I McLean, Bridgewater Housing Association; A Fraser, Linthouse Housing Association; N Middleton, Renfrewshire Public Participation Forum; and S McLellan, RAMH.

There was submitted the Minute of the Renfrewshire Forum for Empowering Communities held on 27 January, 2015.

Under reference to the Social Enterprise Event, it was noted that Engage were currently organising several engagement events and work was being undertaken to develop a directory of organisations.

DECIDED:    That the minute be approved.

The Rolling Action Log was submitted for approval.

DECIDED:

(a)    That the completed actions at RF.10.09.13(8) be removed from the action log;

(b)    That the Rolling Action Log be approved.

J Lynch and F Hughes gave a verbal presentation relating to Renfrewshire Council’s Community Asset Transfer Policy and the Community Empowerment Bill. Copies were tabled of the Property Asset Transfer Guidance for Community Organisations and the Community Asset Transfer Policy.

A McNiven indicated that it was important that communities had a full awareness and understanding of the assets available for transfer and the process by which this would be undertaken. What was required was more user-friendly and simplified access to financial and general information and a list of properties available as there needed to be an incentive to encourage communities to take up community ownership.

J Lynch intimated that he would forward to Engage a list of properties which were available at present under the Community Asset Transfer Policy.

After further discussion, it was agreed that Engage would look at developing an event around the Community Empowerment Bill; Asset Transfer; the Council’s Policies and Procedures; and what Engage and other organisations could do to help the process. He intimated he was keen for the Council, Housing Associations and possibly DTAS to participate in the event and to ensure there was a youth element included. J Lynch intimated that he would be happy to participate.

DECIDED:

(a)    That a symposium event be developed around the Community Empowerment Bill and Asset Transfer and to liaise with Council staff, Housing Associations and DTAS to participate in the event;

(b)    That a copy of Renfrewshire Council’s Property Asset Transfer Guidance for Community Organisations and the Community Asset Transfer Policy be circulated to members;

(c)    That a list of properties which were available at present under the Community Asset Transfer Policy be sent to Engage Renfrewshire; and

(d)    That the verbal presentation be noted.

There was submitted a report by Children’s Services relative to the Requirements for Community Learning and Development (Scotland) Regulations 2013 which came into force 1st September, 2013. The Regulations placed a legal requirement on local authorities to provide clear leadership and direction, and to drive the action needed to ensure they maximised the contribution of Community Learning and Development partners in the reform of public services.

A Conboy advised that no timeline was currently in place however the three year plan had to be in place by 1st September, 2015. She intimated she was planning to meet with the Chief Executive and would shortly thereafter distribute the plan for consultation and discussion and she would contact the Forum at that time with an update.

DECIDED:

(a)    That following direction from the Chief Executive, Children’s Services would contact the Forum with an update; and

(b)    That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Lead Officer, Forum for Empowering Communities relative to a presentation on the work of the Forum to date which was delivered at Renfrewshire Planning Partnership Board on 2nd April, 2015.

The report intimated that the presentation focused on four key issues and a discussion took place about the issue of the Living Wage and how statutory partners and third sector organisations could work together to promote payment of the Living Wage. The presentation was well received by Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Board and no significant issues were raised that the Forum required to address.

Following the report to the Partnership Board, it was proposed that the members representing Renfrewshire Forum For Empowering Communities presented the paper to the Boards that they attended in order to showcase the contribution that the Forum’s work was making to achieving the targets of the thematic Boards. The report also advised that the Forum would now consider its priorities over the next period and it was intended that a half-day development session for the Forum be held during June 2015 to consider how the Forum responded to significant issues such as the recommendations of the Tackling Poverty Commission, Asset Transfer and the outcome of the Renfrewshire Children’s Services Inspection. The development session would be timed to incorporate the findings of the Children’s Services Inspection that would be published in June 2015.

L O’Brien advised that at Appendix 1 to report – Members linked to CPP thematic boards and Associated Groups, under Children and Young People, the group below that should read Children’s Service Voluntary Sector Forum and not Childcare Voluntary Sector Forum.

DECIDED:

(a) That the feedback from the presentation and report to Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Board be noted; 
 
(b) That it be agreed that each Forum member represented on a thematic Board present the paper at a future meeting of their Board; and 
 
(c) That it be agreed that a half-day Development Event for Renfrewshire Forum For Empowering Communities be arranged during June 2015.

There was submitted a report by Engage Renfrewshire relative to the “Tackling Poverty In Renfrewshire” report which was published in March 2015 and was the first independent report commissioned by a Scottish Council to consider specifically the issue of child poverty.

The report advised that Renfrewshire Forum For Empowering Communities required to develop a contribution on behalf of its members and the wider third sector in Renfrewshire to the twenty-four recommendations of “Tackling Poverty In Renfrewshire”. The report advised that Engage Renfrewshire would hold a half-day event on Friday 29 May for third sector organisations in Renfrewshire to enable as many organisations as possible to hear about and discuss the recommendations of the Poverty Commission.

The report also intimated that Renfrewshire Forum For Empowering Communities would develop a response to the recommendations collectively, and on behalf, of its individual members. It was noted that the third sector in Renfrewshire had a significant contribution to make on at least fourteen of the twenty-four recommendations and in particular, the Forum was asked to consider nine strategic issues which related to the recommendations. It was proposed that Engage Renfrewshire would work with the members of Renfrewshire Forum For Empowering Communities to develop a response on the questions in order to provide a submission to Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Board as part of its overall response to “Tackling Poverty In Renfrewshire”.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be agreed that Renfrewshire Forum for Empowering Communities develop action on the findings and recommendations of “Tackling Poverty In Renfrewshire”;

(b) That it be agreed that a workshop event to be held for voluntary and community sector organisations in Renfrewshire to be held on 29 May 2015 to discuss the contribution of the third sector to tackling poverty in Renfrewshire; and 

(c) That it be agreed that Engage Renfrewshire work with members of the Forum and other third sector organisations as necessary to develop a response to the questions outlined within the report for submission to Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership.

J Ferrie gave a verbal update on the progress of the Integration Sub Group and the Clinical Services Review.

DECIDED: That the information be noted.

The Forum heard feedback from the members who had been present at the various Thematic Boards.

A McNiven asked that a copy of the presentation on IIQ which went to the Jobs & the Economy Thematic Board on 12 March be circulated to members.

DECIDED:

(a)    That the presentation on IIQ which went to the Jobs & the Economy Thematic Board on 12 March be circulated to members; and

(b)    That the That the feedback be noted.

There was submitted a proposed timetable for meetings of the Forum for Empowering Communities Thematic Board for the period September 2015 to November 2016.

DECIDED: That the timetable of meetings until November 2016 be approved.

A McNiven advised that the Renfrewshire Access Panel in conjunction with the DEAR Group had published a bookled entitled “Improving Physical and Social Accessibility” which was being circulated to all Renfrewshire Council staff.

DECIDED: That the information be noted.

It was agreed that the next Forum meeting would take place on Tuesday 1 September 2015 at 4.00pm within Engage Renfrewshire.

DECIDED: That the meeting date be noted.

A McNiven, Engage Renfrewshire; Lynne O’Brien, Barnardos; K Taylor, Citizens Advice Bureau; J Wilby, Paisley West & Central Community Council; and S Cruickshank, Renfrewshire Access Panel.

CHAIR

Alan McNiven, Chair, presided.

IN ATTENDANCE

M Grant, Bridgewater Housing Association; I Cunningham, J Ferrie, S Graham, K Miller and S Miller (all Engage Renfrewshire); J Heron, RAMH; and J Lynch, F Hughes, A Conboy and C MacDonald (all Renfrewshire Council).