Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 18 May 2026
Back to Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board — 18 May 2026 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, 18 May 2026 15:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Present: Councillor Jennifer Adam, Councillor Andy Doig, Councillor Gillian Graham, Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, Councillor Robert Innes, Councillor James MacLaren, Councillor Janis McDonald, Councillor Ben Smith Chair Councillor Andy Doig, Convener, presided. In Attendance J Trainer, Head of Children & Justice Social Work, G McLaughlin, Head of Education (Strategy & Improvement), M Gilligan, Social Work Manager Operations Promise Lead and L Johnston, Strategic Manager (Improvement, Performance & Resource) (all Children’s Services); L McIntyre, Head of Policy & Partnership and L Fingland, Service Planning & Policy Development Manager (both Chief Executive’s); C Dalrymple, Head of Facilities & Property Management, L Feely, Head of Housing, G Hutton, Head of Operations & Service Development, G Derbyshire, Senior Service Delivery Manager, and R Flanagan, Lead Officer (Environmental Health) (all Environment, Housing & Infrastructure); and M Conaghan, Head of Corporate Governance, R Cree, Head of People & Organisational Development, E Shields, Head of Business Services, Risk & Safety, K Campbell, Chief Auditor, M McKillop, Interim Assistant Chief Auditor, K Locke, Risk Manager, and C MacDonald and J Barron, both Senior Committee Services Officers (all Finance & Resources) and L Cameron, Head of Health & Social Care (Paisley) (Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership). Also In Attendance A Kolodziej, Senior Associate Director, 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 Mylet. Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. 1 Summary of Internal Audit Reports for the period 1 January to 30 Aproil 2026 There was submitted a report by the Chief Auditor relative to the requirement in terms of the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS) that Internal Audit communicated the results of each engagement to the Board. The appendix to the report provided a summary of the Internal Audit findings for the period 1 January to 30 April 2026. DECIDED: That the summary of Internal Audit reports finalised during the period 1 January to 30 April 2026 be noted. 2 Summary of Internal Audit Activity in Partner Organisations 1 January to 30 April 2026 There was submitted a report by the Chief Auditor relative to the outcomes of audits undertaken in partner organisations. The report provided a summary of the internal audit arrangements within each partner body and a summary of the internal audit activity between 1 January and 30 April 2026. DECIDED: That the audit arrangements for each partner organisation be noted. 3 Internal Audit Annual Report 2025/26 There was submitted a report by the Chief Auditor relative to the Internal Audit Annual Report 2025/26, a copy of which was appended to the report. DECIDED: That the report be noted 4 Unaudited Annual Governance Statement 2025/26 There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & resources relative to the Unaudited Annual Governance Statement for 2025/26, a copy of which was appended to the report. DECIDED: That the Unaudited Annual Governance Statement 2025/26 which would
Page 3
be included in the Unaudited Accounts for 2025/26 be noted. 5 Risk Report, May 2026 There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to an update on the strategic, corporate and key service risks for May 2026. The report advised on the latest position in managing the agreed risks for the first quarter of the year. The appendices to the report provided details of longer-term or imminent strategic risks; longer-term significant corporate risks; details of service risks; and assurance levels for ‘business as usual’ risks. DECIDED: That the report be approved. 6 “Risk Matters” (combined risk policy and strategy) There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to an update to “Risk Matters”, the combined risk policy and strategy, a copy of which was appended to the report. DECIDED: That the Risk Matters, as appended to the report, be approved. 7 Risk Management Annual Report 2025/2026 There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to corporate risk management activity which took place during 2025/26 in relation to the Council’s risk management arrangements and strategic risk management objectives. A copy of the Risk Management Annual Report for 2025/26 was appended to the report. DECIDED: That the Risk Management Annual Report 2025/26, and the robustness and significant contribution that it made with regard to the Council’s corporate governance arrangements be noted. 8 Local Government Benchmarking Framework 2024/25 There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to an overview of Renfrewshire’s performance in relation to the Local Government Benchmarking Framework (LGBF) for 2024/25. The report provided an overview of Renfrewshire’s performance in relation to the LGBF and included all 2024/25 data released up to and including March 2025 which was 92 indicators in total. The tables in Appendix 1 provided data for 2022/23, 2023/24 and, where available, 2024/25. The tables also included a comparison with the national average and with the relevant family group of local authorities. DECIDED: (a) That the contents of the be noted; and
Page 4
(b) That it be noted that an update on the LGBF would be provided to the Board in November 2026. 9 Audit, Risk & Scrutiny Board Annual Report 2025/26 There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the Board’s 2025/26 Annual Report which highlighted the issues considered by the Board during the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 together with an overview of the Board’s activity and a summary of key developments. The report set out how the Committee had fulfilled its remit and provided assurances to the Council. DECIDED: (a) That the Audit, Risk & Scrutiny Board Annual Report 2025/26 be noted; (b) That the 2026/27 Programme of Reviews, as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report be agreed; (c) That the self-assessment, attached as Appendix 2 of the report be noted; (d) That the 2026/27 Action Plan attached as Appendix 3 of the report be agreed; and (e) That it be agreed that the report should be submitted to the next meeting of the Council, to be held on 22 June 2026, in line with best practice guidance. 10 Lead Piping in Public and Private Housing in Renfrewshire - Lead Officer Rachael Flanagan There was submitted a report by the Lead Officer relative to the proposed purpose, scope, terms of reference and witnesses to be called for the review of lead piping in public and private housing in Renfrewshire. DECIDED: (a) That the purpose and scope of the review be approved; (b) That the provisional timescale as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report be approved; (c) That the Lead Officer be authorised to contact any organisations recommended by the Board who might have information useful to the Board and who might be potential witnesses; (d) That powers be delegated to the Lead Officer in consultation with the Convener to alter the timetable having regard to the availability of evidence and witnesses throughout the course of the review; and (e) That the Lead Officer be authorised to make the necessary arrangements to progress the review within the agreed timescales.
Page 5
11 Lack of Housing and Garden Maintenance - Lead Officer Maurice Gilligan Under reference to item 3 of the Minute of the meeting of this Board held on 22 September 2025, there was submitted a report by the Lead Officer relative to the review of lack of housing and garden maintenance. The report detailed the findings and overall conclusions and a copy of the report to be submitted to Council on 22 June 2026 was attached as an appendix to the report. DECIDED: (a) That the report attached as an appendix be approved for consideration by the Council on 22 June 2026; and (b) That the author's appreciation to all council officers involved in the preparation of the report be noted. 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 would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. 12 Summary of Internal Audit Investigation/Review Reports for period 1 Janaury to 30 April 2026 There was submitted a report by the Chief Auditor relative to the requirement in terms of the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS) that Internal Audit reported on the findings and conclusions of audit engagements to the Board. The appendix to the report provided a summary of the findings of an internal audit investigation. DECIDED: That the summary of Internal Audit Investigation Reports finalised during the period from 1 January to 30 April 2026 be noted.