In recent weeks I’ve been visiting community councils to hear about local issues and outline a range of new funds empowering local communities to lead the projects that matter most to them.

We believe community action, passion and drive will enable towns and villages to thrive and meeting members of a number of community councils across Renfrewshire has shown me we all have a shared ambition to make Renfrewshire a great place to live, visit and work in.

It’s important to us to continue the partnership approach which is why my SNP administration has launched the Community Empowerment fund to support local groups to take ownership of the buildings and land in their local area to use them for their community’s benefit.

This fund is now open and is the first of a series of funds we are putting in place, with a Villages Investment fund and a Green Spaces fund being rolled out later this year.

We’ve made it simpler to get in touch about the opportunities for your community. Call 0141 618 7408 or emailcommunityplanning@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

It’s also been great news to hear the world-first, industry-led Medicines Manufacturing Centre will be based in Inchinnan. We have great talent and a rich heritage in manufacturing and this announcement is the next step in our ambition to be the beating heart of Scotland’s manufacturing sector.

Manufacturing employs 9,000 people locally but we want to increase that, so this is fantastic news not only for Renfrewshire, but for the whole of Scotland as it will generate new highly skilled jobs.

It is the latest in a series of major manufacturing facilities to be built in an advanced manufacturing innovation district we are developing next to Glasgow Airport, with the £65million National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland also to be built here.

We are attracting these major developments as we provide the perfect location and boast world-leading university research and renowned manufacturers.

We have also announced our long-term commitment to help people most in need into work. Economic growth must benefit everyone and we are targeting resources to communities facing deprivation and to help people unemployed and underemployed.

Finally, later this year the bin collection service is changing again. This is in part due to the changing waste regulations, closure of landfills and a drive to improve recycling.

We are now required to further separate out our waste before it is processed. Just now more than two-thirds of rubbish in our general waste bins could have been recycled and with changes to how we treat our waste, the new service will encourage us all to recycle more.

The changes include a new green bin for plastics, cans and glass. Other councils have seen a significant improvement in recycling with this approach.

Residents will receive detailed information in advance of the service change.