Items Of Business
Apologies
Apologies from members.
K Taylor, CAB; I McLean, Bridgewater Housing Association; S Cruickshank, Renfrewshire Access Panel; S McLellan, RAMH; and L Devine, Save the Children.
Declarations of Interest
Members are asked to declare an interest in any item(s) on the agenda and to provide a brief explanation of the nature of the interest.
Minute of previous meeting held on 4 September 2019.
1
There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Renfrewshire Forum for Empowering Communities Group held on 4 September 2019.
DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.
Report by Director of Finance & Resources.
2
The Rolling Action Log was submitted for approval.
DECIDED:
(a) That the updates be noted; and
(b) That the Rolling Action Log be approved.
Presentation by A McLinden, MacMillan Cancer.
4
A McLinden advised members that Renfrewshire Council was working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support to launch a new service called 'Improving the Cancer Journey' (ICJ) which would launch in early 2020. He intimated that when the service went live, every person in Renfrewshire with a new cancer diagnosis would be offered the opportunity to engage with one of our ICJ link workers. The Link workers would be able to help patients access money and debt advice, housing support, information as well as access to a range of other services.
It was noted that the service was already live in Glasgow, Fife, Dundee and West Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire would be the fifth local authority area in Scotland where the service would become available.
A McLinden indicated that he was keen to meet as many people within Council and other partner organisations to discuss the project and to explore ways in which links could be developed between agencies. He advised he was happy to attend meetings, deliver presentations or meet with people on a one to one basis to offer more information on the project.
DECIDED: That the information be noted.
Verbal presentation by S Kraft, Planning and Policy Development Officer, Chief Executive's Service, Renfrewshire Council.
5
S Kraft provided an update on the activities of the DEAR Group.
She advised that four working groups had been set up to support the delivery of the DEAR group workplan in 2020: outcomes and monitoring sub-group; International Day Against Homophobia Transphobia and Biphobia planning sub group; Black History month planning sub group; and Interfaith week planning sub group.
After discussion, it was suggested that in order to avoid duplication and to provide continuity, that a member of the Forum should attend the DEAR Group meetings and provide direct feedback to the Forum Group. It was agreed that further discussion was required, and a decision would be taken at a future meeting.
It was agreed that information relating to membership of the DEAR Group and the DEAR calendar of events would be sent to the Group.
DECIDED:
(a) It was agreed that in relation to nomination of a member of the Forum attending the DEAR Group meetings, that further discussion was required, and a decision would be taken at a future meeting;
(b) That information relating to DEAR membership and the DEAR calendar of events would be sent to the Group; and
(c) That the update be noted.
Verbal presentation by S Graham, Partnerships Planning and Development Manager, Chief Executive's Service, Renfrewshire Council.
6
S Graham gave a verbal update relative to the Celebrating Renfrewshire Youth Participatory Budgeting Exercise.
The report indicated that the Youth Challenge Fund component of the Local Partnership Budget had been renamed “Celebrating Renfrewshire: By young people for young people”. It was noted that 3,402 young people aged between 12-25 had voted with an available budget of £149,000 allocated over the seven Local Partnership Groups.
It was highlighted that the project had been co-produced by young people and supported by Renfrewshire Council, Renfrewshire Youth Voice, Active Schools and Young Scot to distribute Youth Challenge Funding and would inform the development of future participatory budgeting within Renfrewshire.
DECIDED: That the outcome of the youth participatory budgeting exercise for the Local Partnerships and the information provided in the update be noted.
Verbal presentation by I Cunningham, Third Sector Development Officer, Engage Renfrewshire.
3
I Cunningham gave an update on the City Deal development which was currently underway at Glasgow Airport.
He advised that the road realignment was underway with developers planning a potential nature loop which would be completed in a later phase once soil and bank analysis had taken place. He advised that discussion had taken place for potential green spaces to go along with the build and suggestions had been put forward to the developer for possible growing spaces and wild orchards.
After discussion the Chair advised that this item should remain on the agenda in order to pick up developments. It was proposed that I McLean, J Wilby and A McNiven would form a sub-group in order to take this item forward. This was agreed. S Graham advised that the Clyde River Foundation had received grant funding to measure the health of the river and he intimated he would contact them for further information and report back to the Group at a future meeting.
DECIDED:
(a) That an informal network be established with I McLean, J Wilby and A McNiven in order to take forward the actions and pick up developments;
(b) That S Graham contact the Clyde River Foundation to ascertain further information in relation to the ecological health of the river and report back to the Group at a future meeting; and
(c) That the information be noted.
Report by Director of Finance & Resources. (Not Available - To Follow)
7
Under reference to Item 8 – Future Arrangements of the Minute of the meeting of the Forum for Empowering Communities (the Forum) which was held on 4 September 2019, there was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to an update on the membership and schedule of meetings for the Forum for Empowering Communities Group.
The report proposed that a larger meeting of the Forum be held on a 6-monthly basis to inform and engage community-based organisations on the work of the Forum and the Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership with the first meeting to be held on 2 June 2020.
The report also proposed that in order to ensure that reporting structures were complete, that a member of the DEAR Group be invited to join the Forum. It was noted that currently there were several members of the Forum who were members of the DEAR Group.
It was agreed that further discussion was required with regard to the reporting structure in relation to the DEAR Group and that a report would be submitted to a future meeting.
A copy of the form for completion in relation to Members’ biographies was attached to the report.
DECIDED:
(a) That the meeting of the Forum to be held on 2 June 2020 incorporated other community-based organisations;
(b) That further discussion was required with regard to the reporting structure in relation to the DEAR Group and that a report would be submitted to a future meeting: and
(c) That members would complete the attached biography and send it along with a recent photograph by no later than 13 January 2020 to the Clerk.
Verbal Update by S Graham, Partnerships Planning and Development Manager, Chief Executive's Service, Renfrewshire Council.
8
S Graham gave an update relative to an update on the Local Partnerships.
He advised that when the Local Partnerships were established in September 2018, it was agreed that there would be a review of the arrangements after a year of operation. It was anticipated that the review would begin in January 2020.
It was noted that the Local Partnerships had now agreed their membership, identified some initial Local Priorities to work on, and distributed their grant funding. In addition, the Youth Challenge Fund has been distributed across all seven Local Partnerships using a participatory budgeting approach. Local Partnership members were being asked to contribute their views on the scope of the review, to make sure it covered all the necessary areas. In addition, members were asked to provide views on how the review should be carried out.
S Graham advised that the Conference events which were rescheduled from November 2019 would now take place February/March 2020.
DECIDED: That the verbal update be noted.
Verbal presentation by N Hanssen, Chief Executive, ROAR.
9
N Hanssen spoke to Members in relation to bins and the Stay Mobile, Stay Connected campaign.
She advised that there was a growing concern in relation to older people falling on the way to their bins. She advised that falls caused loneliness and robbed older people of the lives they wanted to live.
Discussion took place on the assisted bin service the Council provided and how to promote the issue of vulnerability of older people. N Hanssen advised that she would be welcome the opportunity to provide an awareness session with Environmental Services staff.
It was proposed that the issues discussed in relation to bins and vulnerability of the elderly be raised with the Director of Environmental Services.
DECIDED:
(a) That the issues discussed in relation to bins and vulnerability of the elderly be raised with the Director of Environmental Services; and
(b) That the update be noted.
Presentation by Community & Partnership Manager, Engage Renfrewshire.
10
K McIntyre gave a presentation in relation to an update on the projects/groups she was involved with.
She outlined the present position in relation to the Early Action System Change; Finding Yourself; Home & Belonging; Barnardo’s Mental Health & Welbeing Strategic Partnership; and Improving the Cancer Journey.
DECIDED: That the update be noted.
Report by Director of Finance & Resources.
11
There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the timetable of meetings for the Forum for Empowering Communities Group for the period January 2020 to December 2020.
DECIDED: That the timetable of meetings from January 2020 to December 2020
as indicated within the report be agreed.
Verbal update by relevant members.
12
A McNiven gave an update on the Alcohol & Drug Commission and the Health & Social Care Partnership workshops.
DECIDED: That the updates be noted.