Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 26 May 2026
Back to Economy and Regeneration Policy Board — 26 May 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Minute of Meeting Economy and Regeneration Policy Board Date Time Venue Tuesday, 26 May 2026 10:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Present: Councillor Alison Ann-Dowling, Councillor Stephen Burns, Councillor Graeme Clark, Councillor Andy Doig, Councillor Neill Graham, Councillor Robert Innes, Councillor Bruce MacFarlane, Councillor Janis McDonald, Councillor Marie McGurk, Councillor Iain McMillan, Councillor John McNaughtan, Councillor Sam Mullin, Councillor Iain Nicolson, Councillor Jim Paterson, Councillor Andy Steel Chair Councillor Steel, Convener, presided. In Attendance A MacArthur, Director of Finance & Resources (for items 6 to 11 only); A Morrison, Head of Economy & Development, L Adamson, Head of Marketing & Communications, R Cooper, Economic Development Manager, C Saez, Assistant Economic Development Manager (Business Development), M Moran, Assistant Economic Development Manager (Funding, Contracts & Commercial Development), E Shearer, Senior Manager for Regeneration & Place, H Stephen, Information, Communication & Policy Assistant, K Ferguson, Senior Economic Development Officer (Leader Programme), T Murphy, Senior Economic Development Officer (Vocational Programmes), P Leca, Funding & Development Officer, J Mackie, Principal Regeneration & Place Officer and C Begg, Economic Regeneration Officer (all Chief Executive’s); and M Conaghan, Head of Corporate Governance (for items 6 to 11 only), V Howie, Finance Business Partner, E Currie, Senior Committee Services Officer and D Cunningham, Committee Services & Licensing Officer (all Finance & Resources). Webcasting of Meeting Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Convener intimated that this meeting of the Policy Board would be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council's internet site.
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Apology Councillor Mullin (for lateness). Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. 1 Cornerstones Project Lochwinnoch There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to funding which had been secured to develop "Cornerstones: Revitalising Lochwinnoch's Historic Axes" an area-based proposal which sought to regenerate the centre of Lochwinnoch by investing in its built heritage and promoting the history of the village. DECIDED: (a) That the grant funding of £45,000 from Historic Environment Scotland's Heritage and Place Programme and £45,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund's Heritage Grants scheme be accepted; (b) That the Head of Economy & Development be authorised to appoint a temporary Heritage Project Officer to deliver the Development Phase and compile the Delivery Phase applications; and (c) That the Head of Economy & Development be authorised to develop detailed applications to National Lottery Heritage Fund's Heritage Grants Fund and Historic Environment Scotland's Heritage and Place Programme for funding to deliver Cornerstones in full. 2 Johnstone Town Centre Vision – Update There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to progress in the delivery of the Johnstone Town Centre Vision framework. DECIDED: (a) That the strong progress in actions supporting delivery of the Johnstone Town Centre Vision, as set out in section 4 of the report, be noted; (b) That acceptance by Renfrewshire Council of grant funding totalling £850,000 from the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, enabling delivery of enhancements at the Houston Court precinct, be approved; (c) That it be noted that the Head of Economy & Development would continue to undertake appropriate consultation and publicity with the local community to support delivery of the Vision; and
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(d) That it be noted that further progress on delivery of the plan would be reported to the Policy Board as appropriate. Sederunt Councillor Mullin joined the meeting during consideration of the following item of business. 3 Renfrewshire Council Community Benefits (Community Wealth Building) There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to an update on the Council's community benefits programme and summarising economic development activity undertaken during financial year 2025/26 to maximise community added value from council contracted spend. DECIDED: (a) That the activity undertaken to maximise community added value for local people, communities and organisations through the Council’s community benefits programme including the year-on-year increase in local delivery achieved be noted; and (b) That it be noted that further updates on the Council’s community benefits programme would be reported to a future meeting of this Policy Board. 4 Renfrewshire Council Community Benefits Portal Proposal (Community Wealth Building) There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to a proposal to enhance the delivery of local community benefits through the creation of a web-based Renfrewshire Community Benefits Portal which would streamline processes and improve transparency by more effectively matching local requests for support with supplier obligations. DECIDED: (a) That the role and benefits of community benefit portals be noted; (b) That the development of a Renfrewshire Council Community Benefits Portal, delivered and managed locally by the local authority and hosted on the Council’s website, be agreed in principle; (c) That it be noted that regional and collaborative models (including the GCR Hub) remained under consideration, but that a local portal represented a proportionate and deliverable first step; and (d) That it be noted that further updates on the Community Benefits Portal would be reported to a future meeting of this Policy Board.
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5 Modern Apprenticeship Programme Update There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to an update on progress of the Council's Modern Apprenticeship Programme for 2025/26 and which confirmed the continued delivery of the Programme into 2026/27. DECIDED: That the content of the report and continuation of funding from Skills Development Scotland into 2026/27 be noted. 6 Greater Renfrewshire and Inverclyde (GRI) Community Led Local Development (CLLD) Update There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to an update on the completed delivery of the Greater Renfrewshire and Inverclyde (GRI) Community Led Local Development (CLLD) programme for 2025/26. The report also advised of the allocation of funding from the Scottish Government and the proposed approach for delivery for 2026/27, which had been agreed with the Local Action Group (LAG) and partner local authorities, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, to meet CLLD requirements. DECIDED: (a) That the offer from Scottish Government to award £237,886 to the Greater Renfrewshire and Inverclyde area for the delivery of the Community Led Local Development programme for 2026/27 be noted; (b) That it be agreed that Renfrewshire Council would continue to act as Lead Partner and Accountable Body for the Greater Renfrewshire and Inverclyde area; and (c) That the continuation of delegated authority to the Head of Economy & Development for the delivery of programme requirements be agreed. 7 Scottish Government Employability Grant Award and Investment Plan 2026/27 There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to an update on the most recent funding allocation from the Scottish Government for employability support in Renfrewshire for the 2026/27 period and which summarised the Annual Investment Plan for Employability for the year ahead. DECIDED: (a) That the acceptance of Scottish Government grant by the Director of Finance & Resources awarded to Renfrewshire Council for the 2026/27 period for a total of £2,664,070 under the banner of No-One Left Behind be noted; (b) That the Annual Investment Plan submitted to the Scottish Government, on behalf of the wider Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership, be endorsed and that the contents be noted; and
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(c) That it be noted that further updates on the Council’s employability programme would be reported to a future meeting of this Policy Board, as required. 8 Renfrewshire Economy Conference 2026 There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the annual Renfrewshire Economy Conference which would be held in Paisley Town Hall on 8 September 2026, organised by Renfrewshire Council’s Economic Development team with a strong focus on the new priorities through the Community Wealth Building Act for the Council and other anchor organisations. DECIDED: That the report be noted. 9 Business Grants Delivery Update 2025/26 There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to an update on the delivery and impact of business grant support during 2025/26, specifically the Business Resilience Fund, Digital Development Grant and Social Enterprise Small Grant Fund which were designed to support the local economy, stimulate private sector investment, and strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of Renfrewshire’s business base. The report also highlighted the proposed use of grants for 2026/27. DECIDED: (a) That the contents of the report be noted; (b) That the consolidation of the Business Resilience Fund and the Digital Development Grant into a single Business Development Grant Programme for 2026/27, aligned to the revised funding position set out in section 7 of the report, be ratified; and (c) That it be agreed that the social economy grant fund reduced to 50% intervention rate for the year ahead. EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC The Board resolved that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business as it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that if members of the press and public were present, there could be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 8 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. 10 Paisley Centre Redevelopment – Economic viability assessment and next steps There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the economic viability and next steps for the Paisley Centre redevelopment.
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In terms of Standing Order 59 the Convener moved (a) that the content of the report be noted; (b) that it be agreed that the Council would not proceed with the proposed offer as currently set out by Beyond Retail; and (c) that the Council agree that officers engage further with Beyond Retail in respect of matters set out in paragraph 1.4 of the report. This was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: (a) That the content of the report be noted; (b) That it be agreed that the Council would not proceed with the proposed offer as currently set out by Beyond Retail; and (c) That Council agrees that officers engage further with Beyond Retail in respect of matters set out in paragraph 1.4 of the report.