Councillors Cameron, E Devine, Harte, Henry, Holmes, Kelly, Lawson, K MacLaren, M MacLaren, M Macmillan, McCartin, I McMillan and Williams.

Councillor M Macmillan, Convener, presided.

S Black, Chief Executive; M Crearie, Director of Development & Housing Services; S MacDougall, Director of Community Resources;  A Russell, Director of Finance & Resources; D Amos, Head of Policy & Commissioning (Chief Executive's); D Hawthorn, Head of Child Care and Criminal Justice, A McMillan, Head of Resources, G McKinlay, Head of Schools and L McAllister, Education Manager (Curriculum & Early Years) (all Children’s Services); K Anderson, Amenity Services Manager - Waste (Community Resources); K Graham, Head of Corporate Governance and D Low, Senior Committee Services Officer (LACs) (both Finance & Resources); and J McKellar, Chief Executive and M MacPherson, Cultural Operations and Development Manager (both Renfrewshire Leisure Limited).

Councillor Glen.

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

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the draft Scottish Government budget 2016/17 and the draft local government finance settlement 2016/17 published on 16 December 2015 and subject to parliamentary approval towards the end of February 2016.

The report intimated that the budget figures for 2016/17 reflected use of budget flexibility mechanisms available to the Scottish Government between financial years and the intention of the Scottish Government to utilise the maximum capital borrowing powers available through the Scotland Act 2012 to support £316 million of Scottish Government borrowing. In addition, for the first time the 2016/17 budget included the impact of proposals on the Scottish Rate of Income Tax, representing the third and final tax power being devolved under the Scotland Act 2012.

It was noted that the Deputy First Minister had written to Council Leaders confirming the set of conditions which accompanied the provisional funding allocation for local government. Clarifications had been sought from the Deputy First Minister and the report detailed the key terms of the offer from the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government had not provided any material details of spending plans beyond 2016/17 on the basis of the late timing of the UK Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review announcement in November 2015 coupled with the backdrop of uncertainty linked to the ongoing discussions between the Scottish and UK Governments on the fiscal framework that would underpin the future Scottish block settlements for the UK as part of the Scotland Bill 2015. The medium term financial outlook for public finances in Scotland, coupled with the stated commitments to protect major areas of the budget in real terms, would present an extremely challenging financial context for local government and an expectation of a further cash terms contraction in budgets over the medium term. Uncertainty would remain over the scale of the reduction however similar to 2016/17 this was likely to continue to be at a material level year on year that would drive a need for further significant and sustained savings across the local government sector to achieve balanced budgets.

The report further intimated that the Local Government Finance Circular 7/2015 had been issued to Councils on 16 December 2015. The circular provided details of the provisional revenue and capital funding allocations for 2016/17 ahead of the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2016 which was due to be debated by the Scottish Parliament in February 2016. Subject to parliamentary approval, the circular confirmed headline revenue grant funding for Renfrewshire for 2016/17 of £300.429 million. This settlement was conditional upon agreement to the continuation of the council tax freeze (£2.327 million and the maintenance of the pupil teacher ratio and probationer places (£2.8 million).

The report provided further information on the details of the proposed financial settlement.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted; and

(b) That it be noted that the Leader of the Council wrote to the Deputy First Minister on 9 February 2016 indicating an in principle agreement to the offer presented as part of the local government finance settlement subject to formal approval by full Council.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the Council’s response to the draft Strategic Plan in relation to the integration of health and social care services in Renfrewshire. A copy of the draft Strategic Plan formed the appendix to the report.

The report intimated that The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 put in place the framework for the formal integration of health and social care services from 1 April 2016 which had significant implications for the future financial and operational governance and delivery arrangements for local services for adult health and social care, children’s health services and elements of Acute Services. The legislation placed a duty on Integration Joint Boards to develop a Strategic Plan setting out the arrangements for the carrying out of integration functions in the Renfrewshire area to meet the needs of the local population over the next three years and into the future. The formal approval of this Strategic Plan triggered the delegation of adult social work services from the Council to the Integration Joint Board from 1 April 2016.

The Strategic Planning Group was formally established on 18 September 2015 and had included the full range of stakeholder and professional groups prescribed in the legislation. Through facilitated discussion members had provided views and feedback on behalf of their stakeholder groups which had helped shape the Strategic Plan. A formal consultation exercise had been carried out from 18 January to 3 February 2016. The Council had been granted an extension until 17 February 2016 to take into account the timing of this Board meeting and the report set out the Council’s response to the formal consultation on the draft Strategic Plan for consideration by elected members.

It was noted that the final Strategic Plan would contain two further Statements, the Housing Contribution Statement and the Financial Plan, which were currently being finalised and which did not form part of the current consultation. The content of the Financial Plan would be scrutinised as part of a due diligence process which would seek to ensure that there was clarity around the detail of the budgets being transferred and a mutual understanding of the efficiency and other assumptions which underpinned them. The outcome of the due diligence process would be the subject of a separate report prior to 31 March 2016.

DECIDED:

(a) The the content of the Integration Joint Board’s draft Strategic Plan be noted;

(b) That the Council’s response to the formal consultation on the draft Strategic Plan, as set out in the report, be approved; and

(c) That it be noted that a separate report on the outcome of the financial due diligence process would be submitted for consideration by elected members prior to 31 March 2016.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the Renfrewshire Community Justice Transition Plan 2016/17, a copy of which formed the appendix to the report.

The report intimated that the Community Justice (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 7 May 2015 to take forward the legislative change needed to establish the new community justice model in Scotland. The new model sought to reduce reoffending through the co-ordinated responses of a range of defined agencies to work with criminal justice service users. The local multi-agency partnership would be required to develop its own strategic plan and performance would be measured against a national quality assurance framework.

A number of community planning partners referred to in the Bill as statutory community justice partners would be responsible for working together to publish a community justice outcomes improvement plan from 2017 onwards. Community planning partners would be central to the new community justice arrangements which would commence on 1 April 2016 with a shadow year with full responsibility from 1 April 2017 when Community Justice Authorities would be disestablished.

Locally, community justice partners were required to prepare and submit a transition plan to the Scottish Government by the end of January 2016 covering the shadow year. In consultation with the Community Justice Steering Group the Renfrewshire Community Justice Transition Plan 2016/17 had been developed and agreed at the meeting of the Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Board held on 9 December 2015 and submitted to the Scottish Government by the 31 January 2016 deadline.

DECIDED: That the Renfrewshire Transition Plan 2016/17, which formed the appendix to the report, be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to approval for grant funding to progress two specific projects within the Tackling Poverty Action Plan, the Joint Employability Programme and Credit Union Development. The report also sought approval to sign up to the pledges within the Poverty Alliance’s Stick Your Labels campaign which sought to challenge myths and stereotypes and tackle poverty-related stigma.

The report intimated that as part of Renfrewshire Council’s Tackling Poverty Action Plan, the Council had allocated £410,000 in June 2015 to deliver a Joint Employability Programme which sought to improve and join-up employability support for young people from low-income households. It had been established that grant funding was the most appropriate mechanism for funding five of the workstreams within the Action Plan and the report sought approval to award £43,000 to West College Scotland for a range of activities including supporting the Parents in Partnership programme and providing taster sessions and employability and personal development courses for additional support needs and behavioural, social and emotional needs; £28,000 to the University of the West of Scotland to provide taster sessions for S2 and S4 and a module for S5/6 students; £22,000 to the Princes Trust to deliver their Achieve and Future Starts Programme supporting schools with the development of alternative curriculum models; £18,000 to the Chamber of Commerce for a Skills Ambassador Programme which would provide business mentoring in schools; and £6,000 to Engage Renfrewshire to provide supported volunteering and work experience opportunities targeted at young people with additional support needs.

In relation to Credit Union Development it was noted that the Finance & Resources Policy Board approved a £500,000 Credit Union Development Fund in November 2013. This report sought approval of grant funding from this Fund to support a wide range of Credit Union development activities, to increase Credit Union membership across Renfrewshire and increase the availability of ethical financial products. The report sought to commit a further £138,331 to four Credit Unions operating in Renfrewshire being £83,580 to Renfrewshire Wide Credit Union; £22,152 to Gleniffer Credit Union (formerly Glenburn); £16,999 to White Cart Credit Union; and £15,600 to Johnstone Credit Union and the report detailed the development activities that the funding would support. Engage Renfrewshire had requested £37,658 to fund a Development Officer to work with the Renfrewshire Credit Unions for one year to develop strategies to make them more sustainable in the long term and the report sought approval for this award.

The Stick Your Labels campaign was run by the Poverty Alliance, a national network of individuals and organisations working together to combat poverty. The aim of the campaign since then had been to highlight the negative impact of attitudes around poverty. Renfrewshire Council had already demonstrated a strong commitment to this issue by setting up Renfrewshire’s Tackling Poverty Commission, which made a number of recommendations on how organisations should work based on the powerful testimony of Renfrewshire citizens. The first of these principles was ‘Addressing Stigma’ and in particular focused on the importance of making sure all staff knew that tackling poverty was part of their job and understood how the stigma of poverty affected how people accessed services.

The Stick Your Labels campaign required the Council to make three key pledges: 'poverty is not inevitable'; 'attitudes matter'; and 'actions change attitudes'.

The work of Renfrewshire’s Tackling Poverty Commission and the Council’s response to the Commission’s recommendations showed significant progress towards these three key pledges particularly around setting out the Council’s commitment and contribution to tackling poverty. As part of the Council’s commitment to the Stick Your Labels campaign the Council would discuss the opportunity for Community Planning Partners to sign up to the campaign to strengthen the commitment to tackling stigma across Renfrewshire.

DECIDED:

(a) That £117,000 of grant funding to partners to deliver five of the workstreams within the Joint Employability Programme, as detailed in the report, be approved;

(b) That £175,989 of grant funding to partners to support a range of Credit Union development opportunities, as detailed in the report, be approved; and

(c) That the Council sign-up to the Stick Your Labels campaign run by the Poverty Alliance.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the implementation of the Literacy Development Programme in partnership with Strathclyde University.

The report intimated that the Literacy Development Programme would deliver a range of training programmes involving head teachers and class teachers across primary and secondary schools. The programme was an evidence-based, high quality professional learning opportunity to enhance the knowledge and skills of Renfrewshire teachers in teaching a broad range of literacy skills and would build capacity across the service in addressing closing the educational attainment gap between children from low-income families and their better off peers. The programme would offer Masters level credits for those teachers who wished to pursue their interests further in this area as part of career long professional learning.

Strathclyde University would carry out ongoing evaluation and provide a final report on the programme. This would involve the collection of data, interview with staff and recommendations would be make to inform the next steps of the programme.

A presentation on the programme indicated that very good progress had been made in the implementation of the programme and in the engagement of head teachers and class teachers across Renfrewshire. Early evaluations were positive and had identified the next steps in developing the programme further.

DECIDED:

(a) That the progress to date in the implementation of the Literacy Development Programme be noted;

(b) That the allocation of £990,000 provided by the Council, from the £6 million Tackling Poverty Fund, to support closing the attainment gap across Renfrewshire be noted;

(c) That the positive impact from initial evaluations and next steps for development be noted; and

(d)  That the presentation be noted. 

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the findings of the independent review of the governance arrangements for public protection in Renfrewshire.

The report intimated that in recognition of the implications of changes in the organisational landscape, the Renfrewshire Chief Officers Group for Public Protection had commissioned an independent review of the oversight arrangements for public protection including the design and strategic oversight role of the Chief Officers Group, the role of the other strategic groups and committees in supporting the Chief Officers Group in its leadership and scrutiny roles, and the role and design of the tactical and operational groups which supported them.

The review had been undertaken between August and November 2015 by a former chief social work officer and experienced independent adult and child protection committee chair. The report on the review was completed in December 2015 and made a number of key recommendations regarding the design and function of the Chief Officers Group as well as additional recommendations regarding strategic and operational groups. The report and recommendations were considered by the Chief Officers Group at its meeting held on 22 January 2016 and, subject to a small number of amendments detailed in the report, had been agreed.

The report set out the context of the review and the key findings and recommendations arising from it. In particular it highlighted for consideration by members of this Board a recommendation made as part of the review in relation to the key scrutiny and assurance role of elected members in public protection matters.

DECIDED:

(a) That the findings of the independent review of the governance arrangements for public protection in Renfrewshire be noted;

(b) That the updates to the review recommendations agreed by the Chief Officers Group at its meeting held on 22 January 2016, as detailed in the report, be noted; and

(c) That the recommendation from the independent review in relation to replacing the existing arrangements where elected members were members of the child and adult protection committees, with the establishment from 1 April 2016 of a regular cross party member/officer working group on public protection matters, to provide the continued opportunity for elected members to effectively discharge their strategic scrutiny and assurance role be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to a strategic partnership agreement between Renfrewshire Council and the University of the West of Scotland, a copy of which formed the appendix to the report.

The report intimated that the Council and the University of the West of Scotland were committed to partnership working and were seeking to strengthen and focus collaboration on key areas of strategic importance for both organisations. The report sought approval for the Council to enter into a Strategic Partnership Agreement with the University of the West of Scotland which would provide a framework for partnership working over the next two years.

The report further intimated that the Council was in discussion with West College Scotland to create the same type of Strategic Partnership Agreement which would be submitted to a future meeting of this Board for approval.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the Council and the University of the West of Scotland be approved; and

(b) That it be noted that the University of the West of Scotland would submit the Strategic Partnership Agreement for formal approval by its Executive Board in parallel with the Council’s approval process.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the results of the public consultation exercise on the options for the potential relocation of the Paisley Lending Library (Paisley Central Library). The report detailed the number of responses received and the key findings of the consultation.

The report also outlined plans for further public consultation to develop the vision for the new library and the services it should offer to the public and highlighted the opportunity for such a relocation to enhance the library lending service for Paisley and to support the Council’s regeneration plans for the town centre.

The vision development process would be carried out during March and April 2016 and the outcomes would inform project development and design. A further report would be submitted to the meeting of the Planning and Property Policy Board to be held on 15 March 2016.

DECIDED:

(a) That the outcome of the recent library consultation be noted; and

(b) That the development of options for library relocation be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the draft Cultural Strategy for Renfrewshire, a copy of which formed the appendix to the report.

The report intimated that the previous Renfrewshire Cultural Strategy had been developed in 2010. Following the transfer of Cultural Services to Renfrewshire Leisure and the establishment of the UK 2021 City of Culture team, a new draft strategy had been developed.

Subsequent to approval, consultation would take place on the draft during February to April 2016 to ensure stakeholder feedback was incorporated with a final strategy document submitted to the meeting of this Board to be held on 8 June 2016.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted; and

(b) That the draft Cultural Strategy be approved for further consultation.

There was submitted a joint report by the Directors of Community Services and Finance & Resources relative to the potential implications to the Council in carrying out certain functions as a local authority following the release of the determinations of the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the Glasgow Bin Lorry Crash in December 2014.

The report intimated that as a local authority running similar services and vehicles it was essential that the Council took cognisance of the Sheriff’s findings and considered these recommendations in a Renfrewshire context.

The Sheriff indicated eight reasonable precautions which could have prevented the crash and made 19 recommendations in his determination which, if followed, might reduce the chance of a recurrence of such an accident. The Council’s current employee processes and operational arrangements within refuse collection activities had been examined in the context of these recommendations. Albeit the Council had detailed and robust employee processes and operational practices in place there were areas that would require to be considered and addressed in line with the Sheriff’s recommendations, namely refuse collection vehicles, heavy fleet (gross vehicle weight of over 7.5 tonnes) having autonomous braking systems or lane departure warning systems fitted for new vehicles and considering what adaptations were possible, if any, to the existing fleet; strengthening and additional checks within the Councils recruitment and absence management processes. In particular sharing of information as held by GPs, for existing and new employees; information which would prevent an employee/potential employee from driving and any declarations as made to the DVLA; more detailed and more regular health checks on all drivers as employed by the Council (heavy goods vehicles/public service vehicles); and the introduction of mandatory pre-employment heath questionnaire as specific to posts that require driving.

It was noted that a short life multi-disciplinary task group had been established to review current employee and operational arrangements and processes and to develop an action plan in respect of the Council’s activities and duties with regard to the recommendations from the Fatal Accident Inquiry.

It was proposed that a report  be submitted to the next meeting of this Board on the details of the action plan, including any financial implications rather than 'a future meeting' as intimated in the recommendations to the report.  This was agreed.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be noted that a short term multi-disciplinary task team had been set up, service led by Community Resources in conjunction with officers having specialist legal and operational/technical knowledge including refuse collection, transport, HR (recruitment and health and safety), legal, finance and Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership;

(b) That it be noted that the task team would consider the findings of the Inquiry and develop an action plan which would address the recommendations made by the Sheriff in so far as it related to the Council's function as a local authority; and

(c) That it be noted that a report would be submitted to the next meeting of this Board on the details of the action plan, including any financial implications.