Agenda Document Pack - Council - 28/09/2023
Renfrewshire Council · 28 September 2023
Back to Council — 28 September 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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21/09/2023 Notice of Meeting and Agenda Council Date Time Venue Thursday, 28 September 2023 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: 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 MARK CONAGHAN Head of Corporate Governance Page 1 of 104
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21/09/2023 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. 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. Page 2 of 104
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21/09/2023 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 on any item(s) on the agenda and to provide a brief explanation of the nature of the interest or transparency statement. 1 Minutes of Meetings of Council, Boards and Panels Council, 22 June 2023, pages 857-876 Placing Requests and Exclusions Appeals Panel, 24 July 2023, pages 877-878 Special Regulatory Functions Board, 27 July 2023, pages 879-882 Placing Requests and Exclusions Appeals Panel, 9 August 2023, pages 883-886 Audit Risk and Scrutiny Board, 21 August 2023, pages 887-892 Communities and Housing Policy Board, 22 August 2023, pages 893- 910 Regulatory Functions Board, 23 August 2023, pages 911-920 Education and Children’s Services Policy Board, 24 August 2023, pages 921-928 Economy and Regeneration Policy Board, 29 August 2023, pages 929- 936 Planning and Climate Change Policy Board, 29 August 2023, pages 937-944 Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, 30 August 2023, pages 945-956 Special Regulatory Functions Board, 1 September 2023, pages 957-958 Regulatory Functions Board, 7 September 2023, pages 959-968 Appointments Panel - Director of Children's Services, 11 September 2023, pages 969-970 Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board, 14 September 2023, pages 971-988 Leadership Board, 20 September 2023, pages 989-997 Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board, 26 September 2023 (copy to follow) Appointments Panel - Director of Children's Services, 27 September 2023 (copy to follow) 2 Provost's Update Hear from Provost 3 Update on the Annual Audit Report 2022/23 Report by Director of Finance & Resources 9 - 12 4 Financial Update Report by Director of Finance & Resources 13 - 20 Page 3 of 104
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21/09/2023 5 Statutory Review of Polling Places and Polling Districts Report by Director of Finance & Resources 21 - 36 6 Chief Social Work Officer Report 2022/23 Report by Chief Social Work Officer 37 - 58 7 Renfrewshire Community Protection Chief Officers Group – Annual Report 2022/23 Report by Chief Executive 59 - 98 8 Clydeplan/Regional Spatial Strategy – Future Governance Report by Chief Executive 99 - 104 9 Notice of Motion 1 by Councillors Andy Doig and Hood "Road Safety A737 Kilbarchan/Beith - This Council recognises the economic, commercial, and community importance of the A737 to Renfrewshire in how it links with the wider West of Scotland network, and concurs with Transport Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030 which seeks to have the best road safety performance in the world. Council notes the long-standing existence of several key accident hot- spots on the A737 between Kilbarchan and Beith, which fall far short of acceptable road safety standards and calls on the Scottish Government, in conjunction with Transport Scotland, Police Scotland, and local MSP’s, to bring forward a remedial plan to rectify these. At the conclusion of this plan Council calls on Scottish ministers to provide both a budget and timescale in which to implement this infrastructure improvement plan”. 10 Notice of Motion 2 by Councillors Andy Doig and Hood "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 increasing 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, administered at local authority level, in the interests of dog welfare, to prevent unethical dog-breeding, and to increase owner education and support”. Page 4 of 104
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21/09/2023 11 Notice of Motion 3 by Councillors G Graham and Gilmour "Lochwinnoch Arts Festival 20th Anniversary 2023 is the 20th anniversary of Lochwinnoch Arts Festival. The festival is run entirely by volunteers led by local resident Morag Thow. Lochwinnoch Arts Festival promotes the best of Scotland’s abundant cultural talent through round-the-year local concerts and events. Council congratulates the Lochwinnoch Arts Festival on its 20th Anniversary and recognises the dedication of all the volunteers who make these hugely popular festival events possible. Long may they continue." 12 Notice of Motion 4 by Councillors McMillan and McGuire "Access to Sun Cream Council understands that children in our nurseries have access to sun cream. Council agrees that this policy should continue to into primary schools. Council therefore instructs the new Director of Children's services to bring back a report to the appropriate board advising on how this policy can proceed." 13 Notice of Motion 5 by Councillors McMillan and G Graham "Availability of Schools Council instructs the new Director of Children's Services to investigate the idea of making schools in Renfrewshire more available to the community after school hours. The findings to be reported back to the appropriate board." 14 Notice of Motion 6 by Councillors J MacLaren and Leishman "Streetlights across Renfrewshire Council recalls that since before the Covid-19 pandemic, many streetlights across Renfrewshire have been removed. This has led to many parts of our communities being inadequately lit after dusk. Council acknowledges that poor streetlighting during the hours of darkness leads to increased risk of violent crime, burglary, road traffic accidents, tripping hazards etc. Now that night is already longer than day, and Daylight Saving is only a little over four weeks away, this has become a very pressing concern for many of our citizens. Page 5 of 104
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21/09/2023 Council agrees to explore and identify measures to correct the inadequate streetlighting and to implement those measures as a matter of urgency." 15 Notice of Motion 7 by Councillors J Cameron and Adam "Council welcomes St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation’s new programme Menopause Goals – Celebrating the Second Half. Women’s football is growing in popularity with attendance figures and viewing figures on the rise. In a once male-dominated sport, Council agrees that programme’s like Menopause Goals mark a shift in culture and welcome this more inclusive approach in football." 16 Notice of Motion 8 by Councillors J Cameron and Hughes "Council welcomes the decision of the Lord Advocate not to prosecute people using the safe drug consumption room soon to be piloted in Glasgow. Scotland’s drug deaths are reducing, but every death is a tragedy and a loved one lost to their families and friends. Safe consumption rooms are only one strand of a host of measures to support the issue of drugs deaths in Scotland, but an important and vital one. Council urges the UK Government not to block this pilot and in the long term calls for drugs legislation to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament." 17 Notice of Motion 9 by Councillors N Graham and Gray "Low Emissions Zone This council rules out establishing any Low Emissions Zone (LEZ/ULEZ) in Paisley or any other parts of Renfrewshire for the duration of this council term." 18 Notice of Motion 10 by Councillors Innes and McEwan "WILDFLOWER PLANTING WORKSHOPS” Council thanks The Conservation Volunteers and Renfrewshire Council’s Team Up to Clean Up campaign in their collaborative effort in providing wildflower planting workshops for community groups around Renfrewshire. Council notes that community volunteers in Houston, Inchinnan and Paisley took part in the workshops, learning to create, improve and care for local green spaces that will benefit local communities in Renfrewshire going forward. Further Council welcomes this joint effort with The Conservation Volunteers and the opportunities this provides for enhancing our environment and tackling the climate emergency." Page 6 of 104
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21/09/2023 19 Notice of Motion 11 by Councillors Innes and MacFarlane “ENERGY BILL SUPPORT SCHEME” Renfrewshire Council calls for the UK Government to reintroduce the Energy Bill Support Scheme and provide struggling households in Renfrewshire with a £400 energy bill rebate. Council notes that peoples energy bills have almost doubled since 2021 and recent hikes in standing charges mean this support is essential for people in Renfrewshire this winter." 20 Notice of Motion 12 by Councillors Shaw and Hughes "Renfrewshire Schools Pipe Band - World Champions Renfrewshire Council congratulates our Renfrewshire Schools Pipe band on becoming World Champions at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, beating 28 bands in their category to take first place. The win at the ‘Worlds’ the culmination of a wonderful season which seen them win competitions in Gourock, Lochore, Renfrew, North Berwick and Cowal on top of a Scottish Championship win and runners up at the European Championships. Council is proud of our young musicians, led by Pipe Major Keith Bowes Jr, and commends their dedication in developing the skills and talent needed to become World Champions and wishes them the very best of success in future competitions." Page 7 of 104
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___________________________________________________________________ To: Council On: 28 September 2023 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Finance & Resources ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Update on the Annual Audit Report 2022/23 ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The Council’s unaudited Annual Accounts for 2022/23 were presented to the Council on 22 June 2023 and submitted for audit by the statutory deadline of 30 June 2023. 1.2 Audit work is substantially complete, but is still subject to final review at present and therefore the annual audit report is unfortunately not available for consideration at Council on 28 September as originally planned. Further detail is provided in section 3. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 The Council is asked to: (a) note the report; (b) note that a special meeting of the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board may be called to consider the Annual Audit Report and Audited Annual Accounts 2022/23; and (c) note that a special meeting of the Council will be called to consider the Annual Audit Report and Audited Annual Accounts 2022/23. _________________________________________________________ Item 3 Page 9 of 104
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3. Background 3.1 Under the Local Authority Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2014, the Council must meet to consider the Annual Accounts and aim to approve those accounts for signature no later than 30 September. The regulatory timescale also applies to the Coats Observatory Trust audited accounts and report. 3.2 This deadline has been extended to 30 November over the past three years due to special arrangements relating to the pandemic, and this has impacted on audit resources and timescales in 2023. In addition the Council has a new audit team for the 2022/23 annual accounts. In the first year of any audit rotation the audit team’s work necessarily requires to be broader in scope as they build their knowledge of the Council, its operations, governance structures and financial management systems. 3.3 Despite the best efforts of both council staff and the external audit team, it has unfortunately not been possible to complete all the work required to conclude the full range of audit activity; however the external audit team have confirmed their work to date has highlighted no serious concerns with the annual accounts. 3.4 Under the Council’s scheme of delegation, the audited accounts are presented to the Audit, Risk & Scrutiny Board prior to being presented to Council. 3.5 In order to allow the Council to comply with this requirement, it is proposed that the Annual Audit report and Audited Accounts 2022/23 for the Council’s Group and the Coats Observatory Trust are reported to the next meeting of the Audit, Risk & Scrutiny Board on 6 November 2023. Alternatively, a special meeting of the Audit, Risk & Scrutiny Board may be required to be called. 3.6 Thereafter, it is proposed that a special meeting of the Council is called on an appropriate date for the purpose of approving the audited accounts. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – timely approval of the audited accounts is a key step in evidencing good financial governance and allows the Council to comply with national financial regulations. 2. HR & Organisational Development – none arising from this report. 3. Community/Council Planning – none arising from this report. Page 10 of 104
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4. Legal – whilst the regulatory deadline for approval of the annual accounts will not be met, there are no legal consequences arising for the Council in this regards. 5. Property/Assets – none arising from this report. 6. Information Technology – none arising from this report. 7. Equality & Human Rights – none arising from this report. 8. Health & Safety – none arising from this report. 9. Procurement – none arising from this report. 10. Risk – none arising from this report. 11. Privacy Impact – none arising from this report. 12. Cosla Policy Position – none arising from this report. 13. Climate Risk – none arising from this report. __________________________________________________________________ Author: Alastair MacArthur, Director of Finance and Resources Background Papers: None Page 11 of 104
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___________________________________________________________________ To: Council On: 28 September 2023 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Finance and Resources ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Financial update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The Council’s financial outlook is subject to ongoing risk over the short and medium term as the Council continues develop financial proposals which underpin the Council’s financial sustainability. 1.2 The Scottish Government Programme for Government (PfG) was recently published, which provides useful context for the potential outlook for the local government settlement and an indication of Scottish Government legislative priorities. The PfG outlined a range of proposed areas which will likely impact on the range and scope of services delivered by local government, and consequently the financial position of the Council. 1.3 COSLA and the Scottish Government continue to discuss the development of a fiscal framework as outlined in the Verity House agreement. While the potential additional flexibility councils may have in terms of their revenue grant allocation is welcome, the framework in itself is unlikely to substantially improve the current fraught financial position of local government. 1.4 The medium to longer term outlook for the Council’s finances remains challenging and is broadly consistent with the position previously reported to members. An update in relation to Strathclyde Pension Fund is included, which could provide some short term financial flexibility. Whilst the immediate financial position of the Council remains secure with the 23/24 projected outturn broadly in line with the planned position; there remain risks in the short term which are outlined in the report – predominantly related to the 23/24 pay settlement which remains unresolved. Item 4 Page 13 of 104
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1.5 A suggested amendment to the Council’s capital plan is recommended to include provision for new schools investment. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that members: Note the financial updates provided in the report Agree the revisions to the capital plan as outlined in section 5. 3. Revenue Update Current Financial Position 3.1 Council agreed the 2023/24 budget on 2 March, including the utilisation of non- recurring reserve funding of up to £12 million to generate an in year breakeven budget position. Broadly, this use of reserves is to fund expected cost pressures in 23/24 of £4 million relating to an anticipated parking charge income shortfall and increased costs of external residential childcare places; with potentially up to a further £7 million relating to the agreed loans fund budget rebuild which has been outlined in successive reports to Council. In addition, Council agreed to utilise a further £0.6 million of reserves in setting the base 23/24 budget. The most recent financial overview report outlines an estimated £5.6 million overspend – slightly above the estimated draw from reserves which has been planned (excluding that planned for loans fund costs). This position will continue to be closely monitored over the remainder of the financial year. 3.2 However, substantial risks remain in relation to the 2023/24 local government pay award which is still to be agreed. National pay negotiations are ongoing and are anticipated to again be challenging given the affordability constraints facing local government. As was the case in 2021/22 and 2022/23, the level of pay provision which has been incorporated into the 2023/24 base budget may require to be adjusted depending on the concluded outcome of the negotiations. A further unanticipated cost pressure has also emerged in relation to the Scottish Government and COSLA recent agreement to pay a nationally set rate to foster and kinship carers, backdated to 1 April 2023. While additional funding has been agreed in relation to paying the new rate, it is anticipated the actual increase in costs for Renfrewshire will exceed the additional funding. 3.3 As has been reported to Council previously, there is significant reliance on non- recurring resource to underpin the revenue position while measures are taken to develop a more sustainable spend level. However, given the significant level of savings already generated by the Council over the past decade, it is increasingly difficult to implement savings which will not impact on service delivery. As the Council continues to implement new ways of working there remains the potential for cost to be incurred in relation to the transitioning of both workplace accommodation and ICT provision to a hybrid working environment that is suitable and appropriate to facilitate safe and efficient working practice. Page 14 of 104
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In addition, and as outlined in previous reports to members, increasing pressure is being experienced in the Council’s capital investment programme owing to high levels of construction inflation and an increasing number of contractor claims for additional costs. Revenue Outlook 3.4 The report to Council in June outlined a medium term forecast which - based on the Council’s central planning assumption – results in a financial gap in the range of £45m-£50m over the three year period 2024/25 to 2026/27. This forecast is prior to any decision on council tax. Assuming a 5% uplift in council tax in each year, the cumulative gap would reduce to a range of £30m-£35m. 3.5 Council agreed to develop a further portfolio of work aimed at ensuring financial sustainability (and short term financial stability) is prioritised; and that savings of £35m are targeted over the next three years in order to close this projected financial gap. This position has not changed over the summer period and the broad assumptions and scale of financial challenge remain valid. However, inflationary pressure on costs remains an issue; as does the potential for increased borrowing costs associated with capital investments while interest rates are still projected to increase. 3.6 The Council has been advised by Strathclyde Pension Fund that the result of their most recent triennial actuarial revaluation suggests that the Fund is in a positive position in terms of overall funding levels, with assets exceeding liabilities significantly. This is due to investment returns over the past three years being very strong; and the discount rate which is used as the basis to measure future liabilities also moving favourably compared to three years ago. The sum of these two movements is that the fund is in a position where the funding strategy for the main employer group (which includes all councils who are members) has been revised and the level of employer contributions to the fund in the long term reduced from 19.3% to 17.5%. This level is viewed by the fund actuaries as being consistent with the long term likely movement in overall the funding level. In addition, the proposed funding strategy for 2024/25 and 2025/26 is to reduce employer contributions to 6.5% on an interim basis. This short term reduction in employer contributions will reduce Council costs and provide an element of financial flexibility for the Council which will be factored in to the Council’s medium term financial planning arrangements and can assist in smoothing the timeline by which recurring savings are required to be delivered. However members should be aware this benefit is of a short term and one-off nature – it does not address the Council’s longer term underlying financial sustainability. 3.7 Therefore the Council will still require to take key decisions on service reform, scope and design which ensure service costs are in line with available resource over the medium to longer term, with reserve balances being used prudently to provide some time and space for service change to be embedded. Without this decisive action, and delivery of substantial savings and cost reduction, the Council will find itself in a position where reserves are exhausted and no longer capable of supporting the recurring revenue budget deficit. In such circumstances the Council would move to a position of being financially unsustainable – necessitating immediate, unstructured spend controls and rapid cost reductions which would undoubtedly impact services and communities more severely than any planned change. Page 15 of 104
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Elected members will have seen recent examples in England where major councils have moved into such territory for a variety of underlying reasons and where the impact on services is expected to be both rapid and significant. 3.8 Members will be aware that securing £35m of financial savings represents a very significant challenge for the organisation, not just reflecting the scale of savings but in the context of the Council being required to do so after a long period of financial challenge. It is highly unlikely that savings at this scale can be delivered without the Council reprioritising spend, impacting on the ability to deliver all current service levels in their current form, breadth or scale. 4 Scottish Government Update 4.1 The Scottish Government published on 5 September their Programme for Government (PfG). This outlines the Government’s policy intentions and legislative programme for the coming parliamentary year. 4.2 The financial impact of the measures outlined in the PfG will not become clear until the Scottish Budget is published later in the year (possibly 14 December if previous years are a guide), however there are a number of areas where the Scottish Government’s plans may impact on local government finances, the most significant of which are outlined below: a) Take initial steps to increase the levers available to councils by delivering secondary legislation – enabling councils to apply up to a 100% premium on Council Tax rates for second homes, and discuss other options with Local Government based on the analysis of responses. b) Continue the Joint Working Group on sources of Local Government funding to identify further options for reforms to Council Tax. c) Progress the shared programme of work with COSLA under the Verity House Agreement, in particular a revised Fiscal Framework between the Scottish Government and Local Government. d) Deliver a more efficient approach to public sector property management through the new Single Scottish Estate programme. e) Work with Local Government to develop the local infrastructure and services needed to provide childcare from nine months to the end of primary school in specific communities in six local authority areas. f) Commit to provide the necessary funding in the next Budget to increase the pay of social care workers in the PVI sectors in a direct care role – and those working in the PVI sector to deliver funded early learning and childcare – to at least £12 per hour. g) Work with Local Government to develop the local infrastructure and services needed to provide childcare from nine months to the end of primary school in specific communities in six local authority areas. h) Work with local authority and other sectoral partners to phase in an expanded national offer for families with two-year-olds, focused on those who will benefit most. This will build on the foundations of the existing 1140 programme. Page 16 of 104
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i) Work with COSLA in the coming year to prepare schools and infrastructure for the expansion of universal free school meal provision to Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils during 2026, starting with those in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment. 4.3 Work to agree a rules-based fiscal framework is ongoing with substantive discussion ongoing between the Scottish Government and COSLA as to how a framework would operate as outlined in the Verity House agreement. The aim of the framework is to provide increased flexibility for local government in the use of funding provided by the Scottish Government and the removal as far as possible of ringfencing. A firm funding base and potential guaranteed share of Scottish Government total funding is also under discussion, however discussion on these issues is ongoing. What is clear however, is that while there may be increased flexibility resulting from the framework, the fundamental question of quantum for the local government settlement is unlikely to be addressed. In summary, the agreement of a fiscal framework is unlikely to address the core issue of ongoing financial sustainability for councils. 4.4 Within the list above there are a number of additional commitments which local government will require to deliver; and it will be critical for the Council to understand the financial implications, timing and additional funding to be provided in order to ensure that the cost burden for service delivery does not further adversely impact on the Council’s financial outlook. 5 Capital Investment Programme 5.1 Previous reports to Council have outlined the ongoing pressure within the capital programme – across both general fund and the Housing Revenue Account – with inflationary costs continuing to be experienced. Capital grant funding addressed only the most core elements of demand in terms of lifecycle maintenance, resulting in much of the Council’s capital investment plans requiring to be funded through prudential borrowing. 5.2 Council agreed the 23/24 – 27/28 non-housing capital programme in March. Subsequent to the capital plan being agreed, decisions by the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board have committed to the provision of a new primary school in the Dargavel area, and an extension to Park Mains High School to accommodate 400 pupils. Planning and procurement work for both these projects has commenced. It is recommended that provisional spend provision of £45 million for a new primary school, and £30 million for the Park Mains extension be incorporated into the capital plan, phased across the 2023/24 to 2026/27 financial years. These total costs are based on SFT metrics applicable to schools projects to be delivered under Phase 3 of the LEIP programme. At this stage these costs can only be indicative and will be subject to refinement as the design of both projects develops. 5.3 It is recognised that a financial contribution towards the costs of expanding secondary school provision up to 200 pupils is a condition of the s75 agreement with BAE Systems for the Dargavel development. For the purposes of the capital plan the cash contribution is therefore anticipated to be half of the estimated capital spend for the extension. Given this, it is recommended the capital plan also be updated to reflect this contribution, with the balance of funding required across both projects being secured through prudential borrowing. The revenue costs associated with this borrowing will be incorporated into the Council’s medium and longer term financial planning arrangements. Page 17 of 104
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Implications of the Report 1. Financial – the report highlights the scale and shape of the short and medium term financial challenge facing the Council. The early delivery of the transformation programme and other financial sustainability workstreams as outlined in the report are critical to ultimately supporting the Council secure a financially sustainable position. 2. HR & Organisational Development – the medium term financial position and associated plans require to align with workforce and service plans to ensure the size and composition of the Council workforce remains appropriate and affordable. 3. Community/Council Planning – the Council requires to remain financially sustainable in order to deliver on its priorities as outlined in the Council and Community Plans; and these revised Plans will in turn require to inform the financial strategy. 4. Legal - none 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 – as outlined in the report, the Council’s financial risk exposure both in the immediate term and over the medium term remains high. The report outlines ongoing uncertainty as that robust decisions on service provision will be required as part of the medium term financial planning arrangements to protect the Council’s immediate financial stability and resilience but also continue to progress toward medium term financial sustainability. 11. Privacy Impact - none Page 18 of 104
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12. Cosla Policy Position – COSLA are undertaking active engagement with the Scottish Government in relation to the fiscal framework in order to protect as far as possible the interests of local government. 13. Climate Risk – the financial challenges the Council is facing will potentially impact on its ability to implement actions and investments which would be key to achieving net zero aspirations. __________________________________________________________________ Author: Alastair MacArthur, Director of Finance & Resources Page 19 of 104
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___________________________________________________________________ To: Council On: 28 September 2023 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Finance and Resources ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Statutory Review of Polling Places and Polling Districts ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 In terms of the Representation of the People Act, 1983, as amended, local authorities are required to divide their area into polling districts for the purposes of parliamentary and other elections and to designate polling places for these polling districts and keep them under review. 1.2 The Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013, further amended the Representation of the People Act 1983 by introducing a statutory duty for all polling districts and polling places to be reviewed by the end of January 2015 and at least every 5 years thereafter. 1.3 The current polling arrangements following the previous statutory review were approved by Council on 5 December 2019, for use in all elections thereafter in the period to the next review. 1.4 In conducting the review, authorities must: (a) seek to ensure that all electors in the constituency have such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances; and (b) seek to ensure that so far as is reasonable and practical, the polling places they are responsible for are accessible to all electors, including those who are disabled, and when considering the designation of a polling place, must have regard to the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities. Item 5 Page 21 of 104
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1.5 In that regard, a notice was published giving details of the timetable for and scope of the review, and the consultation process and inviting comments on the current arrangements. In addition, notice was given to key groups, including councillors, Council departments, community councils, Renfrewshire Valuation Board, the local Disability Liaison Group and Capability Scotland for their interest. 1.6 A note of the one comment received and the consideration which has been given to it in preparing this draft scheme is attached as Appendix 1 to this report. This Appendix also sets out alternative arrangements for two polling places that have become unavailable since the last review in 2019: it is suggested that the Tannahill Centre replaces St Ninian’s Church Centre and Our Lady of Peace Primary School replaces Linwood Parish Church Hall. Appendix 2 identifies local housing developments that might impact on polling arrangements. 1.7 A preliminary polling scheme showing the polling places is also attached as appendix 3 for consideration and adoption for formal public consultation. 1.8 It is a requirement that the Returning Officer shall comment on the proposals. The draft polling scheme presented here has been the subject of consultation with the Returning Officer who has endorsed the proposals. 1.9 At the meeting of Council held on 22 June 2023 a timetable for the review process was agreed and this is set out in paragraph 3.5 of this report. ________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 Council is asked to consider the approval of the polling places as set out in the appendices to this report as the draft polling scheme for public consultation. _________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 The Representation of the People Act 1983 as amended by the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013, introduced a duty for all polling districts and polling places to be reviewed by the end of January 2015 and at least five yearly thereafter. 3.2 Here in Renfrewshire, the polling districts and polling places were last reviewed and approved by Council in December 2019. 3.3 Although the review is conducted on the basis of UK parliamentary constituencies the proposed polling district boundaries and polling places shown in the appendices to this report also align with the Scottish Parliamentary constituency boundaries and accommodate council ward boundaries, thus avoiding the necessity for differing polling schemes for different types of election. Page 22 of 104
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3.4 It should be noted that the Scottish Parliamentary constituency boundaries for Paisley, Renfrewshire North and West, and Renfrewshire South include parts of East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Councils’ areas. These Councils will review the polling districts and polling places for these areas as part of their own authorities’ statutory reviews. 3.5 The timetable for the conduct of the review in Renfrewshire is as follows: 1 Notice Published I June 2023 2 Representations by interested parties were sought by 1 August 2023 3 Council will consider a report on the initial proposals on 28 September 2023 4 The Council will consider all representations received and will produce draft proposals for public consultation by 2 October 2023 5 Further comments/suggestions on these proposals must be received by 1 December 2023 6 Final proposals, having regard to any comments/suggestions received will be considered by Council on 14 December 2023 3.6 In accordance with the timetable, public notice was given in the week commencing 1 June 2023 of the Council’s intention to undertake the review and inviting preliminary comments on the existing polling arrangements. 3.7 Public notice was given by advertisement in local libraries, the Council’s website, and Council offices, and maps and documents showing the current polling arrangements were made available for public inspection. 3.8 In addition, individual notice was given to councillors, community councils, the local Disability Liaison Group and Capability Scotland, for their interest. 3.9 An inspection of polling places has been carried out by officers prior to this meeting of Council with regard to location, suitability of access and availability. 3.10 To date all polling places have been found to be fully accessible by persons with disabilities either through existing permanent arrangements in place or enhanced by temporary ramping or additional signage where possible. 3.11 Arising from the preliminary consultation exercise, only one comment has been received, from Johnstone Community Council, advising that it had no objections to the proposals. 3.12 In relation to the review of polling districts, the 2023 Review of UK Parliament Constituencies Boundary Commission for Scotland Final Recommendations were laid before Parliament on 28 June 2023. The UK Government is required within a four month period to submit to the Privy Council an Order that gives effect to recommendations of the four UK Commissions. The recommendations will inevitably result in the renaming of a number of polling districts within Renfrewshire. Page 23 of 104
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Details of this element of the statutory review will be included within the report to be submitted to the meeting of Council to be held on 14 December 2023. 3.13 In terms of the statutory review, the Returning Officer is required to comment on the proposals. Although the location of the proposed polling districts and polling places are the responsibility of the local authority, the number and location of the polling stations within the polling places is the responsibility of the Returning Officer, and it is recommended by the Electoral Commission that the review process be undertaken in a joint manner in recognition of the fact that, although the Returning Officer is an officer of the local authority, it is a distinct role and the responsibility for conducting the review rests with the local authority. Accordingly, the proposals presented here represent the joint view of the officers and the Returning Officer. 3.14 Following approval of the proposals, a further public consultation exercise will take place in which the draft proposals will be published and further detailed comments invited from the public generally, the organisations and individuals contacted in the preliminary stage, and any others who have responded to or commented upon the proposals at that stage. 3.15 In conclusion therefore it is recommended that the polling places and polling stations instanced in appendices 3 and 4 to this report be approved for public consultation and the comments received to date, and their disposal, be noted. 3.16 It should also be noted that, in seeking final approval of the polling arrangements in December 2023 it will be proposed that the approval extends to the adoption of these arrangements for any election called thereafter until the next review and, in accordance with normal practice, delegated authority will be sought for the Chief Executive to alter or amend any polling place if an approved place becomes unavailable or unviable, e.g. through fire, flood, pandemic or otherwise. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial - none. 2. HR & Organisational Development – none 3. Community/Council Planning – none 4. Legal – none 5. Property/Assets - the current Polling Plan involves the use of various council properties and consultation will take place with the appropriate officers as part of review. 6. Information Technology – none Page 24 of 104
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7. Equality & Human Rights – (a) 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 - the premises currently used as polling places have been inspected and appropriate arrangements and/or adaptations have been made as necessary to obviate risk to staff and voters. 9. Procurement – none 10. Risk – n/a 11. Privacy Impact – none 12. Cosla Policy Position – none _________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers 6 (a) . ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Dave Low Democratic Services Manager 0141 487 1118 David.low@renfrewshire.gov.uk Page 25 of 104
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APPENDIX 1 Respondent Polling Place Suggestion/Comment Johnstone Community Council All polling places within the Johnstone CC area No objections Evaluation N/A Recommendation N/A Respondent Polling Place Suggestion/Comment N/A St Ninian’s Hall That the Tannahill Centre replace St Ninian’s as the polling place for the relevant polling district(s) Evaluation St Ninian’s Hall became unavailable following approval of the last polling plan in 2019. Utilising delegated powers, it was possible to change the polling place to the Tannahill Centre which is located nearby. The Tannahill Centre has been used as a polling place for the last two elections without incident or comment. Recommendation That the Tannahill Centre become the polling place for the relevant polling district(s). Respondent Polling Place Suggestion/Comment N/A Linwood Parish Church Hall That Our Lady of Peace Primary School replace Linwood Parish Church Hall for the relevant polling district(s) Evaluation Linwood Parish Church Hall became unavailable as a result of serious vandalism following approval of the last polling plan in 2019. Utilising delegated powers, it was possible to change the polling place in the first instance to Linwood High Page 27 of 104
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School for the Scottish Parliamentary Election in 2021. When the High School became unavailable as a result of an exam diet, Our Lady of Peace Primary School was used for the Scottish Local Government Elections in 2022. The School was used without incident or comment While the date of the next UK Parliamentary Election cannot be determined, the dates for the next Scottish Parliamentary and Scottish Local Government elections are known. The current practice of aligning school in-service days would help minimise the impact of elections upon school life. Recommendation That Our Lady of Peace Primary School, Linwood become the polling place for the relevant polling district(s). Page 28 of 104
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APPENDIX 2 Relevant Council services were consulted to identify planned developments which might impact on polling arrangements. New dwellings may not necessarily result in a significant increase in electors as the majority of new dwelling sales go to people already resident in Renfrewshire. These changes should also be viewed in the context of the National Records of Scotland population projections which suggest an overall population growth for Renfrewshire from 177,790 to 182,256 (2.5%) between 2018-2028. Against this backdrop, 9 wards have been identified which may experience high levels of new house building over the five year period of this review. These wards, the number of new dwellings, and the estimated increases in electors are as follows: Ward New dwellings New population* Additional Electorate** 1. Renfrew North & Braehead 306 630 473 2. Renfrew South & Gallowhill 29 60 45 3. Paisley Northeast & Ralston 5 10 8 4. Paisley Northwest 527 1086 815 5. Paisley East & Central 462 952 714 6. Paisley Southeast 140 288 216 7. Paisley Southwest 36 74 56 8. Johnstone South & Elderslie 374 770 578 9. Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood & Lochwinnoch 104 214 161 10. Houston, Crosslee & Linwood 410 845 634 11. Bishopton, Bridge of Weir & Langbank 1293 2664 1998 12. Erskine & Inchinnan 116 239 179 Total 3,802 7,832 5,877 Note * Based on average number of persons per household of 2.06. Note ** Based on 75% of estimated population. These increases should be able to be accommodated within the existing arrangements. Page 29 of 104
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Appendix 3 Polling District Reference Existing Polling Place Proposed Polling Place Comments NN01 Renfrew Town Hall & Museum Renfrew Cross Renfrew PA4 8PF Renfrew Town Hall & Museum Renfrew Cross Renfrew PA4 8PF No change NN02 Kirklandneuk Community Centre Ness Road Renfrew PA4 9DE Kirklandneuk Community Centre Ness Road Renfrew PA4 9DE No change NN03 Renfrew Town Hall & Museum Renfrew Cross Renfrew PA4 8PF Renfrew Town Hall & Museum Renfrew Cross Renfrew PA4 8PF No change NN04 McMaster Centre Robertson Park Donaldson Drive Renfrew PA4 8LX McMaster Centre Robertson Park Donaldson Drive Renfrew PA4 8LX No change NN05 King George V Sports Pavilion Dean Park Road Renfrew PA4 0AN King George V Sports Pavilion Dean Park Road Renfrew PA4 0AN No change NN06 St. James' Primary School Brown Street Renfrew Renfrewshire PA4 8HL St. James' Primary School Brown Street Renfrew Renfrewshire PA4 8HL No change NN07 Gallowhill Community Centre 210 Netherhill Road Paisley PA3 4SF Gallowhill Community Centre 210 Netherhill Road Paisley PA3 4SF No change NN08 Glynhill Hotel 169 Paisley Road Renfrew PA4 8XB Glynhill Hotel 169 Paisley Road Renfrew PA4 8XB No change NN09 Arkleston Primary School 125 Cockels Loan Renfrew PA4 0EL Arkleston Primary School 125 Cockels Loan Renfrew PA4 0EL No change NN10 Newmains Primary School 8a Lang Avenue Renfrew PA4 0DA Newmains Primary School 8a Lang Avenue Renfrew PA4 0DA No change NN11 St James' Primary School 10 Brown Street Renfrew PA4 8HL St James' Primary School 10 Brown Street Renfrew PA4 8HL No change NN12 St Catherine's Primary School 28a Brabloch Crescent Paisley PA3 4RG St Catherine's Primary School 28a Brabloch Crescent Paisley PA3 4RG No change NP01 Williamsburgh Primary School Lacy Street Paisley PA1 1QF Williamsburgh Primary School Lacy Street Paisley PA1 1QF No change Proposed Revisals to Polling Places Ward 1 ‐ (Renfrew North and Braehead) Ward 2 ‐ Renfrew South and Gallowhill Ward 3 ‐ Paisley Northeast and Ralston Page 31 of 104
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Polling District Reference Existing Polling Place Proposed Polling Place Comments NP02 Ralston Community Sports Centre Penilee Road Ralston Paisley PA1 3AX Ralston Community Sports Centre Penilee Road Ralston Paisley PA1 3AX No change NP03 Ralston Community Centre 6 Allanton Avenue Paisley PA1 3BL Ralston Community Centre 6 Allanton Avenue Paisley PA1 3BL No change SP01 Williamsburgh Primary School Lacy Street Paisley PA1 1QF Williamsburgh Primary School Lacy Street Paisley PA1 1QF No change NN13 Beechwood Community Centre 26 Shortroods Road Paisley PA3 2NT Beechwood Community Centre 26 Shortroods Road Paisley PA3 2NT No change NP04 Beechwood Community Centre 26 Shortroods Road Paisley PA3 2NT Beechwood Community Centre 26 Shortroods Road Paisley PA3 2NT No change NP05 Disability Resource Centre Love Street Paisley Renfrewshire PA3 2EA Disability Resource Centre Love Street Paisley Renfrewshire PA3 2EA No change Please note that the Resource Centre was not available for the last election NP06 St Ninian's Church (St Ninian's Centre) 85 Blackstoun Road Paisley PA3 1NR Tannahaill Centre 76 Blackstoun Road Paisley PA3 1NT Change to polling place SP02 Martyrs Church Hall 5 King Street Paisley PA1 2LS Martyrs Church Hall 5 King Street Paisley PA1 2LS No change SP03 St Mary's Primary School 4 Maxwellton Road Paisley PA1 2RJ St Mary's Primary School 4 Maxwellton Road Paisley PA1 2RJ No change SP04 St Charles Church Hall 5 Union Street Paisley PA2 6DU St Charles Church Hall 5 Union Street Paisley PA2 6DU No change SP05 St Ninian's Church (St Ninian's Centre) 85 Blackstoun Road Paisley PA3 1NR Tannahaill Centre 76 Blackstoun Road Paisley PA3 1NT Change to polling place SP06 West End Community Centre 5A Underwood Lane Paisley PA1 2SL West End Community Centre 5A Underwood Lane Paisley PA1 2SL No change SP07 St Andrew's Academy 125 Barrhead Road Paisley PA2 7LG St Andrew's Academy 125 Barrhead Road Paisley PA2 7LG No change SP08 Hunterhill Community Centre Blackford Road Paisley PA2 7EP Hunterhill Community Centre Blackford Road Paisley PA2 7EP No change SP09 Paisley Marriage Suite Renfrewshire House Cotton Street Paisley PA1 1BU Paisley Marriage Suite Renfrewshire House Cotton Street Paisley PA1 1BU No change SP10 Todholm Primary School 260 Lochfield Road Paisley PA2 7JE Todholm Primary School 260 Lochfield Road Paisley PA2 7JE No change SP11 South End Action Centre Stock Street Paisley PA2 6NL South End Action Centre Stock Street Paisley PA2 6NL No change Ward 4 ‐ Paisley Northwest Ward 5 ‐ Paisley East and Central Page 32 of 104
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Polling District Reference Existing Polling Place Proposed Polling Place Comments SP12 Williamsburgh Primary School Lacy Street Paisley Renfrewshire PA1 1QF Williamsburgh Primary School Lacy Street Paisley Renfrewshire PA1 1QF No change SP13 Glenburn Community Centre 30 Fairway Avenue Paisley PA2 8DX Glenburn Community Centre 30 Fairway Avenue Paisley PA2 8DX No change SP14 Glenburn Resource Centre 19 Donaldswood Road Paisley PA2 8EA Glenburn Resource Centre 19 Donaldswood Road Paisley PA2 8EA No change SP15 Bushes Primary School Grampian Avenue Paisley PA2 8DW Bushes Primary School Grampian Avenue Paisley PA2 8DW No change SP16 South Parish Church, Rowan Street, Paisley, PA2 6RZ South Parish Church, Rowan Street, Paisley, PA2 6RZ No change (formerly known as Lylesland Church) SP17 St Charles Church Hall 5 Union Street Paisley PA2 6DU St Charles Church Hall 5 Union Street Paisley PA2 6DU No change SP18 Brediland Community Centre 30 Cardell Road Paisley PA2 9AF Brediland Community Centre 30 Cardell Road Paisley PA2 9AF No change SP19 Brediland Primary School 9 Achray Drive Paisley PA2 9DJ Brediland Primary School 9 Achray Drive Paisley PA2 9DJ No change SP20 Foxbar Rivers Community Building Spey Avenue Paisley PA2 0PA Foxbar Rivers Community Building Spey Avenue Paisley PA2 0PA No change SP21 Heriot Primary School 10 Heriot Avenue Paisley PA2 0DS Heriot Primary School 10 Heriot Avenue Paisley PA2 0DS No change SP22 Foxbar Community Centre 30 Amochrie Road Paisley PA2 0LB Foxbar Community Centre 30 Amochrie Road Paisley PA2 0LB No change SP23 Langcraigs Primary School 245 Glenfield Road Paisley PA2 8QE Langcraigs Primary School 245 Glenfield Road Paisley PA2 8QE No change SS01 Elderslie Village Hall Elderslie Village Hall No change SS02 Johnstone Castle Community Centre Pine Crescent Johnstone PA5 0BX Johnstone Castle Community Centre Pine Crescent Johnstone PA5 0BX No change SS03 St David's Primary School West Johnstone Shared Campus Beith Road Johnstone PA5 0BB St David's Primary School West Johnstone Shared Campus Beith Road Johnstone PA5 0BB No change Ward 6 ‐ Paisley Southeast Ward 7 ‐ Paisley Southwest Ward 8 ‐ Johnstone South and Elderslie Page 33 of 104
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Polling District Reference Existing Polling Place Proposed Polling Place Comments SS04 Cochrane Castle Community Centre 1 Burns Drive Johnstone PA5 0HJ Cochrane Castle Community Centre 1 Burns Drive Johnstone PA5 0HJ No change SS05 Fordbank Primary School, 23B Teviot Terrace, Johnstone, PA5 0NP Fordbank Primary School, 23B Teviot Terrace, Johnstone, PA5 0NP No change SS06 Spateston Bowling Club Spateston Road Johnstone PA5 0SX Spateston Bowling Club Spateston Road Johnstone PA5 0SX No change SS07 Thorn Primary School 4A Thorn Brae Johnstone PA5 8HE Thorn Primary School 4A Thorn Brae Johnstone PA5 8HE No change NP07 Elderslie Village Hall Stoddard Square, Elderslie, PA6 9AS Elderslie Village Hall Stoddard Square, Elderslie, PA6 9AS No change NP08 St Ninian's Church (St Ninian's Centre) 85 Blackstoun Road Paisley PA3 1NR Tannahaill Centre 76 Blackstoun Road Paisley PA3 1NT No change SS08 Howwood Village Hall 10 Station Road Howwood PA9 1BB Howwood Village Hall 10 Station Road Howwood PA9 1BB No change SS09 St Margaret's Church Hall 49 Graham Street Johnstone PA5 8RA St Margaret's Church Hall 49 Graham Street Johnstone PA5 8RA No change SS10 Johnstone Town Hall 26 Church Street Johnstone PA5 8EG Johnstone Town Hall 26 Church Street Johnstone PA5 8EG No change SS11 Thorn Primary School 4A Thorn Brae Johnstone PA5 8HE Thorn Primary School 4A Thorn Brae Johnstone PA5 8HE No change SS12 McKillop Institute 2 Main Street Lochwinnoch PA12 4AJ McKillop Institute 2 Main Street Lochwinnoch PA12 4AJ No change SS13 Kilbarchan Scout Hall Barn Green Kilbarchan PA10 2HG Kilbarchan Scout Hall Barn Green Kilbarchan PA10 2HG No change NN14 Houston and Killellan Kirk Halls. Houston and Killellan Kirk Halls. No change NS01 Tweedie Hall Ardlamont Square Linwood Paisley Renfrewshire PA3 3DE Tweedie Hall Ardlamont Square Linwood Paisley Renfrewshire PA3 3DE No change NS01 Tweedie Hall Ardlamont Square Linwood Paisley Renfrewshire PA3 3DE Tweedie Hall Ardlamont Square Linwood Paisley Renfrewshire PA3 3DE No change NS02 Linwood Parish Church Blackwood Avenue Linwood PA3 3JX Our Lady of Peace Primary School, Erskinefauld Road,Linwood PA3 3PR Change to polling place NS03 Brookfield Village Hall 45 Woodside Road Brookfield PA5 8UB Brookfield Village Hall 45 Woodside Road Brookfield PA5 8UB No change Ward 9 ‐ Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch Ward 10 ‐ Houston, Crosslee and Linwood Page 34 of 104
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Polling District Reference Existing Polling Place Proposed Polling Place Comments NS04 Houston & Killelan Kirk Halls,Main Street Houston, PA6 7EL Houston and Killellan Kirk Halls Main Street Houston, PA6 7EL No change SS14 Linwood Parish Church, Blackwood Avenue Linwood PA3 3PY Our Lady of Peace Primary School, Erskinefauld Road,Linwood PA3 3PR Change to polling place SS15 Brookfield Village Hall 45 Woodside Road Brookfield PA5 8UB Brookfield Village Hall 45 Woodside Road Brookfield PA5 8UB No change SS16 Brookfield Village Hall 45 Woodside Road Brookfield PA5 8UB Brookfield Village Hall 45 Woodside Road Brookfield PA5 8UB No change NN15 Bridge of Weir Primary School 7 Warlock Road Bridge of Weir PA11 3QB Cargill Hall, Lintwhite Crescent, Bridge of Weir, Pa11 3LJ No change NN16 Langbank Village Centre 51 Middlepenny Road Langbank PA14 6XB Langbank Village Centre 51 Middlepenny Road Langbank PA14 6XB No change NN17 Dargavel Primary School, Arrochar Drive, Bishopton, PA7 5HP Dargavel Primary School, Arrochar Drive, Bishopton, PA7 5HP No change NN18 Bishopton Community Centre 25 Gledstane Road Bishopton PA7 5AU Bishopton Community Centre 25 Gledstane Road Bishopton PA7 5AU No change NN19 Bishopton Community Centre 25 Gledstane Road Bishopton PA7 5AU Bishopton Community Centre 25 Gledstane Road Bishopton PA7 5AU No change SN01 Cargill Hall Lintwhite Crescent Bridge of Weir PA11 3LJ Cargill Hall Lintwhite Crescent Bridge of Weir PA11 3LJ No change NN20 Inchinnan Primary School 96 Old Greenock Road Inchinnan PA4 9PH Inchinnan Primary School 96 Old Greenock Road Inchinnan PA4 9PH No change ‐ please note that Inchinnan Parish Church was used for the last two elections NN21 Erskine Baptist Church. Erskine Baptist Church. No change NN22 St Anne's Primary School 97 Park Drive Erskine PA8 7AL St Anne's Primary School 97 Park Drive Erskine PA8 7AL No change NN23 Bargarran Primary School 4 Barrhill Road Erskine PA8 6BX Bargarran Primary School 4 Barrhill Road Erskine PA8 6BX No change Ward 12 ‐ Erskine and Inchinnan Ward 11 ‐ Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank Page 35 of 104
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Polling District Reference Existing Polling Place Proposed Polling Place Comments Page 36 of 104
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1 To: Council On: 28 September 2023 Report by: Chief Social Work Officer Heading: Chief Social Work Officer Report 2022-2023 ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The Chief Social Work Officer provides an annual update report to Council in Autumn each year. The requirement for every local authority in Scotland to appoint a professionally qualified Chief Social Work Officer (CSWO) is set out within Section 3 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. The particular qualifications are set down in regulation and this is one of a number of statutory requirements which local authorities must comply with. In Renfrewshire Council the role of Chief Social Work Officer is held by the head of Childcare and Criminal Justice. 1.2 The annual reports of all CSWOs are submitted to the Office of the Chief Social Work Advisor at the Scottish Government in order that a national overview report can be produced. The annual report from the Renfrewshire Chief Social Work Officer provides a summary of activity relation to the role of the Chief Social Work Officer during 2022/23 and is attached at appendix 1. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that Elected Members: • Note the key activities in the Chief Social Work Officer Annual Report. ___________________________________________________________________ Item 6 Page 37 of 104
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2 3. Background 3.1 The principal role and purpose of the Social Work Service is contained within the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, which gives local authorities the responsibility of “promoting social welfare”. The Social Work Service has a statutory duty to provide care and protection to the most vulnerable people across Renfrewshire, often meaning that many of our service users do not engage on a voluntary basis. The use of compulsory orders to intervene in people’s lives is a major step which needs to be ethical, moral and for the benefit of the individual or family. The role of Chief Social Work Officer (CSWO) is critical in terms of ensuring the council delivers on its statutory duties in relation to social work. 3.2 The CSWO is a “proper officer” in relation to social work function: an officer given particular responsibility on behalf of a local authority, where the law requires the function to discharged by a specified post holder. 3.3 The qualifications of the CSWO are set down in the regulations and stipulate that the postholder must be a qualified social worker registered with the Scottish Social Service Council. The CSWO must be able to demonstrate extensive experience of operational and strategic management at a senior level within social work or social care services. 3.4 The overall objection of the CSWO is to provide professional advice on the provision of social work services to Elected Members and officers; advice which assists authorities in understanding of the many complexities which are inherent across social work services. The CSWO should also assist authorities in understanding the key role that social work plays in contributing to the achievement of national and local outcomes, to improving local performances and in terms of management of corporate risks. 3.5 The annual report to Council, along with CSWO reports from other local authorities, and now being used nationally to create an overview report. 3.6 The scope of the CSWO roles covers all social work and social care services, whether provided directly by the local authority, or in partnership with others. Where these services are purchased or commissioned from external providers, the CSWO has responsibility to advise on the specification, quality and standards or service commissioned. Current guidance for the role reflects the strategic nature and the particular function in relation to Integration Joint Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships. Page 38 of 104
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3 3.7 The CSWO has a range of other strategic responsibilities including oversight of professional standards in social work services, as well as undertaking the leadership of the profession through Chief Social Work Officer function through promotion of the values and standards. 3.8 Social work services have a statutory duty to provide care and protection to the most vulnerable people across their local authority area. Access to the majority of services is assessment on the basis of need, and social work staff in partnership with individual, carers, families, and communities to meet the need within the resources available to the service and partner agencies. ___________________________________________________________________ 4. Local Government Arrangements 4.1 Within Renfrewshire Council the Head of Child Care and Criminal Justice is the Chief Social Work Officer. As well as the responsibilities associated within the directorship, as CSWO he retains professional leadership for adult social work and social care services delivery by the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP). 4.2 The CWSO has a number of general and specific duties including: i. Providing regular reports to Elected Members on the key activities of the Chief Social Work Officer. ii. Leading for Social Work on the Renfrewshire HSCP Executive Governance Group and the Integration Joint Board (IJB). iii. Reporting directly to the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board and Renfrewshire Council. iv. Member of the Council’s Corporate Management Team and Chief Officer’s Group and reporting directly to the Chief Executive and senior Elected Members. v. The CSWO is accountable to the Chief Executive, the Corporate Management Team and the Council as part of the Chief Officer’s Group which manages public protection risks on a partnership basis. Heads of Service have responsibility for the management of risk within their respective service areas. vi. Representing Renfrewshire Council at local, regional, and national level. vii. Chairing the bi-annual meeting of all social work managers from both Children’s Services and the HSCP. viii. Management of risk. ix. Specific Duties associated with the position, the CSWO within Renfrewshire Council acts as: • Final point of appeal in relation to Adoption and Fostering decisions; Page 39 of 104
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4 • Recipient of all Mental Health and Adults with Incapacity Orders and Guardianship cases; and • Decision maker in relation to Secure Care application for children. ___________________________________________________________________ 5. Activities of the Chief Social Work Officer 2022/23 5.1 The report attached as Appendix 1 summarises the key activities of the Head of Child Care and Criminal Justice in his capacity as Chief Social Work Officer in Renfrewshire during 2022/23. It does not provide an exhaustive description of the full range of duties and responsibilities undertaken but seeks to provide a broad overview of the CSWO role. The report and its appendices will be submitted the Office of the Chief Social Work Officer to inform a national overview report. 5.2 The next report on the activities of the CSWO will be submitted to Council in Autumn 2024. ___________________________________________________________________ 6. Overview of Social Work Services 6.1 The CSWO has a range of duties which are detailed in Appendix 1 to this report, this also includes detail of demand and provision in those area. 6.2 The Chief Social Work Officer Report 2022/23 describes the services which are performing well with many other areas evidencing innovative practice; both inspired by the creativity of teams with the aim of improving service delivery, or in direct response to existing or predicted challenges. 6.3 Social work and social care services are delivered by a substantial number of staff from statutory, third and independent sector organisations. Across all sectors involved in the delivery of social work and social care services, workforce remains a key focus, both in terms of recruitment and retention. Key priorities for 2023/24 6.4 Based on an assessment of internal and external factors the CSWO has identified key priorities for the year ahead: • Continue to effectively discharge our public protection role and working closely with partners to ensure that vulnerable children and adults live as safely as possible within local communities; Page 40 of 104
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5 • Strengthen the approach to supporting children and families in the community through the implementation of the Children’s Service Partnership Plan; • Support the delivery of the Promise in Renfrewshire; • Supporting the Council to deliver on the corporate and community priorities; • Continue to ensure strong and positive links between Children’s Services and Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership; • Ensure the voice of local social work staff influences the development of the National Care Service. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – none 2. HR & Organisational Development – none 3. Community/Council Planning – this report details the progress made by the service- to protect vulnerable children and adults, reduce offending behaviour, increase community safety, and promote early intervention, independent living and wider health improvement. It highlights partnership working, details the measure which ensure the workforce is skilled and effective and highlights achievements in relation to support to the communities, customer service and consultation. 4. Legal - none 5. Property/Assets - none 6. Information Technology - none 7. Equality and Human Rights – The recommendations contained within this report have no negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights because it is only for noting. 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 website. 8. Health and Safety - none 9. Procurement – none 10. Risk – none 11. Privacy Impact – none 12. COSLA Policy Position – none 13. Climate Risk – none ___________________________________________________________________ Page 41 of 104
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6 Report Author: John Trainer, Head of Child Care and Criminal Justice / Chief Social Work Officer Contact Officer is Nicola Canavan, Senior Planning and Policy Development Officer Email: nicola.canavan@renfrewshire.gov.uk Page 42 of 104
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1 Annual Report of the Chief Social Work Officer 2022/23 Page 43 of 104
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2 “Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerments and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central so social work. Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing. The above definition may be amplified at national and/or regional levels.” Definition of social work agreed by the International Federation or Social Workers, 2014 Page 44 of 104
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3 Chief Social Work Officer – Renfrewshire Introduction I’m pleased to present the annual Chief Social Work Officer report for Renfrewshire for the period April 2022 to March 2023. The Chief Social Work Officer is a “proper officer” in relation to the social work function of the local authority. As such, the Chief Social Work Officer is given particular responsibility on behalf of the local authority in respect of social work functions and also the authority to discharge some functions in law on an individual bases. This report provides an overview of social work and care activity against a backdrop of an increasingly complex and challenging environment e.g., the cost-of-living crisis, recovery from the Covid pandemic and the associated impact on local communities, families, and individuals. In this annual report I hope to demonstrate the commitment of social work and care staff to ensure that those who were most vulnerable were supported and the care they required was delivered. I want to take the opportunity to express my thanks to social work and care staff for their ongoing commitment to those who required support over the past year. In discharging my role as Chief Social Work Officer, I’m supported in Children’s Services by the Director, the Social Work Children’s Services Manager, the Criminal Justice Services Manager, and the Operations Managers in our locality services. Within the Health and Social Care Partnership, I’m supported by the Chief Officer and the Heads of Service. I want to acknowledge their support in helping me address the delivery of social work and care services in Renfrewshire. This report does not detail all of the social work and care activity within Renfrewshire, but rather serves to provide an overview of services. John Trainer Chief Social Work Officer August 2023 Page 45 of 104
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4 Governance and Accountability In Renfrewshire, social work services for children and families and criminal justice social work services are delivered by Children’s Services. Social work and care services for adults are delegated to and delivered by Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (RHSCP). Each local authority is required to appoint a Chief Social Work Officer (CSWO), an officer with an appropriate social work qualification, to oversee the functions of social work. As social work and care services for adults are delegated, as Chief Social Work Officer I have oversight of how the delegated functions are delivered and I am active in the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care governance arrangements. As Chief Social Worker in Renfrewshire, I have operational responsibilities in my post as Head of Child Care and Criminal Justice and am line managed by the Director of Children’s Services. In the role of Chief Social Work Officer, I provide professional advice on social work functions to the Chief Executive, the Corporate Management Team and Elected Members. I also provide professional advice on adult social work and care to the Chief Officer and Senior Management Team of Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership and to the Integration Joint Board. The table below illustrates further the range of structures in which the CWSO participates to inform the delivery of the role. Structure Role Council • Corporate Management Team • Head of Service Meetings • Advice to elected members on social work issues Children’s Services • Children’s Services Management Team • Education and Children’s Service Policy Board Integration Joint Board • Executive Governance Group • Standing member of IJB • Clinical and Care Governance Board Public Protection • Chief Officer Group for Public Protection • Child Protection Committee • Adult Protection Committee • Gender Based Violence Strategy Group • Alcohol and Drug Partnership • Community Justice Partnership Community Planning • Children’s Services Partnership Board Other Council Policy Boards • Communities and Housing Policy Board (for justice services) Duty of Candour Statement from 2022/23 All social work and social care services in Scotland have a duty of candour. This is a legal requirement which means that when unintended, or unexpected, events happen that result in death or harm as defined in Health (Tobacco, Nicotine etc. and Care) (Scotland) Act Page 46 of 104
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5 2016, the people affected understand what has happened, receive and apology, and that organisations lean from the experience and put in place improvements. An important part of this duty is the requirements for organisations to provide an annual statement detailing how the duty of candour is implemented across the services. This brief statement describes how Renfrewshire Council has operated the duty of candour during the period 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023. During this period, there were no incidents where duty of candour applied. (These are unintended or unexpected incidents that result in death or harm as defined in the Act, and do not relate directly to the natural course of someone’s illness or underlying conditions). Role of Chief Social Work Officer The role of CSWO was originally designed to provide professional advice on social work services to Elected Members and council officers, in order to assist local authorities in understanding the complexities inherent in social work and social care services. The growing incidence of strategic partnerships across the public sector, whether legislated for or developed through good local joint working, adds a level of complexity to the role of Chief Social Work Officer. As CSWO I am a member of the Council’s Corporate Management Team and of the Chief Officers Group. I have a key role in multi-agency public protection arrangements and as such I’m a member of the Child and Adult Protection Committees, I co-chair the Gender- Based Violence Strategic Group and a member of the Alcohol and Drugs Partnership. As Chief Social Work Officer I report to Elected Members, primarily through two Policy Boards and the Integration Joint Board. The Education and Children’s Services Policy Board has the remit for matters relating to Children and Families Social Work and the Communities and Housing Policy Board has the remit for Justice Social Work as part of its overall responsibility for community justice in Renfrewshire. All matters pertaining to Adult Social Work and Social Care are dealt with by the Integration Joint Board, which has representation from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Board as well as Elected Members. In assessing and supporting the social work and care staff to deliver the best services possible and to make the biggest difference for those who need social work and care support I regularly meet with managers and frontline staff to discuss their work. In addition, regular performance reports are considered at strategic meetings to allow the identification of challenges in delivery and to find solutions to unblocking these for staff and those who need access to services. In addition to supporting business as usual, a priority for me will be ongoing engagement with the Scottish Government on the National Care Service. Whilst outwith the period covered by this report for social work activity, in July 2023, the Scottish Government announced that, contrary to the original plans, Councils would continue to employ social workers and other social work staff under the new National Care Service. I welcome this announcement and will continue to work constructively with the Scottish Government in this significant national agenda. I will also be focusing on progress towards our commitment to Keep the Promise, providing additional support for its delivery through collaboration and driving change. Page 47 of 104
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6 Service Quality and Performance Many of the social work services are delivered by locality teams in Renfrewshire or by one of the specialist services. In addition to the locality and specialist services the council and Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership operates 23 services registered with the Care Inspectorate – four children’s houses, three care homes for older adults, five day services for older adults, five day services for adults with learning disabilities, one day service for adults with physical disabilities, one residential respite service for adults with learning disabilities, Care at Home Service, Fostering Services, Adoption Services, and a housing support service for care leavers. The Care Inspectorate undertakes regular inspections of all registered services and indicates a formal assessment of the standard on a graded scale. The Care Inspectorate grades are: • Unsatisfactory – major weaknesses • Weak – important weaknesses • Adequate – strengths just outweigh weaknesses • Good – important strengths with some areas for improvement • Very Good – major strengths • Excellent – sector leading The Care Inspectorate generally reviews the following quality indicators when undertaking inspections by assessing: • How well people’s wellbeing is supported? • How good is the leadership of the service? • How good is the staff team? • How good is the environment? • How well are care and support planned? During 2022/23, unannounced inspections were undertaken by the Care Inspectorate at Montrose and Renfrew care homes which are operated by RHSCP. The Inspection Teams looked at a selection of the quality indicators which are based on the intelligence they hold about the service, and any risk factors that they may have identified. Both care homes were graded as either very good or good across all quality indicators. As Chief Social Work Officer I have procedures are in place for reporting to Elected Members should any care service receive an assessment of Weak or Unsatisfactory for any element. Unfortunately, in September 2022 the Care Inspectorate concluded an unannounced inspection of Renfrewshire Care at Home Service and the inspection highlighted some areas of concern which resulted in the grades of Adequate and Weak. The HSCP immediately established a working group to expedite implementing the necessary requirements and improvements identified within the report. A follow-up visit was undertaken by the Care Inspectorate and resulted in the positive re-evaluation of the grades to Good. Elected Members were updated on the inspection outturn at the Leadership Board in February 2023. Three of our four children’s houses were inspected by the Care Inspectorate in 2022/23. Arkleston and Brediland received positive inspections. Inspectors found that staff in Page 48 of 104
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7 Arkleston have an excellent understanding of trauma informed practice and young people are supported to access mental health services appropriately. In Brediland inspectors recognised the quality of relationships between staff and young people as a key strength where young people felt loved with their views listened to and respected. Barochan was inspected in September 2022 with the inspectors providing a grade of Weak. The report highlighted a need for improvement in the management of the house and staff training. Work has commenced to address the areas for improvement required by the Care Inspectorate for Barochan. Elected Members have been informed of this work at the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board and significant improvements have taken place within the children’s house. The Adoption Service and the Fostering Service were the subject of announced inspections by the Care Inspectorate between January and March 2023. The inspection of the Adoption Service focused on two quality indicators: ‘How well do we support people’s wellbeing’? and ‘How well is our care and support planned?’. The Care Inspectorate graded the Adoption Service as good for the first indicator and very good for the second indicator. The inspection of the Fostering Service focused on the same quality indicators and inspectors graded the Fostering Service as good for both indicators. No recommendations or requirements were made by the Care Inspectorate in relation to the Renfrewshire Adoption Service. Two areas of improvement were identified for the Fostering Service. The first relates to further develop the core training for foster carers. The second is that we ensure that children and young people have timely moves to permanent care, and that this is monitored robustly. The two areas of improvement are being actioned in the Fostering Development Plan for 2023/24. Given the Care Inspectorate are returning to full operation, it is expected that there will be an increase in the number of Renfrewshire’s services being subject to inspection in the next twelve months. The following pages set out the performance of each of the three main areas of social work practice in Renfrewshire during 2022/23. Statutory Service Provision: Adult Social Work and Social Care In Renfrewshire, the delivery of adult social work and social care services is delegated to Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership. Mainstream social work services are delivered on a locality basis by two teams – one covering Paisley and the other covering the rest of the local authority area. As Chief Social Work Officer I provide professional leadership and advice to senior officers in RHSCP and to the wider social work and social care staff in adult services. Throughout the period covered by this report social work and care staff in RHSCP continued to deliver services to those most in need. The Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (IRISS) was commissioned by the Scottish Government, to design a minimum data set that works both locally and nationally to generate meaningful and comparable data. RHSCP was identified at an early stage to become a learning partner and help develop the new data set that better reflects the whole ASP journey. The new national minimum dataset has been designed, tested and rolled out across Scotland. Page 49 of 104
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8 The volume of adult protection work in Renfrewshire continues to increase, and in 2022/23 we received 1,314 adult protection referrals, in comparison to 1,298 for 2021/22. There were 98 ASP Investigations completed during the period 2022/23, compared to previous end of year reporting 2021/22 of 91. The highest number of investigations related to those with Dementia (31); followed by Mental Health (28) and then Learning Disability (21); and the principal types of harm which resulted in an investigation was financial (33); psychological (7); physical (20); sexual harm (5); neglect (9); self-harm (8); and other (14). The location of the principal harm, which resulted in an investigation taking place, remains the adult’s own home, with 55 investigations having been carried out. There has been a steep increase in Adults with Incapacity (AWI) work due to the end of Covid restrictions. This demand is for both private and local authority applications is a significant resource issue in terms of staff needed to complete applications, provide care management for the CSWO guardianships and supervision for private guardianships. The situation in Renfrewshire reflects the national picture for AWI increases. There is an added pressure locally for staff in RHSCP to ensure that the Royal Alexander Hospital meets it discharge targets and keeps its position as one of the most efficient performers in the country. The quality of work to plan for hospital discharges is of a high standard and reflects a rights based approach. Orders where I, as the Chief Social Work Officer, am appointed Welfare Guardian have risen steeply from the previous year due to the end of Covid restrictions from 15 applications in 2021/22 to 40 in 2022/23. There are currently 138 orders (some still in progress) which requires a qualified social worker/Mental Health Officer (MH0) to act as the “nominated officer” on behalf of the CSWO for day-to-day management of the case. The 176 additional days added to guardianship orders in relation to renewals due to Covid is now ending and there have been 10 CSWO renewals since November 2022 which require MHO and legal input. In addition, the number of private applications has risen significantly from 47 in 2021/22 to 158 in 2022/23. The private guardianships require a minimum of one statutory visit by a guardianship supervisor after being granted but may need to be reviewed up to a year. The MHO Service continues to deal with a high volume of work under the Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. Demands for MHO consent to detention under the Act continues to rise since the pandemic and shows no sign of slowing. The pressures on NHS staffing are affecting the MHO service in terms of time management and monitoring Short Term Detention Certificate’s and CTOs and attending meetings, CPAs etc with little notice. Currently there are 164 long term pieces of work (Compulsory Treatment Order CCTO etc) allocated within the MHO team. MHO staff also complete work with restricted patients. Enhanced clinical and care oversight arrangements for care homes were put in place early in the pandemic to support care home staff to keep residents safe. The guidance required that clinical and care professional at NHS boards and local authorities will have a leading role in the oversight for care homes in their area. There has been considerable learning and examples of excellent partnership working during this time. Page 50 of 104
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9 On 19 December 2022, the Chief Social Work Advisor and the Chief Nurse set out recommendations, for new arrangements for providing continuing enhanced support to adult and older people’s care homes in Scotland. The recommendations have since been adopted in Renfrewshire and a Collaborative Care Home Support Team is in place. Local strategic oversight of these arrangements continues to be provided by the Chief Officer’s Group who regular monitored performance, scrutinised reports and established special meetings of the grouped as and when required. Although our Care at Home services faced significant challenges, RHSCP were able to continue to support existing vulnerable service users whilst remaining responsive to the safe and timely discharge of patients from hospital. Renfrewshire was once again the highest performing HSCP area in Scotland at March 2023 for standard delays in discharge. There were no Large-Scale Investigations during the reporting period. Care homes on the cusp of an LSI were managed under a preventative approach, where RHSCP balanced a supportive approach with a statutory duty under Adult Support and Protection legislation. The HSCP was proactive, as soon as issues were identified and deployed the necessary supports, via HSCP clinical teams. As of 31st March 2023, approximately 1600 individuals had an open involvement with Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service. The Renfrewshire area has welcomed a reduction in the number of drug and alcohol related deaths in 2022. As CSWO, I recognise that behind all of these untimely deaths there is a family who experiences grief and distress. Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) is committed to continuing to work collaboratively to prevent and reduce alcohol and drug-related harms within communities with a number of key actions and developments currently underway. Statutory Service Provision: Children and Families Social Work The service operates a locality-based model for mainstream Children and Families Social Work, with four teams based across Paisley, Johnstone, and Renfrew. Focused support is provided by specialist teams in the areas of Fostering and Adoption, Kinship Care, Residential Services, Pre and Post Birth, Throughcare, Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children, Children with Disabilities, and the Whole Systems Team who support children and young people involved in the justice system. The ongoing cost of living crisis and the longer-term impact of the pandemic have significantly impacted the children and families supported by the service. The service continues to monitor the impact of these and to adapt to the needs of children and families. With the easing of restrictions, all Social Work offices are now fully operational. While the service continued to see children and families face-to-face throughout the pandemic, the easing of restrictions and improved access to office space has undoubtedly made seeing children and families and also facilitating family time easier for the service to coordinate. Child protection planning meetings (previously known as case conferences) once again take place on a face-to-face basis wherever possible with the option of hybrid attendance to ensure that the appropriate agencies can attend. Children’s hearings have now returned to face-to-face. Work is ongoing to implement the National Guidance for Child Protection 2021. The guidance has a two-year implementation period and changes implemented to date have Page 51 of 104
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10 included changes to terminology (with child protection case conferences now known as child protection planning meetings), changes to timescales and the involvement of education in Inter-agency Referral Discussions. Renfrewshire, in partnership with neighbouring local authorities) has commissioned consultants to update local child protection procedures to reflect the national guidance and these will be launched in September 2023. An Early Help Service is currently being piloted to provide an alternative to social work intervention for families who are experiencing difficulties which without support, might escalate to require statutory involvement. The aim is, wherever possible, to prevent children and young people from becoming looked after. The service is being delivered in partnership with Barnardo’s and is being piloted within the Paisley locality areas. All referrals for families within this geographical boundary are screened by the duty senior social worker and triaged using a screening tool. Where the initial screening identifies that the family might benefit from a targeted, time-limited package of support, and where it would be safe to do so, the referral is be passed to the Early Help Service for assessment and interventions. Building on the positive learning from the successful implementation of the Ren10 mental health and wellbeing family support service, progress continues to be made to develop Renfrewshire’s approach to early and effective whole family support measures. The aim of the whole family wellbeing approach is to provide appropriate family supports, focussing on early intervention, and providing opportunities for children, young people, parents, and carers to shape the services that impact them. Local insight has presented a strong case that children and young people’s needs are best understood and met within the context of their families. Through the Scottish Government’s Whole Family Wellbeing Fund, Children’s Services is engaging with partners to develop collaborative proposals to address the needs of Renfrewshire’s families in a way that is non-stigmatising, community-based, and underpinned by children’s rights. There is recognition of the benefit to have services linked and access to support being in one place. There is very good evidence of progress in Renfrewshire to #KeepThePromise, with significant developments underway and more planned across the service and throughout the council and it is partners. The delivery of The Promise in Renfrewshire, led by Social Work, is ensuring a strongly committed multi-agency partnership working approach and demonstration of a collective understanding, commitment, and activity in relation to The Promise across all the partners. The Promise is a Priority High-level aim for Renfrewshire’s Children’s Services Partnership. Implementation of The Promise in Renfrewshire has been further supported by the recruitment of a Promise Manager in late 2022. The Promise Ambassador, in role since July 2021, is supporting the implementation of The Promise across the local authority and plays an integral part in Renfrewshire’s successful Promise Keeper Programme. The active and growing Promise Keeper Network has provided opportunities to incorporate The Promise into service planning and delivery. There are currently 118 Promise Keepers in place across the local authority, HSCP, and partner agencies. The network ensures cognisance is given to the needs and voices of those with care experience. This work is complemented by the development of a Promise Self-Evaluation Tool which, once completed will enable services to review progress in #KeepingThePromise in key areas such as training and development, trauma-informed practice, and risk management. Page 52 of 104
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11 In my role as Chief Social Work Officer, I am very well connected to The Promise national delivery mechanisms at COSLA, Promise Scotland and Scottish Government. Working with Renfrewshire’s Promise Manager and Promise Ambassador I have hosted visits from COSLA and Promise Scotland to highlight our progress on implementation of The Promise. A Renfrewshire Language Policy has been developed to ensure words and phrases used to describe care experience are positive and do not further exacerbate stigma. The policy is being disseminated for use across the local authority. A mapping and action plan tool has also been developed to support planning and to enable us to map Renfrewshire’s Promise journey and progress. Renfrewshire Child Protection Committee continues to monitor data in relation to referrals, investigations, child protection planning meetings and registrations. There were 338 Inter- agency Referral Discussions (IRDs) between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023, relating to 492 children. Of these, 154 proceeded to a child protection investigation, and 42 to a child protection pre-birth investigation. There were 78 children on the child protection register on 31July 2022. There had been 212 new registrations and 14 de-registrations in the year ending 31 July 2022. On 31 March 2023, there were 80 children on the child protection register which was an increase from 61 in March 2022. The increase reflects the trend nationally which saw a decrease in registrations in during the three-year period up to July 2023 when registration then began to increase. Elected members are advised that the relatively small of children on the child protection register can result in significant variances due to the registration or deregistration of larger families. Children’s social work engages in a partnership approach with the police, RHSCP, education and other council services to ensure the protection of children at risk of harm is a priority. The largest areas of concern pertaining to child protection registration continued to be domestic abuse, parental substance use, neglect, and parental mental health. There were 23 Child Protection Orders granted during the year, slightly higher than the previous year’s figure of 21. Renfrewshire Child Protection Committee and its subgroups continue to meet to discuss key trends and emerging areas of focus. The rate of children in care in Renfrewshire on 31st July 2022 was 1.2%. While it remains higher than the Scottish average, it is a decrease from 1.7% in July 2021. 592 children were looked after on 31 July 2022 which is similar to the figure of 591 in July 2021. Of these: • 146 were at home with parents • 230 were with friends/relatives • 111 were with foster carers provided by the council • 45 were with foster carers provided by independent agencies • 9 were in supported accommodation • 17 were in local authority children’s house • 34 were in independent care houses or residential schools An initial Quality Improvement Framework for Children’s Services social work was introduced in November 2022. The Quality Improvement Framework will be evaluated and Page 53 of 104
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12 further developed to support the re-design of children and justice social work over the next 12 months. Statutory Service Provision: Justice Social Work Throughout 2022/23 Justice Social Work has continued to adapt and respond creatively to the challenges stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic. Service delivery has returned to pre-pandemic provision, with staff office based and able to deliver a face-to-face service, as expected by national guidance and required to best support service users. We continue to meet statutory obligations and provide support and interventions for some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. The volume of work generated by court and tribunal services continued to increase throughout the year. This reflects ongoing measures to address the still significant backlog stemming from the pandemic. Provisional information shows the service completed 706 Criminal Justice Social Work Reports (CJSW reports) 2022/23 compared to 639 in 2021/22. Though this is still not at pre-Covid levels (966 in 2019/20) it demonstrates a significant uplift in year-on year work. Diversion interventions have doubled from 54 in 2021/22 to 110 in 2022/23. Diversion cases have also increased in complexity on the basis of changes to the Lord Advocate Guidance, particularly in relation to young people. This is currently under review nationally. This is also evidenced in the number of new Community Payback Orders, which has increased from 369 in 2021/22 to 450 in 2022/23 (provisional figures). This shows ongoing recovery towards pre-Covid figure of 561 recorded in 2019/20. Renfrewshire’s Justice Social Work service has worked hard to respond to these increasing demands by reviewing and prioritising workloads to ensure resources are in place to support people with convictions, on community orders and on release from custody. This maintains focus on those with high levels of risk and need. Significant challenges are arising from staffing changes and recruitment difficulties, something that has rarely been a challenge for justice social work in the past. Working practice has adapted in accordance with safe working requirements to ensure the health and wellbeing of staff and service users. Unpaid work has progressed from home working to community provision. Groupwork continued to be prioritised and has returned to pre pandemic levels. Within 2023/24 in response to the government vision of reducing remand and engaging with individuals at the earliest point, and limiting their involvement in the justice system, an Early Intervention service is under development to employ additional paraprofessional staff to undertake new services. Electronic Monitoring bail (tagging) commences on 17 May 2023, as will the provision of Structured Deferred Sentences. Additional staff, temporary until 2026 due to funding, will be employed in 2023/24 to enable the creation of a bail supervision service, extend diversion for more complex cases and develop voluntary supervision and post custody supports. Resources Page 54 of 104
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13 The chart below shows the breakdown of expenditure on social work by Renfrewshire Council and Renfrewshire in 2022/23. As in previous years, the largest area of expenditure is on services for older people, followed by services for children and families. Funding for Justice Social Work comes directly from the Scottish Government by means of a grant. A substantial overspend was incurred within Children & Families relating to external residential accommodation placements, due to a significant increase in the number and cost of complex care packages. All external placements are held under continual review by the service to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the individual children and young people, and options to mitigate cost pressures continue to be examined. We are currently modelling the coming year financial planning in terms of overall cost/service pressure. In addition, other financial pressures related to inflation, particularly fuel and food prices and also workforce pay inflation will also be factored into this modelling. Addiction Services, £1,169,804 Justice, £3,343,075 Mental Health Needs, £4,778,098 Physical or Sensory Difficulties, £11,072,845 Learning Difficulties, £21,269,197 Children and Families, £34,222,555 Older People, £55,290,005 Page 55 of 104
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14 Workforce Social Work Services in Renfrewshire have continued to experience significant challenges during 2022/23 in relation to the workforce as we experienced a high number of vacancies throughout the year. This has been compounded by a national shortage of social workers and social care workers. We are also experiencing staff shortages at the highest level in the past decade. This position is not unique to Renfrewshire and is in fact replicated across Scotland and indeed the United Kingdom. The pandemic made many people consider their future career path with the consequence being that the sector is under extreme pressure and is struggling even to fill gaps with agency social workers. Vacancy levels are being closely monitored and appropriate action taken when necessary to mitigate associated risks. In addition to a higher number of vacancies than previously, increasingly we have a workforce which is less experienced as candidates applying for posts have only recently left university. New qualified and inexperienced staff require a higher level of support and cannot be allocated the same complexity of work that a more experienced social worker can undertake. Workload demands are considered on a regular basis and action taken where necessary to align resources to known operational pressure points. Our approach to induction for our new staff is evolving with initial work underway to reflect the new “first year in practice” assessment for social workers. The learning will be shared across our staff groups to support our staff retention model. Support forums, coaching, mini tailored learning sessions and a focus on the core task supported by self-directed learning ownership. The new national guidance for children protection and the partner policy for adult protection are being embedded in all of our training materials reflecting the new ways of working and the human rights-based approach. The learning materials reflect the materials in a range of styles as delivery has progressed and learned from Covid delivery innovation. A partnership approach with Barnardo’s which aims to support families on the edge of social work involvement to mitigate the need for subsequent social worker involvement is currently underway. This community-based model of time-limited assessment and intervention is showing positive impact and will be rolled out to other childcare duty teams in the coming months. Renfrewshire Adult Protection Committee (RAPC) oversees the effectiveness of our adult protection practice. RAPC will be implementing the revisions for the Scottish Government’s revised Code of Practice for ASP. A workplan is currently being developed based around what is required to implement to revisions operationally, and then this will expand to consider what is required strategically, and with partner agencies. As part of the phased approach to implementation, a series of briefings are being rolled out to staff and the data management system will be updated. Our care at home staff group continues to operate in a pressured environment. Ensuing staff are supported and offered learning to meet the demands of their role has had a renewed focus. Our initial learning programme has been updated and reflects the role and Page 56 of 104
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15 task, coached eLearning modules have been developed and introduced, building on the technology journey that this staff group are on, with more to follow. In closing this report, I want to acknowledge the commitment of staff across social work services. The Renfrewshire workforce are skilled and knowledgeable, committed to delivering quality support, and to improving outcomes for those who we are working with. My personal and professional thanks to the workforce. I’m proud to work with them and have the opportunity to lead and support them. Page 57 of 104
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16 “In social services alone, and there, Not only care but cure: a worker assigned To be with her throughout school, helping, calming, A bridge of sympathy between teacher and pupil, A dedication not far from love.” From Brothers and Keepers by Edwin Morgan Page 58 of 104
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1 To: Council On: 28 September 2023 Report by: Chief Executive Heading: Renfrewshire Community Protection Chief Officers Group – Annual Report 2022/23 ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 Renfrewshire Community Protection Chief Officers Group (COG) is responsible for leadership, strategic oversight and scrutiny of multi-agency public protection activity and practice in Renfrewshire, including in relation to child protection, adult protection, community safety, the management of offenders and community justice, alcohol and drugs, and gender-based violence. 1.2 The group is chaired by the Chief Executive of Renfrewshire Council with core representation from the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Police Scotland, and wider membership drawn from other partners agencies and services. 1.3 This is the eighth annual report of the Community Protection Chief Officers Group. It provides an overview of the key areas of work of in relation to public protection during 2022/23. It also highlights the ongoing key benefits of excellent partnership working. 1.4 The annual report attached at Appendix 1 to this report provides detailed information on the activities which have been undertaken over this period, whilst section 7 of the report highlights the key priorities which partners have identified for collective focus and action during 2023/24. Item 7 Page 59 of 104
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2 ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that elected members note the content of the report. ___________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 Renfrewshire Chief Officers Group was established to provide leadership, governance, direction and oversight to ensure local accountability for all aspects of public protection. Chief officers are responsible for ensuring that their respective agencies, individually and collectively, reflect national guidance, which directs local services to work in partnership to achieve public protection measures. The arrangements are comparable to Chief Officer Group arrangements in other local authority areas throughout Scotland. 3.2 The key area of activity overseen by the Renfrewshire Chief Officers Group are: • child protection; • adult protection; • offender management (MAPPA processes for sexual and violent offenders); • community protection; • Alcohol and Drug Partnership; and • Gender Based Violence Strategy 3.3 The Chief Officers Group provides regular reports to the Member Officer Group which is comprised of elected members on a cross party basis, and key officers from the Council and partners. The purpose of the Member Officer Group is to provide senior elected members with the opportunity to formally and regularly discharge their strategic independent scrutiny and assurance role in relation to key activity and significant developments which have implications for public protection matters in Renfrewshire. 3.4 This is the eighth annual report of the Chief Officers Group. It provides an overview of the key areas of work in relation to public protection in Renfrewshire over the course of 2022/23, and in doing so highlights the ongoing importance of partnership working. 3.5 The annual report is provided against the backdrop of some of the biggest challenges to face public services in many years. Renfrewshire, as with elsewhere in the country, has faced both the emergence of new pressures and the exacerbation of existing ones. The cost-of-living crisis and inflation have added to existing inequalities. Public services also face major challenges in Page 60 of 104
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3 addressing climate change, rising demand, and dealing with the longer-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. ___________________________________________________________________ 4. Strategic focus for 2023/24 4.1 Moving forward the Chief Officers Group have identified a number of specific priorities to be progressed during 2023/24, in addition to ongoing activity. These are: • Continue to focus on providing scrutiny, support and oversight of activity in relation to care homes, with a particular focus on the wellbeing of residents and staff; • Have oversight of how as a partnership we are tackling alcohol and drug related harm across Renfrewshire, with a particular focus on drug related deaths; • Support positive mental health and wellbeing with a focus on suicide prevention and people presenting to agencies in distress; • Support the development of trauma informed and responsive services; • Monitor and review the impact of local work to support the resettlement of Ukrainian nationals in Renfrewshire, unaccompanied asylum seeking children and young people and asylum dispersal locally, with a particular focus on safeguarding issues and service impacts and pressures; • Undertake an analysis of cybercrime activity within Renfrewshire and agree preventative actions; • Consider and implement the relevant Scottish Government priorities and policy and legislative changes such as the National Care Service • Support the work of the Scottish Covid-19 Enquiry. • Explore opportunities to undertake some form of self-evaluation as a Chief Officers Group on existing ways of working and practice. 4.2 The Chief Officers Group will continue to seek to ensure that performance and practice are scrutinised at a strategic level, to identify what works well, to highlight any areas for improvement, and to consider where further opportunities for early intervention and prevention activity would achieve improved outcomes for local people. 4.3 The group will also continue to review on an ongoing basis the implementation of relevant policies and legislation which relate to public protection, including Criminal Justice Reform and Children’s Care and Justice. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – none Page 61 of 104
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4 2. HR & Organisational Development – none 3. Community/Council Planning – the Community Protection Chief Officers is embedded within the wider approach to community planning in Renfrewshire. 4. Legal - none 5. Property/Assets - none 6. Information Technology - none 7. Equality and 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 because it is for noting only. 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 and Safety - none 9. Procurement – none 10. Risk – none 11. Privacy Impact – none 12. COSLA Policy Position – none 13. Climate Risk – none ___________________________________________________________________ Report Author: Nicola Canavan, Senior Planning and Policy Development Officer Email: nicola.canavan@renfrewshire.gov.uk Page 62 of 104
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5 Appendix 1 Renfrewshire Community Protection Chief Officers Group Annual Report 2022/23 Page 63 of 104
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6 Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Renfrewshire Profile 3. Analysis of Current Trends 4. Chief Officers Group 5. Member Officers Group 6. Strategic Partnerships Activities 7. Strategic Focus for 2023/24 Page 64 of 104
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7 1. Introduction 1.1 Renfrewshire Community Protection Chief Officers Group (COG) is responsible for leadership, strategic oversight and scrutiny in relation to multi agency public protection activity and practice in Renfrewshire. The group oversees the work of seven strategic partnerships which examine performance and ensure the provision of quality services in relation to child protection, adult protection, wider public protection, offender management, community justice, alcohol and drugs, and gender-based violence. 1.2 The annual report is provided against a backdrop of partners continuing to work in an increasingly complex and challenging environment - the cost of living crisis, recovery from the pandemic and the associated impact on local communities, families and individuals. In addition, there is also ongoing national and UK wide policy change and improvement agenda. Our strong partnership working and committed workforce across sectors will continue to focus on improving outcomes for local people and communities. 1.3 The Chief Officers Group and the local multi-agency partnerships, continue to recognise, alongside scrutiny and reflection, the value of a proactive focus on awareness raising and preventative approaches to protect people in the community. This has been evident in the work of those groups, agencies and partnerships involved in public protection. 1.4 This is the eighth annual report of the Chief Officers Group. It provides an overview of the key areas of work in relation to public protection in Renfrewshire over the course of 2022/23, and in doing so highlights the ongoing importance of partnership working. 2. Renfrewshire Profile 2.1 Renfrewshire is located in west central Scotland and is the 10th largest Council in Scotland by head of population but covering a relatively small land mass of 270 square kilometres. Just under 180,000 people live in Renfrewshire, with our population projected to continue to grow over the next ten years, particularly our older population aged 60 and over. We also expect the number of households to increase to over 90,000 by 2028, predominantly driven by an increasing number of single adult or two-adult households without children. While Renfrewshire is less ethnically diverse than Scotland as a whole, we know it is a place of growing ethnic diversity, with our primary school rolls particularly reflecting this increase. 2.2 The people who live here know what a fantastic place Renfrewshire is. With its history and heritage, our culture and creativity, and our innovation and inventiveness, Renfrewshire has always been a place worth watching. 2.3 Our location is second to none - connected nationally and internationally through road, river, rail and air, but equally filled with tranquil natural spaces to reconnect and recharge. 2.4 Renfrewshire is at the heart of exciting new leaps forward for Scotland's economy as home to the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland. We're right at the Page 65 of 104
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8 forefront of this developing sector and will enjoy the boost to employment, skills and economic growth this will bring to Renfrewshire and have positioned ourselves to attract more industries who recognise our potential. 2.5 Across all of Renfrewshire, we are lucky to have a wealth of cultural and heritage assets. We're investing over £100m in these well-loved places, creating world-class, modern facilities, securing their future and ensuring they continue to inspire our people and encourage visitors to celebrate our history and support our thriving arts sector. 2.6 Renfrewshire also boasts beautiful green attractions across our whole geographical area - coastal, woodland, moorland, and wetlands - with opportunities to walk, wheel or cycle and enjoy our stunning natural environment, diverse range of wildlife and striking views across the Clyde Valley and beyond. 2.7 However, Renfrewshire faces a range of challenges, many of which existed before the COVID-19 pandemic but have since been deepened by both the pandemic and the cost- of-living crisis. 2.8 Child poverty in Renfrewshire has been rising steadily, with the most recent figures telling us that around one in five children in Renfrewshire are living in poverty. This is below the national rate but is rising faster than the overall Scottish picture. 2.9 Significant work has been undertaken to raise attainment for all while closing the attainment gap between the most and least disadvantaged children and young people. Renfrewshire's pupils perform above the national level for literacy and numeracy even though our levels of deprivation are higher than average. More Renfrewshire school leavers enter positive destinations than the national average, but we know we have work to do to help care experienced children and young people to build positive futures as they move on from school. 2.10 Whilst Renfrewshire's unemployment rate is broadly the same as Scotland's, we have far more people in Renfrewshire working in low paid jobs compared to both the Scottish and the regional picture. We also have a much higher percentage of people who are not working due to having long-term health conditions in Renfrewshire compared to the national average. Around a quarter of Renfrewshire residents live in a datazone within the 20% most deprived in Scotland. 2.11 The impact can be seen in our health and wellbeing - Renfrewshire's life expectancy is lower than Scotland's average life expectancy, for both males and females. Similarly, the 'healthy life expectancy', which describes living in good health, is also lower than the national rate for both males and females. The rate of drug-related death in Renfrewshire is regularly above the Scottish rate and has been consistently higher since 2017. Renfrewshire's alcohol specific death rate was more than 4 times higher in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived. 2.12 Local engagement we've undertaken to understand experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic has also shown health worries to be a concern for our citizens. People also told us that they felt more anxious than they had before the pandemic and had experienced issues around loneliness and isolation. Page 66 of 104
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9 3. Analysis of current trends Child Protection 3.1 There were 4,478 child concern referrals received between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023. This is an increase from 4,308 received from April 2021 to March 2022. These are distinct referrals and not the number of children who were the subject of a referral. 83% of these came from Police Scotland. Domestic abuse was the largest single reason for a referral, with 1,463 concern reports over the 12-month period. Other regularly cited referral reasons included: • Missing person reports – 466 (down from 602 in 2021-22) • Youth offending – 353 (down from 402 in 2021-22) • Mental health issues (carer) – 321 (an increase from 255 in 2021-22) • Alcohol and/or drugs use by a child – 213 (down from 250 in 2021-22) • Child/parent relationship – 184 (an increase from 157 in 2021-22) • Alcohol and/or drugs use by a carer – 118 (down from 126 in 2021-22) 3.2 There were 338 Inter-agency Referral Discussions (IRDs) between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023, relating to 492 children. Of these, 154 proceeded to a child protection investigation, and 42 to a child protection pre-birth investigation. 3.3 The number of children on the Child Protection Register in Renfrewshire decreased significantly over the three years up to July 2022. This reflected the trend nationally. At the request of Renfrewshire Child Protection Committee and analysis of the Child Protection Register was undertaken to determine if the decrease in the number of children on the child protection register could be attributed to the new health visiting approach and also to the increase from 600 to 1140 hours of funded Early Learning and Childcare. 3.4 The analysis found that the new health visiting pathway and/or increased early years provision was unlikely to be the reason for reducing numbers on the Child Protection Register in Renfrewshire. From July 2022, the number of the children on the Child Protection has begun to increase. As of March 2023, 80 children were on the register. 3.5 Seven young people were placed in secure care between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023. Adult Support and Protection 3.6 Between April 2022 and March 2023, 4,123 adult welfare concern and adult protection referrals were received by Renfrewshire. Of these, 1,270 were adult protection concerns and 2,853 were adult welfare concerns. Following initial inquiries, 106 adult protection investigations were conducted, an increase from 88 the previous year. 28 of these investigations resulted in an Initial Adult Protection Case Conference. Page 67 of 104
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10 The table below highlights that this is the second largest number of adult welfare concerns and adult protection referrals since 2017/18. 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 2,829 2,719 3,106 3,488 4,263 4,123 3.7 The total referral number for 2022/2023 reflects a 10% decrease in the referral rate as compared to the 2021/22 financial year. The 2022/23 figure is higher than in any previous years which may be as a result of an increased community awareness of Adult Support and Protection due to both national and local campaigns. In addition, agencies are accessing the available ILearn modules which provides a basic Adult Support and Protection module as well as more in-depth training. This training and knowledge better equips professionals in understanding Adult Support and Protection and when to make a referral into Social Work Services. 3.8 Across the year Police Scotland made 56% of all referrals, the table below provides an overview of the percentage of referrals since 2017/18. During the same period, referrals from other sources (Scottish Fire and Rescue Services; care homes; Housing; HSCP Health and Social Work staff; and GPs) have increased and therefore impacted in the reduction. 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 70% 66% 61% 61% 61% 56% Adults with Incapacity (AWI) 3.9 Demand for AWI reports, which require to be completed by a qualified Mental Health Officer (MHO), continues to rise in line with increases across Scotland. This year saw another increase for local requests which is in part caused by the situation of a main hospital (Royal Alexander Hospital) in Paisley and discharges from this. The AWI referrals received often include complex issues of financial harm and risks identified through adult support and protection processes. There has been an increase in requests for AWI reports for delayed hospital discharges and this places pressure on the immediate capacity on the MHO Service to complete other statutory work. To speed up the process the service uses interim orders wherever possible. 3.10 Hospital discharges can also present issues where families can use guardianship applications to delay or challenge assessments by the RAH staff. MHO staff must assess the suitability of guardians, and this has an impact of the amount of work and the amount of Chief Social Work Officer (CSWO) applications if the guardians are found to be unsuitable. 3.11 During the pandemic emergency provisions (Coronavirus (Scotland) 2020) were put in place by Scottish Government and 176 days was added to the time scales for renewing guardianship orders. This was due to courts only hearing interim guardianships and there being fewer doctors, mental health officers and solicitors available to complete the documentation required for guardianship renewal. This is coming to an end and these guardianship orders will need to be reapplied for starting in June 2023 as the orders will Page 68 of 104
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11 have expired. There also continues to be a steady request for AWI intervention orders to end local authority tenancies when a person has lost capacity to end these. 3.12 In 2022/2023 there were 254 requests for AWI mental health officer reports. In the previous year there were 238 such requests. There will be an additional 12 CSWO renewals completed this year. Welfare Guardianships 3.13 Orders where the CSWO is appointed Welfare Guardian rose in the last year, from 125 in 2021/22 to 129 in 2022/23. Each order requires a qualified social worker to act as the “nominated officer” on behalf of the CSWO for day-to-day management of the case. In addition, there are in excess of approximately 530 private welfare guardianship orders running throughout Renfrewshire. These require a minimum of one statutory visit by a guardianship supervisor after being granted. Gender Based Violence 3.14 A Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) is a multi-agency victim- focussed meeting where information is shared on the highest risk cases of domestic abuse between different statutory and voluntary sector agencies such as local Police, health, child protection, housing practitioners, Independent Domestic Abuse Advocates (IDAA’s), probation and other specialists. Cases Discussed at MARAC March 2019 to March 2020 157 March 2020 to March 2021 146 March 2021 to March 2022 134 March 2022 to March 2023 178 3.15 The number of domestic abuse incidents reported to Police Scotland increased by 2.2% in 2022/23 compared to the previous year. Period Number of *IVPD’s concern reports raised for Domestic Abuse 1st April 2019 – 31st March 2020 2,284 1st April 2020 – 31st March 2021 2,085 1st April 2021 – 31st March 2022 2,016 1st April 2022 – 31st March 2023 2,061 * Investigating the suitability of the Interim Vulnerable Persons Database (IVPD) as a source of reliable information on hate crime recorded by the police 3.16 The Women and Children First project provides a range of support services to women and children who have experienced rape, sexual assault, physical abuse, harassment and/or child sexual abuse, whether in the home or in the wider community. In the table below, referrals to support and advocacy relate to adult women. Referrals to the Reconnections are for children and/or mothers and their children. The increase in Reconnection figures is due to the service being fully operational and staffed after Page 69 of 104
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12 lockdown. It should also be noted all children in a family are counted whereas previously only those named on the initial referral were included. Support and Advocacy Reconnections Total 1st April 2020 – 31st March 2021 185 78 263 1st April 2021 – 31st March 2022 196 62 258 1st April 2022 – 31st March 2023 216 141 357 Serious Organised Crime 3.17 Intelligence led policing resulted in 147 drugs detections in the period April 2022 to March 2023, a rise of two on the previous reporting year and approximately 18 more than the five-year average. In Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Division, serious and organised criminals were deprived of £1,110,489 in cash and assets through use of the Proceeds of Crime Act. Six serious and organised Crime Group principal members and 50 associates were arrested in the 2022/23 reporting year. Missing Person 3.18 In 2022/23, 735 missing person reports were recorded in Renfrewshire, a substantial rise on the 650 reports in 2021/22. 733 of the missing people in the reporting period were traced alive, with the two remaining missing persons being found deceased. Almost 77% of missing people in Renfrewshire were aged under 20 years. The top five repeat missing persons – who were all aged between 15 and 17 – were jointly involved in 93 missing person incidents, a substantial proportion of the overall total. 3.19 In Renfrewshire, almost 73% of missing people were traced within 24 hours of being reported as missing, with this proportion rising to approximately 93% being traced within three days. 3.20 Police Scotland remains committed to reducing harm related to people who go missing and continues to develop and implement key measures to ensure missing persons and their friends and family receive a consistently high level of service wherever the person has gone missing from. Cyber and Digital Crime 3.21 Cyber-enabled crime continues to impact on the communities of Renfrewshire, with analysis suggesting that cyber-enabled frauds have become the most commonly recorded type of cybercrime in Renfrewshire in the reporting period (55% of all recorded cybercrimes fell into this category). A range of online frauds and attempted fraud methods were reported, including suspects posing as bank and internet service provider employees in order to gain access to complainer’s online bank accounts and online devices. Other common crimes included internet order frauds, fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes and social engineering frauds in which suspects used messaging apps to contact complainers while purporting to be a friend or relative in need of financial assistance, to fraudulently induce online payments to be sent to them. Page 70 of 104
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13 3.22 A further 23% of the overall number of recorded cybercrimes were miscellaneous offences including threatening and abusive communications, while cyber-enabled sexual offences constituted around 18% of the total. Just under nine percent of cybercrimes in Renfrewshire were cyber enabled sexual-extortion crimes, with a rise in these crimes noted as compared to the previous year. While online sexual extortion can be committed by individuals, organised crime groups are usually responsible for these crimes. The data in relation to sexual crimes and violence and disorder data will become available in the coming weeks and the report will be updated to reflect this. It is worth noting that the Council’s Fire and Police Scrutiny Board receive regular reports and agree areas of action or focus. Accidental Dwelling Fire 3.23 In 2022/23 there were 147 Accidental Dwelling Fires in Renfrewshire. This is a decrease of 8% from this period last year. Cooking remains the most common source of ignition within Renfrewshire accounting for 98 of the accidental dwelling fires. 41% (60) of the incidents required no firefighting action, 33% (49) were due to distraction and 19% (28) were due to alcohol/drug impairment. 119 of the 147 incidents had detection installed and 87% (128) of them operated and raised the alarm. Unintentional Injury or Harm 3.24 Non-fire casualties recorded by Scottish Fire and Rescue increased by 35% to 107 casualties. Of the 107 casualties 49 were because of Road Traffic Collisions (46%). Incidents involving Assisting Other Agencies accounted for 42% (45 incidents) of all the activity within this indicator. Ten fatalities were recorded this period. Effecting entry accounted for 7 of these casualties while the remaining 3 were suicides. Deliberate Fire Setting 3.25 Deliberate fire setting shows a decrease of 13% (81) incidents from the last financial year. Secondary fires accounted for 82% (445) of the incidents within this indicator. SFRS Six Areas of Key Demand 3.26 The table below highlights data provided by Scottish Fire and Rescue in relation to the six areas of key demand reduction for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. Page 71 of 104
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14 Drugs and Alcohol 3.27 In Renfrewshire, there were 39 drug-related deaths in 2022 which represents a decrease of 22% from 50 in 2021. This is the fifth highest number recorded in the past decade. Chart 1: Drug misuse deaths in Renfrewshire, 2013 to 2022 3.28 Renfrewshire had the seventh highest rate of deaths per 100,000 population (2018- 2022) at 28.9 and above the Scottish average of 23.4. This is similar to the previous 5- year rate where we had also had the seventh highest rate of deaths at 29. Chart 2: Drug misuse deaths for selected council areas, age-standardised death rates per 100,000 population, 2018-2022 13 30 19 42 38 50 45 67 50 39 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Page 72 of 104
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15 3.29 In Renfrewshire, there were 42 alcohol-specific deaths in 2022 which represents a decrease of 20.8% from 53 in 2021 and is the lowest number of deaths since 2019. Chart 3: Alcohol- specific deaths in Renfrewshire, 2013-22 3.30 The alcohol-specific deaths rate for Renfrewshire for 2018-2022 was 21.2. At council area in the last five years, Inverclyde, Glasgow City, Na h-Eileanan Siar, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, Dundee City and North Ayrshire all had alcohol- specific death rates higher than the Scottish average. Some other areas also had rates higher than the Scottish average but had large confidence intervals which make it hard to tell whether there was a true difference. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Glasgow City Dundee City Inverclyde North Ayrshire W est Dunbartonshire East Ayrshire Renfrewshire Clackmannanshire South Lanarkshire Dumfries & Galloway North Lanarkshire Scotland South Ayrshire Aberdeen City Falkirk Stirling City of Edinburgh Fife Perth & Kinross Midlothian Scottish Borders East Lothian Angus Argyll & Bute Highland W est Lothian Moray Shetland Islands East Dunbartonshire Aberdeenshire East Renfrewshire 36 44 37 40 44 50 36 44 53 42 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Page 73 of 104
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16 Chart 4: Alcohol-specific death rate in council areas, 2018-2022 Page 74 of 104
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17 Probable Suicides 3.31 In Renfrewshire, there were 33 probable suicides in 2022 an increase from 25 in 2021. In the same period, there were 762 probable suicides registered in Scotland, an increase of 9 from the previous year. Aberdeenshire East Renfrewshire Moray Scottish Borders East Dunbartonshire Shetland Islands East Lothian Dumfries and Galloway Perth and Kinross Stirling Fife Angus South Ayrshire West Lothian Orkney Islands Midlothian Falkirk Clackmannanshire Aberdeen City City of Edinburgh East Ayrshire Scotland Argyll and Bute Highland South Lanarkshire Renfrewshire North Ayrshire Dundee City North Lanarkshire West Dunbartonshire Na h-Eileanan Siar Glasgow City Inverclyde 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 Age-standardised mortality rates ( per 100,000 population) Page 75 of 104
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18 Chart 5: Probable Suicides in Renfrewshire, 2013 to 2022 3.32 For the period 2018-2022, Renfrewshire had the sixth lowest rate of deaths per 100,000 population at 12.0. This was below the Scottish average of 14.4. Between 2017 and 2022 there were 109 probable suicides (77 males and 32 females). In the previous 5- year period (2017-2021) Renfrewshire had the fifth lowest rate at 10.9 deaths per 100,000 population, again below the Scottish average of 14.1. Chart 6: Probable suicide death rate in council areas, 2017-2021 27 24 21 16 23 13 16 22 25 33 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Page 76 of 104
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19 4. Chief Officers Group 4.1 Renfrewshire Chief Officers Group (COG) was established to provide leadership, governance, direction and oversight to ensure local accountability for all aspects of public protection. Chief officers are responsible for ensuring that their respective agencies, individually and collectively reflect national guidance, which directs local services to work in partnership to achieve public protection measures. These arrangements are comparable to chief officer group arrangements in other local authority areas throughout Scotland and have been subject to an independent review. 4.2 The key areas that are overseen by the Renfrewshire COG are: • child protection; • adult protection; • offender management (MAPPA processes for sexual and violent offenders); • community public protection; • Alcohol and Drug Partnership; and • Gender Based Violence Strategy Group. 4.3 It is recognised that these areas of protection are often inter-linked and can impact on each other. The COG aims to provide demonstrable consistency and coherence in terms East Renfrewshire Stirling East Dunbartonshire Aberdeen City Shetland Islands Renfrewshire City of Edinburgh East Lothian Dumfries and Galloway Angus Midlothian South Ayrshire Aberdeenshire Fife West Lothian South Lanarkshire Scotland Falkirk Inverclyde West Dunbartonshire Scottish Borders Argyll and Bute Glasgow City North Lanarkshire North Ayrshire Clackmannanshire Moray Perth and Kinross Na h-Eileanan Siar East Ayrshire Dundee City Highland Orkney Islands 0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 Age-standardised mortality rates (per 100,000 population) Page 77 of 104
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20 of leadership and direction in all these areas. The COG also combines efforts in individual areas to ensure that decisions taken in one area have a positive impact on public protection and are not counter-productive to any other high-risk area of business. 4.4 The COG takes an overview approach to ensure that the needs of vulnerable people at risk are being met and that services are improving outcomes for vulnerable people in both the short and longer term. During the pandemic the has been greater flexibility with the COG, particularly in relation to the enhanced scrutiny arrangements for clinical and care governance of care homes and to consider a number of Large-Scale Investigations and Initial Case Reviews etc. 4.5 The remit of the COG is to provide strategic leadership and oversight, and to scrutinise the work of the protection business areas on behalf of their respective agencies; to identify successes and areas for improvement, and in doing so learn from experience, monitor trends and examine local and national comparisons and take appropriate action in response to unsatisfactory performance. 4.6 The core membership of the Renfrewshire Chief Officers Group comprises of the following: • Chief Executive of Renfrewshire Council or appropriate senior named depute; • Chief Executive of NHS or appropriate senior named depute; and • Chief Constable Police Scotland or appropriate senior named depute (note in practice this will be the Chief Superintendent Divisional Commander for Renfrewshire. • Those who will be in attendance includes: • Chief Social Work Officer, Renfrewshire Council or appropriate senior nominee; • Chief Officer of the Integration Joint Board or the appropriate senior nominee; • Independent Chair of Renfrewshire Child and Adult Protection Committees; • Child Protection Committee lead officer • Adult Protection Committee lead officer • Head of Policy and Partnerships • NSCJA SOG or appropriate senior nominee. • Director of Environment, Housing and Infrastructure or Head of Climate, Public Protection and Roads • Scottish Fire and Rescue Service • Chair of the Gender Based Violence Strategy Group or appropriate senior nominee; and • Chair of the Alcohol and Drugs Partnership or senior nominee. 5 Member Officer Group 5.1 The purpose of the Member Officer Group is to provide senior elected members with the opportunity to formally and regularly discharge their strategic independent scrutiny and assurance role in relation to key activity and significant developments which have implications for public protection matters in Renfrewshire as they relate to: • Adult Protection; • Child Protection; Page 78 of 104
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21 • MAPPA (Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements); and • Wider Community Safety and Public Protection matters including the Alcohol and Drug Partnership and Gender Based Violence Strategy Group. 5.2 The group is comprised of elected members on a cross party basis and key officers of the council as follows. • Three senior members of the administration • Two members of the main opposition group • One other opposition member • Director of Children’s Services • Chief Social Work Officer • Director of Environment, Housing and Infrastructure • Chief Officer, Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership • Health and Social Care Partnership (operational head of service) • Head of Child Care and Criminal Justice • Head of Climate, Public Protection and Roads • Head of Policy and Partnerships, Chief Executive’s Service • Child Protection Lead Officer • Adult Support and Protection Officer • Service Planning and Policy Development Manager, Chief Executive’s Service Also in attendance as required: • Independent Chair of the Child Protection and Adult Protection Committees • Divisional Commander, Police Scotland or appropriate senior nominee The group will also invite the participation of other key individuals or agencies involved in the areas of concern of the Member Officer Group as required. 6 Strategic Partnership Activities 6.1 Child Protection 6.1.1 Since January 2023, RCPC and subgroups resumed to in-person meetings with these taking place online during the pandemic. National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 6.1.2 RCPC continues to work towards full implementation of the national guidance for Child Protection in Scotland. The guidance was published in September 2021 with an eighteen to twenty-four month implementation period. The implementation of the guidance in Renfrewshire continues to be overseen by RCPC’s Policies and Procedures subgroup who are meeting on a more regular basis. 6.1.3 Renfrewshire is working collaboratively with six neighbouring authorities to update the local child protection procedures to reflect the new national guidance. Two independent consultants were commissioned to develop the procedures. Practitioners from across the participating authorities were invited to attend reference groups to inform the development of the guidance. The guidance was made available on 31 August 2023. Page 79 of 104
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22 Interagency Referral Discussions 6.1.4 In line with the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021, RCPC agreed that Education staff should routinely be involved in Interagency Referral Discussions (IRDs). A pilot was undertaken in the Renfrew and Erskine school clusters from December 2022 to February 2023. Following the successful pilot, this is being rolled out across all school clusters in Renfrewshire, with all Renfrewshire schools and Early Learning and Childcare Centres involved in IRDs from late April 2023. 6.1.5 Bimonthly IRD audits have been undertaken by a multi-agency group involving Social Work, Police and Health throughout 2022/23. From 2023/24, a representative from Education will also be invited to attend. The audit tool has been refined and updated to include, where appropriate, analysis of whether a Safe and Together approach has been taken to supporting families. Interim Safety Plans 6.1.6 In line with the National Guidance for Child Protection 2021, a draft format for providing Interim Safety Plans to children and young people has been developed. RCPC is working with Barnardo’s Hear 4 U to develop this in partnership with children and young people. Barnardo’s Hear 4 U are currently testing and refining a version with a group of children and young people. This will be piloted within the Paisley North locality team. Learning Reviews 6.1.7 RCPC is working to implement the areas for consideration in relation to three Learning Reviews which took place over 2021 and 2022. Many of the areas for consideration have been implemented, and others will be completed following the Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) refresh which is currently underway. An action log tracking the areas of consideration from all Learning Reviews has been developed and is overseen by the Continuous Improvement Group. From 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023, RCPC received one request to undertake a Learning Review. This request was considered by RCPC and it was agreed that it did not meet the criteria for undertaking a Learning Review. RCPC Communications 6.1.8 RCPC has been circulating a regular quarterly newsletter since March 2022. The newsletter is circulated following each meeting of RCPC and provides updates on the work of RCPC and developments in child protection both locally and nationally. It is aimed at practitioners across Renfrewshire working with children and families. Feedback regarding the newsletter has been positive and the number of practitioners accessing the newsletter has increased throughout the year. 6.1.9 At the meeting of RCPC in September 2022, it was agreed that a monthly online Child Protection drop in would be piloted, with the sessions evaluated, and feedback determining whether these will be ongoing. Sessions are multi-agency with participants invited from across Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership. The initial drop in took place in November 2022. Sessions have been well attended (40-60 participants) and focused on a range of areas, including: Page 80 of 104
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23 • Safe and Together; • Contextual Safeguarding; • Child protection referrals; • Equal Protection from Assault; and • Neglect. Complex Case Oversight Group Pilot 6.1.10 At the RCPC meeting on 7 December 2022, RCPC agreed to pilot an oversight group to ensure effective multi-agency review and scrutiny of children who have been on the child protection register for more than one year and other complex cases. This was in response to an area for consideration highlighted by a recent Learning Review. The group has representation from senior managers in Health, SCRA, Police, Education and Barnardo’s, and undertakes the role of ‘critical friend’ in providing advice and guidance to those managing the case. The group has been meeting regularly since February 2023 and supports those involved with the child and family to consider: • The support that has been provided to date; • The difference that has been made; • What has not changed for that child and family; and • Alternative approaches. Following a six-month pilot, a report and recommendations will be provided to RCPC. SA:SF Short Life Working Group 6.1.11 RCPC has established a short life working group (SLWG) to review the key learning of the SA:SF report which highlighted some of the key learning points reinforced through the review of non-recent accounts of sexual abuse of children and young people within Scottish football. The multiagency group was established to review the key learning and how it applies to partner agencies individually and collectively. The SLWG is chaired jointly by OneRen and RCPC and has focused on reviewing policy and practice in relation to community activities and is focusing on: • Child protection policy and procedures; • Training; • Communications; and • Seeking the views of parents in terms of their knowledge of what to be aware of and who to contact if they have a concern. The group has met on three occasions and following this will provide recommendations to RCPC. Training 6.1.12 Interagency training has returned to in-person and staff evaluations have been overwhelmingly positive with a clear preference to this format compared to online training. However, the benefits of online training is recognised and this format will be retained for shorter, information imparting courses which don’t require skills practice. Page 81 of 104
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24 6.1.13 The following training priorities were identified: • Assessment of Care, an Approach to Addressing with Neglect; • Contextual Safeguarding Addressing Child Exploitation; • Safe and Together: Interagency Overview; • Child Affected by Parental Alcohol & Drug Use; and • Interagency Child Protection Training Level 1 & 2. RCPC Conference 6.1.14 The biennial RCPC Conference took place on 15 September 2022. The overarching theme of the conference was ‘What Do Children Need from Us?’. The conference evaluated extremely positively, and attendance was at capacity. Unofficial sharing of the conference link resulted in 350 people – rather than the anticipated 250 – participating face to face or online for all or part of the day. 6.2 Trauma informed and responsive Renfrewshire 6.2.1 Recognising the fundamental issue of trauma expressed by local people and families to members of Renfrewshire’s Alcohol and Drugs Commission, work has commenced on a partnership programme of work to ensure that recognising and responding to trauma is part of every service we deliver. 6.2.2 In response, a coordinator has been recruited to lead this programme of work, taking up post end of October 2022. Since this time, engagement with the Improvement Service and other local authorities has taken place through national networks for trauma champions and trauma leads. A local Trauma Steering Group has been established and continues to meet on a regular basis, the key focus for the group has been to develop a Road Map to ensure that we understand what trauma is, and how it affects people, so we will now work differently. 6.2.3 To ensure that our leaders have the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead trauma informed change, an initial phase of training took place in early 2023 with Renfrewshire Council’s Corporate Management Team which also includes OneRen and Renfrewshire HSCP. This, together with other national training resources, will be rolled out across the Council and Community Planning Partnership throughout 2023/34. Training with elected members was offered in August 2023. 6.3 Adult Support and Protection (ASP) 6.3.1 Everyone has the right to feel safe and to be safe. Most of us can live our lives free from the risk of harm. However, some people may find it more difficult to keep themselves safe, and might need help and support to look after themselves. Renfrewshire Adult Protection Committee (RAPC) oversees the effectiveness of our adult protection practice. 6.3.2 RAPC will be implementing the revisions for the Scottish Government’s revised Code of Practice for ASP. A workplan is currently being developed based around what is required to implement to revisions operationally, and then this will expand to consider what is required strategically; and with partner agencies. As part of the phased Page 82 of 104
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25 approach to implementation, a series of briefings are being rolled out to staff and the data management system will be updated. 6.3.3 ASP data was not collated consistently across Scotland which resulted in Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (IRISS) being commissioned by the Scottish Government, to design a minimum data set that works both locally and nationally to generate meaningful and comparable data. A subset of indicators from the prototype have been identified and were rolled out on 1 April 2023. It is anticipated that these will evolve over time and will be overseen and supported by the National Data Reference Group. 6.3.4 The new data set includes indicators that see the whole ASP journey, rather than focusing disproportionately on the start, and tells more about the people in the system. The new data set also collects data on the number of Adult Support and Protection Plans in place; includes data on the number of Learning Reviews; and asks about LSIs by service type. It is envisaged that local reports will be available from the end of April 2023 with reports being provided to future meetings of COG. 6.3.5 It was previously acknowledged by partners that there was an increase in people experiencing hoarding, which can often result in self-neglect. RAPC agreed to develop a guide, which draws upon existing research and practice tools, to provide an outline to support best practice and intervention from a single or multi agency perspective. The initially guidance was produced in 2019/2020, however following a recent refresh was presented to the PPP subgroup approval on 19 December 2022. 6.3.6 To support practitioners, with the complex and challenging area around identifying risks in care home type settings, a Practitioner Toolkit was developed, covering indicators of concern in residential and nursing homes for older people; and indicators of individual harm/ abuse and neglect, in those settings. It provides a tool to collate and analyse evidence. 6.3.7 During Adult Support and Protection Day on 20 February 23, two separate communications reflecting the national key messages of Seen Something, Say Something; and spotlight on neglect and self-neglect were issued. The RAPC Twitter feed was also used to disseminate this material, to carry the same key messages to members of public. 6.3.8 It is envisaged that a quarterly newsletter will be introduced to provide an overview of the work of RAPC; updates on local and national developments around ASP activity; promote research; advertise ASP related learning and development opportunities from external organisations. 6.3.9 There were no Large Scale Investigations during the reporting period. Care homes on the cusp of an LSI were managed under a preventative approach, where the HSCP balanced a supportive approach with a statutory duty under Adult Support and Protection legislation. The HSCP was proactive, as soon as issues were identified and deployed the necessary supports, via HSCP clinical teams, which included Advance Nurse Practitioners; Care Home Liaison Nurses, Practice Development Nurse; Support Nurse; Social Work; and worked in collaboration with partner agencies to improve Page 83 of 104
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26 standards and reduce the risk to the residents in those particular settings. They also called on the support of the NHS GGC Care Home Collaborative Group, to provide specific training requirements with the identified care homes. 6.3.10 The LSI procedures will be revised to align with the revised ASP Codes of Practice, July 2022. IRISS has launched ASP LSI Framework which will inform any new procedures. 6.4 Oversight of Care Homes and Care at Home Services 6.4.1 Enhanced clinical and care oversight arrangements for care homes were put in place early on in the pandemic to support care home staff to keep residents safe. The guidance required that clinical and care professional at NHS boards and local authorities will have a leading role in the oversight for care homes in their area. There has been considerable learning and examples of excellent partnership working during this time. 6.4.2 On 19 December 2022, the Chief Social Work Advisor and the Chief Nurse set out recommendations, for new arrangements for providing continuing enhanced support to adult and older people’s care homes in Scotland. The recommendations have since been adopted in Renfrewshire and a Collaborative Care Home Support Team is in place. Local strategic oversight of these arrangements continues to be provided by the COG who regular monitored performance, scrutinised reports and established special meetings of the grouped as and when required. 6.5 Gender Based Violence 6.5.1 The impact of Gender Based Violence, which includes domestic abuse, rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, childhood sexual abuse, and so called "honour based violence" such as forced marriage and female genital mutilation has an immediate and long lasting impact on the women and children in Renfrewshire who experience it. This Gender Based Violence Strategy has been developed and outlines how partners will work together to ensure that Renfrewshire is a place where gender based violence isn't tolerated and where victims, perpetrators and communities are supported to address its causes and consequences. Mentors in Violence Prevention 6.5.2 The Mentors in Violence Prevention Program (MVP) is a peer education approach to gender-based violence and bullying prevention and is designed to give students the skills to speak out against issues which affect relationships within our schools and communities by adopting a ‘bystander’ approach. MVP is now running in 10 of our secondary schools with our final school participating in training during May 2023. We currently have over 500 senior pupil mentors across Renfrewshire Council facilitating lessons around relationships and gender-based violence to S1 and S2 pupils. Our mentors have also facilitated in lesson delivery with feeder primary schools. With over 400 staff trained since MVP was introduced into Renfrewshire Council, our focus is on a whole school approach which brings the education sector and partners together. Our school work has been supported and strengthened by working closely with our Page 84 of 104
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27 colleagues in Youth Services through our Young and Equally Safe in Renfrewshire project. Young and Equally Safe in Renfrewshire 6.5.3 Young and Equally Safe (YES) in Renfrewshire is funded through the Scottish Government’s Delivering Equally Safe fund. YES aims to develop the existing Mentors in Violence Prevention school-based programme into community settings. Youth Services, working in partnership with Children’s Services and Community Learning and Development partners, are working to provide safe and brave spaces for young people to explore gender-based violence issues and campaign work to bring about a challenge to norms by promoting a positive social action model through youth work engagement. In 2022 YES participated in the Reclaim the Night March, and in 2023 are looking to launch their YES campaign to tie in with16 Days of Action in Renfrewshire involving the wider community. In addition, to date we have trained approximately 130 teachers, youth work staff, and community sports groups building capacity and confidence to tackle gender-based violence in their organisations, with more training opportunities planned for 2023/24. Women and Children First 6.5.4 Renfrewshire Council’s Women and Children First service continues to provide a holistic support service to women and children affected by abuse. Returning to the Mile End Centre means that the range of face to face supports and group work opportunities are fully operational. The Reconnection part of the service has been awarded a further two years funding from the Scottish Government Delivering Equally Safe Fund. The project outcomes have been reviewed and amended to include stronger service user involvement and to further develop the trauma informed and therapeutic element of the service. 6.5.5 An external evaluation has recently taken place of the Reconnection service. The external researchers will present the findings of the evaluation at a future GBV Strategy Group. The conclusion of the evaluation report notes: “In essence the data show that both of the outcomes for WCFRR have in very large part been met. There was no dubiety of the importance of WCFRR in the lives of the women and children, providing life changing experiences, belief in themselves and the future, strength and resilience and the ability to trust.” Multi-agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) 6.5.6 Renfrewshire continues to operate a successful MARAC. The MARAC is held for a single day every four weeks and on average dealt with 12 to 15 cases at each meeting. In recent months Renfrewshire MARAC has seen an increase in referral figures of 35% with no reasonable expectation these numbers will reduce. It is understood the rise in referral numbers is due to a greater awareness amongst partner agencies in relation to the referral criteria and positively shows more victims of domestic abuse are being recognised and supported across Renfrewshire. This does however, Page 85 of 104
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28 mean that there are in excess of 22 cases to be discussed at a single meeting – and therefore different arrangements being put into place to accommodate these. 16 Days of Activism/Reclaim the Night March 6.5.7 The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual worldwide campaign that begins on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, International Human Rights Day. As part of our local response, the annual Reclaim the Night March took place on 29 November 2022 with the themes of whatnext# and youthvoice#. Colleagues in Barnardo’s took the lead in organising the event which culminated with the laying of the wreath at Dunn Square in memory of lives lost to violence against women. 3 Safe and Together 6.5.8 The Safe and Together model was introduced to Renfrewshire during the 2016 Child Protection Conference, by the model’s pioneer, David Mandel. Safe and Together is a perpetrator pattern based, child-centred, survivor strengths approach to working with domestic abuse. The model argues that the focus should be on the children’s interests while also maintaining that the perpetrator parent be held to the same parenting standards as the parent who is the victim of the abuse. Safe and Together was originally developed for use in child welfare systems, but it also has implications for domestic abuse advocates, family services and courts, amongst others. The long-term aim is for this model to be embedded as an approach to gender-based violence across all services in Renfrewshire and this process is currently underway, with the initial focus being on Children’s Service Social Work staff. 6.5.9 Children’s Services have two staff trained as trainers in the Safe and Together model. The four-day Safe and Together training was delivered to 48 Children’s Services Social Work staff in 2022 across two cohorts. Another four-day course was delivered in March 2023 and included participants from Health Visiting and Barnardo’s as a pilot to consider the usefulness of this level of training for colleagues across agencies. A further four-day course is planned for August/September 2023. 6.5.10 A one-day inter-agency briefing was delivered in December 2022 to positive feedback. Two further one-day multi-agency briefings are planned for June and October 2023. Staff already trained in the model act as ‘champions’ within in their own teams and reflective coaching sessions are offered in complex, child protection cases. The Safe and Together Steering Group meets quarterly to review the implementation plan. Renfrewshire is a participant in the Safe and Together National Implementation Forum. 6.6 Community Safety and Public Protection CONTEST Prevent Strategy Page 86 of 104
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29 6.6.1 The Renfrewshire Community Protection (PREVENT) Steering Group co-ordinates work in Renfrewshire in support of the national Prevent strategy aimed at stopping people becoming or supporting terrorists or violent extremists. A specific part of its role is to ensure that relevant arrangements are in place to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and to ensure that those at risk of this are given appropriate advice and support – including oversight of the PMAP process in Renfrewshire. 6.6.2 The Renfrewshire Prevent Strategy – referrals and PMAP process (2022-2025) was updated during 2021/22 and agreed at the Communities and Housing Policy Board in June 2022. The updated strategy has a clear focus on key processes and referral mechanisms including NOTICE-CHECK-SHARE and the process required to be followed and the key partners involved in conducting Prevent Multi Agency Partnership (PMAP) meetings. PMAP process 6.6.3 Awareness, vigilance, and early intervention are all key to the success of the Prevent strategy and process. Safeguarding is central to the ethos and helps bring confidence to the process, providing reassurance that reporting concerns will lead to support for individuals to fully disengage from radicalisation. 6.6.4 In Renfrewshire it is understood that the vulnerabilities that may lead to people becoming involved in terrorism or supporting terrorist activities may also result in a range of other negative outcomes – becoming involved in crime either as a victim or perpetrator, going missing, becoming involved in exploitation such as slavery, trafficking or sexual exploitation or otherwise becoming involved in or a victim of coercion or control. 6.6.5 All referrals will initially be checked against other information to see if the individual referred is considered to pose a risk to themselves or the wider community which would require immediate action. A referral will not progress to management under the full PMAP process if it is considered malicious or misguided or it is clear the person is not vulnerable to potentially violent extremism / ideologies. PMAP considers individual cases and will develop a support package based on the risk assessment, the needs of the individual and any risks posed to potential support providers. Individuals can only be managed and supported through the PREVENT process with their agreement and consent. If the individual is under 18 their guardians’ permission is also required. NOTICE-CHECK-SHARE Training 6.6.6 Increasing the awareness of frontline officers and the wider community about how to identify potentially vulnerable people and how to share concerns is a key element in improving resilience around the Prevent process. NOTICE-CHECK-SHARE training has been rolled out throughout 2021/22 to not only Renfrewshire Council front-line staff including Housing Officers/EHOs but also to a range of public and third sector partners – even University of West of Scotland Criminology students. It is a key priority of the Community Protection (PREVENT) Steering Group in 2022/23 to continue to roll out the training as it has been well received by everyone undertaking it to date and increased awareness amongst third sector partners will be a focus for the roll out programme. Page 87 of 104
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30 Serious Organised Crime DISRUPT – targeted interventions to harden sectors against the risk from Serious Organised Crime Groups 6.6.7 Operation CECE is a UK-wide joint initiative between Trading Standards services and HMRC to tackle the illegal tobacco and e-cigarette trade at retail level. A particular focus in the activity was on illicit (counterfeit and duty evaded/smuggled) tobacco products. Intelligence around local sales of illicit tobacco resulted in a test purchase programme to verify the information available. In September, a Day of Action was undertaken, utilising the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) Tobacco Detection dog to find illicit tobacco, where it was not on overt display. Trading Standards Officers took action to remove the illicit product; disrupting the market and preventing fraud. This local action is part of a broader strategy that tackles three ‘tiers’ of criminality, with illegal factories abroad being shut down by HMRC, and Border Force intercepting smuggled products at UK ports & borders. 6.6.8 In its first year, Operation CECE is estimated to have prevented £8.75 in detriment for every £1 of resource spent on it. Work in this area is ongoing, and funding for CECE has been extended into 2023/24. A letter has been sent to all registered retailers of tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Products (NVPs) to remind them of their responsibilities and the local press published an article to highlight the issue. 6.6.9 In May 2022, the enforcement of Liquor and Civic Licensing transferred to the Trading Standards and Licensing Team. This will increase the opportunities to spot potential incursions into legitimate business activities by Serious Organised Crime Groups; as well as maximising opportunities for targeted disruption activities. Divert – directing residents away from using products/services provided by Serious Organised Crime Groups 6.6.10 Any financial downturn opens up opportunities for our communities to be exploited by criminals, looking to prey on worries and vulnerabilities. This year, Public Protection included a leaflet with every Council Tax Bill in Renfrewshire which outlined emerging scams based around the cost of living crisis. Raising awareness of these scams will allow citizens to make informed and confident choices. Scams outlined include energy bill rebate texts, energy saving devices, cold callers promoting energy saving grants, “free shopping vouchers” and quick loans/loan sharks. Deter – internal resilience and business resilience against risks posed by Serious Organised Crime 6.6.11 Public Protection have been involved in the new risk management training module, put in place to address “business as usual” risks. This innovative and challenging approach, led by Renfrewshire Council’s Risk Manager, aims to provide real assurance around risks, including spotting criminality, radicalisation, or insider threat. The module will be rolled out to Heads of Service in 2023/24. Where required, Public Protection will Page 88 of 104
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31 action any training needs (or other relevant outcomes) around Serious Organised Crime or PREVENT. 6.7 Financial Harm Strategy 6.7.1 In March 2022, the Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board approved the Renfrewshire Financial Harm Strategy for 2022-25. This strategy aimed to ensure - through a robust Action Plan - that partners and agencies work collaboratively and efficiently to tackle financial harm in all its guises and wherever it occurs throughout our communities. The strategy was led on by the Financial Harm Sub-Group and had a clear focus on what it wanted to achieve under the 5 ‘E’s’: • Early Intervention and Prevention • Education • Engagement • Engineering • Enforcement 6.7.2 Throughout 2022-23, the initial Action Plan was completed. A network of partners was solidified, including an exercise to map out each partner’s role and remit in relation to financial harm. With the positive implantation of the strategy, it is noted that there are no discernible trends that imply that adult support referrals are being impacted in the cost-of-living crisis. 6.7.3 It has been agreed that further activity should now be referred to “business as usual” from services who deal with the impact from Financial Harm. Whilst the Strategy has a further 2 years remaining, the Group can be reconvened if these trends change. 6.8 Community Protection Community Safety Partnership Hub Daily Tasking 6.8.1 To ensure early intervention with regards to Community Protection, Daily Tasking has continued on-line with partners to ensure that all issues from the previous 24/48 hours are still being discussed/raised/disposed. Partners meet virtually at 9.30am (Mon – Fri) to allow discussion and action to be taken. Meetings will continue to be held in this format as experience has shown that there can be increased participation and attendance from a wider group of agencies and officers than was previously possible when in face-to-face meetings. Monthly Tasking 6.8.2 Monthly Tasking was established in October 2020 to address cases that recur at daily tasking regularly within a 1-month period. These are taken to Monthly Tasking for a more in-depth discussion and a multi-agency response plan is created to deal with escalating concerns regarding risk. Page 89 of 104
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32 6.8.3 The group identify the most effective intervention and prevention options to protect vulnerable individuals from being repeatedly drawn into criminal behaviour and activities. In line with the principles of Prevent, the focus of monthly tasking is to ensure vulnerable people are not on a path towards extremism or criminality and to respond quickly and effectively to support those who may be at greater risk of coercion, radicalisation, violence or ongoing criminal behaviour. There are 5 key areas of concern raised at daily tasking that feed into Monthly Tasking: • Concerns for persons • Concerns for children • Noise / Neighbour complaints • Youth disorder • Deliberate fire raising 6.9 Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy 6.9.1 In March 2022, an updated Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) strategy was approved by the Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board. A key strength of the strategy has been to formalise links and build on already effective working with Housing services and Registered Social Landlords. The strategy was well received, and an action plan has been developed to ensure appropriate actions are delivered with updates being provided on a yearly basis. 6.9.2 A working group is currently being formed to progress new ASB procedures across communities and housing services and RSLs which will underpin the Strategy. Work is also ongoing from the Scottish Government in conjunction with the Scottish Community Safety Network (SCSN) to look at the landscape of ASB across Scotland and how to improve the outcomes for all. We have contributed to this research and await published findings. 6.10 Water Safety 6.10.1 Due to the death of a 13-year-old youth in the River Gryfe in June 2021, Renfrewshire Council formalised a lot of the work that had been on-going in previous years. In particular, this focused on setting up a Partnership Water Safety Working Group with including Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service, Civil Contingencies Service, OneRen, Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership and Open Water Rescue. Progress has included: • a strategic review of Public Rescue Equipment (PRE) which resulted in new equipment being placed along the River Gryfe; and • raising awareness with young people in educational establishments regarding basic water safety surviving techniques and first aid awareness. 6.11 Migration and Asylum 6.11.1 The Chief Officers Group has received regular updates on migration and asylum issues as these have developed throughout 2022/23, including in relation to support for the resettlement of Ukrainian Displaced Persons (UDPs) since March 2022 and in more recent months in relation to the UK Government’s asylum dispersal programme. Page 90 of 104
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33 Support for Ukrainian Displaced Persons (UDPs) 6.11.2 March 2022 saw the introduction of new visa programmes to allow people fleeing the war in Ukraine to seek refuge and support in the UK. During the first months of the war a number of individual and families came to live in Renfrewshire through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. The Council and its partners were also asked to support the establishment of a Welcome Hub at Glasgow Airport with a key aim of supporting people who arrived in Scotland through the Scottish Government’s super sponsor scheme for UDPs. 6.11.3 A core purpose of the Welcome Hubs is to provide a warm welcome to the country, including the provision of temporary accommodation and support to those arriving, with the aim of UDPs moving to more settled accommodation within other local authority areas, including in Renfrewshire. In practice, those arriving have often stayed many weeks and months within the Welcome Hub, due to factors including the availability of settled accommodation across Scotland. Significant partnership focus has been required to support the high volumes of arrivals experienced, including in relation to housing support, employment support, education, ESOL, health and protection issues etc. 6.11.4 In late 2022, the Scottish Government paused the super sponsor scheme. Whilst the number of arrivals and people being supported in the Welcome Hub has reduced, there continue to be challenges in terms of supporting people staying in the hotel to move to settled accommodation in other local authority areas. In Spring 2023, the Scottish Government started to work with partners on the decommissioning of the accommodation at MS Ambition, with all residents having left by the end of March. Local authorities were asked to support this process and accommodate a number of UDP’s within their authority area, and a number of residents were moved to the Renfrewshire Welcome Hub as part of the initial transition. Asylum Dispersal 6.11.5 In April 2022, the UK Government notified all UK local authorities of their intention to expand asylum dispersal arrangements across the UK, rather than through a number of agreed asylum dispersal areas such as Glasgow. The Home Office’s contractor, Mears, has identified only a small number of properties in Renfrewshire to support asylum dispersal, due to the current pressures being experienced in the local private sector housing market. However, in tandem, Mears have also been working to secure hotel contingency accommodation to be used across Scotland, in response to the large number of asylum seekers currently awaiting decisions (due to backlogs) and the ongoing high level of arrivals being experienced in the South of England. 6.11.6 Officers from the Council, HSCP and Police Scotland have continued to engage with Mears/Home Office around the issues which have developed in relation to their planned use of the hotel accommodation. 6.12 Community Justice Page 91 of 104
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34 6.12.1 In 2021/22 the effective period of Renfrewshire’s Community Justice Outcome Improvement Plan was extended to the end of 2022. The priorities identified in the plan have continued to guide the work of the partnership over this period and remains the basis for current reporting requirements. In June 2022 the Scottish Government published a revised National Strategy for Community Justice. This sets the national direction for community justice activity and provides a roadmap for future improvement activity. The strategy identifies 4 national aims and 13 priority actions that community justice partnerships are required to support. 6.12.2 Community Justice Renfrewshire – like all justice partnerships – undertook a review of the revised national strategy and considered priority actions in the context of local needs. This was completed in reference to Renfrewshire’s revised Council Plan and Community Plan, both of which were published in September 2022. In March 2023, the Scottish Government published its Community Justice Performance Framework, outlining national outcomes and associated indicators to further guide partnership improvement activity. In response, Community Justice Renfrewshire has developed a Community Justice Outcome Improvement Plan 2023-26, identifying areas of focus that will be subject to closer analysis and assessment over the course of 2023/24 6.12.3 In February 2023 a new Lead Officer was appointed to support the partnership. The Lead Officer has made good progress refreshing and strengthening relationships across the partnership and has taken early steps to review governance arrangements to improve efficiency, decision making and performance reporting. Links have been developed across other complementary workstreams to strategically map the partnership’s added value, with learning and best practice being used to shape an effective collaborative approach. 6.13 Alcohol and Drugs Change Programme 6.13.1 Following the Alcohol and Drugs Commission’s final report in December 2020, partners have prioritised a range of actions in response to the key recommendations, as well as establishing a Programme Board to drive the local response, ensuring that all partners work together, join up service developments, and maximise the resources available. Key developments in projects progressed over the year include: • Harm Reduction Response Team (HaRRT) - The Service is delivered through a mobile unit, which has been situated in specific areas in relation to near fatal overdoses and suspected drug deaths postcode data. Launching in early summer 2022, around 153 clients were supported by the service throughout 2022. • MYLA (MyLifeAhead) – This housing-led project offers supports to households in Renfrewshire, whose life is being affected by alcohol/drugs, and builds on the concept that in order to have good health, you need to have a good, settled home. Launching in May 2022, the project is already supporting 26 service users, with referrals coming from a broad range of services/agencies. • FIRST Crisis - This project involves extending the current out of hours crisis support service provided by RAMH to include support in relation to alcohol and drugs. The Service operates between 9am-8pm Monday-Friday and 9-5pm Saturday/Sunday Page 92 of 104
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35 and public holidays, predominantly through telephone support. Launching in April 2022, 171 clients were supported by the service throughout 2022. • Building Based Services - In response to identified issues with the environment at the Back Sneddon Street Service, the HSCP are reviewing accommodation requirements and the findings will used to inform a Property Strategy. The HSCP are also considering expanding the use of space in other buildings across Renfrewshire to support a shift to a more community-based model, for example more clinical space has been agreed for ADRS use in areas such as Johnstone and Renfrew. • Hidden Harm - Independent research was commissioned to better understand the level of hidden harm from alcohol and drugs in Renfrewshire. This was completed by We are With You and the findings from this research have been shared and discussed with partners. • Mental Health Support for Children and Young People - The Youth Health and Wellbeing Service began in mid-September 2022 and provides drop-in facilities for young people who require access to both health and wellbeing support direct from health professionals. Available one evening a week, the Service complements the wider health and wellbeing work taking place across Renfrewshire. A second phase of the approach to further supporting children and young people’s mental health involves undertaking more targeted work in specific schools experiencing very complex needs. A project has been developed for a multiagency pilot project for young people experiencing significant mental health difficulties and are at risk of missing out on education. • Alcohol Policy - A partnership officer has been recruited to drive policy change across Renfrewshire. Actions over the last year include: continuing to support the Licensing Forum, as well as community councils around their role in the licensing process and for the Licensing Statement Review; and, supporting Council HR colleagues in developing a Workplace Alcohol and Substance Policy, as well as supporting a review of similar policies in West College Scotland. • Enhanced Education and Training Across Educational Establishments - The ‘Alcohol and Substance Awareness Education’ pack, including nursery, primary, and secondary resources, has been produced with Renfrewshire Children’s Services, Teachers, Police Scotland, NHS, Renfrewshire HSCP and, most importantly, children, young people, and those who have lived experience of drug and alcohol use. Since its launch in August 2022, the programme has been accessed by over 400 Renfrewshire teachers. • Family Support Review - An independent review of existing family support provision Renfrewshire has been carried out, engaging with local families and frontline staff to assess where possible gaps in provision exist, and making recommendations on how to address these. The report has been produced, with a mapping exercise against the recommendations currently being carried out across core partners. • Peer Worker Model - The model delivers a core programme of activities and is developing links for future implementation. Current service provision includes activities such as a book group, gardening group, focus group, football, drama etc. The Coordinator and workers have been hugely involved in the Connected and Caring Renfrewshire programme and its development and delivery, including holding a Listening Event. • Recovery Change Fund - The aim of the Recovery Change Fund is to support the development of local groups and organisations which provide social connection and support recovery in Renfrewshire. To date £61,450.54 has been allocated to groups and organisations, supporting various initiatives. Page 93 of 104
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36 • Connected and Caring Renfrewshire – The Scottish Recovery Consortium (SRC), working in partnership with colleagues in CIRCLE, delivered a programme of events and activities throughout 2022, such as Barshaw Park Gala Day, Blend Event, Live it Up in Linwood, Connected and Caring Carnival, the Art of Recovery Festival, and the Recovery Walk Scotland, which took place in Paisley on 24 September 2022 during Scotland’s celebration of International Recovery. The Programme is joint funded by the ADP and the Alcohol and Drugs Change Programme. • Stigma/Language Matters – High level themes and initial actions have been identified, including supporting staff to understand the power of language, be confident in their use of language, and to challenge stigma by speaking up when people make negative or wrong comments; and supporting national campaigns to help people in Renfrewshire understand the power and impact of language. A review of the resources required to deliver this project is currently underway, exploring the potential to engage a partner to undertake this work. Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) 6.13.2 Prevention of Drug Related Deaths Improved surveillance of drug-related deaths and harms has been a key objective of the ADP. This has resulted in the development of an enhanced drug death review process, including the formation of a Renfrewshire multiagency Drug Death Review Group which aims to identify trends, risk factors, and recognise areas of focus for prevention. The enhanced model will also aim to identify good practice, trends, and learning opportunities which can be communicated to a whole range of partners, and will also allow for a more timely response to effect change where required. 6.13.3 Naloxone A multiagency Naloxone Delivery Group has been established with the goal of expanding Naloxone availability throughout Renfrewshire. The distribution of Naloxone continues to target those most at risk of overdose through supply by local services including ADRS, CIRCLE, HaRRT, the Overdose Response Team, pharmacies, and needle exchanges. The aspiration is to normalise the use of Naloxone through awareness raising via our training calendar, community pop up information stands, and increasing accessibility of information relating to Naloxone specific to Renfrewshire. The Delivery Group has been key in the roll out of community campaigns, including Overdose Awareness Day, and Connected and Caring at Christmas. 6.13.4 Reflective Sessions Drug Death Reflective sessions were held for ADRS staff throughout April 2022. The purpose of these sessions was to learn how ADRS staff can be better supported in the event that someone on their caseload dies. A subsequent report capturing staff insights, and an action plan to drive change was implemented. 6.13.5 Drug Death Prevention Group The Drug Death Prevention Group continues to drive forward and implement actions identified within the Preventing Drug Deaths in Renfrewshire Action Plan. This has been Page 94 of 104
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37 updated following a development session with group members, facilitated by Scottish Drugs Forum, as well as the newly published recommendations and strategies including the Drug Death Task Force Final Report. 6.13.6 Greater Glasgow and Clyde Overdose Response Team The Overdose Response Team launched in Renfrewshire in September 2021 and continues to provide a rapid response to those who have suffered a non-fatal overdose. The service provides an outreach response and operates out of hours between 10am- 10pm, 7 days a week. The rationale behind this service is to navigate individuals to engage within treatment and care services. Since July 2021, the Overdose Response Team have engaged with 103 people in Renfrewshire. 6.13.7 Lived Experience Forum The Renfrewshire Lived Experience Forum held its first meeting in December 2022 and continues to meet on a monthly basis. Members of the community with lived and living experience of alcohol & drug use, for either themselves or a family member, are invited to learn more about how they have the ability to influence change in Renfrewshire. The purpose of the group is to give members the opportunity to share their views and experiences to help inform the work of the ADP and in turn improve services. It is our aim that with the appropriate support & training, Forum members will feel empowered to contribute their views on strategic proposals and work plans. This will ensure that the voice of people with lived and living experience is embedded in the ADP decision making process and the delivery of services. 6.13.8 Family Support Worker A Family Support Recovery Worker has recently been recruited, in partnership with Barnardo’s. Their role will be to establish a network of support for people in Renfrewshire who are impacted by a loved one’s drug or alcohol use. There is a range of work currently underway to create opportunities for support which will suit the needs of different members of the family. At present, a ‘homework club’ has been set up at CIRCLE for children & young people and their parents to come together in a welcoming environment to spend time together after school. Plans are also progressing to create a family support group, bereavement group, craft groups as well as more tailored one to one support for individuals. The Whole Families Approach Framework will be adopted in all aspects of family support in Renfrewshire ensuring there is a joined-up approach between services. 6.14 Suicide Prevention 6.14.1 Suicide is a complex issue for Renfrewshire, and the ‘Whole of Government’ and ‘Whole Society’ approach of ‘Creating Hope Together’ is welcomed – ‘Suicide is Everyone’s Business’. 6.14.2 One of our short-term strategic priorities is to implement a Chief Officer led local multi- agency strategic group for suicide prevention. The group is currently being established and is expected to meet for the first time in the coming weeks; the remit has been Page 95 of 104
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38 developed with a comprehensive terms of reference. The group will consist of relevant key partners across Renfrewshire and will lead on developing a suicide prevention strategy and action plan, aiming to reduce the rate of suicide and self-harm within Renfrewshire. This aligns with the national strategy’s whole society approach. 6.14.3 Some of the key responsibilities of the strategic group will be to; gather, analyse and interpret local data in order to understand local context and to identify the most effect interventions to prevent suicidal behaviour; to co-ordinate any ongoing suicide prevention activity in Renfrewshire; to ensure the voice of those with lived experience of thoughts of suicide, suicide attempt and those bereaved by suicide are listened to; and to implement monitoring and evaluation tools and resources to demonstrate the impact of the suicide prevention strategy and action plan once established. 6.14.4 The Choose Life Service Co-ordinator continues to work closely with a range of services to further the work of suicide prevention. As COVID-19 restrictions have reduced, face to face training has recommenced with a comprehensive programme of courses scheduled from January to June 2023. Courses being delivered include: • ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) 5 courses • safeTALK (suicide awareness for everyone) 2 courses • SMHFA (Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid) 2 courses • What’s the Harm (self-harm awareness) 2 courses • Living Works START (interactive online video with follow up session – Beyond START) 10 sessions 6.14.5 The courses so far have been well attended and oversubscribed with courses having waiting lists. Further finance has been requested to hire suitable training venues to run a similar training programme from August 2023 to March 2024. 6.14.6 The Choose Life Service Co-ordinator continues to work collaboratively with a range of partner organisations and services and represents Renfrewshire HSCP at National and board-wide strategic meetings. 7. Strategic Focus 7.1 Renfrewshire Community Protection Chief Officers Group is responsible for leadership, strategic oversight and scrutiny in relation to multi-agency public protection activity and practice in Renfrewshire. During the pandemic, it has had an enhanced role in terms of the scrutiny of care homes and ensuring our most vulnerable citizens are cared for and protected. This will continue as we move forward and plan for recovery and renewal. 7.2 COG will continue to regularly scrutinise and monitor performance across all areas of community protection activity, focusing in on areas where there are ratings are poor, there’s changes in referrals, incidents or concerns reported, or where national research or legislation suggests improvements or change to practice or multi agency working. 7.3 The Chief Officers Group will seek to ensure that performance and practice are scrutinised at a strategic level, to identify what works well, to highlight any areas for Page 96 of 104
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39 improvement, and to consider where further opportunities for early intervention and prevention activity would achieve improved outcomes for local people. 7.4 Moving forward the Chief Officers Group have identified a number of specific priorities to be progressed during 2023/24, in addition to ongoing activity. These are: • Alcohol and drug related harm • Suicide Prevention • Care homes oversight • Child Protection inspection • Learning Reviews • Trauma Informed and Responsive • Self-evaluation of partnership working Page 97 of 104
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___________________________________________________________________ To: Council On: 28 September 2023 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Clydeplan / Regional Spatial Strategy – future governance ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This report seeks to update members following the meeting of the Clydeplan Joint Committee on 28th June 2023 and seeks Renfrewshire Council’s agreed position on the future governance for the preparation of a Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS). The report outlines potential options and seeks members view on their preferred model for delivery of this duty. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Council agree to: Note the Joint Committee recommendation (Jun 2023) to its member authorities (and Renfrewshire’s vote against this recommendation); . Instruct officers on its preference for future governance in terms of preparation of an RSS (see section 5 of the report) so this may be communicated to other member authorities; . Note that further reports will come back to the appropriate Council board or Full Council once other member authority make their preference known; Item 8 Page 99 of 104
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________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 has resulted in significant changes to the planning system in Scotland. The Act, together with the adoption of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF), removes strategic development plans (like Clydeplan) from the statutory development plan. 3.2 The Act introduced a new duty which requires one or more local authorities to prepare a regional spatial strategy (RSS). The RSS is a long-term spatial strategy for the strategic development of an area which enables planning authorities to work together with others within a defined area to guide future long-term use of land. 3.3 Elements for consideration that will inform the content of an RSS for the region will be informed by forthcoming Scottish Government guidance. 3.4 Unlike the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Strategic Development Plan, the RSS will not form part of the statutory development which now comprises NPF as well as the local development plans prepared by each individual local authority. 3.5 There is no prescription in the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 on how local authorities discharge the duty to prepare an RSS and it is open for local authorities to consider their preferred model. The RSS will not be a statutory document and it is not clear what, if any, role a regional body would have in approving its content. Guidance on the preparation of RSSs is pending, however the Scottish Government are yet to confirm a timescale for this. 4. Joint Committee 28 June 2023 4.1 The Glasgow & the Clyde Valley Strategic Development Planning Authority Joint Committee (“Joint Committee”) met on 28 Jun 2023 to consider a report on the next steps towards preparation of an RSS. The report recommended that the Joint Committee: a) notes the cessation of strategic development plans; and b) considers the options detailed within the report and advises officers of the Joint Committee’s preferred option for considering regional spatial planning issues going forward. 4.2 Appendix 2 to that report set out four possible options for the future governance and preparation of the forthcoming RSS. 4.3 In summary these four options were: Page 100 of 104
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i. This option follows the recommendation of the March 2021 Joint Committee report. Existing Clydeplan staff resource would be reviewed considering the new requirements for RSS preparation. Staff would be consulted on a possible TUPE transfer to Glasgow City Council. If transferred, the team would be integrated into the existing city region structures (overseen by the Regional Director) who would take responsibility for preparing an RSS and reporting this through to the GCR Cabinet for approval. This would move the duty to prepare an RSS directly into the city region governance structures. ii. All strategic planning issues relating to individual member authorities would revert to them. It would be up to each individual authority to reach decision on whether to participate in the preparation of an RSS going forward. iii. Strategic planning issues to be considered by a newly formed “Spatial Planning Partnership”. This new forum would enable member discussion on cross boundary strategic planning issues and approve the production of the RSS. The Partnership would require to be established as a formally constituted body. The new Partnership supported by an officer Steering Group and (repurposed Clydeplan) dedicated officer team. iv. This option is like the recommendation of the March 2021 Joint Committee report. The Clydeplan staff team would be integrated into the existing city region Programme Management Office (overseen by the Director of Regional Economic Growth) who would take responsibility for preparing an RSS and reporting this through to the Joint Committee for approval. 4.4 The Joint Committee Convenor (Cllr O’Neill; West Dunbartonshire Council) moved option (iv) (of those listed above) that would see the Joint Committee retained as the governance for any future RSS and the staff resource being dealt with as per option 1. 4.5 An amendment was put forward by two other Committee members that option (i) should be supported. 4.6 On a vote 4 Cllrs voted for the motion (including the Renfrewshire Council representative), while 8 members voted for the amendment which was carried as the recommendation of the Joint Committee to the member authorities. 5. Next steps 5.1 Following the recommendation of the Joint Committee in June 2023, it now falls on each of the eight member authorities to decide individually how they wish to proceed. Page 101 of 104
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5.2 It is clear, given the voting that took place at the Joint Committee, that many of the authorities wish to move the governance for any future RSS from the existing arrangements to the city region (Cabinet or any sub-group thereof), albeit this would need to be expressed as a formal decision from each authority individually. They also wish the current Clydeplan officer team (currently employees of Renfrewshire Council) to be consulted on a TUPE transfer to the GCR officer team (who would then be employed by Glasgow City Council). 5.3 The Joint Committee’s Minute of Agreement makes clear that for any member authority who wishes to leave the current arrangement have to offer formal notice of their withdrawal and there is then a notice period (extending to 2 financial years from 31 March of the year notice given) given before they are formally no longer part of that governance arrangement. 5.4 Clearly if there was a mutual agreement between all 8 authorities then then Minute of Agreement could be formally amended to change the notice period. 5.5 Council is asked to express a view on a proposed course of action which authorises officers to discuss with the other seven authorities. These could include: Maintaining the existing Joint Committee arrangements and review following publication of Scottish Government guidance on RSS preparation; Maintain the existing Joint Committee arrangements in line with option (1) but (meantime) agree to consult the existing Clydeplan officer team on a possible TUPE transfer to GCR officer team; Accept the recommendation of the Joint Committee (28 June 2023) and agree to the proposed change to future RSS governance being transferred to the GCR Cabinet; Await the views of the other seven authorities to determine if others wish to continue with the Joint Committee, as at present or in some reshaped format. A further report will be brought back to Renfrewshire Council once the other views are known; Tendering their notice from the Joint Committee and await Scottish Government guidance on how individual authorities can undertake collective approaches with neighbouring authorities; ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – will depend on option selected by the GCR member authorities but costs to date for Clydeplan and Joint Committee are divided between the eight constituent authorities, with Renfrewshire Council as lead authority to date. Page 102 of 104
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2. HR & Organisational Development – The Clydeplan and GCR Green Network team are currently Renfrewshire Council employees (due to RC being lead authority for these matters). Any potential transfer of employer for these employees would be subject to consultation through the recognised TUPE arrangements. 3. Community/Council Planning – Reshaping our place, our economy and our future – The RSS could be a key document in establishing a land use framework for supporting, encouraging and delivering economic development in Renfrewshire. 4. Legal - will depend on option selected by the GCR member authorities in terms of how to progress with governance arrangements. 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. 12. Cosla Policy Position – Not Applicable. 13. Climate Risk – None. _________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers (a) “Towards a Regional Spatial Strategy”; Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Strategic Development Planning Authority Joint Committee; 28 June 2023 (b) “Towards a Regional Spatial Strategy”; Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Strategic Development Planning Authority Joint Committee; 12 June 2023 Page 103 of 104
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(c) Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 - Duty to prepare a Regional Spatial Strategy; Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Strategic Development Planning Authority Joint Committee; 8 March 2021 ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Alasdair Morrison; Telephone: 0300 300 0273 Head of Economy and Development Alasdair.morrison@renfrewshire.gov.uk Tel: 07979700472 Page 104 of 104