2. Service Update Report
Renfrewshire Council · 13 May 2025
Back to Communities and Housing Policy Board — 13 May 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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____________________________________________________________ To: Communities and Housing Policy Board On: 13 May 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. 1.2 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) open market purchases and accept the offer of grant funding of Scotland Heat Network Fund (SHNF). __________________________________________________________________ 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 Convenor, to accept grant funding of £1,788,382.00 from the Scottish Government’s Scotland Heat Network Fund (SHNF) as set out in paragraph 3.4.5 of this report. 2.3 Authorise the Head of Housing Services to oversee the delivery and operational management of the project. 2.4 Homologate the decision of the Head of Housing Services, in consultation with the Convener, to accept Scottish Government grant funding totalling £1,062,750 to support the delivery of housing led regeneration programme open market purchases as set out in paragraph 3.5.1 of this report.
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Updates for Communities and Housing Policy Board 3. Housing Services 3.1 Housing Management Neighbourhood Environmental Training Team (NETT) 3.1.1 Council agreed to increase the neighbourhood improvement teams as part of the budget approvals this year. Officers have been working in partnership pooling expertise across, Housing Services, Neighbourhood Services, and Invest in Renfrewshire to increase existing teams from 2 to 4; to enhance this provision. This expansion will not only increase the opportunity for targeted activity across housing areas, it also increases the opportunity for traineeships within the teams from 20 to 38. Initial recruitment is now complete and there is a structured implementation plan in place, working towards an increased onsite presence by May 2025. 3.1.2 Known by local teams as the Neighbourhood Environmental Training Team (NETT), the squads provide environmental support across housing areas, with a flexible and responsive approach there will be increased capacity to deal with known ‘hot spots’ across the neighbourhoods. It is a development opportunity contributing to improving environmental conditions across the area. In addition to the benefits within communities, the employability outcomes are positive, with trainees gaining practical experience and training in environmental maintenance including use of related machinery, in addition to extensive employability support and training to improve their opportunities to move to sustainable employment within the Council or one of many other employers. As trainees move on to employment, traineeships vacated are open to other Invest in Renfrewshire clients seeking employment. It is a rolling programme contributing to improving conditions in housing areas, employability and economic outcomes in Renfrewshire and workforce planning, development, and delivery outcomes across Neighbourhood Services. Income Advice 3.1.3 Information from advice interviews at the end of March 2025 confirms that over 6,899 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. 3.1.4 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, full details of which were shared with members of the policy board following the meeting in March. In monetary terms this equates to £8.579 million between April 2024 and 31 March this year. 3.1.5 Between April 2024 and March 2025 there have been 294 tenants referred for Tenant Support Fund assessment, which have the added value of full income assessment and advice provision.
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Of the referrals 225 have engaged with Specialist Income Advisors and 201 have qualified for assistance from the fund. In monetary terms this equates to £41,287. Officers continue to engage with tenants to maximise access to any underlying entitlement to benefits and funds available. Housing Advice 3.1.6 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 March 2025, we have 3,296 applications received via the online process and 2,668 applications via the more traditional methods. 3.1.7 Staff are available to assist in completing online forms. For those applicants who apply online, we offer a follow up housing options discussion. The housing options discussion is an important part of the process, with the aim of assisting those making a housing enquiry to gain a realistic understanding of the choices available to suit their circumstances. 3.1.8 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 3.1.9 A pilot project to test the use of the ‘ASB App’ has recently concluded. The App provides additional functionality, it is an all-round tool which enables users to collect and submit noise recordings, diary sheets and videos at the time of an incident. The App is available across all App stores and where a user cannot access the App for any reason a web-based version is available. It is not intended to replace the traditional methods, which are still available, including telephone, email, in writing and in person as requested, as an addition to existing ways of reporting anti-social behaviour. 3.1.10 There was mixed feedback from officers and customers on ease of use of the App. Comments ranged from customers liking the accessibility of the App and feeling that we were taking their complaints seriously, to others feeling disappointed, that their expectations are raised when submitting information via the App, expecting a guaranteed result due to information being submitted. Whilst the information may assist in investigations, like all other forms of information, it may not always result in action being taken or resolution of issues that exist. Based on this feedback, work is progressing to further develop communications and guidance for customers and staff on processes and expectations. 3.1.11 Training will be rolled out over the next few months, with a view to extending access to customers engaging with the housing service in relation to Anti-social behaviour across all areas. When use of the App is extended across the areas, a demonstration will be arranged, and invites issued to Elected Members.
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3.2 Housing Innovation Project (HIP) 3.2.1 The Housing Innovation Project to replace the housing management ICT systems continues to progress well with staffing resources for the project team in place including the recent recruitment of two additional module team members. 3.2.2 Good progress continues to be made on the Allocations, Estates, Housing Advice, Rents and Service Charge Modules – with solution design and build advancing as planned. 3.2.3 Work will also commence on the following modules between April 2025 and July 2025 – Customer Services, Customer Relationship Management, Anti-Social Behaviour, Property Lifecycle and Support Services. 3.3 Homeless & Housing Support Services Refugee Resettlement 3.3.1 An update on the number of households being supported to resettle in Renfrewshire was provided at the last Policy Board. 3.3.2 The Refugee Resettlement team have been working in partnership with Skills Development Scotland to find a route to recognise and convert qualifications gained in Ukraine to be recognised in Scotland. This involved working with interpreters to convert documents and identify modules which when completed would allow these qualifications to be recognised by the SQA, and employment and training opportunities have now been improved for a number of those displaced from Ukraine. 3.3.3 A new post of Health and Wellbeing Coordinator will soon join the team and the new postholder will further develop, promote, and deliver a variety of health and wellbeing activities and events for refugees in Renfrewshire. 3.3.4 The Co-ordinator will champion dignity, choice, rights, and fulfilment by introducing culturally relevant activities, aligning with the Scottish Government’s New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy (2024). Importantly, refugee community members will have the chance to play an active role in designing and delivering these person-centred services. 3.4 Housing Asset and Investment Stock Condition Survey 3.4.1 The first year of the stock condition survey is now complete. Just over 4,000 homes were in scope to be surveyed, and access was gained to around 51% of them for full SHQS surveys. Although the ‘no access’ rates of 49% is quite high, the contract aims to survey all stock in three years with a further two years available to try and survey ‘no access’ properties from the first three years sweep. We will also clone the internal elements of any remaining ‘no access properties, in order to update all our stock by contact end date. As well as stock condition data, dimensioned floor plans have been created and pictures taken as evidence of external and internal condition.
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We also carried out around 1,300 up to date Energy Performance Certificates and over 1,000 lockups were surveyed. The one-year data is being analysed within Apex, our housing asset management database, to ascertain any patterns and extent of changes from the existing data we held. 3.4.2 Year 2 surveys will commence soon, with another circa 4,000 homes identified for survey. The homes are spread throughout the authority but are mainly based around the areas of Paisley East & West, Lochfield, Gallowhill, Ferguslie and Kirklandneuk. The areas will be split into phases and tenants will be lettered prior to surveyors visiting their area. Updates are also notified on the Council web page. 3.4.3 The data gathered from the stock condition surveys is used to inform our SHQS position and help inform future programmes of work to comply with regulatory standards and meet tenant expectations. Gallowhill Court and Glencairn Court Ground Source Heat Pump Array 3.4.4 In October’s service update report, we provided details of our proposals for an innovative ground source heat pump array solution to replace gas boilers at Gallowhill Court and Glencairn Court. 3.4.5 After an extensive application process, the Council has received a formal offer of £1,788,382 grant funding from the Scottish Government’s, Scotland Heat Network Fund (SHNF). 3.4.6 This project will see gas removed as a heat and hot water source from the blocks and tenants will benefit from a cleaner heating solution where heat is extracted from the ground and upgraded to be used within each home. 3.4.7 Through a tender process Kensa have already been selected as the contractor to deliver the project, works are expected to take 12 months to complete and will begin on site once building warrant and other approvals have been obtained. 3.4.8 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 grant funding of £1,788,382.00 from the Scottish Government’s Scotland Heat Network Fund (SHNF) and authorise the Head of Housing Services to oversee the delivery and operational management of the project. Council House Adaptations 3.4.9 The Housing Repairs and Maintenance Team have improved the turnaround time for Council house adaptations and there is currently no backlog of jobs waiting to be carried out. The average timescale for completion has reduced from 50 days in 2023/2024 to 43 in 2024/2025. We have completed 424 adaptations compared to 386 in the previous year. With continued co-operation from all stakeholders involved, we hope to improve timescales further in the coming year.
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2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 No. of medical adaptations completed 191 386 424 Average timescale for completion (days) 119 50 43 No. of households awaiting adaptation at year end 177 58 27 3.5 Regeneration Update Housing-Led Regeneration and Renewal Programme 3.5.1 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 £432,500.00 and £117,500.00 for acquisitions at Springbank Ph1 and Ph2 respectively and also grant funding of £125,000 for acquisitions at Broomlands and £387,750.00 for open market purchases, subject to compliance with the relevant grant conditions. 3.5.2 Positive progress continues with voluntary acquisition of properties where acquisition is necessary to facilitate demolition across the regeneration and renewal programme. 61 of 89 properties have now been acquired by the Council, with a further 12 owners in agreement with a voluntary acquisition, with some being assisted to find suitable alternative accommodation where this is required. The remaining 16 owners continue to have active communication with officers, with each transaction at different stages of the negotiation process, dependant on the timescale and phasing of the programme of works across each regeneration area. 3.5.3 Significant progress is being made in the Auchentorlie area with the appointed demolition contractor now on site to take down the 3 blocks at 5, 7 and 9 Auchentorlie Quadrant. This work is anticipated to take around 12 weeks to complete. 3.5.4 Utility disconnections are ongoing in the Thrushcraigs area and for two further blocks in the Springbank regeneration area, in advance of demolition. Rehousing priority continues on a phased basis in these areas to effectively manage the clearing of blocks in advance of further demolition. 4. Public Protection 4.1 Trading Standards 4.1.1 Renfrewshire Trading Standards led on a national project investigating the prevalence of - and detriment caused by - short weight solid fuel products. The cost-of-living crisis has increasingly seen citizens investigate and use alternative sources of energy as gas and electricity prices have increased. Packs of coal, wood and other solid fuel products were weighed at retailers throughout Scotland to ensure that each pack contained the correct quantity of product. The key findings of the project were; Short weight packs were found in one third of premises visited – 43 out of 130. 70 product lines were checked – 28 (40%) contained at least 1 pack below the legal limit of error.
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A total of 2164 packs were checked – 317 (15%) of these were below the legal limit of error. The largest deficiency found was 3.52kg on a 14kg pack of logs – this same pack also led to the largest financial detriment to consumers of £3.77 per pack. The largest percentage deficiency was 57% on packs of supermarket kindling. 4.1.2 Trading Standards have been liaising with businesses to provide advice, and to support them into compliance. Further action will be taken across Scotland, as part of a comprehensive programme of activity to ensure citizens are getting what they pay for. This includes testing baggage weighers at Airports, medical weighing equipment in healthcare settings, packaged goods checks; and checks on measuring equipment such as petrol pumps. 4.2 Community Safety Firework Control Zones 4.2.1 A multi-agency group meeting, consisting of Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue as well as representatives from a number of Council Services, was convened in early March to consider applications from communities where they were requesting a Firework Control Zone is implemented. Of the six applications received, only one was competent to be considered by the group however, it was agreed by all members of the group that the application did not present evidence to support the implementation of a control zone. 4.2.2 To assist groups with future applications, the Council website will be updated with additional information and the application period will commence between November 2025 and the end of January 2026. Pavement Parking 4.2.3 In advance of enforcement activities commencing, officers issued warning notices to vehicles which were parked in contravention of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019. The warning notices were applied to vehicles in blue adhesive envelopes to raise awareness of the introduction of the new legislation and were well received by motorists who were largely happy to engage and be educated. 4.2.4 Enforcement of the Act commenced on the 1st of April with this being driven by community intelligence, in addition to Community Support Officers dealing with incidents which they come across during their regular patrols. The public is encouraged to make use of the Renfrewshire website portal Report a parking incident - Renfrewshire Website 4.3 Environmental Health 4.3.1 Officers were alerted to a Food Alert – For Action on 14th March from Food Standards Scotland which concerned the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes in a brand of ice cream, yoghurts and mousses.
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Local Authorities were directed to contact all private hospitals and other healthcare settings in their area who serve food, including care homes to establish if they serve any of the affected products, request that they are not served and are placed on hold and quarantine. Within 2 hours of receiving the Food Alert- For Action, officers had contacted all relevant premises and confirmed that they did not have these products. The Alert was further extended by Food Standards Scotland on Tuesday 18th March to include further products. Local Authorities were again directed to contact all private hospitals and other healthcare settings in their area who serve food, including care homes to establish if they serve any of the affected products, request that they are not served and are placed on hold and quarantine. Officers contacted all relevant premises that day, a number of premises had these products and agreed to quarantine these. Information of these products and suppliers was fed back to Food Standards Scotland. 4.3.2 Licenses for home boarding of dogs, commercial day boarding of dogs, kennels, catteries, pet shops, rehoming centres for animals and horse-riding establishments have all been issued for the current period. The licenses for pet shops and rehoming centres are inspected by Environmental Health Officers and are generally granted for a period of 3 years. Officers also inspect horse-riding establishments where licences are granted for a period of 12 months. Premises for home boarding of dogs, commercial day boarding of dogs, kennels and catteries are inspected by Community Support Officers and are granted for a period of 12 months. There are a number of new applications received for home boarding and kennels that are currently being assessed for compliance and thereafter, if appropriate, will be issued with a licence. 4.3.3 Generally, it has been found there is a good level of compliance with conditions within the various animal licensed premises, however where contraventions are identified appropriate and proportionate action is taken to ensure future continued compliance. 5. Connected Communities Service Update 5.1 Information in terms of Community Learning and Development provision is reported in each of these service updates as elected members will be aware. Every 6 months, the service provides a standalone paper on the agenda for consideration by members which summarises the key activities being progressed by our local teams. The most recent 6 monthly update is therefore provided as a separate item on the Board’s agenda and provides a more detailed summary of the work to implement a new Connected Communities Service, the Good Vibes project and the findings from our recent follow up partnership inspection of CLD activities in Renfrewshire. ___________________________________________________________________ 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.
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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. 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