Councillor Michael Holmes, Convener, presided.

A Russell, Director of Finance & Resources;  A MacArthur, Head of Finance, R McGrath, Head of Customer & Business Services, P Murray, Head of Information & Communications Technology, M Conaghan, Legal & Democratic Services Manager, G Innes, Customer Service Operations Manager, E Shields, Business Services Manager and A McNaughton, Senior Committee Services Officer (all Finance & Resources).

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

There were submitted the Minutes of the meetings of the Procurement Sub-committee held on 25 January and 15 February 2017 which form Appendices I and II hereto. 

DECIDED:  That the Minutes be approved.

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Joint Consultative Board (Non-teaching) held on 8 February 2017 which forms Appendix III hereto.

DECIDED:  That the Minute be approved.

There was submitted a joint revenue budget monitoring report by the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance & Resources in respect of the Chief Executive’s, Finance & Resources and miscellaneous expenditure for the period 1 April 2016 to 6 January 2017.

DECIDED:   That the report be noted.

There was submitted a revenue budget monitoring report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to an overview of expenditure on general fund services and the Housing Revenue Account for the period 1 April 2016 to 6 January 2017.

DECIDED:  That the report be noted.

There was submitted a capital budget monitoring report by the Director of Finance & Resources in respect of capital expenditure relative to corporate issues (non-property) for the period 1 April 2016 to 6 January 2017.

DECIDED:  That the report be noted.

There was submitted a capital budget monitoring report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to an overview of expenditure on the Housing and Non-housing Capital Programmes for the period 1 April 2016 to 6 January 2017.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

There was submitted an update report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to performance across key Customer & Business Services functions from 1 April 2016 to 31 January 2017.

The report highlighted performance to collect Council Tax and Non-domestic Rates, detailed performance to process Housing Benefit and the Scottish Welfare Fund and included an update on funding and expenditure relative to Discretionary Housing Payments.

The report also provided an update on the overall contact centre call handling response times as well as face-to-face response times across three customer service locations in Paisley, Renfrew and Johnstone.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to applications for funding from the Renfrewshire Council Citizens Fund (the Fund) that had been recommended for approval by Johnstone & The Villages Local Area Committee (LAC) at its meeting on 16 February 2017.  

Kilbarchan Community Council had applied for funding towards the purchase of additional Christmas Lights and Kilbarchan Improvement Project (KIPCo) had applied for funding towards the installation of double glazing to two downstairs windows at the Old Library, Kilbarchan.  The LAC had recommended that the application from Kilbarchan Community Council receive £1,000 and the application from KIPCo receive £2,000.

The report also explained the circumstances leading to the provision of additional funding of £1,862 from the Fund to meet unforeseen costs of constructing the Mary Barbour Memorial Cairn and a subsequent request for £700 towards the provision of a bench at the site.  The LAC had recommended that £700 be provided from the Fund for the provision of a bench at the site.

DECIDED:  

(a)  That awards be made from the Renfrewshire Council Citizens Fund as follows:

£1,000 to Kilbarchan Community Council towards Christmas lights;

£2,000 to Kilbarchan Improvement Project towards the installation of double glazing at the Old Library, Kilbarchan;

£700 for the provision of a bench at the Mary Barbour Memorial Cairn; and

(b) That the action of the Director of Finance & Resources to provide additional funding of £1,862 to meet the unforeseen costs of constructing the Mary Barbour Memorial Cairn be homologated.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to authority for the Provost and other representatives of the Council to take action designed to maintain the Council’s Salmon fishing rights on the River Clyde. It was intimated that this process was undertaken every three years and it was proposed that the inspection trip take place prior to 31st August, 2017 at an estimated cost of £6,500 to be met from the Renfrew Common Good Fund. 
  
DECIDED: 
  
(a)  That the actions in relation to the confirmation of fishing rights on the River Clyde be agreed; and 
  
(b)  That it be agreed that the costs involved in the inspection of Salmon Fishings, estimated at £6,500 be met from the Renfrew Common Good Fund.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to proposals to provide civic hospitality as follows:

(a)  The Salvation Army – a buffet lunch at Paisley Abbey on 22 April 2017 at a cost of approximately £500 to commemorate the 135th anniversary of the Salvation Army’s presence in Paisley.

(b)  102 Field Squadron – a contribution of £500 towards the Family Day being held at the barracks on 10 June 2017 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Squadron.

(c)  Skovbrynet School, Gladsaxe – an evening meal for 36 pupils and 4 teachers at their accommodation  on 1 June 2017 at a cost of approximately £1,000 to mark the occasion of their visit to Paisley as its twin town.

(d)  Kilbarchan Pipe Band – a buffet lunch for approximately 100 guests at the Glynhill Hotel at a cost of approximately £2,200 on a suitable day during the visit, to mark the occasion of a visit to Paisley by Clan Pipers, an international delegation of pipers from Frankfurt, Germany.

DECIDED:   

(i)  That civic hospitality to the Salvation Army, 102 Field Squadron, Skovbynet School, Gladsaxe and Kilbarchan Pipe Band, be approved; and 

(ii)  that the Director of Finance & Resources, in consultation with the Provost, be authorised to make the necessary arrangements.