Agenda Document Pack - Economy and Regeneration Policy Board - 23/05/2023
Renfrewshire Council · 23 May 2023
Back to Economy and Regeneration Policy Board — 23 May 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Some pages contain no extractable text. They may be blank, graphics or scanned pages. OCR has not been applied.
Page 1
18/05/2023 Notice of Meeting and Agenda Economy and Regeneration Policy Board Date Time Venue Tuesday, 23 May 2023 10:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Membership Councillor Andy Steel (Convener): Councillor Michelle Campbell (Depute Convener): Councillor Alison Ann-Dowling: Councillor Stephen Burns: Councillor Graeme Clark: Councillor Andy Doig: Councillor Neill Graham: Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes: Councillor Colin McCulloch: Councillor Jamie McGuire: Councillor Marie McGurk: Councillor Iain McMillan: Councillor John McNaughtan: Councillor Iain Nicolson: Councillor Jim Paterson: Hybrid Meeting Please note that this meeting is scheduled to be held in the Council Chambers. However, it is a hybrid meeting and arrangements have been made for members to join the meeting remotely should they wish. Members of the Press and Public Members of the press and public wishing to attend the meeting should report to the customer service centre where they will be met and directed to the meeting. Webcasting of Meeting This meeting will be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site – at the start of the meeting the Convener will confirm if all or part of the meeting is being filmed. To find the webcast please navigate to https://renfrewshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/home MARK CONAGHAN Head of Corporate Governance
Page 2
18/05/2023 Further Information This is a meeting which is open to members of the public. A copy of the agenda and reports for this meeting will be available for inspection prior to the meeting at the Customer Service Centre, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley and online at http://renfrewshire.cmis.uk.com/renfrewshire/CouncilandBoards.aspx For further information, please email democratic-services@renfrewshire.gov.uk
Page 3
18/05/2023 Items of business Apologies Apologies from members. Declarations of Interest Members are asked to declare an interest in any item(s) on the agenda and to provide a brief explanation of the nature of the interest. 1 Green/Freeports - update Report by Chief Executive. 1 - 6 2 Levelling Up Fund Bid 2022 – Renfrew Community Hub Update Report by Chief Executive. 7 - 14 3 UK Shared Prosperity Fund – Year 1 Report Report by Chief Executive. 15 - 20 4 Making of Ferguslie – Update Report by Chief Executive. 21 - 26 5 Scotland Loves Local Update Report by Chief Executive. 27 - 36 6 Town Centre Taskforce – update Report by Chief Executive. 37 - 42 7 Proposed 2023/24 Regeneration funding bids Report by Chief Executive. 43 - 50
Page 4
No embedded text on this page.
Page 5
To: Economy and Regeneration Policy Board On: 23 May 2023 __________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Green/Freeports - update 1. Summary 1.1 This report offers members an update on the recent bid (summer 2022) by Glasgow City Region (GCR) partners to gain a Green/Freeport designation from the Scottish and UK Governments. 1.2 An announcement on two such designations in Scotland was made in early 2023 confirming the selected locations as Firth of Forth (Edinburgh / Grangemouth) and Moray Firth (Inverness / Black Isle). 1.3 Since the announcement further discussions have taken place with the governments about the potential for an Investment Zone designation within GCR as part of an allocation of such designations in Scotland. A decision on Scottish Investment Zones is awaited. __________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Board: i. Note the outcome of the decision by the Scottish and UK Governments on Green/Freeport designations in Scotland; ii. Note that there is the potential for an Investment Zone designation being confirmed within Glasgow City Region during 2023 and that the implications of any such decision will be subject to a future Board report; Item 1 EAR230523 Page 1 of 50
Page 6
3. Background 3.1 In June 2022 Board approved the submission of the GCR bid for a Green/Freeport designation as it affected Renfrewshire. This included the designation of land around Glasgow Airport, Netherton Farm, Inchinnan Business Park and Westway Industrial Estate. 3.2 The bid had been made by the eight GCR local authorities in conjunction with a private sector consortium consisting of Glasgow Airport, Peel Ports and J&D Stirling (Mossend rail freight hub). 4. Green/Freeport assessment 4.1 Five Green Freeport bids were received on the closing date of 20 June 2022. These were from: Clyde (GCR); Firth of Forth; Inverness and Cromarty Firth; North East Scotland (Aberdeen and Peterhead) Orkney 4.2 Assessment of the bids was undertaken jointly by the Scottish Government (SG) and UK Government (UKG). 4.3 Although the Orkney bid failed on one of the Pass/Fail questions considered in their application, the governments agreed the bid should proceed to full assessment alongside the other four bids. 4.4 The five bids were assessed against a range of criteria in accordance with the published prospectus for Green/Freeport bids, including promotion of regeneration, job creation and decarbonisation. A summary of how each of the five bidders fared against these criteria is set out in Appendix 1 of this report. 4.5 All four other bids (apart from Orkney) were considered deliverable and appointable by the Assessment Panel. 4.6 A cross-government group of senior officials (forming the Green Freeports Programme Board) oversaw the process. They approved a list of appointable candidates to be submitted to Ministers for final selection. 4.7 Scotland’s Deputy First Minister met with the UK’s Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Secretary of State for Scotland to discuss the appointable bids. 4.8 Ministers agreed that the priorities for additional considerations were: prioritising proposals with a “high” assessment for the decarbonisation criterion when choosing between similar appointable applications; reserving the right to ensure a fair spread across Scotland; 4.9 Minister selected the Firth of Forth bid as the clear highest scoring bid overall. They noted that the Clyde and Inverness / Cromarty Firth bids achieved scores that were comparable. Page 2 of 50
Page 7
However, when they took into account the additional considerations (see above) from the published prospectus they decided to select Inverness / Cromarty Firth as their second Green/Freeport location for Scotland. 5. Investment Zones 5.1. UKG Budget Statement (March 2023) stated that a minimum of 4 Investment Zone designations were being considered for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. England already has a process for local authorities and regions to bid for such designations. 5.2. Meetings have taken place recently between SG and UKG about Investment Zone designations for Scotland. 5.3. Feedback to date is that there will be one or two in Scotland. The process for confirming is these is likely to be allocative rather than competitive, with an agreed set of metrics being applied to the selection process. 5.4. There is some consideration being given by the Governments to whether a geographic or thematic approach should be applied to such selections. If thematic then (for instance) it could be for net zero and cover multiple geographies, with partnering between different regions. 5.5. The scale of such designations (circa 600 hectares) is like that for the allocated Green/Freeports and the fiscal incentivisation on offer for potential investment in these locations is also along similar lines. 5.6. A decision on any such Scottish designations is likely to be made in summer 2023. Any implications for Renfrewshire will be the subject of future reports to Board. Investment Zones in England 5.7. So far, the UKG have shortlisted eight locations in England for potential Investment Zones. All of these are based on city-regions. 5.8. These city-regions and their constituent local authorities have been invited to submit Investment Zone proposals for a specific area within their boundaries. Zones are expected to be set across a “sensible economic geography” to facilitate effective collaboration between industry and academia (universities). If proposals choose to take up the government’s tax incentive offer, they must be located in dedicated tax sites. 5.9. This is a very similar approach to the one taken in Scotland for the (now completed) bidding process for Gren/Freeport status. 5.10. With the English Investment Zone proposals, the financial incentives offered to investment in this location is comparable to that offered for Green/Freeports and includes : Stamp Duty Land Tax relief; Exemption from business rates Enhanced Capital Allowances – 100% first year allowance Page 3 of 50
Page 8
Enhanced Structures and Buildings Allowance Lower employer National Insurance Contributions ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial - No financial implications. 2. HR and Organisational Development – None. 3. Community Planning Our Renfrewshire is thriving – The green/freeport and investment zone concept offers an opportunity for increased economic activity and job creation in Renfrewshire. Reshaping our place, our economy, and our future – Renfrewshire already has a significant cluster of manufacturing companies and an international freight airport and therefore, the green/freeport concept and investment zone offers the potential to attract additional manufacturers ad their supply chain to the area; 4. Legal – None. 5. Property/Assets – The Council-owned AMIDS site was put forward for inclusion in one of the tax sites included in the green/freeport bid for GCR. 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 because for example it is for noting only. 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. 8. Health & Safety – None. 9. Procurement – None. 10. Risk – None. 11. Privacy Impact – None. 12. COSLA Policy Position – None. 13. Climate Risk – None. __________________________________________________________________ Page 4 of 50
Page 9
List of Background Papers (a) Freeports (Greenports) board report; Leadership Board; June 2021 (b) Green Freeports in Scotland: bidding prospectus; Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities; UK Government; March 2022 (c) Clyde Green/Freeport bid - update; Economy & Regeneration Board; June 2022 ________________________________________________________ Author: Alasdair Morrison, Head of Economy and Development Alasdair.morrison@renfrewshire.gov.uk (Tel: 0141 618 4664) Page 5 of 50
Page 10
Appendix 1 Assessment Matrix for Scottish Green/Freeport Bids; 2022 / 2023 Policy Criteria Delivery Criteria Green Freeport Criterion A: Promote regeneration and high-quality job creation Criterion B: Promote decarbonisation and a just transition to a net zero economy Criterion C: Establishing hubs for global trade and investment Criterion D: Fostering an innovative environment Criterion E: Deliverability of proposal effectively at pace Criterion F: Level of private sector involvement in the proposal Clyde Green Freeport HIGH MEDIUM MEDIUM MEDIUM/HIGH HIGH HIGH Firth of Forth Green Freeport HIGH HIGH HIGH MEDIUM HIGH HIGH Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport HIGH MEDIUM/HIGH HIGH MEDIUM/HIGH MEDIUM MEDIUM North East Scotland Green Freeport MEDIUM/HIGH MEDIUM MEDIUM MEDIUM HIGH MEDIUM Orkney Green Freeport* MEDIUM/LOW MEDIUM LOW LOW/MEDIUM LOW LOW Page 6 of 50
Page 11
___________________________________________________________________ To: Economy and Regeneration Policy Board On: 23 May 2023 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Levelling Up Fund Bid 2022 – Renfrew Community Hub Update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This report provides an update on feedback received on the Council’s unsuccessful bid to the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund, which focussed on the delivery of a community hub within Renfrew town centre. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Board: (i) Notes the content of this report and associated appendices. ______________________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 The Levelling Up Fund (LUF) was announced by the UK Government in 2020 to support investment in infrastructure and assets that improve everyday life across the country. The funds are targeted at high value, local investment priorities including transport schemes, town centre regeneration and cultural / heritage assets. 3.2 In late 2021 the Council were successful in securing £38.7m from the first round of the fund, supporting delivery of the AMIDS South project. A report to the Leadership Board on 1 December 2021 advised that officers were considering additional proposals which could align with future calls for bids to the fund. The Board of 14 June 2022 subsequently approved the submission of an application to the second round of the fund, supporting the delivery of a new community hub within Renfrew, focussed on the Renfrew Victory Baths and former Police Chambers. The application was submitted on 28 July 2022. 3.3 The outcome of the Round 2 LUF process was announced on 19 January 2023 and the Council received confirmation that the Renfrew bid had been unsuccessful. The UK Government subsequently provided feedback on 10 March 2023, a summary of which is provided in section 7 below. Item 2 EAR230523 Page 7 of 50
Page 12
4 Renfrew Community Hub Project 4.1 The Round 2 LUF bid was developed in line with the ambitious regeneration agenda of Renfrewshire Council and its partners, focussed on positive place-based outcomes for Renfrewshire’s town and villages centres. Central to this approach is to advance the evolution of our centres, ensuring that they thrive as the economic recovery from the pandemic continues. 4.2 In this context officers considered a range of options for a bid in Renfrew, concluding that the strongest opportunity lay with a focus on the Victory Baths and the former Renfrew Police Chambers, in recognition that both buildings are in need of significant investment to secure their long-term legacy and use. A proposal was subsequently developed for a new community hub within Renfrew town centre. 4.3 The proposals focussed on returning the former Renfrew Police Chambers to positive use and enhancing facilities at Victory Baths, including:- A Swim centre, with enhanced pool facilities, spa and wellness centre A dance, gymnastics and fitness centre for all ages and groups A relocated library and learning centre with digital facilities New community space across the hub 4.4 The key objective of the project was to address the long-term challenges of vacant and underused civic assets within the town, supporting their restoration, securing their long-term legacy and acting as a catalyst for a wider transformation of Renfrew town centre as a modern, 21st century place which is central to the community. 4.5 The Board of 14 June 2022 noted that significant work was undertaken by officers to support the ambitious proposal, alongside key partners such as OneRen, the local community and other stakeholders. This included public consultation events which demonstrated strong community support. 4.6 In total the project was costed at £21.3m, £19.2m of which was asked from LUF to support the delivery of the project. 5 Levelling Up Fund 5.1 LUF is a competitive fund established by the UK Government, with funding distributed to places across the UK on the basis of successful project selection. The Fund has set aside at least £800 million across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland over four years from 2021- 2022 to 2024-2025. LUF aims to invest in local infrastructure that has a visible impact on people and their communities. 5.2 The Renfrew Community Hub proposal was submitted under the “Regeneration and Town Centres” theme, which closely aligned with the funding requirement to upgrade vacant and underused buildings, regenerate sites and bring public services and accessible community spaces into town centres. 6 Round 2 LUF Decision 6.1 Successful bids to Round 2 of LUF were announced on 19 January 2023 and it was confirmed that the Council had been unsuccessful in receiving funding for the Renfrew Community Hub project. Page 8 of 50
Page 13
6.2 In total, 111 areas across the UK were awarded a share of £2.1 billion from Round 2. This included £177.2 million for projects in Scotland over 10 local authority areas. In Round One, a total of £171 million was allocated to 8 Local Authorities for Scottish projects (including AMIDS South in Renfrewshire). Cumulatively, 18 Local Authorities in Scotland have received funding so far from LUF, totalling £348.9m. 6.3 The assessment and decision-making process was based on a sequential approach which took account of other investment in local areas, including grants from the first round of the fund, to encourage a spread of funding. In this context no Local Authority in Scotland who received funding in Round 1, including Renfrewshire Council, was successful in Round 2. A full list of all Scottish Local Authorities who received funding in Rounds 1 & 2 are detailed in Appendix 1. 6.4 A full explanatory note on the assessment and decision-making process was published by the UK Government at the same time as the bid announcements. Full details can be found here: Levelling Up Fund Round 2: explanatory note on the assessment and decision‐making process ‐ GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 7 Round 2 Feedback 7.1 The UK Government provided feedback on the Council’s Round 2 bid on 10 March 2023. Full details of the feedback can be found in Appendix 2. In summary the following key points were identified: The assessors highlighted that the Council had submitted a strong bid that built upon a comprehensive and well thought out stakeholder engagement process, scoring highly on a number of key elements. In particular, the strategic rationale for the development was noted as being particularly strong, as a clear case for investment was presented, which was backed-up by comprehensive engagement with key stakeholders. Some areas of the Economic Case were highlighted as those where additional information and analysis may have been beneficial, for example in highlighting local issues that the project sought to address such as economic, social and health benefits. Overall the bid was noted as being well-presented and providing confidence over the project’s deliverability, however further information in relation to the outcomes, outputs and impacts may have been beneficial. 7.2 Officers recently met with representatives of the Scottish Team of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUC) to discuss the feedback, clarify areas for improvement and to consider opportunities for future bids. DLUC representatives again indicated that the Council had submitted a strong bid which aligned strongly with the key aims of LUF. 8 Next Steps 8.1 Given the feedback outlined above, it is considered that the project may still have potential to be successful in a future LUF round bid. Such a bid will however be subject to the parameters of any future LUF rounds. 8.2 Currently the UK Government have not indicated whether there will be a further round of funding for LUF or timescales for this. Page 9 of 50
Page 14
The DLUC have however indicated that there is approximately £1 billion of LUF funding left to be allocated and it is expected that Scotland could receive around £90m of this allocation. It is anticipated that any future LUF bidding rounds would be subject to one of the following parameters: 1. Open funding i.e. any local authority can apply regardless of whether they received LUF money in either Rounds 1 or 2 2. The funding round would only be open to those local authorities who were unsuccessful in Round 2 (including Renfrewshire). 3. The funding round would only be open to those local authorities who did not receive funding in either Rounds 1 or 2. 8.3 The Council will continue to liaise with DLUC in respect of any updates on whether Round 3 is proceeding and associated guidelines. Once any announcement is made, Officers will consider future options in respect of the Renfrew CommunityHub and whether it would be prudent to apply again. A future paper to the Board will be presented to receive approval on any future course of action. ______________________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – No additional finance is sought at this stage. 2. HR & Organisational Development – None. 3. Community/Council Planning – None. 4. Legal – None. 5. Property/Assets – None. 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality & Human Rights (a) 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. 8. Health & Safety – None. 9. Procurement – None. 10. Risk – None. 11. Privacy Impact - None. 12. COSLA Policy Position – Not Applicable. 13. Climate Risk – Not Applicable. ___________________________________________________________________ Page 10 of 50
Page 15
Appendices (a) Local Authorities Receiving Funding from LUF Rounds 1 and 2 (b) UK Government LUF Bid Feedback – Renfrew Community Health and Learning Hub List of Background Papers (a) Levelling Up Announcement. Leadership Board, 1 December 2021 (b) Levelling Up Fund 2022 – Renfrew Community Hub. Economy and Regeneration Board, 14 June 2022. ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Euan Shearer; Regeneration and Place Manager; Tel 0141 6184664. Email: euan.shearer Page 11 of 50
Page 16
Appendix 1: Local Authorities Receiving LUF funding in either Rounds 1 or 2 Local Authority Project title Amount LUF category Renfrewshire AMIDS South (Travel Links Project) £38,725,218 1 Shetland Islands Council Fair Isle Ferry Infrastructure Project £26,762,313 3 North Ayrshire Infrastructure Improvement B714 £23,693,443 1 Aberdeenshire Council Cultural Tides: North Sea Connections in Aberdeenshire £20,000,000 3 East Ayrshire Council Cultural Kilmarnock £20,000,000 1 Aberdeen City Aberdeen City Centre Masterplan £20,000,000 2 Falkirk Westfield Roundabout £20,000,000 1 West Dunbartonshire Artizan Shopping Centre, Glencairn House and connecting Dumbarton £19,900,000 1 Highland Inverness Zero Carbon Cultural Regeneration £19,856,253 3 Fife Council River Leven Regeneration, Glenrothes and Central Fife £19,410,000 2 Inverclyde Council Greenock Central £19,390,000 1 Stirling Council Stirling Forthside Redevelopment £19,052,300 2 Dumfries and Galloway Council Reactivating Galloway £17,698,660 1 City of Edinburgh Granton Gasholder (Waterfront Cultural Regeneration) £16,482,845 3 Dundee City Council Green Transport Hub and Spokes £14,400,000 1 Glasgow City Pollock Stables and Sawmill (Heritage and community Centre) £13,050,500 1 East Lothian Council Former Cockenzie Power Station Site Remediation and Preparation Works £11,267,841 2 North Lanarkshire Council Delivering on Cumbernauld's Town Vision £9,225,000 1 Total £348,914,373 Page 12 of 50
Page 17
Appendix 2: Renfrewshire LUF Feedback LUF20456 - Renfrew Community Health & Learning Hub Renfrewshire │Scotland │Cultural │ £19,208,167 Bid Summary: The Renfrew Community Health & Learning Hub comprises the re-development and extension of 2 no Listed Buildings into a new Town Centre Community Health & Learning Hub incorporating a range of community facilities including: provision for swimming, dance-gymnastics, library, community space. The project is developed to put the ‘heart’ back into Renfrew Town Centre, restore civic pride, build confidence and social cohesion, rejuvenate and re-purpose two prominent and at risk Listed Buildings and promote a more participatory, inclusive, and successful place. It will be a catalyst for regeneration and transformation of Renfrew as a destination town within the metropolitan area. Headline: This was a strong bid across all areas assessed. Key elements that could be strengthened include; providing a “do nothing” option and giving more clarity on its impact on addressing local problems. We have provided more specific feedback below. This has been drafted to be as clear and helpful as possible to inform future funding applications. Assessment Overview Strategic Fit: This was a strong bid that built upon a comprehensive and well thought out stakeholder engagement process. It was positive to see that the team had taken time to work with relevant stakeholders on identifying the challenges, agreeing the optimum set of facilities within the hub, and then converting this into a set of practical deliverables that enjoy widespread support. Similarly, the case for investment was very detailed and persuasive clearly setting out the rationale for the proposals and their anticipated outputs, outcomes, and impact . The alignment with national and local context was also comprehensive covering all the key policies, strategies and plans that were relevant to this proposal. Overall, the strategic fit section of the bid was very strong with minimal weaknesses. Economic Case: The evidence used gave quite a comprehensive of coverage of the bid and came from trusted date sources. However, some evidence had not been compared to national and other regional averages, which would have provided a clearer image of local issues and in particular, the scale of local issues. The bid provided a Theory of Change (TOC), however, to improve, outputs could have been quantified along with some outcomes and impacts. A counterfactual option of do nothing was provided and explored and a full business case with an appraisal of long list options provided. Page 13 of 50
Page 18
Evidence of the demand for a dance/activity centre was well demonstrated, however the analysis and evidence directly linking the bid to the local problems faced was slightly limited and unclear. This could have been strengthened. HMT Green book guidance was followed, however the inclusion of additional evidence to support the assumptions made would have strengthened the bid. Costs for each option and year were outlined, along with the specific costs for the preferred options. However, the bid incorrectly assumed 0% inflation for the year 22/23, inflation figures were sourced from multiple sources and methodology was unclear and inconsistent with the inflation forecast presented in the table. Although displacement may be low for the dance studio wellbeing value, it was assumed that 60% of UK adults were active and thus already gaining this wellbeing benefit, as the specific value was not just for dance participation but being active. There also was a risk of double counting using the wellbeing benefit for two activities; this should have been discussed but there was no framework to remove this. Deliverability: Overall, this was a thorough and mostly well-presented bid which helped give confidence over the project's deliverability. There were some key issues to highlight, however. There were no financial projections for when the facility became operational in its new form which would have been beneficial to see, above and beyond the chief financial officer commitment of the council to the scheme. The timetable for moving from the project's current status to having the construction contractors on site appeared ambitious, which would pose a risk to the grant conditions being met by 31 March 2025. Approximately 40% of the capital cost envelope and therefore 36% of the grant requested was attributable to risk, contingency and inflation allowances. Although this did not appear unreasonable given the heritage nature of the buildings, the relatively early stage of the project, and the prevailing economic environment, the mechanics of how the assumptions were applied to the costs were not particularly transparent. The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) section explored the outputs, outcomes, and impacts. Governance and resourcing high-level summaries were provided. Potential data sources were slightly unclear but were explained more in the M&E plan specific document, whilst potential data collection methods were fully explored. To improve, the objectives of the M&E activity could have been more clearly outlined. Page 14 of 50
Page 19
___________________________________________________________________ To: Economy and Regeneration Policy Board On: 23 May 2023 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: UK Shared Prosperity Fund – Year 1 Report ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This report provides an update on the first official year of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UK SPF) in Renfrewshire. The plan for the UK SPF was previously outlined in the Board Report of 22nd August 2022. 1.2 As planned, Renfrewshire Council commenced activity in 2 of the 4 thematic areas (Local Business and Multiply) in January 2023 with the other two themes commencing 1st April 2023 (Communities and Place and People and Skills). 1.3 The report summarises the UK Shared Prosperity Fund activity to the end of the financial year 22/23 and provides details of the ‘credible plan’, to the UK Government requesting carry forward of 22/23 underspend into 23/24. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Board notes the content of this report and: (i) the request to carry forward year 1 underspends into year 2; (ii) the request to move £220,000 from Multiply underspends in 22-23 to People and Skills in 23-24; (iii) the new requirements to support the Clyde Climate Forest project at the sum of £19,400 over two years (2023-25) ___________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 The Shared Prosperity Fund is a UK wide programme to replace EU funded programmes and to help the levelling up of the UK economy. Three years of funding have been announced for 2022-25 and Renfrewshire Council have been awarded £6,290,987 phased over three years. Within this figure £1,086,395 is specifically allocated to the Multiply Programme. 3.2 At the Economy and Regeneration Board meeting on 23rd August 2022 the board agreed: Item 3 EAR230523 Page 15 of 50
Page 20
that the SPF Regional Investment Plan will be developed as a Glasgow City Region (GCR) plan in conjunction with all 8 Member Authorities and with all necessary approvals at both regional and local level being in place prior to final submission at the end of August 2022. To approve an outline set of SPF funded proposals at Renfrewshire level which met the Fund’s objectives. 3.3 Formal approval of the GCR plan was received in December 2022 with funding released to Glasgow City Council, on behalf of the City Region, thereafter. 3.4 As part of the conditions of grant a report on activity and finance to the end of the financial year 22/23 is required. The report should also provide the UK Government (UKG) with the details of the ‘credible plan’, requesting carry forward of 22/23 underspend into 23/24. 4. Activity and Finance 2022-23 (Renfrewshire) 4.1 Renfrewshire Council activity is running to plan with the Multiply and Local Business (themes) commencing activity in January 2023 and People and Skills and Communities and Place commencing in April 2023. 4.2 During the first quarter £57,046 has been spent and claimed from SPF. The balance is requested to be accrued and spent in the 23-24 financial year. Progress includes: People & Skills: Started on 1st April 2023, all staff in post and all activity now being delivered. No expected issues or delays, expect 100% spend. Local Business: two staff still to be recruited, but otherwise all running to plan. Possible slight underspend on staffing but will increase grants as a result. Communities and Place: key projects all identified and staff recruitment in process. Multiply: The Multiply Co-ordinator is in post; college programmes have commenced (although with lower interest than expected); and a wide range of community-based provision has been co-commissioned through the Local Employability Partnership with delivery already started. 4.3 With only a few months to spend in the 2022-23 financial year then the remaining Renfrewshire allocation has been requested to move into the 2023- 24 financial year as outlined below: Table 1: SPF underspends 2022-23 Renfrewshire Underspend (capital) £ £66,000.00 Underspend (revenue) £ £545,328.00 Underspend (Multiply) £ £291,694.00 Reprofile £66,000.00 Reprofile £545,328.00 Reprofile (Multiply) £291,694.00 Page 16 of 50
Page 21
4.4 A number of amendments have been outlined in the critical plan: Communities and Place: Projects were previously listed under 7 interventions, this has now been streamlined to 4 (removing S5, S6, S8). All budgets and outcomes / outputs have also changed to reflect this. Multiply: Given the additional flexibility offered by UKG in relation to Yr1 Multiply underspend, Renfrewshire Council will allocate £220k underspend to People and Skills as follows: S48: Remove £20k underspend and allocate to People and Skills S32 S51: Remove £200k underspend and allocate to People and Skills S32 The overall outputs and outcomes for Multiply have been reduced accordingly. Reduction of match funding from £2,496,000 to £1,733,000 – primarily the removal of place-based investment match and a slight downsizing of the employability and business match funds. 5. Clyde Climate Forest and ‘Ninth’ Partner 5.1 The Clyde Climate Forest (CCF) will see 18 million trees planted in both urban and rural parts of Glasgow City Region over the next decade. The Clyde Climate Forest covers the eight regional local authorities of East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire. 5.2 The CCF has been endorsed by the Council Leaders of all eight authorities and will connect and enhance the woodland network across local authority boundaries benefiting people, wildlife and climate. 5.3 Following the instruction of the GCR CEOs’ (16 March ’23) options have been developed for UKSPF to fund the ongoing delivery of the Clyde Climate Forest (CCF) project. The £200,000 budget required has been allocated on a pro-rata basis (based on City Deal methodology) across the MAs and been remitted to the GCR Programme Management Office (PMO) to manage. Member Authority Percentage split £200k funding (2 years) East Dunbartonshire Council 5.90% £11,800 East Renfrewshire Council 5.20% £10,400 Glasgow City Council 34.10% £68,200 Inverclyde Council 4.30% £8,600 North Lanarkshire Council 18.50% £37,000 Renfrewshire Council 9.70% £19,400 South Lanarkshire Council 17.40% £34,800 West Dunbartonshire Council 4.90% £9,800 Table 2. CCF funding split by GCR Member Authority Page 17 of 50
Page 22
5.4 With the approval of GCR Cabinet (9 May ’23) the GCR PMO will operate as the ‘ninth’ partner in GCR UKSPF and will be responsible for the management and reporting of the CCF project. 5.5 A grant agreement is being developed with The Green Action Trust (GAT), as the agent for the ongoing delivery of the CCF. 6. Next Steps 6.1 The Renfrewshire 2022-23 report has been submitted to GCR to be combined with the other 7 reports from the other Managing Authorities. With the approval of the GCR CEG and GCR Cabinet, the 6-monthly report will be submitted to UKG on Tuesday 9 May. 6.2 UKG have indicated the GCR UKSPF Year 2 allocation (£19,284,451) will be transferred to GCR on approval of the ‘credible plan’ after which funds can be released to the local authorities. 6.3 Further reports on the progress of the UK SPF will be brought back to board in due course as the delivery plan proceeds. __________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – No additional finance is sought. All funding is accounted for within existing Council budgets. The report provides an update on the UK SPF. 2. HR & Organisational Development – SPF Funding will support a number of Council posts. 3. Community/Council Planning – Jobs and the Economy – Implementation of the recommendations of the report could support more investment and jobs within the local economy. 4. Legal – None. 5. Property/Assets – None. 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality & Human Rights (a) 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. 8. Health & Safety – None. 9. Procurement – None. Page 18 of 50
Page 23
10. Risk – Risk Action plans are in place for UK SPF. 11. Privacy Impact - None. 12. COSLA Policy Position – Not Applicable. 13. Climate Risk – UK SPF will support the councils Net Zero Business Grants programme ___________________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers UK Shared Prosperity Fund Update; Economy and Regeneration Board, 23rd August 2022 ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Ruth Cooper, Economic Development Manager Email: ruth.cooper@renfrewshire.gov.uk Page 19 of 50
Page 24
Page 20 of 50
Page 25
___________________________________________________________________ To: Economy and Regeneration Policy Board On: 23 May 2023 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Making of Ferguslie – Update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The purpose of this report is to inform the Economy and Regeneration Board of progress on delivery of the ‘Making of Ferguslie Park’ framework and Place Plan, including preparation of the Ferguslie ‘Green Line’ study which further develops the future place vision for the neighbourhood. 1.2 A copy of the Ferguslie Green Line Study can be viewed on the Renfrewshire Council webpage at https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/themakingof. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Board: (i) Notes strong progress in ‘early win’ actions supporting delivery of the Making of Ferguslie, as set out in section 4. (ii) Approves the Ferguslie ‘Green Line’ study as the basis for further development and delivery of the plan, including the preparation of bids for major capital funding streams, as set out in section 6. (iii) Authorises the Head of Economy and Development to undertake appropriate consultation and publicity with the local community and stakeholders to support further delivery of the plan. (iv) Notes that further progress on delivery of the plan will be reported to the Board as appropriate. Item 4 EAR230523 Page 21 of 50
Page 26
3. Background 3.1 The Communities, Housing and Planning Board of 30 October 2018 approved the preparation of a development framework for Ferguslie Park, supporting wider housing investment within the area. 3.2 The ‘Making of Ferguslie’ framework and Place Plan was subsequently developed in partnership with the local community and stakeholders through a series of consultation workshops and events over 2020 and 2021, with the finalised document approved by the Leadership Board on 1 December 2021. 3.3 The plan provides the basis for collaborative action by local residents, community groups and stakeholders, supported by the Council and Community Planning Partners, to deliver aspirations for Ferguslie Park over the next five to ten years. 3.4 The plan sets out a vision for Ferguslie Park as a ‘20’ minute neighbourhood - well connected with a variety of local greenspaces, facilities and activities which support a healthy and sustainable place. In this context it sets out a range of actions to reimagine underused land, enhance greenspaces, encourage creativity and support existing community initiatives. 4. Making of Ferguslie – Progress 4.1 Strong progress has been made on the delivery of initial phases of the plan and in particular actions which support ‘early wins’ to demonstrate progress. These include:- New Homes for the Community – Work is nearing completion on the construction of 101 new Council homes at the site of the former St Fergus Primary School at Blackstoun Road. The investment provides new modern, energy efficient homes for the neighbourhood and is an early signal of positive change for the area. Sculpture House – The refurbishment of Craigelea House at Blackstoun Road as an artist-in-residence studio and social space responds directly to the community priority of a space for arts, crafts and events within the plan. The project has returned an underused property to a positive use and led by the Sculpture House Collective, a group of artists who worked with local residents during the place planning work over 2020 and 2021, builds upon established relationships to provide inclusive cultural activities and opportunities for learning across the neighbourhood. Darkwood Community Growing Space – A new growing space on underused land adjacent to the ‘Village Green’ at Darkwood Crescent. Providing 20 raised beds, the project will create a space to learn, socialise and grow food that will enhance the capacity of community meals and market initiatives being run by local groups. Construction of the space is anticipated in late spring 2023, supported by the Scottish Government Place Based Investment Fund being delivered by the Regeneration and Place Team. Page 22 of 50
Page 27
Candren Burn Feasibility Study – SEPA have identified Candren Burn as a water body which could offer potential for improvement and through their Water Environment Fund are supporting Council officers to develop an initial feasibility study. The study aligns strongly with the place making aspirations of the plan and outcomes could provide multiple benefits, including improvements to the physical and ecological condition of water body and enhanced climate resilience. The study is anticipated to commence later this year and will be subject to consultation with local residents. Community Assets – Work has been progressed to consider further opportunities for community use of Council owned buildings within the neighbourhood, such as St Ninian’s Church Hall, including condition surveys to ensure that buildings are fit for purpose. While at an early stage, work is ongoing with local groups to consider these opportunities through the Community Asset Transfer process. ‘You Decide’ – Two projects within Ferguslie Park were successful as part of the Council’s ‘You Decide’ initiative, supporting local communities to identify capital projects within their neighbourhoods. The projects, which focus on improving access at Glencoats Park and the provision of additional play equipment at South Candren play area, align closely with the plan and complement ongoing delivery. 5. Ferguslie ‘Green Line’ 5.1 The Green Line is the key placemaking intervention within the Making Of framework and the central spine for the neighbourhood. A multi-functional space and green corridor, a key role of the Green Line is to support the reuse of vacant and derelict land within the neighbourhood, providing for high quality public realm and a focal point for activities. The Green Line will also support active travel routes enhancing connections within the neighbourhood and beyond. 5.2 Initial proposals for the Green Line have been developed to progress this key intervention and to further develop the place vision for the neighbourhood. Informed by the guiding principles and actions within the Making of Ferguslie plan, the Ferguslie Green Line study identifies designs for a series of character areas which include:- Neighbourhood Centre – Reuse of existing vacant land for active recreational uses, including a cycle ‘pump’ track and new games area, with enhanced connections to existing facilities around the Tannahill Centre; Sports Centre – Reimagining of land for informal recreation, aligning with existing sports uses within this area, including formalising existing designated Core Path Routes, creating a ‘trim trail’ and opportunities for outdoor exercise, with environmental enhancements and management of land for biodiversity; Page 23 of 50
Page 28
Candren – Reuse of vacant land as a nature reserve with environmental enhancements and management for biodiversity. Proposals include the potential to investigate the feasibility for ‘daylighting’ the Candren Burn, as set out in section 4 above; Belltrees – Reuse of area for ‘natural play’, with environmental enhancements and management for biodiversity. The opportunity may also exist to introduce additional residential uses to provide active frontage and surveillance for the area, with enhancements to key gateways at Millarston. 5.3 The study sets out a phased approach to delivery with a focus on the Neighbourhood Centre and Belltrees character areas as initial priorities. This aligns with the outcomes of the Making of Ferguslie in tackling long term areas of vacant and underused land within the neighbourhood. 6. Funding 6.1 Opportunities for future delivery of the plan have been informed by a review of major Scottish and UK capital funding programmes. These were reported to the Board on 14 June 2022 and include the Place Based Investment Fund, Vacant and Derelict Land Fund and Shared Prosperity Fund. 6.2 In particular, the report of 14 June 2022 highlights the opportunity for the submission of bids to the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund to support delivery of the Making of Ferguslie. In this context it is anticipated that a bid will be submitted to the next round of the Fund in June 2023 to support delivery of projects identified within the Green Line Study. 6.3 Budgets from the Council’s 2022/23 PBIF allocation have supported the delivery of early actions set out in section 4 above and an indicative budget of £100,000 from the Council’s 2023/24 Shared Prosperity Fund allocation has been identified to further support the positive outcomes to date. It is anticipated that the opportunity for further allocations from SPF and PBIF to support delivery of the plan will be explored over the coming years. 6.4 Positive discussions have also progressed with external funding partners and key agencies on potential opportunities to support delivery. As identified in section 4 above, funding has been secured from SEPA’s Water Environment Fund to explore the feasibility of enhancements at Candren Burn and early engagement with Sustrans is underway in respect of active travel opportunities. 6.5 Opportunities for private sector investment to support delivery of the plan, for example to provide residential or other appropriate land uses within the Tannahill area, will also continue to be explored. 7. Next Steps 7.1 To support further progress and delivery of actions from the Making Of Ferguslie, detailed designs are being progressed for the priority character areas of the Neighbourhood Centre and Belltrees identified in the Green Line study, in consultation with local residents, community groups and key stakeholders. Page 24 of 50
Page 29
7.2 Outcomes from this process will support further delivery of community priorities using allocated funding streams and providing the basis for preparation of bids to the major capital funding programmes identified in section 6 above, presenting the opportunity to deliver the plan at scale. Delivery will continue to be progressed in partnership with the local community and key stakeholders. 8. Progress and Reporting 8.1 Progress on delivery of the framework will be reported to the Board on a rolling basis and future projects brought forward for the Board’s consideration. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – None. 2. HR & Organisational Development – None. 3. Community Planning – Creating a sustainable Renfrewshire for all to enjoy – The plan supports the empowerment of local communities to become more involved in shaping their places. 4. Legal – None. 5. Property/Assets – None. 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality & Human Rights - (a) 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. 8. Health & Safety – None. 9. Procurement – None. 10. Risk – None. 11. Privacy Impact – None. 12. Cosla Policy Position – None. 13. Climate Risk – The framework will encourage sustainable neighbourhoods, sustainable links and enhancements to green space. Page 25 of 50
Page 30
________________________________________________________________ Appendices (a) The Making of Ferguslie (https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/themakingof) (b) Ferguslie Green Line Study (https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/themakingof) List of Background Papers (a) Housing Investment Strategy for the Tannahill Area, Ferguslie Park. Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, 30 October 2018. (b) Tannahill Area, Ferguslie Park – Update. Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, 27 October 2020. (c) Tannahill Area, Ferguslie Park – Housing Regeneration Update. Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, 18 May 2021. (d) The Making of Ferguslie Park – Development Framework. Leadership Board, 1 December 2021. (e) Regeneration Funding Bids Update. Economy and Regeneration Board, 14 June 2022. (f) Lease of Craigielea House, Blackstoun Road, Paisley. Infrastructure, Land and Environment Board, 15 June 2022. ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Euan Shearer, Regeneration and Place Manager Page 26 of 50
Page 31
___________________________________________________________________ To: Economy and Regeneration Policy Board On: 23 May 2023 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Scotland Loves Local Update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This report provides an update on the Scotland Loves Local scheme in Renfrewshire in respect of take-up and spend since its launch in 2021 and the Council’s recent decision to fund the scheme for financial year 23/24. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Board: (i) notes the content of this report; ___________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 The Scotland Loves Local campaign is a national initiative designed to encourage all those who live in Scotland to think and spend local. It was conceived as a way of ensuring that money in communities stays local for longer in regions across Scotland. Like any other gift card, users can choose the amount of money to load on the card. The only difference with this scheme is that it can only be spent within the recipient’s own local authority area – giving them an opportunity to support the businesses around them. Businesses in the local area need to sign up to be eligible for the scheme. 4 The Scheme in Renfrewshire 4.1 The Council signed up to the scheme in May 2021, which provided the Council with access to 5,000 physical gift cards, funded by the Scottish Government for a pilot period until December 2022. Item 5 EAR230523 Page 27 of 50
Page 32
4.2 Cards have been used to support various Council initiatives and promotions, including the Council’s support of Renfrewshire’s Business Awards, the Roccos. 4.3 Currently there are 123 businesses signed up to the scheme. These include a wide range of retailers including supermarkets, cafes, restaurants and pharmacies. A full list is provided within Appendix 1. 4.4 The scheme is administered by Miconex (who oversee the scheme nationally) who fully manages all operational functions of the gift card scheme. This includes fulfilling orders, managing Renfrewshire’s Loves Local website, managing merchants and providing customer service. 4.5 In total to date, £31,873 has been spent within Renfrewshire as a result of the scheme. Over half (54%) was spent in supermarket chains. A full break down of spend per retailer is found within Appendix 2. 4.6 The pilot period ended on 31st March 2023 (with Miconex subsidising the scheme between January and March 2023). To keep the scheme running in Renfrewshire, the Council’s Economic Development Team has provided funding from existing budgets for the annual licence fee of £9,000 to Micronex for financial year 2023/24. This will give the Council access to 5,000 physical cards per annum to distribute, as well as allowing people to purchase e-cards online. There is scope for the Council to purchase additional physical cards if required. 4.7 The fee also covers platform and operating costs as well as access to Miconex’s Customer Success Team who will work with the Council to support and grow the scheme. The Council also have the ability to veto certain operators and can target specific retailers to join up. To ensure businesses across Renfrewshire join Scotland Loves Local, internal resource from the Regeneration & Place and Economic Development Teams will work with Miconex to facilitate business engagement. To generate continued buy-in and an even spread across Renfrewshire’s towns and villages, a programme of active engagement will be required and will need to be sustained long-term. Organisations such as Paisley First and the Johnstone Business Consortium will be encouraged to actively promote the scheme in their respective areas. 5 Conclusion 5.1 The Council is fully supportive of the Scotland Loves Local Scheme and are keen to see it grow significantly across Renfrewshire. 5.2 A further report will be brought to Board to update members on its uptake and spend over this current financial year and whether there is value in continuing the scheme into financial year 2024/25. __________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – No additional finance is sought. All funding is accounted for within existing Council budgets. Page 28 of 50
Page 33
2. HR & Organisational Development – None. 3. Community/Council Planning – Jobs and the Economy - the scheme has the potential to secure additional income for Renfrewshire based businesses, which in turn could support more investment and jobs within the local economy. 4. Legal – None. 5. Property/Assets – None. 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality & Human Rights (a) 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. 8. Health & Safety – None. 9. Procurement – None. 10. Risk – None. 11. Privacy Impact - None. 12. COSLA Policy Position – Not Applicable. 13. Climate Risk – Not Applicable. ___________________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers None. ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Euan Shearer; Regeneration and Place Manager; Tel 0141 6184664. Email: euan.shearer@renfrewshire.gov.uk Page 29 of 50
Page 34
Appendix 1: Renfrewshire businesses currently signed up to Scotland Loves Local Scheme Merchant Name Merchant Address Adom Afro Paisley 46 High Street Paisley Aldi 009 - Paisley 4 Fulbar Rd, Paisley PA2 9AP, UK Aldi 012 - Erskine 1A, Bridgewater Shopping Centre, Erskine PA8 7AA, UK Aldi 055 - Renfrew 41 High St, Renfrew PA4 8QP, UK Aldi 085 - Johnstone Patons Mill Rp, High St, Johnstone PA5 8FB, UK Anderson’s Jewellery Workshop 38 High Street,Renfrewshire,PA7 5HR Argos A4155 Paisley Linwood Unit D, The Phoenix Retail Park, Linwood Road Paisley PA1 2AB Aspire Academy 17 Kelvin Avenue Hillington Industrial Estate Glasgow G52 4LT Aspire Academy Glasgow/Aspire Ind Services 17 Kelvin Avenue Hillington Industrial Estate Glasgow Glasgow City G52 4LT Aspire Industrial Services Ltd 17 Kelvin Avenue Hillington Glasgow Scotland G52 4LT Bailey’s Antiques 34 High Street Paisley Barrhead Travel service - Braehead Shopping Centre Unit 1, Intu Braehead Shopping Centre, King's Inch Road, Glasgow G51 4BN Baru Paisley 7B Moss Street Paisley Bears by Sue Quinn Threadbear, 25 Lawn Street, Paisley PA1 1HD Bella by Bella Beauty 26 Glasgow Road Paisley Bianco e Nero 27 Gauze Street Paisley Body Beautiful 172 Braehead road paisley Paisley Pa2 9qd Boots - Braehead Shopping Ctr - Kings Inch Road 68 Braehead Shopping Ctr, King's Inch Rd, Glasgow G51 4BP, UK Boots - High Street - Paisley 23 High St, Paisley PA1 2AF, UK Boots - Kings Inch Road - Glasgow 68 King's Inch Rd, Glasgow G51 4BP, UK Boots - Neilston Road - Paisley 6 Neilston Rd, Paisley PA2 6LN, U Boots - Netherhill Road - Paisley 66 Netherhill Rd, Paisley PA3 4RL, UK Boots Pharmacy - 142 Paisley Road - Renfrew 142, 144 Paisley Rd, Renfrew PA4 8DA, UK Boots Pharmacy - Central Road - Paisley 28 Central Rd, Paisley PA1 1EH, UK Boots Pharmacy - Clippens Road - Linwood Clippens Rd, Linwood, Paisley PA3 3PU, UK Boots Pharmacy - High St - Johnstone 52C High St, Johnstone PA5 8AN, UK Boots Pharmacy - Livery Walk 15 Livery Walk, Bridge of Weir PA11 3NN, UK Boots Pharmacy - Penilee Road - Paisley 5 Penilee Rd, Paisley PA1 3ES, UK Brew 3 County Sq, Paisley PA1 1BN, UK Brick Lane Studios Paisley 7 Weir St, Paisley PA1 1HJ, UK Brick Lane Studios/The Diane Mitchell Music School/Brick lane Studios Brick Lane Studios 7-9 Weir Street Paisley Renfrewshire Pa34dw Cafe Fairfull 12A High Street Paisley Page 30 of 50
Page 35
Merchant Name Merchant Address Cafe Su Cafe Su Unit4 InShops ThePaisley Cemtre 23 High St PA1 2AF Caffe Lusso 4 School Wynd, Paisley PA1 2DB Caleb Outlet 14B New St, Paisley PA1 1XY, UK CANCER RESEARCH UK GBR - Greenock 32 W Blackhall St, Greenock PA15 1UE, UK CANCER RESEARCH UK GBR - Johnstone Units 1&2, 40-41 Houston Court, Johnstone, PA5 8DL CANCER RESEARCH UK GBR - Paisley 43 Causeyside Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire, PA1 1YL Caprice Cafe Paisley 11 Gilmour Street Paisley Castelvecchi 10 New Street Paisley Cathay cuisine Chinese take away 16C Broomlands street Paisley Scotland PA1 2 LU Caulders Garden Centres Erskine Caulders Erskine Erskine Bridge Bishopton Erskine PA7 5PU Claire Reid Hairdressing 7 Mill Street Paisley Comicrazy 45 Old Sneddon Street Paisley Coverstitch The Paisley Centre, 23 High Street, Paisley Domino's Pizza - Bridgewater Shopping Centre Erskine Domino's Pizza Unit 9 Bridgewater Shopping Centre Erskine Scotland PA8 7AA Domino's Pizza - Gauze Street Paisley Domino's Pizza 41 Gauze Street Paisley Scotland PA1 1 1EX Domino's Pizza - Johnstone 11 Laighcartside Street Johnstone PA5 8BY Domino's Pizza - Renfrew 9 High Street Renfrew PA4 8QL Ecigarette Outlet 35 Causeyside Street Paisley Elixir Lounge Upper Floor, 12 New Street, Paisley Ellen Adams Hair 24 Glasgow Road Paisley Exotic kitchen paisley 23 Causeyside Street Paisley Scotland PA1 1UH Exotic kitchen Paisley Exotic kitchen paisley 23 causeyside streeet Paisley Scotland PA1 1UH FARMFOODS HILLINGTON 249 UNIT 1 EARL HAIG ROAD, HILLINGTON RETAIL PARK G52 4LY FARMFOODS PAISLEY 255 29 CAUSEYSIDE STREET PA1 1UL FARMFOODS RENFREW 250 5/6 HIGH STREET PA4 8QL Finishing Touches 7 Johnston Street Paisley Food At Underwood Unit 1A 35 Underwood Road Paisley Paisley PA3 1TQ Francis hair salon 3 Johnston Street Paisley Frangelinos Family Fish & Chip Shop 26 High Street Paisley Gael Home Interiors 4 Orchard Street Paisley Gantry 12 New St, Paisley, PA1 1XY Gillan Green Grocers The Paisley Centre, 23 High Street, Paisley Golddust House Fashion & Accessories 26 High Street Paisley H. Samuel - Braehead 38, Braehead Shopping Centre, Glasgow G51 4BP, HandCrafted Coffee 5 High Street Lochwinnoch PA12 4DB Harrods Drycleaners 8 Castle Terrace, Bridge of Weir, PA11 3EF Page 31 of 50
Page 36
Merchant Name Merchant Address Harvies Tobacconist 20 Moss St, Paisley PA1 1BL, UK Helen's Alterations Ltd 7 Lochleven Road Hiltons Hair & Beauty 8A St Mirren St, Paisley PA1 1UA, UK HMV/Sunrise Records and Entertainment Limited trading as HMV UNIT 167, BRAEHEAD CENTRE, KINGS INCH ROAD, GLASGOW, G51 4BN HOT Tanning Salon - 25199664 1470 Paisley Road West Glasgow G521sr Houston Kiltmakers 67 High Street Paisley Iceland 782-Paisley 86/74 Glasgow Road, Paisley, Strathclyde PA1 3PN ICELAND JOHNSTONE 1 Houston Square, 56/61 High St Johnstone, Paisley PA5 8QG ICELAND PAISLEY PIAZZA 1330 Unit 55, Piazza Shopping Centre, Paisley PA1 1EH InCube Shop 9b Gilmour Street Indian By Nature Paisley/Obsession of India 32 Moss Street Paisley IVAD Gifts 29 Gauze Street Paisley Jewelfare 44 High Street Paisley John Mckay Jewellers Paisley 53 Moss Street Paisley Johnstone Convenience Store 19 high street Johnstone Glasgow UK PA58JU Justyna Bespoke Tailoring & Alterations Ltd 150 Fenwick Road Katy hair&beauty salon 27 Wellmeadow Street Kenneth Edward Hair Salon 45 Causeyside Street, Paisley PA1 1YN Kiddie Boutique Unit 106 Braehead shopping Centre G51 4BS Kiddie Boutique /Baby boutique by Claire Unit 106 Braehead Shopping centre Kings inch road Glasgow Glasgow G51 4bs Kilts 4 u 2 Erskine Square Hillington Glasgow Glasgow G52 4BJ Kooks Hairdressing 22 New Street Paisley Lidl GB JOHNSTONE 1270 10 High Street, Johnstone PA5 8JX Lidl GB PAISLEY NORTH 1725 Renfrew Road Retail Park, Wallneuk Road, Paisley PA3 4BF mackenzie property and building services 18 oldhall rd, ralston, paisley pa1 3hl Marks and Spencer - Odstock Road - Paisley Odstock Road, Paisley PA3 2ST, UK Marks and Spencer Foodhall - Renfrew Retail Park - Paisley Unit 1, Renfrew Retail Park, Wallneuk Rd, Paisley PA3 4BF, UK Marks and Spencer Simply Food - Braehead Shopping Centre King's Inch Road Braehead Shopping Centre, Ripley, By-Pass, Glasgow G51 4BP, UK Marks and Spencer Simply Food - Glasgow Airport Glasgow Airport Priority Security, Glasgow Airport, Paisley PA3 2SW, UK McLaughlan and Co Jewellers 22 New Street Paisley Meat In The Middle 4 New Street Paisley Menace Continental Children's Wear 56B Causeyside Street Paisley Page 32 of 50
Page 37
Merchant Name Merchant Address Metalworx Paisley 42 High Street Paisley Morrisons Bed Centre 24 Lawn Street Paisley Mrs Party Ltd 5 Johnston Street Paisley Mrs Party Ltd 5 Johnston St, Paisley PA1 1XQ MULTAN Business ltd 21 Causeyside street Paisley Renfrewshire Scotland MULTAN Business ltd 16f Bridge street Linwood Renfrewshire Scotland Munchies at Leisureland 57 High Street Paisley Musclebound 14A New Street Paisley News Express Paisley 39 Causeyside Street Paisley Newsrack Paisley 69 High Street Paisley Noah Home and Gifts Ltd Braehead Shopping Centre Kings Inch Road Glasgow G51 4BN Nomads Coffee Shop 63 High Street Paisley. O'Neills Services Unit 43B The Piazza Centre, Paisley One O One 32 Kilbarchan Road 32 Kilbarchan Rd, Johnstone PA5 8RF Orchard Clinic Orchard Clinic 16 Orchard Street Paisley Renfrewshire PA1 1UZ Paisley Photoshop 10 Silk Street Paisley Paisley Picture Framers 56 Causeyside Street Paisley Trophy Centre 5 George Place Paisley Perfume Shop 66 Kings Inch Road Perfume Shop , Unit 160 Braehead Shopping Centre , Kings Inch Road G51 4BS Piccolo Mondo - Renfrew 63-65 Hairst St, Renfrew PA4 8QU Print and Copy It 61 High Street Paisley Print Centre (GREENLAW GRAPHICS LTD) 31 Gauze Street Paisley PROFIX 67 Causeyside Street PROFIX Paisey Renfrewshire PA1 1YT Pure Spa and Beauty- Renfrew Pure Spa and Beauty David Lloyds Arkleston Road Renfrew Renfrewshire PA4 0RA Rainbow Turtle 7 Gauze Street Paisley Remode 43b High Street Paisley Riverside Beauty Crowne Plaza, Congress Road Glasgow Renfrewshire G3 8QT RSA Your Local Shop 27 Moss Street Paisley Sainsburys - Kings Inch Road 110 Kings Inch Dr, Glasgow G51 4BT, UK Schuh Braehead, Glasgow SEMI CHEM 003319 - Johnstone Unit 1, 9 William Street, Johnstone SEMI CHEM 3479 - Paisley 44-46 Central Way Piazza SEMI CHEM 003517 - Renfrew 93 Paisley Road Sinclair's of Paisley 30A High Street Paisley Skystar Stores 225-229 Saracen Street Glasgow Glasgow City Council G22 5JW Smyths Toys Unit 22 Phoenix retail park Linwood Linwood road Glasgow Paisley PA12AB Snappy Shopper - Online Only Snt scot ltd trading as ice & cream 38A east Hamilton street Pa15 2td Spar - Erskine Bargarran Shopping Centre, Erskine PA8 6BS Spar - Lochwinnoch The Cross, Main St, Lochwinnoch PA12 4AH Page 33 of 50
Page 38
Merchant Name Merchant Address Specsavers - Braehead 110 Kings Inch Drive, Glasgow, G51 4BT St Vincent's Hospice Midton Road Howwood Johnstone Renfrewshire PA9 1AF Stack and Still Braehead Shopping Centre Unit 1C, King's Inch Rd Glasgow Scotland G51 4BP Star 84 Leisureland, 57 High Street, Paisley PA1 2AN Subway - Paisley Subway 20 High street Paisley Renfrewshire PA12BS Summits outdoor 36 moss street paisley PA1 1BA Sunset Beach - Hairst Street 59 Hairst Street Renfrew PA4 8QU Sunshine Electrical 3 Johnston Street Paisley Taste Buds 22A Lawn Street Paisley The Bankhouse 7 Gilmour Street Paisley The Grumpy Monkey Coffee House 22 Moss Street Paisley The Keg 15B Gilmour Street Paisley The Lane Paisley 7 Shuttle Street Paisley The Lion’s Paw 1 Morrison Place, Main Street, Bridge of Weir, pa11 3nu The Nail and Beauty Zone LTD/PURE Spa & Beauty PURE Spa & Beauty, David Lloyd, Arkleston Road, Cockleshill Park, Renfrew PA4 0RA The Ugly Duck 38 High Street Paisley ThreadEx 33b causeyside street, paisley pa11ul ThreadEx Beauty Salon Paisley Centre, 23 High Street, Unit 19k, Paisley pa12aq ThreadEx Nail & Beauty Piazza Centre, 15 Central Road, Kisok E, Paisley pa11el Tom Baird Opticians 5 High Street Paisley Paisley Renfrewshire PA1 2AE Tresspass - Braehead UNIT 103 BRAEHEAD SHOPPING CENTRE KINGS INCH ROAD G51 4BN TURNER RETAIL LTD/spar Glenburn spar 170 BREAHEAD ROAD Paisley Renfrewshire PA2 8QD What IF Paisley 25 Moss Street Paisley White Cart Co 30B High Street Paisley Wholesale Domestic Equipment compnay 400-406 Hillington Road, Hillington Estate, G52 4BL With Love Flowers 48 Causeyside St, Paisley PA1 1YH, UK WM Morrisons Ltd - Erskine Bridgewater SC GBR Bridgewater Shopping Centre, Renfrew PA8 7AA WM Morrisons Ltd - Johnstone GBR 30 Napier Street, Johnstone PA5 8SF WM Morrisons Ltd - Paisley Anchor Mills GBR Anchor Mill, Paisley PA1 1GZ WM Morrisons Ltd - Paisley Falside Rd GBR Falside Road, Paisley PA2 6JE WM Phelps Butchers 41 Causeyside Street Paisley Yellow Slate Design 8 Browns Lane Paisley Zambretto Italian 42-46 Old Sneddon St, Paisley Page 34 of 50
Page 39
Appendix 2: Scotland Loves Local (Renfrewshire) - Spend per business to date Retailer Number of times used Spend W M MORRISON STORE 203 £4,880.60 ALDI 9 777 77 £2,902.82 BOOTS UK ECOMM 67 £2,846.48 ONE O ONE CONVENIENCE 135 £2,259.13 MARKS&SPENCER PLC SF 49 £2,108.86 Snappy Shopper 68 £1,949.67 SAINSBURYS SUPERMA 40 £1,740.75 ICELAND 40 £1,314.15 Zambretto Italian 17 £1,245.99 MARKS&SPENCER PLC SACA 33 £1,042.18 ALDI 45 777 23 £906.58 ARGOS LTD 10 £671.48 ALDI 12 777 23 £622.50 DOMINOS 13 £529.17 ALDI 55 777 14 £517.70 SMYTHS TOYS LINWOOD PA 14 £516.94 FARMFOODS 249 13 £467.91 FARMFOODS 255 13 £441.72 WHITE CART 13 £429.60 SP SUNSET BEACH STOR 10 £424.39 BOOTS 15 £388.54 SAINSBURYS S/MKTS 25 £383.83 SEMI CHEM 3479 13 £381.41 The Ugly Duck 7 £272.10 ALDI 14 777 4 £259.16 FARMFOODS 250 9 £217.03 BOOTS 0583 11 £200.80 DOMINOS PIZZA 6 £166.13 ROWCOT LTD 2 £150.00 The Bankhouse 2 £105.90 WHOLESALE DOMESTIC 1 £105.00 HILTONS HAIR AND BEAUT 1 £100.00 MORRISONS BED CENTRE 1 £100.00 WITH LOVE FLOWERS 1 £100.00 ALDI 29 777 1 £96.74 IVAD GIFTS 6 £94.32 GAEL HOME INTERIORS 1 £88.96 ALDI 33 777 2 £87.73 CAFE FAIRFULL 5 £87.40 Claire Reid Hairdress 2 £85.00 GREENLAW GRAPHICS LTD 1 £84.00 ALDI 76 777 3 £72.95 M AND A CASTLEVECCHI 4 £70.00 SQ *WHAT IF 2 £56.00 Page 35 of 50
Page 40
Retailer Number of times used Spend LIDL GB PAISLEY NORTH 2 £54.77 BREW 4 £43.25 The Grumpy Monkey 2 £31.00 PRINT & COPY I.T. 3 £30.00 CAULDERS ERSKINE 1 £27.00 Taste Buds 1 £19.45 SQ *HANDCRAFTED COFFEE 1 £15.00 BOOTS 5723 1 £14.97 BIANCO NERO 2 £11.70 BOOTS 5719 2 £10.98 ALDI 20 777 1 £10.59 HMV-BRAEHEAD 1 £10.00 TOM BAIRD 1 £10.00 SumUp *ReMode Renfrew 1 £5.00 THE KEG 2 £5.00 LIDL GB JOHNSTONE 1 £2.77 £31,873.10 Page 36 of 50
Page 41
To: Economy and Regeneration Policy Board On: 23 May 2023 __________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Town Centre Vacancy Taskforce - update 1. Summary 1.1 The report outlines current officer thinking on this initiative and recommends next steps for Board approval __________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Board: i. Approve the Taskforce scope and remit as outlined in the report and agree the next steps as set out in section 8; ii. Notes that the recommendations of the Taskforce will report back to a future Council Board; 3. Background 3.1 In January 2023 the Economy and Regeneration Board was presented with an amendment seeking that: “a Town Centre Vacancy Taskforce, consisting of relevant officers, be formed with a specific remit to examine the barriers to occupancy and letting, bringing forward potential policy changes that assist in removing identified barriers, promoting vacancies which were market ready and identifying actions for those which were not.” 3.2 This amendment was agreed by the Board and the Head of Economy & Development was asked to consider the amendment and report back to the Board in due course. Item 6 EAR230523 Page 37 of 50
Page 42
3.3 When it comes to defining “town centres”, Renfrewshire’s adopted Local Development Plan (2021) has the following planning policy allocations: Strategic Centres – Paisley and Braehead; Core Town Centres – Linwood; Renfrew; Johnstone; Erskine 4. Objectives of Town Centre Vacancy Taskforce 4.1 The following objectives have been drawn up by officers in response to the Board’s decision to create a Taskforce: Agree the principal challenges facing Renfrewshire town centres (listed above) in 2023, noting that this will almost certainly differ between centres; Identify the barriers to occupancy / letting of currently vacant ground floor commercial units; Produce a strategy for the promotion of occupiable vacant units for each centre, noting that interventions may vary between the six centres; Produce an action plan for those vacancies which are not market ready [action plans may need to vary by centre] Establish “task and finish” bespoke groups for each of six centres, reporting to a core Steering Group of senior officers; 5. Taskforce Steering Group and Stakeholder participation 5.1 The intention would be to keep the Steering Group of the relevant officers for the Taskforce to a small number to ensure it can maximise ability to liaise and co-ordinate outputs. 5.2 The proposed Steering Group membership is outlined below, and all these officers have been made aware of this request and indicated their support for the initiative. Other officers can be asked to contribute as and when required as the initiative develops. Head of Economy and Development (lead officer) Head of Finance; Streetscene Manager Regeneration and Place Manager; Principal Estates Surveyor; Housing Regeneration and Development Manager; 5.3 The list of stakeholders which the Steering Group will engage with to meet the objectives set out above include: Paisley First Johnstone Business Consortium a selection of agents currently marketing vacant premises in each centre (for Braehead and Erskine, which are principally in single ownership, this would be one agent); a selection of potential occupiers (including some engaged in Start-Up Street initiatives in Renfrewshire); a sample of owners of property not yet in occupiable condition in terms of barriers to their investment; Page 38 of 50
Page 43
6. Potential incentivisation 6.1 Members may recall that Board agreed a report in March 2023 seeking to set aside £250,000 from the Local Authority Covid Economic Recovery Fund to invest in vacant town centre property across Renfrewshire. 6.2 Our intention would be for the Taskforce to come forward with recommendations as to how this funding should be directed to assist in meeting the objectives outlined. This would be the subject of a future report to Board for their approval. 7. Scale of vacant properties by Renfrewshire centre 7.1 At March 2023 it is estimated that there are approximately 40 ground floor commercial units across Renfrewshire’s town centres which are vacant and immediately available to occupy. A summary of these by centre is set out in Table 1 (below). Members will appreciate these numbers are reflective of the date of last survey, as units may have been occupied or become vacant since this data was gathered. 7.2 It is estimated that there will be a similar number (or more) which are vacant but not in a condition to be occupied. This latter statistic will need to be confirmed during the work of the Taskforce. 7.3 This assessment only includes those premises in public street facing premises within designated town centres. It does not include those within purpose-built shopping centres such as Piazza Centre, Paisley Centre or Braehead. The Taskforce in due course will have to reach a view on whether to recommend that any incentivisation proposals apply to such centres. It also does not include any properties owned by the Council as the Council is already aware of all the issues regarding those. Most Council owned ground floor commercial properties are located in Johnstone town centre. Centre Number of vacant and immediately available to occupy ground floor premises JOHNSTONE 11 properties PAISLEY 23 properties RENFREW 6 properties ERSKINE No applicable properties in town centre as all occupiable properties currently operating as such LINWOOD No applicable properties in town centre as all occupiable properties currently operating as such 8. Next steps 8.1 An initial meeting of the Taskforce Steering Group has taken place and stakeholder consultation is expected to commence shortly. 8.2 A report will be brought back to the August 2023 meting of the Board to confirm the proposed strategy and recommendations for how the incentivisation process could operate. At the same time, we will be able to update on the outcome of the stakeholder consultation and the latest position regarding the vacancies for each centre. ___________________________________________________________________ Page 39 of 50
Page 44
Implications of the Report 1. Financial – Any financial implications would be within existing approved budgets. . 2. HR and Organisational Development – None. 3. Community Planning Our Renfrewshire is thriving – delivering more vibrant town centres will increase economic activity reduce vacancy. This will improve perceptions and increase footfall in centres. Reshaping our place, our economy, and our future – by facilitating investment in our town centres we will help create new businesses with employment opportunities for our residents and potential supply chain connections for our existing businesses; 4. Legal – None. 5. Property/Assets – Any Council owned vacant commercial properties that are immediately available for occupation are marketed by the Council on an ongoing basis. It is not expected that these will be included in any incentivization initiative. 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 because for example it is for noting only. 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. 8. Health & Safety – None. 9. Procurement – None. 10. Risk – None. 11. Privacy Impact – None. 12. COSLA Policy Position – None. 13. Climate Risk – None. __________________________________________________________________ Page 40 of 50
Page 45
List of Background Papers (a) Local Authority Covid Economic Recovery Funding; Economy & Regeneration Board; 14 March 2023 ________________________________________________________ Author: Alasdair Morrison, Head of Economy and Development Alasdair.morrison@renfrewshire.gov.uk (Tel: 0141 618 4664) Page 41 of 50
Page 46
Page 42 of 50
Page 47
___________________________________________________________________ To: Economy and Regeneration Policy Board On: 23 May 2023 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Regeneration Funding Bids Update 2023 ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This report updates the Board on progress in respect of external funding bids and delivery of key regeneration projects and presents the programmes being developed in 2023. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Board: (i) Approves the list of proposed RCGF bids for 2024 for Renfrewshire; (ii) Notes the progress and continuing actions to deliver projects from the range of regeneration funds identified in the report. 3. Background 3.1 In recent years the funding of regeneration projects has been reliant on support from national government (and other external sources), often with ‘match- funding’ coming from the Council. A report to the Economy and Regeneration Board of 14 June 2022 outlined the range of external capital funds available and programmes under development. 3.2 In this context and over the past year officers have continued to progress various regeneration projects, programmes and strategies with the support of external funding from the UK and Scottish Governments as well as statutory bodies such as Visit Scotland and SEPA. This has supported our efforts to regenerate and revitalise our town centres, support our communities and promote sustainable economic growth and development across Renfrewshire. 3.3 This report details the various funding streams which the Council have accessed and applied to over the past 12 months. Item 7 EAR230523 Page 43 of 50
Page 48
4 Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (Scottish Government) 4.1 The Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) is one of the longest running funds available to local authorities having been offered annually since 2014. Renfrewshire Council has previously secured support from this fund for the Russell Institute, Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub and Paisley Museum. 4.2 The RCGF has also supported projects led by community led organisations (with the grant being passed to the Council to manage), such as those promoted by Linwood Community Development Trust, Active Communities, Johnstone and most recently the PACE Youth Theatre in Paisley. 4.3 The RCGF is an annual competitive fund open to all 32 Scottish local authorities. The fund is always heavily subscribed, meaning that many projects that are put forward are not funded. 4.4 Officers are now considering applications to Stage 1 of the 2024 scheme. The projects proposed are shown below and have been identified on a similar basis to those previously reported to Board for the Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP), again seeking to align with existing Council strategies and community led proposals and plans. Table 2 Proposed 24/25 RCGF Application Projects Potential RCGF Projects Location Summary Erskine TC Improvements Erskine Creator of incubator / business space within Erskine TC. Foxbar Community Growing Space - £240K Foxbar, Paisley Development of a new community growing space at the site of the former St Paul’s PS site in Foxbar, supporting delivery of a key priority from the community led Foxbar Local Place Plan. The project supports wider regeneration outcomes in relation to promoting active lifestyles, contribution to net zero targets and community food growing. Castle Semple – Extension to visitor centre Lochwinnoch Applied for previously but not successful. Application to be tweaked and consider recent consultation / visioning. Ferguslie Park – The Making Of Ferguslie, Paisley Development at ‘Neighbourhood Centre’ zone including Pump (cycle) Track, supporting delivery of a key priority from the community led ‘Making of Ferguslie’ Local Place Plan. Page 44 of 50
Page 49
4.5 In addition, officers are currently progressing work to review and refresh the Council’s town centre strategies, with an initial focus on Johnstone and Erskine. Officers are also continuing to work with the owner of the Paisley Centre in terms of their plans for redevelopment. Outcomes from this work will support a series of priorities, actions and projects which are anticipated to form the basis of applications to future rounds of RCGF. 5 Place Based Investment Programme (Scottish Government) 5.1 Since 2019 the Council have used funding from the PBIP (and its previous iteration, the Town Centre Regeneration Fund) to accelerate capital investment, supporting delivery of actions within our town centre strategies, community led regeneration proposals and community led place plans such as the Making of Ferguslie, to accelerate the Council’s overall placeshaping agenda. 5.2 Through this fund the Council have supported and delivered a wide range of projects across Renfrewshire including community led projects such as the creation of a community well-being hub and bike shop, restoration of various listed buildings and vacant commercial units as well as enhancements to public realm. 5.3 The Council’s 22/23 PBIP funding totalled £1.038m, with £720k expected for 2023/24. The following table sets out the projects allocated for 2022/23, which continue to closely align with progressing the Council’s placeshaping strategy as identified above. Table 1 Place Based Investment Fund Projects 2022/23 awards, summary update at May 2023 Project summary Design Tender On-site Complete 1. Dunlop Crescent, Renfrew – refit of vacant shop unit June 2023 September 2023 2. Future Paisley – Sculpture House - Support for restoration of Craigielea House in Ferguslie to create an artist in residence studio and community social space 3. Prominent Building Repair – Urgent repairs to former Renfrew Police Station 4. Lighting Programme - extending work on town centre lighting - buildings, lanes and spaces using LED technology i. Paisley Abbey June 2023 August 2023 September 2023 November 2023 ii. Tweedie Hall June 2023 August 2023 September 2023 November 2023 Page 45 of 50
Page 50
Project summary Design Tender On-site Complete 5. Houston Arcade - refit of vacant shop units June 2023 September 2023 6. Ferguslie Park – Delivery of early actions from Making of Ferguslie Local Place Plan, including development of new community growing space May 2023 June 2023 7. Public Realm - new pavements on Paisley High Street as part of the TH CARS heritage programme June 2023 8. PACE Youth Theatre – Works to redevelop former Mannequins night club into a new community theatre June 2023 September 2023 6 Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (Visit Scotland) 6.1 In March 2022, the Council successfully applied to Visit Scotland to receive funding from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF) to produce an infrastructure plan for Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park. The plan focuses primarily on Castle Semple but also includes Muirshiel Country Park and strategic linkages to Renfrewshire’s towns and villages. 6.2 The plan (expected to be completed in May 2023) will be used as the basis for funding applications and delivery of future infrastructure to alleviate visitor pressure points, enhance experience and bolster Renfrewshire’s rural destination offer. Key projects within the plan include potential new bike hub and changing space at the Castle Semple Visitor Centre and a play space at the Muirshiel Country Park Visitor Centre. 7 Water Environment Fund (SEPA) 7.1 SEPA have identified Candren Burn within Ferguslie Park as a water body which could offer potential for improvement and are keen to work with the Council to develop an initial feasibility study, with financial support from their Water Environment Fund (WEF). The role of the Regeneration and Place team in supporting development of such a study was noted by the Board on 14 June 2022. 7.2 The feasibility study aligns strongly with the place making aspirations of the ‘Making of Ferguslie’ Local Place Plan and outcomes could provide multiple benefits, including improvements to the physical and ecological condition of water body and enhanced climate resilience. The study is anticipated to commence later this year and will be subject to consultation with local residents. Page 46 of 50
Page 51
8 Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (Scottish Government) 8.1 The Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP) is a multi-year Scottish Government fund which supports the transformation and reuse of long term vacant and derelict sites. 8.2 A report to Board of 14 June 2022 noted the opportunity for the submission of a bid to the fund to support delivery of the Making of Ferguslie Local Place Plan, in view of the significant areas of vacant and underused land within the Ferguslie Park area. 8.3 A separate paper to the 23 May 2023 Economy and Regeneration Board provides an update on the Making of Ferguslie and in this context it is anticipated that a bid will be submitted to the next round of the fund in June 2023 to support delivery of the plan. 9 Levelling Up Fund (UK Government) 9.1 Last year the Council submitted a Round 2 bid to the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF) to develop a community hub in Renfrew. This was ultimately unsuccessful and further details on the bid and next steps can be found in the Levelling Up Fund Bid 2022 – Renfrew Community Hub Update paper which has been submitted under separate cover to the Economy & Regeneration Board. 10 Heritage funding (Historic Environment Scotland, National Lottery Heritage Fund) 10.1 Last year the Council submitted applications to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to fund the development phase of the ‘Renfrewshire Villages Loop: Kilbarchan to Johnstone. Reviving Dynamic Heritage’ project. Unfortunately, these applications were unsuccessful with the funders having concerns over the scale and deliverability of a two-centre vision for the project. 10.2 Officers have subsequently held discussions with both funders, who have indicated that Johnstone could benefit from an area-based scheme to complement the emerging review and refresh of the Johnstone Centre Strategy. In this context HES have encouraged the Council to consider submitting an Expression of Interest for Johnstone to the next round of Heritage & Place Programme funding, the dates of which are due to be announced in May 2023. 10.3 In Kilbarchan, subject to further investigation of the works required and a sustainable end use for the building being identified, HES have indicated scope for the Council to submit an Expression of Interest for the Steeple Buildings to their newly launched Historic Environment Grants Programme. This would potentially align with the recent Council motion to investigate further the feasibility of the transformation of the Steeple Hall into an outreach Museum linked to Paisley Museum which will complement activities at the Weavers Cottage. Page 47 of 50
Page 52
11 Shared Prosperity Fund (UK Government) 11.1 The Council have received funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF). Further details can be found in the UK Shared Prosperity Fund – Year 1 Report paper which is dealt with in a separate Board report. 11.2 The Regeneration and Place Team are leading on the Communities and Place element of the fund, and it is planned to use funding to supplement the Councill’s new Sustainable Communities Fund; to fund strategy and feasibility work; and help deliver elements of projects such as the Ferguslie “Making Of” neighbourhood plan. 12 Next Steps 12.1 The range of projects and funding applications identified within this report will be progressed by officers to support the Council’s wider placeshaping agenda and associated strategies, plans and community led regeneration activity, as set out above. Additional sources of external funding will also continue to be investigated as they become available. 12.2 Progress on funding applications and delivery of associated actions will be reported to Board at regular intervals and as appropriate. _____________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – No additional finance is sought. All funding is accounted for within existing Council budgets and external funding. 2. HR & Organisational Development – None. 3. Community/Council Planning – Creating a Sustainable Renfrewshire for all to enjoy – delivery of projects and submission of funding applications supports the Council’s wider placeshaping agenda, improving quality of place, our neighbourhoods and town centres. 4. Legal – None. 5. Property/Assets – None. 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality & Human Rights (a) 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 Page 48 of 50
Page 53
have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. 8. Health & Safety – None. 9. Procurement – None. 10. Risk – None. 11. Privacy Impact - None. 12. COSLA Policy Position – Not Applicable. 13. Climate Risk – Not Applicable. ___________________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers (a) Regeneration Funding Bids Update 2022. Economy and Regeneration Policy Board, 14 June 2022. ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Euan Shearer; Regeneration and Place Manager; Tel 0141 6184664. Email: euan.shearer@renfrewshire.gov.uk Page 49 of 50
Page 54
Page 50 of 50