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Meeting Details

Housing & Community Safety Policy Board
10 Mar 2015 - 13:00 to 14:00
  • Documents
  • Attendance
  • Visitors
  • Declarations of Interests

Documents

Agenda

Agenda
Notification
Standard Items
Further Information
This is a meeting which is open to members of the public. 

A copy of the agenda and reports for this meeting will be available for inspection prior to the meeting at the Customer Service Centre, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley and online at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/agendas. 

For further information, contact
democratic-services@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Members of the Press and Public
Members of the press and public wishing to attend the meeting should report to the customer service centre where they will be met and directed to the meeting.
Present
Councillors B Brown, Murrin, M Devine, Grady, McEwan, J Sharkey, Williams, E Devine, Henry, McCartin and Nicolson.
CHAIR
Councillor Williams, Convener, presided.
In Attendance
S MacDougall, Director of Community Resources; M Crearie, Director of Development & Housing Services; D Leask, Head of Facilities Management and O Reid, Interim Head of Public Protection (both Community Resources); E MacLean, Head of Housing Services, J Lynch, Head of Property Services and S Muir, Financial & Resource Manager (all Development & Housing Services); and D Forbes, Finance Manager and A McNaughton, Senior Committee Services Officer (both Finance & Resources).
Also in Attendance
Chief Superintendent J Downie (Police Scotland) and P Tanzilli, Local Senior Officer, (Scottish Fire and Rescue Service).
Apology
Councillor McGurk.
VALEDICTORY
On behalf of the Board, the Convener thanked P Tanzilli, Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Services, for the advice and assistance he provided to the Board and wished him a long and happy retirement.
Sederunt
Councillor McEwan left the meeting during consideration of the undernoted item of business and did not return.

Items Of Business
Apologies
Apologies received from members of the Board.
Declarations of Interest
Members are asked to declare an interest in any item(s) on the agenda and to provide a brief explanation of the nature of the interest.
There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.
1 SCRUTINY
Report by P Tanzilli, Local Senior Officer.
3
There was submitted a report by the Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, relative to service performance in the Renfrewshire area during the period October to December, 2014.

The report highlighted improvements across a range of performance indicators and identified areas where further interventions were required. Over the period there had been no fire-related fatalities; incidences of deliberate fire-raising, accidental dwelling fires and non-domestic fires had risen; whilst false alarms had reduced; and there had been two fatalities as a result of road traffic collisions. The appendix to the report provided an analysis of performance and activities on a ward basis.

DECIDED: That the report and information provided be noted.




Report by Chief Superintendent J Downie.
1
There was submitted a report by the Chief Superintendent, K Division, Police Scotland, relative to service performance in the Renfrewshire area during the period 1st April to 31st December, 2014.

The report provided an analysis of key performance indicators for both recorded and detected crime and covered all local police plan priority areas as detailed in the local police plan. The report indicated overall that the number of victims of crime continued to fall.

DECIDED: That the report and information provided be noted
Report by Chief Superintendent J Downie.
2
There was submitted a report by the Chief Superintendent, K Division, Police Scotland, relative to the proposed merger of West Dunbartonshire and Argyll & Bute with Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Divisions (L and K Divisions).

The aim of the proposed merger was to improve the delivery of police services by strengthening local policing divisions, bringing together management and administration functions where appropriate, and ensuring the service continued to be efficient and sustainable in the longer term. The report outlined the rationale behind the proposals, the anticipated benefits, the potential risks, addressed misconceptions, and set out the consultation process that was ongoing to date.

DECIDED: That the report and information provided be noted.
Joint report by the Directors of Finance & Resources and Development & Housing Services.
4
There was submitted a joint revenue budget monitoring report by the Directors of Finance & Resources and Development & Housing Services for the period 1st April, 2014 to 2nd January, 2015.

DECIDED:

(a) That the budget position be noted: and

(b) That it be noted that there had been budget adjustments of £19,179 related to the transfer of staffing costs to Finance & Resources and the realignment of non-domestic rates budgets since the previous report.
Report by the Director of Finance & Resources.
5
There was submitted a capital budget monitoring report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the Housing division of Development & Housing Services for the period 1st April, 2014 to 2nd January, 2015.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.
Report by the Director of Community Resources.
6
There was submitted an update report by the Director of Community Resources relative to the activities carried out by the Community Safety Hub including Street Stuff, information about the 2014 festive safety programme and a range of community engagement, diversion, education and public reassurances.

The report highlighted that the Community Safety Hub and Street Stuff had been examined as part of the Integrated Inspection of Services for Children and Young People in Renfrewshire during January. The examination was led by the Care Inspectorate with support from HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland and a full inspection report was scheduled for publication later in 2015.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.
Report by the Director of Community Resources.
7
There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Resources relative to a request from the Scottish Government Safer Communities Directorate  that the Council agree formally to participate in the Building Safer Communities National Programme as one of seven initial locations across Scotland.

The choice of Renfrewshire as a location was based on the additional, related work already being carried out, particularly the Families First agenda in Ferguslie and the development of the integrated Johnstone Civic Centre. Participation on the National Programme would help the Council understand the impact that these initiatives had on building safer communities.

The advantage of participation in the short to medium term was an increased profile for the area nationally, reflecting positively on the work being carried out to build capacity and strengthen communities in Renfrewshire. Longer term, this focus would spotlight the issues of poverty and deprivation being tackled by the Council and the Safer Renfrewshire Partnership, serving to strengthen the case for a fairer deal for Renfrewshire nationally.

DECIDED:

(a) That participation in the Building Safer Communities National Programme be agreed;

(b) That the Director of Community Resources be authorised to work with relevant community planning partners to develop suitable projects in Ferguslie Park/Phoenix and Johnstone Town Centre as part of the programme; and

(c) That it be agreed that the Director of Community Resources submit progress reports to future meetings of this Board.
Report by the Director of Development & Housing Services.
8
Under reference to item 4 of page 45 of the Minute of the meeting of this Board held on 26th August, 2014 there was submitted a report by the Director of Development & Housing Services relative the Housing Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction Programmes 2015/16.

The report detailed the programme submitted for funding for 2015/16 under the Scottish Government Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland: Area Based Schemes (HEEPS:ABS) initiative and the proposed arrangements for the delivery of Energy Company Obligations (ECO) support for Council properties over the same period.

In respect of the 2015/16 HEEPS:ABS initiative, the Council had secured a core allocation of £1,213,145.  However, additional resources could be awarded to deliver larger scale and/or more ambitious projects.

The report explained the process to determine which utility company directly providing ECO would consider partnering with the Council to deliver the new phase of ECO supported projects. The offer from E:ON UK was considered the most advantageous to the Council in that it provided support for ECO measures (solid wall insulation) on a managed contract basis.

DECIDED:

(a) That the allocation of £1,213,145 for projects in Renfrewshire during 2015/16 as part of the needs based allocation from the Scottish Government Housing Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland: Area Based Schemes; be noted;

(b) That it be noted that additional resources could be awarded to councils in a position to deliver additional, larger scale and/or more ambitious projects;

(c) That the submission of an application for Housing Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland: Area Based Schemes funding totalling £4,620,725 comprising the core allocation of £1,213,145 and additional funding totalling £3,407,580 by 20th February, 2015 in accordance with Scottish Government requirements, be endorsed;

(d) That it be noted that the submission reflected consultation with the Federation of Local Housing Associations in Renfrewshire and incorporated projects, in priority order in accordance with Scottish Government guidance, that realistically could be delivered in 2015/16;

(e) That it be noted that a further report would be submitted to this Board on 12th May, 2015 confirming the outcome of the application;

(f) That the approach being taken to secure funding under the Energy Company Obligation be approved; and

(g) That the Director of Development & Housing Services be authorised to conclude an agreement with E:ON UK for the provision of Energy Company Obligations support on qualifying projects for 2015/16, subject to the availability of sufficient levels of Housing Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland: Area Based Schemes from the Scottish Government to support qualifying projects.
Report by the Director of Development & Housing Services.
9
Under reference to item 2 of page 253 of the Minute of the special meeting of the Council held on 12th February, 2015 there was submitted an update report by the Director of Development & Housing Services relative to the delivery of the Private Sector Housing Investment Programme 2015/18.  Appendix 1 to the report detailed the proposed expenditure based on present resource availability of £3.066 million and Appendix 2 listed properties within the existing district heating system in the George Street area of Paisley.

The report explained the delivery of key elements of the proposed programme, viz Adaptation Grants (assistance to older and disabled owners); Care and Repair Renfrewshire; Tenement Improvement Schemes; SHQS and other projects; George Street District Heating; Salaries and support to the Private Rented Sector/Miscellaneous Fees.

The nature of the programme would require adjustments to spend amongst projects across financial years.



DECIDED:

(a) That the Private Sector Housing Grant Investment Programme for the period 2015/18 as set out in the appendix to the report be approved;

(b) That it be noted that in future years the Private Sector Housing Grant Investment Programme would be subject to review on further consideration of capital or revenue funding sources as part of the Council’s consideration and approval of its overall budget in 2016/17 and 2017/18, and taking cognisance of emerging regeneration initiatives and final SQHS requirements across Renfrewshire;

(c) That it be noted that expenditure on the Private Sector Housing Grant Investment Programme would continue to be monitored as part of the Council’s capital monitoring process;

(d) That it be agreed that the Council, in partnership with East Renfrewshire Council, extend the existing contract for the provision of a Care and Repair service in Renfrewshire with Bridgewater Housing Association Limited to 31st March, 2017, as provided for within the current contract, subject to the satisfactory conclusion of tripartite contract negotiations and the approval of the Council’s financial contribution by this Board on conclusion of those negotiations;

(e) That it be agreed that, on the basis that the replacement funding package detailed within the report was confirmed, notice be given to all residents in the proposed project area as identified in Appendix 2 to the report that the Council intends to close down the existing district heating system serving Council properties and owners. The date of the closure would be determined once a programme for the provision of new individual systems was agreed, and following a period of notice to the owners of not less than six months, during which time the Council would offer to install and commission a new system at no cost to the owner based on the funding package outlined within the report; and

(f) That the one-off provision of funding to assist owners with the installation of new individual gas central heating systems, as a consequence of the replacement of the Council-owned district heating system to a maximum of £150,000, under the power of well-being as provided by the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, be approved, subject to approval of additional contributory funding by the Scottish Government, estimated at £270,000 through the 2015/16 Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland: Area Based Schemes.
Exemption Notice
EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
The Board may by resolution exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that if members of the press and public are present, there could be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 8 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1973.
The Board resolved to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business as it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that if members of the press and public were present, there could be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 8 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
Items Of Business - Private
9 Building Services: Trading Budget Monitoring Report
  1. item 9_Building Services Trading Monitoring Report (Period 10)
    • Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information);

Declarations of Interests

Member NameItem Ref.DetailsNature of DeclarationAction
No declarations of interest have been entered for this meeting.

Visitors

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