Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 28 October 2025
Back to Communities and Housing Policy Board — 28 October 2025 and its agenda
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Minute of Meeting Communities and Housing Policy Board Date Time Venue Tuesday, 28 October 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 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, A Williamson, Strategy & Place Manager, K Dalrymple, Development Plans & Housing Strategy Team Leader, A Johnston, Principal Estates Surveyor, J Gardyne, Community Justice Lead Officer, A Walter, Connected Communities Manager and C Moore, Strategic Community Learning & Development 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 Feely, 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, P McLean, Housing Lead Officer (Participation, Performance & Policy), 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), F Wilson, Serious Organised Crime & Trading Standards Manager (Housing Regeneration & Service Improvement) and R Flanagan, Senior Environmental Health Officer (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. Apology Councillor McDonald. 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 submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Sub-committee held on 19 August 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 19 September 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 19 September 2025. The report stated that the projected revenue outturn as at 31 March 2026 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 (c) That the budget adjustments, detailed at sections 6.3 and 7.2 of the report, be noted.
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3 Service Update Report There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to key service activities and which 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: (a) That the Head of Housing Services be authorised to accept Scottish Government grant funding of £800,000 from the Scottish Government’s Cladding Remediation Fund as set out in paragraph 3.4.17 of the report; (b) That the Head of Housing Services be authorised to oversee the operational management and delivery of the project; and (c) That otherwise the report be noted. 4 Environment, Housing, and Infrastructure – Service Improvement Plan 2025/28 Mid-Year Monitoring Report There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the performance and achievements of the Environment, Housing & Infrastructure Service during the period 1 April to 30 September 2025. DECIDED: That the report, including updated performance information and progress to date on delivering the actions contained within the Environment, Housing & Infrastructure Service Improvement Plan, be noted. 5 Environment, Housing and Infrastructure (EHI) Health, Safety and Wellbeing Plan 2025/28: Mid-year (6 month) Update There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Health, Safety and Wellbeing Plan 2025/28 Mid-year Update. Appendix 1 to the report set out a brief update for actions contained in the Plan. It was highlighted that the report and update on the Plan was also being submitted to the Infrastructure, Land & Environment Policy Board and the Finance, Resources & Customer Services Policy Board to approve those elements of activity covered within the remits of those Policy Boards. DECIDED: (a) That the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Annual Health, Safety and Wellbeing Plan 2025/28 update, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, be approved insofar as it related to the areas of activity delegated to this Policy Board; and
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(b) That it be noted that the report and update on the Plan would also be submitted to the meetings of the Infrastructure, Land & Environment Policy Board and the Finance, Resources & Customer Services Policy Board to approve those elements of activity covered within the remits of those Policy Boards. 6 Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026/31 Under reference to item 6 of the Minute of the meeting of this Policy Board held on 19 August 2025, there was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2026/31. The draft Renfrewshire SHIP 2026/31 developed to take into account cognisance of feedback received during the consultation process. was attached as Appendix 1 to the report. A summary of the representations and changes made was provided in Appendix 2 to the report. DECIDED: That the Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026/31, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved for submission to the Scottish Government. 7 Local Housing Strategy 2023/28 – Year Two (2024/25) Progress Update There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Local Housing Strategy 2023/28 annual update for 2024/25, a copy of which was appended to the report. DECIDED: That the progress made, during the period 2024/25 in implementing the actions of the Local Housing Strategy 2023/28, be noted. 8 Social Housing Charter Performance: 2025/26 Half Year Update There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Social Housing Charter Performance: 2025/26 half-year update. The half-year update report, a copy of which formed Appendix 1 to the report, provided a performance update for the first six months of 2025/26, detailed Renfrewshire’s performance in terms of 17 of the 33 Charter indicators reported within the Annual Report and where appropriate, outlined specific areas where performance in terms of the indicators had improved or remained stable. DECIDED: That the Social Housing Charter Performance 2025/26 half-year update report, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, be noted. 9 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 Report for the period April to September 2025. The report highlighted that details of the Asbestos Management Action Plan were included within the 2025/26 Engagement Plan.
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DECIDED: (a) That the content of the Landlord Compliance Performance Report and the suite of Key Performance Indicators, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, be noted; and (b) That it be noted that the Asbestos Management Action Plan had been provided to the Scottish Housing Regulator as required as part of the Engagement Plan 2025/26. 10 Homelessness update There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to homeless and housing support pressures across Renfrewshire 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 detail on the homelessness related issues in the recently announced Scottish Government Housing Emergency Action Plan as well as a summary of the 2024/25 performance statistics on homelessness published by the Scottish Government during September 2025. DECIDED: (a) That the continuing local and national pressures in relation 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; (b) That the measures being taken by the Council and partners to mitigate the impacts of these pressures be noted; and (c) That the homelessness related issues within the Scottish Government’s Housing Emergency Action Plan, announced in September 2025 and the possible impact this might have in Renfrewshire, as well as the recently published homeless performance indicators for 2024/25 be noted. 11 Housing Asset Management Strategy There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Housing Asset Management Strategy 2025/30. A copy of the Housing Asset Management Strategy 2025/30 which set out the strategic approach to managing housing assets and sought to provide direction for investment in Council housing stock and associated Action Plan were attached as Appendices 1 and 2 to the report. DECIDED: That the Housing Asset Management Strategy 2025/30 and associated Action Plan be approved. 12 Housing Landlord Compliance – Asbestos Management Policy There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to Housing Landlord compliance. The Housing Landlord Compliance Strategy 2025/28, approved at the meeting of this Policy Board held on 11 March 2025, set out the strategic approach to compliance across the six key areas
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of compliance relating to Council Housing assets, namely gas safety, electrical safety, fire safety, lift safety, asbestos management and water safety. A copy of the proposed Asbestos Management Policy was attached as Appendix 1 to the report. DECIDED: That the Asbestos Management Policy, set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved. 13 Building at Blackstoun Road, Paisley, PA3 1NB There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the proposed declaration of the former Community Centre building in Blackstoun Road, Paisley as surplus to the Council’s requirements. The location of the building involved was identified in a plan attached as an appendix to the report. DECIDED: (a) That the former community centre building at Blackstoun Road, Paisley be declared as surplus to the Council’s operational requirements; and (b) That the Head of Economy & Development and Head of Corporate Governance be authorised to progress the disposal of the property in order to obtain a capital receipt. 14 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 Housing Rule 2.5, which required all housing allocations which involved either (i) Council members or their immediate families or (ii) members of staff of the Housing Services Division or their immediate families to be notified to the relevant Policy Board. DECIDED: That the report be noted. 15 Housing (Scotland) Act 1987- Representation in Respect of a House Failing to Meet the Tolerable Standard There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the failure of the properties at 54 and 56 Waverley Road, Paisley to meet the Tolerable Standard, as defined by the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, seeking approval to issue a Demolition Order in terms of Section 115 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 for the properties and seeking authority to promote a Compulsory Purchase Order, to complement the Demolition Order process, and bring the remaining privately owned flat at 1/2, 56 Waverley Road, Paisley into Council ownership. DECIDED: (a) That the issue of a Demolition Order in respect of the properties at 54 and 56 Waverly Road, Paisley PA2 0AB be approved;
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(b) That the Council undertake the demolition of the blocks at 54 and 56 Waverley Road, Paisley PA2 0AB in the event that, subject to their right to appeal, the owners failed to demolish the block within the prescribed period; and (c) That the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure be authorised, in the event that further efforts to acquire the property voluntary were unsuccessful, to promote and submit a Compulsory Purchase Order to the Scottish Ministers for approval to acquire the property at 1/2, 56 Waverley Paisley after conclusion of the demolition order process. 16 Environmental Health Business Regulation Service Plan 2025/26 There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the Environmental Health Business Regulation Service Plan 2025/26, a copy of which was appended to the report. The Business Regulation Service Plan 2025/26 provided detail, as required by Food 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 2025/26, attached as Appendix 1 to the report be approved. 17 Prevent Multi Agency Panel Revised Guidance – Protecting people susceptible to radicalisation There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to Revised Guidance – Protecting people susceptible to radicalisation issued by Prevent Multi Agency Panel (PMAP). The Prevent agenda was one that attracted high levels of interest and revised guidance on the application of the PMAP process had been developed by the Home Office and published in August 2025 a copy of which was attached as Appendix 1 to the report. DECIDED: (a) That the revised guidance be noted; and (b) That it be noted that officers had incorporated the guidance into the Council’s Prevent Multi-Agency Panel (PMAP) procedures. 18 Community Funding Update There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to community funding. Recommendations relating to four applications received for Sustainable Communities Funding and two applications for Villages Investment Funding were detailed in sections 4 and 5 of the report for members consideration and summarised within Appendices 1 and 2 to the report.
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DECIDED: That the recommendations detailed in Sections 4 and 5 of the report and summarised in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report, in relation to applications received to the Sustainable Communities Fund and Villages Investment Fund be approved. 19 Connected Communities - Six Monthly Update There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the six-monthly update for Connected Communities. DECIDED: (a) That grant funding awards of £9,300 to Social Enterprise Academy and £5,000 to Create Paisley to pilot the delivery of targeted creative social enterprise opportunities to young people identified through the Good Vibes Only programme be approved; and (b) That otherwise the report be noted. 20 Community Justice Update and Annual Return 2024/25 There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the Community Justice Update and Annual Return 2024/25. DECIDED: (a) That the Reporting Template for the Community Justice Renfrewshire Annual Report 2024/25, attached as an appendix to the report, be approved; and (b) That it be noted that the Community Justice Renfrewshire Annual Report Template 2024/25 had been submitted to Community Justice Scotland in draft format and that it be agreed that the finalised report now be submitted and published.