Chamber and committees

I have asked Bob Millar, Chief Executive, Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:The Scottish Executive has no representatives on the board of the Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company (PPRC). The present membership on the board of this company is as follows.

Jim Cunningham [acting chair]	Renfrewshire Council
Charlie MacGregor	Renfrewshire Council
Norma Bennie	Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Primary Care NHS Trust
Gordon McGuinness	Scottish Enterprise Renfrewshire

Jim Cunningham has only recently taken over as chair of PPRC following the recent death of the previous Chairperson Cllr Brian Oldrey.

I have asked Bob Millar, Chief Executive, Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows: Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company receives Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) funding and as such is subject to the same monitoring and appraisal processes as all Social Inclusion Partnerships.Under Communities Scotland's Standard Terms and Conditions of Grant for the SIP fund, Renfrewshire Council's role as grant recipient is to ensure effective appraisal, monitoring and financial systems are in place so that the costs of each activity which receives SIP funding and the outputs generated can be clearly identified, value for money demonstrated, and the propriety and regularity of all payments and handling of SIP fund funding ensured. The council's audit department were acting in this capacity when carrying out the recent financial health check on Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company. In addition, the Monitoring Framework for SIPs also provides for annual monitoring and appraisal of SIPs by Communities Scotland.SIPs are also subject to independent evaluation at appropriate points in their life cycle. Paisley Partnership's 2001 evaluation concluded that in broad terms the Paisley SIP was making good progress towards its aims and that many of the projects funded by the SIP represented good value for money.

The targets are that any local authority stock in the area which currently lacks central heating should have it by 31 March 2004. Any housing association stock which currently lacks central heating should have it during March 2004. Owner-occupiers and private renters who are eligible for the programme should receive it by 31 March 2006 at the latest.

I have asked Bob Millar, Chief Executive, Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:The value of consultancy work, the remit of such work and the outcomes achieved by it are matters currently under consideration by Renfrewshire Council as part of the financial health check they are carrying out in relation to Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company. Renfrewshire Council are in the process of compiling a report into the operation of this company. This report, when complete, will be passed on to Communities Scotland who will take any further steps necessary at that time.

I have asked Bob Millar, Chief Executive, Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:Investments by the Scottish Executive and Communities Scotland in the Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company are outlined in the table.Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company (PPRC) provides the support team for the Paisley Partnership. The table shows the allocations to PPRC in 1999-2000 and 2000-01 for support costs for the former Paisley PPA. Since 2001-02 support costs have been included within the Social Inclusion Partnership Fund allocation for the Paisley Partnership and paid directly to Renfrewshire Council as the accountable body for the Paisley SIP.

	£
	1998-99	1999-2000	2000-01	2001-02	2002-03
Scottish Executive		100,0001	120,000	-	-
Scottish Homes/Communities Scotland	25,000	64,6002	-	40,000	40,000

Notes:1. Legacy funding for the Ferguslie Park Partnership support. 2. Includes £39,600 for consultancy fees.In relation to contributions from NDPBs this information is not held centrally.

I have asked Bob Millar, Chief Executive, Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company is a private company limited by guarantee. As such, issues relating to the terms and conditions of employment of their staff or former staff are a confidential matter between the company and its staff.

I have asked Bob Millar, Chief Executive, Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:There are no plans at present to request a police enquiry into the financial affairs of the Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company. Renfrewshire Council are in the process of compiling a report into the operation of this company. This report, when complete, will be passed on to Communities Scotland who will take any further steps necessary at that time.

I have asked Bob Millar, Chief Executive, Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:Renfrewshire Council are in the process of compiling a finalised report into the operation of this company. This report, when complete, will be passed on to Communities Scotland who will take any further steps necessary at that time. There are no plans at present to place all audits and reports relating to the financial management of the Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

I have asked Bob Millar, Chief Executive, Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:Towards the end of last year Communities Scotland were advised by Renfrewshire Council of its intention to carry out a financial health check in relation to the Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company. This report, when complete, will be passed on to Communities Scotland who will take any further steps necessary at that time.

I have asked Bob Millar, Chief Executive, Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:Since it's inception in 1998 the primary focus of the Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company has been around three objectives. These are to:service, administer, and support the Paisley Partnership and it's objectives;deliver the training and employment strategy of the Paisley Partnership, and promote and market the Paisley Partnership.The purpose of any investment in PPRC by the Executive, its agencies, and non-departmental public bodies would therefore be in support of these objectives.