There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of this Local Partnership held on 5 September 2023.

DECIDED: That the minute be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the 2023/24 budget allocated to this Local Partnership which detailed the distribution of funds and feedback
received from projects funded. A table setting out the funds allocated by this Local Partnership was appended to the report.

 DECIDED: That the content of the report be noted.

J Kennedy, Senior Development Officer, gave a presentation in connection with activities undertaken locally by Community Learning and Development since the previous meeting.

DECIDED: That the presentation be noted.

S Graham, Chief Executive’s, gave a presentation on the Winter Connections Programme, a network of local places where people could connect to others in their community during the winter.

The presentation made reference to the previous success of the initiative in 2022/23, the evaluation undertaken following that initiative and highlighted the main aims of the Winter Connections Fund which provided assistance to local groups to help cover the additional costs in making venues, activities and sessions available as part of the Winter Connection Programme. The requirement for organisations to agree to comply with specified principles to be eligible for funding was highlighted. The range and venues for activities, available as part of the Winter Connections Programme 2023/24 within or in the vicinity of the Local Partnership area, was noted.

DECIDED: That the presentation be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive, Renfrewshire Council relative to the priorities for the Johnstone & Linwood Local Partnership.  A list of the current priorities, agreed in 2019, and reassessed in winter 2020/21 in the context of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic were appended to the report.

The Partnership were asked to consider: which of the current priorities should be retained or discontinued; for each current local priority being retained, were any amendments required to refocus or refine these further; and whether there were any new priorities that should be added.

Following discussion it was agreed that all five of the current priorities: focus on young people; taking pride in the look and feel of our towns; what's on in Johnstone and Linwood; roads and transport; and community safety would be retained and that further efforts would be made to increase the youth representation on the Partnership. In addition, it was agreed that a sixth priority would be added around tackling poverty in the area.

There followed a discussion around how grant applications would be prioritised in future financial years.

Councillor Audrey Doig, seconded by Councillor Rodden, moved that grant applications be limited to £5,000 and that applications from organisations based outside of the Partnership area be limited to £1,000.

Councillor McMillan, seconded by Councillor Gilmour, moved as an amendment that grant applications be limited to £5,000 for all organisations.

On a vote being taken by show of hands, 6 members voted for the amendment and 3 members voted for the motion. The amendment was accordingly declared carried. 

DECIDED:

(a) That all five of the current priorities: focus on young people; taking pride in the look and feel of our towns; what's on in Johnstone and Linwood; roads and transport; and community safety be retained;

(b) That further efforts would be made to increase the youth representation on the Partnership;

(c) That a sixth priority would be added around tackling poverty in the area; and

(d) That grant applications be limited to £5,000 for all organisations.