Councillor Marie McGurk, Convener, presided.

R McGrath, Lead Officer and Head of Business & Customer Services; A Armstrong-Walter, Strategic Partnership & Inequalities Manager; D Pole, End User Technician; C MacDonald, Senior Committee Services Officer and A McNaughton, Senior Committee Services Officer (all Renfrewshire Council).

S Miller, Engage Renfrewshire.

Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Chairperson intimated that this meeting of the Gleniffer Local Partnership would be recorded and that the recording would be available to view on the Council's website.

Shirley McLean (Glenburn Community Tenants' & Residents' Association).

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

The Chair intimated that, at its meeting on 26 January 2021, Tony Lawler had been appointed to the Chair of Foxbar & Brediland Community Council and would now take his place as a member of Gleniffer Local Partnership.

DECIDED: That the appointment of Tony Lawler, Chair of Foxbar & Brediland Community Council, as a member of Gleniffer Local Partnership be endorsed.

The Minute of the Gleniffer Local Partnership meeting held on 16 September 2020 was submitted and approved.

DECIDED:  That the Minute of the Gleniffer Local Partnership meeting held on 16 September 2020 be approved.

Applications for Local Partnership Funding 2020/21

Under reference to paragraph 2 of the Minute of the Gleniffer Local Partnership meeting held on 16 September 2020, Councillor McGurk proposed that, in light of the circumstances surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing revisions to the Scottish Government's Covid-19 route map, the Local Partnership carry forward to financial year 2021/22 from the General Fund 2020/21 programme: (a) any grants awarded for projects which were unable to be delivered in the financial year to 31 March 2021; (b) balances arising from grant awards returned due to the inability to deliver the project as previously expected; and (c) the residual programme balance currently unable to be awarded; and that the award of any residual sums be considered as early as practicable in financial year 2021/22 to support communities over the period of recovery from Covid-19.  This was agreed.

Provost Cameron proposed that a workshop be held as soon as practicable and before the next meeting where members could examine options and methods for allocating grant funding that were fair, equitable and focussed on the Partnership’s priorities in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. This was agreed.

DECIDED:

(a)  That, in light of the circumstances surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing revisions to the Scottish Government's Covid-19 route map, the Local Partnership carry forward to financial year 2021/22 from the General Fund 2020/21 programme: (i) any grants awarded for projects which were unable to be delivered in the financial year to 31 March 2021; (ii) balances arising from grant awards returned due to the inability to deliver the project as previously expected; and (iii) the residual programme balance currently unable to be awarded;

(b) That the award of any residual sums be considered as early as practicable in financial year 2021/22 to support communities over the period of recovery from Covid-19; and

(c)  That a workshop be held as soon as practicable and before the next meeting to allow members to examine options and methods for allocating grant funding that were fair, equitable and focussed on the Partnership's priorities in light of the Covide-19 pandemic.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the funding provided to community groups from the Gleniffer Local Partnership general grant fund during 2020/21 and the outcome of the Celebrating Renfrewshire participatory budgeting exercise which disbursed the Youth Challenge Fund.  An appendix to the report detailed the outcome of the Celebrating Renfrewshire budgeting exercise as it related to this Local Partnership area.

The report highlighted that £49,192.75 in total had been disbursed to 38 community groups from the general grant fund and £13,886 in total had been disbursed to seven community youth groups through Celebrating Renfrewshire.  There remained £3,021.25 to be disbursed during 2020/21.

The Strategic Partnership & Inequalities Manager advised that the remaining funds could be carried forward into 2021/22 if necessary and proposed that in light of delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, Community Planning contact all award recipients to ascertain the status of each project, the amount of expenditure to date and any revised timescale for delivery; and that the outcome of this exercise be reported to the next meeting.  This was agreed.

It was also proposed that, as an emergency measure and in view of the outstanding contribution to supporting residents throughout the Local Partnership area during the pandemic, Stronger Communities Glenburn be invited to apply for an award of up to £3,021.25 as soon as possible; the application to detail activities and costs associated with supporting the community throughout the pandemic and that the application be considered as soon as possible after submission.  This was agreed.

DECISION:

(a)  That it be noted that the outstanding balance of £3,021.25 could be carried forward for disbursement in 2021/22 if necessary;

(b)  That Community Planning contact all award recipients to ascertain the status of each project, the amount of expenditure to date and any revised timescale for delivery; and that the outcome of this exercise be reported to the next meeting; and

(b)  That Stronger Communities Glenburn be invited to apply for an award of up to £3,021.25 as soon as possible; the application to detail activities and costs associated with supporting the community throughout the pandemic and that the application be considered as soon as possible after submission.  

There was submitted a presentation by the Strategic Partnership & Inequalities Manager relative to the impact of Covid-19 on local communities.  The presentation highlighted Community Impact Assessment work carried out to date, shared information from the Public Services Panel relevant to this Local Partnership and sought to discuss members’ own experience of how Covid-19 had impacted on their community.

The presentation set out a range of research data key points, including:  that to date within Renfrewshire there had been 7,381 positive cases and 512 deaths; there had been an 80% increase in universal credit claims from March to October 2020; at its peak in August 2020, 28,300 people in Renfrewshire were registered as furloughed – 8,800 people at the end of October 2020; and grant support in excess of £28.5 million had been paid to over 2,500 businesses.  

The interim findings of a Public Services Panel survey designed to assess the impact of Covid-19 on communities in Renfrewshire indicated that 80 responses had been received from this Local Partnership area.  Analysis of responses to each question was detailed in graph format for ease of interpretation.

The presentation stimulated discussion, and the Strategic Partnership & Inequalities Manager was heard in response to questions from members.

DECIDED:  That the presentation be noted.