S Black, Chief Executive; M Crearie, Director of Communities & Housing Services; G McNeil, Director of Environment & Infrastructure; A Russell, Director of Finance & Resources; and S Quinn, Director of Children's Services;  L Mahon, Head of Communications & Marketing, L McIntyre, Head of Policy & Commissioning, A Morrison, Head of Economy & Development, B Walker, City Deal Project Director, R Cooper, Economic Development Manager, B Lambert, Strategic Commercial & Procurement Manager, N Yardley, Project Manager (Clyde/Renfrew Waterfront) and D Christie, Senior Communications Officer (all Chief Executive's); K Graham, Head of Corporate Governance, A MacArthur, Head of Finance, L Belshaw, Democratic Services Manager, R Devine, Senior Committee Services Officer and D Pole, End User Technician (all Finance & Resources); S Strachan, Interim Chief Officer, Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership and V Hollows, Chief Executive, Renfrewshire Leisure.

Councillor Hughes declared a non-financial interest in respect of items 9 and 10 of the agenda as she was Chair of the Board of Renfrewshire Leisure Limited.  Councillor Hughes indicated that as she had a general dispensation from the Standards Commission which allowed her to take part and to vote in relation to such matters, it was her intention to remain in the meeting during consideration of these items.

Councillor McCartin declared a non-financial interest in respect of items 9 and 10 of the agenda as she was a member of the Board of Renfrewshire Leisure Limited.  Councillor McCartin indicated that as she had a general dispensation from the Standards Commission which allowed her to take part and to vote in relation to such matters, it was her intention to remain in the meeting during consideration of these items.

There was submitted a joint report by the Chief Executive, Director of Finance & Resources and 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 overspend of £0.079 million in revenue expenditure and there had been capital budget adjustments totalling £0.045 million reflecting updates to cash flows and city deal projects.

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.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the activities and work programme being progressed by the Climate Change Sub-committee, including climate change funding proposals which had been considered by the Sub-committee at its special meeting held on 16 February 2021.  The report proposed that these be funded through the £1 million climate change action funding allocated by the Council's agreed 2020/21 budget. These projects and initiatives would assist the Council in promoting innovation in working to reduce and offset carbon emissions in Renfrewshire, changing behaviours and supporting engagement with local people, businesses and communities, as well as accelerating existing programmes of change.  In addition, some of the proposals would also provide capacity and expertise to support the Council in delivering on its climate ambitions.

The report also proposed that, in order to support the Sub-committee to  move forward with its programme of work that the previously agreed schedule of meetings be amended to allow the referral of matters for decision to the Leadership Board more quickly.  In addition, the report proposed that an addition be made to the terms of reference of the sub-committee to ensure that any relevant matters being considered by it could be referred for decision to the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board which had a broad remit covering areas such as biodiversity, and recycling and waste which were critical to the Council's response to the climate emergency.

DECIDED:

(a) That the update in terms of activities being progressed by the Climate Change Sub-committee be noted;

(b) That the funding proposals detailed in the Appendix to the report be approved, with £0.698 million to be allocated from the Climate Change Action Fund to support the initiatives outlined;

(c) That the revised schedule of meetings for the Climate Change Sub-committee as set out in section 6 of the report be agreed; and

(d) That the amendment to the existing terms of reference of the Climate Change Sub-committee be agreed, which would ensure relevant matters considered by the sub-committee could be remitted to the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board for approval within the remit of that Board.

Under reference to item 4 of the Minute of the meeting of the Council held on 17 December 2020 there was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the Local Partnership response to the recommendations in the final report by the Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drugs Commission (the Commission), which had been established to identify the true impact of alcohol and drug use across Renfrewshire's communities.

The report intimated that the Council had endorsed fully the Commission's report which recognised that there was a commitment from all local partners to work together to support recovery in Renfrewshire.  In recognition of the work of the Commission, the Council had allocated funding in its 2020/21 budget of £2 million to support the local response to the Commission's emerging recommendations.  Council at its meeting on 17 December 2020 approved £1.34 million of this allocation to support a number of key projects, targeting those issues identified by the Commission as being of the highest priority, including mental health, outreach, the impact of trauma, support for children, young people and families, peer support and social connection.  The report intimated that these projects would be brought together within an Alcohol and Drugs Change Programme (ADCP), the initial action plan for which was appended to the report.  The report highlighted that a key priority within the ADCP would be to ensure that there was meaningful engagement with local service users, families and front-line staff around any proposed service developments.

It was noted that six-monthly updates would be provided to the Leadership Board to ensure that members had oversight of the progress being achieved locally with partners.

DECIDED:

(a) That the action plan, as appended to the report,  which detailed the key actions and initiatives that would be progressed in relation to the recommendations of the Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drugs Commission be noted; 

(b) That the programme governance that had been established to drive forward the implementation of this programme of work be noted; and

(c) That it be noted that an update on progress would be provided to the Leadership Board on a six-monthly basis going forward.

There was submitted an update report by the Chief Executive relative to the types and levels of funding provided to date and detailing the Council's approach to the discretionary funds allocated to Renfrewshire for local businesses.

The report intimated that local government had played a significant role in providing business support throughout the Covid-19 crisis, particularly in relation to channelling grant support from the Scottish Government to businesses to help mitigate the impact of Covid-19.  It was noted that to date Scottish Government grants totalling £44 million had been distributed through 6000 awards of grant to local businesses and self-employed people and that Renfrewshire had received local discretionary funding of circa £3.5 million to award to local businesses.

The report noted that the short-term outlook for Renfrewshire's business community remained precarious and the duration of the current lockdown meant considerable uncertainty for many.  The report indicated that the Council would continue to work with the Scottish Government and local partners to support Renfrewshire businesses, enabling them to innovate, adapt and become more resilient and to provide the right business and funding support to support their survival and future development.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report and the allocation of circa £44 million of funding to businesses through funding programmes announced to date be noted; and

(b) That the Council's discretionary fund of circa £3.5 million and plans for its disbursement to Renfrewshire businesses most in need be noted.

There was submitted a joint report by the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance & Resources relative to an overview of the current employment statistics, the additional funding to support local responses to the Covid-19  pandemic and the proposed specific approach of Renfrewshire Council to support those affected and to maximise new employment opportunities.

The report intimated that local unemployment levels had almost doubled due to the Covid-19 pandemic with more people of all ages now out of work and claiming benefits and that well-resourced and effective local employability services would be key to Renfrewshire's economic and social recovery.  Both the Scottish and UK Governments had announced additional funding and support to help mitigate the levels of unemployment, with a particular focus on the impacts to young people.  The report provided details of the Renfrewshire claimant count; the UK Government Kickstart Scheme in respect of which the Council had bid to be both a Kickstart employer and a 'Gateway' to Kickstart funding; the Scottish Government's Young Person Guarantee; Youth Guarantee Interventions (Renfrewshire) through which the Council was focussed on creating 700 new employment opportunities for young people; No-one Left Behind and Partnership Action for Continuing Employment Redundancy Support.  The report highlighted that while the additional financial support from the UK and Scottish Governments had focussed on young people, the Council's employability service would be supporting all unemployed people regardless of age and a proposed refreshed employability approach was outlined.

DECIDED:

(a) That the additional offers of grant from the Scottish Government in relation to employability and redundancy support be noted; 

(b) That the decision of the Chief Executive to bid for places in the UK Government's Kickstart Scheme be noted; and

(c) That the refreshed employability approach for Renfrewshire be agreed.

There was submitted an update report by the Chief Executive relative to progress with the final delivery phase of Renfrewshire's two City Deal projects and seeking approval of the Final Business Case for the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside Project (CWRR).  The report also provided an update on the status of the regional airport access project.

The report intimated that the programme for the CWRR and the ability to move to construction within months provided additional jobs and the chance for local suppliers and contractors to seize opportunities from the City deal programme at a time when it was most needed.  The social and economic outcomes from CWRR also delivered substantial benefits to Renfrewshire in the medium and long term and provided a significant contribution towards the economic and social ambitions for the whole area.

The report also detailed progress in relation to the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) which was at a critical stage between infrastructure delivery and securing the investment which would bring employment, skills development and economic growth which were the primary aims of the Glasgow Airport Investment Area.  The report intimated that to ensure the progressive and effective delivery of AMIDS, the City Deal Team were working with specialist commercial property and legal advisers to scope and attract a development partner who would continue to drive the investment and delivery of the AMIDS site for future occupiers and that it was intended to start a competitive procurement process for this partner during 2021. 

The report noted that a revised outline business case had been developed for the Airport Investment Project in April 2019 to provide a Cable Pulled Transport (CPT) two-vehicle set shuttle system on a route which largely followed the existing disused Renfrew to Paisley railway line.  Also in 2019 the Connectivity Commission (commissioned by Glasgow City Council) made a recommendation that a Glasgow Metro system should be developed.  The Scottish Government indicated that it would consider the potential for a Glasgow Metro and the City Deal Cabinet agreed to pause the CPT project whilst the Glasgow Metro feasibility study was undertaken and that Glasgow City Council would assume the lead role in progressing this.  AAP funding would be ringfenced for either the section of the Metro between Gilmour Street and the airport or for the alternative CPT system should the Metro not progress.  Renfrewshire Council would be closely involved in the governance of the project going forward.

DECIDED:

(a) That the progress in relation to the delivery of the AMIDS site and the intention to procure a development partner for the next stage of its development, to secure the longer term economic benefits, be noted;

(b) That the Final Business Case for the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrewshire Riverside project be approved; and that the Chief Executive be authorised to make such changes to the Business Case, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, that might be required to satisfy the City Deal Governance procedures; and

(c) That the changes in relation to the Airport Access City Deal Project be noted.

There was submitted a joint report by the Chief Executive and Director of Finance & Resources relative to the outcome of the Council's four bids to the Scottish Government "Clyde Mission" Fund.  The fund was part of the Programme for Government and was open to applications from seven local authorities containing the Clyde Corridor.

The report intimated that Renfrewshire Council had been awarded funding of £935,000 for one application in relation to the Renfrew to Paisley Active Travel Route.  In view of the deadline for acceptance of the grant award, the Director of Finance & Resources had accepted the offer on behalf of the Council and the report sought homologation of this action.

Councillor Nicolson, seconded by Councillor Paterson, moved that the Board homologate the decision of the Director of Finance & Resources to accept the grant offer from the Scottish Government Clyde Mission Fund 2020/21 of £935,000 for the Renfrew to Paisley Active Travel Corridor.

Councillor Shaw, seconded by Councillor Hughes, moved as an amendment that in addition in relation to paragraph 4.4 of the report to remove the last sentence:

“All on-street routes will seek to minimise any disruption to existing business or residential car parking arrangements.”

To be replaced with: “Where the route travels through existing residential or business areas there will be no loss of parking or amenity.”

In terms of Standing Order 27, Councillors Nicolson and Paterson, being the mover and seconder of the motion, agreed to the amendment, and the motion as amended was agreed.

DECIDED:

(a) That the decision of the Director of Finance & Resources to accept the grant offer from the Scottish Government Clyde Mission Fund 2020/21 of £935,000 for the Renfrew to Paisley Active Travel Route be homologated; and

(b) That in relation to paragraph 4.4 of the report remove the last sentence: “All on-street routes will seek to minimise any disruption to existing business or residential car parking arrangements.” and replace with “Where the route travels through existing residential or business areas there will be no loss of parking or amenity.”

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the introduction of the "Return of Cultural Property" and "Human Remains" Policies which were attached as Appendices A and B to the report respectively and which Renfrewshire Leisure recommended for approval by the Leadership Board.  These Policies were intended to provide clarity for all interested parties on sensitive material and would allow Renfrewshire Leisure to manage such cultural material within collections-related activity to current standards of good practice.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Return of Cultural Property Policy, attached as Appendix A to the report be approved; and

(b) That the Human Remains Policy, attached as Appendix B to the report be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the recently-published Renfrewshire Leisure Limited (RL) Annual Report 2019/20 which highlighted the contribution of RL to the achievement of the Council and Community Plans and National Outcome priorities.  The annual review, included within Appendix 1 to the report, also outlined RL's main achievements, business performance and summary financial statements and formed part of the Council's performance monitoring arrangements of RL.

The report intimated that RL was currently preparing its annual business plan which would outline how the organisation would continue to respond to the loss of income caused by service disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic and uncertainty arising from ongoing restrictions on operational activity.  The plan would also address RL's role in recovery for local communities as well as progressing the organisation's transformation work contributing to the Council's Right for Renfrewshire programme.  It was intended that the annual business plan would be submitted to the meeting of this Board to be held on 28 April 2021.

DECIDED:

(a) That Renfrewshire Leisure's annual review of 2019/20 be noted; and

(b) That the update on the development of Renfrewshire Leisure's annual Business Plan for 2021/22 be noted.