Councillors Cameron, E Devine, Glen, Mack, M Macmillan and McCartin.

Councillor Glen, Convener, presided.

M Pollock, Glenburn Community Council; R Knox, Charleston Tenants' & Residents' Association; H Muir, Foxbar Resource Centre; S McLean, Glenburn Community Forum; J Creighton, Glenburn Tenants' & Residents' Association; J McQuade, Renfrewshire Visually Impaired Forum; and F Dolan, Thursday Club.

Inspector Noonan, Police Scotland.

C Robertson, Warden Services Manager (Community Resources); M Cross, Arts & Museums Manager and A Ewen, Youth Services Manager (both Children's Services); D Low, Senior Committee Services Officer (LACs) and E Currie, Committee Services Officer (both Finance & Resources); and A McMillan, Head of Resources (Children's Services) (Lead Officer).

In terms of Standing Order 16, the Convener altered the order of business to facilitate the conduct of the meeting by (a) considering item 6 of the agenda, Renfrewshire Street Stuff, immediately after item 4 of the agenda and (b) by considering the application for grant funding from Renfrewshire Deaf Group before the other applications included in item 5 of the agenda - Applications for Local Area Committee Grant Funding.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Paisley South Local Area Committee would be held in the Council Chambers, Renfrewshire House, Paisley on 25th August, 2015 at 6.00 p.m.

Councillor Henry, D Polson, Greater Foxbar Community Building and E McWaters, Hawkhead & Lochfield Community Council.

Councillor Glen declared an interest in the application for grant from Ferguslie Bowling Club as he was a member of the club. He intimated that it was his intention to vacate the Chair, leave the meeting prior to consideration of the item, and to take no part in the discussion thereon.

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 Paisley South Local Area Committee (LAC) area during the period 1 October, 2014 to 31 March, 2015.

The report contained statistical information which had been provided by a number of community planning partners including Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service and the Renfrewshire Community Safety Partnership.

The report provided information on Paisley South community safety statistics; environmental enforcement and improvement activities; protecting vulnerable residents; building safer communities; diversionary activities; and the work of the Alcohol and Drug Partnership. In addition, the appendix to the report detailed the Street Stuff initiative timetable in relation to the five LACs between 30 March and 25 April, 2015.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the Scottish Youth Parliament elections which had taken place in March 2015. The report intimated that the Scottish Youth Parliament was the democratically-elected voice of Scotland’s young people and the elections were organised by Youth Services, Children’s Services and Legal & Democratic Services, Finance & Resources.

The Renfrewshire local authority area was represented by five MSYPs, two for the Paisley parliamentary constituency, one for Renfrewshire South and two for Renfrewshire North and West. Ten candidates stood for election across the three constituencies and the successful candidates were Emma Eck and Osama Nadeem, Paisley constituency; Elidh Harkness and Mark Dougan, Renfrewshire North West; and Carrie McIntyre, Renfrewshire South.

DECIDED: That the report and the success of Renfrewshire’s Scottish Youth Parliament elections be noted.

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 Paisley South LAC budget for 2015/16, totalling £111,670 consisting of £65,430 General Grant Fund, £15,000 Paisley Common Good Fund and £31,240 Youth Challenge Fund.

Appendix 1 to the report provided details of the expenditure committed by the LAC in 2014/15. The report advised that the LAC had also received funding from the Paisley Burgh Citizens Fund and details of the expenditure committed to date together with the remaining balance were contained in Appendix 2 to the report.

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:-

Single area

Renfrewshire Deaf Group – interpreters, running costs and coach hire – Awarded £500

Charleston Tenants’ and Residents’ Association – coach hire for trip to Dunoon – Awarded £500

Foxbar Resource Centre Management Committee – training, community shop, transport, furniture and running costs – Awarded £4,765

Heriot Primary School Parent Council – erection of outdoor classroom and traverse climbing wall – Awarded £10,000

Jennyswell Parent Council – children’s safety equipment – Awarded £1,000

Langcraigs Primary Parent Council – assistance towards cost of multi-use games area – Awarded £10,000

Paisley Methodist Church Central Hall – purchase and installation of fire alarm system – Awarded £8,982, of which £5,208 would be requested from the Paisley Citizens Fund

Thursday Club – hall rental and social activities – Awarded £2,045

Multi area

Arthritis Care in Scotland – Paisley Branch – transportation to and from meetings – Awarded £150

Association of African Communities in Renfrewshire – rent and utilities – Awarded £1,161.29

Basketball Paisley – coaching fees, travel, printing, hall hire and training – Awarded £812.20

Blackhall Ceramic Painting Group – assistance towards hall let costs – Awarded £250

Boys Brigade – help towards running costs – Awarded £400

Braehead Junior Ice Hockey Club – ice hire and other operating costs – Awarded £380

Breastfeeding Network – salaries, training new volunteers, volunteer expenses and other associated costs – Awarded £1,989

Buddy Beat – tutor fees and stationery – Awarded £1,000

Cornerstone Drop-in Centre – utility costs and insurance – Awarded £375

Create Paisley – training and other running costs – Awarded £9,634.50

DH Lunch Club – hall let, phones and stationery – Awarded £350

Environmental Training Team – machine tools, personal protective equipment and rent – Continued

Feis Phaislig – staff costs (9 tutors and week co-ordinator), hiring of premises, marketing, postage and t-shirts – Awarded £1,530

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Prior to Councillor Glen vacating the chair for the following item of business as previously intimated, the Senior Committee Services Officer advised that the application had been withdrawn by the applicant.

Ferguslie Bowling Club – refurbishment of toilets – Application withdrawn

Ferguslie Cricket Club – purchase of electronic scoreboard – Awarded £2,500

Ferguslie Cricket Club – partially fund artificial nets and practice facility – Awarded £5,000

Ferguslie Cricket Club – funding of junior cricket coaching programme – Awarded £994

Fitting-in – outdoor physical and educational activities for 25 disadvantaged young people – Awarded £1,180

Food Train – purchase of transit van to enhance service provision – Awarded £2,000

Forever Young – various projects for sheltered housing complexes in Renfrewshire – Awarded £2,000

Get Oot Get Active – activity sessions for young people from residential homes in Renfrewshire – Awarded £900

Girls Brigade Renfrew Division – divisional training events, competitions, outings and other general running costs – Awarded £500

Greensyde Carers – outdoor furniture and storage for ongoing gardening project for disabled adults – Awarded £200

I Am Me – development of ‘keep safe’ app – Awarded £2,000

Johnstone Activity Group – respite break for adults with a learning disability – Awarded £99.80

Johnstone Phoenix Theatre Group – production expenses, hiring/let of premises, printing and stationery, costume hire, amp and laptop – Continued

Lamont Farm – equipment and utilities – Awarded £2,000

Lapwing Lodge Outdoor Centre – bouldering wall and mountain bikes for under 8 year olds – Awarded £2,000

Paisley Cat Rescue – vet bills and cat food – Awarded £90

Paisley Martyrs Sandyford Church – cleaning of stonework on building – Declined

Paisley Pirates – assistance towards increasing ice rink hire costs – Awarded £1,600

Phoenix Flyers Dog Agility Club – funding of two annual fun shows, jumps and trailer – Awarded £986

Rainbow Turtle – assistance towards cost of employing educational officer for schools and other forums – Awarded £1,480

RAMH – No Substitute for Life – assistance towards cost of event to offer information and positive interventions to diminish the threat of suicide – Awarded £950

RCA Trust – refurbishment of office accommodation – Awarded £500

Renfrewshire Access Panel – equipment update and training – Awarded £1,947

Renfrewshire Bowling Association Under 25s – coach hire, uniforms, presentations and entrance fees – Awarded £600

Renfrewshire Effort to Empower Minorities – property and administrative costs – Awarded £4,032.50

Renfrewshire Environmental and Restoration Group – office start up costs – Awarded £469.14

Renfrewshire Visually Impaired Forum – transcription software and running costs – Awarded £700

Renfrewshire Walking Network – provision of booklets providing details of walks, hire of hall for meetings and walk leader risk assessments – Awarded £600

Scottish Afro-Carribean Festival – stage hire, performers, marquees etc – Awarded £11,806

St Columba’s Adult Social Club – activities and running costs – Awarded £200

St James' Orchestra – help with costs of rehearsal and performance accommodation – Awarded £340

St Peters' Mens Club – refurbishment – Awarded £666.66

Twist and Hit Cheerleaders – premises costs, staff training, transport, uniforms and equipment – Awarded £4,850


Paisley Pens – assistance towards specialist tutor cost of 2 hours per week for 50 weeks – homologate award of £1,000 from 2014/15 budget

Twist and Hit Cheerleaders – gymnastic equipment – homologate award of £720 from 2014/15 budget

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Resources relative to the current position in relation to the Street Stuff project.

The report confirmed the continuation of the core Street Stuff programme through the 2015/16 financial year and highlighted some of the additional projects which were being linked with the core programme to further improve its reach and effectiveness.

The report advised that as in previous years there was an opportunity for LACs to consider funding activities within their LAC areas which would allow additional sessions to be programmed within communities that were not identified at a Renfrewshire level as hotspot areas, but that the local communities felt would benefit from this type of programme.

Given the scale of the core programme, the report suggested that a contribution of £5,000 per LAC should be considered, which would contribute to the costs of delivery of up to two activity sessions per week within the LAC area through the peak summer/autumn months as well as attendance at local gala days and fetes.

DECIDED: That £5,000 be committed to the Street Stuff programme to contribute towards the costs of additional activity sessions within the LAC area as well as attendance at local gala days and fetes.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services seeking funding for outdoor equipment for Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions.

The report advised that Renfrewshire Council held a licence for the delivery of Duke of Edinburgh Awards, with Youth Services responsible for the oversight and delivery of these awards.

The report indicated that the award was a personal development award where young people engaged in Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. The award comprised four sections (five for Gold) where participants were required to complete a physical section; a skills section; a volunteer element and an expedition in an outdoors environment.

The report intimated that a proportion of participants came from low income families and some groups were specifically established to work with young people who were at risk of exclusion from school.

The report stated that the application sought funding of £3,840 from the Paisley South LAC to enable the purchase of new equipment and for existing resources to be renewed if they were damaged or worn out.

DECIDED: That the application for funding in the current financial year be awarded the balance of the remaining LAC budget 2015/16 to enable additional equipment to be purchased and to ensure that young people from the area could actively engage in their local Duke of Edinburgh Award programme.