Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 13 May 2025
Back to Communities and Housing Policy Board — 13 May 2025 and its agenda
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Minute of Meeting Communities and Housing Policy Board Date Time Venue Tuesday, 13 May 2025 13:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Present: Councillor Jacqueline Cameron, Councillor John Hood, Councillor Robert Innes, Councillor James MacLaren, Councillor Kenny MacLaren, Councillor Mags MacLaren, Councillor Colin McCulloch, Councillor Janis McDonald, Councillor Cathy McEwan, Councillor Jamie McGuire, Councillor Marie McGurk, Councillor Iain McMillan, Councillor John McNaughtan, Councillor Iain Nicolson, Councillor Emma Rodden Chair Councillor McGurk, Convener, presided. In Attendance G McNeil, Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure; L McIntyre, Head of Policy & Partnerships, N Drummond, Lead Officer (Community Capacity), C Robertson, Strategic CLD Manager; and K Russell, Local Partnerships Development Officer (all Chief Executive’s); C Dalrymple, Head of Facilities & Property Services, L Feeley, Head of Housing Services, G Hannah, Head of Climate, Public Protection & Roads, G Darbyshire, Senior Service Development Manager; I McKinnon, Housing Investment Programme Manager; C Hunter, Environmental Health Public Health Manager, T Irvine, Homeless & Housing Support Services Manager, M MacRury, Housing Newbuild Programme Manager, J Murdoch, Housing Regeneration Manager, K Sillars, Housing Asset & Investment Manager, P McLean, Housing Lead Officer (Participation, Performance & Policy), R Walkinshaw, Housing Regeneration & Development Manager, M Brown, Housing Asset & Energy Strategy Manager, A Andrews, Area Housing Manager (Council Housing) and F Wilson, Serious Organised Crime & Trading Standards Manager. (Housing Regeneration & Service Improvement) (all Environment, Housing & Infrastructure); and J Kilpatrick, Finance Business Partner, R Devine, Senior Committee Services Officer and D Cunningham, Committee Services & Licensing Officer (all Finance & Resources).
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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. In addition, she took the opportunity to welcome Councillor J MacLaren to his first meeting of the Policy Board since his appointment as a member. Apologies Councillors Davidson and G Graham. Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. Transparency Statements Councillor J MacLaren indicated that he had a connection to items 8 and 9 by reason of being a Private Landlord. However, he indicated that he had applied the objective test and did not consider he had an interest to declare. Councillor McMillan indicated that he had a connection to items 8 and 9 by reason of being a Private Landlord. However, he indicated that he had applied the objective test and did not consider he had an interest to declare. 1 Police and Fire & Rescue Services Sub-committee There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Sub-committee held on 11 March 2025, a copy of which forms the Appendix to this Minute. It was agreed that the Minute be approved subject to amendment of item 2 entitled Local Issues to indicate that the car parking location involved was at Bankfoot Road. DECIDED: That, subject to amendment of the Minute as detailed above, the Minute be approved. 2 Service Update Report There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to key service activities and providing an operational performance update in connection with services and key projects and changes to service areas covered within the remit of this Policy Board since the previous meeting. In addition, the report sought homologation of the decisions of the Head of Housing Services, in consultation with the Convener, to accept Scottish Government grant
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funding to support the delivery of housing led regeneration programme and Rental Off The Shelf (ROTS) open market purchases and the offer of grant funding of Scotland Heat Network Fund (SHNF). DECIDED: (a) That the decision of the Head of Housing Services, in consultation with the Convenor, to accept grant funding of £1,788,382 from the Scottish Government’s Scotland Heat Network Fund (SHNF), as set out in paragraph 3.4.5 of the report, be homologated; (b) That the Head of Housing Services be authorised to oversee the delivery and operational management of the project; (c) That 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 the report, be homologated; and (d) That the report be otherwise noted. 3 Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Service Improvement Plan 2024/27 - Outturn Report There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to delivery of the Environment, Housing & Infrastructure Service Improvement Plan 2024/27 during the 12-month period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. The report provided details of the key achievements of the service over the period, full details of which were appended to the report, a progress update on implementing the action plan linked to the 2024/27 Service Improvement Plan and an assessment of performance in relation to the service scorecard of core performance indicators. DECIDED: (a) That the progress, to date, on delivering the actions contained within the Environment, Housing & Infrastructure - Service Improvement Plan 2024/27 be noted; (b) That the current performance of the service, as measured by the scorecard indicators, be noted; and (c) That the report be otherwise noted. 4 Environment, Housing and Infrastructure - 2025/28 Service Improvement Plan There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the 2025/28 Environment, Housing & Infrastructure Service Improvement Plan. The report highlighted that the Service Improvement Plan 2025/28, a copy of which was attached as Appendix 1 of the report, was designed to sit beneath the Council Plan, Community Plan, Risk Management Plan and the
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Workforce Plan to form a suite of documents which provided the strategic direction for the service. The Service Improvement Plan identified the priorities being addressed, the key tasks to be implemented, the implementation timetable and the measures of success. It was highlighted that a mid-year progress update on the Plan would be submitted to a meeting of this Policy Board in the autumn of 2025. DECIDED: (a) That the 2025/28 Environment, Housing & Infrastructure Service Improvement Plan, a copy of which was appended to the report, be approved; and (b) That it be noted that mid-year progress with the Service Improvement Plan, with updates to the actions and performance indicators, would be submitted to this Policy Board in autumn 2025. 5 Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Annual Health and Safety Plan 2024/25 – Year End Update There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the year-end update in respect of the Environment, Housing & Infrastructure Annual Health and Safety Plan 2024/25. The report provided an update on the work undertaken to implement the actions contained within the Annual Health and Safety Plan 2024/25, approved at the meeting of this Policy Board held on 21 May 2024. Appendices to the report set out an update on the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Health and Safety Plan 2024/25 and provided a brief update for actions contained in the Plan for those areas within the remit of this Policy Board. DECIDED: (a) That the Environment, Housing & Infrastructure Annual Health and Safety Plan 2024/25 update, attached as Appendix 1 of the report, as specific to the areas of activity delegated to this Policy Board, be noted; (b) That the Environment, Housing & Infrastructure Annual Health and Safety Plan 2024/25 action update, attached as Appendix 2 of the report, as specific to the areas of activity delegated to this Policy Board be noted: and (c) That it be noted that a similar report and update on the Action Plan world be submitted to future meetings of the Infrastructure, Land & Environment Policy Board and the Finance, Resources & Customer Services Policy Board to seek approval of those elements which were within the remits of those Policy Boards. 6 Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Health and Safety Plan 2025/28 There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Environment, Housing & Infrastructure Annual Health and Safety Plan 2025/28, a copy of which was attached as Appendix 1 of the report.
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DECIDED: (a) That the areas of activity within the remit of this Policy Board contained within the Environment, Housing & Infrastructure Health & Safety Plan 2025/28, attached as Appendix 1 of the report, and Action Plan, attached as Appendix 2 of the report, be approved; and (b) That it be noted that the Environment, Housing & Infrastructure Annual Health and Safety Plan 2025/28 would be submitted to future meetings of the Infrastructure, Land & Environment Policy Board and the Finance, Resources & Customer Services Policy Board to seek approval of those elements within the Plan which were within the remits of those Policy Boards. 7 Social Housing Charter Performance 2024/25 and 2025 Engagement Plan There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Council’s performance in terms of the Social Housing Charter 2024/25 and the 2025 Engagement Plan. A summary of the 2025 Engagement Plan was provided within the report and a copy of the Annual Return 2024/25 made on behalf of the Council in respect of performance in terms of the Social Housing Charter was appended to the report. DECIDED: (a) That the report on Scottish Social Housing Charter Performance 204/25, attached as Appendix 1 of the report, be noted; and (b) That the 2025 Engagement Plan from the Scottish Housing Regulator be noted. 8 Housing Landlord Compliance - Fire Safety and Lift Safety Policies 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 two policies associated with the Strategy for approval, the Fire Safety Policy, attached as Appendix A of the report and the Lift Safety Policy, attached as Appendix B. DECIDED: (a) That the Fire Safety Policy, set out at Appendix A of the report and Appendix 4 of the Landlord Compliance Strategy, be approved; and (b) That the Lift Safety Policy, set out at Appendix B of the report and Appendix 6 of the Landlord Compliance Strategy, be approved. Housing Landlord Compliance – Bi-annual Performance Report There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Housing Landlord Compliance Bi-annual Performance
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Report for the period April 2024 to March 2025. DECIDED: That the content of the Landlord Compliance Performance Report and the suite of Key Performance Indicators, Appendix 1 of the report, be noted. 10 Homelessness and Housing Support 2024/25 There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to homeless and housing support pressures across Renfrewshire during 2024/25 and the measures taken to address the increase in homelessness in recent years and the associated increase in demand for housing support. The report also provided updates on progress with the implementation of the Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan for Renfrewshire (RRTP) and Scottish Government funding received to assist with its implementation, together with a summary of performance. DECIDED: (a) That the continuing local and national pressures that had led to the increase in homeless applications and demand for housing support and the impacts these increases were currently having, and might have in the future, be noted; and (b) That the measures being taken by the Council and partners to mitigate the impacts of these pressures be noted. 11 Housing Asset and Investment Programme 2024/25: Update There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Housing Asset and Investment Programme 2024/25, providing an overview of the projects delivered within the housing asset and investment programme 2024/25, information relative to the governance structure in place and plans for the Housing Asset and Investment Programme 2025/26. DECIDED: (a) That the progress made in the housing asset and investment programme 2024/25 be noted; (b) That the establishment of the Housing Asset and Investment Programme Board and the associated governance structure put in place be noted; and (c) That the proposed plans for the 2025/26 Housing Asset and Investment Programme be noted. 12 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Acquisitions and Disposals 2024/25 Update There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to progress, during 2024/25, in terms of the acquisition and disposal of properties held on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). The report proposed that the Council’s Acquisition Scheme for Private Housing be amended to
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authorise the voluntary acquisition of privately-owned properties from landlords with a tenant in situation, as outlined in section 4 of the report. DECIDED: (a) That the progress made to date in the acquisition and disposal of properties held under the Housing Revenue Account be noted; (b) That it be noted that further updates on this topic would be provided on an annual basis; and (c) That the amendment to the Council’s Acquisition Policy for Private Housing to authorise the voluntary acquisition of privately-owned properties from landlords with a tenant in situation, as outlined in section 4 of the report, be approved. 13 Private Sector Housing Investment Programme 2025/26 There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Private Sector Housing Investment Programme 2025/26. A copy of the Private Sector Housing Grant Investment Programme 2025/26 was appended to the report. DECIDED: That the Private Sector Housing Grant Investment Programme 2025/26, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, be approved. 14 Participatory Budgeting - "Tenants Decide" Fund There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the “Tenants Decide” Fund, a £600,000 fund approved at the meeting of Renfrewshire Council held on 27 February 2025 to deliver improvements suggested and voted for by tenants, in a similar way to how the YouDecide campaign was delivered. DECIDED: (a) That the content of the report be noted; (b) That it be noted that a further update would be submitted to the next meeting of this Policy Board on the outcome of the consultation with the Tenant Scrutiny Panel and the development of assessment criteria and the selection process for the Tenants Decide Fund; and (c) That it be noted that an annual update would be provided on the delivery of the Tenants Decide Fund and the projects proposed and approved for implementation each financial year. 15 Community Funding Update There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative applications for community funding received to the Sustainable Communities and Villages Investment Funds. Recommendations relating to these applications were detailed in sections 4
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and 5 of the report and summarised within Appendix 1 of this report. DECIDED: That the recommendations detailed in Sections 4 and 5 of the report and summarised in Appendix 1 of the report, in relation to applications received to the Sustainable Communities Fund and Villages Investment Fund be approved. 16 Community Learning and Development - Six Monthly Update There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to Community Learning and Development activity during the previous six-month period and which also highlighted key priorities for the service for the next six months. DECIDED: (a) That the content of the report be noted; and (b) That the allocation of £5,000 of grant funding to Johnstone Castle Learning centre, to provide short term financial support to the organisation, as it worked to transition from previous Education Category C grant funding arrangements, be approved.