Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 22 September 2025
Back to Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board — 22 September 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
Minute of Meeting Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board Date Time Venue Monday, 22 September 2025 15:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Present: Councillor Andy Doig, Councillor Gillian Graham, Councillor James MacLaren, Councillor Janis McDonald, Councillor Will Mylet, Councillor Ben Smith Chair Councillor Andy Doig, Convener, presided. In Attendance A MacArthur, Director of Finance & Resources; L McIntyre, Head of Policy and Partnerships (Chief Executive’s); M Gilligan, Social Work Manager Operations Promise Lead (Children’s Services); G Hutton, Head of Operations & Service Development, G Derbyshire, Senior Service Delivery Manager, C McCallum, Civil Contingencies Service Manager, E McMahon, Housing Estate Manager (Council Housing) (all Environment, Housing & Infrastructure); K Campbell, Chief Auditor, C McCourt, Head of Finance & Procurement, M Conaghan, Head of Corporate Governance, R Cree, Head of People & Organisational Development, P Murray, Head of Digital, Transformation & Customer Services, C Fraser, Security & Compliance Manager, E Currie, Senior Committee Services Officer and J Barron, Committee Services Officer (all Finance & Resources). Also in Attendance R Lister, Director - Public Sector External Audit (Azets). Webcasting of Meeting Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Convener intimated that this meeting of the Board would be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council's internet site.
Page 2
Apology Councillor Hughes. Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. 1 Best Value thematic work - Transformation There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the Council’s external auditor report on Renfrewshire Council’s transformation agenda. The report advised that the Accounts Commission directed auditors to report on transformation in each local authority by considering four key areas which were outlined within the report. The report provided background information on Renfrewshire Council’s transformation agenda and summarised the findings of the Council’s external auditor Azets in relation to the scope. Azets’ full report was attached as an appendix to the report. DECIDED: (a) That the contents of the report be noted; (b) That the work to date on transformation across Renfrewshire Council be noted; and (c) That it be noted that further updates on Reshaping Renfrewshire would continue to be provided to the Leadership Board. 2 Audit Scotland: Delivering for the future: Responding to the workforce challenge There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the Audit Scotland publication ‘Delivering for the future: Responding to the workforce challenge’. The report advised that the Audit Scotland publication evaluated the workforce situation across Scotland’s local government sector, highlighted risks, opportunities, the urgent need for robust strategic workforce planning and provided an overview of its relevance to Renfrewshire Council. DECIDED: That the contents of the report be noted. 3 Briefing on Lack of House and Garden Maintenance Under reference to item 5 of the Minute of the meeting of this Board held on 22 August 2022 and item 5 of the Minute of the meeting of the Council held on 12 December 2024, there was submitted a report by the Lead Officer relative to the Board's review on the lack of house and garden maintenance. The report advised of
Page 3
the work undertaken in relation to this review by the Lead Officer, appointed in March 2025, and requested that members consider whether the investigation should end or whether further investigations should be carried out. Councillor McDonald, seconded by Councillor Mylet, moved (a) that the contents of the report be noted; and (b) that further investigations be undertaken in relation to public/council interface; interdepartmental communication; issues with flatted and communal garden areas; and sanctions for anti-social tenants. This was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: (a) That that the contents of the report be noted; and (b) That further investigations be undertaken in relation to public/council interface; inter-departmental communication; issues with flatted and communal garden areas; and sanctions for anti-social tenants. Exclusion of Press and Public The Board resolved that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business as it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that if members of the press and public were present, there could be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 14 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. Sederunt Councillor Smith left the meeting during consideration of the following item of business. 4 Cyber Security Update The Head of Digital, Transformation & Customer Services and the Security & Compliance Manager gave a presentation to members covering all aspects of the Council’s work in relation to cyber security. DECIDED: (a) That the presentation be noted; (b) That further information be provided to members on ways to contact ICT in relation to cyber security matters; and (c) That bi-annual updates in relation to cyber security be submitted to meetings of this Board.