Facilities and Property Service Update Report
Renfrewshire Council · 23 April 2026
Back to Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board — 23 April 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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PUBLIC To: Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board On: 23 April 2026 Report by: Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure Heading: Facilities and Property Services - Service Update Report 1 Summary 1.1 Environment, Housing & Infrastructure brings together a range of Council services and activities, with both strategic and operational responsibilities. This report provides an operational performance update on Facilities Management (Hard and Soft Services), Building Services and Technical Services delivered by Environment, Housing & Infrastructure since the last Policy Board in February 2026. 2 Recommendations It is recommended that members of the Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board: 2.1 Note the content of this report. 3 Operational Update Hard Facilities Management (Hard FM) 3.1 Public Buildings – Capital Projects 3.1.1 As part of on-going improvements for sports/activities across the learning estate, Officers are currently exploring the provision for additional Multi Use Games Arenas (MUGAs) and upgrades to red blaes pitches, within a number of primary schools. This work will be discussed with Children’s Services and undertaken on a priority basis as the budget allows. A commission has been raised for feasibility studies to 5 schools: • Barsail PS • St Anne’s PS
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PUBLIC • Gallowhill PS • East Fulton PS • Kilbarchan PS 3.1.2 Feasibilities studies are now complete, and the reports are currently being reviewed. Officers have also shared with colleagues within Children’s Services, and a meeting will be arranged to discuss best way forward. The current estimated cost plan indicates a budget of more than £1m may be required for the works, therefore, certain schools will require to be prioritised as the current capital budget remaining (circa £0.5m) is not sufficient. 3.1.3 Following the commitment at the Council budget in February 2026 to provide £1.4 investment in school football pitches, preparation has started on the provision of 2 new artificial pitches for St Benedict’s HS and Linwood HS. This would ensure a 3G provision at all secondary schools in Renfrewshire. Due to the PPP contract, discussions have started with AMEY and Renfrewshire Schools Partnership to assess ground conditions and look to move forward. 3.1.4 The tender for decarbonisation surveys to 5 schools went out to the market and was reviewed in late January 2026. The contract has been awarded to ECD Architects and surveys have concluded. The current programme indicates that reports will be ready for submission/review by mid-May 2025. A further update will be brought to this policy board in due course. 3.1.5 A contract has been awarded for part renewal of Heriot Primary School roof and works will commence during the summer break. 3.1.6 A project is currently being set up for future investment in the OneRen estate following the allocation of funding as part of the budget setting meeting in February 2026. 3.2 Public Buildings - Lifecycle Replacement works 3.2.1 Works have progressed well this fiscal year and officers continue to explore areas of investment across the estate. 3.2.2 The 26/27 Lifecycle Proposals for the PPP Schools estate has been received from Renfrewshire Schools Partnership and is currently under review by the Authority. 2025/26 (New Works) Site Work Required Park Mains H.S. Replace door swing operators and sensors Johnstone Town Hall Replace automatic door operator (inner disabled access door) Renfrewshire House South roof pipework/insulation replacement
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PUBLIC Beechwood Community Centre Restoration of Mahogany basket weave mosaic parquet staves (complete) Johnstone Castle Community Centre Replace Network Video Recorder Castle Semple Condition survey Underwood Road Improve barriers St Margarets P.S. Remove bossed render Mary Russell Various roof repairs and gym wall Weavers Linn Replace fire alarm panel Renfrew High School Repairs to windows Houston Park Repair fence Riverbrae school Fit access ladder at Sprinkler tank for H&S purposes Glenburn Resource Centre Signage and lighting upgrades 3.3 Public Buildings – Reactive/General Improvement works: 3.3.1 The Hard FM team are currently working on the following commissions: • HQ Building Management System upgrade - options appraisal includes the installation of new routers and is currently being finalised with ICT. • HQ lining of car park, general clean up and drainage works. Works are on-going. • Renfrew Victory Baths – Roofing works to be added to the contract planned for late 2026/27. Minor improvements or upgrades will be carried out post contract award. • Officers continue to explore potential upgrade works within community buildings and to help promote potential CAT transfers. • Lochfield Primary School party wall – 3 design packages have been issued to the neighbours affected. The plan is to knock down the wall and rebuild during the summer break. • Over 40 defibrillators across the school estate have been being renewed. 3.4 Public Buildings compliance – Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) 3.4.1 Compliance stats for this quarter are on target, returning 90% across all tasks. Officers will continue to monitor to ensure high levels are maintained. 3.4.2 Compliance performance within the PPP Schools has returned to 100% for October, November & December. 3.5 Public Buildings - Repairs data 3.5.1 The repairs profile remains as expected, as detailed below:
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PUBLIC 2025/26 Repairs Education Core Prestige OneRen Total 7542 1962 958 267 10729 The pressure on the repairs budget remained a challenge at the end of the financial year which led to emergency-only jobs. Any deferred jobs will be actioned early in the 2026/27 financial year. 3.6 Responsive Repairs 3.6.1 The numbers shown below are only the repairs carried out by Building Services on behalf of Housing Services from April 2025 to February 2026. These numbers are very similar to the total numbers at the same point in 2024/25. 3.6.2 Repairs to Public Buildings Building Services carry out responsive repairs across public buildings and OneRen properties across Renfrewshire. Officers are working with our colleagues within Hard FM to identify and improve aspects of categorisation to ensure the works are being deployed with the correct timescale for completion.
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PUBLIC 3.6.3 Compliance - Public Buildings Building Services carry out compliance works across a number of areas. Officers from both teams work together to continue to track and monitor data to maximise and increase the compliance of the Renfrewshire Council estate. 3.7 Voids 3.7.1 From January through February 2026, Building Services void team received 278 job orders, 79 of which have been full Void packages with an average estimation of 133 operative hours per property, the team are continuing to perform well and turn around void properties quickly. 3.7.2 The increased remedial workload in void properties shows no sign of falling and continues keeping within KPI targets challenging. Building Services continue to use every available resource to ensure the timescales are being met, with reports showing the average void days for Building Services, minus exemptions in January was 10.7 days and February coming in at 12.2 days, this puts Building Services in a great position for finishing year end below the 14-day KPI target. 4 Soft Facilities Management (Soft FM) 4.1 School Meals 4.1.1 The annual School meal survey has been issued for completion by Soft FM staff, Children's Services staff, pupils and parents to gain wider feedback on the current menu cycle. Open for 4 weeks this will provide a narrative to develop the next menu cycle for Aug 2026. This has been shared on learning platforms, and the cashless catering system Parent Pay. 4.1.2 New tills are being installed in Renfrewshire Secondary Schools to help assist in the rollout of the pre-order app across the remaining Secondary School sites. Due to connectivity issues due to the age of the on-site equipment, this was identified as a requirement to enable a smoother service delivery without wi-fi connectivity impacting service. 4.1.3 All planned kitchen works to upgrade school sites to cooking establishments have been implemented. A further 2 sites, St John Ogilvie Primary in Paisley and St Fillan's Primary in Houston, are planned to return to fully operational cooking kitchens by April 2026 utilising remaining capital budget. These will see minor kitchen improvements carried out with the purchase of new equipment along with the creation of new Senior
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PUBLIC Facilities Operative - Production Cook positions. 4.2 Scottish Child Payment 4.2.1 Work continues to focus on increasing the number of pupils accessing universal free school meals (P1–P5), free school meals, and paid meals across both primary and secondary schools. While uptake remains strong in the early years of primary education, data indicates a gradual decline in participation among older primary year groups. 4.3 Food Waste Management in Renfrewshire Primary Schools 4.3.1 In response to heightened focus on sustainability and compliance with HMIE inspections and Food for Life award criteria, Renfrewshire Primary Schools have fully implemented a comprehensive food waste management strategy. Beginning in August 2025, a structured process was introduced to track and measure food production, service, and dining hall waste across all schools. This initiative included the installation of new waste segregation units in dining halls and close collaboration with Children’s Services to actively engage pupils in reducing food waste through awareness and participation. 4.3.2 Branding has now been introduced within school dining environments. New signage, badges, and associated materials have been implemented and introduced to schools to promote positive messaging around school meals and sustainability, reinforcing the importance of reducing waste. 4.3.3 Food waste at production and service stages has been significantly minimised through the pre-order system integrated with cashless catering. However, despite these measures, waste levels within dining halls remain a challenge, primarily due to uneaten meals and plate waste. A PowerPoint education resource has been developed and shared with Children's Service’s staff to further share the collaborative approach to reducing food waste within dining halls continued engagement with pupils, staff, and stakeholders will be essential to address this issue and drive further improvements. 4.4 Breakfast Provision 4.4.1 In response to the Scottish Governments announcement in relation to a free breakfast provision for all primary age pupils, discussions have begun with other Local Authorities to understand models currently in place and the logistical challenges around the supervision of pupils at breakfast services. Due to the announcement of 1 hour per day supervision. 5 Technical Services 5.1 Current Commissions 5.1.1 Officers within Technical Services continue to work across the Renfrewshire Council’s property portfolio and given the workload, major projects are reported to the respective Board e.g. Education and Children’s Services Board.
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PUBLIC 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 – Apprentice recruitment detailed in the report will be undertaken as per standard Renfrewshire Council recruitment processes. 3. Community/Council Planning – the report details a range of activities which reflect local community and council planning themes. 4. Legal – As detailed within the report. 5. Property/Assets – As detailed within the report in relation to work on the Council property portfolio. 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 – Advice and guidance is being given to protect the health and safety of employees and service users when carrying out priority services for the Council in line with government and health guidance. 9. Procurement – As noted within the report. 10. Risk – None 11. Privacy Impact – The Scottish Government have introduced legislation to allow the data sharing with local authorities in relation to parents/carers who receive the Scottish Child Payment. 12. COSLA Policy Position – None 13. Children’s Rights – Facilities and Property Services are essential in trying to assist and deliver in support of Children’s Rights. In particular, the report demonstrates compliance by ensuring buildings are suitable provides good educational establishments (Article 28 - Access to Education) and by delivering schools meals and nutritious food (Article 27 – Food, Clothing, and a safe home).
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PUBLIC 14. Climate Change – Parts of the work undertaken in this report will reduce carbon emissions and assist in trying the reach Net Zero targets by improving efficiency of current buildings and new buildings across the portfolio. List of Background Papers None Author: Gordon McNeil, Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure Email: gordon.mcneil@renfrewshire.gov.uk