Councillor Derek Bibby, Councillor Bill Binks, Councillor Jacqueline Cameron, Councillor Andy Doig, Councillor Audrey Doig, Carol Gemmell (Linstone), Margaret Lavery (Quarrelton Area Tenants and Residents Association), Councillor John Hood, Ricky Kelly( Johnstone Castle Tenants and Resident’s Association), Mary McElhinney (Linwood Community Council), Iain McMillan (Johnstone Community Sports Complex), Councillor Emma Rodden, Councillor James Sheridan and Thomas Wallace (Johnstone Community Council).

Councillor Steel, Chair, presided.

D Gilles, Lead Officer; A Armstrong-Walter, Strategic Partnerships & Inequalities Manager and S Graham, Partnerships Planning and Development Manager (both Chief Executive’s);  and D Low, Democratic Services Manager and N O’Brien, Assistant Committee Services Officer (both Finance & Resources).

Inspector J Cast and Sergeant Alan Mack, (both Police Scotland); J McDougall, Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership; and K McIntyre, (Engage Renfrewshire).

Councillor Steel having previously declared an interest in the following item of business, stood down from the Chair and took no part in the decision and voting thereon.

Councillor Audrey Doig took the Chair.

Councillor Steel resumed the Chair.

Jackie Armour (KAIROS); Lesley Crompton (KLAS Care); Councillor Alison Jean Dowling, Adele Fraser (Linstone Housing Association); Margaret Johnston (Johnstone Business Consortium); and Councillor Kerr.

Councillor Steel declared a non financial interest in item 2 of the agenda as he had signed the Corseford Tenants' and Residents' Association nomination form for membership of the Local Partnership and indicated that it was his intention to vacate the Chair and remain in the meeting but not take part in the discussion or voting thereon.

Councillor Steel welcomed those present to the meeting.

In terms of Local Partnership Standing Order 3.7 Councillor Steel proposed that Carol Gemmell, Linstone Housing Association be permitted to act as a substitute for Adele Fraser for this meeting only.  This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED:  That Carol Gemmell be permitted to act as a substitute for Adel Fraser of Linstone Housing Association for this meeting only. 

Under reference to item 1 of the Minute of meeting of the Partnership held on 29 January 2019, there was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the appointment of a community representative to the Local Partnership'

The report intimated that there was one membership place available on the Johnstone & Linwood Local Partnership that had been left open for youth representation.  No applications from a youth group had been forthcoming, however, four applications from non-youth representatives had been received from:  

Susan McDonald, Active Communities; 
Michael Young, St Benedict’s High School Parent Council;
George MacDonald, Corseford Tenants and Residents Association; and
Wilma Dean, Friends of Shanks Park.

Councillor Audrey Doig, seconded by Councillor Rodden, moved that the remaining place be kept available for a youth representative until June 2019 and that if a youth representative was not appointed by that time, it would be filled by one of the four nominated representatives.

Tom Wallace seconded by Mary McElhinney moved as an amendment that the available space be filled by one of the four nominated representatives at his meeting.

On a vote being taken, 8 members voted for the motion and 6 members voted for the amendment.  The motion was accordingly declared carried.

A vote was then held to identify the nominated representative who would fill the vacant position should it remain unfilled by a youth representative by June 2019.  On a vote being taken between the four nominated representatives detailed in the report, 4 members voted for Susan McDonald ; 4 members voted for Michael Young; 6 members voted for George MacDonald and 1 member voted for Wilma Dean

DECIDED:

 

(a) That the remaining place be kept available for a youth representative until June 2019 ; and

 

(b) That the remaining place be filled by George McDonald, Corseford Tenants' and Residents' Association.

Councillor Steel asked for nominations for Vice-chair of the Local Partnership.  Iain McMillan, seconded by Thomas Wallace moved that Mary McElhinney be appointed as Vice-chair of the Johnstone and Linwood Local Partnership. This was agreed unanimously 

DECIDED: That Mary McElhinney be appointed as Vice-chair of Johnstone and Linwood Local Partnership.

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Partnership held on 29 January 2019.

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 were required 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 Interests form were made available at the meeting.

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.

A presentation was delivered by the Strategic Partnerships and Inequalities Manager, the Partnerships Planning and Development Manager, the Development Plans and Housing Strategy Team Leader and the Chief Executive, 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 were asked to work in groups to set priorities for the Local Partnership area.  Following group discussions the following were identified as the priorities which should be set for Johnstone & Linwood Local Partnership:- Roads public transport, disabled parking, parking and congestion (how to improve public transport between Johnstone and Linwood, how to improve congestion in both areas);  Pride and look/feel of both areas (litter, cleanliness, new Christmas lights, improving local parks to utilise family space, flower beds at Ludovic and Houston Squares, improve derelict buildings with mural’s and maximise heritage); Activities in both areas (use of spaces, activities, information sharing, social media, where happens, how people know, connects); Community Safety – (promote community safety, reporting crime, safer streets, street lighting, community policing, CCTV, links with both communities); and Information for youth services (what activities are in both areas, community hubs, what additional activities could be provided and intergenerational activities).

DECIDED: That Roads/public transport; Pride and look of both areas be improved; Activities in both areas and information sharing; Community Safety and Information for youth activities and intergenerational activities in both areas be approved as the local priorities for Johnstone and Linwood Local Partnership.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to arrangements for meetings and the name of the Local Partnership.

The report intimated that Local Partnerships would meet a minimum of three times per year.  In addition, a community event would be organised to enable engagement with community groups, voluntary organisations and members of the public who were not members of the Local Partnership.

The report requested that members consider the name of the Local Partnership and whether they would prefer a single venue for all meetings or to alternate between different venues within the Local Partnership area. Suggestions for accessible local venues were to be submitted to communityplanning@renfrewshire.gov.uk by 7 May 2019.  

It was noted that as per the previous Local Area Committee arrangements, community representatives on the Local Partnership were entitled to expenses of £50 per annum to attend meetings.  This resource would be drawn from the Local Partnership grant funding allocation.

Decided: 

(a) That it be agreed that the Local Partnership meet in June 2019, November 2019 and March/April 2020;

(b) That it be agreed to alternate the venues between various locations in Johnstone and Linwood and that the meetings start at 6.00 pm;

 

(c) That the Local Partnership name remain as Johnstone & Linwood Local Partnership;

 

(d) That Community Representatives be entitled to £50 per annum expenses for attendance at meetings; and

 

 (e) The next Johnstone and Linwood Local Partnership meeting be held at 6.00 pm on Tuesday 4 June 2019 at Johnstone Castle Community Centre.