Councillor Alison Ann-Dowling; Councillor Jacqueline Cameron; Councillor Gilliam Graham; Councillor John Hood; Councillor Robert Innes; James McLeod (Linwood Community Council) and Cheryl Thomas (Active Communities).

Councillor McMillan declared an interest in Item 5 of the agenda – Grant of Awards in Johnstone and Linwood Area November 2022 to January 2023 in respect of the award made to Thorn Athletic – Wake Up, Warm as he was a member of that organisation and intimated his intention to not take part in any discussion or voting thereon.

Lesley Compston, KLAS Care declared an interest in Item 5 of the agenda – Grant of Awards in Johnstone and Linwood Area November 2022 to January 2023 in respect of the award made to KLAS Care CIC – Renfrewshire Families Together Project as she was a member of that organisation and intimated her intention to not take part in any discussion or voting thereon.

G Hannah, Environment and Infrastructure, provided a verbal update relative to You Decide Results on the participatory budgeting exercise across Renfrewshire and detailed the successful projects for the Johnstone and Linwood Local Partnership area.

This initiative gave communities a key role in deciding their priorities for environmental and physical infrastructure improvements to be undertaken throughout Renfrewshire over the next three years via a Community Investment Fund of £1.2m.  This fund was split across 16 local areas and as many projects as possible had been funded until all the money had been allocated.  As a result of the engagement initiatives, over 2700 proposals/ideals were submitted.

The successful projects for You Decide had been announced and information for those in the Johnstone and Linwood Local Partnership area was provided.  Where plans were already in place for an idea, some projects had been taken on by council services outside of the campaign or council funding had topped up the project to ensure as many local ideas as possible could be brought to life.

Initiatives funded in Johnstone were: - additional lighting in the park on the Ellerslie Street area next to the play park; installation of additional lighting in Spateston Park link path from Sheldrake Place to Spateston Road; installation of kickabout football goals in Spateston Park; installation of outdoor exercise equipment at Thomas Shanks Park and new lighting columns from Miller Street to Ritchie Park, all in Johnstone. 

Initiatives funded in Linwood were: - installation of a wheeled sports area in Kintyre Park, including skateboarding, scooters and skates, for children and young people to enjoy and installation of lighting in Kintyre Park, both in Linwood.

DECIDED:      That the information provided be noted.

S Graham, Chief Executive’s Service, gave a presentation on the Winter Connections Programme and provided information on the network of local places that had received funding to connect people to others in their community this winter. He also advised that hosts were asked to sign up to Winter Connections principles, and support was provided to all host organisations including a Winter Connections toolkit, printed materials, information sharing, access to other services such as advice, period products being provided for locations.

Twelve places in Johnstone and Linwood had provided facilities to connect people in the community with Johnstone and Linwood libraries also offering advice on other sources of support which could be available to members of the community.

DECIDED:     That the content of the presentation be noted.

N Drummond, Communities and Housing, gave a presentation on Parks, Play Areas and Green Spaces in the Johnstone & Linwood Local Partnership area.  The Green Spaces Fund fed directly into the COP26 target of protecting communities and natural habitats, financial and practical support was provided to volunteers, to take the next steps in making physical improvements to their communities.  Play parks, nature reserves, community gardens and growing grounds had all been awarded funding and had been installed or were planned to be installed in 2023.  The Fund closed in January 2023, with all monies either awarded or committed. Over £2m was awarded to 70 community projects in Renfrewshire over the course of the past three and a half years.  The fund had also supported eight asset transfers where groups had purchased or secured long term leases of land for gardening, sport or growing ground activity.

In addition to the Parks, Play Areas and Green Space funding from Renfrewshire Council volunteers and groups was encouraged to secure external funding from local businesses and house builders.

The presentation provided details of groups in the Johnstone and Linwood Local Partnership area who had secured funding including: Corseford Tenants and Residents Association, Corseford Tools and Planters, Corseford Underpass Entry Improvement, KLAS Care, Linwood Community Development Trust, Linwood Moss Path Improvements and Sandyflats and Spateston Parks Upgrades.

G Reid, Communities and Housing advised members of work being undertaken to inform communities of various areas of support which may be available in the local area. Information was provided on ALISS – A Local Information System for Scotland which enabled people and professionals to find and share information on resources, services, groups and support in their local communities and online.

DECIDED:     That the content of the presentation and information provided on support available, be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to awards made in the Johnstone and Linwood Local Partnership area to local community and voluntary groups since the last meeting of this Local Partnership held in November 2022.  Details of awards made from various sources which included: Winter Connections, Community Health and Wellbeing Fund (Engage Renfrewshire), Culture, Heritage and Events Fund and Alcohol and Drugs Recovery Change Fund was provided.

DECIDED: That the awards from the various funding sources, made since November 2022 to community and voluntary groups in the Johnstone & Linwood Local Partnership area be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the timeline and arrangements for the 2023/24 round of applications for Local Partnership funding.  The report advised that applications for this period would open for six weeks from Friday 24 February to Sunday 9 April 2023 with guidance and support sessions being available for applicants if required. Members were informed that advice and guidance would be provided to groups to determine whether funding could be available from other sources such as sporting associations.

After discussion members agreed that applications from groups to the Local Partnership for grants should not be considered if they appear to be for running costs and not events. 

Completed applications would be submitted for consideration to the meeting of this Local Partnership scheduled to be held on Tuesday 9 May 2023.

DECIDED:    That the timeline and arrangement for 2023/24 round of applications for Local Partnership funding be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the distribution of grant funding to community groups which this Partnership was responsible for.  The report advised that funding was allocated from the General Grant Fund, through a Participating Budgeting exercise known as Celebrating Renfrewshire and the Youth Challenge Fund.

A table setting out the funds allocated by Johnstone and Linwood Local Partnership in 2022/23 and current budget position was set out in Table 2 which formed an appendix to the report.

DECIDED:    That the budget monitoring report for 2022/23 be noted.

DECIDED:     It was noted that the next meeting of the Partnership was scheduled for Tuesday 9 May 2023 at 6.00 pm and should be an in person meetings at a venue in Johnstone.