I attended the first Local Area Committee last Tuesday as Community Representative for Houston Amenity Land Limited. The meeting was well chaired by Councillor Iain Nicolson who kept the agenda moving and made the meeting productive and, whenever required, he promoted sensible, fair and reasonable outcomes.  

After introductions we received reports from Renfrewshire Community Health Partnership (“CHP”), the Police and the Fire Service.  We were also given a presentation by Shona MacDougall, Director of Environmental Services, on the Clean Renfrewshire Campaign. 

The paper presented by David Leese, Director of CHP was very comprehensive but his verbal presentation was a short piece.  I have to admit to knowing nothing of CHP and I received guidance from a member on my blackberry just as David sat down.  The things that impressed me were that David is obviously switched on, he is responsible for spending £108m of our money each year, he made great emphasis on the social problems – but oh so bureaucratic. T

he police and fire service were very good.  Again they suffer from social problems.  In our local area they have much less call on their time than from urban Renfrewshire.  What impressed me was that only one small area of Bridge of Weir is seen as a “red spot” for anti-social behaviour and that 82% of domestic fires are in flatted property.   The police admit that community policing will in the short term suffer whilst the new shift patterns are introduced, but will improve to better levels thereafter.  They are recruiting community police officers right now.  What particularly impressed me with both police and fire service is that they attended the whole meeting and took an interest in the whole proceedings. 

Before I tell you about “Clean Renfrewshire” I can tell you that I estimate that per head we pay 40% more council tax than the average for Renfrewshire.  We put less pressure on police and fire services and have less call on social services.  The cost of these three services to the council is £135 million/year (30% of the budget).  I haven’t met any member of HALL who objects to our share of council tax, but most want to see our money spent wisely and for our local community to be treated fairly. 

There appears to be no additional funding allowed in the budget for “Clean Renfrewshire” – is it therefore supposed to be self funding?  The strap line is “do your bit”, and even in these days of “claim culture” the council are asking the public to volunteer to pick litter and “dog fouling”.  They intend to use wardens to issue on the spot fines – but I suspect that the emphasis will be on Paisley and Renfrew Town Centres. 

HALL members will be very aware that it took Shona MacDougall seven weeks and numerous letters for her to send out officers to see the effects of overflowing sewers in Gryffe Valley.  Her track record is not good with us.

I think the main point of interest for us is that Shona says that she will get the local infrastructure cleaned up and recognises that it is important to enhancing economic regeneration.  She will report on progress at the next meeting in September. 

The meeting ended with committee members tabling Key Local Issues for discussion at future meetings. Tabled were: open space strategy, creating economic regeneration in Gryffe Valley, transport links, the need for joined up thinking in providing youth facilities and the alcohol nuisance. From the first meeting I felt that LAC’s can be a force for good.  

You have a direct way of influencing council policy for our area and if the chairperson is good at his job (which I think he is) decisions will be passed on for council approval. You can partake by letting your councillor know of issues you wish to be brought up, letting me know, or attending yourself and tabling a question.  (There are forms that enable you to table questions prior to the meeting).  

I am certain that there are many more Key Issues than listed at the meeting. All local councillors who attended (two didn’t) showed commitment.  I was impressed. 

For the time being I would appreciate it if you could get out your digital box brownies and send me photographs of locations which you want to bring to the attention of Shona MacDougall - so that we can see what progress she makes in the next three months.  Closing date 30 June 2008 – prize for best submission one of Randi’s “secret recipe Norwegian cream cakes.” 

Next LAC meeting 2 September – venue to be announced. 

Anthony Rush