Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 18 August 2026
Back to Communities and Housing Policy Board — 18 August 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Minute of Meeting Communities and Housing Policy Board Date Time Venue Tuesday, 18 August 2026 13:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Present: Councillor Fiona Airlie-Nicolson, Councillor Jacqueline Cameron, Councillor Graeme Clark, Councillor Carolann Davidson, Councillor Gillian Graham, Councillor Robert Innes, Councillor James MacLaren, Councillor Kenny MacLaren, Councillor Mags MacLaren, Councillor Janis McDonald, Councillor Marie McGurk, Councillor Iain McMillan, Councillor John McNaughtan, Councillor Kevin Montgomery, Councillor Emma Rodden In Attendance G McNeil, Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure; L McIntyre, Head of Policy & Partnerships, A Williamson, Strategy & Place Manager, K Dalrymple, Development Plans & Housing Strategy Team Leader and A Johnston, Estates Lead (all Chief Executive’s); J Trainer, Head of Children & Justice Social Work (Children’s Services); L Feely, Head of Housing Services, G Hannah, Head of Climate, Public Protection & Roads, C Hunter, Environmental Health Public Health Manager, T Irvine, Homeless & Housing Support Services Manager, J Murdoch, Housing Regeneration Manager, K Sillars, Housing Asset & Investment Manager, A Andrews, Area Housing Manager (Council Housing), F Wilson, Serious Organised Crime & Trading Standards Manager (Housing Regeneration & Service Improvement) (all Environment, Housing & Infrastructure); and D MacAskill, Assistant Managing Solicitor (Housing Regeneration & Development), J Kilpatrick, Finance Business Partner, E Currie, Senior Committee Services Officer and D Cunningham, Committee Services & Licensing Officer (all Finance & Resources). Chair Councillor McGurk, Convener, presided. Webcasting of Meeting Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Convener intimated that this meeting of the Policy Board would be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast on the Council’s internet site.
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Apologies Councillors Hood and McEwan. Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. 1 Police and Fire & Rescue Scrutiny Sub-committee There was tabled the Minute of the meeting of the Police and Fire & Rescue Scrutiny Sub-committee held on 19 May 2026, a copy of which forms the Appendix to this Minute. DECIDED: That the Minute be approved. 2 General Services Revenue, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Capital Budget Monitoring as at 19 June 2026 There was submitted a General Services Revenue, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Budget Monitoring joint report by the Directors of Finance & Resources and Environment, Housing & Infrastructure as at 19 June 2026. DECIDED: (a) That the projected revenue outturn underspend position of £0.425 million be noted; and (b) That the projected capital outturn break-even position be noted. 3 Service Update Report There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure providing an overview of key service activities since the last meeting of the Policy Board held on 19 May 2026. DECIDED: That the contents of the report be noted. 4 Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal Programme for Renfrewshire – Year 5 Update There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Year 5 update for the Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal Programme for Renfrewshire. The report provided an update on progress made to date regarding improvement programmes, rehousing initiatives, demolition, newbuild and community engagement across each of the areas within the ten-year
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Regeneration and Renewal Programme. DECIDED: (a) That the further positive progress made in each of the eight regeneration and renewal areas within this ambitious ten-year programme be noted; (b) That it be noted that the additional measures of assistance for homeowners approved by this Policy Board were having a positive impact on the number of blocks proceeding to receive enhanced improvements across the investment programme, as set out at paragraph 4.5 of the report; and (c) That the Head of Housing Services be authorised to promote a Compulsory Purchase Order in relation to the two remaining privately owned commercial properties in the Howwood Road Housing Regeneration Area outlined in Table 1 and section 4.8.5 of the report. 5 Tenant Satisfaction Survey 2026 There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Tenant Satisfaction Survey 2026, a copy of which was appended to the report. DECIDED: That the contents of the report and any actions arising from it be noted. 6 Housing Landlord Compliance – Damp and Mould Policy There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Housing Landlord Compliance Strategy 2025/28, approved at the meeting of this Policy Board held on 11 March 2025. The report presented a further policy associated with the Strategy for approval, the Damp and Mould Policy, attached as Appendix A of the report. DECIDED: (a) That the Damp and Mould Policy, set out at Appendix A of the report, be approved; and (b) That the additional resources established within Housing Services to support delivery of the policy and compliance with the new regulatory requirements be noted. 7 Renfrewshire Council Housing Policy in relation to Domestic Abuse There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the draft Renfrewshire Council Housing Policy in relation to Domestic Abuse, as required in terms of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025. A copy of the Policy was appended to the report. DECIDED: That the Renfrewshire Council Housing Policy in relation to Domestic Abuse be approved.
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8 Housing Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction Programmes: 2026/27 Award of Funding There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the award of £2,061,138 for qualifying projects under the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficient Scotland Area Based Schemes (EES:Abs) programme for 2026/27. The report provided updates on the funding process which had secured this investment and the projects which would be supported. DECIDED: (a) That the decision of the Head of Housing Services, in consultation with the Convener, to accept the grant funding of £2,061,138 from Scottish Government’s Energy Efficiency Scotland Area Based Schemes (EES:Abs) programme, for qualifying projects within the Renfrewshire Council area for 2026/27, be homologated; and (b) That the Head of Housing Services be authorised to oversee the delivery and operational management of the programme and that it be noted that an update on the outcomes delivered from the programme would be provided to a future meeting of this Policy Board. 9 Local Housing Strategy 2023/28 – Year 3 (2025/26) Progress Update There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the third annual update report on the Local Housing Strategy 2023/28, highlighting progress in the delivery of the five strategic priorities and supporting actions within the Strategy. DECIDED: That the progress made in implementing the actions of the Local Housing Strategy 2023/28 in the period 2025/26, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be noted. 10 Draft Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2027/32 There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the draft Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2027/32, a copy of which was appended to the report, which set out the housing investment priorities for projects that would be supported by Scottish Government funding through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme. The report intimated that the draft Strategy would be subject to a four-week public consultation, with the finalised version reported to the Policy Board on 27 October 2026. DECIDED: That the draft Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2027/32, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved for consultation purposes.
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11 Regulation of Social Housing: Assurance Statement 2026 There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Assurance Statement 2026 which required to be submitted to the Scottish Housing Regulator by 31 October 2026. Appendix 1 of the report detailed the Regulator’s Framework requirements for all local authorities and registered social landlords and provided evidence to demonstrate Renfrewshire Council’s compliance. A copy of the proposed Annual Assurance Statement 2026 for Renfrewshire Council was attached as Appendix 2 to the report, for approval. It was noted that the Annual Assurance Statement 2026 would be updated to reflect that there had been two gas safety fails since April 2026. DECIDED: (a) That the regulatory requirements and evidence of Renfrewshire Council’s compliance, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be noted; and (b) That Renfrewshire Council’s Annual Assurance Statement 2026, which formed Appendix 2 to the report, and as amended be approved for submission to the Scottish Housing Regulator. 12 Surplus declaration of land at Dundonald Avenue, Johnstone There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the declaration of land at Dundonald Avenue, Johnstone as surplus to requirements. DECIDED: That the land at Dundonald Avenue, Johnstone, shown on the plan attached to the report, be declared as surplus to requirements in order to enable its disposal to Scottish Power Energy Networks Limited for the installation of a new substation. 13 Allocation of property to staff, elected member or committee members: Housing Rule 2.5 There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to a housing allocation in terms of Renfrewshire’s Common Housing Allocation Policy Rule 2.5, which required all housing allocations which involved Council members or their immediate families or members of staff of the Housing Services Division or their immediate families to be notified to the relevant Policy Board. DECIDED: That the contents of the report be noted. 14 Business Regulation Service Plan 2026/27 There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Business Regulation Service Plan 2026/27, a copy of which was appended to the report. The Plan provided detail, as required by Food
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Standards Scotland, in respect of work being undertaken in connection with the regulation of food law across Renfrewshire, set out objectives, detailed service delivery arrangements and outlined resource requirements and quality assurance arrangements. DECIDED: That the Business Regulation Service Plan 2026/27 be approved. 15 Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 - Consultation on packaging, appearance and display There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Council’s proposed response to the Department of Health & Social Care’s consultation entitled Tobacco and vapes: packaging, appearance and display. The report summarised the consultation and advised that the closing date for responses was 2 October 2026. A copy of the proposed response formed Appendix 1 to the report. DECIDED: (a) That the consultation response at Appendix 1 to the report be agreed; and (b) That the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure be authorised to submit the response prior to the closing date of 2 October 2026. 16 Fireworks and Pyrotechnics in the UK - Consultation by the Office for Product Safety and Standards There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Council’s proposed response to the Office for Product Safety and Standards, part of the Department for Business and Trade’s consultation entitled Fireworks and pyrotechnics in the UK. The report summarised the consultation and advised that the closing date for responses was 7 October 2026. A copy of the response was attached as Appendix 2 to the report. DECIDED: (a) That the consultation response at Appendix 2 to the report be agreed; and (b) That the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure be authorised to submit the response prior to the closing date of 7 October 2026. 17 Community Funding Update There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to community funding, outlining current allocations and available balances in respect of the Sustainable Communities Fund and Villages Investment Fund. DECIDED: That the recommendations detailed in sections 4 and 5 and summarised in Appendix 1 to this report, in relation to applications received to the Sustainable Communities Fund and Villages Investment Fund be approved.
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Exclusion of Press and Public The Board resolved that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items 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 9 of Part I of schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. 18 Proposed Sale - 49 Ferguson Avenue, Renfrew There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the proposed sale of 49 Ferguson Avenue, Renfrew. DECIDED: That the recommendations detailed in the report be approved. 19 Proposed Sale - 35 Windsor Crescent, Paisley There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the proposed sale of 35 Windsor Crescent, Paisley. DECIDED: That the recommendations detailed in the report be approved.