A McNiven, Chief Executive, Engage Renfrewshire, presided.

A McNiven (Engage Renfrewshire); and J Wilby (Paisley West & Central Community Council).

K McIntyre (Engage Renfrewshire); D Lockyer (CAB); S Graham, and C MacDonald (both Renfrewshire Council); R Robertson (Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership); J Felvus (Barnardos); and Ruth Brogan (RAMH).

M Mathieson (Barnardos); I McLean (Bridgewater Housing Association); S McLellan (RAMH); S Cruickshank (Renfrewshire Access Panel); K Taylor (CAB); and L Devine (Save the Children).

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

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Renfrewshire Forum for Empowering Communities Group held on 25 March December 2019.

DECIDED:    That the Minute be approved.

In relation to Item 1 – Minute of the Meeting, discussion took place on Membership and availability of Members for meetings.  It was proposed that the Membership would be reviewed and an update be submitted to the next meeting of the Group.  It was also proposed that the Clerk write to all Members with regard to their availability to attend meetings.  This was agreed.

DECIDED:

(a)   That Membership of the Forum for Empowering Communities Group be reviewed and an update be submitted to the next meeting of the Group; and

(b)   That the Clerk write to all Members with regard to their availability to attend meetings and an update be submitted to the next meeting of the Group.

The Rolling Action Log was submitted for approval.

DECIDED:

(a)   That the updates be noted; and

(b)   That the Rolling Action Log be approved.

It was noted that this item would be deferred to the next meeting of the Forum for Empowering Communities Group.

DECIDED:   That it be noted that this presentation would be deferred to the next meeting of the Forum for Empowering Communities Group.

S Graham gave a verbal update on the Local Partnership model.

He advised that the Local Partnerships were now established, and their membership had been agreed, with a wide range of community organisations being represented across the area.  



At the first full round of meetings in March and April, Local Partnerships discussed and agreed a set of Local Priorities. A copy of the Local Partnership Priorities booklet outlining the priorities was tabled at the meeting.  It was noted that the Local Priorities would shape the work plan for the Partnerships going forward, and also support each Local Partnership to make decisions about the award of grants. It was noted that these priorities would require regular review and refinement as the Local Partnerships establish themselves. 

S Graham advised that the next round of Local Partnership meetings were currently taking place where the Partnerships would agree the allocation of grant funding.  

Discussion took place in regard to Local Partnerships and it was proposed that a map of Renfrewshire’s wards and boundaries would be sent to members and a copy of the membership of each Local Partnership. This was agreed.

DECIDED:

(a)   That it be agreed that a map of Renfrewshire’s wards and boundaries be sent to members;

(b)   That a copy of the membership of each Local Partnership be sent to members; and

(c)   That the verbal update be noted.

A McNiven updated the partnership on various funding activities.

(a)   Local Partnership Funding Update

He intimated that significant work had been carried out to review the grant making process for Local Partnerships to help improve administration, aid decision making and also to improve the experience of the community organisations who were applying. Three drop-in events had been held during April and May 2019 to assist local organisations to apply for Local Partnership grants.

(b)   Scottish Government Investing in Communities

A McNiven advised that applications for the Scottish Government Investing in Communities Fund would close on 14 June.  He advised that the fund would enable communities to design and develop funding proposals based on the priorities they had identified within their community and the overall outcomes they aimed to achieve. The fund would help support community and third sector organisations in our most disadvantaged and fragile communities; develop and deliver sustainable local solutions; and enable inclusive growth as set out in the National Performance Framework.

(c)   Youth Challenge Fund

The Group was advised that work was in progress to carry out a Participatory Budgeting exercise involving young people in order to allocate the Youth Challenge Fund resource.  It was noted that this work would conclude in late summer 2019.



The initiative would give young people aged 12-15 a voice in their community and the chance to support projects important to them in their area by letting them have a say on how the council spends the £150,000 Youth Challenge Fund.

DECIDED:   That the verbal update be noted.

There was submitted a report from the Partnerships Planning and Development Manager relative to an update on the Local Partnership Conferences 2019.

The report advised that a series of Local Partnership conference events, one for each area, would take place during September 2019. Dates would be finalised by the end of June 2019.  The conference events would be an opportunity for Local Partnerships to engage with the wider community, the voluntary sector and with local people.

Discussion took place on the conferences and A McNiven asked Members to support the conferences by publicising the events in order to encourage wide participation in the conference.  He also asked Members to consider volunteering to be facilitator at the conferences or they could put up a stand.

DECIDED:

(a)   That it be noted that Local partnership conference events would take place during September;

(b)   That it be agreed that Members support and publicise the events in order to encourage wide participation in the conferences; and

(c)   That the broad outline of the community conference events as set out in section 3.3 be noted.

S Graham updated the Group on the activities of the DEAR Group.  He intimated that the Group contributed to the development and promotion of the current, emerging and evolving equalities agenda within Renfrewshire and aimed to tackle inequality issues in constructive ways to positively change perspectives and promote more inclusive attitudes.

He advised that the DEAR Annual Update Report 2018 had been published and he would send a copy of the report to Members.

DECIDED:   

(a) That a copy of the DEAR Annual Update Report 2018 be sent to Members for their information; and

(b) That the verbal update be noted.

A verbal update was given by members who had been present at the other Community Planning groups.

DECIDED:   That the verbal updates be noted.