Minute of Meeting of Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee of 29 November 2023 for Approval
Perth and Kinross Council · 24 January 2024
Back to Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee — 24 January 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
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 29 November 2023 at 9.30am. Present: Bailies C Ahern, R Brock and C McLaren; Councillors P Barrett, B Brawn, S Donaldson, J Duff (substituting for Councillor A Forbes), M Frampton, I James. B Leishman, I MacPherson, S McCole, T McEwan, F Smith and J Welch. In Attendance: B Renton, Executive Director (Communities); C Mailer, Director – Strategy, People and Resources, E Ritchie, K Divin, D Stokoe, L Haxton, M Lynch, S Coyle, S Watson, C Hendry, P Smith, R Robson and J May (all Communities); N Sutherland, L Brady, S Hendry, A Taylor, R Ramsay and M Pasternak (all Corporate and Democratic Services). Also in Attendance: Chief Superintendent P Davison and Chief Inspector T Leonard, (up to and including Item 4) (both Police Scotland); Local Senior Officer J Sharp and Group Commander S Kabamba (up to and including Item 4) (both Scottish Fire and Rescue Service); and L Palmer (Tenant Representative) (from Item 5 onwards). Apology for Absence: Councillor A Forbes. Councillor T McEwan, Convener, Presiding. The Convener led the discussion on Items 1-5 and 7-10 with Vice-Convener McCole on Item 6. 1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES Councillor T McEwan welcomed everyone to the meeting. An apology for absence and a substitution 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 Communities Committee of 25 October 2023 was submitted and approved as a correct record. 4. POLICE AND FIRE REFORM: LOCAL SCRUTINY AND ENGAGEMENT 4(i) SCOTTISH FIRE AND RESCUE SIX-MONTHLY PERFORMANCE REPORT APRIL 2023 – SEPTEMBER 2023 There was submitted a report by Area Manager Jason Sharp, Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (23/334) providing performance information relating to the six-month period (April 2023 – September 2023) on the
Page 2
performance of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in support of Member scrutiny of local service delivery. Area Manager Sharp and Group Commander Kabamba answered members’ questions thereon. The question-and-answer session can be viewed via the following link. Resolved: The performance update of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in the Perth and Kinross area covering the six-monthly period of 1 April to 30 September 2023, be noted. Prior to the next item of business, the Convener advised that due to a recent promotion to a Divisional role, this would be Chief Inspector Tom Leonard’s last meeting of this Committee. He and several members paid tribute to the role and substantial contribution Tom had made to the work of the Committee over the last 3- years and wished him all the very best in his new role. 4(ii) PERTH AND KINROSS LOCAL POLICING AREA SIX-MONTHLY PERFORMANCE REPORT – APRIL TO SEPTEMBER 2023 There was submitted a report by Chief Superintendent Phil Davison, Police Scotland ‘D’ Division (Tayside) (23/335) on the performance of Police Scotland against the local policing priorities for the Perth and Kinross area as set out in the Local Policing Plan for the period, 1 April 2023 to 30 September 2023. Superintendent Davison and Chief Inspector Leonard answered members’ questions thereon. The question-and-answer session can be viewed via the following link. Resolved: The update on performance of Police Scotland against the local policing priorities for the Perth and Kinross area covering the six-monthly period of 1 April 2023 to 30 September 2023, be noted. CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT P DAVISON, CHIEF INSPECTOR T LEONARD, AREA MANAGER J SHARP AND GROUP COMMANDER S KEBAMBA ALL LEFT THE MEETING AT THIS POINT. THERE FOLLOWED A SHORT RECESS AND THE MEETING RECONVENED AT 11.35AM. 5. STRATEGIC HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN 2024/25 – 2028/29 There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead - Economy, Development and Planning (23/336) seeking approval of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2024/25 – 2028/29. Resolved:
Page 3
(i) The content of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2024/25 – 2028/29, as detailed in Appendix 1 to Report 23/336, be approved. (ii) The ongoing development of the SHIP, be approved and the Strategic Affordable Housing Board be given authority to ensure that where projects fall out of the plan, alternative projects, prioritised in the same way are substituted for them. (iii) It be noted that the SHIP has been submitted in draft form to the Scottish Government as detailed in Paragraph 5 of Report 23/336. 6. BEECHGROVE HOUSE There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead – Economy, Development and Planning (23/337) providing an update and a response to the Motion presented to Council on 18 February 2020 which requested officers to carry out a detailed options appraisal regarding the future use of the buildings and site of Beechgrove House, Perth and explore the viability of the site for future health and social care provision and mixed-tenure housing. Resolved: (i) The background to this report, be noted. (ii) The outcome of the Feasibility Cost Plan, as detailed in Appendix 1 to Report 23/337, be noted. (iii) The appointment of a design team to progress with the project, be approved. 7. WARM WELCOME AND GOOD FOOD FUNDS There was submitted a report by Director of Strategy, People and Resources (23/338) providing information on the delivery of the Warm Welcome Fund (formerly the Cost-of-Living Fund) and the Good Food Fund (formerly the Food Security Fund). Resolved: (i) The impact from the Cost-of-Living Fund, be noted. (ii) The impact from the Food Security Fund, be noted. (iii) The change in approach to delivering the Warm Welcome Fund, be noted. (iv) The change in approach to delivering the Good Food Fund, be noted. (v) An evaluation of the process and impact of the Warm Welcome Fund, be approved. (vi) A formal recognition of the efforts of community volunteers in delivering Warm Welcome Fund Projects, be approved. 8. 5th LOCAL CHILD POVERTY ACTION REPORT There was submitted a report by Director of Strategy, People and Resources (23/339) presenting an update on (1) the actions taken during 2022/23; (2) the Child Poverty Action Plan for 2023/24 and (3) the progress with the Child Poverty Delivery Plan for 2022-2026. Resolved: (i) The contents of Report 23/339, be noted.
Page 4
(ii) The continued commitment to the strategic aims as set out in Appendix 1 of Report 23/239, be approved. (iii) The commitment to the objectives as set out in Appendix 1 of Report 23/239 and to work with NHS Tayside and the Community Planning Partners be re- affirmed. 9. COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND 2023/24 There was submitted a report by Head of Culture and Communities Services (23/340), providing (1) details of the funding commitments made for the 2023/24 Community Investment Fund (CIF) across the 12 Council wards, and (2) an update on progress with the Green Living Fund Participatory Budgeting project 2023/24. Resolved: (i) The funding decisions taken by Ward Panels for the 2023/24 CIF, be noted. (ii) The carry forward of £85,530.76 for disbursal to community grassroots projects in 2023/24 and 2024/25, for use in the wards where the underspends have arisen, be approved. (iii) The progress made with the Green Living Fund Participatory Budgeting project, be noted. 10. AFFORDABLE HOUSING MEMBER/OFFICER WORKING GROUP - OUTCOME REPORT There was submitted a report by Executive Director (Communities) (23/341) providing an overview and update to members on the work progressed by the Affordable Housing Member Officers Working Group. Resolved: (i) The work progressed by the Affordable Housing Member/Officer Working Group, be noted. (ii) The purpose of the Affordable Housing Member/Officer Working Group has been met, be approved. Following discussion, it was unanimously agreed by Members that the following recommendation be added. (iii) Approval be sought from Council that the Affordable Housing Member/Officer Working Group stay active and continue to meet as and when there is a requirement to do so. ~~~~~~~~~