Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 19 August 2025
Back to Communities and Housing Policy Board — 19 August 2025 and its agenda
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Minute of Meeting Communities and Housing Policy Board Date Time Venue Tuesday, 19 August 2025 13:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Present: Councillor Jacqueline Cameron, Councillor Graeme Clark, Councillor Carolann Davidson, Councillor Gillian Graham, 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 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, P Moss, Strategy, Planning & Insight Manager, M Kirk, Assistant Planning & Policy Development Officer, K Dalrymple, Development Plans & Housing Strategy Team Leader, A Williamson, Strategy & Place Manager, N Drummond, Lead Officer (Community Capacity) and C Robertson, Strategic CLD Manager (all Chief Executive’s); J Trainer, Head of Children & Justice Social Work and D Wilson, Criminal Justice Services Manager (both Children’s Services); C Dalrymple, Head of Facilities & Property Services, L Feeley, Head of Housing Services, G Hannah, Head of Climate, Public Protection & Roads, G Hutton, Head of Operations & Service Development, 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, R Walkinshaw, Housing Regeneration & Development Manager, M Brown, Housing Asset & Energy Strategy Manager, A Andrews, Area Housing Manager (Council Housing), A Miller, Development Officer (Housing Regeneration & Service Improvement) 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, the Convener took the opportunity to welcome Councillor Clark to his first meeting of the Policy Board since his appointment as a member. Declarations of Interest Councillor McMillan declared an interest in item 10 by reason of being a private landlord. Councillor McMillan indicated that as he had declared an interest he would withdraw from the meeting during any discussion and voting on the item. Transparency Statements Councillor J MacLaren indicated that he had a connection to items 3 and 10 by reason of being a volunteer with ‘Team Up to Clean Up’ and a private landlord respectively. However, he indicated that he had applied the objective test and did not consider he had interests to declare. 1 Police and Fire & Rescue Services Sub-committee There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Sub-committee held on 13 May 2025, 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 27 June 2025 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 for the period 1 April to 27 June 2025. The report stated that the projected outturn as at 31 March 2025 for all services reporting to this Policy Board was a break-even position against the revised budgets for both the General Services and Housing Revenue Account. The projected capital outturn for projects reporting to this Policy Board was also a break-even position. Summaries were provided over the relevant services in the tables within the report, together with further analysis. DECIDED: (a) That the projected revenue outturn break-even position be noted; (b) That the projected capital outturn break-even position be noted; and
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(c) That the budget adjustments, detailed at sections 6.3 and 7.2 of the report, be noted. 3 Service Update Report There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to key service activities and provided an operational performance update in connection with services and key projects, together with changes to service areas covered within the remit of this Policy Board since the previous meeting. DECIDED: That the contents of the report be noted. 4 Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal Programme for Renfrewshire – Year 4 Update There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Year 4 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 Regeneration and Renewal Programme. It was highlighted that meeting Scottish Government Energy Efficiency targets continued to be challenging in mixed tenure blocks. DECIDED: (a) That the positive progress made in each of the eight regeneration and renewal areas within the ambitious ten-year programme be noted; and (b) That the challenges presented in mixed tenure blocks where owners were not in agreement to proceed with proposed investment works be noted. 5 Housing Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction Programmes: 2025/26 Award of Funding There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Schemes (EES: ABS) Programme 2025/26 and the allocation of £1,163,400 for qualifying projects within the Renfrewshire Council area. The key objectives of the programme were detailed within the report, together with the potential benefits. DECIDED: (a) That the decision of the Head of Housing Services, in consultation with the Convener, to accept grant funding of up to £1,163,400 from the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficiency Scotland Area Based Schemes programme, for
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qualifying projects within the Renfrewshire Council area for 2025/26 be homologated; and (b) That the Head of Housing Services be authorised to oversee 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 at a future meeting of this Policy Board. 6 Draft Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026/31 There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the draft Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2026/31, a copy of which was appended to the report. The draft SHIP 2026/31 included a range of housing projects that aimed to deliver affordable homes of different types and sizes throughout Renfrewshire to meet people’s housing needs. The report proposed that following consultation, which would be undertaken during August and September 2025, the finalised Plan would be submitted to a future meeting of this Policy Board for consideration and, if appropriate approval, prior to submission to the Scottish Government. DECIDED: That the draft Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026/31, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, be approved for consultation and that a finalised Plan be submitted for consideration at the meeting of this Policy Board scheduled to be held on 28 October 2025. 7 Update on Single Voids Team - Year 1 There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to a year one update on the progress of the work of the Single Voids Team, which aimed to implement a series of recommendations following an end-to-end review of the void processes. The report provided details of specific targets set and performance levels attained in void related areas. It was highlighted that it had previously been agreed that the Single Voids Team pilot continue during financial year 2024/25, and then subsequently to continue the pilot until March 2026. DECIDED: (a) That the improvement in Void Rent Loss and Average Re-Let time targets be noted; and (b) That the targets set for 2025/26 be noted. 8 Housing Landlord Compliance – Water Safety 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 Water Strategy Policy, attached as Appendix A of the report.
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DECIDED: That the Water Safety Policy, set out at Appendix A of the report, be approved. 9 Regulation of Social Housing: Assurance Statement 2025 There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Assurance Statement 2025 which required to be submitted to the Scottish Housing Regulator by 31 October 2025. 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 2025 for Renfrewshire Council was attached as Appendix 2 of the report, for approval. DECIDED: (a) That the regulatory requirements and evidence of Renfrewshire Council’s compliance, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report, be noted; and (b) That the Renfrewshire Council Annual Assurance Statement 2025, attached at Appendix 2 of the report, be approved for submission to the Scottish Housing Regulator. Declaration of Interest Councillor McMillan, having previously declared an interest in the following item of business, left the meeting and took no part in the discussion or voting thereon. 10 Scottish Government Consultations on the Draft Energy Efficiency (Domestic Private Rented Property) (Scotland) Regulations and the Draft Scope for a Heat & Energy Efficiency Technical Suitability Assessment There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Scottish Government Consultations on the Draft Energy Efficiency (Domestic Private Rented Property) (Scotland) Regulations and the Draft Scope for a Heat & Energy Efficiency Technical Suitability Assessment. The report stated that the aim of both consultations was to improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions from buildings and support the Scottish Government’s Net Zero and fuel poverty reduction commitments. The deadline for submissions was 29 August 2025. Copies of draft responses, prepared on behalf of the Council, in respect of both consultations were attached as appendices to the report. DECIDED: (a) That the draft responses to both consultations be approved; and (b) That the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure be authorised to submit
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the responses prior to the closing date of 29 August 2025. Sederunt Councillor McMillan re-joined the meeting prior to consideration of the following item of business. 11 Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board Joint Health Protection Plan 2025/27 There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board Joint Health Protection Plan 2025/27, a copy of which was appended to the report. DECIDED: (a) That it be noted that the Greater Glasgow & Clyde Joint Health Protection Plan 2025/27, attached as Appendix 1 of the report, had been approved by the NHS GGC Board, and (b) That the content of the Greater Glasgow & Clyde Joint Health Protection Plan 2025/27 be approved. 12 Renfrewshire Council Business Continuity Policy 2025/28 There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Renfrewshire Council Business Continuity Policy 2025/27which outlined how Renfrewshire Council would ensure the continuity of critical services during emergencies or disruptions. The aim of the Policy, a copy of which formed Appendix 1 to the report, was to ensure that all requirements placed on the Council as a “Category 1 Responder” under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 were met and that the work aligned with the Business Continuity Institute’s Good Practice Guidelines and British Standards Institute ISO 22301 standard. DECIDED: (a) That the Renfrewshire Council Business Continuity Policy 2025/27, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report, be approved; and (b) That the Renfrewshire Council Business Continuity additional documents list, as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report, be noted. 13 Justice Social Work - Care Inspectorate National Review Self- evaluation of performance, quality and outcomes There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the Care Inspectorate National Review Self-evaluation of performance, quality and outcomes of community sentences in Justice Social Work (JSW), a copy of which was appended to the report.
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DECIDED: (a) That the Care Inspectorate’s recently published review report on performance, quality and outcomes of community sentences in Justice Social Work be noted; and (b) That the progress to date made locally by Justice Social Work against the national Report’s conclusions be noted. Sederunt Councillor Rodden left the meeting prior to consideration of the following item of business. 14 Community Funding There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to applications for community funding received to the Sustainable Communities and Village Investment Funds. Recommendations relating to these applications were detailed in sections 4 and 5 of the report for members consideration 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 and 2 of the report, in relation to applications received to the Sustainable Communities Fund and Villages Investment Fund be approved.