4 - Civic Hospitality
Renfrewshire Council · 8 June 2023
Back to Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board — 8 June 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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_________________________________________________________________ To: Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board On: 8 June 2023 __________________________________________________________________ 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 2023/24. a) Correspondence was received from our twin town in Fürth, Germany to advise that they have a local Artist and Photographer who is producing a worldwide exhibition project for the German Railway Museum and would like to photograph Paisley Gilmour Street station as part of this project. It was proposed that during this visit a lunch be provided to welcome our twin town visitors at Pendulum in Paisley. Following consultation with the Provost, the Head of Corporate Governance used his delegated authority to approve the request and made the necessary arrangements for a lunch on 18th April at the cost of £88.90. b) Correspondence was received from Dates-n-Mates in relation to sponsoring a table for Renfrewshire members of the service on the occasion of their Gala Awards Dinner. Dates-n-Mates is Scotland’s only friendship and dating agency run by and for adults with learning disabilities. Following consultation with the Provost, the Head of Corporate Governance used his delegated authority to approve the request and made the necessary arrangements to sponsor a table of 10 Renfrewshire residents at the cost of £400 on Monday 15th May 2023.
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c) Correspondence has been received from the Salvation Army in Erskine suggesting the possibility of a contribution towards civic hospitality at the Salvation Army’s local headquarters in Erskine on 12th August 2023 in celebration of their 30th anniversary. Following consultation with the Provost, it is proposed that the Board agree to provide a contribution towards hospitality in the form of a buffet for 40 people at a cost of approximately £350 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 Caledonia Bowling Club suggesting the possibility of a contribution towards civic hospitality in the form of a dinner for 100 people at St Mirren Football Club on Friday 3rd November 2023 in celebration of their 150 anniversary. Following consultation with the Provost, it is proposed that the Board agree to provide a contribution towards hospitality as detailed above at a cost of approximately £3000 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 Spateston Bowling Club in relation to their 40th anniversary. They have suggested the possibility of a civic reception in the form of a buffet and welcome drink for approximately 100 people to be held at their club grounds on Saturday 22nd July 2023. Following consultation with the Provost, it is proposed that the Board agree to provide hospitality as detailed above at a cost of approximately £1000 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 the Paisley & District Battalion of the Boys Brigade requesting civic hospitality to accompany their presentations for the Queen’s Badge and Duke of Edinburgh Awards on Wednesday 27th September 2023. They have suggested the possibility of a civic reception for 175 people at one of the Boys Brigade Churches within Renfrewshire. Following consultation with the Provost, it is proposed that the Board agree to provide hospitality in the form of light refreshments at a cost of approximately £1600 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 J G Fleming Bowling Club in relation to their 125th anniversary. They have suggested the possibility of a civic reception in the form of a buffet with welcome drink for approximately 80 people to be held at their club grounds on Sunday 2nd July 2023.
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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. h) Correspondence has been received from Johnstone & District Ladies Bowling Association in relation to their 50th anniversary. They have suggested the possibility of a civic reception in the form of a meal with welcome drink for approximately 80 people to be held at the J G Fleming Clubhouse on Saturday 26th August 2023. 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. i) Hands Up for Trad in partnership with Renfrewshire Council are hosting this year’s prestigious Scot’s Language Awards on 16th September 2023 at Johnstone Town Hall. The ceremony recognises the efforts and work of the people and organisations past and present who champion our unique music, culture and words. It is suggested that a drinks reception be provided to welcome our guests to Renfrewshire. Following consultation with the Provost, it is proposed that the Board agree to provide a drinks reception 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. j) Correspondence has been received from Johnstone Phoenix Theatre Group in relation to their 60th anniversary. They have suggested the possibility of a civic reception of a meal with welcome drink for approximately 70 people to be held at the Glynhill Hotel on Friday 18th August 2023. Following consultation with the Provost, it is proposed that the Board agree to provide hospitality as detailed above at the cost of approximately £2450 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 2022/23 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 £26,200.
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2. Recommendations 2.1 That the Board agrees to: (a) provide the hospitality as detailed above for the Erskine branch of the Salvation Army, Caledonia Bowling Club, Spateston Bowling Club, Paisley & District Battalion of the Boys Brigade, J G Fleming Bowling Club, Johnstone & District Ladies Bowling Association, the Scots Language Awards and Johnstone Phoenix Theatre Group; (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 actions taken by the Head of Corporate Governance in terms of his delegated authority in respect of both the visit by guests from our twin town in Fürth and the Dates-n-Mates Gala Awards dinner. Implications of the Report 1. Financial – The costs of the request from civic hospitality will be met from the 2023/24 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.
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12. Climate Risk – None. 13. Cosla Policy Position – Not applicable. __________________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers (a) Background Paper 1 – Email correspondence from our twin town in Fürth (b) Background Paper 2 – Email correspondence from Dates-n-Mates (c) Background Paper 3 – Email correspondence from Erskine branch of the Salvation Army (d) Background Paper 4 – Email correspondence from Caledonia Bowling Club (e) Background Paper 5 – Email correspondence from Spateston Bowling Club (f) Background Paper 6 – Email correspondence from Paisley & District Battalion of the Boys Brigade (g) Background Paper 7 – Email correspondence from J G Fleming Bowling Club (h) Background Paper 8 – Email correspondence from Johnstone & District Ladies Bowling Association (i) Background Paper 9 – Email correspondence from Johnstone Phoenix Theatre Group 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