Agenda Document Pack - Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee - 03/06/2026
Perth and Kinross Council · 3 June 2026
Back to Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee — 3 June 2026 and its agenda
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Ambition | Compassion | Integrity Our vision is for a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequality Council Building 2 High Street Perth PH1 5PH 27/05/2026 A hybrid meeting of the Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee will be held in the Council Chamber on Wednesday, 03 June 2026 at 09:30. If you have any queries please contact Democratic Services on (01738) 475000 or email Committee@pkc.gov.uk. THOMAS GLEN Chief Executive Those attending the meeting are requested to ensure that all notifications are silent on their device and other devices are in silent mode. Please note that the meeting will be broadcast online and recorded. The recording will be publicly available on the Council’s website following the meeting. Members: Councillor Tom McEwan (Convener) Councillor Sheila McCole (Vice-Convener) Bailie Mike Williamson (Vice-Convener) Bailie Chris Ahern Councillor Peter Barrett Councillor Bob Brawn Bailie Rhona Brock Councillor Angus Forbes Councillor Ian James Councillor Iain MacPherson Councillor Carol Mair Bailie Claire McLaren Councillor Frank Smith Councillor Colin Stewart Councillor Jack Welch Page 1 of 68
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Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee Wednesday, 03 June 2026 Agenda Members are reminded of their obligation to declare any financial or non- financial interest which they may have in any item on this agenda in accordance with the councillors’ code of conduct. 1 WELCOME AND APOLOGIES 2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 3 MINUTE OF MEETING OF HOUSING AND SOCIAL WELLBEING COMMITTEE OF 25 MARCH 2026 FOR APPROVAL (copy herewith) 5 - 8 4 OUTSTANDING BUSINESS STATEMENT (copy herewith 26/160) 9 - 10 5 SCOTTISH FIRE AND RESCUE END OF YEAR PERFORMANCE REPORT - 1 APRIL 2025 TO 31 MARCH 2026 (copy herewith 26/161) 11 - 26 6 PERTH AND KINROSS LOCAL POLICING END OF YEAR POLICE REPORT - 1 APRIL 2025 TO 31 MARCH 2026 (copy herewith 26/162) 27 - 54 7 COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT ANNUAL REPORT Report by Strategic Lead - Housing and Communities (copy herewith 26/163) 55 - 68 Page 3 of 68
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HOUSING AND SOCIAL WELLBEING COMMITTEE Minute of hybrid meeting of the Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee held in the Council Chambers, 2 High Street, Perth, on 25 March 2026 at 09.30am. Present: Bailies C Ahern, R Brock, C McLaren, Councillors P Barrett, B Brawn, A Forbes, I James, I MacPherson, C Mair, S McCole, T McEwan, F Smith, C Stewart, G Stewart (substituting for Bailie M Williamson) and J Welch. In Attendance: E Ritchie, Strategic Lead – Housing and Communities; S Merone, Strategic Lead – Economy, Development and Planning; M Smith, J Kent (both Housing and Communities); N Sworowski, J Ross, K Easton, J Barnsley, P Jarratt (all Economy, Development and Planning), S Coyle (Housing and Communities), C MacLeod, S Hendry, J Guild, E Ferguson and M Pasternak (all Legal and Governance). Also in Attendance: Perth and Kinross Service Delivery Inspector, D Division (Tayside) S Gray (up to Item 6). Apologies: Bailie M Williamson. Councillor T McEwan, Convener, Presiding. 1. Welcome and Apologies Councillor T McEwan welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies were noted as above. Councillor T McEwan and Members of the Committee paid tribute to the recent passing of colleague Michelle Dow. 2. Declarations of Interest There were no Declaration of Interests in terms of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. 3. Minute of Previous Meeting The minute of the meeting of the Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee of 21 January 2026 was submitted and approved as a correct record. 4. Outstanding Business Statement The Outstanding Business Statement was noted, and it was agreed to remove the completed actions. 3 Page 5 of 68
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5. Enhanced Community Policing Model Inspector S Gray of Police Scotland provided a slide-based presentation and answered Members’ questions thereon. Resolved: The content of the presentation, be noted. 6. UK Town of Culture There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead – Economy, Development and Planning (26/74) (1) providing an update on the UK Town of Culture 2028 competition which is being run by the UK Department of Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), and (2) seeking Committee’s approval to support the expressions of interest to the competition from Crieff (via Creative Crieff) and Pitlochry (via Pitlochry Community Action Trust). Resolved: (i) Officers have been informed by Creative Crieff and the Pitlochry Community Action Trust of their intention to submit Expressions of Interest to the UK Town of Culture 2028 competition for Crieff and Pitlochry respectively, and that Officers are working collaboratively with both organisations to support the development of their submissions, be noted. (ii) Perth and Kinross Council will support the submission of both Expressions of interest and provide Officers’ assistance as required, be agreed. (iv) Strategic Lead – Economy, Development and Planning, be asked to report back to a future meeting of the Committee or the Council. 7. Mid-Market Rent Proposals There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead – Housing and Communities and Strategic Lead – Economy, Development and Planning (26/75) seeking (1) approval of Mid-Market Rent as an additional affordable housing model for the Council. In addition, to the extent it is within the Committee’s remit to do so, (2) approval of a recommendation to establish a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) to enable the Council to directly deliver Mid-Market Rent, beginning with an initial tranche of 13 new homes at Westfields, Rattray. Resolved: (i) Mid-Market Rent (MMR) is adopted as an affordable housing model for the Council, delivered through a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), be agreed. (ii) The proposal of the Strategic Lead – Economy, Development and Planning, in consultation with the Strategic Lead – Legal and Governance, to prepare a further report to the Council setting out the detail of the proposal for approval at a future meeting, be noted. (iii) The Strategic Lead – Economy, Development and Planning in consultation with the Strategic Lead – Finance and Business Support, be authorised to submit to full Council a proposal to borrow £1.38m from the general fund and Page 6 of 68
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then lend this to the LLP to acquire 13 new build affordable homes at Westfields, Rattray, subject to satisfactory due diligence and acceptable security arrangements. (iv) The Strategic Lead – Economy, Development and Planning, be required to report on the progress to Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee at a future meeting. Page 7 of 68
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HOUSING AND SOCIAL WELLBEING OUTSTANDING BUSINESS STATEMENT (OBS) (Report No. 26/160) Please note that this statement sets out outstanding decisions of Council / this committee / sub-committee along with an update and estimated completion date. Actions which are overdue are shaded for ease of reference. Where an update reflects that an action is complete then agreement will be sought to its removal from the OBS. No Date / Minute Reference / Report Number Subject Title Outstanding Action Update Lead Officer /Service Action Due/completed Action Expected 53. 8 October 2025 Item 7 – Strategic Housing Investment Plan Results of keyworker need survey to be shared and incorporated into housing objectives. Survey to be shared once follow up scrutiny of results is complete. Consideration will be given to including the survey results into the new and Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) that is currently underway and renewed every 5 years. Update March 26 – Survey response rate was low and advice has been sought from HSCP about whether it’s in line with what was expected or if an extension of the survey would be possible. N Sworowski / Economy, Development and Planning ONGOING Late 2026 4 Page 9 of 68
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No Date / Minute Reference / Report Number Subject Title Outstanding Action Update Lead Officer /Service Action Due/completed Action Expected The responses that have been received will be fed into the Housing Needs and Demand Assessment that is currently underway that supports the Local Development Plan and the Local Housing Strategy. The results of this assessment will be fed into both documents and results can be shared once finalised. Page 10 of 68
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Scrutiny Report 2025-26 Perth and Kinross Council Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee Perth and Kinross 5 Page 11 of 68
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202617/04/26 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on About the statistics within this report The activity totals and other statistics quoted within this report are published in the interests of transparency and openness. They are provisional in nature and subject to change as a result of ongoing quality assurance and review. Because all statistics quoted are provisional there may be a difference in the period totals quoted in our reports after local publication which result from revisions or additions to the data in our systems. The Scottish Government publishes official statistics each year which allow for comparisons to be made over longer periods of time. Summary Trends Accidental Dwelling Fires (ADFs) Accidental Dwelling Fire Casualties Non-Fire Casualties Deliberate Fires Non-Domestic Fires Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals (UFAS) Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs) Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSVs) Fire Safety Enforcement Community Safety & Engagement Glossary of Terms 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Contents Perth and Kinross Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee 2025-26 Scrutiny Report Perth and Kinross Page 12 of 68
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2025-261. Summary 489 Fires 433 907 False Alarms 1,839 94 23 1 Fire Fatalities 61 19 207 UFAS The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) attended 1,839 incidents across the Perth and Kinross area during the reporting period. Of these, 907 (49%) were false alarms. These incidents include malicious calls, calls made with good intent, those caused by apparatus and Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals (UFAS). This represents an increase compared to the 2024–25 reporting period, during which 830 false alarm incidents were recorded. Operational personnel, alongside Fire Safety Enforcement and Community Action Teams, continue to work with local stakeholders to deliver fire safety advice aimed at reducing the number of false alarm incidents. The SFRS attended 489 fire-related incidents during the reporting period, representing an increase of 60 compared to the previous year. 202617/04/26 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Non-Fire Incidents People Rescued by Firefighters People Receiving First Aid or Hospital Treatment (Non-Fire) People Receiving First Aid or Hospital Treatment (Fires) Non-Fire Fatalities Top 10 Incident Types False Alarm (Due to Apparatus) False Alarm (Good Intent) Fire (Outdoor) False Alarm (UFAS) Fire (Building) Inter-Agency Vehicle (Non-fire) Fire (Vehicle) Humanitarian Flooding / Water Rescue 433 249 241 207 188 166 109 60 45 39 Fire Safety AuditsHome Fire Safety Visits Total Incidents (Incl. Incompletes) 255483 Page 13 of 68
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2. Trends Previous 16 quarters (4 years) 202617/04/26 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Accidental Dwelling Fires 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 2025-26 Q2 2025-26 Q3 2025-26 Q4 19 18 40 25 29 37 26 25 30 33 21 24 31 21 26 31 Deliberate Fires 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 2025-26 Q2 2025-26 Q3 2025-26 Q4 25 11 68 42 26 1718 3436 26 2624 31 27 18 44 Non-Domestic Fires 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 2025-26 Q2 2025-26 Q3 2025-26 Q4 12 13 20 4 6 14 6 109 6 9 10 9 6 9 11 Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 2025-26 Q2 2025-26 Q3 2025-26 Q4 138 36 197 59 44 68 45 60 48 152 68 171 5947 163 68 Road Traffic Collisions 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 2025-26 Q2 2025-26 Q3 2025-26 Q4 19 21 29 11 27 29 21 27 23 28 24 27 20 25 27 25 Page 14 of 68
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2. Trends 202617/04/26 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Previous 16 quarters (4 years) Accidental Dwelling Fire Casualties 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 2025-26 Q2 2025-26 Q3 2025-26 Q4 0 57 6 0 13 4 7 3 4 1 2 1 3 4 Non-Fire Casualties 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 2025-26 Q2 2025-26 Q3 2025-26 Q4 10 16 60 11 17 35 23 21 29 19 35 24 22 19 2220 Road Traffic Collision Casualties 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 2025-26 Q2 2025-26 Q3 2025-26 Q4 6 5 28 5 26 10 20 15 7 12 9 15 12 12 9 21 Home Fire Safety Visits 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 2025-26 Q2 2025-26 Q3 2025-26 Q4 221 124 229 99 193 140 155 178 198 201 171 108 197209 139 111 Fire Safety Audits 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 2025-26 Q2 2025-26 Q3 2025-26 Q4 17 58 91 13 27 62 71 45 64 54 6157 44 57 4843 Page 15 of 68
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There were 105 Accidental Dwelling Fires (ADFs) recorded during the reporting period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. This represents a decrease compared to the same period in the previous year, when 125 incidents were recorded, and is also below the three-year average of 117. In 51 of these incidents, fire damage was contained to the item first ignited. The primary cause of Accidental Dwelling Fires during the reporting period was identified as cooking-related activity. The total number of ADFs continues to decrease in the long term, currently we are reporting the second lowest number of ADFs in the last four years. This is as a result of a number of community safety initiatives delivered through partnership working. 202617/04/26 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Accidental Dwelling Fires in this period Extent of Damage Incidents Limited to item 1st ignited 51 Not applicable 33 Limited to room of origin 13 Limited to floor of origin (not whole building) 4 Whole building 2 External roof only 1 Limited to 2 floors (not whole building) 1 Source of Ignition (Top 10) Cooking appliance Other domestic style appliance Not known Electricity supply Smoking Related Matches and candles Chimney Heating equipment Industrial equipment Other Spread from secondary fire 64 12 8 6 5 3 2 2 1 1 1 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 20 30 40 105 Incidents by Ward Perth City Centre Perth City North Perth City South Strathtay Strathmore Blairgowrie & Glens Strathearn Strathallan Almond & Earn Highland Carse of Gowrie Kinross-shire 31 13 10 9 8 7 7 6 4 4 3 3 2025-263. Accidental Dwelling Fires Page 16 of 68
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4. Accidental Dwelling Fire Casualties Non-Fatal Casualties Fatal Casualties Nature of Injury/Cause of Death Casualties Overcome by gas, smoke or toxic fumes; asphyxiation 6 Burns - slight 2 Other 2 Combination of burns and overcome by gas/smoke 1 Cuts/Lacerations 1 Fracture 1 Not known 1 There was one fatality resulting from fire during the reporting period. This occurred at an incident on Scott Street in June. Within Perth and Kinross, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service continues to work in partnership with local agencies to reduce risk to communities and staff. This is supported through the analysis of operational activity and the targeted delivery of prevention and protection initiatives aimed at those most at risk and vulnerable, particularly in relation to unintentional harm within the home. These initiatives will continue to be developed and enhanced to ensure that appropriate and effective support is provided to communities in reducing the risk of unintentional harm. 202617/04/26 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Casualties by Ward Perth City Centre Highland Perth City North Strathtay 8 2 2 2 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 0 2 4 6 People Rescued by Firefighters Extent of Harm (Non-Fatal) First Aid Given at Scene Hospital Slight Injuries Hospital Serious Injuries 2025-26 13 1 27 7 3 3 Page 17 of 68
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5. Non-Fire Casualties 202617/04/26 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on The SFRS attends a variety of incidents that involves the treatment of casualties such as Road Traffic Collisions (RTC), Water Rescue, Rescue from Height and Medical Emergencies. We attended incidents where there were 19 fatalities over the reporting period which was the same as the reporting period 24-25 and we also attended incidents where there were 61 non fatal casualties, a decrease from 106 in the previous year. Of the 61 persons who were assisted 5 were given first aid at the scene of the incident, 15 were taken to hospital with serious injures and 41 attended hospital with slight injuries. There total number of people rescued by Firefighters across Perth and Kinross from all incident types during the reporting period was 65. Our Operational Personnel and Community Action Team continue to deliver risk reduction training focused on drivers of all ages, alongside water safety education across primary and secondary schools throughout the area. Casualties by Ward Strathtay Strathmore Almond & Earn Kinross-shire Strathearn Blairgowrie & Glens Highland Perth City Centre Strathallan Carse of Gowrie Perth City South Perth City North 14 9 8 8 8 7 7 7 5 3 3 1 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 20 40 60 Non-Fatal Casualties Fatal Casualties People Rescued by Firefighters Extent of Harm (Non-Fatal) First Aid Given at Scene Hospital Slight Injuries Hospital Serious Injuries Nature of Injury/Cause of Death Casualties Not known 14 Back / Neck injury (spinal) 10 Chest / Abdominal injury 8 Fracture 7 Cuts/Lacerations 6 Head injury 6 Other 6 Other physical injury 5 Other medical condition 4 Bruising 3 Chest pain / Heart condition / Cardiac arrest 3 Drowning 3 Collapse 1 Concussion 1 Hypothermia 1 Impalement 1 Unconscious, fitting or unresponsive (no other evident significant injury) 1 2025-26 61 19 65 5 41 15 Page 18 of 68
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6. Deliberate Fires Property Type Incident Grassland, woodland and crops 65 Refuse 25 Dwelling 17 Other outdoors (including land) 17 Road Vehicle 11 Non Residential 9 Outdoor structures 3 Outdoor equipment and machinery 2 There were 149 deliberate fire incidents recorded during the reporting period. This is above the three-year average of 124 and higher than the previous year’s total of 113. Of these incidents, 65 involved grassland, woodland and crops. The Perth City North area recorded the highest number of deliberate fires, with 34 incidents, the majority of which were located within the Tulloch and Letham areas of the city. The Community Action Team, assisted by Police Scotland and PKC Community Wardens targeted the areas and saw a reduction in incidents over the reporting period. During the reporting period, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has continued to work in partnership with local agencies to reduce the number of deliberate fires across Perth and Kinross. This proactive approach, particularly through youth engagement initiatives, aims to address and reduce instances of deliberate fire-setting. Collaborative work with partners and local schools has been a key component in tackling this form of anti-social behaviour. 202617/04/26 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Incidents by Ward Perth City North Perth City Centre Carse of Gowrie Blairgowrie & Glens Strathtay Kinross-shire Strathearn Strathmore Highland Almond & Earn Strathallan Perth City South 34 32 16 14 12 8 8 7 6 5 4 3 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 20 40 60 149 Deliberate Fires in this period 2025-26 Hour of Day 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Page 19 of 68
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7. Non-Domestic Fires There were 36 fires in non-domestic properties recorded during the reporting period, representing a decrease compared to the same period in the previous year (43). The highest number of incidents occurred within the Public Administration, Security and Safety sector and the Permanent Agricultural sector, each accounting for four incidents. Of the total, 29 fires were classified as accidental while seven were identified as deliberate. Fire Safety Enforcement Officers (FSEOs) will continue to provide appropriate support to local businesses, ensuring that timely and proportionate legislative fire safety guidance and enforcement activity is undertaken. 202617/04/26 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Non-Domestic Fires in this period 2025-26 Top 15 Property Types Property Type Incidents Permanent Agricultural 4 Public admin, security and safety 4 Education 3 Industrial Processing 3 Residential Home 3 Food and Drink 2 Hospitals and medical care 2 Industrial Manufacturing 2 Retail 2 Vehicle Repair 2 Hotel/motel 1 Offices and call centres 1 Other buildings/use not known 1 Other Residential Home 1 Public Utilities 1 Religious 1 Sheltered Housing - not self contained 1 Sporting venues 1 Sports pavilion/shower block/changing facility 1 (80.6%) 7 (19.4%) 29 Accidental Deliberate Incidents by Ward Perth City Centre Perth City North Blairgowrie & Glens Strathallan Strathtay Perth City South Almond & Earn Carse of Gowrie Highland Strathearn Strathmore 15 5 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 Extent of Damage Limited to item 1st ignited Not applicable Whole building Limited to room of origin 22 6 5 3 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 0 5 10 15 20 36 Page 20 of 68
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8. Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals During the reporting period, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attended 207 Unwanted Fire Alarm Signal (UFAS) incidents, from a total of 907 false alarms. Residential care homes accounted for 87 of these UFAS incidents. Operational crews attend each activation to investigate the cause and ensure appropriate engagement with the duty holder at the time of the incident. Each attendance is also used as an opportunity to raise awareness of the impact of UFAS on businesses, the wider community and SFRS resources. Since the introduction of the UFAS Reduction Policy, there has been a notable decrease in UFAS incidents. This has enabled operational crews to dedicate additional time to maintaining operational preparedness and undertaking community safety engagement activities. 202617/04/26 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals in this period 2025-26 Top 15 Property Types Property Type Incidents Residential Home 87 Hospitals and medical care 34 Sheltered Housing - not self contained 17 Hotel/motel 16 Retail 9 Boarding School accommodation 7 Other Residential Home 7 Entertainment and culture 5 Food and Drink 4 Other holiday residence (cottage, flat, chalet) 4 Boarding House/B&B other 3 Offices and call centres 3 Public admin, security and safety 3 Industrial Manufacturing 2 Education 1 Hostel (e.g. for homeless people) 1 Monastery/convent 1 Permanent Agricultural 1 Student Hall of Residence 1 Youth hostel 1 Incidents by Ward Perth City Centre Strathearn Highland Strathmore Perth City South Strathallan Strathtay Blairgowrie & Glens Kinross-shire Perth City North Almond & Earn Carse of Gowrie 51 31 21 20 19 18 18 13 9 3 2 2 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 0 50 100 150 200 207 Page 21 of 68
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9. Road Traffic Collisions The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attended 97 Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs) during the reporting period, which is consistent with the three-year average of 96 incidents. Collisions involving cars accounted for the majority of these incidents with a total of 78 attendances. There were three fatalities resulting from road traffic collisions during the reporting period. SFRS, working with partners, has continued to engage pro-actively with members of the community through a range of targeted road safety initiatives. These include the New Young Driver Intervention Scheme, aimed at drivers aged 17–25, “Fatal 5” Road Safety Talks, which focus on key risk factors among commuter drivers and engagement sessions tailored to older drivers. These initiatives are designed to influence driver behaviour, raise awareness of common risk factors and contribute to the reduction of road traffic collisions across Perth and Kinross. 202617/04/26 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Road Traffic Collisions in this period Non-Fatal Casualties Fatal Casualties People Rescued by Firefighters Extent of Harm (Non-Fatal) First Aid Given at Scene Hospital Slight Injuries Hospital Serious Injuries 2025-26 Incidents by Ward Strathtay Almond & Earn Kinross-shire Carse of Gowrie Highland Strathallan Strathmore Perth City Centre Perth City South Blairgowrie & Glens Perth City North Strathearn 15 11 11 10 10 10 10 6 6 4 3 1 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 10 15 20 25 30 97 36 3 12 2 29 5 Property Type Incidents Car 78 Van 7 Lorry/HGV 5 Motorcycle 3 Multiple Vehicles 2 Caravan on tow 1 Other 1 Incident Type Incidents Vehicle (Non-fire) 96 Fire (Vehicle) 1 Page 22 of 68
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10. Home Fire Safety Visits 202617/04/26 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on 11. Fire Safety Enforcement Job Type Count Audit 255 Specific Visit 52 Short Post Fire Audit 8 Consultation 5 Home Fire Safety Visits - Prevention is at the heart of our activities and the SFRS carried out 483 Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSV) across Perth and Kinross during the reporting period. High-risk Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSVs) were carried out by operational personnel and the Community Action Team (CAT). Referrals from partner agencies continue to play a key role in identifying individuals who would benefit from targeted fire safety interventions. Fire Safety Enforcement - Fire Safety Enforcement Officers (FSEO) conducted 320 visits to premises across the area and a great deal of fire safety enforcement activity involves the engagement with local businesses to ensure they maintain safety procedures to ensure the safety of their staff and members of the public. Audits by Ward Perth City Centre Strathtay Highland Strathmore Kinross-shire Strathallan Strathearn Perth City South Blairgowrie & Glens Perth City North Almond & Earn Carse of Gowrie 46 43 39 20 19 19 18 16 12 11 7 5 2025-26 HFSVs by Ward Perth City Centre Strathearn Perth City South Strathmore Perth City North Blairgowrie & Glens Strathtay Carse of Gowrie Almond & Earn Kinross-shire Strathallan Highland 140 53 51 50 47 37 27 23 19 14 13 9 Home Fire Safety Visits 483 Page 23 of 68
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12. Community Safety & Engagement The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) continues to work in partnership with a wide range of agencies and community stakeholders across Perth and Kinross to deliver prevention, protection and engagement activity. This work is focused on reducing risk, supporting vulnerable individuals and improving community safety outcomes. Community Safety Engagement In partnership with Perth and Kinross Council and Police Scotland, SFRS delivered an Asylum Seeker Safety Day at McDiarmid Park. The event covered a range of safety topics, including anti-social behaviour, water safety, fire safety and basic first aid. Attendees were supported with transport and catering and the day concluded with a football match to encourage engagement. As the service moves into the warmer months, there are plans to further develop the water safety element by delivering sessions at the River Tay to provide a more interactive learning experience. Youth Engagement and Education SFRS has continued to invest in youth engagement through the delivery of multiple Young Firefighters courses in partnership with local groups across schools in Perth and Kinross. These courses cover fire safety, road safety and practical skills development, while promoting key values such as safety, teamwork, respect and innovation. The programmes support young people in developing practical life skills, increasing awareness of risk and fostering positive behaviours within their communities. In addition, Community Action Teams (CAT) have worked collaboratively with partner agencies and charities to deliver educational workshops within schools. These sessions include interactive inputs from SFRS on water safety and the risks associated with deliberate fire setting. Partner organisations have contributed additional sessions covering mental health, drugs and alcohol awareness, racism and knife crime. This multi-agency approach aims to support informed decision-making and reduce risk-taking behaviours among young people. Employability and Skills Development CAT has worked in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions Job Centre to support employability initiatives within the local area. Participants have engaged in activities designed to build confidence and develop key skills, including interview techniques, application writing and station-based work experience. As a result of this engagement, several participants are now applying for the current Wholetime firefighter recruitment intake. Participants reported that the sessions delivered in partnership with the Job Centre were beneficial in building confidence and supporting their return to employment. Partnership Working and Early Intervention SFRS continues to strengthen partnership working through the delivery of Risk Recognition training alongside local agencies. This training supports partner organisations in identifying potential fire safety hazards and understanding how to appropriately signpost individuals for further support. By improving awareness of risk and encouraging early intervention, this approach enhances the collective ability of partner agencies to support vulnerable individuals and reduce the likelihood of fire-related incidents. SFRS Anthony Nolan Partnership This year saw the 10th year of the SFRS/Anthony Nolan Partnership within Perth and Kinross secondary schools. Over this period, the partnership has delivered 33 engagement events, resulting in 1,559 individuals aged 16–30 joining the Stem Cell Donor Register. To date, seven people have gone on to donate stem cells or bone marrow, providing life-saving treatment and a second chance at life for patients with blood cancer. At a national level, the partnership has recruited over 21,000 people with 131 of those donating. Through a coordinated programme of prevention, protection and community engagement activity, SFRS continues to make a positive contribution to community safety across Perth and Kinross. By working collaboratively with partners and targeting those most at risk, the Service aims to reduce incidents, improve outcomes and build safer, more resilient communities. 202617/04/26 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on 2025-26 Page 24 of 68
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13. Glossary of Terms Term - What it means ADF Accidental Dwelling Fire. HFSV Home Fire Safety Visit. PDIR Post Domestic Incident Response, a term used to indicate actions taken following attendance at a fire or other incident in the home. PDIRs include amongst things the offer of a free follow up home fire safety visit. RTC Road Traffic Collision. Special Service Calls to incidents which are not fires or false alarms such as RTCs, rescues, flooding, incidents involving hazardous materials or the provision of assistance to other agencies. UFAS Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals. When an automatic fire detection and alarm system is activated as a result of anything other than an actual fire the activation is classed as a false alarm. If an attendance is made to such an event by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, then the event is recorded as an UFAS incident. UFAS Policy Change In response to COVID, on the 6th May 2020, the SFRS decided to send 1 pump to UFAS premises that did not have their own Predetermined attendance (PDA). As of 1st July 2023, the COVID interim 1 pump response was ended and a new UFAS policy was implemented. The new policy is to call challenge all UFAS incidents with the intention of non-attendance. Hospitals, care homes, and sleeping risk premises are all exempt and receive either 2 pumps or their premise specific PDA. 202617/04/26 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Page 25 of 68
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Design, figures and charts by the Business Intelligence team. Page 26 of 68
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OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Report No. 26/162 Perth and Kinross Council Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee Police Scotland End of Year Report 2025-2026 6 Page 27 of 68
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OFFICIAL 2 | P a g e OFFICIAL Contents Introduction and Overview of Local Policing Priorities Police Scotland’s strategic objectives Perth and Kinross Local Policing Plan 2023-2026 Performance on a Page • Local Priority/Activity – Address violence through preventative and enforcement measures • Local Priority/Activity – Deal with disorder and antisocial behaviour • Local Priority/Activity – Tackle acquisitive crime and support victims • Local Priority/Activity – Make our roads safer • Local Priority/Activity – Public Protection • Local Priority/Activity – Enable and support effective engagement and communication with the public Introduction and Overview of Local Policing Priorities As from April 2013, the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 has required Divisional Commanders to produce and publish a Local Policing Plan (LPP) for each local authority area. The Perth and Kinross LPP 2023-2026 clearly sets out the policing objectives for Perth and Kinross and will report to the Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee. Annual reports are produced to allow scrutiny by Perth and Kinross Council Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee. This end of year report covers the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. Page 28 of 68
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OFFICIAL 3 | P a g e OFFICIAL In line with the Perth and Kinross LPP, these Performance Reports provide a more holistic overview of progress across the service to meet our strategic outcomes. This approach provides a wider and more detailed picture of traditional policing performance measures, supplemented with additional insight and narrative to the many different aspects of policing and corporate support functions. The measures are longer term focussed rather than reflecting the ongoing performance of the day-to-day operational challenges we face and aim to provide evidence of the effectiveness and impact of our services as a whole. We have introduced several key performance measures and insights in support of our local police plan to focus attention on impact and outcomes. For example: • How effective are the diversionary activities provided? • How effective are the processes in place to prevent acquisitive crime? • How well are we engaging with the public? • What progress has been made in terms of collaboration and what percentage of the divisional estate is co-located with partners? To enable a more detailed examination by the Committee of specific local priorities and strategic outcomes, a ‘Spotlight’ focus will be provided on one of the priority areas on a quarterly basis. The Spotlight focus will rotate each quarter in line with the expected updates outlined in the Perth and Kinross LPP. Page 29 of 68
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OFFICIAL 4 | P a g e OFFICIAL Police Scotland’s strategic objectives Page 30 of 68
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OFFICIAL 5 | P a g e OFFICIAL Page 31 of 68
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OFFICIAL 6 | P a g e OFFICIAL Performance on a Page - 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026 Recorded Crimes Change Detection Rate % point Change CYTD LYTD 5 Yr Av. From LYTD From 5 Yr Av. CYTD LYTD 5 Yr Av. From LYTD From 5 Yr Av. ASB and Disorder Overall group 4 872 817 838 6.7% 4.1% 35.9% 35.6% 35.7% 0.3% 0.2% ASB Incidents 6099 6471 6887 -5.75% -11.4% Violence Robbery 54 44 39 22.7% 39.9% 72.2% 65.9% 81.3% 6.3% -9.1% Serious Assault 78 78 79 0% -1.3% 80.8% 98.7% 88.4% -17.9% -7.6% Common Assault (excl EW) 1162 1212 1058 -4.1% 9.8% 76% 74.7% 70% 1.3% 6% Public Protection Overall Group 2 426 384 370 10.9% 15.1% 67.1% 64.1% 57.2% 3.0% 9.9% Rape 100 79 66 26.6% 51.1% 71% 57% 55.6% 14% 15.4% Domestic Abuse (of female) 93 81 52 14.8% 80.2% 79.6% 75.3% 67.8% 4.3% 11.8% Domestic Abuse (of male) 10 6 4 66.7% 163.2% 70% 50% 68.4% 20% 1.6% Road Safety Speeding offences 420 214 1012 96.3% -58.5% 100.2% 99.5% 100% 0.7% 0.2% Drink / Drug Driving 238 193 184 23.3% 29.2% 92.4% 99% 97.2% -6.5% -4.8% Acquisitive Crime Dwelling HBs 62 75 83 -17.3% -24.9% 19.4% 30.7% 26.2% -11.3% -6.8% HBs – Other Premises 52 85 79 -38.8% -34.5% 46.2% 58.8% 49.4% -12.6% -3.2% Motor Vehicle Crime 162 236 225 -31.4% -28.3% 40.7% 38.6% 39.6% 2.1% 1.1% Fraud 352 319 325 10.3% 8.2% 14.8% 17.6% 16.7% -2.8% -1.9% Shoplifting 1193 814 617 46.6% 93.2% 54.1% 40.8% 53.4% 13.3% 0.7% Overall Group 2’ All Sexual Crimes including Rape & Attempts, Indecent & Sexual Assaults, Prostitution Offences and ‘Other’ Group 2 Crimes. Overall Group 4’ All Fireraising, Vandalism, Reckless Conduct and ‘Other’ Group 4 Crimes. Page 32 of 68
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OFFICIAL 7 | P a g e OFFICIAL Policing For Our Communities In February 2026, Tayside Division launched a new Policing model, as part of a wider graduated national rollout. It had been recognised that Local Policing has been mostly unchanged since the creation of Police Scotland, with varied Divisional approaches, whilst crime & public expectation has continued to evolve. There had been a number of challenges facing Police Scotland including visibility, the public getting non-emergency help timely and appropriately as well as frontline policing becoming more reactive than proactive and preventative. The new model aims to address these challenges and enhance Community Policing. In addition to Response and Community Policing teams, the Community Investigations Hub (CIH) has been created to better serve the public in terms of the management and response to non-urgent incidents and crimes. The CIH prioritises non-urgent demand to ensure the public receive a timely, efficient response. Through the model providing more efficiency, Police officers will be more visible in their communities providing increased capacity to focus on effective local problem solving and engagement with their communities. Although the model is in its infancy in the Division, there are already positive signs that it will achieve it’s aims and provide a better service to the Perth and Kinross area. Page 33 of 68
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OFFICIAL 8 | P a g e OFFICIAL Local Priority/Activity – Address violence through preventative and enforcement measures Murder There has been one murder during this reporting period. This occurred in June 2025 and tragically resulted in the deceased being found on a rural road near Dunning. Two men aged 36 and 42 were quickly arrested and are awaiting trial. The previous murder in Perth and Kinross was from Q1 of 2023/24 and resulted in a guilty verdict earlier this year. Attempted Murder Seven Attempted Murders have been recorded during 2025/26, Three were recorded in the final quarter of the year. This is the same number of crimes from the previous year. All crimes are detected. All but six of the crimes involved the victim knowing the accused persons. The relationship tended to be either, family, friend or partner. The crimes also occurred in a mixture of indoor and outdoor settings. Serious Assault Investigation of serious assaults has remained positive this year after significant reduction was seen in 2024/25. The progress has been held during 2025/26 with a similar number of crimes recorded in the reporting period (78 crimes). Detection rates for Serious Assaults remain high at 80.8%. It is worth noting that this is down from the 5yr average of 88.4% and last year’s fantastic 98.7%. However, this includes some crimes recorded to comply with Scottish Crime Recording Standards based on only very brief input from victims and therefore limited investigative opportunity. despite offers of support victims are non-engaging, significantly limiting scope for enquiry. Serious assaults are overseen by CID. The Detective Inspector responsible for the CID in the Local Policing Area will ensure undetected crimes are subject to regular scrutiny / review to ensure all investigative opportunities are identified and progressed in a timeous manner. There remain positive avenues for the detection rate for serious assaults to yet increase further. Page 34 of 68
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OFFICIAL 9 | P a g e OFFICIAL Robberies Recorded robberies have seen an increase of 10 crimes from last year, 54 have been recorded in total this period. Despite this increased occurrence, determined commitment to thorough investigation of this crime type has ensured the detection rate improved. 72.2% of robberies are detected, the highest detection rate of any local authority within Tayside. This is an improvement of the detection rate by 6.3% on the previous year. At least 9 crimes are still actively under investigation meaning this figure has potential to improve further. While robbery occurrence rates have unfortunately steadily risen over the last 5 years it is notable that detections have maintained a strong performance. All robberies continue to be subject to review by Reactive CID with advice and guidance provided should investigative ownership remain with uniformed officers. Similar to serious assaults, victim engagement is fundamental to achieving a successful conclusion. Of the undetected crimes, two are linked to the same victim with engagement hampered by linked activity around the supply of controlled drugs. This is a recurring theme and additional challenge surrounding investigations of this crime type. Around half of all robberies recorded took place in a residential space, the overwhelming majority being private dwellings. There is an increase of 14% to this crime locus based on the previous year with residential areas clearly being more challenging to influence from a policing perspective. Victims and suspects are often known to one another, although such links may not always be shared with police. This year, around 38% of robberies occurred in public spaces this is only a marginal percentage increase on the location type from the previous year. Robberies committed in commercial premises are reduced in comparison to the previous year down -42.9%, a very positive reduction. Crimes of robbery were significantly more prevalent in the first two quarters of this reporting period. 65% of robberies were actually committed in the first half of the year with the occurrence rate showing significant improvement latterly. Quarter 3 in 2024/25 was a particularly high period last year, thankfully that was not replicated this year with just 5 crimes recorded, a reduction of 61.5%. Page 35 of 68
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OFFICIAL 10 | P a g e OFFICIAL Whilst occurrence rates in relation to robberies has increased this year, there are no identified thematics indicating missed opportunities at prevention. Victims are generally known to those responsible who are often present at the locus by invitation. Weapons don’t always feature and when they are varied. Alcohol and/or controlled drugs are often a factor. Analysis indicates Perth Centre and the residential accommodation located there, is the primary locus of most robberies. Crime becomes significantly more sporadic further afield in Perth and Kinross. Incidence of serious assaults are reduced this year with a strong detection rate. Robberies for a second year have been a more challenging crime category to deal with in terms of violent crime. Whilst crime occurrence is up, it is worthy of consideration that this is almost exclusively within residential addresses, predominately in the centre of Perth, involving individuals known to one another with either the victim, perpetrator or both linked to use of illicit drugs. Injury sustained during robberies is often relatively minor or violence is indeed only implied. Completely spontaneous robberies involving individuals unknown to one another are fortunately very rare. Across murder, attempted murder, serious assaults and robbery, last year crime was detected at a rate of 78%, this is above the National average. Perth and Kinross unquestionably remains a safe place to live and work. Page 36 of 68
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OFFICIAL 11 | P a g e OFFICIAL Local Priority/Activity – Deal with disorder and antisocial behaviour • Overall, incidents of Anti-Social Behaviour showed a decrease of 5.75% when compared to LYTD and are 11.4% lower than the 5-year average. • 772 crimes of vandalism were recorded during the reporting period, an increase of 6.2% from LYTD (45 more crimes). This is also slightly higher than the 5-year average which is 761, an increase of 11. • 47 crimes of fire raising were recorded during the reporting period, an increase of 14.6% when compared to LYTD (6 additional crimes). This year also saw an increase on the 5-year average figure of 30, of 17 crimes. The detection rate this year is 48.9%, down from 58.5% last year. This is, however, still higher than the 5-year average of 45.9. Perth and Kinross LPA, continue to work closely with partners delivering a multi-agency response alongside Housing, Visitor Rangers, Community Safety, Civil Contingencies and Enforcement and SFRS conducting reviews of all ASB calls, thereafter, sharing with the relevant partner to mitigate the risk and reduce harm. Regular meetings are attended by Community Policing officers to discuss recurring ASB issues, ensuring proportionate action is taken from a multi-agency perspective, with joint visits conducted when required to ensure a co-ordinated approach. For the period under review, Perth has 3 live ASBOs. Partnerships Interventions and Preventions (PIP) officers continue engagement with ASB team and provide proactive sharing where appropriate. Page 37 of 68
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OFFICIAL 12 | P a g e OFFICIAL Partner Intelligence Portal The Partner Intelligence Portal is a secure and confidential electronic system, developed by the Police Service to enable partner agencies to share important information they receive whilst working. The portal provides capable partners with the means to securely and discreetly submit key information, whilst maintaining safeguards which protect the source of the information. Partner Portal training continues to be delivered to broaden access. It has been positively received and widely used already. Partnership Against Rural Crime (PARC) The Perth and Kinross PARC meet regularly to discuss issues from fire and water safety to anti-social behaviour, thefts and fly tipping. The group provides a platform for information sharing, advice and support for partners in jointly addressing issues affecting our rural communities. Operation Leste Operation Leste is the operation name given to the police response to the protests that have taken place around the country focussing on premises housing asylum seekers. In Perth and Kinross these protests have predominantly centred around The Station Hotel and the Queens Hotel in Perth city centre. The two main protest groups involved have been, Perth’s Peaceful Protest and Perth Against Racism. Policing these has been very challenging in terms of planning. Police have been present at all protests to ensure everyone’s right to carry out a peaceful protest is protected and to ensure protests pass safely, with as little disruption to the community as possible. Whilst we seek good engagement with organisers and have generally achieved this we have had to plan Policing operations, on occasion, with limited information, standing up Policing operations at times for protests that never materialised. Since protests commenced in August 2025 there have been 8 protests although there have been 23 Policing operations stood up. Page 38 of 68
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OFFICIAL 13 | P a g e OFFICIAL We have been able to draw upon several national resources including specialist resources such as Hate Crime Advisors and Police Liaison Teams to ensure a proportionate and effective police presence has been in place. Protests have taken place without serious incident, with 2 persons reported for Op Leste related offences in this period. Police attend regular meetings with key stakeholders to discuss upcoming protests and regularly visit the hotels to provide visibility and reassurance. Despite the commencement of Op Leste related protests Perth and Kinross has seen a small increase of recorded racially aggravated hate crime by 3 from the previous year of 106, to 109. Overall hate crime for the area has seen a decrease of 9.3%, from 172 to 156. Licensing Between 1st April 2025 and 31st March 2026, the Police Divisional Licensing Team processed around 3384 licence applications for the Perth and Kinross area. This included applications for occasional licenses to allow premises to have additional outdoor areas, and grants and renewals for taxi operators/drivers. This also included renewals and grants for Houses of Multiple Occupancy and Short Term Lets, along with new premises licences, variations to premises licences and new and renewals of personal licences. Each application is carefully scrutinised by the licensing team to ensure the application is compatible with the licensing objectives, and applicants are routinely interviewed or contacted to remind them of the responsibilities of a licence holder. 114 recorded ASB incidents were at or in the immediate vicinity of licensed premises. This is a decrease on the previous year, whereby 133 incidents were recorded. There were 388 inspections carried out throughout Perth and Kinross, with 1 premise identified as problematic during this period. This premise was placed on an intervention plan. The licensing team have been promoting the ‘by-stander’ training which is being carried out by licensing officers at licensed premises for staff and has also been carried out for taxi drivers within the P&K area. Page 39 of 68
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OFFICIAL 14 | P a g e OFFICIAL We continue to promote the proxy purchase campaign – It’ll Cost You around off-licences in Tayside. The Police Licensing team have carried out several joint visits in Licensed Premises with the local Community Team and with the Licensing Standards Officers at Perth & Kinross Council. We continue to investigate unlicensed premises, with our most recent joint visit with P&K Council to an unlicensed short term let in Kinloch Rannoch. Wildlife Crime Police Scotland continues to work with the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit on several annual national Operations, such as. • Operation Easter – which relates to the theft of wild bird eggs. Police Scotland undertakes targeted proactive work relating to known nominals as well as nesting site visits. • Operation Owl – an overarching operation to tackle raptor persecution. Extra attention to vulnerable or well-known nesting sites across Scotland. • Operation seabird – which relates to cetacean disturbance, often caused by tour boats, jet skis, paddleboarders etc. Proactive engagement with tour operators, the public, and days of action. Social media work undertaken too. • Operation Thunder – this relates to the trade in endangered species, such as ivory, rhino horn, tiger claws etc. Regular engagement and targeted approaches to antique dealers and auction houses. Regular engagement and joint working with UK border force. • Operation Galileo – this operation focuses on hare coursing, which is a widespread issue across Scotland. Collating data and visiting hot spots to ensure police presence acts as reassurance and a deterrent simultaneously. Police Scotland continues to deliver our two national training courses. A two-day introduction to wildlife crime course and a five-day investigators course. These are both well subscribed and garner a lot of interest from officers across Scotland. Police Scotland continue to attend community events across Scotland to engage with the public and promote an awareness of wildlife crime and suspicious behaviour Page 40 of 68
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OFFICIAL 15 | P a g e OFFICIAL Local Priority/Activity – Tackle acquisitive crime and support victims During the reporting period our Partnerships, Interventions and Preventions Officers have sought opportunities to engage with partners and the wider public to tackle acquisitive crime. Crime Prevention opportunities are reviewed and where appropriate engagement carried out by trained crime prevention and architectural liaison officers within the Division or the National Rural and Acquisitive Crime Team. This is carried out to provide professional and sound advice to domestic and commercial victims. Domestic Housebreakings Domestic Housebreakings saw improvement this year with a reduction in occurrence by 13 crimes or percentage decrease of 17.3%. Quarters 1 and 3 made the biggest inroads in terms of reduction compared to last year. Quarter 4 has indicated a rise and this is something being closely monitored into the 2026/27 period. Part of this increase is attributable to the cyclical behaviour of groups from out with Perth and Kinross targeting the area for higher value vehicles. This is not new and neighbouring Divisions now more effectively share reports of such offending to maximise investigative opportunities. Detections for domestic dwelling housebreakings are down on the previous year and the 5-year average. Data mapping does not identify any hotspot areas; the City Centre has 4 crimes recorded within St Catherines Square. These shared commonality in relation to being vacant flats but has been subject of discussion with Perth and Kinross Council to prevent future occurrence. Non-Dwelling Housebreakings A crime type including the likes of sheds, garages and other outbuildings has recorded only a very marginal increase this year (2 crimes). This is a crime category that has been declining over recent years and with 27 crimes total for the year, this is well under the 5-year average of 41 crimes. Just short of 1 in 5 crimes of this type are detected which is not insignificant given they are often only discovered after being committed, with few forensic opportunities available. Housebreakings Other Effectively comprising commercial premises, 33 crimes less has led to a 33.8% reduction on last year’s occurrence figures. This is an extremely positive statistic and is likely a result of a combination of factors including crime prevention advice and greater retailer Page 41 of 68
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OFFICIAL 16 | P a g e OFFICIAL engagement. Crimes committed this year are nearly half that recorded in 2020/21, evidence of a steady decline over the last 5 years. Nearly half of these crimes are detected with Perth and Kinross having the highest detection rate for this type of crime within Tayside. Cumulative crime volume across all types of housebreaking are down 44 crimes or 23.8% on last years recorded figures. This is a positive trend and evidence of the focussed work undertaken throughout the year to protect the property of those living and working in Perth and Kinross. Theft of Motor Vehicles There has been a substantial reduction in the number of vehicles stolen within the Local Authority Area during 2025/26. 64 crimes in total were recorded, a reduction of 18 crimes or 22% on last year’s figures. This again is the result of a continuing trend with a reduction now being recorded in each of the last 5 years. Focussed reviews, greater information sharing and diligent forensic work along with crime prevention advice have all contributed to the success. The first three quarters of 2025/26 comfortably recorded a reduction however latterly there have been signs of a reversal. As such, motor vehicle thefts are well in focus heading into the next reporting year. Detections for theft of motor vehicles are a further positive, up marginally this year to 56.3%. There is no real trend in terms of hotspots for vehicle thefts however several incidents have involved youths, city centre car parks and motorcycles. Central Perth, Blairgowrie, Almondbank, Crieff, Bridge of Earn, Auchterarder and Kinross all feature but with relatively low numbers in each. Quad bike thefts have featured and do account for some rural crime however the figures indicate not to levels previously seen. Overall, recorded vehicle crime reduced by 31.4%. This amounts to 74 less victims a real positive for residents and visitors. All individual categories are showing a reduction, so improvement is uniform. Detections have followed suit and are up on last year closing with a rate of 40.7%. Nationally the average detection rate sits at 29.8% emphasising that Perth and Kinross is a strong performer when it comes to investigating and detecting vehicle related crime. Page 42 of 68
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OFFICIAL 17 | P a g e OFFICIAL Shoplifting Perth and Kinross, similar to other areas nationally, has seen a substantial increase of this crime during this period compared to last year. 379 additional crimes have been recorded for the year. Unlike other crimes where 5-year comparison indicates progress and a steady decline, shoplifting this year is more than double that recorded in 2022/23. Contributing to this significant rise is the implementation of Online Reporting for retailers which is now fully functional nationally, with retailers encouraged to report everything regardless of the value. This has led to easier access and improved confidence in reporting. Whilst cost of living will have undoubtedly been an influencing factor, offending rates and other deliberate measures may also contribute. Alcohol and drug misuse are linked to a large number of shopliftings. A dedicated Retail Crime Task Force has been created within Tayside to focus on this issue and work with local policing. This has assisted with improving detections this year and saw 54.1% of shoplifting offences detected, a rise of 13.3% on last year. Significantly, in terms of comparison to the 2022/23 year is recognition the detection rate just returned is better than that returned in that year despite the disparity in offending. Shoplifting is an offence type dependent on retailer knowledge, engagement and cooperation. The strong detection rate in the face of increased offending indicates that a joint and effective response is being delivered. The new PFOC model and continued work with the Retail Crime Task Force should see improvement in this area. Fraud Fraud figures for Perth and Kinross show an increase of 33 crimes over the year. Cyber enabled fraud fluctuates between around a fifth to a quarter of the total fraud recorded. Fraud is discussed at the monthly acquisitive crime meeting and nationally, trends are identified to forewarn areas yet affected. Frauds linked to impersonation of family members, driving lessons, event tickets, pets and romance scams are now well established with significant crime prevention work completed. Page 43 of 68
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OFFICIAL 18 | P a g e OFFICIAL Overall Across all acquisitive crime types, total crimes for the year have increased, this is however almost exclusively the result of the increase in shoplifting. Excluding shoplifting which has been individually commented upon earlier in the document, overall acquisitive crime is reduced year on year this period. Whether inclusive of shoplifting figures or not the investigation of acquisitive crime in Perth and Kinross cumulatively finished the year ahead of 2025/26 increasing by 3.7%. The collective detection rate returned this period is the highest in any of the last 5 years and an example of the focus and commitment from the Division to reduce crime and apprehend offenders. Acquisitive Crime remains a significant focus for the Division. Locally, crimes are reviewed daily and scrutinised for emerging trends and threats. Local, Regional and National acquisitive crime structures exist within Police Scotland to ensure the bilateral flow of information within the organisation all with a view to combating serious and organised crime. Offenders often travel significant distances replicating their modus operandi across different Policing Divisions. To combat this, we have embraced new technology and more efficient methods of information sharing have been established. This allows early notification of crimes, descriptions of suspects and their vehicles. The roads network is of significant relevance to travelling recidivists. Roads Policing teams are well briefed on relevant offending and ever vigilant on patrols. As has been the case in previous years, the targeting of higher end vehicles from rural areas of Perth and Kinross has been evident this year. Impact has, however, been less than previously seen and perhaps an indication that the now established lines of communication and capitalisation of joint enforcement has been effective in deterring criminals. Within Perth and Kinross, the Policing for Our Community model has recently been implemented to enhance service delivery locally. In combination with local CID teams, the area is well placed to respond to acquisitive crime both proactively and as an investigative response to crime committed. Notable activities during the reporting period include: • Males aged 51 and 37 with no connections to the area, apprehended following two housebreakings in Pitlochry. • 31-year-old male arrested for housebreaking to commercial premises in Perth City Centre. • Males aged, 29 and 44 appeared at court charged with housebreaking to licenced premises in Perth. • Following a series of housebreakings targeting whisky distilleries, Perth CID reported five males aged 56, 44,36,44 and 35. Page 44 of 68
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OFFICIAL 19 | P a g e OFFICIAL • In response to several tradesman vans targeted for tools in the Auchterarder area a 20-year-old male was reported to COPFS. • Males aged 21, 19, 14 and 18 reported for multiple offences linked to the theft of copper wire in Dundee, Perth and Ayr. Local Priority/Activity – Make our roads safer Tragically Perth & Kinross LPA have suffered 8 fatalities for the period under review, this is an increase by one comparable with LYTD where we saw 7 fatalities. Locations of Fatal Road Traffic Collisions in Perth and Kinross 1st April 2025 – 31st March 2026 11/04/2025 – A827 Killin to Aberfeldy Road – Motorcyclist 26/04/2025 – Canal Street, Perth – Pedal Cycle 12/07/2025 – B996 Bein Inn to Glenfarg – Car Driver 23/07/2025 – Burnhead Road, Blairgowrie – Car Driver 17/08/2025 – B996 Kelty to Kinross – Passenger within car 28/11/2025 – A822 near Amulree – Car Driver 16/01/2026 – A9 NB north of Blair Atholl – Passenger within car 23/01/2026 – A912 near to Craigend – Car Driver Local Policing and RPU Officers have been proactively targeting driving behaviour which we believe will have the greatest impact on casualty reduction and address community concerns. Enforcement activity has concentrated on the Fatal 5 which are Dangerous/careless driving, drink/drug driving, Speeding, Seatbelts, and mobile phones. As a result, there have been significant increases in the number of offences of speeding and driving under the influence. The number of speeding offences rose from 214 last year to 420 this year. As would be expected, due to the nature of this crime type the detection rate is 100%. Page 45 of 68
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OFFICIAL 20 | P a g e OFFICIAL The number of people seriously injured because of collisions across Perth and Kinross has reduced from 93 down to 76. Road Safety enforcement continues to be carried out as part of routine business by the Road Policing Unit in Perth & Kinross LPA. Focused patrol work will be complemented using available technology and databases, intelligence target packages and specific tasking resulting from local Tasking & Coordinating processes to tackle criminality. Local Policing and RPU Officers have been able to target driving behaviour which we believe will have the greatest impact on casualty reduction and address community concerns. Enforcement activity has concentrated on the Fatal 5 which are Dangerous/careless driving, drink/drug driving, Speeding, Seatbelts, and mobile phones. Based on strategic assessment several priority locations have been identified within Perth & Kinross which were subject to focussed operation activity. Tayside Division priority routes include the following roads in the P&K Area; M90/A90 A9 A93 A85 A94 During the period under review Road Policing officers took part in several National Campaigns. • Summer Drink Drug Drive Campaign • National Mobile Phone Campaign • Motorcycle Safety campaign • Rider Refinement North • Vulnerable Road Users Campaigns • National Speeding Campaign • Operation Drive Insured Page 46 of 68
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OFFICIAL 21 | P a g e OFFICIAL • Festive Drink/Drug Driving Campaign • Fatal 5 Campaign • National Seatbelt Campaign • Commercial Vehicles Campaign Road Policing officers continue to provide high visibility and support to divisional officers throughout the Perth & Kinross area. It is recognised that positive engagement with road users is vital to improve driver and road user behaviour. Police resources are being challenged by the driving habits of vulnerable road users. However, we are committed to working effectively with partners locally to address these issues through education, enforcement, engineering, encouragement and evaluation all of which are delivered successfully through partnership collaboration and campaigns. New Drivers Scheme The New driver Scheme (NDS) continues to be delivered and well received within Tayside Division. The NDS is a presentation to raise awareness of road safety issues. The joint presentations, delivered by Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue service provide a solid reminder of the individual responsibilities that the driver has, both for themselves and for other road users. NDS has been delivered to several businesses and educational establishments throughout Perth & Kinross with positive feedback. Rider Refinement North (RRN) Rider Refinement North (RRN) has been run through the period under review with the last engagement session taking place in October. The RRN initiative is an opportunity for members of the public to purchase a day’s motorcycle awareness with Road Policing Advanced Riders accompanied by an observer from the IAM. The course includes a presentation, demo rides and observational rides, the course is designed as a gateway to advanced riding and is run in partnership with Local Authority, Road Safety Scotland, IAM & RoSPA. Delivery of RRN has received positive feedback Page 47 of 68
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OFFICIAL 22 | P a g e OFFICIAL with some excellent learning and opportunity to influence riding behaviour with candidates travelling from across Tayside to participate. This is about to re-commence for the year ahead. National Motorcycle Campaign The National motorcycle campaign was run on several occasions and continues this year and will again see RP focused patrols on priority motorcycle routes throughout the division with joint working with neighbouring divisions and the SCU to detect and deter any motorcycle offences. Operation Closepass Operation Closepass has again been delivered in Perth & Kinross LPA by Road Policing Officers working closely with Community Officers. The message is that everyone deserves to be able to use Scotland’s roads safely, and it is for all road users to take responsibility, whether they are on two, four or more wheels, powered or on foot. Driver Engagement North Driver Engagement North has been held across Tayside for the period under review. This is an opportunity for older drivers and their families to take part in an interactive driving session. Driver engagement is aimed at highlighting potential driving weaknesses. The Driver Engagement North project makes use of an interactive driving simulator to assess and highlight a participant's reactions, hazard awareness and any potential vulnerabilities. Several days have been dedicated to specific community engagement with drivers at locations throughout Perth & Kinross, including businesses within Perth and along the A9, which have included working alongside Driveability staff and other agencies as well as continued visits to schools and other community hubs and businesses. Local Priority Activity – Public Protection Page 48 of 68
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OFFICIAL 23 | P a g e OFFICIAL Sexual Crime Overall Group 2 crime figures of 2025/2026 recorded 426 crimes, higher than last year’s figure of 384 and 10.9 % higher than last year. Perth and Kinross is not an outlier in this regard, as the national average increase for this crime type is around 11%. Positively, detections rates have also improved, increasing to 67.1%, some 9.9% higher than the 5-year average and a 3% improvement on last year. Sustaining and improving on detections year on year is a significant feat and may, in part, also explain the increasing confidence of victims to report matters. There was an increase in recorded reports of rape, up to 100 rapes this year, which is an increase of 26.6% on last year but again, we see a parallel increase in detections, up to 71%. The majority of rape and sexual offences occur within the private space and are often perpetrated by persons who are known to the victim, either as a partner, friend, family member or associate. We also know that tragically, where the victim knows the perpetrator, they can be targeted on multiple occasions. A much smaller number of offences take place in public and/or perpetrated by a person entirely unknown to the victim. Rape and serious sexual offence investigation is complex and a large number of offences can relate to non-recent investigations, some extending back decades, which create additional challenges in evidence gathering and witness engagement but the nature and volume of this type of crime report should also be interpreted in positive terms as they demonstrate a real willingness by complainers to engage with police, even regarding older matters, confident that they will be listened to and their reports acted upon. All rape investigations continue to be conducted by specially trained Sexual Offence Liaison Officers (SOLOs) and are directed by a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO), usually at the rank of Detective Inspector. Any offences involving child victims are investigated by specially trained Child Protection Investigators and for any child reporting serious sexual offending they will be supported to provide their evidence under the Scottish Child Interview Model (SCIM) and will be seen in our local Bairns Hoose hub in Perth. Rape and sexual crime are complex, and investigations can be protracted, but we engage regularly with our criminal justice partners to ensure they are sighted on significant enquires and can issue direction as necessary. Serious sexual crimes are subject to Page 49 of 68
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OFFICIAL 24 | P a g e OFFICIAL regular local reviews to ensure that all available lines of enquiry are identified and progressed, and we continue to engage with local support services to ensure victims are referred for support and perpetrators who are deemed to pose significant risk are targeted to minimise risk to others. Domestic Abuse These Domestic Abuse figures for Q4 in Perth and Kinross total 103 crimes for the entire financial year. These figures represent DASA only offences - The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 (DASA) came into force on 1st April 2019. It allows the full circumstances of an abusive relationship, which can span a considerable period of time, to be reported under a single offence, provided there is a course of conduct (two or more offences committed with a unity of purpose.) DASA offences are up from 87 crimes last year and significantly up against the 5-year average. As with the introduction of any relatively new legislation, one would expect to see an overall increase in recording year on year as officers and partners across the criminal justice system become more familiar with applying it and widening and deepening their understanding of instances where libelling such an offence is appropriate. Positively, detections are also up, sitting at 70% for male victims and 79.6% for female victims. Police Scotland makes no distinction in conducting a professional investigation of such offences but clearly women and girls are much more frequently victims of domestic abuse, and these detection rates underline our commitment to tackling such abuse. All domestic incidents in Perth and Kinross are subject of review, both by management and the Divisional Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit (DAIU). Priority is given to the arrest of any outstanding perpetrators, who are routinely traced and arrested within 24/48 hours of a crime being reported and we continue to work closely with partner agencies to ensure appropriate safeguarding measures are in place for victims. The most significant perpetrators are referred into the MATAC process, with investigations progressed by the National Domestic Abuse Taskforce, demonstrating the value of the tiered policing response to domestic abuse investigations. Page 50 of 68
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OFFICIAL 25 | P a g e OFFICIAL MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference) operates in Perth and Kinross and meets fortnightly to consider referrals for high- risk victims of domestic abuse. MARAC is victim focussed and provides a partnership forum for sharing information and taking actions that will reduce future harm to high-risk victims of domestic abuse and their children. The purpose of the MARAC is to: • Share information across agencies • Identify the level of risk presented by the perpetrator • Produce multi-agency action plans to reduce the risk to victims and their children Partners represented at MARAC in Perth and Kinross include Police Scotland, Community Justic Social Work, Children and Families social work, Health, Housing and Independent Domestic Abuse Advocates and other specialists from the statutory and voluntary sectors. Notable Activities during the reporting period include • In April 2025, a male was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment + 3 years extended licence, 99-year non harassment order & sex offenders register indefinitely for a catalogue of sexual offences and domestic abuse. • In December 2025 a male was charged and appeared at court in relation to 12 separate charges including serious sexual offences and domestic offending and awaits trial. Substance Misuse Radar Continued focus on the use of the Public Health Scotland Forum RADAR (Rapid Action Drug Alert and Response) to monitor changes in drug trends and further harms, with visibility of local and national alerts and appropriate escalation where required. Tayside Wide Overdose Prevention Meeting Consistent representation and participation in the bi-monthly meeting focusing on the identification and emergence of substance related trend, with the subsequent application of appropriate interventions and preventative messaging through public health. Page 51 of 68
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OFFICIAL 26 | P a g e OFFICIAL Local Priority/Activity – Enable and support effective engagement and communication with the public Teams across Perth and Kinross continue to arrange drop-in sessions to allow people an opportunity to speak with Officers about their concerns. We strive to ensure regular attendance of locality-based Officers across Perth and Kinross at the local Community Council meetings to provide visibility and assistance, discuss topical issues and provide context to communities about ongoing issues. Our Community Policing Teams have also carried out further engagement in the community including the below snapshot, • Perth City Centre shoplifting days of action. • Joint operation with trading standards targeting counterfeit goods. • Bike Marking Schemes. • Speeding initiatives. • Engagement sessions at schools and colleges throughout Perth and Kinross. • Joint operations with SPS at HMP Perth. • Seasonal events In response to community concerns, our community policing teams have had the following positive results and engagement • Drugs Search Warrant executed in Crieff resulting in class A drugs with an estimated value of £4200 and four-figure sum of cash being seized. One suspect was arrested and charged • Road Safety Day of Action in South Perthshire resulted in 2 Conditional Offers and 4 Reports to COPFS for driving offences • Increasing reports of anti-social behaviour by youths in the Blairgowrie area has led to targeted days of action, engaging with schools and parents to highlight the issues • Perth community police officers have participated in street sports sessions with young people at Letham Hub. • 2 Suron bikes were seized during enforcement action in Perth following increased reports of anti-social behaviour. Page 52 of 68
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OFFICIAL 27 | P a g e OFFICIAL Asylum Seekers The local community team has continuous engagement with the two Perth hotels housing asylum seekers run by MEARS. The daily contact and weekly visits seek to review any community safety issues, protests, welfare issues or hate crime. Guidance is regularly issued around use of Migrant Help services and contacts for dealing with incidents to enhance service delivery and experiences of asylum seekers. Regular engagement with the third sector agencies including the Perth Minorities Association and the Scottish Refugee Council. Fearless Fearless is a part of the Crimestoppers charity. It is a site where young people can access non-judgemental information and advice about crime and criminality. The website provides a safe place to give information about crime through a secure online form which is 100% anonymous. Fearless is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - 365 days a year. Crimestoppers have been actively advertising the resource to school and partners; most recently in relation to County Lines, Gang Culture and Knife Crime. Page 53 of 68
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Our vision is a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequality ___________________________________________________________________ Committee or Board: Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee Date of Meeting: 3 June 2026 Report Title: Community Empowerment Annual Report Report Number: 26/163 Report Author: Sarah Kimmet, Community Empowerment Officer Organisational Lead: Elaine Ritchie- Strategic Lead Housing and Communities ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this Report is to seek approval of the Community Empowerment Annual Report for 2025/26. The Annual Report provides an overview of the work done to promote and respond to interest in Community Asset Transfer and Participation Requests. 1.2 Sections 1. Purpose 2. Recommendation 3. Background/Main Issues 4. Impact and Value Assessment 5. Appendices 2. Recommendation It is recommended that the Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee: 2.1 Approves the Community Empowerment Annual Report 2025/26. 7 Page 55 of 68
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3. Background/Main Issues Historic Information/Context 3.1 The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 sets out rights for communities to have more significant influence or control over decisions and services which are most important to them. These rights are summarised as follows: 3.2 Part 3 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 enables communities to request to participate in processes to improve outcomes in their local community. 3.3 The Council has a statutory duty to report on the number of both Community Asset Transfer (CAT) Requests and Participation Requests it receives every year and the Council's activity to promote these rights 3.4 The Summary Report details the key figures for the year, whilst more detail on projects, outcomes, and work done to promote Community Empowerment can be found in the full Annual Report available as Appendix 1 Summary of Community Asset Transfer (Cat) Activity Over Financial Year 2025/2026 3.5 Since April 2025, Perth and Kinross Council has supported 19 groups who have expressed an interest in the Community Asset Transfer process. The table below provides information on the projects which have continued down the formal Community Asset Transfer Route, as well as those who have found or are working towards community ownership through other routes. Key updates on specific projects can be found in the full Annual Report available as Appendix One. Number Groups making initial approach to PKC regarding CAT in 2025-26 7 Groups continuing with interest from previous financial years 12 Expressions of Interest received in 2025/2026 3 Number of live cases 12 Groups who reached an alternative outcome 3 CAT Requests received and pending outcome 1 CAT Requests agreed to 0 CAT Requests refused 0 CAT Requests withdrawn 0 CAT decisions appealed 0 CAT decisions appealed successfully 0 Page 56 of 68
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3.6 Many community groups and organisations approach other services directly and do not require support from the Community Empowerment Officer. A summary of this activity has been provided by our Estates Team and is available in the full Annual Report in Appendix One 3.7 The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 requires the Council to produce an Annual Report, setting out the work done to promote and respond to Community Asset Transfer Requests and Participation Requests. In 2025/26, one full Community Asset Transfer request was received the outcome of which is currently pending. No participation requests were received. 4. Impact and Value Assessment Not applicable – this report is considered as an operational report, and as such, no further assessment is required. 5. Appendices 5.1 Appendix 1 – Full Community Empowerment Annual Report 25/26 Page 57 of 68
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Perth and Kinross Council Community Empowerment Annual Report 2025-2026 7 Page 59 of 68
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Report Contents 1.Overview 2.Key Updates 3.Other Activity 4.Community Ownership Forum 5.Advancing Community Assets Fund 6.Community Minibus Transfer Scheme 7.Improvements 2026-2027 Overview The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 sets out rights for communities to have more significant influence or control over decisions and services which are most important to them. These rights are summarised as follows: Part 3 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 enables communities to request to participate in processes to improve outcomes in their local community. Part 5 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 gives community groups the right to request ownership, lease, or access assets owned by the Council and other public bodies. The Council has a statutory duty to report on the number of both Community Asset Transfer (CAT) Requests and Participation Requests it receives every year and the Council's activity to promote these rights. Participation Requests PKC received no Participation Requests in 2025/26. However, on 4 April 2025 issued a decision notice refusing a Participation Request submitted earlier in 2025 by Crieff Community Council. The request sought involvement in wider community consultation on the future of the former Drummond Arms Hotel. PKC refused on the basis that it could not commit to consultation at that time. Since then, full community consultation has taken place, and PKC continues to work with Crieff Community Council and the wider community to identify a suitable solution for the site. Community Asset Transfer Since April 2025, PKC has supported nineteen groups interested in the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) process; seven new enquiries and twelve ongoing from previous years. Two groups have achieved ownership solutions outwith the Community Empowerment legislation. One CAT request has been received and is pending decision. PKC recognises that Community Asset Transfer is only one route to community ownership. Many groups achieve ownership without submitting a formal CAT request, and PKC remains committed to helping communities pursue the quickest and most effective route for their circumstances. PKC’s Community Empowerment Officer sits on the National Asset Transfer Action Group, which has developed a new data collection process for 2025–26 to more accurately capture ownership achieved outwith the CAT process. Community Empowerment 2025-2026 Page 60 of 68
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Key Updates Pitlochry Town Hall Pitlochry Town Hall group have been able to take over the day- to-day running of the hall through their management agreement with PKC. During this time, they have been able to build up evidence of use and income to support their CAT application. They have now submitted a full CAT application for purchase for which PKC must return a decision notice by 7 October 2026. th Alyth Museum Following the closure of Alyth Museum, Alyth Youth Partnership (AYP) approached PKC to use the building as a youth hub. Following a draft CAT request, officers agreed the group could proceed with a negotiated lease outwith the legislation. A Common Good Consultation was completed, and on 18 March the Alyth Common Good Committee approved a 25‑year lease. Young people involved in AYP have helped shape the building’s redesign and supported funding applications, demonstrating meaningful youth involvement in community empowerment and local decision‑making. th Dunning Hall Dunning Hall Association submitted a draft CAT application in June 2025, and it was agreed a lease could be granted outwith the legislation. The group and PKC have agreed Heads of Terms and are progressing a 25‑year lease with an option to purchase. The Committee is already running events from the Hall, including childcare and regular community activities. This project shows how a community group can identify local needs and deliver effective, community‑led solutions. For updates on any other projects please contact communityempowerment@pkc.gov.ukPage 61 of 68
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Other Activity Disposals The sale of the Former Slaughterhouse Site in Aberfeldy was settled in May 2025. The site was sold to Aberfeldy Development Trust for community-led affordable housing. A sale of the former Family Centre on Gowans Terrace to Centrum Edukacyjnego Bajka CIC is progressing and should shortly be completed. Public Toilets A lease has been granted to Auchterarder Community Sports and Recreation to allow for ‘Pee in the Park’ a community-led composting toilet in Primrose Park, Auchterarder. There is community interest for lease of the St James Square Public Toilets in Crieff and Heads of Terms have been prepared, whilst the community are supported to identify the most appropriate local organisation to take this forward. Starting Step a local social enterprise have requested a lease of the former South Inch (Marshall Place) Public Toilet building to create a horticultural training centre. Community Management Dunkeld & Birnam Men's Shed -have been granted a licence to occupy at small business unit on Birnam Industrial Estate. Lease negotiations continue with Kinross Open Spaces Action Group to grant a lease of a section of land at Davies Park. After community consultation favouring community management of Rookery Wood in Stanley, community groups continue to work with officers to take this into community management. For updates on any other projects please contact estates@pkc.gov.uk Community groups and organisations are often referred directly to PKC’s Estates Team who work with other Services to grant leases and sale of assets. The following summarises just some of the work done by these teams to empower communities through community ownership. Page 62 of 68
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The Scottish Government Review of Part 5 of the Community Empowerment Act (Community Asset Transfer) highlighted the need for peer support at a local level, and the success of a funded pilot run in Glasgow. As the National Action Group continue to discuss this pilot and how this can be upscaled across Scotland, Perth & Kinross Council have begun implementing our own support network in the form of the Community Ownership Forum. Progress has been shared with the National Action Group including researchers who evaluated the pilot project, and the success and direction of this Forum will continue to be shared. The Perth and Kinross Community Ownership Forum (COF) is an informal network of community groups in Perth and Kinross that are working towards a community ownership project. The forum meets quarterly and is an opportunity for groups to share their experiences and learn from one-another. They have also identified topics which they all feel they would like to explore further and officers have arranged speakers to attend the Forum to lead learning on these topics. So far three meetings have taken place and twelve groups have attended. We have had guest involvement from Community Ownership Support Service, Scottish Community Alliance, and PKC External Funding. Topics discussed have already been wide ranging have included: community wealth building, volunteer recruitment, bank accounts, constitutions, sharing of funding opportunities, choosing consultants, community engagement, and committee roles. The Forum approach allows groups to identify their own needs and learn from others who have been through the process. The role of council officers is to facilitate the sessions and empower groups to identify the successes that they have made on their journeys so far. In addition to the Community Ownership Forum, a forum has been set up for officers working across Scottish local authorities to meet and share experience. Attendance at this forum will help bring good practice examples to Perth and Kinross Community Ownership Forum Page 63 of 68
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For the 2025/26 financial year, £75,000 capital and £104,000 revenue funding was made available to support community ownership of Perth and Kinross council assets. This was launched as a fund for community groups to apply for in April 2025 under the name Advancing Community Assets Fund (ACAF). To date, £50,491 of capital and £77,286 of revenue funding has been committed. Projects supported include: - Pitlochry Town Hall - Dunning Town Hall - Coupar Angus Town Hall - Dunkeld North Garages - Alyth Museum - Cloichard Depot (Pitlochry) - Blairingone School and Schoolhouse As community ownership is a long journey and projects can take several years to reach completion, one-year funding can be difficult for groups to engage with. Officers hope to work with Finance and Elected Members to allow funding to be rolled over multiple financial years to allow the groups that need it most to make the best use of the public money available to make a real difference in their communities. Currently £24,509 of capital and £26,714 of revenue budget remains available to groups for 2026-27. Other funding support is available to groups through external sources which groups are supported to access via the Community Empowerment Officer, Community Learning and Development Team, and the External Funding Team. Advancing Community Assets Fund Page 64 of 68
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Community Minibus Transfer Scheme In February 2025 the Community Minibus Transfer Scheme was launched. This process applied Community Empowerment principles to the transfer of ownership of former council minibuses to community groups who applied and demonstrated need, benefit, and ability to sustain a bus. Between March and December 2025 12 buses were transferred to community groups. Successful groups were: The Royal Voluntary Service Mantalk Perthshire Welfare Society Your North Muirton Fossoway Community Development Trust Coupar Angus Community Transport Group Crieff Juniors Football Club 1 Kinross Boys Brigade and Girls Associationst The Mailler & Whitelaw Trust 54 Perthshire (Auchterarder) Scout Groupth Perth Sea Cadets People With a Mission Ministries 36 community groups applied to the scheme, with 42% of applications coming from groups in Perth City and 58% from other wards. The project was delivered via partnership working across PKC teams including Community Empowerment, Community Learning and Development, Fleet and Public Transport. Officers also partnered with the Community Transport Association to offer three information sessions for prospective applicants to learn more about minibus ownership. Feedback from successful groups will continue to be gathered throughout 2026. So far, groups have used the buses for various activities including, trips, regular support to establish a boccia league for older people, and even to support with accessible funeral transport. Page 65 of 68
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Reflecting on progress and challenges in 2025-26 we have identified key improvement actions for the year ahead. Community Asset Transfer Strategy Perth and Kinross Council support groups who approach us regarding assets, and at times will publicise assets which are at risk. During 2026-27 officers will address the need for a wider Community Asset Transfer Strategy. This must reflect the one-council approach and will be an example of partnership working between teams and services. The Community Empowerment processes and principles will help inform and support delivery of the strategy. Internal Training There is varied understanding of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 across the council and to improve on this, internal training will be updated and relaunched on PKC Learns. This training will ensure wider understanding across services allowing officers and Elected Members to be able to know when to signpost community groups to these opportunities. This will be particularly beneficial in relation to Participation Requests, which should be used to complement the council’s community engagement strategy. Refreshed training will also ensure that we as a council are working in line with the national findings of the Scottish Government Reviews of the Community Asset Transfer and Participation Requests. Training for Community Groups The Community Learning and Development Team are developing their Community Capacity Training offer. As part of this a standard training for Community Asset Transfer will be developed which can be carried out as a method of promoting and introducing the process. Improvements 2026-2027 Page 66 of 68
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If you or someone you know would like a copy of this document in another language or format, (on occasion, only a summary of the document will be provided in translation), this can be arranged by contacting the Customer Service Centre on 01738 475000. You can also send us a text message on 07824 498145. All Council Services can offer a telephone translation facility. BSL users can contact us via Contact Scotland BSL, the online British Sign Language video relay interpreting service. Find out more on the Contact Scotland BSL website https://contactscotland-bsl.org For more information on anything contained in this report, or for information on community ownership in Perth and Kinross, please contact communityempowerment@pkc.gov.uk or visit our website at https://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/19819/Community-asset-transfer Artifical Intelligence has been used in the creation of this report for the purpose of improving photo image quality. Page 67 of 68
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