Councillor Jacqueline Cameron; Councillor Andy Doig; Councillor Audrey Doig; Meg Gilzean (Bridge of Weir Tenants’ and Residents’ Association); Brenda Whitelaw (Howwood Community Council).

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

Prior to the commencement of the meeting, 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.

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of this Local Partnership held on 10 June 2021.

It was noted in relation to item 2 of the Minute, recommendation (b) should read ‘That £3,000 be retained for any future applications received.’.

DECIDED: That, subject to the above amendment, the Minute be approved.

Oliver Reid, Lead Officer delivered a presentation relative to #YouDecide, a participatory budgeting exercise that 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.

The presentation explained the #YouDecide concept and highlighted the marketing and promotional work already undertaken as a first phase to encourage communities, groups and individuals to submit their ideas for environmental improvements.  

The second phase of #YouDecide was underway and would conclude at the end of January 2022 with a shortlist of projects that were suitable and feasible having undergone technical assessment against set criteria. During the third and final phase of #YouDecide, communities would be invited to vote on which shortlisted project they wished to see proceed. It was anticipated that the winning projects would be announced week commencing 14 March 2022.

DECIDED: That the presentation be noted.

Alan McNiven, Engage Renfrewshire, delivered a presentation relative to the national Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund (the Fund). The Fund aimed to promote and develop good mental health and wellbeing and to protect against the impact of distress and mental ill health in adults.  

Engage Renfrewshire announced that Renfrewshire had secured an award of £509,542 from the Fund and small “grass roots” community groups and organisations with a strong community focus could now apply for funding towards projects that tackled issues such as: suicide prevention; social isolation; loneliness prevention and early intervention; and/or addressed any mental health inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic and the needs of a range of “at risk” groups locally.

Assistance was sought from Local Partnership members to highlight the availability of the Fund, suggest suitable projects and to encourage applications from their own and other local groups and community organisations. It was noted that the funds required to be allocated by end of March 2022.

DECIDED:

 
(a)  That the presentation be noted; and 

(b) That as Engage Renfrewshire was the contact point for enquiries, applications, delivery of funds and monitoring compliance, members should contact the organization to suggest suitable projects.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the funds allocated by this Local Partnership in 2021 and the spend against this budget.

The report intimated that the applications referred onwards to the Green Spaces and Villages Investment Fund had been successful in obtaining funding from these funds. The report provided detail on the awards from the Celebrating Renfrewshire youth participatory budgeting process.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

Nicola Drummond delivered a presentation relative to the Villages Investment Fund.

The presentation provided detail on the available funding streams; who could apply for funding; the objective of the Villages Investment Fund; the projects that could be considered; what the villages had achieved so far; the amount applicants could apply for and the advice and guidance available to applicants.

DECIDED: That the presentation be noted.