Councillor E Devine, Chair, presided.

Councillors E Devine and Audrey Doig; O Reid, J Lynch, C Thorpe and L Feely (all Renfrewshire Council); I Cunningham, Engage Renfrewshire; and A Ritchie, West College Scotland.

C Dunn and J Kaczmarski (both Keep Scotland Beautiful); and S Graham, K Dalrymple, C Grainger and C MacDonald (all Renfrewshire Council).

S Marklow, Development & Housing Services; J Wilby, Forum for Empowering Communities; and M Gallacher, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Greener Renfrewshire Thematic Board held on 7 November 2016.

DECIDED:  That the Minute be noted.

The Rolling Action Log was submitted for approval.

DECIDED:  That the Rolling Action Log be approved.

A presentation was given by C Dunn and J Kaczmarski from Keep Scotland Beautiful in relation to Climate Change/Sustainable Energy Action Plans.

The presentation gave a brief overview of the Sustainable Scotland Network; highlighted Renfrewshire Council’s strengths; detailed the Climate Change Plan and the background of SEAPs; outlined the next steps in the process; indicated the baseline scenario and impact of policies and actions; discussed why Renfrewshire Council should pursue a SEAP; and outlined some regional case studies.

DECIDED:  That the presentation be noted.

A presentation was given by C Thorpe, Corporate Energy & Asset Manager, Development & Housing Services, Renfrewshire Council in relation to a proposed Solar Carport project.

The presentation gave a brief overview of the project; detailed the proposed solar Carport project; highlighted examples of PV panels; and outlined details of the PV system and the possible annual savings.

DECIDED:  That the presentation be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Head of Public Protection, Community Resources, Renfrewshire Council relative to the Council’s requirement to prepare and submit an annual climate change report.

The report advised that during 2007, all 32 local authorities in Scotland had signed up to the Scotland's Climate Change Declaration. Signatories to the Declaration acknowledged the importance of climate change and were committed to mitigating their impact on climate change through reducing greenhouse gas emissions; taking steps to adapt to the unavoidable impacts of a changing climate; and working in partnership with their communities to respond to climate change. The Declaration recognised that Scottish local authorities played a key role in helping to tackle the challenges of climate change through example and signatories had committed to preparing a voluntary annual report detailing progress in mitigating and adapting to climate change.

The Climate Change (Duties of Public Bodies: Reporting Requirements) (Scotland) Order 2015 had come into force during November, 2015. As a result all public bodies, classed as ‘major players’, required to submit a climate change report for 2015/16 and each year thereafter. A link to Renfrewshire’s Council Public Sector Climate Change Duties 2015/16 annual report was included within the report.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Head of Policy and Commissioning, Chief Executive’s Service, Renfrewshire Council relative to the proposed new Community Planning governance arrangements.

The report advised that following discussion with Conveners and Lead Officers of the Community Planning Thematic Boards and agreement by Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Board and Renfrewshire Council, community planning structures in Renfrewshire would be changed from the second quarter of 2017.  The review of community planning arrangements recognised that much good work had been achieved through the community planning Boards since they were established in 2013. The purpose of the changes to the community planning structures was to build on existing strengths of the Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership, take account of changes to the partnership landscape since 2013 and further strengthen and streamline community planning meeting arrangements. A report detailing the new governance arrangements had been agreed by Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Board on 7 December 2016 and was attached as an appendix. 

The new arrangements would commence from May 2017, with an early focus on delivery of the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP) and associated Locality Plans by 1 October 2017. Engagement with communities on development of the LOIP/Locality Plans would take place in February/March and May/June 2017. The Local Outcome Improvement Plan and Locality Plans would require to be signed off by all community planning partners by September 2017 prior to publication by 1 October 2017.

It was noted that the remaining meetings of the existing community planning Board structure would play a key role in shaping the priorities of the new LOIP and ensure that the positive elements of existing partnership working and delivery would transition effectively to the new working arrangements. In particular, the Greener Renfrewshire Board were asked to consider at its next meeting key questions which were detailed within the report.

The report intimated that Greener Renfrewshire Thematic Board had been successful in developing shared leadership of the Greener agenda among partners and the contribution of the three sub-groups was recognised.  It was envisaged that the work programme of the Greener Renfrewshire Thematic Board would be mainstreamed across the work of the other groups in the structure. 

DECIDED:

(a) That the changes to the governance structure of Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership and, in particular, the arrangements for mainstreaming the work of the Greener Renfrewshire Board and discontinuing the Board be noted; and 

(b) That it be agreed that board members participate in work which will take place during the first six months of 2017 to finalise details of the new arrangements and ensure an effective transition to new working arrangements for activity within the current Greener Renfrewshire Action Plan.

There was submitted a report by the Head of Public Protection, Community Resources, Renfrewshire Council relative to the Scottish Government air quality strategy entitled Cleaner Air for Scotland – The Road to a Healthier Future (CAFS).

The report stated that the purpose of CAFS was to provide a national cross-government strategy which set out how the Scottish Government and its partner organisations proposed to achieve further reductions in air pollution in order to fulfil Scotland’s air quality responsibilities as soon as possible. The strategy outlined a series of actions across a range of policy areas and introduced a number of important initiatives. These included a National Modelling Framework intended to provide a standard air quality assessment methodology for use across Scotland; a National Low Emissions Framework which would assist local authorities in determining effective measures for addressing air quality issues within their areas; and a national air quality public awareness campaign. The key overall outcome to be achieved, by 2020, through implementation of the strategy, was full compliance with EU air quality legislation, together with significant progress towards revocation of all Scottish Air Quality Management Areas.

The majority of action measures would be implemented by the Scottish Government and partner organisations, however, there were actions that local authorities would be expected to deliver. These included the production of corporate travel plans which were consistent with air quality action plans and the encouragement of Freight Quality Partnerships. It was noted that a Renfrewshire-wide air quality action plan was currently being developed which would take into account actions for all three of Renfrewshire's Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA's). The specific local authority actions detailed within CAFS would be considered in more detail during the Council’s action planning process, would consider the Clean Air for Scotland strategy and outline how it would assist in delivering the aims and objectives of the strategy.

DECIDED:  That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Head of Public Protection, Community Resources, Renfrewshire Council relative to the Renfrewshire Cycling Strategy 2016/25.

The current local cycling policy position had evolved in response to the initial Cycling Strategy for Renfrewshire, produced in 2004, and the Renfrewshire Local Transport Strategy 2007, which had updated the cycling strategy objectives and aims as a consequence of significant developments in both National Policy and various initiatives within the Council. In addition mention was made within the report of the increased focus on cycling within a national context, with national targets set for cycling and a Cycling Action Plan published, the Scottish Planning Policy, which strongly supported cycling, and the SPT Regional Transport Strategy 2014/17. It was also stated that the agreement of City Deal had been a step change for the partnership authorities and that the Renfrewshire projects included substantial elements of cycling infrastructure. Reference was also made to cycle routes which had been incrementally designed and constructed throughout Renfrewshire and included strategic routes.

Against this background, the proposed Renfrewshire Cycling Strategy 2016/25, the link to which was detailed in the report, reviewed the context and performance of cycling uptake and infrastructure, set objectives for moving forward and achieving 2020 targets and made a number of recommendations in respect of actions required to achieve a step change.

DECIDED:   That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Head of Public Protection, Community Resources, Renfrewshire Council relative to Renfrewshire Responsible Dog Ownership Strategy.

The proposed strategy, a copy of which was appended to the report, recognised that the significant majority of dog owners were responsible and that having a dog could be a hugely rewarding experience, but also recognised that owning a dog came with responsibilities. Across Scotland there continued to be a persistent minority of dog owners who adversely affected communities through their lack of control over their dogs’ behaviour. As well as causing welfare issues for their pet, irresponsible dog owners allowed their dogs to cause a nuisance or even a danger to others.

A summary of the local and national landscape in terms of dog control issues was
provided. Particular reference was made to the significant number of complaints
received annually related to dog fouling and the significant work undertaken locally to tackle dog fouling and irresponsible dog ownership. The introduction of legislation during 2016 had provided an opportunity for a review of the Council’s procedures in relation to dog controls. A key outcome of this review was the development of a strategy for promoting responsible dog ownership, which brought together successful elements, including education, communication and enforcement campaigns, into a single planned co-ordinated approach to promote and support responsible dog ownership in the area.

The proposed strategy focused on four priorities which had been highlighted following consultation, namely: (i) enhanced partnership working; (ii) promoting responsible behaviours; (iii) tackling persistent offenders and improved enforcement; and (iv) tackling out of control dogs and the delivery of a number of key outcomes. These key outcomes included increased awareness among dog owners and the general public regarding the responsibilities of dog ownership and control, reduction in the number of stray dogs or dogs under investigation that had not been micro-chipped, an increase in the number of dog owners who adhered to the responsible dog ownership pledge, an increase in the number of dogs in Council rented properties that had been microchipped, a reduction in the number of complaints regarding dog control issues, a reduction in the number of dog owners who failed to pick up after their dogs and an increase in the number of Fixed Penalty Notices issued for dog fouling. A copy of the proposed Responsible Dog Ownership Pledge was attached to the report as Appendix 2.

Subject to approval it was proposed that the strategy be implemented throughout
2017 in three key phases, Phase 1: Initial Communications and Enforcement
Activities, Phase 2: Partnership Engagements, and Phase 3: Targeted Campaigns
and Enforcement. The strategy would be reviewed during December 2017 and March 2018 to determine the success of the approach and the key priorities for 2018/19.

DECIDED:   That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Head of Public Protection, Community Resources, Renfrewshire Council relative to the regulatory strategy entitled “One Planet Prosperity – Our Regulatory Strategy” published by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). A copy of the strategy was appended to the report.

The strategy established a clear purpose for SEPA which sought to support and
create both social and economic benefits for Scotland by devising and delivering
environmental improvements. It was highlighted that this approach was a step change from SEPA’s previous focus, which had been purely on environmental issues. In addition it reflected the Scottish Government’s commitment to better regulation and was consistent with the approach adopted by the Council. The report outlined the principles and organisational objectives which SEPA were committing to with their regulatory strategy, together with the anticipated benefits for communities, businesses and stakeholders.

DECIDED:  That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Head of Public Protection, Community Resources, Renfrewshire Council which provided details of the meeting of the Greener Transport Sub-Group which took place on 19 January 2017. 

DECIDED:     That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Head of Public Protection which provided an overview of recent developments, initiatives and funding streams made available to Community Planning Partnerships in Scotland.

DECIDED:  That the report be noted.