Councillor Jennifer Adam-McGregor, Convener, presided.

Councillor Jennifer Adam-McGregor; Councillor Neil Graham; Councillor Paul Mack; Councillor John McIntyre; Councillor Jim Sharkey; Peter Cambell (Hopeful Evangelical Church); Rajiv Dabeeba (Hawkhead & Lochfiled Community Council); Nicola Hanssen ROAR; Chris Johnstone (Rainbow Turtle); Mary Logan (Charleston Tenants and Residents Association); Susan McDonald (Active Communities); John McQuade (Renfrewshire Visually Impaired Forum); Piero Pieraccini (Paisley Development Trust); and Hugh Sherry (Ralston Community Council).

J Trainer, Head of Early Years and Inclusion (Lead Officer); K Graham, Head of Corporate Governance; A Armstrong-Walter, Strategic Partnerships & Inequalities Manager; S Marklow, Strategy & Place Manager, C Tolan, Senior Planning & Policy Development Officer; D Houston, Tackling Poverty Project Officer and C MacDonald, Senior Committee Services (all Renfrewshire Council).

S Miller (Engage Renfrewshire).

Councillor Marie McGurk; and E Loch (Paisley Opera).

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

Councillor Adam-McGregor opened the meeting by extending a welcome to everyone present. She invited members, the Community Planning partner, and Renfrewshire Council officers to introduce themselves and to advise their role at meetings.

DECIDED: To note the welcome and introductions.

Councillor Adam-McGregor advised that, in terms of the Standing Orders for Local Partnerships, a community representative could be appointed as Vice-chair and called for nominations.

Councillor Adam-McGregor proposed that Susan McDonald (Active Communities) be appointed as Vice-chair.  There being no other nominations, this appointment was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED:  That Susan McDonald (Active Communities) be appointed Vice-chair.

The Minute of the meeting of Paisley East, Ralston, Hawkhead and Lochfield, Hunterhill & Charleston Local Partnership held on 24 January 2019 was submitted and approved. 

DECIDED:   That the Minute be approved.

The Head of Corporate Governance provided information about the adoption of a Code of Conduct for Devolved Public Bodies that set out standards of behaviour that could be applied to members, given that their role would include the allocation of public funds. The Code of Conduct would require community representatives to register their interests and to declare those interests at meetings. In this way, business conducted by the Local Partnership, which was not part of the formal Board structure of Renfrewshire Council, would be open and transparent. It was noted that Councillors held a statutory duty to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Councillors and already had a Register of Interests in place.

Copies of the Code of Conduct and the Register of Interest forms were made available at the meeting and members were asked to return the form to the Head of Corporate Governance by no later than 7 May 2019.

DECIDED: 

(a)   That it be agreed that the Code of Conduct for Devolved Public Bodies be adopted for this Local Partnership; and

(b)   That it be agreed that community representatives appointed as members of this Local Partnership sign up to the Register of Interests and the Register of Interest forms be returned to the Head of Corporate Governance by no later than 7 May 2019.

A presentation was delivered by the Strategic Partnerships and Inequalities Manager, the Development Plans and Housing Strategy Team Leader and the Community Capacity Development Officer, Engage Renfrewshire, relative to identifying common matters that were important to people in the area and setting local priorities for improvement. It was envisaged that, once identified, these local priorities would be used to target resources and improvement actions.

The presentation, together with a Local Profile providing background information, detailed key facts about the population; children in low income families; access, health and crime deprivation; children and education; parks and play areas; health resources; care homes, extra care and sheltered housing specific to this Local Partnership area.  

Based on the information provided, members worked in groups to identify and set local priorities for the area.  After discussion, the following key themes and priorities were identified (in no order of importance): 

•New housing being built in area - improving infrastructure, schools and roads around the new build;
•Social Connections – improving mental health, reducing misuse of drugs, preventing loneliness, improving community connections;
•Community Pride and Safety – improving green spaces, improving communal spaces, making spaces attractive and safe; and understanding Local Assets/Organisations and connecting them – working together to share resources.

Based on these key themes and discussion at the meeting, the Strategic Partnerships and Inequalities Manager advised that a draft copy of the key themes and local priorities identified would be circulated to members of the Local Partnership.

DECIDED: 

(a)   That the key themes and local priorities identified for this Local Partnership be approved;

(b)   That a draft copy of the key themes and local priorities be circulated to members of the Local Partnership prior to the next meeting; and

(c)   That it be agreed that a copy of the draft priorities be made available in CD format.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the name of this Local Partnership and arrangements to be put in place for future meetings. It was noted that community representatives could claim expenses of £50 per annum, from Local Partnership funds, for attendance at meetings.

DECIDED:

(a)   That it be agreed that the next meeting of the Local Partnership be held at 6.00 pm on 25 June 2019 in Paisley Marriage Suite;

(b)   That further meetings of the Local Partnership be held in November 2019 and March/April 2020 with a wider community engagement event to take place during September/October 2019;

(c)   That it be agreed that future meetings of the Local Partnership be held within the Paisley Marriage Suite;

(d)   That suggestions for an alternative name for this Local Partnership be notified to communityplanning@renfrewshire.gov.uk by no later than 7 May 2019; 

(e)   That the arrangements for community representative expenses, as detailed in the report, be noted.