Minute of Meeting of Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee of 11 June 2025 for Approval
Perth and Kinross Council · 1 October 2025
Back to Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee — 1 October 2025 and its agenda
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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 11 June 2025 at 1.30pm. Present: Bailies C McLaren and M Williamson, Councillors K Allan (substituting for Councillor I James) (up to Item 7) , P Barrett, B Brawn, J Duff (substituting for Bailie C Ahern), D Cuthbert (substituting for Ballie R Brock), A Forbes, I James (Item 10 only), I MacPherson, C Mair, S McCole, T McEwan, F Smith, C Stewart and J Welch. In Attendance: C Mailer, Depute Chief Executive, E Ritchie, Strategic Lead – Housing and Communities; S Merone, Strategic Lead – Economy, Development and Planning; N Sworowski, H Maclean (both Economy, Development and Planning), K Steven, D Stokoe, K Evans, C Gordon and S Kimmet (all Housing and Communities) S Hendry, J Guild, S Dockerill and M Pasternak (all Legal and Governance). Also in Attendance: Chief Superintendent N Russell, Local Area Commander G Burns and Operations Superintendent A Smith (all Police Scotland) (all up to Item 5) Area Commander B Todd and Group Commander C Wallace (both Scottish Fire and Rescue Service) (both up to Item 6), L Palmer and R Hammond-Baker (both Tenant’s Committee Report Panel) Apologies: Bailies C Ahern and R Brock. Councillor T McEwan, Convener, Presiding. Councillor McEwan led on Items 1-6 and 9-10 with Councillor McCole leading on Items 7-8. 1. Welcome and Apologies Councillor T McEwan welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies were noted as above. 2. Declarations of Interest There were no Declarations 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 26 March 2025 was submitted and approved as a correct record. 4. Perth and Kinross Local Policing Area End of Year Police Report – 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 There was submitted a report by Chief Superintendent, Police Scotland, D Division (Tayside) (25/154) providing information to the Committee regarding the performance of Police Scotland to facilitate local scrutiny.
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Chief Superintendent N Russell and Local Area Commander G Burns provided a brief introduction to the report and answered Members’ questions thereon. Resolved: The content of report 25/154, be noted. 5. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service End of Year Performance Report – 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 There was submitted a report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (25/155) providing information to the committee regarding the performance of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, against the priorities, performance indicators and targets detailed within the Local Fire and Rescue Plan for Perth and Kinross 2020-23, to facilitate local scrutiny. Area Commander, B Todd, provided a brief strategic update regarding the Service Delivery Review Programme which aims to ensure operational resources are matched to risk and demand across Scotland. B Todd advised the next stage of the process is to open a formal public consultation in the coming months and part of this consultation will be a proposal to replace the third appliance at Perth Fire Station (a Combined Ariel Rescue Pump) which was temporarily withdrawn in September 2023. B Todd confirmed more information is available on the SFRS website and a full written briefing would be provided in due course. Resolved: The content of report 25/155, be noted. There followed a short recess, and the Committee reconvened at 15:10. 6. Annual Update on Perth and Kinross Local Housing Strategy 2022-27 There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead – Housing and Communities and Strategic Lead – Economy, Development and Planning (25/156) noting progress in implementing the Local Housing Strategy for Perth and Kinross previously approved at Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee on 15 March 2023 and seeking approval of the priorities for the current year. L Palmer of the Tenant’s Committee Report Panel advised she was happy with the progress, especially in relation to downsizing and keyworker issues. Going forward, increased tenant participation in relation to land identification for affordable housing, would be welcomed. Resolved: (i) The progress made during 2024-2025 towards achieving the outcomes set out within the LHS Action Plan (Appendix 1), be noted. (ii) The priorities for 2025-2026 set out in Section 6 below, be approved.
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7. Tayside Joint Health Protection Plan 2025-2027 There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead – Housing and Communities (25/157) (1) seeking agreement on the adoption and implementation of Tayside’s Joint Health Protection Plan 2025-2027 (TJHPP) as set out in Appendix 1 (2) providing an overview of the public protection measures across NHS Tayside and the partner Local Authorities for the period of the plan, in relation to, health protection priorities, provision, and preparedness; the joint working arrangements in place for the protection of public health across Tayside; ongoing mechanisms to improve the level of “preparedness” in relation to responding effectively to health protection incidents and emergencies; developing learning across the agencies; ensuring methods for reviewing and recording outcomes and achievements and (3) containing an action plan as set out in Appendix 2 highlighting PKC’s core activities, including programmed actions and predicted reactive response mechanisms to ensure the outcomes of the plan are met. The plan also highlights emerging issues requiring ongoing consideration in terms of future preparedness. Resolved: (i) The adoption and implementation of the TJHPP 2025-27, be approved. (ii) The Convener be authorised to sign the approved plan for PKC. (iii) The attached action plan objectives be supported to ensure the outcomes of the plan can be met by PKC. (iv) The ongoing requirements to ensure preparedness in terms of emerging issues, be acknowledged. 8. Community Empowerment Annual Report There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead – Housing and Communities (25/158) seeking approval of the Community Empowerment Annual Report for 2024/25. The Annual Report provides an overview of the work done to promote and respond to interest in Community Asset Transfer and Participation Requests. Resolved: The Community Empowerment Report 2024/25, be approved. 9. Locality PB Fund 2024/25 – Funding Awards There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead – Housing and Communities and Strategic Lead – Strategic Planning, people and Performance (25/159) informs Committee of the funding commitments made through Participatory Budgeting in the 2024/25 Locality PB Fund across four targeted localities based on deprivation data. £101,008 was awarded to 28 projects which will help tackle poverty and alleviate the cost of living. Resolved:
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(i) The funding awarded through participatory budgeting in the Locality PB Fund for 2024/25 and recommendations for future community grant processes, be noted. (ii) It be noted that this report would compliment the report Fairer Communities for All (25/160) detailing future community grant programmes for 2025/26. Councillor I James joined the meeting at this point. 10. Fairer Communities for All There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead – Housing and Communities (25/160) seeking approval on proposed changes to the delivery of the Community Investment Fund (CIF) and Participatory Budgeting (PB) funding 2025/26. Motion by Councillors T McEwan and S McCole To accept the recommendations as set out in the report, with clarity to be provided around the figures in Section 5.2. Amendment by Councillors J Duff and B Brawn Reject the recommendations and continue with the current, separate processes for applications. In addition, any CIF underspends should be retained within the relevant wards and carried forward to the 2025/26 CIF fund. In terms of Standing Order 21, a roll call vote was taken: 8 Members voted for the Motion as follows: Councillors P Barrett, I MacPherson, C Mair, S McCole, T McEwan, Bailie C McLaren, Councillor J Welch and Bailie M Williamson. 7 Members voted for the Amendment as follows: Councillors B Brawn, D Cuthbert, J Duff, A Forbes, I James, F Smith and C Stewart. Resolved: In accordance with the Motion. ~~~~~~~~~