Report - Governance Arangements 14 May 2026

Renfrewshire Council · 14 May 2026
Back to Council — 14 May 2026 and its agenda

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PUBLIC 
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To:  Council
On:  14 May 2026
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Report by: Director of Finance & Resources and Director of Environment,
Housing & Infrastructure
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Heading: Governance Arrangements 
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1. Summary 
1.1 The timetable of Council and Board meetings was agreed at the meeting of
Council held on 9 May 2024.  This report suggests an amendment to the start
time of future meetings of the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board. 
1.2 At the meeting of Council on 4 May 2023, Council approved the nomination of
its two representatives on the board of the AMIDS (Renfrewshire) Limited
Liability Partnership. This report proposes a change to one of those
appointments. 
1.3 The report also proposes two changes to the Council’s Scheme of Delegated
Functions. The first follows a report to the 19 January 2026 meeting of the
Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board. The second relates to the purchase and sale
of heritable properties. 
1.4 In terms of the Scheme of Delegated Functions, the Council has a reserved
power to determine which major events are deserving of recognition by way of
the lighting up of Council buildings and property. The report details two
requests that have been received to mark events in this manner. 
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2. Recommendations 
Council is asked to:

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PUBLIC 
2.1 Agree that future meetings of the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board will
commence at 10am; 
2.2 Agree that Alasdair Morrison, Head of Economy & Development Services will
replace Barbara Walker, City Deal and Infrastructure Programme Director as
a representative of the Council on the Board of the AMIDS (Renfrewshire)
Limited Liability Partnership; 
2.3 Approve the changes to the Scheme of Delegated Functions as set out in the
report; and 
2.4 Consider the requests to light up Council buildings and property purple on 26
March 2027 and annually thereafter to mark Epilepsy Scotland’s Light Up
Purple Campaign, and teal/green on 7th June 2026 and annually thereafter to
mark Tourette's Awareness Day. 
3. Background 
Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board 
3.1 The timetable of Council and Board meetings was agreed at the meeting of
Council held on 9 May 2024.  As part of that timetable, meetings of the Audit,
Risk and Scrutiny Board currently commence at 3pm. 
3.2 A request has been received from the Convenor of the Board that future
meetings of the Board now commence at 10am. Members are asked to agree
that the timetable of meetings be amended in terms of that request. 
AMIDS (Renfrewshire) Limited Liability Partnership 
3.3 At the meeting of Council on 4 May 2023, Council approved the nomination of
Barbara Walker, City Deal and Infrastructure and Programme Director and
Alastair McArthur, Director of Finance and Resource as the Council’s two
representatives on the Board of the LLP. 
3.4 Barbara Walker has intimated that she will retire from her employment with
the Council in June 2026. It is therefore proposed that Alasdair Morrison,
Head of Economy & Development Services will replace Barbara Walker as a
representative of the Council on the Board of the LLP with immediate effect. 
Scheme of Delegated Functions 
3.5 At its meeting on 19 January 2026 the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board
considered a report on a paper published by the Accounts Commission in
respect of the 2023/24 audit of Glasgow City Council Senior Officer Exit
packages. The report set out officers’ review of Renfrewshire Council’s
position in light of the comments made by the Accounts Commission.

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3.6 The report set out that officers had identified that there was one minor issue
which should be addressed. In terms of the existing delegations in respect of
decisions on VR/VER it was identified that there was an inconsistency
between teaching and non-teaching staff. Decisions by the Chief Executive in
respect of VR/VER for non-teaching staff require consultation with the Head of
People & Organisational Development. However, the delegation to the
Director of Children’s Services in respect of teaching staff requires no such
consultation. Officers were of the view that such consultation should be
required to ensure scrutiny and consistency of decision making. 
3.7 Therefore, it is proposed to amend the delegation to the Director of Children’s
Services to require the same requirement of consultation with the Head of
People & Organisational Development. Members are asked to agree the
revised wording of the delegation as follows:- 
“18. In consultation with the Head of People & Organisational Development, to
approve premature retirement under the Teachers (Compensation for
Premature Retirement and Redundancy) (Scotland) Regulations 1996, and
the Teachers’ Superannuation (Scotland) Regulations 2005 without
enhancement of salary at no additional cost to the Authority or in
circumstances where any cost incurred is recoverable within a maximum of
two years.” 
3.8 There are two existing delegations under the heading of the Corporate
Estates Function to the Head of Economy & Development Services in respect
of the sale and purchase of heritable properties in the following terms:- 
“93. To make arrangements for the disposal on the open market of any
heritable property identified as surplus to the requirements of the Council, in
accordance with the Council’s approved procedures and to instruct the Head
of Corporate Governance to conclude any sales to the highest offerer
provided that this is considered acceptable and the value of the offer does not
exceed £100,000; and where it is considered to be in the Council’s interests,
to negotiate with adjoining proprietors, and/or existing commercial tenants
regarding the disposal by the Council of heritable property of a value not
exceeding £100,000.” 
“95. In consultation with the Head of Corporate Governance to approve and
conclude the acquisition of any interests in heritable property where the value
of the interest does not exceed £100,000 and with the additional approval of
the Chief Executive where the value of the interest in heritable property does
not exceed £200,000, subject always to confirmation being required from the
appropriate Director regarding budget provision for the acquisition. Where
there is a series of related transactions or where a number of properties are
purchased as part of the same transaction, the financial thresholds referred to
above relate to the value of each individual property and not to the aggregate
value of the properties involved in that transaction or series of transactions.”

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It is proposed that these delegations now be split into two distinct elements
between two officers; the delegations to the Head of Economy & Development
Services being restricted to non Housing Revenue Account (HRA) properties
only, and equivalent delegations in respect of HRA properties then being
added for the Head of Housing Services. 
Requests to light up Council buildings and property 
3.9 The Council has received a request from Epilepsy Scotland to light up Council
buildings and property purple on 26 March 2027 and annually thereafter to
mark Epilepsy Scotland’s Light Up Purple Campaign. “Purple Day” takes
place on 26th March each year and aims to highlight support for those living
with epilepsy, and their families – including 80,000 people in Scotland alone. 
3.10 The Provost has requested that the Council light up Council buildings and
property teal/green on 7 June 2026 and annually thereafter to mark Tourette's
Awareness Day. 
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Implications of the Report 
1. Financial – none.   
2. HR & Organisational Development – as set out in the report. 
3. Community/Council Planning –  none.  
4. Legal – as set out in the report 
5. Property/Assets – none. 
6. Information Technology – none. 
7. Equality & Human Rights 
The Recommendations contained within this report have been
assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No
negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of
individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the
recommendations contained in the report.  If required following
implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the
mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the
assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 
8. Health & Safety – none. 
9. Procurement – none. 
10. Risk – none. 
11. Privacy Impact - none

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12. Climate Risk - none 
13. Cosla Policy Position – none. 
14. Children’s Rights – none 
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List of Background Papers: 
None
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Author:         Mark Conaghan, Head of Corporate Governance  
email: mark.conaghan@renfrewshire.gov.uk