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Meeting Details

Leadership Board
16 Jun 2021 - 13:00 to 14:00
Occurred
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Agenda

Agenda
Councillors
Standard Items
Recording of Meeting

This meeting will be recorded for subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site. If you have any queries regarding this please contact Committee Services on 07534 058160. To find the recording please follow the link which will be attached to this agenda once the meeting has concluded. Please note that only meetings of the Emergencies Board from 17 April 2020 onward have been recorded for broadcast.

RECORDING OF MEETING

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQEO-G1CqjE

Prior to the commencement of the  meeting the Convener intimated that this meeting of the Board would be recorded and that the recording would be available to watch on the Council's website.
Apologies
Apologies from members.
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.

Councillor Hughes declared an interest in items 1, 4 and 9(b) of the agenda as she was the Chair of the Board of Renfrewshire Leisure Limited and indicated that she would remain in the meeting during consideration of these items.

 

Councillor McCartin declared an interest in items 1, 4 and 9(b) of the agenda as she was a member of the Board of Renfrewshire Leisure Limited and indicated that she would remain the meeting during consideration of these items.

Section 1 Heading
Section 1
Joint Report by Chief Executive, Director of Finance & Resources and Chief Finance Officer, Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership
1

There was submitted a joint report by the Chief Executive, Director of Finance & Resources and the Chief Finance Officer, Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership relative to the projected revenue and capital outturn position as at 31 March 2021 across all services reporting to this Board.  For financial year 2020/21 the projected outturn position was split into core (business as usual) and Covid-19 related variances to outline the impact of the pandemic on service finances.

 

The report intimated that there was a projected annual underspend of £1.694 million in revenue expenditure and that since the last report to the meeting of this Board held on 28 April 2021 there had been capital budget adjustments totalling £4.705 million due to continuing amendments to programme timetables as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

DECIDED:

 

(a) That the projected revenue outturn position detailed in Table 1 of the report be noted;

 

(b) That the projected capital outturn position detailed in Table 2 of the report be noted; and

 

(c) That the budget adjustments detailed at sections 4 and 6 of the report be noted.

Section 2 Heading
Section 2
Minute of Meeting of the Sub-committee held on 2 June 2021
2

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Climate Change Sub-committee held on 2 June 2021.

 

DECIDED: That the Minute, as appended hereto, be approved.

Report by Chief Executive
3

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to two funding proposals which would support the overall progression of the climate emergency work programme and which had been agreed by the Climate Change Sub-committee at its meeting held on 2 June 2021.  The proposals, an overview of which was provided in the appendix to the report, related to a requirement to commission external technical expertise and capacity to support development of Renfrewshire's adaptation plan and to support the delivery of the extensive consultation and engagement programme that  had been agreed by the sub-committee and which would inform the development of Renfrewshire's net zero plan.  The total value of funding requested was £70,000, leaving a balance of £232,000 available for allocation from the Climate Change Action Fund.

 

The report intimated that in addition the Sub-committee had also agreed that officers develop proposals for consideration by the Sub-committee for the possible establishment of a Community Climate Fund which could be used to support small-scale community-based projects.

 

DECIDED: That the funding proposals totalling £70,000 from the Climate Change Action Fund be agreed to support those initiatives as detailed in the appendix to the report.  

Section 3
Report by Chief Executive
4

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the Council Plan six-month progress update which provided Council-wide progress in relation to the five strategic Council Plan priorities - reshaping our place, economy and future; building strong, safe and resilient communities; tackling inequality, ensuring opportunities for all; creating a sustainable Renfrewshire for all to enjoy and working together to improve outcomes - and the impact of Covid-19 on these priorities and performance for 2020/21.  The appendix to the report provided a detailed summary of progress against key actions and indicators with a full outturn position provided for 2020/21.

 

The report intimated that in September 2017 the Council approved new Council and Community Plans for Renfrewshire covering the period 2017-2022.  Service Plans for each Council service sat beneath this framework and described how the five strategic outcomes of, would be achieved.  Alongside Service Plan updates to Policy Boards, progress against the Council Plan objectives was regularly reported to this Board to enable scrutiny of the Council's performance and priorities.  The report noted that the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown had meant that regular reporting on progress towards Council and service level priorities was interrupted during 2020. However, strong progress had been made against the five Council Plan priorities.   During summer 2020 services worked to restart impacted services in line with Scottish Government guidance.

 

DECIDED:

 

(a) That the progress achieved against the strategic outcomes since the last update to this Board in December 2020 as outlined in the appendix to the report be noted; and

 

(b) That it be agreed that the next progress report would be in December 2021.

Report by Chief Executive
5

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the Social Renewal Plan (SRP) and providing an update on the action plan.

 

The report intimated that in September 2020 the Council agreed that a community impact (CIA)  assessment should be undertaken in Renfrewshire in order to develop an understanding of the impact of Covid-19 on local people and communities.  Thereafter, at its meeting held on 4 March 2021 the Council considered the initial findings of the CIA which provided evidence that the pandemic had impacted some people and communities more than others.  In the March 2021 report an initial SRP had been approved which set out the high-level actions that the Council and its partners would take with a focus on tackling inequality and improving wellbeing and agreed £2.706 million to support delivery of the SRP.  Following an initial assessment three actions to be progressed as a priority were identified - income, poverty and financial security; community resilience and capacity, and digital exclusion.  The report proposed that £0.665 million be allocated to support activities in relation to these three key themes and provided details of what was being done and what needed to happen next on each of the three themes.

 

DECIDED:

 

(a) That the work that had been undertaken to progress the Social Renewal Plan in Renfrewshire be noted; and

 

(b) That the proposals detailed within section 4 of the report to allocate £0.665 million of funding to progress a number of immediate priorities identified through the Social Renewal Plan, with the breakdown of funding as detailed in section 4 of the report, be agreed.

Report by Chief Executive
6

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the Local Child Poverty Action Report 2021.

 

The report intimated that the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 required that each local authority and each relevant health board must jointly prepare and publish a Local Child Poverty Action Report annually.  The report must describe measures taken during the reporting year that reduced child poverty or improved outcomes for children living in poverty and must described planned and proposed future actions.  It was noted that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, last year's report had been approved by the Leadership Board at its meeting held on 16 September 2020, which was as soon as practicable but delayed from the usual reporting cycle.  This year's report was submitted within the regular reporting schedule outlined within the legislation.  The report, which had been developed jointly by the Council, NHS Great Glasgow & Clyde and Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership,  set out activities undertaken in Renfrewshire to reduce child poverty between April 2020 and March 2021 as well as planned and proposed actions for the future.

 

DECIDED:

 

(a) That the content of the draft Local Child Poverty Action Report 2020/21 be noted; and

 

(b) That the Local Child Poverty Action Report be approved for publication.

Joint Report by Chief Executive and Director of Finance & Resources

 

 

 

 

7

Under reference to item 3(a) of the Minute of the meeting of the Council held on 17 December 2020 there was submitted a joint report by the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance & Resources providing an update on the tranche 1 service redesigns as well as outlining areas that would now be commenced as part of tranche 2.

 

The report noted that tranche 2 was relatively small-scale and was focussed on those areas of Council service which were not expected at this time to be impacted significantly by the transition of the Covid-19 demands of dealing with the immediate virus containment and subsequent vaccination programme, the recovery phase covering economic, education and community and social recovery as well as the recovery of the organisation as there was a transition back towards a phased return to offices.

 

The report also outlined the work that was and would continue to be progressed over the summer period specifically in response to the anticipation of the relaxation of restrictions that would facilitate a phased re-opening of office accommodation and referred to planning for prioritisation of access.  It was recognised that as organisations returned to office accommodation that ways of working have changed permanently and there was a need to take this into account and learn from the Covid-19 remote working experience.  The report highlighted that this would bring specific challenges in respect of which the Council required to be prepared but that the opportunities presented to design and develop a new way of working should be maximised to ensure that the Council was best placed to support communities and businesses though the recovery process into the post-pandemic period.

 

The report intimated that it was an appropriate time to consider the existing service arrangements within Finance & Resources which had been in place for around six years and which would reduce the Chief Officer structure within the service securing an approximate revenue saving of £0.110 million per annum and details of the proposed changes were outlined.

 

DECIDED:

 

(a) That the update provided in section 3 of the report be noted in relation to the planning work being progressed to manage the commencement of the organisation recovery and transition from the existing remote working model operating across many aspects of services since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic to the beginning of a hybrid working environment as office restrictions were expected to ease over the coming weeks and months;

 

(b) That the latest update on the Right for Renfrewshire Programme and the progress achieved in relation to the tranche 1 service redesigns as outlined in section 4 of the report be noted;

 

(c) That the changes to the Finance & Resources service structure outlined in section 5 of the report be approved and that it be noted that detailed transition planning to support this restructuring and associated detailed service design work would be progressed over the second half of 2021 as part of the Right for Renfrewshire Programme; and

 

(d) That it be noted that further reports would be brought to future cycles of the Board to provide updates on the progress achieved in relation to the programme and in time the identification of those service areas that would be proposed to constitute tranche 3 of the programme once the demands of the Covid-19 recovery programme was better understood.

Section 4
Report by Chief Executive
8

There was submitted a six-month update report by the Chief Executive relative to the Economic Recovery Plan, approved by the Renfrewshire Economic Leadership Panel and Renfrewshire Council.

 

The report intimated that the plan was dependent upon the continued support and contributions of a range of local partners, many of whom lead of specific elements of delivery.  The appendices to the report provided an update on the recovery plan which it was noted took its lead from the Scottish Government's approach to economic recovery but which focussed on actions that would make the biggest difference in the local context.  It would continue to be reviewed on a six-monthly basis.

 

It was noted that reference on page 237 of the agenda to the consultation underway by the City Deal team on the proposed Inchinnan to Renfrew travel link, should instead be Inchinnan Business Park to AMIDS.

 

DECIDED:

 

(a) That the Renfrewshire Economic Recovery Plan June 2021 update as appended to the report be noted; and

 

(b) That it be noted that reference on page 237 of the agenda to the consultation underway by the City Deal team on the proposed Inchinnan to Renfrew travel link, should instead be Inchinnan Business Park to AMIDS.

Report by Chief Executive
9

There was submitted a joint report by the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the submission of an application on behalf of the Council to the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund to support the delivery of the AMIDS South project.  The Programme Director – City Deal and Infrastructure gave a presentation to the Board on the scope of the bid proposals.

 

The report intimated that the Levelling Up Fund was a competitive fund with funding distributed to places across the UK on the basis of successful project selection.  The Fund aimed to invest in local infrastructure that had a visible impact on people and their communities.  The report detailed the three themes under which bids could be submitted - transport; regeneration and town centre investment and cultural investment.

 

The report noted that the Council and its partners were delivering an ambitious regeneration agenda, focussed on creating the infrastructure and business environment that would generate economic growth, jobs and ensure that the area was in a fairer, more inclusive place where people, communities and businesses could thrive. The report outlined that the delivery of AMIDS included transport infrastructure.  However, this infrastructure did not extend to all nearby settlements where ideally the AMIDS workforce would be accommodated or whose residents might be expected to benefit most from the economic and employment opportunities being created.  The report proposed that there be a bid to the Levelling UP Fund under the transport theme in relation to the AMIDS South proposal as detailed in the report.  Bids were required to be submitted by noon on 18 June 2021.  It was noted that a successful bid would provide £38.73 million funding for the project representing 90% of the total estimated project costs and the report outlined how the Council would meet its funding contribution.   In addition, officers were actively progressing other potential additional avenues of funding that might be secured to assist in the project delivery which should they be successful would reduce the prudential borrowing requirement from the Council.

 

The report indicated that other projects for submission in future years of the Fund would be developed, including a potential bid which would support the aims and objectives of the Paisley Community Trust in the delivery of their project in Paisley Town Centre.

 

It was proposed that reference to the area's deprivation status be included within the bid.  This was agreed.

 

DECIDED:

 

(a) That the Chief Executive be authorised to submit a bid to the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund under the Transport theme, as outlined in the report, for £38.73 million of funding and that the requirement in doing so it be agreed that the Council commit to the provision of a local authority contribution as detailed in the report;

 

(b) That it be noted that the draft final bid application and outline business case were available to members for their review in advance of this meeting as required, and in recognition of the tight timescales for their development; and that the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council be authorised to make any minor changes that might be necessary prior to submission to the UK Government on 18 June 2021;

 

(c) That the written support of Gavin Newlands MP, the Constituency MP for the area covered by the bid be noted, in line with the bidding guidance, and also the written support of a wide range of partners across Renfrewshire in support of the Council's proposed application as detailed in the report;

 

(d) That it be noted that a presentation on the scope of the bid proposals was provided at this Board meeting;

 

(e) That it be noted that even if this bid should be successful, that the Council was still eligible to make two further bids in future years of the Levelling Up Fund and that officers would continue to work to develop options for consideration by members in due course; and

 

(f) That reference to the area's deprivation status be included within the bid.

Report by Chief Executive
10

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to a proposed bid to the UK Government Community Renewal Fund.

 

The report intimated that in March 2021 the UK Government announced a Community Renewal Fund of £220 million to pilot local area approaches during 2021/22 to help stimulate local economic recovery.  The Fund aimed to act as a pilot programme to allow areas to prepare for and take advantage of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which would replace current EU funding programmes when it launched in 2022.  It was noted that 100 priority areas had been identified across the UK based largely on employment/unemployment/poverty factors with the aim of levelling up these areas to average UK levels.  However, Renfrewshire had not been identified as one of the priority areas due to higher than average levels of employment, lower levels of economic inactivity and other socio-economic factors.   Priority areas within Scotland were highlighted in the report.

 

It was noted that the fund was a competitive process with no pre-set eligibility with the focus being to 'level up' and create opportunity.  The 100 priority areas would be prioritised for funding.  Scottish local authorities were expected to act as lead authority for their local bid and should provide a shortlist of projects up to a maximum of £3 million per place for submission to the programme.  Funding of 90% was available to support revenue costs.  The deadline for submission of project shortlists was noon on 18 June 2021.  The report detailed how Renfrewshire bids totalling £1.631 million had been selected for progression to the Community Renewal Fund and an outline of the bids was provided within the report.

 

DECIDED:

 

(a) That the opportunity presented through the Community Renewal Fund and the open and transparent approach taken in Renfrewshire be noted; and

 

(b) That the submission of the Renfrewshire bid to the UK Government consisting of three individual proposals relating to the themes of investing in skills, local business and communities/place be supported.

Report by Chief Executive
11

There was submitted an update report by the Chief Executive relative to regeneration funding bids.

 

The report intimated that funding of regeneration projects and programmes had for several years been reliant on national government grant funding which had often been determined through competitive annual bidding processes.  The report noted that this year both the Scottish and UK governments had announced new funding programmes - the Levelling Up Fund, Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme and the Place Based Investment Programme though which the governments were channelling capital investment into local economies.  The report set out the purposes behind the available funds and presented a set of priorities that officers would pursue through applications to appropriate funding programmes and by utilising capital budget available from the March 2020 Council budget.

 

In addition, the report advised that the Scottish Government had written to all local authorities launching the Place Based Investment Programme and that the Director of Finance & Resources had accepted the offer of £1.195 million for financial year 2021/22 the deadline for acceptance of which had been 21 May 2021.

 

DECIDED:

 

(a) That the decision of the Director of Finance & Resources to accept the grant offer from the Scottish Government Place Based Investment Programme of £1.195  million for 2021/22 be homologated;

 

(b) That the set of priority themes set out in section 5 of the report to be pursued through available funding programmes be agreed; and

 

(c) That the submission of five projects to this year's round of applications for the Scottish Government's Regeneration Capital Grant Fund as set out in section 6 of the report be noted, with any that are invited onto the short list being reported back to Board for formal approval of their continuation in the process or acceptance of grant funding.

Report by Chief Executive
12

There was submitted an update report by the Chief Executive relative to the delivery of the Paisley Town Centre Vision which had been launched in January 2020.  The aims of the project, to explore the diversification of the town centre and how it might need to physically adapt and change, had become more pertinent due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the retail sector and on high streets across the country.  The report intimated that a significant part of the vision was the consideration of how large floorspace property, like shopping centres, might have to change as demand for retail space continued to decline.  One of the case studies for the Vision was the Paisley Centre which occupied a significant part of the urban block between the High Street, Causeyside Street and New Street, Paisley.

 

The report noted that over the last six months, Beyond Retail, had been developing mixed use redevelopment proposals for the Paisley Centre, using the ideas developed in the Vision as their guide.  In addition to the Council, Beyond Retail had also engaged with the University of the West of Scotland and with Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Trust to explore potentials and options for the use of space within the redeveloped Centre.  The report referred to the emerging and deliverable masterplan for a radical reconfiguration of the Centre and noted that the masterplan would be launched soon and the owner intended to commence the planning application process before the end of 2021.  In the meantime Beyond Retail would continue to operate the Paisley Centre as a going concern.

 

DECIDED: That it be noted that following the launch of the Vision for Paisley Town Centre in 2020, proposals for the repurposing and partial redevelopment of the Paisley Centre were being discussed with the Council.

Report by Chief Executive
13

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to a potential bid by Glasgow City Region member authorities, in partnership with the private sector in the Glasgow City Region, for a Freeport (Greenport) designation.

 

The report intimated that the bid would only be submitted following publication of, and in response to, a prospectus seeking such bids by the Scottish Government which was expected in summer 2021.  The report noted that the freeport concept had been in existence for some time around the world and that there were an estimated 3,000 such designations worldwide, located primarily at sea ports, and operated as secure custom zones subject to bespoke custom and tax arrangements.  Scotland had an established freeport at Prestwick Airport for many years although this designation ceased in 2012.  The report highlighted that the UK Government consulted in 2020 on the principle of establishing 10 new freeports across the UK with the desire to have at least one freeport in Scotland.  Eight new freeports have been announced for England.  The designation of such zones is a devolved matter.  The publication of the Scottish prospectus was delayed due to the Scottish elections as well as awaiting sign-off on elements from the UK Government but the report indicated that it was likely to be released to bidders by the summer, although there was no indication as yet of timescales or deadlines for bids.  It was noted that following the publication of the prospectus for a Scottish Freeport 'greenport', the Glasgow Clyde Region would commence work on a submission to the Scottish Government.

 

DECIDED:

 

(a) That the potential for a combined bid by Glasgow City Region local authorities for a Freeport/Greenport designation during 2021 be noted;

 

(b) That it be agreed that Renfrewshire Council participate in the preparation of submission of such a bid to the Scottish Government; and

 

(c) That if required, due to the timing of a bid submission, authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to confirm the content of such a bid and designation as it affected Renfrewshire.

Report by Chief Executive
14

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the second in a series of 'Spotlight' reports on Renfrewshire's economy and key locations.  The focus of this report was on Johnstone and the West Villages and information was provided in relation to population, businesses, employment, connectivity, impacts of the pandemic, investment and case studies of the Scottish Leather Group, Smith and McLaurin, Ingliston Country Club and Hotel and Mar Hall Golf Resort and Spa.  It was noted that further updates would focus on other important employment locations such as Inchinnan Business Park, Glasgow Airport and Braehead.

 

DECIDED: That the content of the Johnstone and West Villages spotlight report as appended to the report be noted.

Section 5 Heading
Section 5
Exempt Item
Exempt documents are no longer available in print format.  You will require to log in to the Leadership Board Exempt Items to access documents.  Please note that access to exempt documents is now restricted.
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 paragraph 14 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 paragraph 14 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
Report by Director of Communities and Housing Services
15

There was submitted a report by the Director of Communities & Housing relative to Renfrewshire's participation in the Afghan resettlement and assistance programme.

 

DECIDED: That Renfrewshire's participation in the Afghan resettlement and assistance programme be approved.

Section 6 Heading
Section 6
Section 7 Heading
Section 7
Section 8 Heading
Section 8

Attendance

Name
No other member attendance information has been recorded for the meeting.
NameReason for Sending Apology
No apology information has been recorded for the meeting.
NameReason for Absence
No absentee information has been recorded for the meeting.

Declarations of Interests

Member NameItem Ref.DetailsNature of DeclarationAction
Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes1,4,9bCouncillor Hughes declared an interest as she was the Chair of the Board of Renfrewshire Leisure LimitedNon-PecuniaryCouncillor Hughes remained in the meeting
Councillor Eileen McCartin1, 4, 9bCouncillor McCartin declared an interest as she was a member of the Board of Renfrewshire Leisure LimitedNon-PecuniaryCouncillor McCartin remained in the meeting

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