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.

Councillors Ann-Dowling and McGonigle.

There was submitted a joint revenue and capital budget monitoring report by the Chief Executive, Director of Finance & Resources and Chief Finance Officer Renfrewshire HSCP for the period to 27 June 2025. The report intimated that the projected revenue outturn at 31 March 2025 for those services reporting to the Leadership Board was an overspend position of £5.920 million (4.4%) against the revised budget for the year. The projected capital outturn at 31 March 2025 was a breakeven position. A number of revenue and capital budget adjustments were detailed at section 6 of the report.

DECIDED:

(a) That the projected revenue overspend outturn position of £5.920 million be noted;

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

(c) That the budget adjustments detailed at section 6.2 of the report be noted.

There was submitted the Minute of meeting of the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-committee
held on 3 September 2025, a copy of which forms the Appendix to this Minute.

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to progress on the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme, including the local response to the cost-of-living crisis and on tackling poverty and inequality across local communities. Further details of current priority areas being developed as part of the Fairer Renfrewshire programme for 2025/26, including funding proposals, was set out in section 6 of the report.

DECIDED:

(a) That the content of the report and the work being undertaken to progress the Fairer Renfrewshire programme be noted;

(b) That the award of £10,000 to Pachedu to pilot a Renfrewshire wide device recycling project as detailed in section 6 of the report, be approved; and

(c) That the update provided on the Summer of Fun programme, including the allocation of grant funding as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report, be noted: and

(d) That the guidance for the Winter Connections 2025/26 programme within Appendix 2 of the report be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive providing an update on the proposed disposal of hazardous materials identified with the collection currently managed by OneRen; detailing recommendations relating to the requirement to temporarily close the Heritage Centre, currently located at Abbey Mill Business Centre, to support its planned move to Paisley Museum as part of the overall programme of work; and setting out proposals to reprovision library services in Erskine, following the end of the current lease arrangement in May 2026.

DECIDED:

(a) That the safe disposal of lead lingos from the Jacquard loom as outlined in section 4 of the report be approved; 

(b) That the temporary closure of the Heritage Centre from its current location at Abbey Mill in preparation for its relocation to Paisley Museum in 2026 be approved; and

(c) That the update provided in relation to the reprovisioning of library services in Erskine be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the 2024/25 adult social care annual update report which, together with the Renfrewshire Integration Joint Board Annual Performance Report 2024/25, provided an overview of adult social care activity and performance.

DECIDED: 

(a) That the contents of the report updating activity and performance of adult social work services delegated to the IJB be noted; and

(b) That it be noted that the next six-monthly update report would be presented to the meeting of the Leadership Board to be held on 18 February 2026.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to an overview of the Alcohol and Drugs Change Programme Final Report, a copy of which was appended to the report. The report also provided an update on recommendations discussed at the final Alcohol and Drugs Programme Officer Board to continue to support activities to address alcohol and drug related harms in Renfrewshire.

DECIDED:

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

(b) That the proposed allocations of residual programme funding detailed at section 7 of the report, recommended by the Alcohol and Drugs Change Programme Officer Board, be agreed; and

(c) That the future governance arrangements for those projects which remained in delivery, as outlined in section 7.5 of the report, be agreed.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to an update on the ongoing activities within the Council to support the delivery of Best Value through the Council's focus on continuous improvement. The full Corporate Improvement Plan was appended to the report.

DECIDED: That the progress of the Corporate Improvement Plan as outlined in the appendix to the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to an overview of Scotland's Visitor Levy Scheme and summarising the key elements of legislation, guidance available to local authorities and the approaches being developed both within the Glasgow City Region and across the country.

DECIDED:

(a) That the work undertaken and the progress to date be noted; 

(b) That the Head of Economy & Development and the Head of Finance & Procurement be authorised to begin formal stakeholder consultation and develop a visitor levy proposition for Renfrewshire, as set out in Section 7 of the report; and

(c) That it be noted that further progress on the development of a visitor levy proposition would be reported to this Board as appropriate.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the progress of the Glasgow City Region Investment Zone (GCR IZ) and Renfrewshire’s participation in it. It sought approval of the proposed tax site boundary within Renfrewshire, including an overview of the associated fiscal incentives, along with approval of the proposed non-domestic rates retention (NDRR) site, allowing rates collected within Renfrewshire to be reinvested in Renfrewshire and across the wider IZ area.

DECIDED:

(a) That the timescales for the development of the GCR Investment Zone proposal and for its submission to UK and Scottish Governments be noted;

(b) That the proposed boundary of the GCR IZ Tax Site located in Renfrewshire be approved, subject to final confirmation from the UK and Scottish Governments;

(c) That the designation of the same land area as a Non-Domestic Rates Retention (NDRR) site be approved, subject to final confirmation from the UK and Scottish Governments;

(d) That it be noted that Renfrewshire Council would continue to be responsible for the collection of non-domestic (business) rates within the NDRR site boundary;

(e) That it be agreed that a legal agreement be prepared, for Board approval, between Renfrewshire Council and the GCR member authorities detailing the arrangements for non-domestic rates collection and reinvestment within the NDRR site boundary; and

(f) That it be agreed that any non-domestic rates growth retained as a result of the NDRR site be pooled at a GCR level and re-invested into the IZ programme in line with its overall objectives and that it be noted that similar arrangements would be put in place for the two other proposed NDRR sites located across areas within Glasgow City Council, South Lanarkshire Council and North Lanarkshire Council.

There was submitted a joint report by the Chief Executive & Director of Environment Housing & Infrastructure relative to the proposed large scale, one day, wellness, cultural and music festival proposed to take place in Barshaw Park in 2026.

The Head of Corporate Governance clarified that there was an error in the Financial Implications section of the report and at this time there was no proposal to commit the Council to meeting any costs associated with delivery of the festival should the promoter be unable to meet these costs for any unforeseen reason.

DECIDED: That authority be granted to the Head of Operations & Service Development in consultation with the Managing Solicitor (Contracts & Conveyancing) to conclude a licence to occupy Barshaw Park for the purpose of delivering Paisley Alive festival in 2026.