Minute of Meeting of Scrutiny and Performance Committee of 17 September 2025 for Approval
Perth and Kinross Council · 19 November 2025
Back to Scrutiny and Performance Committee — 19 November 2025 and its agenda
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Scrutiny and Performance Committee Minute of hybrid meeting of the Scrutiny and Performance Committee held in the Council Chambers, 2 High Street, Perth, on Wednesday 17 September 2025 at 09.30am. Present: Councillors C Stewart, Bailie A Bailey, Councillors K Allan, S Carr, M Frampton, D Illingworth (substituting for Councillor A Forbes), I Massie, W Robertson, C Shiers, F Smith and J Welch. In Attendance: T Glen, Chief Executive; S Crawford, Strategic Lead – Property Services; R Meiklejohn (Property Services); G Boland, Strategic Lead – Strategic Planning, People and Performance; C Hendry and L Haxton (Strategic Planning, People and Performance); S Merone, Strategic Lead – Economy, Development and Planning; S MacDonald and K Johnston (Economy, Development and Planning), D Macluskey, Strategic Lead – Education and Learning; F MacKay and E Moran (Education and Learning); A Singh, Strategic Lead – Children, Families and Justice; A Clegg (Housing and Communities); P Leonard (Environment and Infrastructure); N Sutherland (Customer and Digital Services); C Jolly (Health and Social Care Partnership); L Simpson, Strategic Lead – Legal and Governance; J Walker, K Molley, A Brown and M Pasternak (all Legal and Governance). Also in attendance: P Carle (BAM Construction); G Bushnell (Hub); (both up to item 6). C Glasgow and S Stewart (Perth Theatre and Concert Hall); P Coleman, A Brown, Dr D Carey and G Watson (LAL); K McWilliams and J Findlay (Culture P&K) (all up to Item 7). Apology: Councillor A Forbes Councillor C Stewart, Convener, Presiding. The Convener led discussion on Items 1-6 and 8-9, and the Vice-Convener led discussion on item 7 and 10. 1. Welcome and Apologies The Convener welcomed all those present to the meeting and apology was noted as above. 2. Declarations of Interest There were no Declaration of Interests in terms of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.
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3. Minute of Meeting of Scrutiny and Performance Committee of 4 June 2025 The minute of meeting of the Scrutiny and Performance Committee of 4 June 2025 was submitted and approved as a correct record. 4. Outstanding Business Statement Resolved: The status of actions in the Outstanding Business Statement, be noted and completed actions be removed accordingly. (The Committee agreed to vary order of business). 5. Blairgowrie Recreation Centre Delay There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead – Property Services (25/231) (1) providing an overview of the construction phase of the new Blairgowrie Recreation Centre and in particular a detailed explanation for the 34-week delay in certifying practical completion; (2) identifying any learning which could inform Council approach to quality assurance and the management of future construction projects. S Crawford provided a short slide-based presentation on the floor plans of the new Blairgowrie Recreation Centre. P Carle, BAM Construction, provided an update on the main issues and chronology of events which lead to the delay of the opening of the new Blairgowrie Centre. S Crawford concluded by providing the lessons learned from the delayed opening of the new Blairgowrie Recreation Centre. Members’ questions were answered. Members praised the new Blairgowrie Recreation Centre which had recently opened to the community. Members thanked Property Services and colleagues from BAM Construction and Hub for their work on the building. The Convener thanked P Carle and G Bushnell for their attendance and they left the meeting. Resolved: (i) The contents of Report 25/231, be scrutinised (ii) The measures that were put in place to manage construction quality and quality control, be noted. (iii) Assurance be provided that the building is fit for purpose at practical completion.
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6. Arm’s Length External Organisations 6(i) Perth Theatre and Concert Hall The Chief Executive of Perth Theatre and Concert Hall submitted a report (25/227) providing the current financial position of Perth Theatre and Concert Hall. There was a slide-based presentation delivered by C Glasgow, providing detail of the 125 Live Event and the impact of the event in Perth and Kinross. Members questions were answered. 6(ii) Live Active Leisure The Chief Executive of Live Active Leisure submitted a report (25/228) providing the current financial position of Live Active Leisure. There was a slide-based presentation delivered by P Coleman, Service Manager – Physical Activity and Sport, highlighting the work undertaken to support increased physical activity opportunities for older people and people with long standing poor health. The presentation also provided an update on the new Blairgowrie Recreation Centre, including usage statistics and feedback. Members questions were answered. 6(iii) Culture Perth & Kinross The Chief Executive of Culture Perth and Kinross submitted a report (25/229) providing the current financial position of Culture Perth and Kinross. There was a slide-based presentation delivered by K McWilliams, Head of Operations and Support Services, providing an update on upcoming events at Perth Art Gallery and Perth Museum and an update on the Library Strategy 2025-27. Members questions were answered. The Convener thanked representatives from all three ALEOs for their attendance and they left the meeting. 7. Perth and Kinross Council Annual Performance Report 2024/25 There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead – Strategic Planning, People and Performance (25/230) providing an overview of how the Council has performed against its priorities, actions and associated key performance indicators in the period from April 2024 to March 2025, as set out within the Corporate Plan 2022-2027.
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Bailie A Bailey quired to what extend do the Council influence the gigabit broadband roll out across Perth and Kinross. S Merone advised that the Council had attracted funding from the UK Government and the Tay Cities Deal to support the acceleration of gigabit infrastructure across Perth and Kinross. S Merone confirmed that the Council would continue to monitor the national government programmes. Councillor W Robertson raised concerns that the costs to meet climate targets would have an impact on the Council to address the cost-of-Living crisis. L Simpson agreed with the concerns and confirmed that it was an issue experienced at a local and national level. L Simpson advised that there are statutorily requirements that the Council should work towards and targets set which the organisation strive to meet. L Simpson confirmed there was a real challenge of how to prioritise the priorities in a political environment and determine where the Council should put finite resources to make the biggest impact and value. S Merone agreed that the priorities can work against each other but also advised that there are measures in place to benefit both the climate crisis and cost-of-living crisis. S Merone provided the example of the measure of insolation of housing to help reduce carbon reduction which would also have a positive impact on fuel poverty. In response to a question from Councillor F Smith regarding the monitoring of an increase in volume of uncut grass areas, A Clegg advised that engagement had occurred with volunteers to carry out the monitoring of ‘Grow Wild’ grassland areas across various locations. A Clegg referred to exercise of wildflowers being planted at the North Inch and advised that trials were being monitored. A Clegg added that the areas which do not have wildflowers planted would not receive the same biodiversity benefits but confirmed there are benefits overall from not cutting the grass. Councillor K Allan queried why the waiting times for people to access mental health services had increased. C Jolly confirmed that detail would be shared with members following the meeting. Bailie A Bailey referred to the action to reduce the poverty-related attainment gap and queried when targets would be reviewed and what the process would be of reviewing the targets which had been met. F Mackay confirmed that targets are looked at on annual basis as part of the Education Plan. E Moran added that the Council liaise with the Scottish Government over the setting of stretch aims which are set over a period. E Moran advised that the Scottish Government had advised that targets that had been met should not be formally reset for data gathering purposes to see the percentage of Local Authorities which had met or exceeded the original target. However, E Moran confirmed that in terms of internal processes for target setting, schools are looked at on an individual basis with Headteachers to set new targets. E Moran advised that consultation was underway with the Scottish Government to look at the next set of targets. Councillor K Allan referred to the action to improve support to children and young people with additional support needs to realise their full potential and queried why there had been an increase of children placed in independent schools. F MacKay stressed her disappointment in the spike in numbers and confirmed that the issue was being looked at through the development of Intensive Support Provisions.
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F MacKay confirmed that work had been carried out to open three additional ISPs during the current session in Kinross High School, Perth High School and Viewlands Primary School. There are also proposals to develop the provision within the Community School of Auchterarder and St John’s catchment areas. F MacKay encouraged members that the development of the ISPs across Perth and Kinross should address the increase in numbers of placing requests to independent schools and provide additional resource for parents. Councillor M Frampton referred to the recruitment of host families for asylum seeking children and queried how many host families are needed to support those children. A Singh advised that the number of host families required depends on the number of young people that are being transferred through the national transfer scheme which could change at any time. A Singh confirmed that he would provide detail following the meeting of how host families there are currently in Perth and Kinross. In response to a supplementary question from Councillor M Frampton on the alternative accommodation options being considered to ensure safe placements continue, A Singh confirmed that different options are being looked at such as foster carers or supported accommodation to support children and young people in a family-based environment. Councillor I Massie raised concerns over the increase in the number of referrals made to the Child Protection Duty Team. Councillor I Massie also asked for further information on the work being undertaken in Letham. A Singh advised that the response received from both the child and adult protection committees was relatively low from families, however, there was an opportunity to engage with third sector partners in the Letham area in terms of the support and outreach they could provide their families. A Singh added that the increase in referrals could be seen as a positive as more people are being referred to the service and early intervention could be provided. As part of feedback to be incorporated into the report for Council, Bailie A Bailey suggested that as targets are being met, the Council have scope to push further on the poverty related attainment gap in Perth and Kinross instead of waiting for national indicators to change. As part of feedback to be incorporated into the report for Council, Councillor W Robertson asked if a cost benefit analysis could be undertaken before applying measures to address the climate crisis as it could have an impact on the cost-of- living crisis. Members thanked officers across Services in the Council for all their work and for the development of the Perth and Kinross Council Annual Report 2024/25. Resolved: (i) The Annual Performance Report for 2024/25, be scrutinised and provided feedback, be incorporated into the report for Council. (ii) Any areas of performance, be identified for further scrutiny at future committees.
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(iii) The proposals to amend two of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), outlined in paragraph 4.3 (Table 1), for future Annual Performance Reports, be agreed. (iv) The proposed reporting arrangements for the Corporate Delivery and Improvement Plan and Annual Performance Report outlined in paragraph 4.8 of Report 25/230, be agreed. 8. Data Protection Compliance 2024-25 There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead –Legal and Governance (25/232) providing members of the Committee with the Data Protection Officer’s professional assessment of the Council’s compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation during the year 2024-25. Members thanked J Walker and her team for all their work. Resolved: (i) The Data Protection Officer’s assessment of the Council’s compliance with the requirements of data protection legislation, be noted. (ii) The Council’s performance in terms of its compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation, be considered. (iii) It be noted that the Data Protection Officer is confident that an acceptable degree of compliance with data protection law was achieved during 2024-25 and that this will continue during 2025-26. 9. Freedom of Information Performance Report 2024-25 There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead –Legal and Governance (25/233) providing assurance as to the Council’s compliance and performance in relation tots obligations under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) and Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIR) for the year 2024-25. Councillor K Allan asked for further clarification on ‘Alterations to the Council’s organisational structure have meant that there are ongoing changes to internal processes for handling FOI requests’. J Walker advised that changes to staffing structures had meant that it been harder to retrieve the information required but confirmed that as things have settled over the last quarter the compliance with a 95% target had improved. Bailie Bailey asked for further clarification around the number of requests received with 323 received no information. J Walker confirmed that in terms of information not held, it would often be because the request did not apply in Perth and Kinross. J Walker added that in terms of requests from national media, the terminology may not apply in Scotland but confirmed that the team have a duty to assist and would advise the requester that the information may not held but would provide information on the legislation in force which could still be useful.
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Councillor K Allan queried the difference between a normal request and a complex request. J Walker confirmed that a complex request would involve a request which numerous points that would include input from several Services across the Council. The Convener queried if the FOI Case Management System would track the officer time involved on a request and queried if any requests had been refused due to the amount of time or cost involved. J Walker confirmed that the software does record information, however, the team rely on services to provide the detail of how long the request had taken. J Walker confirmed that some of the requests had been refused, and further detail would be shared following the meeting. Members thanked J Walker and her team for all their work. Resolved: (i) The content of this report, be considered and a constructive comment and feedback, be provided. (ii) It be noted that there was a 4% reduction in the overall number of FOI requests received during 2024-25, but an increase in terms of length and /or complexity of requests, which impact on internal resources. (iii) It be noted that there was a reduction in compliance with timescales for responding to FOI requests during 2024-25, which has been reversed during the first quarter of 2025-26. (iv) It be noted that the number of requests for review remain a very small percentage of requests received, indicating good levels of customer satisfaction in terms of the quality of responses and the effectiveness of the process. 10. Perth and Kinross Health & Social Care Partnership (HSCP) Care and Professional Governance Assurance Report There was submitted a report by Chief Social Work Officer (25/234) providing assurance on the Care and Professional Governance of the Perth and Kinross HSCP in respect to social work and social care services. Resolved: The Committee agreed to the Reasonable level of assurance provided. ~~~~~~