Councillor John Hood and Councillor Iain McMillan.

The minute of the previous meeting of Johnstone & Linwood Local Partnership held on 14 February 2023 was submitted and approved.

DECIDED: That the minute be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive, Renfrewshire Council, relative to Johnstone & Linwood Local Partnership budget monitoring.

The report provided detail on the funding awarded by the Johnstone & Linwood Local Partnership in 2022/23 from the General Grant Fund and through a Participating Budgeting exercise known as Celebrating Renfrewshire.  The feedback which had been submitted by groups who had recieved grants was appended to the report.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

Under reference to item 2 of the Minute of the meeting of this Local Partnership held on 22 June 2021, there was submitted a report by the Chief Executive 2021 relative to the eligibility of applications for Local Partnership funding and options for the application of criteria to assist decision making.  It had been agreed at the previous meeting that this information be included as a standing item on Johnstone and Linwood Local Partnership papers.

The report indicated that a guidance page was available on the Renfrewshire Council website to applicants to Local Partnerships regarding eligibility and a link to the information was provided in the report.  The guidance sought to ensure that applicants provided the information that Local Partnerships needed to make funding decisions, including alignment with local priorities and how the local community benefited.

The report advised that the key criteria for assessing funding applicants was that the project fitted with the agreed local priorities of each area.  Local Partnerships also had flexibility to determine for themselves a methodology for determining grant allocations.  Examples of this were included in the report.

It was noted that one applicant for 2023/24 funding had not provided feedback on a grant awarded in the previous year.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive, Renfrewshire Council, relative to applications for grant funding which had been submitted for consideration by the Johnstone & Linwood Local Partnership.

The report set out that there was a total of £46,334 available for dispersal and that the applications recieved totalled £120,094.65.  

To manage the overspend the Chair proposed that awards be made of 50 percent of the total amount requested following the removal of running costs. She also proposed that applications FR1082, FR1106 and FR1112 be referred to the Youth Fund. This was agreed unanimously.

The Partnership then assessed each application which had been recieved and it was agreed that: application FR1038 be continued to the next meeting to allow officers to collect further information on insurance costs and previous grant awards; application FR1041 be refused at it did not operate in the Local Partnership area; applications FR1128 and FR1129 be awarded 50 percent of the amount requested on the condition that should their applications to the Green Spaces Fund be successful then a portion of the grant be returned; application FR1142 be continued to a future meeting as feedback had not been provided by the applicant on the previous grant award; and application FR1148 be continued to allow officers to collect further information on the groups activity in the Local Partnership area.

Councillor Audrey Doig, seconded by Councillor Dowling, moved that application FR1102 be continued to a future meeting to allow officers to collect further information around the use of unisex toilets. 

Councillor Rodden, seconded by Cameron, moved that application FR1102 be awarded 50 percent of the applied for amount - £4,995.

On a vote being taken by show of hands, 7 members voted for the amendment and 8 members voted for the motion. The motion was accordingly declared carried.

DECIDED:

That the following grant decisions be approved:

FR1031 - Linwood Community Council - £,5000
FR1038 - Johnstone Castle Learning Centre - continue to future meeting
FR1041 - REEM (Renfrewshire Effort to Empower Minorities) - refuse
FR1045 - REEM (Renfrewshire Effort to Empower Minorities) - £600
FR1051 - The Renfrewshire Toy Bank - £850
FR1055 - Renfrewshire Walking Network - £285
FR1064 - Fèis Phàislig - £1,743
FR1065 - Kickin' On - £2,500
FR1067 - Active Communities - £2,500
FR1068 - Thorn Athletic Community Trust - £900
FR1082 - Fordbank Scout Group - refer application to youth fund
FR1100 - Rainbow Turtle - £375
FR1102 - Johnstone Band - continue to a future meeting to allow officers to collect further information around the use of unisex toilets
FR1106 - PACE Theatre Company - refer application to youth fund
FR1110 - School of African Cultures - £2,000
FR1112 - Brick Lane music Academy CIC - refer application to youth fund
FR1114 - Spateston Community Development Trust SCIO - £1,375
FR1117 - Johnstone Sound Community Radio - £1,494
FR1121 - Renfrewshire Stroke & Disability Art Therapy Group - £375
FR1128 - Linwood Community Council - £2,500
FR1129 - Linwood Community Council - £2,500
FR1135 - Renfrewshire Rainbow Buddies - £1,665
FR1142 - Lamont Farm Project - continue to allow feedback from previous grant award to be submitted
FR1147 - Johnstone Business Consortium - £4,000
FR1148 - Shopmobility Paisley and District - continue to allow officers to collect further information on the groups activity in the Local Partnership area
FR1151 - Renfrewshire Access Panel - £1,250

DECIDED: It was noted that the next meeting of the Johnstone and Linwood Local Partnership was scheduled for Tuesday 5 September 2023 at 6.00pm at Tweedie Hall, Linwood.