COMMUNITIES across Renfrewshire are being given the chance to have their say on proposed changes to local decision-making.
Renfrewshire Council plans to replace Local Area Committees with new partnerships which adopt a more informal and inclusive approach to hand local people a greater say in decisions which affect their community.
A series of events will be taking place in towns and villages across Renfrewshire to outline how the new partnerships wll work and how residents can get involved.
READ MORE: Intu Braehead named best shopping centre in Scotland
The partnerships will see membership split evenly between elected members and community representatives as part of a drive to ensure residents’ voices are heard.
There will be seven partnerships and these will mirror community council boundaries.
David Fowles, of Lochwinnoch Community Council, said he is looking forward to seeing how the new partnerships work.
He added: “It’s extremely important that local people are involved in decision-making at a local level and these new partnerships should open up some exciting opportunities for our communities.”
The first of the information sessions about the new set-up will take place today (Wednesday, October 24) at the Cargill Hall, in Bridge of Weir, from 10am until noon.
There will also be meetings at Renfrew Town Hall tomorrow, from 10am until noon; the EMMS Studio, in Erskine, on Monday, October 29, from 6.30pm until 8.30pm; and the McKillop Institute, in Lochwinnoch, on Thursday, November 1, from 6.30pm until 8.30pm.
Further meetings will be held at the Tannahill Centre, in Paisley, from 10am until noon on Monday, November 5; Paisley Town Hall from 6.30pm until 8.30pm, on Tuesday, November 6; Johnstone Town Hall from 10am until noon on Wednesday, November 7; and Glenburn Community Centre, in Paisley, from 10am until noon on Friday, November 9.
People of all ages are invited to join the new partnerships, with no previous experience of similar groups needed.
Iain Nicolson said the partnerships will make local people "more involved" in decision-making
Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “These new partnerships are the perfect opportunity for local people to become more involved in decision-making at the heart of their communities.
“Responsibility for awarding grant funding or focusing the direction of the group will now be an equal process between elected members and local community members, so it’s more important than ever that you take this opportunity to get involved in your local community.”
READ MORE: We’ve got £1,000 to give away in fabulous Community Chest initiative
The first full meetings of the new partnerships are set to begin in Renfrew on November 13, with the other six partnerships following shortly after.
For more information on the Local Partnerships, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/localpartnerships.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here