Civic Hospitality
Renfrewshire Council · 11 September 2025
Back to Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board — 11 September 2025 and its agenda
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_________________________________________________________________ To: Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board On: 11 September 2025 __________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Finance and Resources __________________________________________________________________ Heading: Civic Hospitality __________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The following requests for civic hospitality have been received for the financial year 2025/26 a) Following on from the recent decision at Full Council on 26th June 2025 to fly the Renfrew Burgh flag from the flagpoles at Renfrew Town Hall, an accompanying civic reception was arranged. The civic reception and flag raising took place on Thursday 31st July for approximately 100 people at Renfrew Town Hall. Following consultation with the Provost, it was agreed to provide hospitality in the form of tea/coffee and cake and the Head of Corporate Governance used his delegated authority to approve the request and made the necessary arrangements at the cost of £688. b) A request was received from Lochfield Bowling Club Ladies section, in relation to their 90th anniversary.celebrations, suggesting the possibility of some assistance for civic hospitality. Following consultation with the Provost, it was agreed to provide a contribution of £500 towards the cost of their civic reception and the Head of Corporate Governance used his delegated authority to approve the request and made the necessary arrangements. c) Johnstone Burgh Football Club following years of hard work by the players, staff and volunteers, recently won the Scottish Junior Cup Final when playing against Tranent on Sunday 1st June 2025. This is the first time since 1968 that the club have lifted the cup. The possibility of a civic reception to celebrate their achievements on Saturday 11th October in Johnstone Town Hall was proposed.
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Following consultation with the Provost, it is proposed the Board agree to provide hospitality in the form of a 3 course meal with welcome drink for approximately 120 at the cost of £4000 and that it be delegated to the Director of Finance & Resources in consultation with the Provost to make the necessary arrangements. d) Correspondence has been received from the Paisley & District Battalion of the Boys Brigade requesting civic hospitality to accompany their presentations for the King’s Badge Awards on Tuesday 30th September 2024. They have suggested the possibility of a civic reception for the 25 young people and their families at Houston and Killellan Kirk, Houston. Following consultation with the Provost, it is proposed that the Board agree to provide a contribution of £500 towards the cost of tea/coffee and cake and that it be delegated to the Director of Finance & Resources in consultation with the Provost to make the necessary arrangements. e) Correspondence has been received from 14th Paisley Company of the Boys Brigade in relation to their 125th anniversary. They have suggested the possibility of a civic reception in the form of a three course meal for approximately 60 people on Saturday 4th October 2025. Following consultation with the Provost, it is proposed that the Board agree to provide hospitality as detailed above at the cost of approximately £1200 and that it be delegated to the Director of Finance & Resources in consultation with the Provost to make the necessary arrangements. f) Correspondence has been received from Paisley Abbey in relation to their Founders Festival, a four day festival celebrating the founding of Paisley Abbey as a Cluniac Priory by the High Steward of Scotland from 9th – 12th October 2025. On the first day they have arranged a Cluniac Conference, the following evening they will officially launch the Founders Festival. Paisley Abbey have suggested the possibility of a civic reception to welcome their international visitors in the form of a dinner in the Abbey after the conference for approximately 35 people with a wine reception the following evening for the launch of the festival for 100 people. Following consultation with the Provost, it is proposed that the Board agree to provide hospitality as detailed above at the cost of approximately £2800 and that it be delegated to the Director of Finance & Resources in consultation with the Provost to make the necessary arrangements. g) Correspondence has been received from Howwood Community Council in relation to the unveiling of a new plaque to commemorate American Pilot Herman Jack Carey a Second Lieutenant Pilot killed in active duty shortly after departing Renfrew Airport in 1943. The Community Council have suggested a small buffet reception following this rededication service to be held at the Howwood Inn for approximately 60 people at the cost of approximately £700.
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Following consultation with the Provost, it is proposed that the Board agree to provide hospitality as detailed above and that it be delegated to the Director of Finance & Resources in consultation with the Provost to make the necessary arrangements. h) Each year the Provost holds an annual Christmas card competition which is open to all of Renfrewshire’s Primary Schools. The schools submit artwork to win a chance to be the official Christmas card sent by the Provost and to officially switch on the Christmas Lights in the three larger towns of Renfrew, Paisley & Johnstone. In thanks and appreciation for this the winner of the Renfrew switch-on will attend a carol concert hosted by the Provost for the community and the winners of the Paisley and Johnstone switch-ons will be taken out for a celebratory tea and cakes where their finished card is presented to them, along with a small gift as a token for the winner’s achievement. Following consultation with the Provost, it is proposed that the Board agree to provide a contribution towards the cost of hospitality for the Carol Concert in the form of tea/coffee and mince pies for 100, the additional hospitality as detailed above for the Paisley and Johnstone switch-on winners and a small gift for each of the three winners at the approximate cost of £750 and that it be delegated to the Director of Finance & Resources in consultation with the Provost to make the necessary arrangements. i) Correspondence has been received from Renfrewshire Carers Centre in relation to their 30th Anniversary. They have requested the possibility of a hot buffet to accompany their event in Paisley Town Hall on Friday 26th January 2026 for approximately 200 people. Following consultation with the Provost, it is proposed that the Board agree to provide a contribution of £1500 towards the cost of the hospitality as detailed above and that it be delegated to the Director of Finance & Resources in consultation with the Provost to make the necessary arrangements. j) Correspondence has been received from Paisley & District Short Carpet Bowling Association Ladies Section in relation to their 40th Anniversary suggesting the possibility of a civic reception in the form of a buffet for approximately 130 people to be held in Charleston Bowling Club on 14th November 2025. Following consultation with the Provost, it is proposed that the Board agree to provide a contribution of £1000 towards the cost of the hospitality as detailed above and that it be delegated to the Director of Finance & Resources in consultation with the Provost to make the necessary arrangements. 1.2 The budget provision for 2025/26 for Civic Hospitality (including international Links) is £46,460. Should the above be agreed, and taking account of previous decisions, the remaining balance would be approximately £10,900
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2. Recommendations 2.1 That the Board agrees to: (a) provide the hospitality as detailed above for Johnstone Burgh Football Club, Paisley & District Battalion of the Boys Brigade, 14th Paisley Company of the Boys Brigade, Paisley Abbey, Howwood Community Council, the Christmas Card Competition winners and Carol Concert, Renfrewshire Carers Centre and Paisley & District Short Carpet Bowling Association Ladies Section and; (b) that it be delegated to the Director of Finance & Resources in consultation with the Provost to make the necessary arrangements. 2.2 That the Board note the action taken by the Head of Corporate Governance in terms of his delegated authority in respect of the Renfrew Burgh Flag Raising and the 90th Anniversary of Lochfield Bowling Club Ladies Section. Implications of the Report 1. Financial – The costs of the request from civic hospitality will be met from the 2025/26 budget provision. 2. HR & Organisational Development – None. 3. Community/Council Planning – Civic receptions provide recognition of the contributions made by individuals and organisations to the fabric of life in Renfrewshire. 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. Climate Risk – None.
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13. Children’s Rights – Not applicable. 14. Cosla Policy Position – Not applicable. __________________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers (a) Background Paper 1 – Email correspondence in relation to the Renfrew Burgh Flag Raising (b) Background Paper 2 – Email correspondence in relation to the Lochfield Bowling Club Ladies Section (c) Background Paper 3 – Email correspondence in relation to the Johnstone Burgh Football Club (d) Background Paper 4 – Email correspondence from Paisley & District Battalion of the Boys Brigade (e) Background Paper 5 – Email correspondence from 14th Paisley Company of the Boys Brigade (f) Background Paper 6 – Email correspondence from Paisley Abbey (g) Background Paper 7 – Email correspondence from Howwood Community Council (h) Background Paper 8 – Email correspondence from Renfrewshire Carers Centre (i) Background Paper 9 – Email correspondence from Paisley & District Short Carpet Bowling Association Ladies Section The foregoing background papers will be retained within Finance & Resources for inspection by the public for the prescribed period of four years from the date of the meeting. The contact officer within the service is Donna Gallagher, Member Services Officer (Telephone – 0141 487 1115, e-mail – donna.gallagher- pt@renfrewshire.gov.uk Author: Donna Gallagher – Member Services Officer. Tel: 0141 487 1115 E-mail donna.gallagher-pt@renfrewshire.gov.uk