Councillors Brown, Clark, Audrey Doig, Hall, Holmes, J MacLaren and Mullin.

Councillor Clark, Convener, presided.

S Clark (Bridge of Weir Community Council); M Millar (Bridge of Weir Tenants’ and Residents’ Association); M Dundas (Brookfield Community Council); A Cameron (Erskine Community Council); R McNally (Erskine Community Association); I Cameron (Houston & Killellan Kirk); and N Barrington (Langbank Community Council).

Inspector Glass (Police Scotland).

P Sale, Youth Development Officer (Children’s Services); S McMillan, Policy & Regeneration Manager (Development & Housing Services); M Hendry, ASIST Mediation Co-ordinator (Community Resources); and K Graham, Head of Legal & Democratic Services (Lead Officer), D Low, Senior Committee Services Officer (LACs) and K Brown, Committee Services Officer (all Finance & Resources).

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 £14,020 from Houston, Crosslee, Linwood, Riverside & Erskine LAC to enable the purchase of new equipment and for existing resources to be renewed if they were damaged or worn out. Councillor Clark suggested that a grant of £10,000 be awarded in the current financial year 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.  A further application could be made in the next financial year for further additional equipment if required.  This was agreed.

DECIDED:    That a grant of £10,000 be awarded in the current financial year 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. A further application could be made in the next financial year for further additional equipment if required.

Councillors Harte, Nicolson and Noon; and D Woodrow (Bishopton Community Council); G Lethorn, (Bridge of Weir Tenants’ and Residents’ Association); and R Johnstone and A Duncan (both Erskine Youth Council).

Councillor Audrey Doig declared a financial interest in item 5(e) on the agenda, an application for grant funding from RCA Trust, as her husband was an employee of the Trust and indicated her intention to leave the meeting during consideration of the item and not to take part in any discussion or voting 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 Houston, Crosslee, Linwood, Riverside & Erskine Local Area Committee (LAC) area during the period 1 January 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 and Rescue Service and the Renfrewshire Community Safety Partnership.

The report provided information on Houston, Crosslee, Linwood, Riverside & Erskine 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.

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.

The Convener advised that no new public transport issues had been raised since the last meeting of this LAC.

DECIDED: That the position 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.

It was noted that the June 2015 National Sitting and AGM would be held on Saturday, 13 June, 2015 and Sunday, 14 June, 2015 in Park Mains High School, Erskine.

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

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the Houston, Crosslee, Linwood, Riverside & Erskine LAC budget for 2015/16, totalling £111,840 consisting of £71,660 General Grant Fund and £40,180 Youth Challenge Fund. Appendix 1 to the report provided details of the expenditure committed by the LAC in 2014/15.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

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 2015/2016 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 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 Development & Housing Services seeking funding to facilitate access improvements to Crosslee Park.










The report intimated that play equipment had recently been installed at Crosslee Park which had significantly increased the popularity and use of the play park. With the increase in demand, there was a need to provide good all weather access to the play equipment from a safe access point on Whirlie Road. The Council had worked with the Houston Play Park Improvement Group to develop a minimal but fit for purpose scheme, as detailed in the plan appended to the report. It was estimated that the proposed works would cost approximately £8,000. A grant from the LAC of £6,000 and funding of £2,000 from the Council’s Local Green Network budget would enable the improvements to be carried out, subject to all appropriate consents and maintenance responsibilities being agreed.

DECIDED: That a grant of £6,000 be approved, subject to approval of the required consents and confirmation of maintenance responsibilities.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to applications received for LAC funding.

DECIDED: That the applications for funding be determined as follows:-

Single area

Active Communities, Linwood Parkour Club – Parkour coach, two youth workers, printing and stationery and club t-shirts – Awarded £3,000

Bishopton Community Council – provision of two rest benches in Bishopton – Awarded £1,000

Bishopton Scout Group – firework display – Awarded £1,000 subject to an additional condition that the award be returned to the LAC should sufficient donations be received on the night to the cover the cost of the display

Bridge of Weir Community Council – assistance towards running costs of festive lights switch on – Awarded £400

Bridge of Weir Festival Committee – gala day, festival week and December events – Awarded £2,000

Bridge of Weir Memorial Society – publishing a book on Bridge of Weir and other local men who died during World War 1 – Awarded £1,500

Bridge of Weir Senior Citizens Association – running costs and other expenses – Awarded £1,500

Brighter Bridge of Weir – purchase of plants, tools and equipment – Awarded £1,500

Brookfield Community Council – purchase of defibrillator and storage box – Continued to allow the Community Council to investigate alternative funding sources

Erskine Festival Committee – hire of stage, hire/let of premises, printing, inflatable and other items – Awarded £5,500

Fusion Youth Ministries – fireworks display – Continued to allow the group the opportunity to attend the next meeting of the LAC

Houston Old School Trust – upgrade of lighting in building – Awarded £2,500

Houston Play Park Improvement Group – family fun day – Awarded £500

Lamont Gardens Allotments – replacement of perimeter fencing on two sides – Awarded £4,000

Linwood Activity Group – help towards cost of weekend respite break for 19 adults with a learning disability – Awarded £499

Linwood Community Childcare – completion of gardening project – Awarded £1,500

Linwood Community Council – purchase of Christmas lights – Awarded £6,000

Linwood Community Development Trust – healthy eating and living project – Awarded £10,000

Linwood Community Development Trust – Linwood in Bloom – Awarded £8,000

Linwood Elderly Forum – trip to Berwick-upon-Tweed with high tea – Awarded £1,400

Linwood Healthy Living Group – 50% of instructor and hall – Awarded £1,250

React Basketball Ministries – media project with senior pupils at Park Mains High School – Continued to allow the group the opportunity to attend the next meeting of the LAC

The Bridge – property improvements, new carpeting and website construction – Awarded £10,000

Multi area

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

Basketball Paisley – coaching fees, travel, printing, hall hire and training – Awarded £500

Boys Brigade – help towards running costs – Awarded £400

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

Breastfeeding Network – salaries, travel and marketing – Continued to allow the group the opportunity to attend the next meeting of the LAC

Buddy Beat – tutor fees and stationery – Awarded £500

Feis Phaislig – staff costs, hiring of premises, marketing, postage and t-shirts – Awarded £750

Ferguslie Cricket Club – funding of junior cricket coaching programme – Declined


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

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

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

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

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

Johnstone Phoenix Theatre Group – production expenses, hiring/let of premises, printing and stationery, costume hire, amp and laptop – Continued to allow the group the opportunity to attend the next meeting of the LAC

Johnstone Pipe Band – extend schools pipe band project – Awarded £3,000

Lamont Farm – equipment and utilities – Continued to allow the group the opportunity to attend the next meeting of the LAC

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

Paisley Cat Rescue – vet and food costs – Awarded £90

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

Phoenix Flyers Dog Agility Club – funding of two annual fun shows, jumps and trailer – Awarded £500

Rainbow Turtle – assistance towards cost of employing Education Officer for schools and other forums – Awarded £1,000

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

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Audrey Doig having declared an interest in the following item left the meeting and did not take part in any discussion or voting thereon.

RCA Trust – refurbishment of office accommodation – Continued to allow the group the opportunity to attend the next meeting of the LAC

Renfrewshire Access Panel – equipment update and training – Awarded £1,000

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

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

Renfrewshire Environmental and Restoration Group – office start up costs – Continued to allow the group the opportunity to attend the next meeting of the LAC

Renfrewshire Visually Impaired Forum – transcription software and running costs – Awarded £500

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

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

It was noted that the next meeting of the Houston, Crosslee, Linwood, Riverside & Erskine LAC would be held on 2nd September, 2015 at 6.00 p.m., at a venue to be agreed.