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June 28, 2018Residents in Renfrewshire’s villages have a unique opportunity to shape their own place, according to Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson.
Councillor Nicolson attended Kilbarchan Community Council on Tuesday 26 June 2018 in the latest of a series of community council visits to hear about local issues.
They discussed a range of new funds set out in the Council’s 2018 budget which will give local communities the opportunity to lead projects that matter most to them.
A £1.5million Community Empowerment Fund is now open, supporting community members to take ownership of assets such as a community hub or sports facility in their area.
And a £370,000 Villages Investment Fund and £1.5million Green Spaces, Parks and Play Areas Fund are being rolled out later this year.
Local groups are also benefiting from changes behind the scenes to create a single point of contact for information and assistance.
“We have committed dedicated funds to give residents in our villages and towns the chance to make things happen within their local communities,” said Councillor Nicolson. “These funds can act as the catalyst for our talented thriving community groups to drive positive action on their doorstep. We want to encourage groups to lead grass roots activity and are here to support smaller projects too.
“There was a positive response from members of Kilbarchan Community Council to these new opportunities and they agreed with our approach to develop a partnership approach with community groups.
“It can sometimes be difficult to know who to contact at the Council and that’s why we’ve simplified the process ensuring people can access the support we offer as easily as possible.”
There was further discussion on the review of Local Area Committees, restructuring them to give community delegates a greater say, and on possible traffic calming measures for the village.
The visit to Kilbarchan follows meetings with Inchinnan, Bishopton and Paisley North Community Councils in recent months.
Councillor Nicolson added: “I have always said that I want to meet community groups and organisations who share in our ambition to make Renfrewshire a great place to live, visit, work and invest in.
“These community council visits give me an important opportunity to hear first-hand about what’s happening across Renfrewshire, to share best practise and highlight new opportunities. We are listening to what our communities have to say and want to help them to achieve our shared goals.”
Damon Scott, Chair, Kilbarchan Community Council, said: “Iain’s interest and attendance at the Kilbarchan Community Council was much appreciated. We were excited to hear of plans to provide more support to local communities via community empowerment.
“We very much believe an identity and pride in place is at the heart of every successful community and this was also highlighted as a focus for the partnership approach in the future. We look forward to working with the council and other partners to continue to make Kilbarchan an even better place to live, work and visit.”
Community groups can call 0141 618 7408 or email communityplanning@
