Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 13 January 2026
Back to Communities and Housing Policy Board — 13 January 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
Minute of Meeting Communities and Housing Policy Board Date Time Venue Tuesday, 13 January 2026 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, A Williamson, Strategy & Place Manager, N Drummond, Community Capacity Strategic Lead, 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 (Children’s 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 & Community Safety 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), F Wilson, Serious Organised Crime & Trading Standards Manager (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).
Page 2
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. The Convener made reference to the regeneration works currently being undertaken in the Foxbar area and the recent death of a man after an incident at a demolition site in Waverley Road, Paisley and extended, on behalf of the Council, condolences to his family. Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. Transparency Statements Councillor G Graham indicated that she had a connection to item 7 by reason of her membership of RSPB. However, she indicated that she had applied the objective test and did not consider she had an interest to declare. Councillor J MacLaren indicated that he had a connection to item 7 by reason of his membership of RSPB. 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 item 7 by reason of his membership of the committee of Thorn Athletic. However, he indicated that he had applied the objective test and did not consider he had an interest to declare. Councillor McDonald indicated that she had a connection to item 7 by reason of being a member of the Board of OneRen. However, she indicated that she had applied the objective test and did not consider she had an interest to declare. 1 Police and Fire & Rescue Scrutiny Sub-committee There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Sub-committee held on 28 October 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 14 November 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 14 November 2025.
Page 3
The report stated that the projected 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; and (b) That the projected capital outturn break-even position be noted. 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: That the contents of the report be noted. 4 Homelessness: Annual Benchmarking Report 2024/25 There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to a summary, produced by Scotland’s Housing Network, of Scottish local authority performance during 2024/25 in terms of key homelessness related issues. DECIDED: That the Council’s performance during 2024/25 in respect of key homelessness related issues be noted. 5 Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal – Compulsory Purchase Orders (Howard Street and Thrushcraigs Housing Regeneration Areas) There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure seeking authorisation to promote compulsory purchase orders in respect of the remaining privately owned properties in the Howard Street and Thrushcraigs Housing Regeneration Areas to ensure that there were no adverse impacts on the approved programme timelines. DECIDED: (a) That the Head of Housing Services be authorised to promote a Compulsory Purchase Order in relation to the one remaining privately owned property, at 0/1, 39 McKerrell Street, Paisley, PA1 1NJ, in the Howard Street Housing Regeneration Area; and
Page 4
(b) That the Head of Housing Services be authorised to promote a Compulsory Purchase Order in relation to the three remaining privately owned properties, detailed in Table 1, of section 3.7 of the report, in the Thrushcraigs Housing Regeneration Area. 6 Consultation Response on the Strategic Policing Plan for Scotland 2026/29 There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to the proposed response, prepared on behalf of the Council and attached as Appendix 1 of the report, in connection with the consultation undertaken by Police Scotland, in connection with the draft Strategic Policing Plan for Scotland 2026/29. The report provided a hyperlink to the draft Plan and indicated that the deadline for the submission of responses was 25 January 2026. DECIDED: That the consultation response, attached as Appendix 1 of the report, be approved and that officers be authorised to submit the response ahead of the deadline date of 25 January 2026. 7 Community Funding Update There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to community funding. The report referred to the guidance for both the Sustainable Communities Fund and Villages Investment Fund which had been updated and approved at the meeting of the Leadership Board held on 19 February 2025. Recommendations relating to three applications received for Sustainable Communities Funding and one application for Villages Investment Funding were detailed in the report for members consideration and summarised within Appendix 1 of the report. Appendix 2 of the report provided an overview of progress that had been achieved in relation to several projects which had received funding through the Sustainable Communities Fund. DECIDED: (a) That the recommendations detailed in section 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; and (b) That the Sustainable Communities Fund progress report, attached as Appendix 2 of the report, be noted. 8 Renfrewshire’s Community Learning and Development Partnership Plan - Annual Report 2024/25 Under reference to item 15 of the Minute of the meeting of this Policy Board held on 29 October 2024 there was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the Renfrewshire Community Learning and Development Partnership Plan Annual Report 2024/25. DECIDED: That the content of the report be noted.