Councillor Bill Brown: Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes: Councillor Cathy McEwan: Councillor Jim Paterson: Councillor John Shaw: Councillor Jane Strang: Diane Booth (Our Place Our Families): Samantha Gillan (Renfrew YMCA): David Hoey (Renfrew Burgh Band): Thomas Johnston (Renfrew Football Club): and Ramsay Maclennan (30 Acres): Roberta Roberton (Renfrew Development Trust).

Councillor John Shaw, Convener, presided.

A MacArthur, Head of Finance (Lead Officer); L McIntyre, Head of Policy & Commissioning; K Graham, Head of Corporate Governance; A Armstrong-Walter, Strategic Partnerships & Inequalities Manager; S Marklow, Strategy & Place Manager; C Tolan, Senior Planning & Policy Development Officer; D Houston, Tackling Poverty Project Officer; and C MacDonald, Senior Committee Services (all Renfrewshire Council).

K Miller (Engage Renfrewshire); G Smith (Police Scotland); and P McCulloch (Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership).

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

Councillor Shaw opened the meeting by extending a welcome to everyone present. He invited members, the Community Planning partners, and Renfrewshire Council officers to introduce themselves and to advise their role at meetings.

DECIDED: To note the welcome and introductions.

Councillor Shaw advised that, in terms of the Standing Orders for Local Partnerships, a community representative could be appointed as Vice-chair and called for nominations.

Councillor Hughes proposed that Samantha Gillan (Renfrew YMCA) be appointed as Vice-chair.  There being no other nominations, this appointment was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED:  That Samantha Gillan be appointed Vice-chair.

The Minute of the meeting of Renfrew Local Partnership held on 6 February 2019 was submitted and approved. 

DECIDED:   That the Minute be approved.

The Head of Corporate Governance provided information about the adoption of a Code of Conduct for Devolved Public Bodies that set out standards of behaviour that could be applied to members, given that their role would include the allocation of public funds. The Code of Conduct would require community representatives to register their interests and to declare those interests at meetings. In this way, business conducted by the Local Partnership, which was not part of the formal Board structure of Renfrewshire Council, would be open and transparent. It was noted that Councillors held a statutory duty to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Councillors and already had a Register of Interests in place.

It was proposed that Members do not complete the formal Register of Interest but ensure that if they have an interest (whether financial or non-financial) in any item of business at future local partnership meetings then they declare the interest accordingly.  This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED:   That it be agreed that Members to not complete the formal Register of Interest but ensure that if they have an interest (whether financial or non-financial) in any item of business at future local partnership meetings then they declare the interest accordingly.

A presentation was delivered by the Strategic Partnerships and Inequalities Manager, the Development Plans and Housing Strategy Team Leader and the Community Capacity Development Officer, Engage Renfrewshire, relative to identifying common matters that were important to people in the area and setting local priorities for improvement. It was envisaged that, once identified, these local priorities would be used to target resources and improvement actions.

The presentation, together with a Local Profile providing background information, detailed key facts about the population; children in low income families; access, health and crime deprivation; children and education; parks and play areas; health resources; care homes, extra care and sheltered housing specific to this Local Partnership area.  

Based on the information provided, members worked in groups to identify and set local priorities for the area.  After discussion, the following key themes and priorities were identified (in no order of importance): 

-Renfrew Town Centre - improvements to economy, communal spaces and town centre events;
Making Use of Public Resources - improving community buildings, making use of green space;
-Connectivity – improving roads infrastructure, public transport, cycle routes and any form of active travel
-Health & Wellbeing - social isolation (inter-generational), improve drug and alcohol misuse; and access economic opportunities.
- economic outcomes should be reflected throughout all priorities.

Based on these key themes and discussion at the meeting, the Strategic Partnerships and Inequalities Manager advised that a draft copy of the key themes and local priorities would be circulated to members of the Local Partnership.

DECIDED: 

(a)   That the key themes and local priorities identified for this Local Partnership be approved; and

(b)   That a draft copy of the key themes and local priorities be circulated to members of the Local Partnership prior to the next meeting.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the name of this Local Partnership and arrangements to be put in place for future meetings. It was noted that community representatives could claim expenses of £50 per annum, from Local Partnership funds, for attendance at meetings.

DECIDED:

(a)   That further meetings of the Local Partnership be held in November 2019 and March/April 2020 with a wider community engagement event to take place during September/October 2019;

(b)   That it be agreed that future meetings of the Local Partnership be held within Renfrew Town Hall;

(c)   That it be agreed that the next meeting of the Local Partnership be held at 6.00 pm on 25 June 2019 in Renfrew Town Hall and the name of the Partnership remain as Renfrew Local Partnership;

(d)   That the arrangements for community representative expenses, as detailed in the report, be noted.