Service Update Report
Renfrewshire Council · 19 May 2026
Back to Communities and Housing Policy Board — 19 May 2026 and its agenda
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PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Communities and Housing Policy Board On: 19 May 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Environment, Housing and Infrastructure ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Service Update Report ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This report provides an overview of key service activities since the last Policy Board report on 10 March 2026 and an update on the services and key projects delivered during this period. 1.2 Further information and details of service delivery can be found in a number of other reports being presented to the Communities and Housing Policy Board today. 1.3 Specifically, the report requests that the Policy Board homologate the decision of the Head of Housing Services, in consultation with the Convener, to accept Scottish Government grant funding to support the delivery of housing led regeneration programme and Rental Off The Shelf (ROTS). ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations It is recommended that the Communities and Housing Policy Board: 2.1 Note the contents of this report. 2.2 Homologate the decision of the Head of Housing Services, in consultation with the Convener, to accept Scottish Government grant funding totalling £1,221,074.22 to support the delivery of housing led regeneration programme open market purchases as set out in paragraph 3.2.4 of this report. ___________________________________________________________________
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PUBLIC Updates for Communities and Housing Policy Board 3. Housing Services 3.1 Housing Innovation Project (HIP) 3.1.1 Phase 1 of the project continues to progress, with an additional data migration exercise now scheduled for May 2026, in advance of the second test cycle which will take place during July 2026. On satisfactory completion of these stages, it is anticipated Phase 1 of the project will go live during Q3 2026. 3.1.2 Preparations for Phase 2 continue, with workshops underway and recruitment of team members to the project team for this second phase of the project in progress. 3.2 Housing-Led Regeneration and Renewal 3.2.1 Improvement works continue across the project area with ongoing dialogue with owners in mixed tenure blocks to discuss further participation where possible, including the option of buying back properties where this would allow works to be progressed. The installation of triple glazed windows also continues to progress well, with 351 Council homes within housing-led regeneration and renewal areas now in receipt of their new windows. Feedback to date has been very positive with tenants commenting on the difference the windows have made to the properties both in terms of comfort and aesthetics. 3.2.2 The design work for Waverley Road retention blocks has been completed. The tenant event that took place in March for the Waverley Road area was received extremely well by those who attended. Officers were able to showcase the designs for the external improvement of the blocks and the surrounding common areas, including the new balconies and waste management arrangements proposed. The programme for the delivery of these works on site will be agreed once all statutory approvals are in place. 3.2.3 Buy backs in advance of demolition works continues to progress well. 33 of the 99 blocks approved for demolition have now either been demolished (23) or are part of the tendering process (10) for progression over the summer months. Further phased demolition will take place across the programme as blocks become fully Council owned and vacant. 3.2.4 The Board is asked to homologate the decision of the Head of Housing Services, in consultation with the Convener of the Communities and Housing Policy Board, to accept Scottish Government grant funding of £1,221,074.22, details of each project amount are provided below: • Springbank Ph1 - £270,651.12 • Springbank Ph2 - £32,500 • Broomlands - £247,591.60 • Regeneration Open Market purchases - £294,084.50 • Rental Off The Shelf - £376,247
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PUBLIC 3.3 Newbuild Update Following the Board’s approval on 21 May 2024 to accept Scottish Government grant funding of £10,022,083 and £9,630,795 for the housing regeneration projects at Howwood Road and Gallowhill respectively grant drawdown for the 2025/26 newbuild programme amounted to £4,597,641.68 at Gallowhill and £2,333,668.78 at Howwood Road. 3.4 Service Improvement: Renfrewshire Council Housing Policy in relation to Domestic Abuse – Consultation 3.4.1 Following enactment of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025, there is now a legal requirement for social landlords to develop and implement a policy that sets out how they will support tenants at risk of homelessness due to domestic abuse. 3.4.2 As such the Service has been developing a draft Housing Policy in relation to Domestic Abuse. This draft policy has been produced through close working with various services across the council, partners, external organisations and other groups who support victims and survivors of domestic abuse. 3.4.3 The service will shortly undertake a consultative exercise to gauge final views on the draft policy. This consultation will run for between four and six weeks, where views on the draft policy will be sought from partners, interested agencies, tenants and other stakeholders. 3.4.4 Following conclusion of consultation, a finalised Housing Policy in relation to Domestic Abuse will be presented to the policy board for approval. 3.5 Housing Asset and Investment Stock Condition Survey Update 3.5.1 As previously reported to the Board, a programme of stock condition surveys is underway to meet the Scottish Housing Regulator’s requirements for review every five years and to validate our Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) compliance rates. Whilst the surveys completed to date have had little impact on overall SHQS compliance rates, the overall quality and accuracy of data held on the condition of individual blocks and properties has been improved. This helps to define future investment requirements and informs our business plan. Year 1 Year 2 Total External Surveys 4086 2976 7062 Internal Surveys 2101 1741 3842 EPCs (for properties with no valid EPC or where due within 2 years) 1384 1139 2523
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PUBLIC 3.5.2 The data from Year 2 surveys has been interfaced into our asset management database system Apex and analysed. For external building condition, the main areas of change to data held in Apex are in relation to the condition of communal doors, door entry systems and communal windows. This is a similar pattern to Year 1. Internally, some changes to data for kitchens, bathrooms, heating, smoke and heat detection. Any identification of specific repairs from the surveys, including the identification of mould, are followed up by our repairs team. 3.5.3 Over the first two years, access for external surveys is over 90%, access rates for internal surveys remain lower than expected at around 50% (target: 67%), despite tenant notifications and follow-up calling cards. Surveyors attempt access three times before marking a property as ‘no access’. Optional Years 4 and 5 of the contracts, will allow revisits to be made for these properties. 3.5.4 The stock condition survey is now in Year 3 of a 5-year programme, focusing on our multi storey and sheltered housing blocks, plus homes in Johnstone and the villages. The surveys will be arranged in phases from April 2026 to March 2027 and tenants will be lettered a few weeks prior to each phase in their area, to let them know that our surveyors will be requiring access. When access is unsuccessful, cards are left with contractor contact details for tenants to make alternative arrangements for access. HRA Roads, Walkways and Footpaths 3.5.5 There is a significant network of unadopted roads, walkways and footpaths held within the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) across Renfrewshire which is the responsibility of the housing service in terms of repairs and maintenance. This comprises approximately to 5km of carriageway, 36km of footway, and 27 km of footpath. 3.5.6 Historically, enquiries and complaints relating to roads, walkways and footpaths have been complex for customers, elected members and internal service teams, as the service area responsible for maintenance depends on ownership and adoption status. This has resulted in delays, inconsistent responses, and variation in approaches to inspection, maintenance, and repair. 3.5.7 To improve the service, arrangements have now been made to have all roads inspections and repairs carried out by the Roads team, with Housing Services retaining responsibility for managing the budget and prioritising planned maintenance.
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PUBLIC 3.5.8 The key advantages of this are: - Dedicated officer with expertise in roads, walkways and footpath inspection and maintenance. - Improved customer services through the streamlining of the management of enquiries and complaints in relation to HRA roads, walkways and footpaths. - Earlier identification of safety-critical defects and faster progression of urgent repairs. - Improved condition data to inform the Housing Business Plan and future investment decisions. - Delivering the action within the Housing Asset Management Plan; to capture the extent of unadopted HRA assets on GIS and carry out a condition survey to provide a baseline for adding to APEX. - Release of capacity within the Housing Repairs and Maintenance team to focus on other core housing repair and maintenance services. 3.5.9 The new arrangements will be subject to ongoing monitoring and review to ensure they continue to deliver improved performance, value for money, and better customer outcomes. 4. Public Protection 4.1 Environmental Health 4.1.1 To support the delivery of Environmental Health Services, and in the current national challenges of recruiting Environmental Health Officers, the Service has been looking toward ‘growing our own’ Officers. As part of this, a Trainee Technical Officer (Food Law) has successfully completed their scheme of practical training and passed their professional exams. The Officer is now working as a food law enforcement Officer, and the Service is looking to employ a further trainee to continue the training and development of staff to work in this specialised field. 4.1.2 The Environmental Task Force, which sat within the Team Up to Clean Up service has, from 1 April, moved into the Environmental Health Team. This restructure forms part of the wider Public Protection Review and as the Officers within the Task Force already work very closely with Environmental Health staff, significant benefits will be realised by bringing these functions under one Service. The Task Force will continue to have a focus on fly-tipping, including exploring how the use of emerging technologies can assist with the prevention and detection of such crime. Officers will also be involved in ensuring commercial premises comply with their statutory duties in respect of waste production, segregation for recycling, secure storage, and disposal. Officers will be provided with training to support them in this role.
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PUBLIC 4.2 Community Safety 4.2.1 Following continued Greater Resilience in Partnership (GRIP) meetings with Police Scotland and partner agencies, a month-long violence prevention and awareness campaign has been delivered across Renfrewshire throughout April 2026. The campaign aimed to highlight the dangers and long-term consequences of violence and to signpost young people, parents, carers and teachers to appropriate support and educational resources. 4.2.2 The initiative was delivered in partnership with Fearless, the youth service of Crimestoppers, and No Knives, Better Lives (NKBL). Activity took place online, within secondary schools and at community events. As part of this work, awareness activity took place at the St Mirren v Aberdeen match on 4 April 2026, supported by NKBL messaging and Police Scotland Youth Volunteers. 4.2.3 Information and resources is also being shared with parents, carers and teachers across Renfrewshire schools to encourage early intervention and preventative conversations. 4.2.4 Renfrewshire Council’s Warden Service supported the campaign through local engagement, visibility within communities and by reinforcing key messages during routine patrols and interactions with young people and families. __________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – Any financial elements referenced in this report will be progressed through the Council’s financial & budget planning process. 2. HR & Organisational Development – None. 3. Community/Council Planning – The report details a range of activities which reflect local community and council planning themes. 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.
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PUBLIC 10. Risk – None. 11. Privacy Impact – None. 12. Climate Risk – there are a range of actions and activities throughout the Service Update Report which support the Council’s Plan for Net Zero. 13. Children’s Rights – None. 14. Cosla Policy Position – None. __________________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers: None. ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Gordon McNeil, Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure Email: Gordon.mcneil@renfrewshire.gov.uk