Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Convener intimated that this meeting of the Policy Board would be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast on the Council's internet site.

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Sub-committee held on 21 May 2024, a copy of which forms the Appendix to this Minute.

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the discretionary powers available to local authorities to designate Firework Control Zones (FCZ). 

The report advised that the supply and use of fireworks in Scotland had been under review for some time due to mounting concerns in relation to noise nuisance, anti-social behaviour and animal welfare, amongst other things. Legislation, which came into force in June 2023, provided local authorities with discretionary powers to designate FCZs which were small, evidence-based areas, set up and maintained by the local authority and enforced by Police Scotland, in which the unplanned use of fireworks was banned. A FCZ was defined as a geographical area in which it was illegal to use fireworks on private property outside of a licensed display and the Scottish Government had published extensive statutory guidance to shape the process in relation to the set up and administration of FCZs. It was highlighted that a FCZ could be proposed by the local authority or by a community request, that there required to be an evidence base for the designation of a FCZ and for extensive consultation to be undertaken. Based on the criteria within the guidance there were currently no known areas within Renfrewshire which could substantiate a request for a FCZ and it was noted that currently there had been no community enquiries for a FCZ to be established. The potential for communities to make requests as Bonfire Night approached was noted.  The proposed community request process within the Renfrewshire area, was outlined in the report and it was highlighted that the Community Safety Partnership would lead on the consultation process to ensure requests for a FCZ met the required criteria.

DECIDED: That the use of the discretionary powers be approved and the community request process, as outlined in Section 4 of the report, be applied when considering whether to designate a Fireworks Control Zone.

There was submitted a General Services Revenue, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Budget Monitoring report by the Director of Finance & Resources for the period 1 April to 21 June 2024. 

The report stated that the projected outturn as at 31 March 2025 for all services reporting to this Policy Board was a break-even position against the revised budgets for both the General Services and Housing Revenue Account.  The projected Capital outturn for projects reporting to this Policy Board was a break-even position. Summaries were provided over the relevant services in the tables within the report, together with further analysis. 

Budget adjustments, authorised by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure and the Director of Finance & Resources were outlined in paragraphs 6.2 and 7.2 of the report for homologation by the Policy Board while paragraph 6.3 of the report detailed proposed budget adjustments for approval.

DECIDED: 

(a) That the projected Revenue outturn break-even position, be noted; 

(b) That the projected Capital outturn break-even position, be noted; 

(c) That the budget adjustments, detailed in sections 6.2 and 7.2 of the report, be homologated; and

(d)  That the proposed budget adjustments, detailed in section 6.3 of the report, be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing &  Infrastructure relative to key service activities and providing an operational performance update in connection with services and key projects and changes to service areas covered within the remit of this Policy Board since the previous meeting. 

Updates were provided in respect of housing management, public protection, community development and justice social work activities detailing specific projects and recent changes within each service area.  The report highlighted that there continued to be high demand for assistance from the Homeless Services and Housing Support teams, as reported to previous meetings of this Policy Board, and that the Scottish Government had announced that the implementation of Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans (RRTP) would be extended for a further year. Progress with the implementation of Renfrewshire’s initial five-year RRTP 2019/24 had been regularly reported to this Policy Board, and the local RRTP had supported the upscaling of a housing first approach to support those who were homeless as well as minimising the time those who were homeless required to spend in temporary accommodation. An announcement of further funding from the Scottish Government to support the delivery of RRTP’s for 2024/25 had been made, with £190,000 allocated to Renfrewshire. This was the same level of funding as awarded in the previous five years and would allow for the continuation of established initiatives. 

DECIDED:

(a) That it be noted that further Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan funding, in line with previous years, had been received from the Scottish Government for 2024/25, as detailed in paragraph 3.3.3 of the report; and 

(b) That otherwise the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure    relative to the Year 3 update for the Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal Programme for Renfrewshire. 

The report outlined the aims of the Programme, approved at the meeting of the former Communities, Housing & Planning Policy Board held on 18 January 2022. It was also noted that amended proposals for three of the eight regeneration areas had subsequently been approved at the meeting of that Policy Board held on 15 March 2022. It was noted that the programme was being progressed as a key Council priority with the active involvement of services across the Council and Community Planning partnership, designed to deliver maximum benefits for residents and, to deliver modern, high quality, energy efficient, affordable Council housing that would significantly enhance the Council’s housing stock and also contribute to the wider transformation of communities across Renfrewshire.  The Policy Board was provided with regular updates on the Housing-led regeneration and renewal programme within the service update reports submitted throughout the course of the year and the annual update report provided more detailed information and a summary of progress, together with information around the governance structures in place with regards to officer membership and reporting methods for the programme Board and Thematic Groups established as part of the project delivery mechanisms. 

As plans for investment and improvement were developed it had become clear that meeting Scottish Government Energy Efficiency targets would be particularly difficult within blocks where the Council were a minority owner and the report outlined proposals to offer resident owners, within regeneration areas, the opportunity to sell their property to the Council and become a Council tenant in that same property, subject to qualifying criteria. Authority to make amendments to the Council’s Acquisition Scheme for Private Housing, as outlined in section 5 of the report, was sought.  In response to an enquiry, it was indicated that arrangements would be made to circulate detailed individual ward information and summaries of progress to local ward members.

 

DECIDED:

 

(a) That the positive progress made in each of the eight regeneration and renewal areas within the ambitious ten-year programme be noted;

 

(b) That arrangements would be made to circulate detailed individual ward information and summaries of progress to local ward members; and

 

(c) That the amendments to the Council’s Acquisition Scheme for Private Housing, outlined in paragraph 5.4 of the report, be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the draft Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2025/30, a copy of which was appended to the report. 

The report indicated that the SHIP, which detailed how funding for affordable housing would be targeted to achieve the objectives contained within Renfrewshire’s Local Housing Strategy and support the delivery of a range of affordable housing projects across the Renfrewshire area, was reviewed and updated annually. The draft SHIP 2025/30 included a range of housing projects that aimed to deliver affordable homes of different types and sizes throughout Renfrewshire to meet people’s housing needs.
It was highlighted that the draft SHIP 2025/30 included an affordable housing programme to be delivered by the Council and its Housing Association partners which was supported by Scottish Government grant funding and contained funding provision for the Council’s own ambitious newbuild development programme within the Council’s Housing Regeneration and Renewal areas. It was noted that formal offers of Scottish Government Grant for projects included within the SHIP core programme had been issued by the Scottish Government for 2024/25 with future grant funding offers expected to be issued on a rolling basis up to the value of the annual Resource Planning Assumption. Projects in receipt of grant in 2024/25 included the Council’s regeneration projects at Howwood Road, Johnstone and Gallowhill, Paisley. Delivery of the full development programme was projected to take longer than previously anticipated as the amount of funding made available through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme in 2024/25 had been reduced and higher development costs and inflationary pressures were being experienced. 

Reference was made within the report to the SHIP 2024/29 approved at the meeting of this Policy Board held on 31 October 2023, when it had been reported that the Council and partners were working to identify new affordable housing projects to address the 93 social rented unit reduction at Dargavel Village that had resulted from the decision taken at the meeting of the Planning & Climate Change Policy Board held on 29 August 2023 in relation to the revision of the Section 75 Agreement attached to the approved Dargavel Village masterplan. In view of the reduction in funding and the uncertainty over future levels of funding, it was indicated that the ability to add new projects to the development programme to address the 93 unit reduction at Dargavel Village was significantly constrained and therefore the draft SHIP 2025/30 focussed on the delivery of existing sites within the programme and that the Council and partners would work to identify new affordable housing projects to address the reduction at Dargavel Village should additional funding be made available. It was noted that the draft SHIP 2025/30 continued to programme for the delivery of 105 social rented units at Dargavel Village.

The report proposed that following consultation, which would be undertaken during August and September 2024, the finalised Plan would be submitted to a future meeting of this Policy Board for consideration and, if appropriate approval, prior to submission to the Scottish Government. 

DECIDED: That the draft Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2025/30, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, be approved for consultation and that a finalised Plan be submitted for consideration at the meeting of this Policy Board scheduled to be held on 29 October 2024.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Schemes (EES: ABS) Programme 2024/25 and the allocation of up to £2,061,138 for qualifying projects within the Renfrewshire Council area. 

The report advised that the Scottish Government’s EES: ABS programme, formerly known as the Home Energy Efficiency Programme Scotland: Area Based Schemes (HEEPS: ABS) had been introduced in 2013/14. The programme was targeted at private sector homeowners to assist their participation and ensure projects to improve energy efficiency could proceed. The key objectives of the programme were detailed within the report, together with the potential benefits and it was highlighted that local authorities acted as co-ordinating agents for all EES: ABS programmes within their area. It was noted that Renfrewshire Council had applied for up to £2,061,138 and confirmation had been received that the application had been successful. It was noted that, as in previous years, the proposed projects, which were detailed within the report, had focused on mixed tenure blocks of solid wall construction type to support social landlords in meeting the requirements of the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing as well as an allocation to support private homeowners within houses in wholly private blocks which would be delivered via a managing agent. It was highlighted that the costs of the managing agent role would be met by the EES: ABS funding. The report confirmed that all of the EES: ABS monies awarded to the Council in 2023/24 had been successfully drawn down to support the delivery of energy efficiency works to eligible private owners.  It was highlighted that the Council’s mixed tenure blocks investment project had delivered external improvement works to 90 flatted properties in the Elderslie area, with the EES: ABS funding allowing 39 private owners to benefit from these works.  In addition, Linstone Housing Association had successfully delivered External Wall Insulation to four mixed tenure blocks, with six private owners and six Linstone HA tenants benefitting from these works.  EES: ABS funding had been utilised to allow the owners to participate and Linstone HA funding the works to their own properties. During 2023/24 the Council had continued to work with the Wise Group to act as a managing agent to offer EES: ABS funded energy efficiency improvement works to residents in fully privately owned blocks and individual houses. It was also noted that there continued to be complexity and a degree of flexibility required around the programming schedule to reflect fluctuating labour resource availability within the construction industry. This could impact on the scheduling of works in 2024/25 and the timetable for drawing down EES: ABS funding, which in turn might result in works being rescheduled over the course of 2024/25 and into 2025/26, however, this would be managed by the Head of Housing Services in line with the Scottish Government’s funding criteria timescales. 

DECIDED: 

(a) That the allocation of up to £2,061,138 of funding from the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficiency Scotland Area Based Schemes programme and the projects submitted for funding be noted; 

(b) That the Head of Housing Services be authorised to accept the funding of up to £2,061,138 from the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficiency Scotland Area Based Schemes programme, subject to formal confirmation of the award of funding from the Scottish Government; 

(c) That the Head of Housing Services be authorised to oversee delivery and operational management of the programme; and 

 (d) That it be noted that an update on the outcomes delivered from the programme would be submitted to a future meeting of this Policy Board. 

There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Tenant Satisfaction Survey undertaken during 2024, in accordance with the requirements of the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR).

The report advised that the Scottish Housing Regulator required local authority landlords and Registered Social Landlords to carry out a Tenant Satisfaction Survey at least once every three years, with the SHR setting standard questions which required to be asked of tenants to gauge satisfaction. To comply with this requirement, the Council undertook a Tenant Satisfaction Survey every two years with the survey for 2024 carried out between March and May 2024. The aim of the survey was to find out tenants’ views on the services that Renfrewshire Council provided as a landlord, and how well these services were carried out. Additionally, the survey asked tenants to identify areas where the service could be improved. In particular, the survey focused on the quality of information provided by the Council; feedback on customer care; quality of accommodation and the neighbourhood; service provision including repairs; maintenance and improvements; tenant involvement/opportunities for participation; value for money of rents; and service priorities.  Research Resource, an independent market research firm, had been commissioned to carry out the 2024 Tenant Satisfaction Survey which had been conducted by telephone, covering just over 1,200 households, representing around 11% of the Council’s tenanted stock.

A copy of the Renfrewshire Council Tenant Satisfaction Survey was attached as Appendix 1 of the report and outlined the outcomes from the 2024 Survey.

DECIDED: That the contents of the report and any actions arising from it be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Scottish Social Housing Charter Annual Return 2023/24. 

The report intimated that Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords were required to submit an Annual Return relating to their performance in respect of the Social Housing Charter to the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) by the end of May each year.  The Annual Return on the Charter consisted of 32 performance indicators and 14 contextual indicators. There were three indicators, one relating to Registered Social Landlords and two relating to Gypsy travellers, that were not applicable to Renfrewshire. Since April 2023, of the 29 remaining indicators, the majority – 16 – had improved, 12 had dipped in performance and one had remained unchanged.

A copy of the Annual Return 2023/24 made on behalf of the Council, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, detailed Renfrewshire’s performance in terms of the Charter.

DECIDED: 

(a) That the report on the Scottish Social Housing Charter performance 2023/24, attached as Appendix 1 of the report, be noted; and  

(b) That it be noted that the Scottish Housing Regulator was undertaking a review of the ARC indicators. 

Under reference to item 7 of the Minute of the meeting of this Policy Board held on 16 May 2023, there was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the failure of the property at 2/1 9 Auchentorlie Quadrant, Paisley to meet the Tolerable Standard, as defined within the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, seeking approval to issue a Demolition Order in terms of Section 115 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 for the blocks at 5,7 and 9 Auchentorlie Quadrant, Paisley and seeking authority to promote a Compulsory Purchase Order, to complement the Demolition Order process, and bring the remaining privately owned property into Council ownership. 

Following approval by this Policy Board, in 2021 and 2022, to implement the Council approved Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal Investment Programme, measures had been taken to acquire privately owned properties within identified regeneration areas where this facilitated the delivery of the investment programme within these areas. At the meeting of this Policy Board held on 16 May 2023 the promotion and use of a Compulsory Purchase Order to acquire the last remaining privately owned property within the Auchentorlie regeneration area, namely Flat 2/1, 9 Auchentorlie Quadrant, Paisley was authorised.  The report advised that despite efforts to engage the owner in agreeing voluntary acquisition the top floor flat in the building at 9 Auchentorlie Quadrant, Paisley, Flat 2/1, 9 Auchentorlie Quadrant, Paisley was still in private ownership. The flat and building generally had been subject to significant fire damage and was therefore considered to fail to meet the Tolerable Standard, as defined within the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, as amended. The report approval was sought to issue a Demolition Order in terms of Section 115 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 for the blocks at 5, 7 and 9 Auchentorlie Quadrant, Paisley. 

DECIDED: 

(a) That the issue of a Demolition Order in respect of the properties at 5,7 and 9 Auchentorlie Quadrant, Paisley be approved; 

(b) That the Council undertake the demolition of the blocks at 5,7 and 9 Auchentorlie Quadrant, Paisley in the event that, subject to their right to appeal, the owners failed to demolish the block within the prescribed period; and 

(c) That, in accordance with the existing board authorisation outlined within the report, promote and submit a Compulsory Purchase Order to the Scottish Ministers for approval to acquire the property 2/1 9 Auchentorlie Quadrant, Paisley after conclusion of the demolition order process in the event that further efforts to acquire the property voluntary were unsuccessful.

Under reference to item 7 of the Minute of the meeting of this Policy Board held on 12 March 2024, there was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the failure of the property at 1/1 3 Clavering Street East, Paisley to meet the Tolerable Standard, as defined within the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, seeking approval to issue a Demolition Order in terms of Section 115 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 for all of the properties in the building at 3 Clavering Street East, Paisley and seeking authority to promote a Compulsory Purchase Order, to complement the Demolition Order process, and bring the remaining privately owned properties in the Paisley West End Masterplan area into Council ownership. 

A Regeneration Masterplan for Paisley West End, to be implemented in partnership with Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association Ltd was approved at the meeting of the Leadership Board held on 12 December 2017. The acquisition of over 100 private properties was required in order that demolition could be carried out to facilitate delivery of the Regeneration Masterplan. Sanctuary’s agents had successfully negotiated the acquisition of most of these properties and work continued in respect of any properties not yet acquired, in parallel with the process of promoting a Compulsory Purchase Order over the remaining privately-owned properties in the Paisley West End Masterplan Area. 

At the meeting of this Policy Board held on 12 March 2024 it had been agreed that a Compulsory Purchase Order be submitted by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure to the Scottish Ministers for confirmation to acquire the revised list of remaining privately-owned residential and commercial properties and land within the Paisley West End Masterplan Area, which included the remaining privately owned flatted dwellings and registered feudal superiority within the block at 3 Clavering Street East, Paisley. 

The report advised that the ground floor Flat 0/2 3 Clavering Street East, Paisley and the first floor Flat 1/1 3 Clavering Street East, Paisley remained in private ownership, with the other flatted properties in the building having been brought into the ownership of Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association. Efforts had been made to engage with the owners of Flats 0/2 and 1/1 by both Council and Sanctuary to agree the voluntary acquisition of these flats with negotiations progressing well for Flat 1/1. It was noted that the building was in a poor condition and all flats therein failed to meet the Tolerable Standard, as defined within the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, as amended. Flat 0/2 3 Clavering Street East, Paisley was subject to a Closing Order, issued by the Council to the current owner on 13 June 2014, based on the property failing to meet the Tolerable Standard and ought otherwise to be demolished. 

The report sought approval to issue a Demolition Order in terms of Section 115 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 for the whole block at 3 Clavering Street East, Paisley. 
To allow the Demolition Order to be issued, approval was sought to revoke the Closing Order previously served in respect of Flat 0/2 3 Clavering Street East, Paisley. 

DECIDED: 

(a) That the revocation of the Closing Order issued on 13 June 2014 in respect of Flat 0/2 3 Clavering Street East, Paisley be approved;

(b) That the issue of a Demolition Order in respect of all of the properties within the building at 3 Clavering Street East, Paisley be approved; 

(c) That the Council undertake the demolition of the block at 3 Clavering Street East. Paisley in the event that, subject to their right to appeal, the owners failed to demolish the block within the prescribed period; and 

(d) That, in accordance with the existing board authorisation outlined within the report, the Council promote and submit a Compulsory Purchase Order to the Scottish Ministers for approval to acquire all of the remaining privately owned properties  in the Paisley West End Masterplan Area, including the flatted property at 3 Clavering Street East, Paisley,  after conclusion of the demolition order process in the event that further efforts to acquire the property voluntary were unsuccessful.

 

 

There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Business Regulation Service Plan 2024/25, a copy of which was appended to the report. 

The Business Regulation Service Plan 2024/25 provided detail, as required by Food Standards Scotland, in respect of work being undertaken in connection with the regulation of food law across Renfrewshire, set out objectives, detailed work undertaken by the service and outlined resource requirements and quality assurance arrangements.

DECIDED:  That the Business Regulation Service Plan 2024/25, a copy of which was appended to the report, be approved. 

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the draft Community Learning and Development Partnership Plan 2024/27. 

The report stated that in terms of the Community Learning and Development (Scotland) Regulations 2013 local authorities required to produce a three-year plan detailing how Community Learning and Development (CLD) services would be delivered within the local area. In May 2024, members had received an update on the recent follow up inspection of community learning and development, with the inspection team making specific recommendations requiring the Council to strengthen its approach to developing and implementing the local CLD Plan. This included the need to review and strengthen partnership governance arrangements to ensure that the plan was owned by all partners and that progress was reviewed on a regular basis by all partners. 

The report provided information on the new governance arrangements established for CLD in Renfrewshire and the partnership work that was being undertaken to consider local needs and identify shared priorities for ensuring community learning and development activities achieved the best possible outcomes in Renfrewshire. This process had informed the development of an initial draft CLD Partnership Plan for 2024/27, a copy of which was attached as Appendix 1 of the report.  Given the feedback from the inspection team it was proposed that a final stage of consultation be undertaken to allow stakeholders that had a view on the Plan to participate in the final stages of its development. The consultation period would allow the partnership to gather final information that required to be included within the strategy, including scoping additional or “unmet” needs and allow partners to consider the recommendations from the recent national review of community learning and development, and incorporate actions as appropriate within the plan itself. It was noted that the finalised strategy would be submitted to the meeting of this Policy Board to be held on 29 October 2024 for consideration and, if appropriate, approval. 

DECIDED:

(a) That the draft Community Learning and Development Partnership Plan 2024/27, attached as Appendix 1 of the report, be noted; 

(b) That the draft Community Learning and Development Partnership Plan 2024/27 proceed to the final consultation stage involving wider stakeholders; and 

(c)  That it be noted that the final Plan would be submitted to the meeting of this Policy Board scheduled to be held on 29 October 2024 for consideration and if appropriate approval.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to community funding applications.  The report advised that in order to strengthen the oversight of funding applications, a consolidated community funding report was submitted each meeting cycle providing updated information and setting out recommendations for approval in relation to the Greenspaces, Villages Investment and Sustainable Communities Funds. Whilst the Greenspaces and Villages Investment Fund were well established, the Sustainable Communities Fund had been launched in early October 2023. An officer panel had been established to review applications and make recommendations on funding awards to this Policy Board. The panel had met to consider applications received through the fourth funding round which had closed on 30 June 2024. 

The report provided, in Section 4 and Appendix 1, specific information relating to recent applications to the Sustainable Communities Fund together with recommendations for  funding.  While Sections 5 and 6 of the report set out recommendations in relation to the allocation of Greenspaces and Villages Investment funding. It was highlighted that the next funding round would end on 31 August 2024.

DECIDED: 

(a) That the funding recommendations in relation to the proposed allocation of Sustainable Communities Funding, detailed in section 4 and Appendix 1 of the report, be approved; and 

(b) That the funding recommendations in relation to the allocation of funding of Villages Investment Funding, detailed in section 6 of the report, be approved.