLeod, S MacDougall, M Crearie and D Amos (all Renfrewshire Council); A McNiven, Engage Renfrewshire; B Grant, Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce; G Gray, Scottish Government; and S Kelly, Skills Development Scotland.

A Armstrong Walter, Lisa Fingland, Y Farquhar, S Graham and C MacDonald (all Renfrewshire Council); M Gallagher and D Proctor, both Scottish Fire and Rescue Service; Meg Dunn, UWS; and N Burns and Louis Jefferey, both Police Scotland.

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

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Community Planning Partnership Board held on 21 September 2016.

 

It was noted that in relation to Item 2 – Possible Implications for Renfrewshire of the Vote to Leave the European Union that the Brexit Working Group had now been established and the Director of Finance & Resources would chair the Group.

 

It was further noted that in relation to Item 3 – Paisley Town Centre – 10 Year Action Plan, the consultation had closed and the action plan had been agreed at Leadership Board on 30 November 2016.

 

DECIDED:  That the Minute be agreed.

There was submitted a report by the Head of Planning & Commissioning relative to a new approach to best value which had been developed by the Accounts Commission.

The report intimated that the Accounts Commission had allocated an audit team to assess the Council against financial, sustainability, financial management, governance and transparency and value for money dimensions.  Their work programme commenced in November 2016 and would lead local best value audit activity. The audit team had been invited to attend a number of partnership and policy board meetings as part of their introduction to Renfrewshire, and they had planned to conduct some fieldwork activity in early 2017 with a view to a final best value assurance report being published in Summer 2017.  It was noted that while the scope of the new best value audit and assurance arrangements did not specifically include a review of community planning arrangements, the audit team were keen to establish the outcomes that the Council was achieving for local citizens and communities through effective joint working with other partners and the progress that was being made locally in terms of implementing the provisions of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.

DECIDED:   

(a)   That the forthcoming best value audit and assurance process which would involve Renfrewshire Council be noted; and

(b)   That the possible linked involvement of community planning partners in the fieldwork undertaken by the audit team be noted.

Under reference to the Minute of the Community Planning Partnership Board held on 21 September 2016 there was submitted a report and presentation by the Head of Planning & Commissioning relative to a further update on the Local Outcome Improvement Plan Three Year Progress Report.

The report provided further information on the outcomes and indicators where progress had not been achieved as was anticipated and recommended revised targets for indicators where required.  Appendix 1 provided an explanation of performance for each relevant indicator and in some circumstances a replacement for the relevant indicator was proposed with justification provided for the change.

A presentation was given by P Macleod, A McNiven, S Graham, M Crearie and S MacDougall which further detailed the remedial work being undertaken across the range of outcome areas.

Discussion took place on the Greener Renfrewshire Thematic Board indicator relating to the percentage reduction in car journeys to school.  It was agreed that the current measures were too high level and that local measures should be developed.

In relation to the Safer & Stronger Renfrewshire Thematic Board’s indicator on the percentage reduction in the perception of the local drug dealing/use in neighbourhoods, it was agreed that a different way to measure the outcome would be developed.  

DECIDED:

(a) That the additional information provided in relation to the indicators previously identified as red or amber in the Three Year Progress Report submitted in September 2016, as outlined within Appendix 1 be noted;
 
(b) That the amendments to the indicators as proposed in Appendix 1 be noted;

(c) That it be agreed that local measures be developed for the Greener Renfrewshire Thematic Board indicator relating to the percentage reduction in car journeys to school; and

(d) That it be agreed that a different way to measure the percentage reduction in the perception of the local drug dealing/use in neighbourhoods be developed.

There was submitted a report by the Head of Planning & Commissioning relative to the progress of the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP) and Locality Plans.

The report intimated that the next phase of the development of the LOIP would commence in early 2017 through a high level strategic needs assessment which would involve undertaking analysis of emerging data such as the 2016 data release of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation and All Children Health and Wellbeing Survey being lead by Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership.  The process would be supported by the Data Analytics and Research Team within Renfrewshire Council, in partnership with data officers and teams across community planning organisations. It was noted that discussions had commenced with several partners to discuss the data that was currently available across sectors and organisations at a Renfrewshire level.

An intensive programme of work would require to be undertaken in spring/summer 2017, specifically focusing on consultation and engagement with local communities, wider community groups, third sector organisations and Community Planning partners. A further update on the development of the LOIP and locality plans would be submitted to the next meeting of the Community Planning Partnership Board. 

At a local level, progress had been made in developing proposals for new governance arrangements that would enable partners to take forward development of the LOIP and Locality Plans.   It was noted that subject to approval of full Council on 15 December 2016, the proposed new governance arrangements would be implemented in 2017.

DECIDED:

(a) That the progress to date in preparing for the development of the Local Outcome Improvement Plan and Locality Plans be noted; and 

(b) That the timetable and outline work programme for the development of the Local Outcome Improvement Plan and Locality Plans as set out within the report be agreed.

A presentation was given by the Director of Children’s Services relative to an update on the ChildrenCount Well-being survey.

The presentation gave a brief overview of the online school based child report survey (P5-S4); detailed the strategy that had been developed; highlighted some of the innovations within the Renfrewshire area; outlined the timeline; summarised the data products; and indicated the difference that the study had made.

DECIDED:  That the presentation be noted.

A presentation was given by the Strategic Lead Officer (Tackling Poverty & Welfare Reform) relative to an update on the Tackling Poverty programme.

The presentation outlined a number of the project highlights; detailed relevant statistics; highlighted the strong partnership working within Renfrewshire; drew attention to the Campbell Christie Award for Public Sector Reform; and summarised the achievements to date.

A short dvd was shown which noted the Tackling Poverty event held in Paisley Town Hall on 4 October 2016 to celebrate one year of Tackling Poverty projects and the journey so far.

DECIDED:  That the presentation be noted.

Under reference to the Minute of the Community Planning Partnership Board held on 21 September 2016 there was submitted a report by the Head of Policy & Commissioning relative to the review of existing Community Planning governance arrangements.

The report advised that as a result of the significant statutory changes introduced through the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 a review of existing Community Planning governance arrangements had been undertaken by Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Board over the past six months. The review considered the views of key stakeholders including members of the Partnership Board, Chairs of the Thematic Boards, Lead Officers within the Partnership and Engage Renfrewshire as the third sector interface organisation for Renfrewshire. 

Stakeholder feedback highlighted the need for the existing governance structure to be significantly streamlined to ensure the time invested by partners was focused on joint strategic priorities and that flexibility was built in to adapt to new strategic priorities as they emerged. Feedback also highlighted the need to achieve a better balance across partner organisations in relation to the allocation of lead roles for the development and oversight of work programmes aligned to the shared community planning partnership priorities. A common view expressed by the conveners and participants within the Thematic Boards, was that it was often difficult to gain an appropriate level of oversight between the Thematic Boards and to make appropriate linkages between areas of work. 

Following consideration of the findings of the review, a proposed revised governance structure had been developed in consultation with community planning partners which was outlined within Appendix 1 of the report. It was noted that the proposed structure would require a degree of change to existing structure and would utilise all appropriate opportunities to streamline and refocus existing partnership activities, groups and formal structures. The revised proposed structure would facilitate enhanced political scrutiny and strategic leadership through the establishment of a Community Planning Oversight Group chaired by the Leader of Renfrewshire Council, with a Community Planning Executive Group chaired by the Chief Executive of Renfrewshire Council.

It was noted that the report would be submitted to the Council meeting to be held on 15 December 2016 and, subject to approval, Council officers would work with partners to plan for the implementation of the revised governance arrangements in the second quarter of 2017. Council approval was also being sought to carry out a review of the Council’s Local Area Committee arrangements to consider opportunities to strengthen mechanisms for engagement with local communities, complement the proposed new Community Planning governance structures and facilitate the new legislative requirements of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. This review would be carried out in consultation with Community Planning partners.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be agreed that the proposed governance structure for Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership be submitted to Council for approval on 15 December 2016, as outlined within the report; 

(b) That it be noted that the implementation of the proposed governance structure would be submitted to Council for approval on 15 December 2016;
 
(c) That it be noted that officers would work with partnership organisations to plan for the implementation of the new arrangements in the second quarter of 2017; and
 
(d) That it be noted that subject to approval by full Council, a review of the arrangements for community level governance, including local area committees, would be undertaken, and that community planning partners would be consulted as part of this process.

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

(a) Community Care, Health & Wellbeing Thematic Board held on 14 September 2016.

(b) Community Care, Health & Wellbeing Thematic Board held on 25 October 2016.

(c) Greener Renfrewshire Thematic Board held on 7 November 2016.

(d) Children & Young People Thematic Board held on 10 November 2016.

(e) Children & Young People, Jobs & the Economy and Safer
& Stronger Renfrewshire Thematic Boards Joint Meeting held on 10 November 2016.

(f) Forum for Empowering Communities Thematic Board held on 16 November 2016.

(g) Safer & Stronger Renfrewshire Thematic Board held on 24 November 2016.