Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 22 June 2026
Back to Council — 22 June 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Minute of Meeting Council Date Time Venue Monday, 22 June 2026 09:30 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Present: Councillor Jennifer Adam, Councillor Fiona Airlie-Nicolson, Councillor Alison Ann- Dowling, Councillor Stephen Burns, Councillor Jacqueline Cameron, Provost Lorraine Cameron, Councillor Michelle Campbell, Councillor Graeme Clark, Councillor Carolann Davidson, Councillor Eddie Devine, Councillor Andy Doig, Councillor Audrey Doig, Councillor Chris Gilmour, Councillor Edward Grady, Councillor Gillian Graham, Councillor Neill Graham, Councillor Anne Hannigan, Councillor John Hood, Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, Councillor Robert Innes, Councillor Alec Leishman, Councillor Bruce MacFarlane, Councillor James MacLaren, Councillor Kenny MacLaren, Councillor Mags MacLaren, Councillor Colin McCulloch, Councillor Janis McDonald, Councillor Cathy McEwan, Councillor David McGonigle, Councillor Jamie McGuire, Councillor Marie McGurk, Councillor Iain McMillan, Councillor John McNaughtan, Councillor Kevin Montgomery, Councillor Sam Mullin, Councillor Will Mylet, Councillor Iain Nicolson, Councillor Jim Paterson, Councillor Emma Rodden, Councillor John Shaw, Councillor Ben Smith, Councillor Andy Steel Chair Provost L Cameron, Convener, presided. In Attendance A Russell, Chief Executive; J O’Neill, Director of Children’s Services; A MacArthur, Director of Finance & Resources; L McIntyre, Head of Policy & Partnerships and L Adamson, Head of Marketing & Communications (both Chief Executive’s); L Feely, Head of Housing and C Dalrymple, Head of Facilities and Property Management (both Environment, Infrastructure & Housing); J Trainer, Head of Children and Justice Social Work & Chief Social Work Officer, G McLaughlin, Head of Education (Strategy & Improvement) and M Gilligan, Social Work Manager Operations Promise Lead (all Children's Services); M Conaghan, Head of Corporate Governance, C McCourt, Head of Finance & Procurement, R Cree, Head of People & Organisational Development, P Murray, Head of Digital, Transformation & Customer Services, N Young, Managing Solicitor (Litagtion & Advice), D Low, Democratic Services Manager and J Barron, Senior Committee Services Officer (all Finance & Resources); V Hollows, Chief Executive (OneRen); and B McLean, Chief Officer (Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership).
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Webcasting of Council Meeting Prior to the commencement of the meeting, Provost Cameron intimated that this meeting would be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site. Apology Councillor Gray. Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. Transparency Statements Councillor Campbell indicated that she had a connection to items 3, 4, 5 and 6 by reason of her employment with the Scottish Government. However, she indicated that she had applied the objective test and did not consider she had an interest to declare. Councillor Davidson indicated that she had a connection to item 5 by reason of (i) her daughter’s employment at Barochan Care Home; and (ii) her being a Promise Keeper. However, she indicated that she had applied the objective test and did not consider she had an interest to declare. 1 Provost's Update The Provost advised that an update on the duties she had undertaken since the last meeting of the Council held on 14 May 2026 had been distributed to members. DECIDED: That the position be noted. 2 Minutes of Meetings of Council, Boards and Panels There were submitted the Minutes of the following meetings of the Council, Boards and Panels on the dates specified: Council, 14 May 2026 Special Finance, Resources & Customer Services Policy Board, 18 May 2026 Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board, 18 May 2026 Communities & Housing Policy Board, 19 May 2026 Regulatory Functions Board, 20 May 2026 Education & Children's Services Policy Board, 21 May 2026 Economy & Regeneration Policy Board, 26 May 2026 Planning & Climate Change Policy Board, 26 May 2026
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Infrastructure, Land & Environment Policy Board, 27 May 2026 Placing Requests & Exclusion Appeals, 2 June 2026 Regulatory Functions Board, 4 June 2026 Finance, Resources & Customer Services Policy Board, 11 June 2026 Cross Party Sounding Board, 16 June 2026 Placing Requests and Exclusion Appeals Panel, 16 June 2026 Leadership Board, 17 June 2026 DECIDED: That the Minutes be approved. 3 Unaudited Annual Accounts 2025/26 There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the Council’s accounts and group accounts for 2025/26 which would be submitted for audit by the statutory deadline of 30 June 2026. A copy of the accounts, along with the accounts of the Coats Observatory Trust, was appended to the report. DECIDED: (a) That authority be delegated to the Director of Finance & Resources to submit the accounts for 2025/26 to external audit within the relevant timescales; (b) That the Annual Governance Statement for 2025/26 be approved; (c) That the revenue outturn position for the Council be noted and that the sums earmarked within the General Fund reserves and HRA reserves, as outlined in section 4 and Appendix 1 of the report, be approved; (d) That the transfer of resources outlined in Table 1 of the report be approved; and (e) That, subject to audit, the annual accounts for the Coats Observatory Trust Fund, attached at Appendix 3 of the report, which under accounting regulations required to be prepared and audited separately from the Council’s accounts, be approved. 4 Treasury Management Annual Report for 2025/26 There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the Council’s Treasury Management Annual Report for 2025/26, which was required in terms of the Local Government Investments (Scotland) Regulations 2010. DECIDED: That the Treasury Management Annual Report for 2025/26 be noted.
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5 Chief Social Work Officer Annual Report 2025/26 There was submitted a report by the Chief Social Work Officer relative to the annual update report to Council, which was required for every Local Authority in Scotland to appoint a professionally qualified Chief Social Work Officer (CSWO) as set out within Section 3 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. Councillor McMillan, seconded by Councillor Ann-Dowling, moved: "Council instructs the Chief Social Work Officer to deliver a report to the next full Council meeting detailing the specific risks to service users in Renfrewshire following the June 19th IJB cost-cutting decisions, primarily driven by the Health and Social Care Partnership's (HSCP) persistent structural £14 million funding million deficit." This was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: (a) That the Chief Social Work Officer Annual Report 2025/26 be noted; and (b) That the Chief Social Work Officer deliver a report to the next full Council meeting detailing the specific risks to service users in Renfrewshire following the 19 June IJB cost-cutting decisions, primarily driven by the Health and Social Care Partnership's (HSCP) persistent structural £14 million funding million deficit. 6 Audit, Risk & Scrutiny Board Annual Report 2025/26 There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the Audit Risk & Scrutiny Board’s 2025/26 Annual Report. The Annual Report provided information on the remit, role, membership and attendance of the Audit, Risk & Scrutiny Board, issues covered by the Board during the reporting period, the annual programme of review and the programme of training provided to members DECIDED: That the Audit, Risk & Scrutiny Board Annual Report 2025/26 be noted. 7 Lack of Housing and Garden Maintenance - Final Report There was submitted a report by the Lead Officer relative to the findings of the further investigation requested by the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board at its meeting held on 22 September 2025, following consideration of the Briefing on the Lack of Housing and Garden Maintenance. DECIDED: (a) That the findings of the report into housing and garden maintenance and its relationship to neighbour disputes and antisocial behaviour be noted;
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(b) That it be noted that the review had addressed the areas specified by the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board and had identified no need for further investigation, new policy frameworks, or changes to statutory powers; and (c) That it be agreed that the further review was complete, and that any ongoing assurance or challenge would be undertaken through the Board’s normal scrutiny role. 8 Notice of Motion 1 by Councillors Devine and Hood There was submitted a Notice of Motion by Councillors Devine and Hood in the following terms: "Review of Car Parking Council supports the principle that employees should not have to pay to park at their place of work, as this is essentially an addition burden on workers at a time when there is an escalating cost of living crisis. Council notes the current low uptake amongst elected members regarding the new car parking permit scheme at Renfrewshire House and calls for the cessation of the scheme pending a full review of its operations due to the discrepancies contained within it." Councillor Devine, seconded by Councillor Hood, then moved the motion. Councillor Nicolson, seconded by Councillor J Cameron, moved as an amendment that: “Council agrees that an update be provided to elected members on the implementation of the parking scheme at Renfrewshire House at the six-monthly stage and a review at the 12-month stage to the relevant board. This update will provide details on any changes, adaptations, and feedback regarding the scheme during its operation”. Councillor McMillan, seconded by Councillor G Graham, moved as a second amendment that: “Council instructs officers to bring back a report to the appropriate board following a 6- month review of the new car parking regulations within Renfrewshire House Car Park This review should include evaluating how the current tiered pricing of charges could be adjusted to mitigate the burden of car parking charges on lower paid staff”. Councillors Devine and Hood, being the mover and seconder of the motion, agreed in terms of Standing Order 27 to accept the first amendment with the addition that the report on the review at the 12 month stage be submitted to Council, along with with evaluation of current tiered pricing of charges from the second amendment, as additions to the motion. The motion, as amended, was agreed unanimously.
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DECIDED: Review of Car Parking Council agrees that an update be provided to elected members on the implementation of the parking scheme at Renfrewshire House at the six-monthly stage and a report on the review at the 12-month stage be submitted to Council. This update would provide details on any changes, adaptations, and feedback regarding the scheme during its operation along with evaluation of how the current tiered pricing of charges could be adjusted to mitigate the burden of car parking charges on lower paid staff. 9 Notice of Motion 2 by Provost L Cameron and Councillor Andy Doig There was submitted a Notice of Motion by Provost Cameron and Councillor Andy Doig in the following terms: “Forces Children’s Rights Charter Council welcomes the significant contribution made by Armed Forces families within Renfrewshire. Council recognises that Armed Forces children can experience unique challenges arising from high mobility, parental deployment, separation, and transitions between schools and communities. Council notes the work undertaken across Scotland by charities such as Forces Children Scotland to support babies, children and young people from Armed Forces families. Council further notes the principles of the Forces Children’s Rights Charter and its importance in recognising the rights of children and young people from regular, reservist, and veteran families. Council therefore agrees to: 1. Endorse and adopt the Forces Children's Rights Charter; 2. Support continued awareness of the needs of Armed Forces children & young people when implementing policy across council services and with partner organisations; 3. Communicate the Council's support for the Charter to local schools and relevant community planning partners; and 4. Facilitate the opportunity for Forces Children Scotland to engage with Children’s Services Planning on the Forces Children’s Rights Charter." Provost Cameron, seconded by Councillor Andy Doig, then moved the motion which was agreed unanimously.
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DECIDED: Forces Children’s Rights Charter Council welcomes the significant contribution made by Armed Forces families within Renfrewshire. Council recognises that Armed Forces children can experience unique challenges arising from high mobility, parental deployment, separation, and transitions between schools and communities. Council notes the work undertaken across Scotland by charities such as Forces Children Scotland to support babies, children and young people from Armed Forces families. Council further notes the principles of the Forces Children’s Rights Charter and its importance in recognising the rights of children and young people from regular, reservist, and veteran families. Council therefore agrees to: 1. Endorse and adopt the Forces Children's Rights Charter; 2. Support continued awareness of the needs of Armed Forces children & young people when implementing policy across council services and with partner organisations; 3. Communicate the Council's support for the Charter to local schools and relevant community planning partners; and 4. Facilitate the opportunity for Forces Children Scotland to engage with Children’s Services Planning on the Forces Children’s Rights Charter. 10 Notice of Motion 3 by Councillors Innes and Burns There was submitted a Notice of Motion by Councillors Innes and Burns in the following terms: ""PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE DEFIBRILLATORS" Council notes the significant investment made by Renfrewshire Council and its partners in expanding access to publicly accessible defibrillators across Renfrewshire, including the installation of devices at schools, council facilities, leisure venues and community buildings. Council further notes the importance of ensuring that publicly accessible defibrillators are well publicised, appropriately located and registered to support emergency response efforts. Council recognises that many local authorities across Scotland have developed strategic approaches to public access defibrillator provision, working with communities and partner organisations to improve coverage, awareness and accessibility. Council notes that neighbouring authorities have adopted approaches including community partnership working, the use of mapping and location data, and initiatives
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to identify and address gaps in coverage. Council therefore agrees to work with relevant partners to promote awareness of publicly accessible defibrillators across Renfrewshire, improve public access to information on their locations where possible, support the identification of gaps in provision, and explore opportunities to strengthen community engagement and accessibility through existing resources and partnership working." Councillor Innes, seconded by Councillor Burns, then moved the motion which was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE DEFIBRILLATORS Council notes the significant investment made by Renfrewshire Council and its partners in expanding access to publicly accessible defibrillators across Renfrewshire, including the installation of devices at schools, council facilities, leisure venues and community buildings. Council further notes the importance of ensuring that publicly accessible defibrillators are well publicised, appropriately located and registered to support emergency response efforts. Council recognises that many local authorities across Scotland have developed strategic approaches to public access defibrillator provision, working with communities and partner organisations to improve coverage, awareness and accessibility. Council notes that neighbouring authorities have adopted approaches including community partnership working, the use of mapping and location data, and initiatives to identify and address gaps in coverage. Council therefore agrees to work with relevant partners to promote awareness of publicly accessible defibrillators across Renfrewshire, improve public access to information on their locations where possible, support the identification of gaps in provision, and explore opportunities to strengthen community engagement and accessibility through existing resources and partnership working.