Facilities and Property Service Update Report
Renfrewshire Council · 10 September 2026
Back to Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board — 10 September 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: 10 September 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 June 2026. 1.2 Further information and details of service delivery can be found in a number of other reports being presented to the Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board today. 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 (Assets) 3.1 Development & Strategy 3.1.1 The Strategic Property Programme (SPP) is a key part of the Property Asset Management Strategy Board which was approved previously at this Board on 11 June 2026. 3.1.2 The Development & Strategy team has established a Surplus Property Management Process alongside colleagues in Estates to ensure Renfrewshire Council continue to be fully compliant and meet our insurance obligations for
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PUBLIC properties that have been identified as ‘surplus’ for future sale, return to Landlord, or demolition. This was shared with the Asset Management Oversight Group (AMOG) in June 2026. 3.1.3 A further strand to the Development & Strategy work is the ‘New Ways of Working’ initiatives and appropriate funding has been allocated from recurring revenue budgets to allow them to support workplace change over the next year, with an aim to a wider programme being developed aligned with the SPP for full launch and communication in September 2027. This workstream will align with the Scottish Futures Trust Work and Workplace 2035 research. 3.1.4 The AD&S team have been supporting the Renfrewshire Council Planning team with activities in relation to Local Place Plans across the 10 local Community Councils groups. 3.1.5 In relation to HSCP properties, recent decisions from the IJB on 19 June 2026 will potentially result in the closure of four existing facilities. The team will work closely with HSCP and Estates to support this approved change in the portfolio which will deliver operational property savings/cost avoidance over the next 5 years, along with the potential for capital receipts from disposals. 3.1.6 Further progress has been made on the condition surveys across the estate. An additional 16 properties have been surveyed with full reports to be finalised and issued soon. Hard Facilities Management (Hard FM) 3.2 Public Buildings – Capital Projects 3.2.1 Following the commitment at the Council budget in February 2026 to provide £1.4m 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. 3.2.2 Due to the PPP contract, discussions have started with AMEY and Renfrewshire Schools Partnership (RSP) to assess ground conditions and move forward. Site visits with architects were undertaken in April 2026 to agree final pitch dimensions and general layout ahead of final design submission. 3.2.3 Planning permission was submitted May 2026. Quotes from RSP/Amey are currently being reviewed by Renfrewshire Council with further meetings taking place with both parties in due course. 3.2.4 The renewal of the 3G pitch at Trinity High School was completed over the summer period and has been received well. 3.3 Public Buildings - Lifecycle Replacement works
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PUBLIC 3.3.1 Works have progressed well this fiscal year and Officers continue to explore areas of investment across the estate. 3.3.2 The 26/27 Lifecycle Proposals for the PPP Schools estate have been received from Renfrewshire Schools Partnership. Final works have been agreed with a variety of works completed over the summer break prior to the return of the schools. 2026/27 (New Works) Site Type of Work Work Required Castlehead High School Water Management and flooring Replace HW secondary pump and flooring replacement Spateston ELC Water Management and ceiling replacement Replace faulty booster pump and suspended ceiling Robertson Park – Office block and garage store Intruder Alarm Replace Intruder alarm system Renfrewshire House Generator Replace fan hub assembly CCTV Control Centre Generator Replace Control Panel Linwood Children Home Velux Replace Velux window Cartside Community Centre Roughcast and Gutters Repairs to building Trinity High School Flooring Flooring repairs Anchor Centre Tarmac Replace slabs with tarmac Newmains Primary School New door Replace Alu door Houston Primary School CCTV PC Replace PC West Primary School Pest control Proofing works Langcraigs Primary School Replace urinals Replace urinals Arkleston Primary School Tarmac Tarmac repairs Gallowhill Primary School Tarmac Tarmac repairs Langbank Village Hall Heating Replace boiler Renfrew KGV Water heater Replace WH Anchor Centre Tarmac Replace slabs for Tarmac Mossvale Primary School Sprinklers New sprinkler system and controls Barsail Primary School Path/Tarmac/CCTV Path works and CCTV replacement St Peter's P Primary School Water Heater Water Heater replacement Various Line painting Disabled bays Parkmains High School Change Em controls Change controls Mary Russell School New flooring and tarmac repairs Replacement and repair Ralston Primary School New flooring in 3 stores Replacement St Margaret’s Primary School Tarmac Repairs
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PUBLIC 3.3.3 As part of the Council budget in March 2026, £2m was allocated to improving Leisure Facilities in Renfrewshire. Officers from Facilities and Property Services and OneRen are currently reviewing a prioritised list of works for improvements to allocate the funding to maximise improvements. This will include improvements across all leisure centres in Renfrewshire. 3.3.4 Other significant Life Cycle works currently in progress include, but not limited to: • Howwood Primary - toilet upgrade • East Fulton Primary - toilet upgrade • Lochfield Primary - rebuild retaining wall • Wallace Primary - playground resurface • Auchenlodment Primary – part redecoration • Howwood Community Centre – internal and external refurbishment 3.3.5 Officers continue to work with Inchinnan Community Development Trust and Thorn Athletic Community Trust to allocate £0.78m of funding to increase artificial pitches in Renfrewshire. Both clubs now have planning permission and the work at Inchinnan has progressed to site. Monthly review meetings are taking place to assess progress. 3.4 Public Buildings compliance – Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) 3.4.1 Good performance across compliance tasks within the portfolio with Officers working to meet the 90% target, however, it fell slightly below at 88%. Officers continue to review and strive to increase performance at all times with a key focus on the management of contractors. 3.4.2 Compliance performance within the PPP Schools has continued at 100% for April & May 2026 with the exception of Todholm PS & Woodlands PS which dropped to 98% in April. 3.5 Public Buildings - Repairs data 3.5.1 The repairs profile remains as expected, as detailed below: 2026/27 Repairs Education Core Prestige OneRen Total 2401 613 305 148 3467 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 in the first quarter of 2026.
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PUBLIC 3.6.2 Repairs to Public Buildings Building Services carry out responsive repairs across public buildings and OneRen properties across Renfrewshire. Each of the categories of repairs have improved from last year, however, further work is on-going from both Building Services and Hard FM teams on urgent and routine repairs to bring them up to the required target levels. 3.6.3 Compliance - Public Buildings Building Services carry out compliance works across a number of areas. The average level of complaince is 94% across all categories.
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PUBLIC Element of compliance targets Apr- 26 May- 26 Jun- 26 25/26 Electrical (including MUGA's) 90% 90% 90% 83% 91% Emergency lighting 90% 92% 97% 97% 88% Water Management (including showers and swimming pools) 90% 96% 97% 94% 95% Gas 90% 100% 100% 100% 99% HVAC 90% 100% 100% 94% 93% Canopies 90% 100% 100% 100% 97% 3.7 Voids 3.7.1 In the 1st Quarter of 2026, Building Services void team received 115 void houses and returned 121 houses for let. The current average turnaround time is 10.7 days. The volume of work within the void houses continues to rise as can be shown on the table below. Officers from Building Services will be working with the newly appointed Empty Homes Manager to review the levels to ensure they are reduced as far as possible to realistic levels. 3.7.2 From the beginning of April 2026, Building Services has been carrying out the remedial works required within the Homeless Person Unit (HPU) properties alongside an external contractor. In the 1st Quarter of 2026, they have received 14 HPU voids, and the average turnaround time is 7.85 days. 3.8 Electrical Testing Programme 3.8.1 Building Services has carried out over 892 electrical tests in the 1st Quarter of 2026 in various categories split as per the diagram below. 3.8.2 From the electrical testing there is often remedial works to then be carried out below details that there were 2,201 electrical certificates issued following remedial works being carried out in the 1st Quarter of 2026. 3.9 Kitchen and Boiler Programmes 3.9.1 Boilers Building Services are currently fitting at least 16 new boilers per week. There were 193 fitted and installed in the 1st Quarter of 2026. Building Services are achieving positive feedback following the checks with Housing Services and tenants. 3.9.2 Kitchens Building Services are fitting slightly less than 8 kitchens per week due to the tenant’s availability to have their new kitchens installed. A new communication strategy with tenants to increase the installations has been put in place to ensure this increases 8 per week. In the 1st Quarter of 2026, there have been 53 fully completed kitchens. Again, this work is achieving positive feedback following the checks with Housing Services and the tenants.
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PUBLIC 3.10 Gas Servicing 3.10.1 In the 1st Quarter of 2026, the Building Services domestic gas servicing and repairs team carried out 2,944 gas services and 3,243 gas repairs. 3.11 Capital/Planned Works 3.11.1 School Toilet Refurbishments In 2026 Building Services will be refurbishing the school toilets within East Fulton PS, Howwood PS and Houston PS as part of Hard FM lifecycle works as detailed in Section 3.3.4. These schools are part of an ongoing program of upgrading work through the education estate to improve the toilets within schools. Works include Wet-wall, vinyl flooring, ceilings, new sanitary ware and plumbing, all electrics including hand dryers, new radiators, new cubicles, vanity units and decoration. Work commenced on 1st July 2026 in both East Fulton PS and Howwood PS and were complete for the schools returning. Houston PS started after the schools returned and new start pupils are settled. 3.11.2 Barshaw Park Public Toilet Work to renovate public toilets as part of a commission from Neighbourhood Services/Technical Services is underway. 3.11.3 Building Services are undertaking lifecycle works via Hard FM/Technical Services as detailed in Sections 3.3.2 and 3.3.4 including: • Lochfield Primary School Wall Works undertaken to stabilise and repair a wall in school playground, remove overhanging trees and rebuild wall, inclusive of new foundations to house new ball catching net. • Riverbrae School Renovation works to expand classroom space. • St Margaret’s Primary School Re-rendering of complete school, including renewing UPVC cladding and lighting. • Mary Russell School Renovation works to expand classroom areas, and decoration to classrooms. 4 Soft Facilities Management (Soft FM) 4.1 School Meals 4.1.1 The new school menu cycle was implemented on the 18 August 2026 for Primary, Secondary and Early years. This menu has been implemented using feedback from pupils, parents, catering staff and educational staff with an aim to continue to increase school meal uptake across all services. Engagement with stakeholders including parents and Children’s Services will continue throughout the new school term, focusing on financial and health benefits of utilising school meal provision. Significant progress has been made towards the full roll out of the pre-order Vericool app during August
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PUBLIC 2026, with support from IT and the supplier. While full implementation has been delayed, work continues to finalise deployment arrangements. The app will improve the dining experience within secondary schools by helping pupils access their preferred menu items and reducing queueing times. 4.2 Production Cooking Kitchens 4.2.1 All proposed sites, returning to operational production kitchens, are now complete. Remedial equipment upgrades will continue to be carried out dependent on requirements. Additional Grade 03 Facilities Operative Production Assistants have been proposed to support Senior Facilities Operatives (Production Cooks) and cover during sickness & annual leave periods, making the service more resilient. 4.3 Performance of School Meals 2025/26 4.3.1 School meal uptake for 2025/26 is shown below. This figure combines Universal Free School Meal (UFSM) uptake for Primary 1 to Primary 5 with Free School Meal (FSM) uptake for Primary 6 to Primary 7. 4.3.2 When analysed further, the data shows a 69.8% uptake for UFSM and a 30.2% uptake for FSM. This highlights a key area of focus for the service, with efforts required to increase FSM uptake amongst Primary 6 and 7 pupils. 4.3.3 From August 2026, a pilot menu has been introduced across five primary schools, incorporating elements of the secondary school menu for this age group. The pilot aims to determine whether menu choice is contributing to lower uptake levels or whether other factors, such as the dining environment, are acting as a deterrent. Indicator Target Performance 2025/26 % uptake of free school meals in primary schools 60% 59% % uptake of free school meals in secondary schools 42% 42.5% 4.4 Breakfast Provision 4.4.1 Engagement continues in relation to the planned introduction of a free breakfast provision for all primary-aged pupils by August 2027. Discussions are ongoing with other local authorities and key Renfrewshire Council services, including Children's Services, which will play an important role in supporting delivery. 4.4.2 Further discussions have also taken place with the Scottish Government regarding the preferred delivery model. The Scottish Government has emphasised the importance of prioritising a full breakfast service rather than adopting a grab-and-go approach as the standard provision.
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PUBLIC 4.5 Cobotics 4.5.1 As part of the service's ongoing commitment to innovation, a demonstration of the new LionsBot next generation R5 autonomous scrubber dryer has recently taken place at the new Paisley Grammar School Community Campus. A two-week operational trial was carried out to assess the machine's suitability and performance within the new facility. The trial proved very successful and demonstrated the operational benefits comparable to those achieved through the existing Lionsbot R3 pro Cobotics programme. The service is in the process of purchasing a LionsBot R5 unit for deployment within the new school. 4.6 Use of schools at night 4.6.1 Work continues to ensure that community space across Renfrewshire, including the Learning estate remains available. Soft FM continually review lets that are taken to ensure they remain in the best place for the community. This includes using a hierarchy for bookings wherever possible: • Use of a PPP school as open until 10pm (Mon – Fri) • Use of a school with an ELCC attached until 8pm • Use of a school until 7pm • Use of another Community Facility where required e.g. Community Centres. 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. 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 – None 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
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PUBLIC 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). 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