Anne-Marie Balfour (Elderslie Community Council); Councillor Bill Binks; Councillor Jacqueline Cameron; Sandy Clark (Bridge of Weir Community Council); Councillor Andy Doig; Councillor Audrey Doig; Councillor Natalie Don; Margaret Dundas (Brookfield Community Council); David Fowles (Lochwinnoch Community Council); Councillor Alister Mackay; Councillor James MacLaren; John McEvoy (Houston Community Council); Councillor Emma Rodden; Councillor James Sheridan; Councillor Andy Steel; and Fiona Stewart (Kilbarchan Community Council).

Councillor Don, Chair, presided.

L McIntyre, Head of Policy and Commissioning, A Armstrong-Walter, Strategic Partnerships and Inequalities Manager and S Graham, Partnerships Planning and Development Manager (all Chief Executive’s Service); O Reid, Head of Communities and Public Protection (Communities, Housing and Planning Services) (Lead Officer); and E Currie, Senior Committee Services Officer (Finance & Resources).

A McNiven, Chief Executive (Engage Renfrewshire).

John McEvoy (Houston Community Council) and Fiona Stewart (Kilbarchan Community Council) entered the meeting during consideration of the following item of business.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the appointment of community representatives to vacant positions within the Local Partnership.  

The report intimated that in terms of the decision taken at the meeting of the Council held on 27 September 2018, membership of the Local Partnerships would comprise an equal number of elected members from Renfrewshire Council and community representatives with the standing members being those elected members which represented wards within the Local Partnership area and representatives of active community councils in the area. The report detailed the 15 elected members eligible for membership of this Local Partnership together with the representatives of the seven active Community Councils in the area. As a result, there were currently eight vacancies for community representatives. It was noted that Anne-Marie Balfour would be Elderslie Community Council's representative on the Local Partnership.

Details of the five organisations who had, to date, expressed an interest in providing a community representative on the Local Partnership were provided within the report.  Criteria to support standing members to come to a decision on the appointment of community representatives was also provided. 

Councillor Don proposed that Linda O’Malley (Rays of Hope); Meg Gilzean (Bridge of Weir Tenants and Residents Association); Jennifer O’Brien (Local Energy Action Plan (LEAP) Project); John Anderson (Howwood Sports and Hobbies); and David Blair (Renfrewshire District Scouts) be appointed to the Local Partnership.  This was agreed unanimously.

Councillor Don further proposed that the Chief Executive’s Service undertake a drive for further community representatives targeting those areas in the Local Partnership which were under-represented including youth organisations and that, if required, a further meeting of the Local Partnership be held, prior to March 2019, to consider applications received.  This was also agreed unanimously.

DECIDED:

 

(a) That it be noted that Anne-Marie Balfour would be Elderslie Community Council's representative on the Local Partnership;

(b) That Linda O’Malley (Rays of Hope); Meg Gilzean (Bridge of Weir Tenants and Residents Association); Jennifer O’Brien (Local Energy Action Plan (LEAP) Project); John Anderson (Howwood Sports and Hobbies); and David Blair (Renfrewshire District Scouts) be appointed to the Local Partnership; and

(c) That the Chief Executive’s Service undertake a drive for further community representatives targeting those areas in the Local Partnership which were under-represented including youth organisations and that, if required, a further meeting of the Local Partnership be held, prior to March 2019, to consider applications received.

Councillors Bibby, Hood and Kerr.

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

The Strategic Partnerships and Inequalities Manager intimated that future meetings of the Local Partnership would be held in the evenings in the Local Partnership area at a similar time to the former Local Area Committee meetings.  It was anticipated that a meeting of the Local Partnership would be held in March 2019.

Councillor Don intimated that it was her intention to hold meetings of the Local Partnership in as many areas covered by the Local Partnership as possible and requested that members of the Local Partnership advise the Strategic Partnerships and Inequalities Manager of appropriate local venues.

DECIDED:  

(a) That it be noted that future meetings of the Local Partnership would be held in the evenings in the Local Partnership area at a similar time to the former Local Area Committees;

(b) That it be noted that it was anticipated that a meeting of the Local Partnership would be held in March 2019; and

(c) That it be noted that it was intended that Local Partnership meetings be held in as many areas covered by the Local Partnership as possible and that members of the Local Partnership advise the Strategic Partnerships and Inequalities Manager of appropriate local venues.