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There was submitted a report by the Director of Communities & Housing Services relative to the Greenspaces, Parks & Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund. The report indicated that the key objective in allocating funding was to work with, and support, community groups to identify and deliver improvement projects in their local communities, improve their local greenspaces, including parks and play areas, and strengthen the identity, heritage, uniqueness and character of village life.
An update on progress made in supporting community projects through the Greenspaces, Parks & Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund, detailed, in Appendix 1 of the report, projects approved by the Director of Communities & Housing Services in terms of delegated authority and outlined projects currently being developed by communities across Renfrewshire. It was highlighted that the current projects being developed by communities, and referred to in section 3 of the report, would almost fully commit the available Greenspaces, Parks and Play areas element of the fund. It was also noted that as the Greenspaces fund moved toward closure in terms of the development of new projects and bids, the work of the team had been increasingly focused on supporting successful community projects to be delivered. In this connection challenges impacting on expected delivery dates and costs which, in turn, provided challenges for communities in realising their aspirations as quickly as anticipated were referenced. The report advised that Lochfield Bowling Club Bowling Club wished to repurpose the funding previously awarded for a synthetic green and feasibility study, to improve drainage, create new banking, steps and fencing, repairs to the irrigation system and replacement of the clubhouse kitchen; and Corseford Tenants' & Residents' Association wished to use funding, previously awarded to purchase tools and a container for storage, to create a butterfly boulevard in the community with wildflowers. The specific reasons why the original proposals were no longer being pursued were provided.
DECIDED:
(a) That the work currently being undertaken to support communities as they developed and delivered projects to be funded using the Greenspaces, Parks & Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund be noted;
(b) That the project, detailed within section 3 of the report and Appendix 1, be awarded grant funding totalling £50,000;
(c) That the proposals from Lochfield Bowling Club and Corseford Tenants' & Residents' Association to repurpose the funding previously awarded, as set out in section 1 of the report, be agreed;
(d) That the positive impact of the funding and the benefits to the wider communities delivered by the projects, as set out in section 4 of the report, be noted; and
(e) That it also be noted that the projects currently being developed by communities, and listed in section 3 of the report, would almost fully commit the available Greenspaces, Parks and Play areas element of the fund.