Diane Booth (Our Place Our Families): Councillor Bill Brown: Samantha Gillan (Renfrew YMCA): Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes: Ramsay Maclennan (30 Acres): K Matthews (Renfrew Community Council): Councillor Jane Strang.

Councillor John Shaw, Chair, presided.

A MacArthur, Head of Finance (Lead Officer), A Armstrong-Walter, Strategic Partnerships & Inequalities Manager, S Graham, Partnerships Planning and Development Manager, S Kraft, Planning & Policy Development Assistant; J Kennedy, Youth Services Manager; and C MacDonald, Senior Committee Services Officer (all Renfrewshire Council).

J Cast (Police Scotland); and K McIntyre (Engage Renfrewshire).

E Finnie (Youth Steering Group).

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

There was submitted and approved the Minute of the previous meeting held on 25 June 2019.

DECIDED:  That the Minute be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the Celebrating Renfrewshire Youth Participatory Budgeting Exercise.

The report indicated that the Youth Challenge Fund component of the Renfrew Local Partnership Budget had been renamed “Celebrating Renfrewshire: By young people for young people”.  E Finnie of the Youth Steering Group provided a presentation in connection with the pilot participatory budgeting exercise undertaken which had resulted in 720 young people aged between 12-25 voting to allocate the available budget for Renfrew Local Partnership in respect of the Celebrating Renfrewshire Fund, £18,657, between eight projects.  Details of the process were provided.  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.  A document summarising the results of the Celebrating Renfrewshire Budgeting process was appended to the report.
 
DECIDED:  That the outcome of the youth participatory budgeting exercise for the Renfrew Local Partnership and the information provided in the presentation be noted.

S Gillan advised that the YMCA building would be closing at the end of December for refurbishment and renovation with a multi-sensory space being developed.  It was noted that the centre was likely to be closed for four to six months, depending on the progression of building work, however, they had managed to secure space in other locations to ensure their service would not be disrupted. 

She asked that this information be shared with other organisations.

DECIDED:  That the verbal update be noted. 

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the draft priority areas for focus agreed at the meeting of Renfrew Local Partnership held on 28 March 2019.

The report advised that five draft priorities had been identified by the Local Partnership for Renfrew: (i) Bringing Renfrew Town Centre to life; (ii) Moving around and connectivity; (iii) Making the most of public assets; (iv) Strengthening social connections; and (v) Maximising economic impact had been identified by the Local Partnership for the Renfrew area and subsequently developed into priority statements detailed within the report.  It was noted that these draft local priorities and statements would help develop the future agenda and workplan of the Local Partnership.  Potential discussion points were provided for consideration to facilitate discussion in relation to how the priorities could shape the workplan and determine future agenda items and potential partner invitees to meetings of the Local Partnership.

During discussion in connection with the priority of strengthening social connections it was proposed that a future meeting be devoted to this key area of focus.

Discussion also took place on making the most of public assets.  It was proposed that Robertson Park be allocated as a sub-section of this key area of focus. Councillor Shaw proposed that in order to drive the vision of Robertson Park forward, officers look at the feasibility of establishing a “Friends of Robertson Park” Group in order to attract funding to the area.  This was agreed.  

Councillor Shaw further proposed that officers look at the feasibility of finding a community led group to drive forward a mural project at the underpass between Fulbar Avenue and Craigielea Road, Renfrew.  The project would look at the involvement of youth groups and St James’ and Kirklandneuk Primary Schools designing and painting a mural on the underpass with consideration being given to a professional artist being identified to assist with the project.  This was agreed.

K Miller advised that Engage would be happy to help set up and support any groups.

DECIDED:  

(a)  That the priorities which would shape the Local Partnership’s work plan moving forward be agreed;

(b)  That it be agreed that a future meeting of the Local Partnership be devoted to the priority of strengthening social connections;

(c)  That it be agreed that Robertson Park be allocated as a sub-section of making the most of public assets;

(d)  That it be agreed that officers look at the feasibility of establishing a “Friends of Robertson Park” Group in order to attract funding to the area; and

(e)  That it be agreed that officers look at the feasibility of finding a community led group to drive forward a mural project at the underpass between Fulbar Avenue and Craigielea Road, Renfrew.  The project to look at the involvement of youth groups and St James’ and Kirklandneuk Primary Schools designing and painting a mural on the underpass with consideration being given to a professional artist being identified to assist with the project.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to a grant funding update.

The report indicated that at the meeting of the Renfrew Local Partnership held on 25 June 2019, the sum of £3,142 was awarded to the Paisley Pirates Ice Hockey Club.  Following the meeting, a request was made by Paisley Pirates Ice Hockey club to increase the award to enable the club to reach the minimum amount of funding required to compete in the ice hockey league.

As a result of the request, the Chair of Renfrew Local Partnership emailed all members with a proposal to increase the amount of the award to £5,500 which was agreed unanimously.

Three applications were tabled at the meeting.  It was noted that the amount requested on the application for Renfrew Community Council should have been £3,652 and not £3,562.  

It was recommended that the undernoted awards be approved:

Renfrewshire Christmas Toy Bank - £1,500
Renfrew Community Council - £3,652
Back to School Bank, Paisley - £1,500

It was proposed that £27,000 be ringfenced from the 2019/20 Renfrew Common Good Fund budget allocation for projects within Robertson Park in the 2020/21 financial year.  This was agreed.

It was further proposed that £10,000 be ringfenced from the 2019/20 Renfrew Common Good Fund budget allocation for a mural project within Renfrew.  This was agreed.

It was noted that the above grant awards and ringfenced amounts would fully allocate the Renfrew Local Partnership funding available in 2019/20.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the increase to the award of Renfrew Local Partnership Funding to Paisley Pirates Ice Hockey Club from the original ward of £3,142 to £5,500 be noted;

(b)  That it be agreed to award the three grant applications as noted above and the Lead Officer to allocate the grant money between the Common Good Fund and the General Grant Fund;

(c)   That it be agreed that £27,000 be ringfenced from the 2019/20 Renfrew Common Good Fund budget allocation for projects within Robertson Park in the 2020/21 financial year; 

(d)  That it be agreed that £10,000 be ringfenced from the 2019/20 Renfrew Common Good Fund budget allocation for a mural project within Renfrew; and

(e)  That it be noted that the grant awards and ringfenced amounts agreed as above had fully allocated the Renfrew Local Partnership funding available in 2019/20.

The Head of Regeneration gave a presentation relative to an update on the Renfrew Town Centre Fund.

He advised the Partnership of the funding available and the projects that had been identified within Renfrew.

DECIDED:   That the presentation be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the Renfrew Local Partnership budget for 2019/20.

The report advised that the Local Partnership provided funding through a range of grants in terms of the General Grant Fund, Paisley Common Good Fund and the Celebrating Renfrewshire Youth Fund following a participatory budgeting exercise.  An Appendix to the report detailed the funding allocated at the Renfrew Local Partnership meeting held on 25 June 2019.

DECIDED:  That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the review of Local Partnerships.

The report indicated that when the Local Partnerships had been established in September 2018 it had been agreed that there would be a review of arrangements following a year of operation.  The inaugural meetings of the Local Partnerships had taken place during January 2019 and it was proposed that the review begin in January 2020.  A summary of the tasks completed to date by the Local Partnerships was provided.  The report sought views on the proposed scope and approach of the review. 

Members of the Local Partnership were invited to provide their views on the scope and approach for the Local Partnership review prior to the next meeting of the Partnership.

DECIDED:  That Members of the Local Partnership submit their views on the scope and approach for the Local Partnership review prior to the next meeting of the Partnership.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to arrangements for meetings of Renfrew Local Partnership during 2020.

The report referred to the previous decision taken that Local Partnerships meet at least three times a year and proposed that meetings be held in April, August and November 2020.  It was further proposed that grant funding allocations be made at the April meeting.  Potential meeting date in April, August and November were detailed in the report.

It was highlighted that the wider engagement event, to provide the opportunity for wider local engagement with the work of the Local Partnerships, help build networks and connections and provide a chance to engage around the local priorities, which had originally been scheduled to be held during Autumn 2019 had been delayed due to the focus on delivering the Youth Participatory Budgeting approach and would now be carried out in early 2020.

DECIDED: 

(a) That members of the Local Partnership agree the timetable of future meetings; and

(b) That members of the Local Partnership submit feedback on the proposed approach for the engagement events and, where appropriate, express an interest in the development of these events.