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There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to applications for funding from The Villages Local Partnership in 201/22.
The report intimated that the available allocation for the Local Partnership was £56,644, made up of £51,191 from the General Grant Fund and £5,453 underspend carried forward from 2020/21. The carry forward of underspend was agreed due to the exceptional circumstances of the Covid pandemic which impacted on the ability of community organisations to undertake activities due to restrictions in place over the period. The normal arrangement whereby underspends could not be carried forward into the next financial year would be reinstated for 2021/22. The sum of £50 per community representative required to be ringfenced for potential claims for administrative expenses, which left a balance of £55,894 for allocation.
The report advised that the Youth Challenge Fund component of the Local Partnership’s funding, now known as Celebrating Renfrewshire, was £23,609. In addition, an underspend of £14,223 would be carried forward to 2021/22, making the total £37,832. This would be allocated by young people through a participatory budgeting process, which would take place during autumn 2021.
Following the resignation of the Chair, officers had prepared a proposed method for considering the applications, which had been circulated to members prior to the meeting.
Following discussion, it was agreed that the proposal be amended by moving applications FR1084 by Rainbow Turtle; FR1134 by Loud n Proud; and FR1171 by Elderslie Community Council into category 1.
Following consideration, the Local Partnership:
(i) agreed that the undernoted category 1 applications be awarded in full:-
Category 1 – Projects meeting local priorities (previously partially funded by Local Partnership)
FR1043 - I Am Me Scotland – awarded £744
FR1052 - The Boys Brigade, Paisley & District Battalion – awarded £600
FR1062 – Brookfield Bowling Club – awarded £1,250
FR1078 – The Renfrewshire Toy Bank – awarded £1,400
FR1084 – Rainbow Turtle – awarded £500
FR1134 – Loud n Proud – awarded £1,000
FR1139 – Johnstone Dementia Friendly Group – awarded £5,600
FR1145 – Lochwinnoch Christmas Lights Society – awarded £1,500
FR1147 – Lochwinnoch Toddlers Group – awarded £1,900
FR1155 – Shopmobility Paisley and District – awarded £1,500
Declaration of Interest
Anne-Marie Balfour, having previously declared an interest in application FR1171, remained in the meeting and took no part in the discussion or voting thereon.
FR1171 – Elderslie Community Council – awarded £1,329
FR1175 – Lochwinnoch Choral Society – awarded £1,140
FR1177 – Lochwinnoch Chatterbox Trust – awarded £1,500;
(ii) agreed that the undernoted category 1 applications be awarded 70% of the amount requested plus a pro-rata amount of the available balance:-
FR1061 – Lochwinnoch Arts Festival – awarded £5,615.55
FR1067 – The Kilbarchan Singers – awarded £2,167.02
Declaration of Interest
Sandy Clark, having previously declared an interest in application FR1086, remained in the meeting and took no part in the discussion or voting thereon.
FR1086 – Bridge of Weir Community Council – awarded £2,797.84
FR1095 – Fèis Phàislig – awarded £2,015.84
FR1107 – Local Energy Action Plan (LEAP) – awarded £3,401.72
Declaration of Interest
Councillor Mackay, having previously declared an interest in application FR1118, remained in the meeting and took no part in the discussion or voting thereon.
Councillor Andy Doig, seconded by Councillor Steel moved that Renfrewshire Model Railway Club be awarded 70% of the amount requested.
Councillor Dowling, seconded by Councillor Rodden, moved that Renfrewshire Model Railway Club be awarded 50% of the amount requested.
On a vote being taken, 11 members voted for the motion and 11 members voted for the amendment. There being an equality of votes, the Vice-chair used his second and casting vote in favour of the motion.
On the roll being called, the following members voted for the amendment: Ann-Marie Balfour, Councillor Bibby, Councillor Binks, Sandy Clark, Councillor Dowling, James Fletcher, Councillor Hood, Councillor McCulloch, Councillor Rodden, Councillor Sheridan and Brenda Whitelaw.
The following members voted for the motion: Councillor Jacqueline Cameron, Councillor Andy Doig, Councillor Audrey Doig, Meg Gilzean, Nigel Hobbs, Stirling McGee, Councillor James MacLaren, Councillor Steel, Neil Thomson, David Blair and Margaret Dundas.
There being an equality of votes, the Vice Chair used his second and casting vote in favour of the motion. The motion was accordingly declared carried.
FR1118 – Renfrewshire Model Railway Club – awarded £5,017.99
FR1131 – Houston Community Council – awarded £1,835.85
Declarations of Interest
David Blair and Councillor McCulloch, having previously declared interests in application FR1148, remained in the meeting and took no part in the discussion or voting thereon.
FR1148 – 1st Bridge of Weir Scout Group – awarded £7,199.42
FR1186 – Lamont Farm Project – awarded £2,879.77;
(iii) agreed that the undernoted category 2 applications be declined:-
Category 2 – projects with partial or no reference to local priorities (previously no award made by Local Partnership)
FR1135 – Howwood Primary School – declined
FR1143 – Wallace Parent Council – declined
It was noted that the application by Ferguslie Cricket Club had been completed by David Love prior to his appointment as Chief Planning Officer, Renfrewshire Council.
FR1066 – Ferguslie Cricket Club – declined
FR1096 – BSSC Gym – declined
FR1097 – BSSC Social Club – declined
It was noted that the application by Meikleriggs Cricket Foundation had been completed by David Love prior to his appointment as Chief Planning Officer, Renfrewshire Council.
FR1066 – Meikleriggs Cricket Foundation – declined
FR1132 – Phoenix Flyers Dog Agility Club – declined
FR1182 – Stronger Communities Glenburn – declined
FR1191 – Stronger Communities Glenburn – declined
FR1197 – Pachedu – declined;
(iv) agreed that the undernoted category 3 applications be declined and referred to the Green Spaces, Parks and Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund:-
Category 3 – projects previously referred to the Green Spaces, Parks and Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund for consideration with no award made by Local Partnership
FR1047 – Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust - declined and referred to the Green Spaces, Parks and Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund
FR1060 – Lochwinnoch Sustainable Community Garden Group- declined and referred to the Green Spaces, Parks and Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund
FR1107 - Friends of Howwood Park - declined and referred to the Green Spaces, Parks and Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund
FR1116 – Houston Community Council - declined and referred to the Green Spaces, Parks and Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund
FR1130 – Houston Community Council - declined and referred to the Green Spaces, Parks and Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund
Declaration of Interest
Anne-Marie Balfour, having previously declared interests in applications FR1170 and FR 1172, remained in the meeting and took no part in the discussion or voting thereon.
FR1170 – Elderslie Community Council - declined and referred to the Green Spaces, Parks and Play Areas and Villages Investment
FR1172 – Elderslie Community Council – withdrawn
Declaration of Interest
David Blair, having previously declared an interest in application FR1176, remained in the meeting and took no part in the discussion or voting thereon.
FR1176 – Kilbarchan Improvements Group - declined and referred to the Green Spaces, Parks and Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund
FR1199 – Howwood Community Council - declined and referred to the Green Spaces, Parks and Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund; and
(v) that £3000 be retained for any future applications received.
Following consideration of all applications, it was proposed that officers provide assistance to organisations in their attempts to source other funding and also those organisations who were referred to the Green Spaces, Parks and Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund and that a workshop be held early in the new year at which members could examine options for allocating grant funding that were fair, equitable and focused on the Local Partnership’s priorities. This was agreed.
DECIDED:
(a) That it be agreed to award the grant applications as noted above;
(b) That £3,000 be retained for any future applications received;
(c) That officers provide assistance to organisations in their attempts to source other funding and also those organisations who were referred to the Green Spaces, Parks and Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund; and
(d) That a workshop be held early in the new year at which members could examine options and methods for allocating grant funding that were fair, equitable and focussed on the Local Partnership’s priorities.