Items Of Business
Apologies
Apologies from members.
Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements
Members are asked to declare an interest or make a transparency statement in any item(s) on the agenda and to provide a brief explanation of the nature of the interest or the transparency statement.
Council, 29 February 2024, pages 1251-1274
Communities and Housing Policy Board, 12 March 2024, pages 1275-1286
Regulatory Functions Board, 13 March 2024, pages 1287-1294
Education and Children's Services Policy Board, 14 March 2024, pages 1295-1302
Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board, 18 March 2024, pages 1303-1310
Economy and Regeneration Policy Board, 19 March 2024, pages 1311-1316
Planning and Climate Change Policy Board, 19 March 2024, pages 1317-1324
Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, 20 March 2024, pages 1325-1336
Personnel Appeals and Applied Conditions of Service Appeals Panel, 21 March 2024, pages 1337-1338
Petitions Board, 25 March 2024, pages 1339-1342
Local Review Body, 26 March 2024, pages1343-1348
Regulatory Functions Board, 28 March 2024, pages 1349-1358
Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board, 18 April 2024, pages 1359-1372
Placing Requests and Exclusions Appeals Panel, 1 May 2024, pages 1373-1374
Leadership Board, 1 May 2024 (Copy to follow)
Appointment Board - Head of People & Organisational Development, 2 May 2024 (Copy to follow)
Report by the Director of Finance & Resources
Report by Director of Finance & Resources
Report by Director of Finance & Resources
Report by Chief Executive
"The International Community and Palestinian National Self Determination
“Renfrewshire Council notes that the state of Israel is a signatory to the UN’s International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article One of which supports the right of national self-determination for all peoples.
This Council regrets the UK’s recent abstention on the UN Security Council, thereby failing to grant the Palestinian people full UN membership, and applauds the majority of UN members who officially recognize Palestine.
Council accordingly resolves, in solidarity with this objective, to fly the Palestinian flag, on a bi-monthly basis with the Ukrainian flag.”"
"Renfrewshire HSCP and Lone Working Policy
“Renfrewshire Council notes that employees, UNISON, and elected members have raised concerns that the Renfrewshire HSCP is sanctioning lone working by social care staff at night, and that these concerns, contrary to the lone working policy of the Scottish Social Services Council, have not been listened to.
This Council recognizes the primacy of the SSSC guidelines, as a regulatory body for the wider social care profession, and calls on the HSCP to suspend lone working at night pending negotiations with employees and all relevant trade unions to resolve legitimate concerns around health and safety.”"
"To commend Williamsburgh Primary School on an excellent inspection report
Renfrewshire Council commends the headteacher and staff of Williamsburgh Primary School on the report from Education Scotland and the Care Inspectorate where the inspection team found that Williamsburgh Primary School has high quality approaches to learning teaching across the school and nursery. Council notes that this is an exceptional achievement given the school’s demographic and recent intake.
Renfrewshire Council echoes the report in its commendations of the highly effective head teacher and the fact that all staff work well together as a team; it further commends the schools strong focus on promoting inclusion and diversity; and acknowledges with approval that the children of Williamsburgh Primary School show respect, care and kindness."
"WASPI
Council agrees that the process of delivering justice for Renfrewshire WASPI women and their families has been too long, and that justice delayed is justice denied.
Council notes with dismay that despite the publication of the final WASPI report to UK parliament following a five year investigation by the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman, the UK Government is showing disrespect not only to WASPI women but to its own watchdog when it refuses to set a date for a compensation announcement.
The Ombudsman’s report makes clear that 1950s women have faced pension injustice, that they are entitled to compensation and that Parliament must now identify an appropriate mechanism for redress.
Council agrees to write to DWP minister Paul Maynard and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to demand Government must act on this urgently and bring forward compensation scheme proposals for debate."
"CASS
Council agrees that the recommendations of the Cass Review be implemented in Scotland in full. The Council recognises that as a result of the Cass Review the Sandyford Clinic has now paused all prescribing of puberty blockers to under-18s and believes that NHS Scotland must ‘follow the science’ on this critical issue.
Renfrewshire Council will write to Education Scotland recommending that they instruct all non-Cass compliant schools’ guidance be withdrawn with immediate effect.
In addition, Renfrewshire Council will write to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Scotland requesting an immediate review of Education Policy in light of the Cass findings."
"Waspi (Women Against State Pension Inequality)
Council acknowledges the historic injustice resulting in state pension changes for women.
Council supports the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) women in their demands for compensation, acknowledges the PHSO’s (Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman) recommendations and calls on the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to “act swiftly” on those recommendations and intervene to make sure a compensation scheme is established.
Council agrees to write to Mel Stride MP the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to establish such a scheme and calls on the Labour Party to commit to the State Pension Age (Compensation) Bill if they were to win an election."
"Heartstart in Schools
Teaching all young people what to do in an emergency, how to perform CPR and instruct an adult what to do, has been shown to dramatically increase survival rates from cardiac arrest. Renfrewshire Council believes this is a life skill every young person should have and instructs officers to liaise with Save a Life for Scotland to roll out delivery of a Heartstart Programme across all Renfrewshire Schools starting in the next academic year."
“Renfrewshire Council re-affirms its previous decision for the cancelling of the renewal of Trident nuclear weapons and calls on both the Labour and Tory Party to withdraw their support for Trident and of it being the bedrock of the UK Defence Policy.
Trident is not and never will be an independent nuclear deterrent as its use is dependent on US foreign policy and permission to deploy.
Renfrewshire Council has agreed and expressed its view that it wants no part in any hosting weapons of mass destruction on the Clyde which would lead to Renfrewshire and Central Scotland being a first strike target in any Warfare.
Renfrewshire and Scotland no longer want to be seen as complicit in maintaining Trident as part of the United States Defence Policy."
"Head Injury Service
Council is concerned over the decision to cease funding to the Head Injury Service which has been provided by Quarriers for Renfrewshire Residents since 2003.
Council asks for a report to be given to the next appropriate board on how this decision was made.
Furthermore, council agrees that funding be found for this much valued service to continue during the next financial year and steps be made for it to operate in the longer term."
"Net Zero
Council is disappointed in the Scottish Government’s abandonment of the 2030 emission reduction target. Council agrees that this latest setback in progress towards Net Zero greatly damages Scotland’s reputation internationally for being committed to tackling climate change.
Council notes that the Chief Executive of Climate Change Committee commented that the Scottish Government had not set out a credible path to reach its own emissions targets. Therefore, council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero asking that the guidance on emissions reporting for local government be delivered as soon as possible."
"Paisley Daily Express
Council congratulates the Paisley Daily Express in reaching the milestone of being 150 years old this year."
"“Lights at Tweedie Hall”
Council welcomes the installation of LED lighting around the Tweedie Hall in Linwood and understands that this will make Linwood better equipped to celebrate events and raise awareness of causes throughout the year.
Council notes that the campaign to raise awareness of water safety by William McNally's family was the inspiration for the installation of the LED lights.
Council thanks the family of William McNally for continuing to raise awareness of Water Safety on our rivers in Renfrewshire.
Further notes that an event will be held this summer where the lights will be illuminated for the first time and will shine blue for World Drowning Prevention Day alongside other Renfrewshire landmarks."
"The Independent Review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People.
That this Council welcomes the decision by NHS Scotland to pause the prescription of puberty-blockers and cross-sex hormones to children and young persons.
That this Council hopes that the pause will lead to a complete and permanent cessation of the prescription of puberty-blockers and cross-sex hormones to gender dysphoric children and young persons. This Council is both saddened and horrified that children have been prescribed these drugs when the long-term impact of them is not yet known.
That this Council hopes that all future therapeutic interventions for gender dysphoric children and young persons will be based on evidence rather than ideology."
"The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021
That this Council agrees to write to the Scottish Government to press for the repeal of this legislation.
That this Council believes that pre-existing legislation on hate crime was fair and proportionate.
That this Council notes the statement from the Scottish Police Federation saying that Police Scotland cannot cope with the demand and that it will impact on policing services across the communities of Scotland."