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 via the Council's internet site.

There was submitted a joint revenue and capital budget monitoring report by the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance & Resources for the period 1 April 2024 to 7 January 2025.

The report intimated that the projected revenue outturn at 31 March 2025 for those services reporting to this Policy Board was an underspend position of £0.097 million (4.1%) against the revised budget for the year. The projected capital outturn at 31 March 2025 for projects reporting to this Policy Board was a break even position. Section 6 of the report detailed one budget adjustment of £0.070 million.

DECIDED:

(a) That the projected revenue outturn underspend position of £0.097 million be noted;

(b) That the projected capital outturn break even position be noted; and

(c) That the budget adjustment detailed at section 6 of the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the establishment of a clear set of actions to progress the Community Wealth Building (CWB) agenda in Renfrewshire, highlighting some of the opportunities that CWB could create for local organisations, people and places to thrive and prosper in advance of the introduction later in 2025 of the Community Wealth Building Bill.

The Introduction to Community Wealth Building paper, which was appended to the report, had been developed to facilitate further discussion and to promote involvement from other Council departments, public sector partners, local organisations and  community groups on what was meant by CWB and how it could be supported across all areas of work.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Introduction to Community Wealth Building paper attached as Appendix 1 to the report as the starting point to further joint actions across Renfrewshire be noted; and
 
(b) That it be noted that further updates on the Community Wealth Building Bill and Council actions would be reported to a future meeting of this Policy Board.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to an update for the extension of the Renfrewshire and wider Glasgow City Region UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocations to 2025/26, following the confirmation of the budget from the UK Government. Section 6 of the report provided details of the confirmed UKSPF allocation for each local authority in the Glasgow City Region and section 7.2 detailed the proposed breakdown of Renfrewshire Council’s allocation of £2,062,930 which was a 45% reduction on 2024/25 levels.

DECIDED:

(a) That the contents of the report and the Renfrewshire plan for UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2025/26 be noted; and
 
(b) That the proposed breakdown of funding highlighted in section 7.2 of the report be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to an update on the delivery of projects supporting town centre regeneration across Renfrewshire and setting out emerging projects being developed in Paisley, Renfrew, Johnstone, Erskine and Linwood town centres throughout 2025. A framework summary for Erskine Town Centre enhancements and a plan of the Linwood Lade enhancements were appended to the report.

DECIDED: That the progress and continuing actions to deliver town centre regeneration projects across Renfrewshire be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to progress on the £250,000 Renfrewshire Town Centre Premises Fund, approved by this Policy Board on 7 November 2023 to support businesses to occupy vacant town centre properties in Renfrewshire.

DECIDED: That the contents of the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to an update on the status of the Historic Environment Scotland Buildings at Risk Register (BARR) and its relevance to buildings in Renfrewshire. The BARR was currently paused pending evaluation, however, the report intimated that progress was being made to secure the future of many heritage buildings in Renfrewshire that were currently deemed at risk.

DECIDED:

(a) That the status of Renfrewshire’s BARR-listed buildings, including those that remained ‘at risk,’ were under restoration, had been demolished, or had active or 
recently approved planning applications for development be noted; and 
 
(b) That it be agreed that officers to continue dialogue with Historic Environment Scotland to ensure that the BARR and any future alternative remained accurate in relation to Renfrewshire.