3. Service Update Report - Report
Renfrewshire Council · 14 January 2025
Back to Communities and Housing Policy Board — 14 January 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
___________________________________________________________________ To: Communities and Housing Policy Board On: 14 January 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Environment, Housing, and Infrastructure ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Service Update Report ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This report provides and overview of key service activities, an operational performance update since the last Policy Board meeting on the services and key projects and updates on any other relevant changes to service areas covered within the remit of this Board. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations It is recommended that the Communities and Housing Policy Board 2.1 Note the contents of this report. Updates for Communities and Housing Policy Board 3. Housing Services 3.1 Housing Management Income Advice 3.1.1 Information from advice interviews at the end of November 2024 confirms that over 4,622 income advice cases involved households from Council Tenancies this financial year. During these interviews staff assess any entitlements to assistance that are due and support people to access benefits they are eligible for, alongside giving advice on all money matters and budgeting.
Page 2
3.1.2 There are several sources of additional assistance accessed which can include universal credit/housing benefit attendance allowance and disability payment, food vouchers and many more. In monetary terms this equates to £7.8 million between April and November this year. 3.1.3 Between April and November 2024 there have been 180 tenants referred for Tenant Support Fund assessment, which have the added value of full income assessment and advice provision. Of the referrals 119 have engaged with Specialist Income Advisors and 97 have qualified for assistance from the fund. Officers continue to engage with tenants to maximise access to any underlying entitlement to benefits and funds available. Housing Advice 3.1.4 There has been continued take up of the option to apply to join the Council’s housing waiting list using the online application form. The online system was introduced in November 2023. At the end of November 2024, we have 2,437 applications received via the online process. 3.1.5 Staff are available to assist in completing online forms and all applicants still have the opportunity for housing options advice; to assist those making a housing enquiry to gain a realistic understanding of the choices available to suit their circumstances. 3.1.6 The online housing application is available alongside existing ways to apply, such as telephone, video conferencing (Near Me), and in person as requested. Tenancy Management 3.1.7 A partnership approach to piloting an online method of reporting Renfrewshire Council tenants’ antisocial behaviour is progressing. 3.1.8 It is proposed that the App will be introduced for a pilot period of six weeks, to ensure it meets the needs of customers and the service, thereafter it will be launched across all housing teams. 3.1.9 The intention of the pilot is to offer the App to customers already engaged with services. The App will complement the traditional methods of reporting antisocial behaviour, existing alongside the other reporting methods, telephone, email, in writing and in person. Staff will undergo training on the App in the new year and it is anticipated that the pilot will begin before the end of January 2025. Housing Systems Update 3.1.10 The project now has an identity/title and will be known as the Housing Innovation Project. This name was chosen from 35 entries received from staff within the Council as part of a naming competition. 3.1.11 The team is now taking shape, with five of the workstreams leads now selected following interviews held in November 2024.
Page 3
Three induction sessions have been held with the Workstream Leads in the month of December to provide background/context and rationale to the team in areas such as Governance, Project Principles and Terms of Reference. 3.1.12 Recruitment is ongoing for the nine module team members with interviews anticipated to take place in January 2025. 3.2 Homeless & Housing Support Services 3.2.1 The number of homeless applications this financial year has continued at the high level of last year, and it is anticipated that there will again be more than 1,000 homeless applications in 2024/25. 3.2.2 The current number of ‘live’ cases at the start of December was 414, which is the highest recorded figure of ‘live’ homeless cases in Renfrewshire since the abolition of ‘priority need’ twelve years ago. 3.2.3 We also have the highest ever recorded figure of households staying in temporary accommodation – exceeding the numbers during the COVID lockdowns – and this sustains the high degree of pressure on Homeless & Housing Support Services and partners at this time. 3.2.4 Updates will continue to be provided to the Policy Board, and the range of measures previously reported continue to be followed in order to provide settled tenancies for homeless applicants as quickly as possible and minimise the use of hotel accommodation (B&B). 3.2.5 The Housing Support Team have experienced a similar significant increase in referrals. In December 2024 there were 516 ‘live’ cases, with 813 referrals received this financial year to date. This represents an increase of 77% in referrals received over the same period two years ago. 3.2.6 Our Refugee Resettlement Team are currently supporting 242 households, with a recent increase in Afghan national arrivals. Many of the Ukrainians being supported will be eligible to apply for an 18-month visa extension over the coming months. There is now a strong focus on health and wellbeing initiatives and events by the team, as well as a continuing programme of integration-based projects. 3.2.7 The Sheltered Housing Service will operate through the festive period and a broad range of activities; panto trips and parties have been arranged for those living in the 10 complexes owned and managed by the Council. 3.3 Housing Asset and Investment Mobility Scooter Pods – Maxwellton Court 3.3.1 Fire Risk Assessments are carried out regularly at our high-rise blocks. Risk assessments carried out at Maxwellton Court identified an increased fire risk associated with practices in place for charging mobility scooters within the building.
Page 4
3.3.2 Due to the high number of residents with mobility scooters, the decision was taken to install charging pods external to the building. 3.3.3 The design works and building control process have been completed and a contractor has been appointed. The initial grounds works commenced in December 2024 and are expected to be completed by January. The manufacturer of the pods has instructed, with works expected to be fully completed within the first quarter of 2025. 3.3.4 There has been ongoing consultation with the residents of Maxwellton Court who will continue to be kept informed of progress. 3.3.5 This is a pilot project which, if successful, may be replicated at other blocks of high-rise properties should similar risks be identified. 3.4 Regeneration Update Housing – Led Regeneration and Renewal Programme 3.4.1 The Housing-Led Regeneration and Renewal Programme continues to progress well, with tenant rehousing, owner acquisitions and demolition programmes running in line with the agreed phasing for each area. Across the programme, 60 of 89 private properties approved for demolition have now been acquired, with a further 9 transactions with legal services to conclude. 3.4.2 Negotiations continue with all remaining owners, with a number of resident owners interested in selling to the Council and becoming Council tenants when suitable properties become available. 3.4.3 For the Auchentorlie area, the recent Building warrant approval will allow works to be progressed for the pilot block at 74 Seedhill Road, with further warrant approval anticipated in the new year for the improvement of blocks within Auchentorlie Quadrant. 3.4.4 Officers are liaising with private owners in this area to encourage participation in the external improvement programme as far as possible. Officers will then look to commence discussions with owners in the Howard Street retention blocks followed by consultation in Waverley and Howwood Road areas to encourage owner participation in the improvement works. Tannahill Area of Ferguslie Park 3.4.5 The Demolition of Council owned blocks in the Tannahill area continues to progress well, with 41 of 52 blocks demolished as at the end of November 2024.
Page 5
3.4.6 Council Officers continue to work in partnership with both Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland colleagues to address wilful fire- raising incidents and identify additional measures that can be taken across the regeneration programme to deter such anti-social behaviour in our communities. Paisley West End 3.4.7 Members will be aware of the newbuild and demolition activity currently taking place within Paisley West End as delivery of the masterplan for this area moves further into the implementation stage. The Council has to date transferred 5 blocks to Sanctuary Housing Association to allow them to proceed with the first phase of the demolition strategy in this area, making way for further newbuild housing in line with the Paisley West End masterplan. Council Newbuild Projects 3.4.8 Formal Planning applications for Gallowhill (24/0494/PP) and the Howwood Road area (24/0495/PP) were approved at the Planning and Climate Change Policy Board on 5 November 2024. The statutory approvals process is ongoing with Building Warrant applications lodged and discussions ongoing with Scottish Water for technical approval. 3.5 Performance reporting – Housing Services 3.5.1 Members are advised that a review of performance reporting will be carried out early in 2025 and be implemented during the year. The review will seek to identify how to incorporate reporting more frequently than annually where possible, as well as bringing performance reports more timeously to Board. 3.5.2 The review will consider the existing performance reporting regime, which includes reporting progress on the Scottish Social Housing Charter, benchmarking with other housing landlords and the Service Improvement Plan. At present the year end performance information is usually reported to the Policy Board in August each year, with the benchmarking performance then reported in October. This means the Policy Board are receiving performance reports sometime after the year end and reporting is not aligned to the corporate performance reporting cycle. 3.6 Single Voids Team Update 3.6.1 Since the Policy Board of 29 October 2024, officers have been continuing to work on an improved reletting and void approach. 3.6.2 Between Monday 9 September 2024 and Monday 6 January 2025 we further reduced void rent loss on a year-to-date basis from 4.49% to 4.18% (against a target of 4.50%) 3.6.3 We have continued to reduce our average re-let time as reported to the Scottish Housing Regulator – at the end of November 2024 it was 37.73 days against a target of 50.00.
Page 6
3.7 Increased Scottish Government Grant Benchmarking Rates for Affordable Housing Delivery 3.7.1 In October 2024, the Scottish Government confirmed that Affordable Housing Investment Benchmark grant rates were being increased for new affordable homes delivered through the Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) process as part of the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme. 3.7.2 Flexible benchmark grant rates were increased by the Scottish Government following a review of national tender price index information for a new build affordable development. 3.7.3 Affordable housing providers such as Councils and housing associations are expected to use these flexible benchmark grant rates to assess the viability of affordable housing projects included within Strategic Housing Investment Plans with development costs met from combination of Scottish Government grant fund and the developing organisations own resources. 3.7.4 As per Scottish Government guidance issued in October 2024, these new grant rates will take immediate effect with the flexible ‘3P’ (three bedspace home) grant rate increasing from £83,584 to £87,763 for new Council homes for social rent and from £91,182 to £95,741 for new housing association homes for social rent. Different rates apply for 2 and 4 bedspace homes etc based on a ratioed difference from the 3P grant rate. 3.7.5 Over and above these flexible benchmark grant rates, additional grant will continue to be made available to support the inclusion of specific quality and design features in new affordable homes, including design features than enhance a home’s energy efficiency or other specific qualitative elements in the homes design or layout. 3.7.6 All costs associated with the increased grant benchmark rates and all grant requirements from housing providers to meet additional quality standards are required to be met from the Council’s existing funding allocation from the Scottish Government as part of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme. 3.7.7 The increase in benchmark grant rates may potentially increase delivery timescales for projects with developers collectively only able to access grant up to the funding allocation for Renfrewshire each year. 3.8 Expansion of the open Market Acquisition Scheme 3.8.1 In September 2024, £0.168 million of Scottish Government grant funding was allocated to Renfrewshire to support the Council and housing association partners to acquire homes available to purchase on the open market.
Page 7
3.8.2 In November 2024, a further £1 million of Scottish Government grant funding was allocated to Renfrewshire, with the combined £1.168 million to be used by both the Council and housing association partners to acquire suitable properties that will be added to the social supply. 3.8.3 This open market acquisition scheme known as ‘ROTS’ or ‘Rental Off the Shelf’ requires all participating social landlords to conclude sales missive and claim grant from the Scottish Government by 31 March 2025. 3.8.4 Renfrewshire Council, Bridgewater Housing Association, Paisley Housing Association and Williamsburgh Housing Association have expressed interest to participate in the scheme with aspirations to purchase approximately 30 properties that will be added to the social rented supply throughout Renfrewshire, with Renfrewshire Council anticipated to acquire around half of these properties. 3.9 Service Improvement Update Rent Consultation for 2025 to 2028 3.9.1 Members are advised of the rent consultation for 2025 to 2028. This took place on-line between Monday 9 December 2024 and Thursday 19 December 2024. Tenants were consulted on two options: Option 1 – increase rent by 7.5% in 2025, 7.5% in 2026 and 7.0% in 2027; and Option 2 – increase rent by 8.0% in 2025, 8.0% in 2026 and 7.0% in 2027. 3.9.2 All tenants were advised of the survey by letter. All Tenants’ and Residents’ Association (TARAs) were invited to participate and there was an online meeting for TARA members to exchange their views on the proposals. Members will be advised of the outcome of the survey at the meeting of the Council in February 2025. 4. Public Protection 4.1 Environmental Health 4.1.1 Following on from their training, two senior Environmental Health Compliance Officers attended their REHIS professional exams in Dunfermline in October 2024. Both passed these and have now taken on roles as Environmental Health Officers. They were supported throughout their training by staff within the Service as well as other services throughout the Council. 4.1.2 The service has also successfully recruited a Food Safety Officer and Trainee Food Safety Officer and all of these posts will support capacity and resilience within the Environmental Health teams. 4.1.3 The Environmental Health, Business Regulation Team were recently informed of an issue with a food product sold by a Renfrewshire distribution company.
Page 8
The product, a Peach, and Ginger Jam from a producer in The Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), was distributed throughout the UK. 4.1.4 The business were advised by some customers that a mould had formed on the surface of the jam. When investigated, the issue was affecting similar products stored within the warehouse at Paisley. 4.1.5 As the mould may make the product unsafe, a national product recall was initiated by the business under the guidance and with assistance from the Council’s Environmental Health Officers, in conjunction with Food Standards Scotland (FSS). 4.1.6 As part of this process, FSS were provided with product, distribution, and customer details to allow a Product Recall Information Notice to be issued and to support the business in the recall process. A total of 1,816 units were identified in the suspect batch of which 482 had been distributed. 4.1.7 The business-initiated laboratory testing of samples from all lines manufactured by the same producer, resulting in the identification of three further products with the same issue. 4.1.8 This led to the business increasing the scope of the recall to include these products, taking the total number of units to 7,500; of which 3,350 had been distributed nationally and the remainder being traced to the business’s warehouse. 4.1.9 This update was communicated to FSS, and an updated Product Recall Information Notice was issued. Laboratory testing showed no issues with ten other product lines however, the testing and root cause analysis has implicated a defective screw top lid. As all the products were packaged in the same jar/lid combination, and as a precautionary measure, the distributor has removed the remaining products from sale. This service continues to work with the business and FSS to ensure the recall process is concluded successfully. 4.2 Fireworks / Bonfire Night 4.2.1 Trading Standards are responsible for registering and inspecting fireworks storage premises across Renfrewshire. Premises with a fireworks registration are allowed to sell fireworks by retail during certain specified periods in the year; namely Guy Fawkes (15 October to 10 November, inclusive) and the 3 days leading up to Chinese New Year, Diwali, and Hogmanay. Of the 21 registered premises, only one was determined to be breaching storage requirements, and a formal warning letter has been issued. 4.2.2 A further warning letter was issued to an unregistered premises, identified to be displaying live fireworks in their window. A small amount, of fireworks were acquired during a partnership intervention with Police Scotland; as well as quantity of illicit tobacco and illegal Nicotine Vapour Products (NVPs).
Page 9
4.2.3 Officers from across the Community Safety Partnership were engaged in a number of support activities under the banner of Operation Moonbeam. This assisted colleagues in the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service in attending calls throughout Renfrewshire alongside Police Scotland. 4.2.4 Work to minimise illegal bonfire and flytipping in communities was coordinated through our Wardens Service, with uplifts being carried out by Neighbourhood Services staff. Guy Fawkes Night passed with no reported attacks of violence on fire crews across Renfrewshire nor any reported major injuries linked to it. 4.3 Community Safety 4.3.1 A review of the Community Support Service (Warden Service) has been carried out to ensure that the Service is aligned with the current service demand. 4.3.2 As part of the review an analysis of incident data was carried out and this highlights that there has been a 48% reduction overall in reported incidents or request to the Service in the last three years, with a significant reduction in request/incidents after 5pm and over the weekends. There has also been a significant reduction in incidents/requests on public holidays. The data highlights the busiest time for the Service is between 10am – 4pm Monday – Friday. 4.3.3 To ensure that resources are aligned with service demands, a new operating model has been developed. The core hours of the service will be between 8am – 6pm, Monday – Sunday. The revised model will also include the provision of a Stand by Service until 10pm to respond to any out of hours incidents/requests for service. The Service is currently discussing the proposals with affected employees and Trade Union representatives. 4.3.4 A review of the Council’s Public Space CCTV operations has been carried out. Renfrewshire Public Space CCTV network has been operational since 2015, providing surveillance and incident monitoring to enhance community safety. The system comprises of 65 cameras across Paisley, Renfrew, and Johnstone as well as 4 Household Waste Recycling Centres. 4.3.5 Operators currently monitor the system 24hrs/365 days a year. The system predominantly supports Police Scotland, with over 80% of CCTV requests originating from the Police. 4.3.6 In relation to incident pattern analysis there is a significant reduction in service requests noted between 0300hrs and 1200hrs, with the busiest days identified as Thursday to Sunday. The current review seeks to evaluate the operational efficiency, financial sustainability and restructuring of the service to align with identified service demands.
Page 10
4.3.7 The proposal is to ensure the operating model covers the busiest periods whilst maintaining a day shift 7 days per week to support the business economy in town centres as well as administration tasks such as retrospective footage review where incidents have occurred. This places operators on duty at the periods of highest demand. 5. Community Development Team 5.1 Youth Engagement 5.1.1 The pilot youth engagement programme, named by young people as Good Vibes Only, kicked off on Thursday, 7 November running for seven weeks, concluding on 19 December. 20 Young people were identified following community outreach work over the summer and autumn period. 5.1.2 The interactive education and awareness programme was designed based on what young people told us. Each week, the programme features contributions from partner organisations from Police Scotland, British Transport Police, and the Fire & Rescue Service. 5.1.3 In addition to the weekly sessions, youth work staff have been linking in with local transport providers to extend the outreach work and the engagements that have occurred to date have been positive, providing a pathway for new participants to join the Good Vibes Only programme. 5.1.4 Throughout the seven weeks, the young people will be consulted on the types of youth work activities they would like to see in their areas that are not already available. The feedback gathered will help shape future youth work programmes/activities that will be targeted across Renfrewshire. 5.1.5 In Johnstone, the Youth Team has been working closely with Police Scotland throughout their community connections. They have partnered with the Johnstone Castle Learning Centre to offer activities for local young people with Police Scotland funding fortnightly evening football sessions to engage with young people to build positive relationships and guide them towards existing youth provisions. 5.2 Street Stuff 5.2.1 Street Stuff has continued to deliver activities across Renfrewshire in the evening and weekends. They also supported the child poverty agenda by delivering multi-sport activities with provision of a healthy meal during the October school week across Foxbar, Ferguslie, Renfrew, Johnstone, Linwood and Gallowhill. 5.2.2 They have continued to support a number of schools through the Street to School programme, providing outdoor learning and historical field trip activities to improve attendance at school and help close the attainment gap.
Page 11
5.2.3 Street Stuff were recognised in the recent Care Inspectorate report for protecting children at risk of harm with the work they are doing within schools and community especially around partnership working and safeguarding young people. 5.3 Youth Services 5.3.1 Renfrewshire Youth Voice and Youth Services held the 12th Renfrewshire Positive About Youth Awards in the Normandy Hotel where over 140 young people attended – 19 finalists were chosen under 7 categories. The awards began to combat negative stereotypes of young people and to highlight individual and group achievements and celebrate their Positive About Youth Awards 2024 Results! – Young Scot. 5.3.2 Youth Services and Future Paisley have been working to support 14 young people who are participating in a new arts and culture opportunity with Edinburgh-based Jupiterland: the Jupiter Orbiteers recently travelled to London to visit artists in their studios (including Tracy Emin) and met Paisley born artist Anya Gallaccio at her exhibition in the Turner Contemporary Museum in Margate. 5.3.3 The new creative artists will be supported to continue to learn and create in the new space in Paisley Centre as part of the project. 5.3.4 Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Programme completed the expedition season with 57 expeditions going out from March to September. There are currently 626 active DofE participants of whom 23.4% are SIMD 1-3 and 37 active DofE leaders. The social value of volunteering is £7,631 for 1,907 hours up 23% on the previous year. 5.3.5 Young And Equally Safe (YES) in Renfrewshire Project has supported the continued delivery of MVP (Mentors in Violence Protection) training in 2 schools and a new cohort of teachers and youth workers. Young leaders have delivered community-based workshops, to continue to raise the profile of challenging gender stereotype and attitudes. Pilot projects have been delivered to two schools to continue this theme and to promote positive masculinity. 5.3.6 YES was able to take a leading role organising this years’ Reclaim the Night which involved approximately 180 people including young people, families, and adults, led by young female pipers, and a choir before the laying of a wreath by the Provost in memory of victims of GBV. 5.3.7 The Renfrewshire Youth Assembly was held in the Paisley Town Hall in November to coincide with the 16 Days of Action and as part of the Renfrewshire Council’s Youth Service’s delivery of UNCRC youth voice programme. Planned and led with young people, the workshops covered Violence, Safety and Substance Use (Vaping), with a Q&A with a Panel involving Young People’s Champion, Scottish Youth Parliament, Young Scot, the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Police Scotland. 5.3.8 The event ended with a vote for key concerns that the Youth Commission will take forward for further action in 2025: Reducing Violence.
Page 12
A full report will be produced and an opportunity for Youth Voice to present back in early 2025. 5.3.9 Youth Services supported the Promise Present Drive with presents being donated for young people who are care experienced to make these young people feel a little more special. Young people and Promise Keepers, and workers from across different services volunteered to wrap and prepare the presents to ensure they were delivered before the Christmas holidays. 5.4 Adult and Family Learning 5.4.1 Eight Community Learning and Development facilities were identified as Digi-zone venues giving people access to tablets and laptops, wi-fi and training on accessing and utilising digital devices safely, and the Digi-zone branding is in place. Digi-zones are Renfrewshire wide network of Council and 3rd Sector organisation and businesses promoting digital equality by offering support to residents wanting to use digital technology and get online. 5.4.2 The new Digi-zones are located in West Johnstone shard campus, Moorpark Primary, Foxlea, Glenburn Community Centre, Bargarran Community Centre, and Southend learning centres plus the Youth Services base at West PS and Foxbar Youth Drop-in. 5.4.3 CLAD activities went live on the HSCP’s Well in Renfrewshire (WiRE) resource for staff and the CLAD team have committed to being part of the working group responsible for maintaining the online information. The WiRE platform maps community groups and activities across Renfrewshire and is available on the Renfrewshire HSCP website for staff to identify relevant community activities for service users. 5.4.4 Southend Action Centre’s Tabletop Gamers is a group of autistic adults who came together as a result of the HSCP Autism Lived Experience group and are supported by CLAD. They have started working on a project in partnership with Paisley Museum’s Creative Learning team in preparation for the launch of the new museum. 5.4.5 The group are using their skills and knowledge of gaming to design a game that will enrich the visitor experience by sparking curiosity and encouraging active and participative learning during their visit. 5.5 Community Development Team Up To Clean Up 5.5.1 The Annual Winter Warriors Campaign, under the Team Up To Clean Up banner, once again offered volunteers the opportunity to make local well used footpaths and garden paths easier to navigate across the winter. 5.5.2 A limited number of volunteers requesting to be part of the Campaign were provided a salt/grit spreader along with 2x2.5kg bags of salt. Volunteers further received a snow shovel and waterproof warm gloves.
Page 13
A new risk assessment was created to ensure volunteers approach the task with consideration to potential hazards. 5.5.3 A Santa Dash Litterpick was delivered by pupils of Glennifer High School who cleaned up the area surrounding their school, including Durrockstock Dam. Professional photographs were taken to add some festive cheer to the active Team Up to Clean Up Facebook page, and the volunteers. engaged eagerly, enjoying the efforts and education of Renfrewshire’s local youths. Environmental Taskforce 5.5.4 The Environmental Taskforce continues to deliver intervention to reduce instances of flytipping. Key statistics for the most recent period are: Action August to October Proactive visits to identified hotspot areas 520 Number of reports investigated 378 Tonnes of flytipping removed 49 Number of sites secured to prevent further flytipping 3 Letters to private landowners re flytipping 12 Visits to businesses to ensure Waste Disposal Arrangements in place 20 Fixed Penalty Notices Issued 22 5.5.5 New Taskforce tape, replacing Team Up to Clean Up tape, is now being used by the Taskforce to demonstrate incidences of flytipping already under investigation. This is more noticeable and better highlights the criminality and weight of the act of flytipping. 6. Justice Social Work 6.1 National Thematic Review 6.1.1 The Scottish Government tasks the Care Inspectorate (CI) with providing scrutiny and assurance of justice social work. Learning from previous national scrutiny work across justice social work, the CI has begun a national thematic review of performance management and quality assurance frameworks. 6.1.2 This is being undertaken in three stages with a final thematic report anticipated in May 2025.
Page 14
Phase 1. National Self-Evaluation (2 September to 20 November 2024). Phase 2. Validation Activity (20 January to 24 January 2025) the CI will select up to five Local Authorities and work with them directly to validate their self-evaluation. This will be more in depth and include a review of documentary evidence and focus groups with staff and people who use its services. Participation local authorities selected will receive a validation letter and feedback on their self- evaluation. Phase 3. Reporting (May 2005). A final thematic report will summarise the findings of the self-evaluation and the key messages from the validation activity. This will reflect national messages and share information about good practice. Findings will be attributed to individual local authorities. 6.1.3 Significant work was undertaken to ensure Renfrewshire’s self-evaluation submission successfully met this timescale. The Board will be kept updated of any key developments in phase 2 and phase 3, where required. 6.2 Community Justice 6.2.1 A third sector organisation, Braveheart, has been commissioned to deliver a pilot short-term peer support to a small number of people with justice social work involvement. This will offer some personalised, practical, and emotional support to help them navigate their support needs and consequently, reduce their risk of reoffending. 6.2.2 Part of this involves providing feedback into the broader experience of service users within the justice process. This includes interactions with other support service and organisations. This feedback will be used to inform future improvement opportunities with wider community justice partners. ___________________________________________________________________ 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.
Page 15
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. 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