Agenda Contents
Renfrewshire Council · 1 May 2025
Back to Council — 1 May 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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24/04/2025 Notice of Meeting and Agenda Council Date Time Venue Thursday, 01 May 2025 09:30 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Membership Provost Lorraine Cameron (Convener): Councillor Iain Nicolson (Leader): Councillor Cathy McEwan (Depute Convener): Councillor Jacqueline Cameron (Depute Leader): Councillor Jennifer Adam: Councillor Fiona Airlie-Nicolson: Councillor Alison Ann-Dowling: Councillor Stephen Burns: 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 John Gray: 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 David McGonigle: Councillor Jamie McGuire: Councillor Marie McGurk: Councillor Iain McMillan: Councillor John McNaughtan: Councillor Kevin Montgomery: Councillor Sam Mullin: Councillor Will Mylet: Councillor Jim Paterson: Councillor Emma Rodden: Councillor John Shaw: Councillor Ben Smith: Councillor Andy Steel: Hybrid Meeting Please note that this meeting is scheduled to be held in the Council Chambers. However, it is a hybrid meeting and arrangements have been made for members to join the meeting remotely should they wish. MARK CONAGHAN Head of Corporate Governance
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24/04/2025 Further Information This is a meeting which is open to members of the public. A copy of the agenda and reports for this meeting will be available for inspection prior to the meeting at the Customer Service Centre, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley and online at http://renfrewshire.cmis.uk.com/renfrewshire/CouncilandBoards.aspx For further information, please email democratic-services@renfrewshire.gov.uk Members of the Press and Public Members of the press and public wishing to attend the meeting should report to the customer service centre where they will be met and directed to the meeting. Webcasting of Council Meeting This meeting will be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site – at the start of the meeting the Provost will confirm if all or part of the meeting is being filmed. Generally the public seating areas will not be filmed. The cameras focus on the main participants. If you have any queries regarding this please contact Committee Services on democratic-services@renfrewshire.gov.uk. To find the webcast please navigate to: https://renfrewshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/home and select the meeting from the calendar.
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24/04/2025 Items of business Apologies Apologies from members. Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements Members are asked to declare an interest or make a transparency statement in any item(s) on the agenda and to provide a brief explanation of the nature of the interest or the transparency statement. 1 Provost's Update Hear from the Provost 2 Minutes of Meetings of Council, Boards and Panels Council, 27 February 2025 Communities & Housing Policy Board, 11 March 2025 Regulatory Functions Board, 12 March 2025 Education & Children's Services Policy Board, 13 March 2025 Audit, Risk & Scrutiny Board, 17 March 2025 Economy & Regeneration Policy Board, 18 March 2025 Planning & Climate Change Policy Board, 18 March 2025 Infrastructure, Land & Environment Policy Board, 19 March 2025 Personnel Appeals and Applied Conditions of Service, 20 March 2025 Appeals Panel Petitions Board, 24 March 2025 Regulatory Functions Board, 27 March 2025 Finance, Resources & Customer Services Policy Board, 3 April 2025 Special Audit, Risk & Scrutiny Board, 17 April 2025 Leadership Board, 23 April 2025 3 Alzheimer Scotland's Commission on the Future of Long Term Care in Scotland Presentation by V Cahill, Alzheimer Scotland 4 Revenue and Capital Budget Update 2025/26 Report by Director of Finance & Resources 1 - 10 5 Mainstreaming Equality and Equality Outcomes 2025 Report by Chief Executive 11 - 128 6 Governance Arrangements Report by Director of Finance & Resources 129 - 134
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24/04/2025 7 Notice of Motion 1 by Councillors G Graham and McMillan "Delayed Access to Early Learning Provision Council recognises that early learning provision is a vital service which has improved outcomes for children between the ages of two and five and increases family wellbeing. Furthermore, it increases parents' and carers' opportunities to take up or sustain work, study or training supporting the local economy. Council believes that our children should be able to access early learning at the earliest opportunity. For years Renfrewshire used its discretionary powers to enable children to access their early years funding entitlement a month after their 3rd birthday. At the Education & Children’s Services Board on 14th March 2024, the decision was made change this and to delay access to early learning and childcare funding to the term following the respective child's 3rd birthday. Whilst some pupils are being prioritised, many children are being negatively impacted by this change with some children having to wait up to 4 months after their 3rd birthday to start nursery. The policy decision has had a particularly adverse impact upon hundreds of working parents who planned to return to work, and now find themselves having to pay thousands in unplanned childcare fees, because Renfrewshire Council has delayed access to their child’s funding. The policy change last year was made to secure a £125,000 saving. Reverting to the original policy will significantly help our working parents, and the cost may be found within existing budgets, for example Early Year Education which currently carries a £700,000 underspend. Further to an Equalities Impact Assessment (which has been requested of Education officers). Council will use its discretionary powers to re- implement the previous policy so that eligible children aged 3 years are able to access funded early learning and childcare from the month after the child’s third birthday." 8 Notice of Motion 2 by Councillors Hughes and Campbell "UK Government’s Planned Changes to Personal Independence Payment Renfrewshire Council condemns the Labour UK Government's cruel planned changes to the process and criteria for the Personal Independence Payment This will force an estimated 400,000 disabled people across the UK into poverty. Renfrewshire Council is concerned by the fear and pressure being placed on people who already live with daily difficulties and notes a particular concern among those with mental health diagnoses who are being targeted by the current UK Labour Government. This Council rejects the attempts to reframe PIP as an in work benefit rather than a recognition that it is more expensive to live as a disabled person. We also note that many people in receipt of PIP are in work and that removal of it will make remaining in work much more difficult.
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24/04/2025 Renfrewshire Council commends the SNP Scottish Government’s approach to Adult Disability Payment, a process that treats people with respect and dignity. We further note our concern that the Chancellor has stated that there will be a cut to the block grant proportionate to the savings they hope to achieve with these inhumane cuts. Renfrewshire Council asks the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to outline our concerns regarding these callous and dangerous cuts and ask that the planned changes are not implemented." 9 Notice of Motion 3 by Councillors Andy Doig and Hood "Reinstatement of the Johnstone Fire Engine Rally, Houstoun Square, Johnstone This Council recognizes the success and popularity of the Johnstone Fire Engine Rally, for both local retailers and the local community alike, and regrets that since the Covid period the event has not taken place. Council instructs the Council’s Events Team to liaise with the Fire Brigades Union and calls for the reinstatement of the Johnstone Fire Engine Rally as soon as possible." 10 Notice of Motion 4 by Councillors Andy Doig and Devine Repeal of the Elections Act 2022 by the UK Government This Council raises concerns about the ongoing effect of the Elections Act 2022 at future Westminster elections, in Renfrewshire and elsewhere, and notes there is little evidence of serious voter fraud in the UK, with only two convictions between 2010 and 2018. Council therefore agrees to write to the UK Home Secretary calling on the UK Government to repeal this regressive piece of legislation. 11 Notice of Motion 5 by Councillors Ann-Dowling and Gilmour "Better Buses Council calls on the Scottish Government, as quickly as possible, to improve the process for implementing the bus franchising powers contained in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 by: · Introducing the regulations and statutory guidance required to give bus franchising powers full effect · Amending the 2019 Act to remove the requirement for proposed franchising frameworks to be approved by a panel appointed by the Traffic Commissioner, instead empowering Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) to have the final say on approving proposals · Providing additional funding to help support Regional Transport
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24/04/2025 Partnerships such as Strathclyde Regional Transport, in preparing franchising frameworks and assisting them with initial set-up costs once frameworks are approved." 12 Notice of Motion 6 by Councillors McGurk and MacFarlane "Lochfield Bowling Club is about to celebrate its ninetieth year Anniversary. This Council would like to congratulate all connected with the success of this facility during that time." 13 Notice of Motion 7 by Councillors Ann-Dowling and McMillan "Supreme Court Judgement On Wednesday 16th April 2025 the judgement in the For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers (FWS2) case was handed down. It gave an unequivocal ruling that gives utmost clarity on women’s rights that are protected in law, as well as highlighting the continued protections for trans people under the Equality Act. The Supreme Court unanimously agreed that the terms ‘man’, ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 (EA2010) refer to biological sex. Holding a Gender Recognition Certificate does not change sex for the purposes of the EA2010. The unanimous decision of the court is that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex. The court ruling makes clear: the law protects single-sex spaces and services. Therefore, Council congratulates For Women Scotland and the intervenors – Sex Matters, Scottish Lesbians, LGB Alliance, the Lesbian Project – who helped secure this important legal argument and clarified the law for the benefit of all. Council agrees that we must see an end to policies that ignore the needs, rights, dignity and safety of women and girls. Furthermore, the UK Government, the Welsh and Scottish Governments, regulators and public bodies must now review and clarify their policies and guidance. It is their responsibility to ensure the law is understood and implemented. Council agrees to instruct the Chief Executive Officer to review all of Renfrewshire Council’s policies, procedures and guidance and training materials to ensure compliance with the Supreme Court ruling. Council also agrees to review any services run or commissioned by the council for compliance with the Supreme Court ruling."
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24/04/2025 14 Notice of Motion 8 by Councillors Andy Doig and Mylet "Mandatory Dog Licensing and Amendments to Control of Dogs Act (Scotland) 2010 This Council recognises the overwhelming positive impact which responsible dog ownership brings to the benefit of the canine and human populations alike, but recognises continued public concern around the rise of aggressive canine behaviour associated with, but not exclusive to, particular breeds. Council regrets that bad ownership and lack of training are often the primary drivers for such dog behaviours, and therefore calls on the Scottish Government to amend the Control of Dogs Act (Scotland) 2010 to bring in mandatory dog licensing, complete with robust enforcement powers and administered at local authority level. Council believes that the purpose of new dog licensing is to promote better dog welfare, to prevent unethical dog-breeding, and to increase owner education and support. Council further calls on the Scottish Government to provide appropriate funding for the delivery of an effective licensing scheme."