The Chair intimated that this meeting of the Local Partnership would be recorded and that the recording would be available to watch on the Council's website.

John Anderson (Howwood Sports and Hobbies); Anne-Marie Balfour (Elderslie Community Council); James Fletcher (Brookfield Bowling Club); Councillor Chris Gilmour; Councillor Gillian Graham and Neil Thomson (Brighter Bridge of Weir).

There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of this Local Partnership held on 17 November 2022.

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.

Andrew McKean gave a presentation providing information in relation to the Tourism Action Plan for Clyde Muirshiel which included the vision on shaping a new Castle Semple Country Park and starting a conversation around the development of a 5-to-10-year plan. He advised that a public meeting was held at Castle Semple Visitor Centre on 23 March 2023 to provide information on the Tourism Action Plan and that an online forum was available for members of the public to add their comments, ideas and thoughts on the Plan. 

The presentation advised that Renfrewshire was refreshing its approach to supporting tourism in the context of a new action plan that would set out a number of key themes. Two themes had been identified with specific locational opportunities that could support regional tourism growth: Urban Lifestyle Tourism and Outdoor Activity & Environment, which included Clyde Muirshiel and Castle Semple. Castle Semple Country Park had the opportunity with new investment to develop as a ‘gateway facility’ supporting regionally important countryside assets within the wider Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.

The presentation provided members with detail on the strengths, opportunities and challenges of creating a regional tourism destination; the future role of Clyde Muirshiel and Castel Semple; the vision of Renfrewshire being an outdoor leisure destination; the short, medium and long-term strategies and the next steps.

DECIDED: That the presentation be noted. 

Gwenyth Heaney provided a verbal update relative to the results of the You Decide initiative, making specific reference to the successful projects in The Villages Local Partnership area.

The initiative, a participatory budgeting exercise which distributed £1.2 million of Community Investment Funding in Renfrewshire, enabled local communities to decide their priorities in terms of proposed environmental and physical infrastructure improvements to be undertaken in their local area. It was noted that following extensive community engagement a shortlist of potential projects in each local partnership area had been drafted with a public vote then being held to ascertain the preferences of the local community. 

The Partnership was advised that the projects in The Villages Local Partnership area which had been successful in securing funding, by village area, were (a) Brookfield and Bridge of Weir – the installation of a wheeled sports area in Moss Road Park for sports including skateboards, scooters and skates for children and younger people; and the installation of an activated speed sign at the entrance to Brookfield; (b) Elderslie – light up Wallace Monument to make it more of a feature; the installation of outdoor exercise equipment at Old Road Park; the installation of speed activated signs on Main Road; the installation of seating at Main Road near the NCR75 cycle path entry/exit; upgrade the path that runs alongside river from Abbey Road to Wallace Avenue to tarmac; and upgrade tarmac surface at Queens Road Park; (c) Houston – the installation of a pedestrian crossing near bus stop on Magnus Road and Piper Road; and repair steps to ensure accessible access at Helicopter Park at South Mound for people with mobility issues, prams and bicycles; (d) Howwod – the installation of lighting in Howwood Park connecting Beith Road and Midton Road; improvement to playing surface at Howwood Park Playing Field; and tarmac perimeter path around Howwood Park; (e) Kilbarchan – the installation of additional lighting in Kilbarchan Park from Well Road to Park View; the creation of an activity trail around the village with information and interpretation boards; and engagement with the local community to improve the appearance of the roundabout at the entrance to the village; and (f) Lochwinnoch – the installation of lighting in Lochwinnoch Park around the surrounding path network; and lighting improvements in car park at Lochwinnoch Park at Lochlip Road towards train station.

Members were advised that work on the projects had commenced and would be delivered during 2023.

DECIDED: That the verbal update be noted.

Annabelle Armstrong-Walters provided a verbal update on the Winter Connections Programme and the activities available at the network of local community venues participating in the Programme within The Villages Local Partnership area. Reference was made to the Winter Connections Fund which provided financial assistance to local groups to help cover the additional costs in making venues, activities and sessions available as part of the Programme developed. It was noted that an evaluation of the Programme would be undertaken in due course.

Councillor Audrey Doig raised the fact that, as yet, no activities had been provided in Brookfield and Annabelle advised that she would check the level of local engagement with organisations in Brookfield and provide Councillor Audrey Doig with an update.

DECIDED: That the update be noted.

Isobel Sinclair provided a verbal update on activities which the Communities, Learning and Development service had supported and advised that the Green Spaces Fund was still available and requested that members encourage local community groups to apply to this fund; that £300,000 of external funding had been delivered into Renfrewshire; that support had been provided for six asset transfers; that the team were working closely with Engage Renfrewshire and the Health and Social Care Partnership to further develop the Aliss.org database which held details of community groups and support available in Renfrewshire; and that the Youth Services Team were currently undertaking a survey to ascertain what services young people wanted in local areas and requested that members encourage those young people aged 8 to 25 to participate

DECIDED: That the update be noted.

Alice McBride provided a verbal update on the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund and advised that 90 applications had been received with 59 awards being made. She provided details of those groups successful in receiving funding.

Alice provided information on the network established last year as part of the Community and Mental Health and Wellbeing Project which was being further developed to ensure promotion of the activities being undertaken. Monthly newsletters would be issued to all groups in the network and Alice invited members to sign up to the mailing list and to encourage other groups to do likewise. Further, that a loneliness awareness week would be held in June 2023 and that groups would be encouraged to participate in the activities being organised.

DECIDED: That the update be noted.

The Chair advised that some Local Partnerships had decided to move to ‘in person’ meetings but that, for logistical reasons, remote meetings using MS teams worked best for this Local Partnership. It was proposed that meetings of The Villages Local Partnership continue to be held remotely on MS teams and that this be revisited at some point in the future. This was agreed. 

DECIDED: 

(a) That it be noted that the next meeting of this Local Partnership would be held at 6.00 pm on 25 May 2023; and

(b) That meetings of The Villages Local Partnership continue to be held remotely on MS teams and that this be revisited at some point in the future.