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 were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated prior to the meeting.

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Sub-committee held on 6 November 2024, a copy of which forms the Appendix to this document.

 

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to activity within the service.

The report provided an overview of key service activities since the last meeting of this Policy Board held on 6 November 2024 and an update on the services and key projects delivered during this period. Reference was made to the garden waste permit scheme which was introduced in July 2023 and it was noted that the scheme had reduced the financial subsidy the Council funded to provide this service by 85 percent.  The proposed garden waste permit fee for the next three financial years was set out in section 9.1.3 of the report.

Councillor Campbell, seconded by Councillor Audrey Doig, moved:

"(a) That the contents of the report be noted; and

(b) That the fees and charges for the next three years, as detailed in section 9.1.3 of the report, be approved."

Councillor Gilmour, seconded by Councillor McMillan, moved as an amendment that:

"(a) That the contents of the report be noted; and

(b) That garden waste charges should remain at their current level, any changes to garden waste charges should be set in line with any Council Charges agreed in the budget next month."

On the roll being called the following members voted for the amendment: Councillors Davidson, Devine, Gilmour, Graham, Gray, J MacLaren, McDonald and McMillan.

The following members voted for the motion: Councillors Adam, Burns, Cameron, Campbell, Audrey Doig, McNaughtan, Nicolson, Shaw and Steel.

9 members having voted for the motion and 8 members having voted for the amendment, the motion was accordingly declared carried. 

DECIDED:

(a) That the contents of the report be noted; and

(b) That the fees and charges for the next three years, as detailed in section 9.1.3 of the report, be approved.

There was submitted a joint revenue and capital budget monitoring report by the Directors of Finance & Resources and Environment, Housing & Infrastructure for the period to 8 November 2024.

 

The report intimated that the projected revenue outturn at 31 March 2025 for those services reporting to this Policy Board was an overspend of £1.160 million (4.1%) against the revised budget for the year. The projected capital outturn at 31 March 2025 was a breakeven position.

 

DECIDED:

 

(a) That the projected revenue outturn overspend position of £1.160 million be noted; and

 

(b) That the projected capital outturn break-even position be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to proposed changes to the Council's Waste Operations Policy as set out at Appendix 1 of the report.

 

The report advised that the policy had last been reviewed in 2018 and that due to the changing waste policy landscape, including new or adapted Scottish and UK Government legislation, a further review was now required. A summary of the proposed revisions was set out at section 4.2 of the report.

 

DECIDED: That the revised Waste Operations Policy, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, be approved and incorporated into operational practices.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the proposed Cemetery Management Policy. A copy of the policy was set out at Appendix 1 of the report.

 

The report advised that the proposed Cemetery Management Policy would refresh and consolidate the existing Cemetery Policy and Memorial Safety Policy into a single, comprehensive document. It was noted that feedback gathered through collaboration with key stakeholders, members of the public, other local authority bereavement services, memorial masons and elected members had helped shape the Policy.

 

The Policy aimed to establish a clear, respectful and inclusive framework for the management of cemeteries and reflected compliance with key legislative requirements, including the Health and Safety at Work Act, the Occupiers’ Liability Act and the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act. Additionally, the Policy introduced a Registration Scheme for memorial masons to ensure the quality and reliability of contractors operating within the cemetery.

 

DECIDED: That the new Cemetery Management Policy be approved and formally incorporated into operational practices.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to a review of the areas within the Council's Open Space Estate which had been converted to biodiversity sites.

 

The report noted that officers had undertaken a review of the 33 sites which had been converted to biodiversity sites which focused on identifying opportunities to enhance biodiversity management, improve aesthetics and strengthen biodiversity contributions in line with the Biodiversity Action Plan.  A summary of the outcome of the review and the next steps were set out at sections 3 and 4 of the report respectively.  

 

DECIDED: That the outcomes from the biodiversity review and the planned enhancement works across the biodiversity sites be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to a proposed Exemption Order to allow Renfrewshire Council to grant exemptions at specific roads from the nationwide pavement parking ban in accordance with the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019.

 

The report provided a background to the pavement parking ban and detailed situations where exemptions to the ban might be deemed appropriate. A number of streets had been proposed for exemption, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report, and consultation around these had been undertaken during August 2024. Responses to the consultation were summarised in the report. It was noted that areas of the Exemption Order which were subject to requests for extensions to the exemption would be removed from this Order to allow the requests to be examined and would then be subject to a future Order. It was further noted that these locations would not be considered for enforcement whilst a subsequent Order was being developed.

 

Members were advised that, in accordance with the ‘Local Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedures) (Scotland) Regulations 1999’ and the Council’s procedures, this Policy Board could decide on the objections itself or to appoint a Reporter to do so. It was determined that the objections would be considered and decided on at this meeting of the Policy Board and that they be not upheld.

 

 

The report advised that this Policy Board had delegated authority to exercise the functions of the Council in relation to road traffic regulation. The report sought to have specific powers relating to road traffic regulation delegated to specified officers by virtue of an amendment to the Scheme of Delegation, as detailed in section 7.2 of the report.

 

DECIDED:

 

(a) That the objections made in relation to The Renfrewshire Council (Pavement Parking Exemptions) Order 2025 would be considered and decided on at this meeting of the Policy Board rather than appointing an independent Reporter and that the objections be not upheld;

 

 (b) That the implementation of an amended Exemption Order, which included the roads as listed at Appendix 1 of the report be approved and that the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure in conjunction with the Convener of this Policy Board be authorised to make the Traffic Regulation Order;

 

(c) That the commencement of enforcement activity associated with the national pavement parking ban, in accordance with the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, by Renfrewshire Council’s Parking Attendants be approved;

 

(d) That an amendment to paragraph 20 on page 92 of the scheme of delegation, as detailed in section 7.2 of the report, be approved for immediate implementation; and

 

(e) That it be noted that this was the first in a series of exemption reports which were likely to be submitted to this Policy Board as additional areas for exemption required to be considered.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the development and delivery of the Council’s £1.2 million Infrastructure and Assets Community Investment Fund which had been agreed at the meeting of this Policy Board held on 26 August 2020.

 

The report summarised the funding which had been awarded through a participatory budgeting model to allow members of the public to help shape infrastructure improvements and the feedback which had been gathered throughout the process. An Evaluation Report in respect of the project provided further analysis and was attached as Appendix 1 of the report. 

 

DECIDED:

 

(a) That the contents of the report be noted; and

 

(b) That it be noted that the learning from the approach used would be applied to any future participatory budgeting processes.

 

 

 

Under reference to the Minute of the meeting of Council held on 26 September 2024, there was submitted a report by the Director Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the control of rodent infestations.

 

The report advised that analysis had been undertaken for all recorded service requests for rat treatments over the six-year period from April 2018 to November 2024 and that whilst a slightly increasing trend was noted over the most recent two-year-period, the full term analysis for the six years displayed a decreasing trend. Graphs detailing these trends were attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

 

The current position in terms of advice on bird and animal feeding and domestic and business waste was set out in section 4 of the report together with the proposed next steps in section 6.

 

DECIDED: That the contents of the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Council's Strategic Property Review (SPR).

 

The report provided a background to the SPR which began with an exercise to assess the existing portfolio of buildings owned or leased by Council and included properties currently in use, other properties that might be unused and surplus properties.  The report detailed the findings of the review including information on the number and status of buildings within the Council's portfolio was set out.

 

It was noted that following the initial assessment, the review had shown that there were a significant number of Council properties that were under-utilised and that as part of the next steps options for reducing the Council’s portfolio whilst providing facilities that support service and community needs would be considered.  

 

DECIDED: That the updates detailed within the report be noted.