Building Communities, Greenspaces, Parks & Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund Update CAH 17 01 23
Renfrewshire Council · 17 January 2023
Back to Communities and Housing Policy Board — 17 January 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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___________________________________________________________________ To: Communities and Housing Policy Board On: 17 January 2023 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Communities and Housing Services ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Building Communities, Greenspaces, Parks & Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund Update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This report updates the Communities and Housing Policy Board on progress made in supporting communities including projects funded through the Greenspaces, Parks & Play Areas and Villages Investment fund. It provides updates for the Board on projects awarded under delegated authority over the last 3 months; and on other work undertaken by the Building Communities service to support active and engaged communities. 1.2 The key objective of the Green Spaces and Villages Investment funding is to work with, and support, community groups to identify and deliver improvement projects in their local communities, improve their local greenspaces (including parks and play areas) and strengthen the identity, heritage, uniqueness and character of village life. 1.3 The Villages Investment Fund is promoted to members of the relevant Local Partnerships to encourage eligible communities to come forward to bid for their share of the remaining funds. Review of Allocated Funding 1.4 As the programme has developed it is clear that a number of projects have either completed without requiring the full grant allocation or have had difficulty in developing their project fully in the way that they originally anticipated. In order to ensure that funding is available for projects that can be implemented, a review of successful applicants, whose funds have not yet been released is being undertaken and applicants have been contacted to ascertain the status of their project. This has resulted in a return of £12,000 to the Villages Investment Fund, and £5,000 to the Green Spaces Fund so far. The return of £12,000 is from Bishopton Community Development Trust who have been unsuccessful in procuring the open green space at Rossland Crescent from the private landowner and will therefore not be able to proceed.
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Pachedu have not drawn on their approved £5,000 for their RAMH Community Garden Project. Despite repeated emails and a deadline, no response has been received and it is anticipated that this funding will now be returned to the unallocated Green Spaces funding. 1.5 As the Green Spaces Fund is almost fully committed, it is proposed 50% of the allocated funding ringfenced for school projects be returned into the wider Fund. Only 3 schools, to date, have expressed an interest in applying. 1.6 As both funds draw to a close, it is proposed smaller, grass roots community projects are prioritised over larger applications. Additionally, areas who have, to date, benefitted less from the fund, will be favoured if bidding in competition with a community who have benefitted significantly in previous funding applications. 1.7 Three projects have been approved under delegated authority since the last Board report and details are included in Appendix 1. Taking account of these three projects, and all awarded projects to date, £30,000 is currently unallocated in the Villages Investment Fund and £55,000 unallocated in the Green Spaces Fund. Where community projects being developed submit applications, remaining funds will be committed. 1.8 Kilbarchan Public Park, Lochwinnoch and Ferguslie Park Gardens have all been upgraded since the last report. Communities using the new facilities are appreciative of the award and the positive impact on their communities. Building Communities 1.9 Team Up to Clean Up volunteers continue to be grateful for the provision of heavy-duty gardening gloves and protective, comfortable clothing and footwear to support their activity. 2 leaf blowers have been provided to keen volunteers as well as other hand tools. The Team have nominated volunteers for Provost Awards to recognise and celebrate some of the most active members of the group. 1.10 Reflecting on the success of the Celebrating Renfrewshire Fund, over 2,000 young people voted across Renfrewshire in which projects they wanted to see delivered in their community. With all funding allocated, the objective is to deliver proposed activities before the end of the financial year. The Celebrating Renfrewshire Steering Group were all recognised for their volunteering, with each of them receiving a Saltire Award. The cross-service Council Team, together the Steering Group, is undertaking a review of the evaluation process to ensure fairness and transparency are central to the awards. Plans are underway to recruit 2023’s Celebrating Renfrewshire Steering Group with the aim of launching the Fund soon as possible after the new financial year.
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1.11 Building Communities is also supporting community engagement for the voting stage of the #YouDecide project. Officers have been involved in reaching out to all ages through primary & secondary school engagements, as well as ROAR and Sheltered Housing complexes, to ensure the initiative outcomes are directed by a Renfrewshire wide and intergenerational audience. ________________________________________________________ Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Communities and Housing Policy Board: (a) note the work currently being undertaken to support communities as they develop and deliver projects funded using the Greenspaces, Parks & Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund; (b) note the impact of the funding and the benefits to the wider communities delivered by the projects set out in section 4 of this report; (c) note the return of unspent grant awards by Pachedu, (£5,000 to the Green Spaces Fund), and Bishopton Community Development Trust, (£12,000 to the Villages Investment Fund); (d) approve the intention to prioritise awards to communities who have benefitted less from previous grant awards; and (e) agree a 50% reduction of the ringfenced school fund to boost available Green Spaces funding for smaller projects. _________________________________________________________ 3. Summary of Applications under Construction 3.1 Renfrewshire Council has supported 90 community projects since October 2018 which have met the criteria for this fund. Further projects continue to be developed within communities with the following potential applicants currently active and expected to apply: The Darkwood Crew – Teen Shelter Millview Park, Renfrew – Play Park Equipment Inchinnan Development Trust – equipment to support maintenance of green areas in and around Inchinnan Kilbarchan Primary Parent Council – replacement play equipment in school which is accessible to all children in the village. 3.2 Reports will be brought back for the consideration of the Board in relation to these projects at future meetings of the Communities and Housing Policy Board. _________________________________________________________
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4 Building Communities 4.1 Building Communities’ focus on community engagement is recognised and being harnessed by wider Council Services. Support was recently delivered encouraging public participation in voting for projects listed within Environment & Infrastructure’s #YouDevide Project. Team Up to Clean Up volunteers promoted the project to their own local community by appearing in photographs online and on leaflets. 4.2 Officers undertook significant engagement with schools and young people to support, steer and deliver Chief Executives Celebrating Renfrewshire project. 4.3 Early conversations are ongoing with Social Work considering the implementation of Neighbourhood Hubs. Team Up to Clean Up 4.4 In October 2022, Team Up to Clean Up celebrated it’s 5-year anniversary. This was well received by the community:
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Environmental Task Force 4.5 Delivered under the Team Up to Clean Up banner, the Environmental Task Force is now operational, undertaking daily patrols to key identified hotspot areas. Close links, already firmly established with StreetScene, are being leaned upon to ensure processes to maximise the opportunity to identify the flytipping source, are followed. Officers and Operatives are working well together, presenting a public united front and adopting orange high vis branded workwear, as opposed to standard Council yellow. 4.6 Building Communities has taken on responsibility for recording all reported instances of flytipping on one software system. Historically the Community Safety Partnership recorded on one software system, while StreetScene adopted another. One source of data will increase the quality of flytipping information and intelligence, as well as offer more accurate data to extract and report on. This improved data can be monitored to provide a greater opportunity to focus resources where evidence dictates. Future reports to elected members will include data on overall instances of fly tipping activity and the success of initiatives to identify and take enforcement action against perpetrators and ultimately to change public expectations and behaviours. Hot Food Retailer Incentive Scheme 4.7 Building Communities is taking action to support businesses to reduce their reliance on single use plastics. The project also supports the Scottish Government ban on single use plastics implemented into legislation in August 2022. 4.8 Building Communities, with the support of Sweco, an external organisation, have undertaken to visit every take-away premise in Renfrewshire. Sweco have employed students, studying environmental topics from the Paisley Campus of the University of the West of Scotland, to deliver this work. The survey, designed to capture the onsite availability of banned single use plastics, will also identify other sustainable practices. The outcomes will be shared with Environmental Health and Economic Development who are also supporting the project.
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4.9 Awareness of expectations on businesses as a result of the prescribed ban will be increased by way of an in-person survey, as well as a booklet which will be provided. The booklet details alternative packaging options and tips to increase a business’s sustainability. 4.10 A ratings scheme will be adopted enabling the most sustainable businesses to be identified. Such businesses will be celebrated and customers, inclined to be influenced by these good habits, will be supported to recognise these businesses more easily. 4.11 The business survey will take place throughout January, after students December exams. The project is expected to be concluded in in March 2023, embedding the scheme thereafter. Further information on the development and implementation of the ratings scheme will be provided at the next meeting of the Policy Board. Celebrating Renfrewshire 4.12 2022’s Celebrating Renfrewshire project commenced with the recruitment of a brand-new Youth Steering Group. The Group were tasked with leading on the design of the Fund, such as themes, the award sum available, as well as the overall Fund theme. The recruitment event was delivered in August and included an advice and information session from former steering group members. 4.13 The Steering Group was made up of young people who live or work in Renfrewshire. They were provided with support from a number of Services, including Community Learning and Development Youth Services, Chief Executives and Street Stuff’s Youth Diversion Project. Keith Lasley, St Mirren’s Chief Operating Officer also attended offering advice and support from St Mirren football club.
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4.14 Applications were encouraged from young people aged 12-24 years old throughout September. Received applications were checked for compliance against the approved criteria by the Steering Group and sorted into Local Partnership areas to facilitate voting. Environment & Infrastructure assisted by building a voting platform. 4.15 Building Communities undertook a 2-week engagement exercise engaging with secondary school pupils to encourage maximum voting potential. Almost 2,200 votes were received. 4.16 Over 100 local people attended the event held in late October, which confirmed the successful projects. The event was arranged by the Youth Steering group at the Student Union, University of West of Scotland, Paisley Campus. Feedback provided on the night revealed that attendees enjoyed the event. #YouDecide 4.17 Building Communities provided significant support engaging with communities for Environment & Infrastructure’s #YouDecide participatory budgeting project throughout late November/early December. The launch of #YouDecide’s community engagement programme coincided with the start of the Environmental Taskforce, as such the team provided a valuable support and resource whilst bonding and getting to know one another. 4.18 Team Up to Clean Up volunteers were instrumental in promoting voting in their areas and #YouDecide closed with over 4,000 votes cast in communities. Local Partnerships
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4.19 The wider Community Learning and Development Team (CLD) consisting of Youth Services, Adult and Families and Building Communities, delivered a series of input sessions to Local Partnerships. The role and functions of CLD were explained, as well as how the service can support Local Partnerships in delivering their local priorities. 4.20 Each local partnership is being provided with a single point of contact within the Building Communities service to ensure communities and members of the partnership can access relevant Council Services and support easily. These contacts will ensure enquiries and local concerns are resolved or directed to the appropriate Council Service and will seek to drive forward work and priorities identified by local partnerships within their area. 4.21 Working in partnership with Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership, a database detailing ongoing and aspirational community projects is currently under construction. Key community individuals, groups and organisations are being identified and will be included on the database to create a focus on building nurturing, mutually beneficial relationships between Council and communities. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial - Council approved the allocation of £2.020 million to establish the Greenspaces, Parks & Play Parks and Villages Investment Fund in March 2018. Due to the capital works being undertaken, Officers are ensuring that there are minimal recurring revenue costs to Services in the coming years. 2. HR & Organisational Development – None 3. Community/Council Planning – The Greenspaces, Parks & Play Parks and Village Investment Fund will be important to achieving and assisting the Community Plan by ensuring that Renfrewshire is thriving, well, fair and safe for residents, workers and visitors. 4. Legal - All legislative requirements will be taken cognisance of during this process wherever required e.g. health and safety requirements. 5. Property/Assets - There is the potential for property/assets to be included as part of this fund. 6. Information Technology – None 7. Equality & Human Rights The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website.
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8. Health & Safety - Cognisance will be taken of health and safety requirements wherever required e.g. for play park equipment. 9. Procurement - There is no potential for the Council to be procuring and installing equipment of behalf of a community group as part of this grant funding process. 10. Risk - Discussions with the Council Risk Manager are on-going to ensure that the risk to the Council, as part of this grant funding process, is minimised. 11. Privacy Impact - None. 12. COSLA Policy Position – Not Applicable 13. Climate Risk – Not Applicable _________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers None ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Oliver Reid, Head of Communities and Public Protection.
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Appendix 1 Current Greenspace, Parks and Play Areas & Villages Investment Funding Project Funding proposed External Funding (or other Council funding) Friends of Jenny’s Well Mural painting on container £2,500 Miller Homes £250 Taylor Wimpy £100 Glencorse Community Woodland £5,000 n/a Cross Road Community Group £2,000 n/a Funding Allocated Budget Committed Budget Available Budget Potential Additional Projects Greenspace, Parks and Play Areas £1,280,000 £1,224,943 £55,057 £55,000 Village Investment Fund £740,000 £709,826 £30,174 £25,00 Staffing costs £220,000 £220,000 £0 - Total £2,240,000 £2,154,769 £85,231 £80,000