Agenda Document Pack - Leadership Board - 03/12/2025
Renfrewshire Council · 3 December 2025
Back to Leadership Board — 3 December 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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26/11/2025 Notice of Meeting and Agenda Leadership Board Date Time Venue Wednesday, 03 December 2025 13:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Membership Councillor Iain Nicolson (Convener): Councillor Jacqueline Cameron (Depute Convener): Councillor Alison Ann-Dowling: Councillor Michelle Campbell: Councillor Graeme Clark: Councillor Audrey Doig: Councillor Neill Graham: Councillor Anne Hannigan: Councillor David McGonigle: Councillor Marie McGurk: Councillor Iain McMillan: Councillor Kevin Montgomery: Councillor Emma Rodden: Councillor John Shaw: Councillor Andy Steel: Hybrid Meeting Please note that this meeting is scheduled to be held in the Council Chambers. However, it is a hybrid meeting and arrangements have been made for members to join the meeting remotely should they wish. Webcasting of Meeting This meeting will be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site – at the start of the meeting the Convener will confirm if all or part of the meeting is being filmed. To find the webcast please navigate to https://renfrewshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/home Members of the Press and Public Members of the press and public wishing to attend the meeting should report to the customer service centre where they will be met and directed to the meeting. MARK CONAGHAN Head of Corporate Governance Page 1 of 434
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26/11/2025 Further Information This is a meeting which is open to members of the public. A copy of the agenda and reports for this meeting will be available for inspection prior to the meeting at the Customer Service Centre, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley and online at http://renfrewshire.cmis.uk.com/renfrewshire/CouncilandBoards.aspx For further information, please email democratic-services@renfrewshire.gov.uk Page 2 of 434
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26/11/2025 Items of business Apologies Apologies from members. Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements Members are asked to declare an interest or make a transparency statement in any item(s) on the agenda and to provide a brief explanation of the nature of the interest or the transparency statement. 1 Revenue & Capital Budget Monitoring Report Report by Director of Finance & Resources 5 - 16 2 Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-committee Minute of meeting of the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-committee held on 12 November 2025 17 - 18 3 Fairer Renfrewshire Update Report by Chief Executive 19 - 96 4 Community Planning 6-monthly Update Report by Chief Executive 97 - 158 5 Council Plan 6-monthly Update Report by Chief Executive 159 - 220 6 Resident Research Report by Chief Executive 221 - 366 7 Migration and Asylum Update Report by Chief Executive 367 - 372 8 Non-residential Social Care Charging Policy - Implementation Update Report by Director of Finance & Resources 373 - 376 9 Compulsory Purchase Reform in Scotland – Consultation Response Report by Chief Executive 377 - 400 Page 3 of 434
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26/11/2025 10 OneRen - 6-monthly Monitoring Report Report by Chief Executive 401 - 428 11 Paisley Museum Reimagined Ltd – Charitable Trust Arrangements Report by Chief Executive 429 - 434 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC The Board may by resolution exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that if members of the press and public are present, there could be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 5 and 14 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1973. Exempt Item Exempt documents are no longer available in print format. You will require to log in to Leadership Board Exempt to access documents. Please note that access to exempt documents is now restricted. 12 Humanitarian Support Exempt report by Chief Executive Page 4 of 434
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PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Leadership Board On: 3 December 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive, Director of Finance and Resources, and Chief Finance Officer Renfrewshire HSCP ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring as at 19 September 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 At the close of reporting Period 6 on 19 September 2025, the projected revenue outturn at 31 March 2026 for those services reporting to the Leadership Board is a deficit position of £5.459m. This is mainly due to Adult Services (HSCP) projecting a deficit of £5.482m against a planned deficit position £5.969m. 1.2 The projected capital outturn at 19 September 2025 for projects reporting to the Leadership Board is a break-even position against the revised budget for the year. 1.3 This is summarised in the tables below and further analysis is provided in the Appendices. Revised Annual Budget £000 Projected Outturn £000 Budget Variance (Adv)/Fav £000 Planned Use of Reserves £000 Revenue Adult Services 111.791 117.273 (5.482) (5.969) Chief Executive’s Service 21.757 21.734 23 0 Total 133.548 139.007 (5.459) (5.969) Capital Variance % Total 19.135 19.135 0 0% Item 1 Page 5 of 434
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PUBLIC 2. Recommendations 2.1 Members are requested to: a) Note the projected Revenue outturn deficit position of £5.459m; and b) Note the projected Capital outturn break-even position. _________________________________________________________ 3. Revenue Budget Projection – deficit of £5.459m by 31 March 2026 3.1 The tables in Appendix 1 present the projected year-end position for all services reporting to this board, by both subjective analysis (what the budget is spent on) and objective analysis (which division is spending the budget). Significant variances affecting the projected position are analysed further below. 3.2 It should be noted that the projected outturn position reported here is based on the latest information available, which is subject to change during the financial year. _________________________________________________________ 4 Objective Analysis – Significant Variances 4.1 Adult Services - £5.482m deficit The approved Adult Services revenue budget for 2025/26 included a deficit position of £5.969m (central scenario), which would be funded from reserves. The £5.482m projected deficit is £0.487m lower than the planned draw on reserves mainly due to underspends in employee costs due to vacancies and ongoing challenges in terms of recruitment and retention. These underspends are offset by higher than expected spend on external care at home packages for both Older People and those with Physical or Sensory Disabilities. This results from increased acuity of patients with more complex needs discharged from hospital, meaning more intensive Care at Home packages are required to support people to remain in their own homes. There was also an overspend within the Learning Disabilities service in relation to Adult Care Placements due to the increase in clients’ needs and demand for these services. Ongoing action is being taken by HSCP management to try and mitigate these cost drivers where possible and any revisions to this position will be updated in future board reports. _________________________________________________________ Page 6 of 434
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PUBLIC 5 Subjective Analysis – Significant Variances 5.1 Employee Costs - £1.264m underspend This forecast underspend predominantly arises within Adult Services (£1.236m) from ongoing recruitment challenges and retention issues across all service areas due to the limited availability of the required skills mix. 5.2 Premises Related - £0.031m pressure This forecast deficit relates fully to Adult Services and reflects increased cleaning and repairs costs, as well as the cost of specialist adaptation equipment, such as track hoists. 5.3 Third Party Payments - £6.457m pressure This forecast deficit relates fully to Adult Services and is mainly due to external care at home packages. This results from increased acuity of patients discharged from hospital, with more complex needs, meaning more intensive Care at Home packages are required to support people to remain in their own homes. Further overspends are forecast within adult supported living packages and carer's respite, reflective of client needs and demand for these services. 5.4 Transfer Payments - £0.227m pressure This forecast deficit predominantly arises within Adult Services (£0.221m) due to the projected bad debt provision; this is based on the current debt position. _________________________________________________________ 6 Revenue Budget Virements 6.1 Under the Council’s financial regulations, Directors and their nominated officers, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Resources, have certain delegated authority to transfer sums between subjective budget headings within a service division to enable budget management throughout the financial year. This is known as budget virement. 6.2 Transfers between divisions of the same service / department in excess of £100,000, and transfers between services / departments must be authorised by the respective service Director and the Director of Finance and Resources for submission to the relevant policy board for approval. 6.3 The budget adjustments processed since the previous report to board reflect the allocation of centrally held budgets already approved or within delegation. Page 7 of 434
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PUBLIC 7 Capital Budget Projection - break even position by 31 March 2026 7.1 The Capital Investment Programme 2025/26 to 2029/30 was approved by the Council on 27 February 2025. The Leadership Board approved capital budget for 2025/26 was £19.135m. 7.2 The in-year Capital budget is forecast to break even by 31 March 2026, and this will continue to be monitored as projects progress. Further details of the programme can be found in the Capital Monitoring report at Appendix 2. 7.3 There are no budget movements to report. Implications of the Report 1. Financial The projected budget outturn position for the Leadership Revenue budget is a deficit of £5.459m at 31 March 2026. Income and expenditure will continue to be monitored closely for the rest of the financial year and as far as possible, steps will be taken by services to mitigate any overspend. The projected outturn position for the Leadership Capital budget is break-even, after the adjustments outlined at section 7. 2. HR & Organisational Development None directly arising from this report. 3. Community/Council Planning Community Plan Our Renfrewshire is thriving The Council’s revenue and capital spend ensures that its facilities are fit for purpose and safe for the community, to maximise accessibility. Our Renfrewshire is well Our Renfrewshire is fair Our Renfrewshire is safe Council Plan Reshaping our place, our economy and our future The Council’s revenue and capital spend ensures that its facilities are fit for purpose and safe for the community, to maximise accessibility. Building strong, safe and resilient communities Tackling inequality, ensuring opportunities for all Creating a sustainable Renfrewshire for all to enjoy Ongoing revenue and capital budget monitoring is a tool to enable good Page 8 of 434
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PUBLIC Council Plan Working together to improve outcomes financial management so that the Council has resources now and in the future for continued service delivery. 4. Legal There are no direct implications arising from the recommendations in this report. 5. Property/Assets The capital expenditure noted in this report will result in new assets (City Deal), regeneration (AMIDS) and refurbishment and improvement of leisure and culture assets. 6. Information Technology While ICT assets and revenue costs are included within these reported budgets, there are no direct implications arising from the recommendations in this report. 7. Equality & Human Rights While certain areas of spend may impact on particular groups, any such impact would be assessed prior to the spend being incurred, therefore there are no direct implications arising from the recommendations in this report. 8. Health & Safety The capital expenditure noted in this report will result in lifecycle maintenance improvements to existing properties and replacement of ICT assets, which may in some cases rectify health and safety issues. 9. Procurement While Procurement is a key consideration prior to the Council incurring any revenue or capital spend, there are no direct implications arising from the recommendations in this report. 10. Risk The potential financial risk that the Council will overspend its approved revenue budgets for the year is managed at a Council-wide level by the Chief Executive and Directors. 11. Privacy Impact There are no direct implications arising from the recommendations in this report Page 9 of 434
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PUBLIC 12. Cosla Policy Position There are no direct implications arising from the recommendations in this report. 13. Children’s Rights There are no direct implications arising from the recommendations in this report. 14. Climate Change The Council aims to reduce its carbon and other emissions to net zero by 2030, however there are no direct implications arising from the recommendations in this report. _________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers Revenue Budget and Council Tax 2025/26, Council, 27 February 2025. 2025/26 Delegated Health and Social Care Budget, Renfrewshire Integration Joint Board, 21 March 2025. Non-Housing Capital Investment Programme, Prudential Framework and Treasury Management Strategy, and Capital Strategy 2025/26 – 2029/30, Council, 27 February 2025. ___________________________________________________________________ Authors: Revenue - Valerie Howie, Finance Business Partner / Alison Burns, Corporate Finance Manager Capital – Linsey McGregor, Senior Accountant Page 10 of 434
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Appendix 1 PUBLIC RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL REVENUE BUDGET MONITORING STATEMENT 2025/26 1 April 2025 to 19 September 2025 POLICY BOARD : LEADERSHIP BOARD Objective Summary Annual Budget at Period 3 Budget Adjustments Revised Annual Budget at Period 6 Projected Outturn Budget Variance (Adverse) or Favourable Previous Projected Outturn Variance Movement £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 % £000 £000 Adult Services 111,791 0 111,791 117,273 (5,482) (4.9%) (5,924) 442 Chief Executive's Service 21,478 279 21,757 21,734 23 0.1% 4 19 NET EXPENDITURE 133,269 279 133,548 139,007 (5,459) (4.1%) (5,920) 461 Subjective Summary Annual Budget at Period 3 Budget Adjustments Revised Annual Budget at Period 6 Projected Outturn Budget Variance (Adverse) or Favourable Previous Projected Outturn Variance Movement £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 % £000 £000 Employees 43,936 217 44,153 42,889 1,264 2.9% 478 786 Premises Related 737 37 774 805 (31) (4.0%) (43) 12 Transport Related 596 0 596 603 (7) (1.2%) 1 (8) Supplies and Services 19,452 98 19,550 19,553 (3) 0.0% (35) 32 Third Party Payments 74,712 (655) 74,057 80,514 (6,457) (8.7%) (5,996) (461) Transfer Payments 25,628 (30) 25,598 25,825 (227) (0.9%) (94) (133) Support Services 94 58 152 159 (7) (4.6%) (11) 4 Depreciation and Impairment Losses 0 0 0 0 0 0.0% 0 0 GROSS EXPENDITURE 165,155 (275) 164,880 170,348 (5,468) (3.3%) (5,700) 232 Income (31,886) 554 (31,332) (31,341) 9 0.0% (220) 229 NET EXPENDITURE 133,269 279 133,548 139,007 (5,459) (4.1%) (5,920) 461 Page 11 of 434
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Appendix 1 PUBLIC Objective Summary Annual Budget at Period 3 Budget Adjustments Revised Annual Budget at Period 6 Projected Outturn Previous Projected Outturn Variance Movement £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 % £000 £000 Older People 61,178 (42) 61,136 63,190 (2,054) (3.4%) (2,699) 645 Physical or Sensory Disabilities 15,497 (25) 15,472 17,039 (1,567) (10.1%) (1,695) 128 Learning Disabilities 29,157 (896) 28,261 29,734 (1,473) (5.2%) (884) (589) Mental Health Needs 5,203 953 6,156 6,514 (358) (5.8%) (671) 313 Addiction Services 756 10 766 796 (30) (3.9%) 25 (55) NET EXPENDITURE 111,791 0 111,791 117,273 (5,482) (4.9%) (5,924) 442 Subjective Summary Annual Budget at Period 3 Budget Adjustments Revised Annual Budget at Period 6 Projected Outturn Previous Projected Outturn Variance Movement £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 % £000 £000 Employees 38,679 0 38,679 37,443 1,236 3.2% 476 760 Premises Related 336 37 373 404 (31) (8.3%) (43) 12 Transport Related 595 0 595 602 (7) (1.2%) 1 (8) Supplies and Services 3,796 80 3,876 3,894 (18) (0.5%) (35) 17 Third Party Payments 74,712 (655) 74,057 80,514 (6,457) (8.7%) (5,996) (461) Transfer Payments 24,320 (16) 24,304 24,525 (221) (0.9%) (95) (126) Support Services 61 0 61 68 (7) (11.5%) (11) 4 GROSS EXPENDITURE 142,499 (554) 141,945 147,450 (5,505) (3.9%) (5,703) 198 Income (30,708) 554 (30,154) (30,177) 23 0.1% (221) 244 NET EXPENDITURE 111,791 0 111,791 117,273 (5,482) (4.9%) (5,924) 442 RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL REVENUE BUDGET MONITORING STATEMENT 2025/26 1 April 2025 to 19 September 2025 Budget Variance (Adverse) or Favourable Budget Variance (Adverse) or Favourable POLICY BOARD: LEADERSHIP BOARD - ADULT SERVICES Page 12 of 434
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Appendix 1 PUBLIC Objective Summary Annual Budget at Period 3 Budget Adjustments Revised Annual Budget at Period 6 Projected Outturn Previous Projected Outturn Variance Movement £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 % £000 £000 Chief Executive and Management 285 13 298 297 1 0.3% 0 1 Policy and Partnerships 4,099 109 4,208 4,206 2 0.0% 4 (2) Marketing and Communications 2,969 52 3,021 3,001 20 0.7% 0 20 City Deal & Infrastructure 29 57 86 86 0 0.0% 0 0 Leisure Services (incl Renfrewshire Leisure) 14,096 48 14,144 14,144 0 0.0% 0 0 NET EXPENDITURE 21,478 279 21,757 21,734 23 0.1% 4 19 Subjective Summary Annual Budget at Period 3 Budget Adjustments Revised Annual Budget at Period 6 Projected Outturn Previous Projected Outturn Variance Movement £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 % £000 £000 Employees 5,257 217 5,474 5,446 28 0.5% 2 26 Premises Related 401 0 401 401 0 0.0% 0 0 Transport Related 1 0 1 1 0 0.0% 0 0 Supplies and Services 15,656 18 15,674 15,659 15 0.1% 0 15 Third Party Payments 0 0 0 0 0 0.0% 0 0 Transfer Payments 1,308 (14) 1,294 1,300 (6) (0.5%) 1 (7) Support Services 33 58 91 91 0 0.0% 0 0 GROSS EXPENDITURE 22,656 279 22,935 22,898 37 0.2% 3 34 Income (1,178) 0 (1,178) (1,164) (14) (1.2%) 1 (15) NET EXPENDITURE 21,478 279 21,757 21,734 23 0.1% 4 19 Budget Variance (Adverse) or Favourable Budget Variance (Adverse) or Favourable REVENUE BUDGET MONITORING STATEMENT 2025/26 RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 1 April 2025 to 19 September 2025 POLICY BOARD: LEADERSHIP BOARD - CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S SERVICE Page 13 of 434
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Appendix 2 PUBLIC Prior Years Approved Budget Revised Projected Total Approved Projected Expenditure Budget Adjustments Budget Outturn Budget Outurn Project Title to 31/03/2025 2025-26 since previous 2025-26 2025-26 to 31-Mar-30 to 31-Mar-30 Board report £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 LEISURE SERVICES Artificial Pitches Fund 19 781 0 781 781 0 0% 800 800 0 0% Community Halls Refurbishment 24,978 1,184 0 1,184 1,184 0 0% 26,551 26,551 0 0% Linwood Running Track at On-X 405 48 0 48 48 0 0% 454 454 0 0% Lagoon Internal Play Centre 0 1,000 0 1,000 1,000 0 0% 1,000 1,000 0 0% Total Leisure Services 25,402 3,013 0 3,013 3,013 0 0% 28,805 28,805 0 0% CHIEF EXECUTIVES City Deal Projects Glasgow Airport Investment Area 46,125 262 0 262 262 0 0% 48,387 48,387 0 0% Clyde Waterfront & Renfrew Riverside 112,931 4,752 0 4,752 4,752 0 0% 117,824 117,824 0 0% Economic Development AMIDS: Public Realm Phase 1 Netheron Square 3,817 78 0 78 78 0 0% 3,895 3,895 0 0% AMIDS: South 6,379 11,030 0 11,030 11,030 0 0% 59,092 59,092 0 0% Total Chief Executives 169,252 16,122 0 16,122 16,122 0 0% 229,198 229,198 0 0% TOTAL LEADERSHIP BOARD 194,654 19,135 0 19,135 19,135 0 0% 258,003 258,003 0 0% RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL CAPITAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY - NON-HOUSING SERVICES 1st April to 19th September 2025 POLICY BOARD: LEADERSHIP Current Year 2025-26 Full Programme - All years Budget Variance (Adverse) or Favourable Budget Variance (Adverse) or Favourable Page 15 of 434
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Minute of Meeting Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-committee Date Time Venue Wednesday, 12 November 2025 10:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Present: Councillor Jacqueline Cameron, Councillor Graeme Clark, Councillor Neill Graham, Councillor Anne Hannigan, Councillor Marie McGurk, Councillor Iain Nicolson, Councillor Andy Steel Chair Councillor J Cameron, Convener, presided. In Attendance L McIntyre, Head of Policy & Partnerships and A Walter, Connected Communities Manager (both Chief Executive’s); C MacDonald, Senior Committee Services Officer and D Cunningham, Committee Services and Licensing Officer (both Finance & Resources). Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. Webcasting of Meeting Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Convener intimated that this meeting of the Sub-committee would be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council's internet site. Cost of Living Update There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to an overview of the key context and evidence around current pressures on household finances, both in terms of household income and expenditure. DECIDED: That the report be noted. Item 2 Page 17 of 434
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1(b) Cost of Living Dashboard There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to an overview of key indicators and their movement from the last reporting period, supported by additional statistical information, analysis and graphs which illustrated longer-term trends. DECIDED: That the report be noted. 2 Fairer Renfrewshire Programme Update There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to key projects being progressed through the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme. The report provided updates on current projects, highlighted future key priorities and gave an overview of the proposals, priorities and next steps for 2025. DECIDED: That the report be noted. 3 Summer of Fun Evaluation 2025 There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive which provided an overview of the Summer of Fun programme for 2025. The evaluation report, which was attached as an appendix to the report, provided information on the summer programme 2025 and included key findings and recommendations. The report noted that findings from the evaluation would be considered as part of the development of the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme for 2026/27. DECIDED: That the report be noted. 4 Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan: Update The Connected Communities Manager gave an update presentation on the Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan that included a brief overview of the Programme outlined the timeline and the process involved; and highlighted the cross-cutting themes. DECIDED: That the presentation be noted. Page 18 of 434
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PUBLIC _____________________________________________________________________________ To: Leadership Board On: 3 December 2025 _____________________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive _____________________________________________________________________________ Heading: Fairer Renfrewshire Update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The Council and its partners continue to work together to progress the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme, with a strong shared focus currently on the local response to the cost-of-living crisis. 1.2 This paper provides: • a summary of the issues as reported to the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee on 12 November 2025 including the cost of living and programme updates. • An update with regard to the Advancing Equality of Opportunity Workstream. • Details of the Summer of Fun programme and evaluation report. • An overview of all projects funded to date through this year’s Winter Connections programme. 1.3 This paper also presents a draft Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan for approval, which through consultation with key stakeholders, has been developed to guide the focus of the Fairer Renfrewshire programme over the course of the next 18-24 months. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that Elected Members: Item 3 Page 19 of 434
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PUBLIC • Note the content of the report and the work being undertaken to progress the Fairer Renfrewshire programme; • Note the update provided on the Summer Of Fun programme, including the evaluation report as detailed in Appendix 1; • Note the update provided on the Winter Connections programme in Section 6, with detailed information on all funded applications provided in Appendix 2. • Approves the Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan attached at Appendix 3. ______________________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 The Fairer Renfrewshire Programme was developed in order to bring together targeted programmes of work being progressed by the Council and its partners to tackle poverty and inequality in Renfrewshire. As the cost of living crisis has continued, the programme has continued to evolve in response, with activities being progressed across the 4 core themes: • Improving financial security • Advancing equality of opportunity • Building community capacity and resilience • Listening to lived experience 3.2 Regular updates on the programme are provided to the Fairer Renfrewshire sub-committee and subsequently to the Leadership Board. 4 Update from the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee 4.1 At its meeting on 12 November 2025, the sub-committee considered: • The most recent programme update including information on recent statistics and research in relation to the cost-of-living crisis, including the dashboard developed locally. • Progress updates in relation to family advice provision, Summer of Fun, Community Development in Gallowhill and the Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan 4.2 Officers gather information from a variety of sources at both a local and national level to inform discussion at the sub-committee. Key statistics and information discussed at its most recent meeting are provided in table 1 below. Table 1 Key National Statistics • The rate of inflation is standing at 3.6% in October, falling from 3.8% the previous month and has been above the target rate of 2% set by the UK Government for the Bank of England since October 2024, when it reached 2.3%. • The inflation rate for food has increased to 4.9% in October, after hitting 5.1% in August then reducing to 4.5% in September. It remains higher than overall inflation. Page 20 of 434
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PUBLIC • The Bank of England interest rate was reduced to 4.00% in August 2025 and has remained at that rate. • The Energy Price Cap, originally introduced by Ofgem in January 2019 to set limits on the underlying rates energy suppliers, is currently set at £ 1775 from 1 October, up £35 a year from the previous quarter. This will increase by 0.2% to £1758 from 1 January. Cost of living research (national) The latest insights into the cost of living from the Office of National Statistics for the period 6th to 31st August 2025 found: • Around 67% of adults reported that their cost of living had increased compared with a month ago this is up from the 59% last reported. • The most commonly reported reason given by adults in the latest period for a rise in their cost of living remains the price of their food shop at 96% (previously 94%), which has been the case since they first asked the question in November 2021. • Around one in four (24%) adults said they had borrowed more money or used more credit in the last month when compared with a year ago. This has remained stable over the past three years. • Over one in three (36%) adults reported that they believed they would be unable to save any money in the next 12 months. This has remained stable in the past year. • Around one in three (31%) adults who paid energy bills reported that they found these bills very or somewhat difficult. • With regard to Direct Debit failure. The most recent statistics for September 2025 shows a default rate on loans of 5.08%. This is the highest rate since January 2024, and is only the second time the rate has been over 5% since records began in January 2019. • With regard to Electricity and Gas Direct Debits, the default rate is 3%, the highest since records began in 2019. September 2025 is the first time the rate has been as high as 3%. Employment and Income • According to the ONS, the Claimant Count in September 2025, which is taken from JobcentrePlus administration systems for those claiming unemployment-related benefits in Renfrewshire is 3225 people – 1935 men and 1290 women aged between 16 and 64. This is a slight reduction from 3,360 last reported. The Renfrewshire unemployment rate of 2.7% is less than the Scotland rate (3%) • Over the long term, average weekly earnings for both total and regular pay show a steady increase. Average weekly earnings were estimated at £727 for total earnings and £680 for regular earnings in July 2025. Page 21 of 434
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PUBLIC Food costs / insecurity • The latest figures show that food and drink inflation rose for the fifth month in a row in August, increasing to 5.1% from 4.9% in July, but then fell to 4.5% in September. Meat, butter, chocolate, coffee and milk were the items with the biggest price rises. Beef and veal were 24.9% higher in price than this time last year, and butter 18.9% higher. • The Renfrewshire Foodbank issued 1,361 vouchers in Quarter 2 of 2025/26, a decrease of 4.1% in comparison with the 1,400 vouchers issued during the same quarter last year. The vouchers covered 1,796 adults and 908 children this year, which was an increase in the total number receiving assistance compared to the same quarter last year (1,740 adults and 844 children). The number of vouchers this quarter is also slightly more than last quarter when 1,342 vouchers were issued covering 1,775 adults and 854 children. • The rising costs of essentials remains the most commonly cited factor in the reason for voucher issue in Renfrewshire, at 572 times. Housing In Renfrewshire, private rental prices have continued to rise to an average of £813 across all property sizes in August 2025, an increase of £6 per month on the last reported figure of £807 in June 2025 and an annual increase of 8% from £752 in August 2024. UK Child Poverty The Joseph Rowntree Foundation published its Poverty in Scotland report in October 2025. The report found that: • Poverty is deepening: nearly 1 in 10 people in Scotland are in very deep poverty with incomes below 40% of the median (the standard poverty line is below 60%). For families, alongside minority ethnic families, children in large families have the highest deep (30%) and very deep poverty (19%) rates out of the child poverty priority families. • In-work poverty is increasingly more common: 6 in 10 people in poverty live in a household where someone works and nearly three-quarters of children in poverty do. One-third of children in poverty have both their parents in work. • Poverty amongst disabled people remains high: when disability benefits are excluded from the income of households where someone is disabled, the poverty rate for people in a family where someone is in receipt of a disability benefit is 38%. Over half of all children in poverty live in a household where someone is disabled. • Universal Credit (UC) rates are too low to escape poverty: 42% of people in a family in receipt of a low-income benefit, such as UC, were trapped in poverty. • Housing costs are causing poverty, particularly for renters: 1 in 10 people in rented accommodation (private or social rents) are pulled into poverty due to their housing costs. Page 22 of 434
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PUBLIC 5 Fairer Renfrewshire Programme Update 5.1 Since the last update to Leadership Board in June 2025, a range of activities have continued to be progressed by officers and partners. A summary is provided in the sections below. Summer of Fun 5.2 At Leadership Board on 23 April 2025, it was agreed that the £100,000 allocated to Summer of Fun in March’s budget be split, with 50% of the funding to be directed to deliver holiday camp provision, and the remaining 50% being allocated to support the establishment of a small grants programme which would allow third and community sector partners to deliver local, targeted provision to low-income families across Renfrewshire. 5.3 In addition to the camps and small grants programme, additional funding from a number of different sources was used to deliver a varied programme of activities for children, families, and young people, including Additional Support Needs (ASN) provision along with youth work provision, a youth voice and participation programme, sports activities and an Adult and Family Learning programme. 5.4 Renfrewshire Libraries ran their own summer programme using some of the equipment and games that had been previously funded by Fairer Renfrewshire as well as their own resources. They also received £1,227 from Fairer Renfrewshire to purchase toys, healthy snacks and drinks for children visiting the Skoobmobile and for libraries throughout Renfrewshire. 5.5 The Summer of Fun programme aimed to deliver free, fun activities over the summer holidays for communities that might be underserved by mainstream activities, and particularly low-income families. Feedback suggests that the programme was able to reach these families, particularly those who are in the child poverty priority groups. 5.6 The majority of families that attended the holiday camps were lone parents, while over a third of families had 3 or more children. Feedback from the small grants funded projects showed that they had also managed to reach families in all child poverty priority groups through their activities. The ASN playscheme supported children who have complex needs, and transport for this provision was welcomed by families. The Promise Champs activities supported those who are care experienced, to develop new skills and build friendships. 5.7 In total it is estimated that around 9,000 people, mainly children, but also their families, benefitted from the programme that provided a range of benefits for children and their parents/carers including: • providing accessible, free and fun activities that low-income families could access • helping to reduce financial costs for families • providing a safe environment for children and young people to socialise and learn new skills Page 23 of 434
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PUBLIC • having a positive impact on parents and children’s mental health through creating connections and offering respite • encouraging new people to engage with services • It also provided access to food, activities and advice, providing support in a dignified manner which reduced the potential for stigma. 5.8 The evaluation report at Appendix 1 provides information on the whole summer programme that took place in summer 2025 and includes key findings and recommendations. Findings from the evaluation will be considered in future planning for similar activities. School Support and Family Advice Service 5.9 Between 1 July and the 30th of September 2025, the School Support Service assisted 43 clients. This reduction in numbers from the previous quarter is to be expected due to the school holidays. The majority of enquiries related to benefits advice, which continues to be the main focus of the service. 5.10 Total client financial gains (CFGs) for the period were £151,104.37, achieved across 27 clients. Most financial gains were secured through successful benefits claims, including: • Universal Credit – £87,258.00 • Adult Disability Payment (Daily Living) – £24,860.05 • Child Disability Payment (Care) – £16,905.20 • Carer’s Support Payment – £4,918.60 • Carer’s Allowance – £2,129.40 • Education Maintenance Allowance – £2,940.00 • Scottish Child Payment – £1,411.80 • Best Start Grant – Early Learning Payment – £1,279.20 5.11 Additional smaller gains were recorded from Child Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance, and Charitable Support, totalling £9,249.12. 5.12 The client profile for Q2 shows that the service continues to reach families facing multiple challenges. Around 42% of clients reported a long-term health condition or disability, and a third had caring responsibilities for children with disabilities. Most clients were women aged 25–59, with nearly a quarter unemployed and a further 19% unable to work due to ill health. Just over half of clients lived in council or other social rented housing, reflecting strong engagement with low-income households. 5.13 Advice was also provided across a range of other areas, including education, housing, energy, and finance and charitable support, reflecting the holistic nature of the project. 5.14 For quarter 2 of 25/26, Advice Works received 113 referrals for their Family Advice Service and completed 120 cases. Most of these clients have received a benefit check, with some School Clothing Grant and Child Benefit applications. The majority of these referrals came from Health Visitor teams, with a number too from Social Work and also through self- referral and other Council teams. Page 24 of 434
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PUBLIC 5.15 Client Financial Gain for the year to date for Family Advice is £20,007, with the total for the year so far being almost £54,000, however even in cases where a client speaks to an adviser and there is no financial gain made, the client benefits from the reassurance of a benefit check. Meeting with Advice Works also opens discussion on all financial matters that may be worrying the client, such as debts and budgeting. 5.16 With regard to the Child Poverty Priority Groups, Advice Works have seen 60 families within the Family Advice Service so far this year, falling into these categories. 5.17 Officers have also been working with Advice Works and RCAB to develop a pathway to advice for families with children of all ages, with the intention of distributing and promoting this to Education staff and Whole Family Wellbeing teams as well as 3rd sector organisations working with parents and children. This promotion took place as part of Talk Money week from 3 November 2025. 5.18 As in previous years, Advice Works and RCAB came together too in Talk Money Week to offer appointments for clients to speak about any aspects of their finances which are worrying them and get Income Maximisation advice. Winter Clothing Payment 5.19 The £50 winter clothing payment for each eligible child, which was agreed within the Council’s Budget in February, was paid to families on 31 October 2025. This was paid to Renfrewshire parents and carers who have received a school clothing grant, the additional money will help families buy additional clothing for the winter months. This year 4873 children and young people benefitted from this additional payment. 5.20 Recipients received a message about the payment which included information about the School Support and Family Advice Services, and Head Teachers were provided too with information on how to support families to access financial advice and how to book a Talk Money Week advice appointment. Page 25 of 434
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PUBLIC 5.21 In addition, a press release was issued, again with details of where families could get advice, and about the Talk Money Week appointments. As mentioned above, these appointments were offered by Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau and Advice Works as part of Talk Money Week which took place from 3 to 7th November. Community Development in Gallowhill 5.22 As previously reported to elected members, at Leadership Board on 4 December, £50,000 of Fairer Renfrewshire funding was allocated in grant funding to Active Communities to support the continuation of community development activity in Gallowhill following the publication of the earlier Community Needs Assessment which took place in the area. This is intended to provide capacity to support the development and implementation of actions emerging from the community needs assessment and continue to improve and expand community led activity and infrastructure in the area. 5.23 Unfortunately, Active Communities are having to recruit a new Community Development Officer (CDO), so this work has slowed slightly, although they still run a community session there every Friday. Officers however, continue to work with Active Communities, and using the Community Needs Assessment are prioritising areas of work which will make a difference to the community. A meeting with Transport colleagues took place in late October, and Housing Regeneration colleagues are also involved in looking at how we can work together for maximum effect in the area. 5.24 Recruitment for a new CDO started in November, so that more intensive work in the area can restart as quickly as possible. Wider work will also be undertaken to develop a place- based approach based on the learning from the CNA, with a group comprising Council and HSCP officers and Active Communities steering this work. This group continues to meet. Lived Experience Panel 5.25 Elected Members have been given a number of updates relating to work of the Fairer Renfrewshire Panel. The Panel have met with Events and made contributions to Halloween and Christmas events and contributed to Renfrewshire’s Employability Week through taking part in a session with Invest, DWP and Skills Development Scotland to look at how their services could be better promoted. 5.26 The Panel also took part in the Fairer Renfrewshire Planning Event which took place on 8 October alongside representatives from Council services and the 3rd sector and have supported development of the Action Plan. 5.27 Looking forward, the Panel will meet with the Convenor and Depute of the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee as well as the Convenor of the Communities and Housing Policy Board before Christmas. Page 26 of 434
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PUBLIC 6. Current Priorities Device Recycling Pilot 6.1 In September 2025, Leadership Board agreed to allocate £10,000 of grant funding to Pachedu to develop a device recycling project as part of the Council’s wider digital inclusion work. 6.2 Officers from Renfrewshire Council and OneRen Libraries have been working with Pachedu to have all elements of the project in place and it was launched as part of DigiKnowVember, with the first 3 devices being donated to Pachedu via the Libraries team at the event. The project will be piloted across 4 Renfrewshire Libraries in the first instance: Paisley Central, Ferguslie Park, Johnstone and Renfrew with devices being dropped off by the public in those libraries, collected by Pachedu, refurbished and donated to those who need them. 6.3 The new service will be promoted across Libraries and the 3rd sector using the Engage network as well as the DigiRen network more specifically. It will also be promoted through Council Comms and will be a useful addition to the small electrical device recycling which currently takes place within libraries. Winter Connections 6.4 Recognising the success of the Winter Connections programme since 2022/23, £75,000 of Fairer Renfrewshire funding was allocated as part of the Council’s budget to support the delivery of a Winter Connections programme for 25/26. Winter Connections provides a network of local places and spaces where people can connect to others in their community over the winter. 6.5 Funded activities must fit the criteria of Winter Connections and be: • Open, free and easy to access (although this can mean open to all within a particular age or targeted group) • Inclusive, welcoming, respectful, and safe • Able or willing to provide connections to other services and supports • Able to offer warm drinks/snacks/food along with activities, where possible 6.6 The process launched in September, with organisations able to apply for up to £2,000 funding to support free activities and was quickly oversubscribed, with 47 organisations applying for funding. 6.7 Funding has been fully spent and a list of organisations which have received funding to 21 November is attached at Appendix 2. 6.8 The programme will be evaluated, and a report brought to a subsequent Board. Page 27 of 434
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PUBLIC Advancement of equality of opportunity – Equalities Outcomes Consultation 6.9 The scheduled equalities outcome consultation was launched at the start of September 2025. The consultation is designed to provide those who work, live and study in Renfrewshire with an opportunity to feedback on the Council’s draft equality outcomes and associated actions. There are two methods for individuals to participate in the consultation, either through one of the scheduled face to face sessions or via an online survey. 6.10 Outreach activity has taken place to promote and enhance the response to the consultation. 3rd sector organisations, community groups and Council services which engage with individuals who are likely to have an interest in the equality outcome consultation have been contacted and offered an individual bespoke session. These sessions have encouraged engagement with the consultation, and either helped individuals fill out the consultation, or were run as a focus group. These sessions have been flexible in how they are delivered and driven by the needs of the individuals attending them. For example, Sewing2Gether All Nations was visited to help individuals attending fill out the online consultation form. This was facilitated by Sewing2Gether All Nations staff who were able to translate. 6.11 Further engagement sessions took place with: • Active Communities Knitting Group • the Active Communities Pantry • Community Learning and Development ESOL class • Disability Resource Centre • people supported by Learning Disability Services through the HSCP • The Fairer Renfrewshire lived experience panel • Home Start Wellbeing Group • Kairos Women+ • dates-n-mates • RAMH 6.12 In addition to these bespoke sessions, 4 general sessions took place. These were face to face sessions in Johnstone, Renfrew and Paisley as well as an online Teams session and on 29 October a session was held with the Fairer Renfrewshire Lived Experience Panel. 6.13 The Consultation closed on 31 October 2025 and 60 consultation responses have been received, both online and in paper format. 7 Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan 7.1 It was agreed by the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee and Leadership Board that a Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan would be developed by the end of 2025. The Plan is intended to provide a more formal overview of the breadth of the Fairer Renfrewshire programme as well as set out priorities and activities to be undertaken over the next 18 – 24 month period. Page 28 of 434
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PUBLIC 7.2 Fairer Renfrewshire is an umbrella programme term for work across Renfrewshire Council, in many cases alongside our partners. The programme currently funds a number of longstanding projects as well as some newer projects which have received additional funding, such as the Winter Connections and Summer of Fun programmes. With the recruitment of an Equalities Development Officer, a renewed focus on equalities, and defining and meeting our Equalities Outcomes also comes under the banner of Fairer Renfrewshire. There is also some business-as-usual work, including funding of external advice services. 7.3 The Plan is designed to pull together all aspects of Fairer Renfrewshire work, including planned work, in one place where they can be clearly identified, and outcomes measured. 7.4 The Plan was developed using the voices of varied Council Services and key external partners, including the Fairer Renfrewshire Panel. A workshop with these partners was held in October, and gaps and areas for development were identified and prioritised, as well as what is already available and working well. 7.5 Using the outputs of this workshop, themes were developed and a further session with members of the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee, looking at strengths and challenges of the current Fairer Renfrewshire work, and future actions, drew out additional areas of focus. 7.6 The cross-cutting themes which have been identified are: • Joined up working – a need for better coordination across health, housing, employability, and engagement. • Data and Evidence - Improve data sharing and use of lived experience to inform decisions. • Access and Inclusion - Address digital exclusion, transport barriers, and language needs. • Sustainability - Secure long-term funding for community services and preventative approaches. • Trust and Transparency - Communities want genuine involvement and clear feedback on actions taken. 7.7 Additional ‘stand alone’ themes were also identified: • Improving Financial Security • Health Wellbeing and Community • Advancing Equality of Opportunity • Developing understanding and insight Page 29 of 434
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PUBLIC 7.8 On approval of the Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan, this will be shared with partners and published on the Council website. The Plan will be reviewed on a quarterly basis to ensure progression. 7.9 It is recognised there will be a need to continue to develop this Plan and to ensure resources are deployed effectively to support its delivery. This will include: • Continuing to develop and gather data and information which evidences impact and the achievement of outcomes at a local level • Developing external funding applications and seeking opportunities to align partnership resources to support the delivery of the Fairer Renfrewshire programme. • Continuing to embed live experience and voice and influence within the work that we do – this includes monitoring the effectiveness of the Plan against its actions and outcomes targeted. • Ensuring specific actions are included as required to meet emerging requirements of specific equality groups. _______________________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – none 2. HR & Organisational Development – none 3. Community/Council Planning – This report provides a summary of current partnership activities being progressed through the Fairer Renfrewshire programme, with a key focus on tackling the inequalities that exist in Renfrewshire. 4. Legal - none 5. Property/Assets - none 6. Information Technology - none 7. Equality and Human Rights – The report provides an overview of the position around household income and expenditure, and is for noting. As such there are no impacts arising from the recommendation of this paper. It is however important to note that impacts on households explored within this paper are likely to be disproportionately felt by equality groups. 8. Health and Safety - none 9. Procurement – none 10. Risk – none 11. Privacy Impact – none 12. COSLA Policy Position – none 13. Climate Risk – none 14 Childrens Rights - the articles within UNCRC underpin the work that is being progressed in Renfrewshire through the Fairer Renfrewshire programme, particularly in relation to rights in relation to aspects such as life, survival and development, food, clothing and a safe home and supporting the best interests of the child and their families. Child poverty and family wellbeing are key local partnership priorities. _____________________________________________________________________________ Author: Laura McIntyre, Head of Policy and Partnerships Page 30 of 434
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1 PUBLIC An evaluation of the Summer of Fun Programme 2025 “We saw children who had never entered a pool finally relax and play. We saw carers cry with relief. We saw families laugh together for the first time in weeks. It wasn’t just swimming — it was respite, it was inclusion, it was connection. Thank you for trusting small, grassroots organisations like ours. With this kind of funding, we can do what we do best: meet families where they are and lift them, together.” Just Dive In September 2025 Page 31 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 2 PUBLIC 1. Contents 2. Executive Summary ...................................................................................... 3 3. About Summer of Fun .................................................................................. 6 a. Background ...................................................................................................... 6 b. Renfrewshire Summer Holiday Camps ........................................................ 6 c. Summer of Fun Community Programme.................................................... 8 d. Additional Support Needs (ASN) Provision............................................... 12 e. Street Stuff ...................................................................................................... 12 f. Adult and Family Learning ........................................................................... 13 g. The Promise Champs Summer Programme ............................................. 15 h. One Ren Libraries .......................................................................................... 18 i. Skoobmobile .................................................................................................. 18 4. Evaluating the Summer of Fun programme .......................................... 20 a. Renfrewshire Summer Holiday Camps ...................................................... 20 b. Additional Support Needs (ASN) Provision............................................... 23 c. Skoobmobile .................................................................................................. 24 d. Summer of Fun Community Programme.................................................. 25 5. Conclusions .................................................................................................. 40 6. Appendix 1 – Organisations which received Summer of Fun small grants .............................. 43 Page 32 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 3 PUBLIC 2. Executive Summary Since 2023, Renfrewshire has been running a successful Summer of Fun programme, providing free activities for children and young people over the Summer break. The programme coordinates a range of Council services and partners including a number of local 3rd sector organisations which are funded through a small grants programme. In February 2025 Council allocated £100,000 through the Fairer Renfrewshire programme to support the development of the 2025 summer holiday programme, with a focus on providing fun activities, support and healthy food over the holiday period to low-income families. It was agreed that £50,000 of the funding would be allocated to the provision of summer camps and £50,000 would be allocated to the Summer of Fun Community Programme piloted in 2023. The Fairer Renfrewshire Lived Experience Panel played a key role in directing how this funding could be used. The Community Learning and Development team developed the programme of activities for children and young people through a summer camp model in partnership with Street Stuff, and with the provision of a healthy meal. Work was undertaken to prioritise access to camp bookings to families with low incomes, especially in the child poverty priority groups and through referrals from Childrens Services before opening up access more widely. The Community Programme is a small grants programme for local community groups and organisations to operate free activities over the summer holidays which reach communities and particularly low-income families that might be underserved by mainstream activities. Additional funding from a number of different sources was used to deliver a varied programme of activities for children, families, and young people, along with youth work provision, a youth voice and participation programme, sports activities and an Adult and Family Learning programme. Summer Additional Support Needs (ASN) provision was delivered from Riverbrae School, including the playscheme provided through Klas Care, who were funded to deliver this programme as part of wider work through the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund (WFWF). One Ren delivered a summer programme in the libraries and with the Skoobmobile team. Funding through Fairer Renfrewshire was provided to OneRen to provide toys, healthy snacks and drinks for children visiting the Skoobmobile and for libraries throughout Renfrewshire. Page 33 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 4 PUBLIC In total around 8,812 people were supported across the whole programme. This report describes the work delivered across Renfrewshire throughout the summer holidays as part of the 2025 Summer Holiday provision. Key findings • Access to free, structured, engaging activities aimed at different ages and often including day trips to places of interest, resulted in a successful Summer of Fun programme. The removal of financial barriers to participation and the welcoming and inclusive nature of activities created an accessible programme for families. • The Summer of Fun programme provided children with the opportunity to learn new skills, make new friends, be creative, visit new places and make memories with their families. It helped to create connections, reduce isolation and provide respite to parents and carers. • The programme was able to reach low-income families, particularly those families who are in the child poverty priority groups who may be underserved by mainstream holiday programmes. • Benefits of the Summer of Fun programme included providing free fun activities that low- income families could access, helping to reduce financial costs for families and encouraging new people to engage with organisations. • Partnership work enabled organisations to broaden their offer of activities and bring in community safety partners to deliver informative sessions to keep young people safe. • The free holiday camp places were helpful in supporting working parents with childcare costs, particularly single parents. They provided a safe environment for children to socialise and enjoy a range of activities over the holidays, with outdoor activities being noted as an important benefit. • As identified in previous years, many parents and carers that do a block booking for holiday camps do not show up to the camps and do not cancel their spaces. Further work is required to make sure there is maximum take up of this provision to benefit as many families as possible. • The Promise Champs programme offered care experienced young people safe spaces to build friendships, develop new skills, enjoy nutritious food, and receive support in a positive and youth-friendly setting. Page 34 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 5 PUBLIC • Adult & Family Learning Services ESOL group offered families lots of fun ways to practice English by taking part in activities and games that helped to build vocabulary and boost confidence in speaking English. • The Skoobmobile was very popular and worked in partnership with other Council departments and 3rd sector partners to expand their offer and increase awareness of the service. Being mobile, the free access to play and crafting activities was particularly important to parents who were unable to travel and in areas where no other activities were being delivered. • Additional Support Needs provision continued to identify and respond to the need for provision for children and young people with complex additional support needs through free engaging activities, healthy snacks and free transport for some sessions. Page 35 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 6 PUBLIC 3. About Summer of Fun a. Background In February 2025, Council allocated £100,000 of funding through the Fairer Renfrewshire programme to support the development of a summer holiday programme of activities, with a focus on providing support over the holiday period to low-income families including healthy food where appropriate. It was agreed that £50,000 of the funding would be allocated to the provision of summer camps and £50,000 would be allocated to the Summer of Fun Community Programme piloted in 2023. The Fairer Renfrewshire Lived Experience Panel played a key role in directing how this funding could be used. Renfrewshire’s Community Learning and Development team developed a programme of activities for children and young people through a summer camp model in partnership with Streetstuff, and with the provision of a healthy meal. Work was undertaken to prioritise access to camp bookings to families with low incomes, especially in the child poverty priority groups and through referrals from Childrens Services before opening up access more widely. Contact was also made with Mears around attendance of Summer Clubs for asylum seeking families. The Community Programme is a small grants programme which allows local community groups and organisations to operate free activities over the summer holidays which can reach communities that might be underserved by mainstream activities, particularly low- income families. The Programme is administered by the Fairer Renfrewshire team. b. Renfrewshire Summer Holiday Camps Following on from last year’s successful programme, Renfrewshire’s Community Learning and Development team delivered a summer camp for children and young people. The holiday camps were held in 6 venues across Renfrewshire with a focus on reaching families most in need of the free provision. There were 1,973 attendances at the holiday camps. A programme was developed offering several core activities and targeted to young people aged 5 to 14 years whose families received the school clothing grant, in addition to separately funded youth work provision, a youth voice and participation programme, Page 36 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 7 PUBLIC sports activities and youth bus delivered by Street Stuff and an Adult and Family Learning programme that families could attend together. The approach built on the successes from previous summer programmes and the partnership working between services. The summer provision also ensured a varied programme catering for families, children, and young people across the whole of Renfrewshire. Information about the camps and details of how to book were sent directly to families who were receiving free school meals and clothing grants and, although we know this information was shared between families, the targeting of the information allowed the service to reach low income families in the first instance. Care was also taken to work closely with services such as Social Work, Education and other partners to identify families and young people that would particularly benefit from organised summer activities and to signpost them towards and sign them up for universal activities. The aim was to develop a programme of integrated provision to address the barriers and isolation faced by people in the most deprived areas, but at the same time open to families across Renfrewshire, concentrating on the Scottish Government’s child poverty priority groups. Camps for ages 5 to 14 years were delivered throughout the summer holidays from Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 3pm, twice per week in each of the following venues: Having fun with Street Stuff Page 37 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 8 PUBLIC • Renfrew – St James’ Primary School • Gallowhill – St Catherine’s Primary School • Ferguslie Park – Glencoats Primary School • Linwood – Linwood High School • Foxbar – St Paul’s Primary School • Johnstone – West Johnstone Shared Campus This summer a range of activities were delivered which included hockey, basketball, football and dance as well as arts and crafts, board games and glitter tattoos. Children and young people also had the opportunity to discuss issues around respect and Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue also delivered workshops on online safety and the dangers of fire raising. c. Summer of Fun Community Programme Utilising the allocated budget of £50,000, local community and voluntary organisations could apply for small grants of up to £3,000 to cover costs of summer activities, including venues, materials, food, transport and sessional staff. Smaller awards of up to £500 were also available for organisations with existing activities over the summer to provide healthy snacks or food. Applications were considered for single events or programmes of activities, designed for whole families or for children and young people of a range of ages. All projects agreed to the following principles • Activities must be free, with no hidden or additional costs • Healthy snacks should be provided, or lunch if full day activities • Activities should be inclusive, welcoming, respectful and safe • Compliant with requirements around safeguarding, child protection and food hygiene as appropriate • Able or willing to provide connections to other services and supports In order to ensure that this funding was distributed as quickly as possible, authority was delegated to the Head of Policy and Partnerships to award grants in line with the guidance, with information on awards to be provided to the Leadership Board in consultation with the Council Leader. In total 25 organisations applied for funding. Applications were assessed by a panel consisting of officers from Renfrewshire Council, including from Youth Services, Page 38 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 9 PUBLIC Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership, and from Engage Renfrewshire, with the panel meeting regularly between mid May and the beginning of June. The panel members were able to evaluate the Summer of Fun applications based on knowledge of other available support across localities. Overall 20 projects were funded through Summer of Fun, with the full £50,000 utilised. This included an allocation to One Ren libraries to provide toys which could be taken round in the Skoobmobile to add an extra aspect to their and partners’ programmes and snacks and drinks for children during library activities. As the fund was oversubscribed, it was not possible to approve all applications received. Unsuccessful applicants were signposted to other support or information about sources of funding via Engage Renfrewshire. A list of the organisations that delivered Summer of Fun small grants activities can be found in Appendix 2. A wide range of activities for children and young people of all ages were provided through the funding, along with healthy snacks/ lunches and drinks. Activities that were offered included: • Inflatable fun sessions • Summer playschemes offering free childcare • Traditional games and outdoor activities in local parks • Day trips to local visitor attractions • Arts and crafts and creative activities, such as pottery painting • Sports activities including football, snorkelling, cheerleading, swimming and dancing • Educational activities like cooking skills, music technology and baking • Music workshops and storytelling Day trips proved to be very popular, with young people enjoying a day with their families at Blair Drummond Safari Park, Millport, the Sealife Centre at Loch Lomond, Monty’s Farm Park, Glasgow Science Centre, and the beaches at Ayr and Troon. CREATE Paisley provided drop-in sessions across Johnstone and Paisley for young people, with outdoor creative workshops in the Finding Your Feet garden and music and dance workshops delivered by their partners at The Soundsystem Project and Right2Dance. In addition they delivered weekly sessions for families from the Ukraine and Syria in partnership with Renfrewshire’s Resettlement Team. Page 39 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 10 PUBLIC Just Dive In delivered a range of sensory-friendly aquatic activities including sensory splash sessions, family float sessions, quiet swims and mermaid and snorkel tasters. These activities were specifically designed to be accessible to children and families who may otherwise have faced barriers to participation. Many of the organisations worked with partners to offer as wide a range of activities as possible. Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde partnered with St Mirren FC to organise a visit to St Mirren Park, giving families and volunteers the opportunity to enjoy a stadium tour and lunch. This was an exciting and memorable experience for both children and parents. They also hosted five Park Day sessions across various locations in Renfrewshire, offering outdoor crafts, play-based activities and healthy snacks for both children and adults. These activities provided vital opportunities for connection, play and support, helping families stay engaged with Home-Start and with each other throughout the summer. Creating with nature (Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde) Children participating in Fit and Fed with St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation Page 40 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 11 PUBLIC Alongside delivering inclusive activities for all age groups, Active Communities brought in partners to provide advice and information to parents. They had visits and demonstrations from the Fire Service, Invest, Advice Works, DigiRen and the Skoobmobile. The residents we work with bought into the events from the start. Once the funding was granted, we created a seven-week programme to provide free fun family events each Friday mornings (10-11.30am) in Gallowhill. The community centre was the focus of all events, so we had to hire the space for the 7 weeks. Each session offered something different and ranged from cooking lessons including American and Scottish themed food, a silent disco which the mums loved! We held drumming and music workshops, puppet storytelling with Professor Squozz (up to age 5), facepainting, delivery of arts and crafts sessions where families could leave with something they made, an end of summer disco with game activity and a carnival style day with funfair games, prizes and lots of activity. Active Communities Brick Lane Music Academy provided a range of music activities including Family Music Sessions, Magical Musicians and Band in a Week, where children could sing and learn to play musical instruments. Lunch provided and families with other children under 5 were able to use their facilities, including their new sensory garden. Creche facilities were available too. Erskine Arts delivered workshops in art, music production and performing for different age groups. Young people were able to create, sing, act and learn practical skills in recording and producing music. The STAR Project’s Summer of Fun programme enabled them to offer free spaces on their summer trips to families who would struggle to access activities over the summer due to financial constraints. They also held an end-of-summer Fun Day in Fountain Gardens for the whole community. This included a picnic and BBQ, inflatables, craft activities, music and games, and provided an opportunity for families who attended their summer programme to “come together, share experiences and deepen their connections”. Page 41 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 12 PUBLIC d. Additional Support Needs (ASN) Provision Summer ASN provision this year was located at Riverbrae School, with Klas Care funded to provide some places there as part of wider work through the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund (WFWF). Riverbrae Playscheme took place between 7th July and 7th August 2025 from 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday. There was the opportunity for up to 40 children to attend per day. There were 212 applications received in total and 195 families took up the offer of support, 15 of whom received their funded places through Klas Care. Although families were allocated with 5 free spaces across the 5 weeks, additional sessions could be purchased. A range of fun engaging activities and free play time was delivered throughout the summer holiday period which included: • A nutritious meal and healthy snacks throughout the day • Child led play, both indoor and outdoor activities – including sports, creative arts and sensory experiences. • Much needed social interaction with other children and young people • A high level of staffing who were able to respond to each individual child’s needs A nurse was available two days per week for children who required a higher level of support/complex medical needs and for those using free spaces, transport costs were provided. 47 families took up the offer for free transport to Playscheme for parents within Renfrewshire. Parents were encouraged to transport their children where possible, however, due to the location of the venue and to maximise opportunities and support for families during the summer holiday period, there was some transport available for those who needed it most. e. Street Stuff Street Stuff continued to deliver their core programme of activities in the evenings from Monday to Saturday for young people aged 8 to 16 throughout the summer holidays which also included the provision of healthy food. 1,800 attendances were recorded with activities including multi-sports and the games buses with PS4 games and DJ decks. Young people had the opportunity to mix with friends, listen to music and play fun and interactive games. Page 42 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 13 PUBLIC The Street Stuff activities were delivered at the following places: • Linwood – Our Lady of Peace • Foxbar – Morar Drive and Foxbar Youth Drop in • Erskine - Bargarran Primary School • Johnstone – McMaster Centre • Shortroods – Beechwood Community Centre MUGA • Gallowhill Community Centre • Glenburn – Skye Crescent f. Adult and Family Learning The Adult and Family Learning team supported 61 families in Renfrewshire to enjoy a fun- filled summer regardless of the weather. Four sessions a week in Southend, Foxbar, Johnstone, Renfrew and Erskine ran throughout July and offered parents lots of fun ways to engage with their children. Johnstone families enjoyed outdoor fun – a scavenger hunt in nature, looking for leaves, twigs, ladybugs and four leaf clover as well as searching for fairy houses. Children played with chalk, bubbles, bats and balls and footballs and made use of the outdoor equipment, with some of them conquering their fear of the climbing wall. The children also enjoyed story times and games on the Skoobmobile as well as choosing a library book. They also had the opportunity to get involved in some messy baking. Page 43 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 14 PUBLIC The Glasgow Science Centre hosted a day out for 7 families that included free entry, lunch, and travel to and from the centre. Families from Erskine took part in a variety of activities, including lego yacht racing which they really enjoyed. Page 44 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 15 PUBLIC An ESOL specific group was delivered in Moorpark and learners were able to practice their English by taking part in a variety of fun tasks and games that helped build their vocabulary and boost their confidence in using English. g. The Promise Champs Summer Programme The Youth Services Promise Champs summer programme was funded through the Promise Partnership Youth-Led Corra Fund to support care-experienced young people, young carers, and their peers living in Renfrewshire to engage in a wide range of youth work opportunities including clubs, trips, and new experiences removing common barriers such as cost and accessibility. The programme was co-designed with existing Promise Champs, who played a key role in shaping it, selecting residential venues, and identifying the experiences they most wanted to access. Designed to run across the full six-week summer break, the programme offered young people safe spaces to build friendships, develop new skills, enjoy nutritious food, and receive support in a positive and youth-friendly setting. Opportunities were widely shared through Promise Keeper, social work, and youth work networks, with sign-ups managed via the Class4Kids platform. This ensured the offer reached young people aged 12–17 across Renfrewshire who would benefit most. The programme delivered 6 weekly themed youth club sessions which were attended by 10 participants, 3 summer trips attended by 36 young people, 6 drama workshops attended by 8 young people, a residential experience attended by 14 young people and a Promise Youth Festival. Page 45 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 16 PUBLIC Summer trips included visits to Glasgow Splatter Art Studio, Edinburgh Zoo and a beach day with picnic. Packed lunches were provided for all the trips. The Summer trips were a great way to bring the Promise Champs participants from different communities together. The trips encouraged exploration and fun and promoted independence, and social development. Youth Services hosted an overnight residential for 14 young people at Lapwing Lodge providing opportunities to try new challenges, create memories and strengthen peer bonds. Activities included high ropes, tomahawk throwing, inflatable challenges, and canoeing, along with evening entertainment and group discussions on future Promise initiatives. In addition, Youth Club Summer sessions were held in Paisley Methodist Church from 1 - 3pm on Mondays throughout July and August and were open to young people aged 12-17 years of age. These weekly clubs provided a consistent, safe, and fun space for young people to take part in arts and crafts, team games, independent play, and meaningful social time with peers. Young people enjoyed engaging, youth-led activities that boosted wellbeing and confidence. In partnership with Moxie Drama School, 6 drama workshops on Thursdays from 12 to 2pm gave young people the opportunity to develop performance and storytelling skills through improvisation, dance, singing, and script writing. These activities boosted self-confidence and creativity, developed individual and group communication skills and empowered young people to express themselves through voice and movement in a safe space. The youth festival, Promise YouthyFest was held on 6th August from 11am to 7pm at Youth Services, West Primary School and was attended by 189 young people. The festival was an incredibly positive and enriching event, bringing together care experienced children and young people, young carers, their friends, and families for a full day of celebration, creativity, and community connection. Thanks to successful external funding from the Promise Partnership Youth-led Corra Fund, young people were able to take full ownership of the planning, design, and delivery of YouthyFest, embedding youth voice at every stage. Festival highlights included music and performances, funfair-style activities, creative zones, circus skills, a silent disco and wellbeing and chill-out areas for young people to relax, recharge, and access support if needed. Feedback from the festival was overwhelmingly positive with attendees highlighting the warm and welcoming environment, the quality and variety of activities for all ages, the Page 46 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 17 PUBLIC efforts to making the event inclusive and barrier-free and how empowered the young organisers were. The following impact and positive outcomes were identified: 1. Youth Leadership and Empowerment: • The event demonstrated the power of youth leadership. The Promise Champs led every stage of the festival’s development—from branding to logistics—developing real-world skills in project management, communication, and collaboration. • Young people felt listened to, valued, and empowered, boosting their self-esteem and sense of purpose. 2. Increased Inclusion and Accessibility: • YouthyFest removed common barriers to participation such as cost, travel, and lack of support, ensuring care experienced young people, young carers, and their families could attend without stress or financial strain. • Signposting and support throughout the day created a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for families of all backgrounds. 3. Strengthening Relationships and Community Bonds: • The festival created a space where friendships flourished, families connected, and communities came together in celebration. • For many, it was a rare opportunity to enjoy a day out as a family unit in a safe, stigma- free environment. 4. Promoting The Promise Values: • Every element of the event was designed to uphold and reflect the values of The Promise: love, safety, and respect. • Attendees repeatedly described the day as “fun,” “inclusive,” “safe,” and “uplifting.” 5. Positive Family Experiences: • Families reported feeling supported, connected, and uplifted by the day. Parents and carers expressed appreciation for the thought and care that went into making the event inclusive, relaxing, and fun for both young people and adults. Page 47 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 18 PUBLIC h. One Ren Libraries Renfrewshire Libraries ran their own programme of events this year using equipment bought in previous years and linked it to the annual Summer Reading Challenge “Story Garden”. All activities were free and focused on using recyclable materials and items that are easily sourced. The Summer Reading Challenge this year had the theme of Story Garden, with 1,571 children signing up for the challenge and over half, 912 completing it. One Ren received £1,227 from Fairer Renfrewshire to purchase toys, healthy snacks and drinks for children visiting the Skoobmobile and for libraries throughout Renfrewshire. i. Skoobmobile The Skoobmobile provided access to library activities, including the Summer Reading Challenge and information about partner organisations. With the increasing cost of summer activities, the Skoobmobile was in more demand than ever, giving families free access to different play and crafting opportunities without having to travel or make reservations. A helping hand in Barshaw Park on a Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Park Day Page 48 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 19 PUBLIC Fairer Renfrewshire provided funding for new toy provision as well as free snacks and drinks. The mobile service visited the following locations: • Howwood • Houston • Gallowhill • Todholm • Barshaw Park • Gockston Road The Skoobmobile has built relationships with many groups and organisations throughout Renfrewshire to ensure that the programme reaches all communities. They joined Active Communities’ Summer of Fun programme at Gallowhill Community Centre as well as West Johnstone Family Group, Southend Action Centre and St Mirren Fit n Fed camps where children were offered football themed crafts every Thursday morning over the holidays. Toy items purchased with Fairer Renfrewshire funding were used on a free play basis at Gallowhill, Barshaw Park, Marshes, Howwood and Houston community visits and were very well received, especially the shape matching game. Board games were popular with children and facilitated interactions between children and led to friendships being made. Feedback from children was very positive. “I can’t wait to be on the Skoobmobile again because its so fun” “Loved our time on the Skoobmobile and nice to have a look at some Gaelic books too”. “I liked playing with the new games, the shape game was fund, and it was nice to spend time together”. Digital Champions joined the Skoobmobile every Wednesday at Barshaw Park to raise awareness of their service. The service was also joined by Invest in Renfrewshire on two occasions and worked with Paisley Museum Cultural Learning Team at Sma Shot Day to support an interactive weaving experience for visitors. As part of Fèis Phàislig the bus was joined by 9 adults and 12 children for a morning of traditional music and activity for families at Barshaw Park. The programme faced some challenges including mechanical issues, getting relief drivers, and weather (good and bad) impacting on attendance. Page 49 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 20 PUBLIC 4. Evaluating the Summer of Fun programme Different parts of the programme were evaluated in different ways, but we have included information on numbers attending and comments from staff, parents, carers and children, below. a. Renfrewshire Summer Holiday Camps Over the summer period there were 1,973 recorded attendances at the Summer camps. Participants were asked to provide their views on the Summer of Fun camps by giving the camps a rate out of 5, with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best. Participants stated that they enjoyed the camps and the total rating for the camps was 4.5 out of 5. Evaluation has shown that the free holiday camp places were helpful to families for a number of reasons. The availability of free spaces supported working parents with childcare costs, particularly single parents. The camps provided a safe environment for children to meet new children, develop their social skills and try out different activities over the holidays. The range of activities available meant that children were able to learn new skills and the positive impact of being away from screens and participating in outdoor activities was noted as an important benefit. Skoobmobile stories Page 50 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 21 PUBLIC “Summer club gives my children the opportunity to meet new people, try new activities and build up their confidence. I pay for both girls to attend summer clubs in school throughout the week to allow me to go into the office. Therefore having this club one day a week free of charge also helps us financially as a family.” “They are important as I am a single mum who works and with my daughter being my only child and not a lot of friends this allows her to be more social with kids her age. I also cannot afford to get her back into clubs she has requested she wants to go to but this way she gets to do this with adults who can help and teach.” Feedback about staff was very positive, with parents commenting on how friendly and helpful staff were. The table below details the characteristics of the families who responded to the questions as part of the sign up process for the Summer Camps. The majority of families were lone parents, while over a third of families had 3 or more children. Promotion of the camps was done through messaging to all parents and carers in receipt of School Clothing Grants, to ensure the camps were targeted to low income families. Although those parents passed the booking details to friends and family, the figures show that the camps reached the targeted groups. Category Yes Responses % of Families Lone parent families 289 35.8 Families with 3 or more children 278 34.7 Families with a disability 181 22.6 Black and minority ethnic families 72 9.0 Families with a child under 1 65 8.0 Families with parents under 25 9 1.1 Percentage of children from each age Category % of Families Aged 5 5.4% Aged 6 16.7% Page 51 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 22 PUBLIC Aged 7 18.5 Aged 8 14.3 Aged 9 16.3 Aged 10 11.2 Aged 11 7.4 Aged 12 5.2 Aged 13 3.6 Aged 14 1.3 The overall total within the ‘Yes responses’ column is calculated by counting only those responses where an obvious straight ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response was provided, hence the differing totals for each category. On a less positive note, over the summer holiday period around 1,973 attendances were recorded out of a possible 3,150 spaces, with children and young people benefitting from the daytime camp provision. Prior to the bookings being available, the Fairer Renfrewshire Lived Experience Panel were engaged around how non-attendance could be reduced. Suggestions they made around communications to parents and offering entrance to a prize draw for attendance were taken on board, however non-attendance rates were still high. It has been established that many parents and carers that do a block booking when the programme launches do not show up to the camps and do not cancel their spaces. Parents were asked to provide feedback about non attendance and cited alternative plans and illness as reasons for not attending. Looking forward, we will do further work to examine how we can remind parents of the camps and prompt them to cancel if they will not attend, to allow other families to make use of the places. A waiting list is kept, so when cancellations are made, other families can be quickly advised of spaces. Looking at geographical coverage, there were registrations for the camps from most areas across Renfrewshire with the exception of Bridge of Weir and Kilbarchan. We can infer that transport may be an issue for parents and carers to get children to camps from these villages, especially for those who don’t have a car. Page 52 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 23 PUBLIC b. Additional Support Needs (ASN) Provision For children with additional support needs attending activities at Riverbrae, the aim was to provide activities that focussed on providing a warm, welcoming, fun and safe environment, allowing children and young people to build good relationships with both the staff and other children and young people who attended the playscheme. Activities were child-led, with lots of outdoor play due to the good weather. The paddling pools and water activities were very popular and children enjoyed using the outdoor equipment on site, including swings and climbing frame and imaginative play with staff exploring the outdoors. There were also arts and crafts activities, games and play opportunities offered indoors for children who enjoyed this. Assigned quiet areas offered low stimulation, with tents, soft furnishings and quiet activities for children and young people who required this type of environment. Page 53 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 24 PUBLIC Some families applied for places but did not use them. The service was able to accommodate some changes due to last minute holidays and illness, however not all families contacted the service to cancel their place and it was then not possible to offer these places to other families. On one day there were 17 spaces unfilled. Parents reported that they would like the service to be equitable with the option of Pay to Play to be available for the children and young people at Riverbrae as well as Klas Care. c. Skoobmobile Over the summer holidays, the mobile service made 48 visits to communities and engaged with 572 adults and 995 children in total. Feedback from evaluation forms indicates that 96% of people who attended enjoyed their visit onboard, with 78% agreeing that the Skoobmobile increased reading for their child over the holiday period. “My daughter is very creative and loves her visits to the Skoobmobile. She loves choosing her books and spends the remaining time at the crafts table. Staff are very friendly and helpful and it is a great asset - very engaging to the children. We love our visits to the Skoobmobile.” “It enhances my child’s reading throughout the holidays, we both spend time reading at night now and it is a lovely way to switch off together at the end of a busy day. Thank you to the Skoobmobile staff for being great with her and always looking to engage the children.” Just over half (52%) of those who provided feedback stated that they used the Skoobmobile for the Summer Reading Challenge. When asked how they found out about the mobile service, 44% discovered Skoobmobile via word of mouth, 20% became aware of it through social media, 24% from school communication and 12% became aware of the service when the Skoobmobile visited their local area. Children enjoying craft on the Skoobmobile Page 54 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 25 PUBLIC d. Summer of Fun Community Programme In August a feedback form was sent out to every organisation that had delivered activities as part of the Summer of Fun Community Programme to ask about their experience of delivering activities and to gain understanding of the difference that it had made for those who participated. Feedback froms were returned from every organisation that was funded. Feedback from organisations included photographs of activities, some of which are included in this report. Promoting Activities Renfrewshire Council’s Communications and Marketing team promoted the Summer of Fun programme widely through social media and organised a poster distribution to venues across Renfrewshire towns. All promotional materials had a QR code so that people could scan and view the whole programme on the Council’s webpage. In line with input from the Fairer Renfrewshire Panel, all free activites, whether Summer of Fun grant funded, through Community Learning and Development, or through Libraries, were listed on one web page. This included the Skoobmobile programme. Organisations were asked how people found out about the activities they were offering. Most organisations used a mixed approach to ensure that they connected with new families as well as those who were already aware of or using their services. This resulted in many of the activities being fully or over-subscribed very quickly. Families found out about our Summer of Fun activities through a combination of direct communication and digital channels. Our staff shared the full itinerary of Park Day sessions with families the week before schools finished for summer, ensuring they had time to plan and choose the sessions that suited them best. We also promoted the activities via our Parents Hub, a private Facebook group for families we support and through WhatsApp group chats set up for both families and volunteers. In addition, many families were already engaged with our services and heard about the activities through word of mouth and ongoing participation in our regular programmes. Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Page 55 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 26 PUBLIC While 74% of those who responded stated that people had found out about their project mainly through social media, 58% found that word of mouth was a key factor in promoting their activity. Just over half of respondents (53%) related that people found out because they were already attending other activities that the organisation delivered, while 32% cited referrals from partner organisations. How did people find out about your Summer of Fun project? Method of information % Social media 74 Word of mouth 58 Attending other activities 53 Posters 32 Partners 32 Referral from another organisation 21 Note: All respondents provided more than one answer to this question Due to the nature of their work, Renfrewshire Women’s Aid only invited women and children who were already using their service to attend the summer programme. Just Dive In distributed printed flyers to local nurseries, libraries, community centres and GP practices to ensure that they could reach digitally excluded families. Paisley St George’s used their well-established relationships with local schools to promote their activities, whilst Stronger Communities Glenburn found that most families found out about the programme through their social media and word of mouth, with parents recommending sessions to friends and other families. Page 56 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 27 PUBLIC Active Communities sent flyers to schools in the Gallowhill area and invited partner organisations to send information to their group members. They also created a colourful flyer to give to parents and distributed these around the flats, community centre and some local shops. Half of the organisations had received referrals and these mainly came from their links with local nurseries and schools, statutory services such as health visitors and Social Work and Page 57 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 28 PUBLIC the Whole Family Wellbeing team. Other referrals came from Engage Renfrewshire, Barnardos, Renfrewshire Wellbeing Network and other third sector organisations. How successful were the activity sessions? The continued popularity of the Summer of Fun programme is evident from the fact that demand significantly exceeded expectations and many organisations were oversubscribed quickly and were unable to offer places to everyone. The diversity of activities across the programme meant that all organisations had consistently good attendance throughout the summer. Being able to offer free, structured, engaging activities aimed at different ages, and often including day trips to places of interest, resulted in a successful programme. The removal of financial barriers to participation, and the welcoming and inclusive nature of activities created a more accessible programme for families that may typically feel excluded. For the STAR Project it resulted in a “stigma-free approach where it was not evident who had paid for a trip and who had received a free place.” The wider marketing of the Summer of Fun brand also created credibility which encouraged people to attend. Children enjoying football at St Mirren Page 58 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 29 PUBLIC The programme worked well because it was free for families to attend, which removed financial barriers and meant everyone could take part regardless of circumstances. Offering a mix of activities such as cinema trips, soft play, and arts & crafts gave children plenty of choice and kept them engaged. Providing food alongside the activities worked particularly well, as it helped ease pressure on families during the holidays and made the days feel like a complete experience. Parents appreciated the chance to spend quality time with their children, while children enjoyed trying new things, making friends, and having fun in a safe and supportive environment. Stronger Communities Glenburn Organisations felt that the local focus enabled them to tailor activities to the real needs of the community and the absence of eligibility checks allowed them to support families with dignity and ensure that there was no stigma attached to participation. Active Communities noticed that people in Gallowhill were “excited that they had something to look forward to in their own area” and that activities helped to bring people together who may not have known each other, helping to reduce isolation and loneliness. They also encouraged participants to engage with local organisations for support. Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde offered families a choice of location for their Park Days, holding sessions across Paisley including Barshaw, Brodie and Maxwellton Parks, as well as Robertson Park in Renfrew. They also offered families flexibility through providing Outdoor games and learning to drum with STAR Project Page 59 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 30 PUBLIC morning and afternoon sessions and found that volunteers were invaluable in helping to run activities and provide additional support to families. For the summer trip to Heads of Ayr Farm Park we provided flexibility for travel to meet individual needs. For one family with two children with ASN, using their own car provided control over arrival and departure times and reduced overstimulation. Conversely, another ASN family found the coach most suitable, as the additional pairs of hands on board provided valuable support with their other children. This demonstrates that a flexible approach enables families to choose what works best for them. Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde CREATE Paisley found that using outdoor spaces provided a nice change of scene for creative activities. They had a very busy programme which stretched their staff and in future they would seek to bring in additional staffing support or reduce the amount of activity slightly. They commented that widening out the age range for the trips and outdoor activities allowed them to accommodate younger siblings which worked well and using volunteers to support sessions “worked brilliantly, providing peer support and mentoring, as well as meaningful experience for the young volunteers themselves.” Paisley St George’s Church divided children into different age groups which allowed leaders and children to get to know one another and to tailor activities to suit their needs. This was important given that children from diverse backgrounds with different needs from 10 different primary schools attended the programme. “From the children’s perspective, they got to know the leaders who were primarily assigned to them and were able to form new friendships with other children in their groupThe consistency of groups allowed the leaders who were assigned to each group to better understand the individual personalities and needs of each child in their group.” Paisley St George’s Church Just Dive In discovered that managing bookings, cancellations, and reschedules became time-consuming due to the high volume of interest and would put a dedicated admin resource or online booking system in place. They would also like to create options for families to sustain the benefits beyond summer, for example, through subsidised term-time swim lessons, ongoing mermaid/snorkel sessions, or family water safety training. The programme has also highlighted the need for dedicated small-group or ASN-only slots for families with children who require one-to-one support. Page 60 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 31 PUBLIC The learning from this year has helped shape how we will structure both our next summer programme and our year-round delivery to better support the most vulnerable families in our community. Just Dive In How many people attended? Organisations were asked about the number of people who attended their activities. We did not ask organisations to keep track of numbers while delivering activities, but some did, and others provided an estimate. The average number of people attending each session was 13 adults and 39 children (from 19 project responses). Not all projects had adults participating and in some cases, the adults were volunteers. Some projects had much higher attendance, such as STAR Project (78 children per session) and Paisley St George’s (60 children per session). Sessions which attracted the most children were activities for toddlers, football camp and day trips. Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde’s Park Days were attended by a total of 31 families, comprising 82 individual family members, while their co-designed trip to Heads of Ayr Farm Park attracted 45 families (131 parents/carers and children) and 10 volunteers. Thorn Athletic Community Trust delivered 3 weeks of community football camps to over 100 children. Not all projects ran for a full six weeks but an estimated figure from 19 project responses suggests that around 726 adults and 2,233 children benefited from Summer of Fun activities. The aim of the small grants programme overall was to provide a range of activities that would be accessible to low-income families across Renfrewshire, in particular supporting families in the six child poverty priority groups, who are at higher risk of living on a low- Cooling down with a lollipop at Thorn Athletic Community Trust Page 61 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 32 PUBLIC income as well as Care Experienced young people. All 19 small grants funded projects that provided feedback responded that they had managed to reach these families through their activities. Just over a fifth of projects (21%) were able to reach families in all of the child poverty priority groups and those with care experience, whilst 89% of projects were able to reach families in four or more of the six child poverty priority groups. Over a third of projects (37%) managed to reach six of the seven priority groups. Projects were most successful at reaching the following families: • lone parents (100%) • families with three or more children (95%) • families where someone in the house has a disability (95%) • black and minority ethnic families (84%) • families where parents are under the age of 25 (68%) Over half (58%) of organisations managed to reach families with a child aged under one year old and 53% of organisations also reached care experienced children and young people. Who attended your Summer of Fun project? Number of projects % Lone Parents 19 100 Families with 3 or more children 18 95 Families where someone in the house has a disability 18 95 Black and minority ethnic families 16 84 Families where parents are under the age of 25 13 68 Families with a child aged under one year old 11 58 Care experienced children and young people 10 53 When asked how they were able to reach these families, whilst half of the organisations received referrals, just over half responded that families were already known to them through being regularly involved with their other services. Referrals from statutory organisations came via Renfrewshire Council’s Social Work team, Whole Family Wellbeing team as well as schools and nurseries, health visitors and Engage Renfrewshire. Third sector referrals were through Barnardos, STAR Project, Renfrewshire Young Carers and other local voluntary organsiations. Page 62 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 33 PUBLIC Many of the young people we already engage with live in the top 20% of areas with multiple deprivations (SIMD Index). We have well established links with local schools, and community partners, and shared information on our social media and with our partners to help us publicise the activities. CREATE Paisley Working with trusted referral partners who had existing relationships with families living in poverty helped organisations to identify families that would benefit most from the programme. For Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde it was important to ensure that low income families were targeted in an inclusive and respectful way by sharing information about the free activities and snacks with all of the families they work with. The STAR Project liaised with partner organisations to identify family groups who would not ordinarily access STAR’s services but who would benefit from gaining access to free trips. They also promote the summer programme at events, such as Wellbeing in the Park and World Labyrinth Day to ensure that new families are made aware of their service. When we released our Summer Programme and asked families to sign up for trips, we met with each family to discern who would benefit from being offered free places. Three families, who were identified as being particularly vulnerable to struggling financially over the summer period were offered more than one trip for free (they were each offered 2). STAR Project Active Communities hold a weekly Soup and Social on Fridays and used this opportunity to discuss the Summer of Fun programme with attendees. Just Dive In wanted to ensure that there were no barriers to attending so they provided non-digital booking options and simple sign-up processes. They also promoted the programme through community hubs, libraries, and word of mouth, ensuring that families who were digitally excluded or disengaged from mainstream services received information about the programme. We were intentional in removing stigma around accessing free or funded places. Our messaging focused on inclusion, wellbeing, and fun — not hardship — which helped families feel welcome and dignified in accessing support.This values-led approach allowed families to participate without shame, and many expressed gratitude that the offer “felt like a treat, not a handout.” Just Dive In Page 63 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 34 PUBLIC Feedback from families and young people themselves has also confirmed that the programme has benefited those who needed it most. What difference did the small grants programme make? Feedback from organisations about the impact of the programme was overwhelmingly positive. All the organisations agreed that there were several benefits for families who attended activities. They highlighted the opportunity for low-income families to access fun activities that were open to everyone and where their children could participate in organised activities, socialise and make new friends in a safe environment. All organisations reported that the programme had helped to reduce financial costs for families. Most respondents also agreed that the programme had encouraged new people to engage with the project (95% of respondents). Other perceived benefits were providing access to information and advice (79% each) and helping people to learn about a new service in their local area (79%). Having fun on a day out with Paisley St George’s Church Page 64 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 35 PUBLIC Benefit to people attending activities Number of responses % Providing fun activities that low-income families could access 19 100 Reducing financial costs for families 19 100 Encouraging new people to engage with the project / organisation 18 95 Providing access to information / advice 15 79 Helping people to learn about a new service in their local area 15 79 Almost a third of organisations highlighted other benefits of the programme. Just Dive had feedback from parents and carers that sessions gave them “a rare opportunity to relax, socialise, or bond with their children in a supportive, non-judgemental space”, reducing social isolation and carer burnout. CREATE Paisley observed benefits in providing opportunities for children and young people across Renfrewshire to learn new skills, meet new people in their community and go to new places they may not have otherwise had access to. Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde saw benefits in providing new and fun experiences for families to enjoy together across generations, while Renfrewshire Rainbow Buddies felt that the programme supported the transition into primary school for young people who were anxious about starting school. Organisations highlighted the importance of the Summer of Fun grants, without which they would not be able to provide free activites to local children, young people and families throughout the summer. It was clear from the feedback that organisations enjoy being part of the programme and undoubtedly see the positive impact it has on participating families. The funding allowed Cherrie Children’s Daycare, run by Moorpark Community Association, to offer much more than they would normally and to have staff in place to support the children and families using their service. Page 65 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 36 PUBLIC For some families, it was the only structured activity that they could afford over the holidays. Brick Lane Music Academy reported that without the funding many families who benefited would not normally have been able to afford such activities for their children. Both Renfrewshire Women’s Aid, Stronger Communities Glenburn and Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde commented on the lasting memories created for children and their parents/carers. The support created opportunities for the children and families we work with to enjoy activities they otherwise would not have been able to afford or experience. Every outing was met with wonderful feedback, and it truly made a positive difference to the families’ summer, helping them make cherished memories that will last far beyond the holidays. Renfrewshire Women’s Aid The Summer of Fun programme provided opportunities to have fun and children enjoyed making new friends, visiting new places and trying new experiences. Just Dive In combined fun with learning new skills, such as snorkelling and mermaid swimming and introduced water safety and confidence in a way that didn’t feel like learning. Ralston Out of School Care took children for swimming sessions which helped to keep them active during the holidays. They also provided a day trip to Millport and for some of the children this was a very exciting experience as they had never been to the beach before. Home-Start visit to St Mirren football stadium Page 66 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 37 PUBLIC However, there is also feedback to suggest that as well as providing accessible and affordable activities, the programme also helped to create connections, reduce social isolation, with families often supporting each other. By helping to alleviate financial pressure and offering respite to parents and guardians, the programme also supported improvements in mental wellbeing. The programme not only provided fun and connection but also strengthened relationships between families, volunteers and staff. It helped reduce isolation, supported mental wellbeing. Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Fantastic opportunity for charities and community groups to be able to facilitate such activities. It makes a huge difference to be able to make offers like this free to all. It removes any stigma and helps to attract harder to reach people who may feel like they have barriers to creative access. It also helps to spread good awareness about what we are providing locally. It’s nice to know that you are part of a wider Renfrewshire collective providing free summer activities. There are plenty of other ‘high cost’ activities out there for people who can afford it. Erskine Arts In some cases the benefits of participating in the programme have lasted beyond the summer, with STAR Project noticing that some families that bonded during trips have continued these connections, with new friendships developing between people who had never met before. Page 67 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 38 PUBLIC CREATE Paisley also found that the programme encouraged families to sustain their involvement once the summer activities came to an end. The Family Club was a new initiative for us and worked really well. We offered toast, teas and coffees and a space for parents/guardians to connect. We found this group was just as important for parents/guardians as it was for the young people and we were thrilled with the warm feedback from all participants. All the families were keen to join the new Family Zone group (funded by Local Partnership funding) after the holidays. Paisley St George’s Church reported that the programme offered benefits for the wider community in providing a valuable opportunity to engage volunteers of all ages. They were very motivated by the opportunity to contribute and have such a positive impact on children in our community. The importance of volunteers in delivering these types of activities free of charge for children who may not otherwise have these experiences, cannot be overstated. Outdoor crafts with Brick Lane Music Academy and fun with musical instruments at Gallowhill Community Centre Page 68 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 39 PUBLIC Suggested improvements to the small grants programme There are always ways in which we can improve upon our design, development and delivery of the summer programme. Similarly to last year, the most common comments from projects related to additional funding and having funding decisions made earlier. Organisations were positive about communication with council officers, however the timescales between being awarded funding and delivering the programme of activities was raised again as an issue. Several organisations suggested that earlier confirmation of funding would have given them more time to plan and advertise activities, to get venues booked. Having funding decisions made as early as possible would also enable organisations to liaise with partner organisations, including schools, nurseries and health visitors to maximise the impact of the programme for families that would benefit most. The funding announcement came in the final week of the school term which meant that our programme had to be ready in a very tight timescale and couldn’t be marketed as widely as we would have hoped so this could be looked at for future. Active Communities Additional funding would help organisations to expand their activities, offer a wider range of activities or offer free spaces to more families. The demand for activities often exceeded what organisations were able to supply, evidenced by how quickly sessions were booked up. Most of the organisations would like to offer more sessions but need more funding to do this due to increasing costs for staff and overheads and are concerned that they may have to scale back provision in future. Day trips were particularly popular, however the cost of bus hire limits the number of families that these can be offered to. The STAR Project supplemented their funding award with their own resources, volunteer contributions, and in-kind donations to ensure that activities still went ahead. The funding was very positive and allowed us to provide free, accessible activities for families who really benefited from them. One area for improvement could be to provide the funding decisions earlier, which would give more time for planning and promotion. Having the option for slightly increased or more flexible funding would also help us reach more families and offer a wider variety of activities. Overall, the support was very valuable and much appreciated. Stronger Communities Glenburn Page 69 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 40 PUBLIC One organisation suggested that funding transport costs would allow them to support families with mobility issues and thereby prevent exclusion of these families from participating in the summer programme. A small number of families from more remote parts of Renfrewshire or those without transport struggled to attend. Exploring funding for travel support or outreach delivery could increase reach and inclusion. Just Dive In Another suggestion was to improve promotion of the programme to ensure that those who are digitally excluded or new to the community can easily discover what activities are available, for example, providing information about the programme in multi-language posters. 5. Conclusions The Summer of Fun programme aimed to deliver free, fun activities over the summer holidays for communities that might be underserved by mainstream activities, and particularly low-income families. Feedback suggests that the programme was able to reach these families, particularly those who are in the child poverty priority groups. The majority of families that attended the holiday camps were lone parents, while over a third of families had 3 or more children. Feedback from the small grants funded projects showed that they had also managed to reach families in all child poverty priority groups through their activities. The ASN playscheme supported children who have complex needs, and free transport for this provision was welcomed by families. The Promise Champs activities supported those who are care experienced, to develop new skills and build friendships. While we don’t have exact figures, we estimate that around 9,000 people, mainly children but also their families benefitted from the programme that provided a range of benefits for children and their parents/carers including: • providing accessible, free and fun activities that low-income families could access • helping to reduce financial costs for families • providing a safe environment for children and young people to socialise and learn new skills • having a positive impact on parents and children’s mental health through creating connections and offering respite • encouraging new people to engage with services Page 70 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 41 PUBLIC It also provided access to food, activities and advice, providing support in a dignified manner which reduced the potential for stigma. Whilst the summer camps and ASN provision were successful in benefiting children and young people from low income families, feedback indicated that some families did not turn up due to alternative plans or illness, and spaces were left usused. Although prior to this year’s programme we had worked with the Fairer Renfrewshire Lived Experience panel to try and reduce the number of ‘no shows’ there is still some work to be done in this area to maximise attendance and ensure families benefit from the provision. Whilst the Community Programme was successful in helping to meet demand from local families for inclusive, affordable summer activities, it is important to take into account feedback from organisations that could improve a future programme. Earlier confirmation of funding would give organisations more time to plan and promote activities, and to liaise with partner organisations to maximise the impact of the programme for families. Renfrewshire Council’s programme of inclusive, accessible summer activities has become an important and eagerly anticipated part of summer, evidenced by the demand for activities and the feedback from organisations, parents and children. Additional funding across the programme would increase capacity to meet demand and allow a wider range of activities, benefitting more families and maximising the positive impacts that this programme brings. Page 71 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 42 PUBLIC Building confidence in the water with Just Dive In Page 72 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 43 PUBLIC 6. Appendix 1 – Organisations which received Summer of Fun small grants Active Communities Brick Lane Music Academy CREATE Paisley Erskine Arts Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Johnstone Castle Learning Centre Just Dive in CIC KLAS Care CIC Moorpark Community Association Cherrie Children’s Daycare Paisley St George’s Church of Scotland Ralston Out of School Care Renfrewshire Rainbow Buddies Renfrewshire Women’s Aid STAR Project St Mirren FC Charitable Trust Stronger Communities Glenburn The Art Department Thorn Athletic Community Trust Twist and Hit Cheerleaders One Ren Libraries Page 73 of 434
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Summer of Fun 2025 Evaluation Report 44 PUBLIC to all of the organisations who provided feedback, quotes, photographs and video links for this report Chief Executive’s Service Renfrewshire Council Renfrewshire House Cotton Street Paisley PA1 1BR Page 74 of 434
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PUBLIC Appendix 2 – Winter Connections Approved Applications Organisation Area Purpose Funding approved Howwood Community Council Howwood Winter Warmers £2,000 Houston Community Council Houston Houston Community Film Shows £1,571 Johnstone Castle Learning Centre Johnstone Youth Sessions and Adult Activities £2,000 KLAS Care CIC Linwood Whole Family Fun £1,417.80 Loud n Proud Paisley The Wednesday Club £2,000 Our Place Our Families Renfrew Soup for You £1,800 CREATE Paisley Paisley and Johnstone CREATE Winter Drop-ins £1,820 Local Energy Action Plan (LEAP) SCIO Lochwinnoch Community Cooking £2,000 Erskine Arts Erskine Soup Sessions £2,000 Renfrew YMCA Renfrew Tuesday Soup Social £2,000 Foxbar Elderly Forum Paisley Foxbar Elderly Forum . £2,000 Friends of Howwood Park Howwood The Tuesday Club £2,000 Paisley Methodist Church Paisley Saturday Get Together £2,000 St Vincents Hospice Howwood Winter Connection £1,880 The Thursday Club Paisley Thursday Club £2,000 Re:Hope Next Generation Bible Church Paisley Re: Play – Parent & Toddler Stay and Play £1,647 Dates-n- Mates Paisley Dates-n-Mates Renfrewshire £1,830 Creation Corner Johnstone Crafts and Connections £235 Just Dive Paisley Once Upon a Winter Swim £1,850 Total £34050.80 Page 75 of 434
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OFFICIAL Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan VERSION 1.01 – NOVEMBER 2025 Page 77 of 434
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OFFICIAL Contents Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 About the Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan .............................................................................................................................................................. 3 National Context ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Local Context ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Themes and priorities ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Improving Financial Security .............................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Where we are now .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Strategic actions ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Improving Financial Security: Actions ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Strengthening health, wellbeing and community ................................................................................................................................................. 6 Where we are now .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Strengthening health, wellbeing and community: Actions ......................................................................................................................................... 7 Embedding equality and inclusion .................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Where we are now ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 10 Strategic actions .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Embedding equality and inclusion: Actions ........................................................................................................................................................... 11 Using insight and evidence for impact .............................................................................................................................................................. 13 Where we are now ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 13 Strategic actions .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Using insight and evidence for impact: Actions ...................................................................................................................................................... 14 Page 78 of 434
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OFFICIAL Introduction Renfrewshire Council is committed to making Renfrewshire a fairer place to live, where every individual and family can thrive. This Action Plan sets out how we will work with partners, communities, and national agencies to tackle inequality and improve outcomes for those most affected by poverty and exclusion. Fairness is at the heart of our vision for Renfrewshire. To achieve this, we will focus on how we work together, not just what we deliver—building stronger partnerships, listening to lived experience, and embedding inclusive approaches across all services. We aim to design our services to suit the reality experienced by the people who use them, not around our service needs. Renfrewshire will be fairer when everyone has equal access to opportunities, support, and resources to thrive—regardless of their background or circumstances. We have been progressing the Fairer Renfrewshire programme now for several years – in response to feedback from local stakeholders, we have collectively taken the opportunity to reflect on progress and to sharpen our focus and priorities. Our Priorities Over the next two years, we will concentrate on four strategic priorities: • Improving Financial Security Helping households maximise income, reduce costs, and access early help to prevent crisis. • Strengthening Health, Wellbeing and Community Supporting families and communities through sustainable models of care, food security, and place-based approaches. • Embedding Equality and Inclusion Ensuring services are accessible, inclusive, and shaped by the voices of those who are often unheard. • Using Insight and Evidence for Impact Harnessing data, feedback, and lived experience to drive better decisions and deliver measurable change. Our Approach This plan is built on collaboration, with communities, partners, and services, and underpinned by five cross-cutting principles: • Joined-up working across sectors. • Data and evidence to inform action. • Access and inclusion for all. Page 79 of 434
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OFFICIAL • Sustainability in funding and delivery. • Trust and transparency through genuine engagement. Together, we will turn insight into action, strengthen resilience, and create a Renfrewshire where fairness is not just an ambition, but a reality. About the Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan The Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan sets out a clear and coordinated approach to tackling inequality and improving outcomes for our communities between December 2025 and June 2027. It provides a strategic framework for action, bringing together priorities and activities that will make a measurable difference to the lives of local people. Fairer Renfrewshire is the umbrella for work across Renfrewshire Council and our partners to create a fairer, more inclusive Renfrewshire. It combines targeted projects, commissioned services, and everyday practice that embeds fairness into how we deliver services. While the Council leads this work, success depends on strong collaboration with partners across sectors—and this plan reflects that shared commitment. Fairness is a principle that runs through all of Renfrewshire’s strategic plans and partnerships. This Action Plan does not replace those plans but complements and connects them, ensuring alignment and avoiding duplication. Where actions sit within other programmes, this plan signposts and supports them. The plan has been shaped through engagement with the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee, Officer Group, Lived Experience Panel, and other key stakeholders. As we move forward, our focus is on: • Coordinating existing resources to maximise impact. • Embedding successful projects into business-as-usual for long-term sustainability. • Targeting Fairer Renfrewshire funding to drive system change and new ways of working. • Leveraging external funding opportunities to strengthen delivery and resilience. Page 80 of 434
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OFFICIAL National Context Our work is shaped by Scotland’s national mission to tackle poverty and inequality, supported by key strategies and legislation: Best Start, Bright Futures Sets out Scotland’s approach to eradicating child poverty through targeted support for families. Population Health Framework Aims to address the root causes of ill health by promoting prevention and collaboration across sectors. Public Service Reform Strategy Responds to rising demand and fiscal pressures by driving innovation and efficiency in public services. Community Wealth Building Bill Seeks to enable communities to generate, retain, and circulate wealth locally, reducing economic inequality. Whole Family Wellbeing Initiative Focuses on transforming family support services to provide holistic, preventative help when and where it’s needed. Local Context Fairness is embedded in Renfrewshire’s strategic priorities and transformation programmes: Council and Community Plans Both plans place fairness and tackling inequality at the heart of local decision-making. Parental Employability Support Delivered through Invest in Renfrewshire, supporting families to access work and progress in employment. Fairer Renfrewshire Funding Provides targeted investment in projects addressing poverty and exclusion. Connected Communities Programme A key transformation priority designed to strengthen relationships between the Council and communities, making it easier for people to access support and services, and embedding early intervention and prevention. Page 81 of 434
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OFFICIAL Themes and priorities A clear message from our engagement has been that how we work together to make Renfrewshire fairer is just as important as what we deliver. Achieving this ambition requires system change that goes beyond individual projects or short-term investments. Throughout our conversations, several cross-cutting themes have emerged. These principles underpin all priorities and actions in this plan: • Joined-up working – Stronger coordination across health, housing, employability, and community engagement. • Data and evidence – Better sharing and use of data, combined with lived experience, to inform decisions. • Access and inclusion – Tackling barriers such as digital exclusion, transport, and language needs. • Sustainability – Securing long-term funding and embedding preventative approaches. • Trust and transparency – Ensuring communities are genuinely involved and see clear feedback on actions taken. The Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan focuses on four strategic priorities that will guide our work over the next two years: • Improving Financial Security – Helping households maximise income, reduce costs, and access early help. • Strengthening Health, Wellbeing and Community – Supporting families and communities through sustainable models and place-based approaches. • Embedding Equality and Inclusion – Making services accessible, inclusive, and shaped by diverse voices. • Using Insight and Evidence for Impact – Harnessing data and lived experience to drive better decisions and measurable change. This report sets out each priority in detail, alongside the strategic actions and specific steps we will take to deliver them. Page 82 of 434
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OFFICIAL Improving Financial Security This priority focuses on supporting households to increase income and reduce essential costs, tackling the root causes of poverty. Many actions in this theme build on Renfrewshire’s long-standing commitment to addressing poverty, alongside recent coordinated efforts to mitigate the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. Where we are now Renfrewshire has a strong network of services across the public and third sectors aimed at improving financial security, with innovative interventions for priority groups. These efforts deliver real impact—local advice services helped put over £17 million back into residents’ pockets in 2024/25. However, demand continues to rise, and services can be oversubscribed. Residents tell us that navigating support can be challenging, as provision is fragmented and sometimes tied to short-term funding. This lack of coordination means people don’t always get the right help at the right time. Strategic actions Improve access to income advice and support Drive uptake and access to welfare benefits Reduce financial crisis and insecurity Address barriers to employment Develop ‘poverty proofing’ approaches Develop ‘early help’ approaches to supporting households Page 83 of 434
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OFFICIAL Ref What we will do Owner Due What success looks like Improving Financial Security: Actions Improve access to income advice and support 1.1 Ensure the provision of money and benefits advice Connected Communities Advice Works Advice Partnership Renfrewshire Jun 2026 External Advice Services Contract in place Measure: Income maximised (Client financial gain measures) and debt under management across key providers 1.2 Coordinate Advice Partnership Renfrewshire to streamline provision Connected Communities Advice Partnership Renfrewshire Dec 2026 6 x meetings held per year and meeting actions Impact measures to be developed and monitored 1.3 Identify need and increase outreach for advice services Connected Communities Jun 2026 Measure: Number and location of outreach sessions, client numbers, client financial gain, debt managed 1.4 Promote Family Advice Pathway across Council services and Advice Partnership Connected Communities Advice Partnership Jun 2026 Measure: Increase in numbers of services/organisations referring. Increase in numbers using family advice 1.5 Continue targeted income maximisation for low- income families with children Connected Communities HSCP Dec 2026 Evidence of service reach to priority families groups Drive uptake and access to welfare benefits 2.1 Co-ordinate and support activities to drive uptake of welfare benefits provided by DWP and Social Security Scotland, with a particular focus this year on the new two-child limit payment Connected Communities Sep 2026 Campaign schedule developed and shared with partners Measure: Numbers receiving support to claim, and in receipt of, two-child limit payment 2.2 Drive uptake of local authority administered supports, including free school meals and clothing grants Connected Communities Finance and Resources Sep 2026 Measure: Numbers claiming Free School Meals/School Clothing Grants. Numbers receive Free School Meals/School clothing Grants Page 84 of 434
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OFFICIAL 2.3 Explore further opportunities for automation and passporting of benefits Finance and Resources Jun 2027 Uptake of selected benefits Reduce financial crisis and insecurity 3.1 Strengthen Food Support Forum and coordination of community food initiatives. Connected Communities Jun 2026 Meetings held and meeting actions Food support indicators identified and measured. 3.2 Further understanding and development required to improve pathways and supports for those in financial crisis – especially due to chronic low income Connected Communities Dec 2026 Mapping of financial crisis supports, pathways produced and numbers accessing pathways 3.3 Provide energy advocacy and support to Renfrewshire residents to reduce fuel costs Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Dec 2026 Measure: Client numbers and outcomes (energy debt write off, energy savings) 3.3 Work with partners across Renfrewshire to identify and promote sources of energy advice across partners Connected Communities Sep 2026 Information collated and communicated through networks 3.4 Work with partners to increase referral from other Foodbank referrers to Foodbank to simplify client journey Connected Communities Advice Partnership Renfrewshire Dec 2026 Increased referrals from organisations other than Advice Works and Renfrewshire CAB and subsequent reduction in referrals from those organisations. Client feedback Address barriers to employment 4.1 Support parental employability and progression in work. Invest in Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership Dec 2026 Measures reported through LEP (client numbers, no securing employment, no achieving qualifications) 4.2 Identify and reduce barriers for those needing additional support to move into and progress in work, across groups identified by the Local Employability Partnership Invest in Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership Dec 2026 Measures reported through LEP (client demographics and commissioned supports) 4.3 Ensure development opportunities are delivered for staff to encourage continuous improvement and focus on Fairer Renfrewshire principles HR-OD June 2026 Information sessions for staff delivered Materials developed and cascaded Page 85 of 434
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OFFICIAL Develop ‘poverty proofing’ approaches 5.1 Continue to deliver the Cost of the School Day fund across Renfrewshire schools Children’s Services Connected Communities Dec 2026 Annual evaluation Feedback from schools 5.2 Explore the potential to expand the Cost of the Nursery Day pilot Health and Social Care Partnership Jun 2026 Measure: Number of nurseries and early learning and childcare centres engaged Develop ‘early help’ approaches to supporting households 6 Develop ‘early help’ approaches to supporting households Connected Communities June 2026 New model identified Page 86 of 434
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OFFICIAL Strengthening health, wellbeing and community This priority focuses on actions focussed on strengthening health, wellbeing and community, recognising the impact of inequalities on people’s lives. It recognises that wellbeing is shaped by more than healthcare; it depends on strong local networks, accessible services, and opportunities for people to thrive. Where we are now Renfrewshire has a strong track record of delivering coordinated programmes that tackle complex issues. The recent Alcohol and Drugs Change Programme is a powerful example of how targeted investment and partnership working can achieve lasting system change. More recently, we have introduced community-led approaches to understanding local needs, making promising steps towards a more collaborative model of working with communities. However, health inequalities remain persistent, and evidence shows that outcomes for some groups are worsening. We know that different communities need different solutions, and a one-size-fits-all approach will not work. Strategic actions Agree sustainable models for delivery of key Fairer Renfrewshire projects Build community resilience and capacity Deliver key actions within Renfrewshire’s Community Learning and Development Partnership Plan aligned to Fairer Renfrewshire Deliver targeted interventions to improve wellbeing and reduce health inequalities Develop place-based joined up working and information sharing Page 87 of 434
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OFFICIAL Strengthening health, wellbeing and community: Actions Agree sustainable models for delivery of key Fairer Renfrewshire projects 7.1 Review Breakfast Club provision and develop a consistent and sustainable model of provision Connected Communities June 2026 Future model identified to help bring consistency across provision 7.2 Develop sustainable models for the delivery of summer holiday activities for children and young people from low- income families Connected Communities Sep 2026 Measure: Number of participants and partners Measure: Evidence of reach to priority family groups Partners and participants report improved outcomes 7.3 Consider longer-term sustainable service delivery options for the Skoobmobile project Connected Communities OneRen June 2026 Future model identified 7.4 Review Peer Health (Hearty Lives) project and consider longer-term sustainable service delivery options Connected Communities Active Communities June 2026 Future model identified Build community resilience and capacity 8.1 Deliver a Good Food Nation Plan in line with Scottish legislation Connected Communities Fair Food Renfrewshire Dec 2026 Renfrewshire plan produced and approved 8.2 Develop sustainable models for supporting community connection through the winter period, considering longer-term model for Winter Connections programme Connected Communities Mar 2027 Measure: Number of participants and partners Measure: Evidence of reach to priority family groups Partners and participants report improved outcomes 8.3 Continue Community Development work in Gallowhill and work with Council Services to support identified community needs Connected Communities Dec 2026 Action Plan developed in response to Community Needs Assessment Page 88 of 434
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OFFICIAL Measure: No of residents involved in design and delivery of action plan Community feedback Deliver key actions within Renfrewshire’s Community Learning and Development Partnership Plan aligned to Fairer Renfrewshire 9.1 Improve promotion and increase numbers attending Adult and Family Learning provision Connected Communities - CLD June 2026 Measures reported through CLD Plan Measure: Numbers attending, client outcomes 9.2 Expand the provision of English Speakers of other Languages (ESoL) Connected Communities - CLD June 2026 Measures reported through CLD Plan Measure: Numbers attending, client outcomes 9.3 Review of youth provision across Renfrewshire, in particular the provision of supports for young people with high risk and/or distressed behaviours Connected Communities - CLD June 2026 Future model identified Deliver targeted interventions to improve wellbeing and reduce health inequalities 10.1 Continue to deliver the Whole Family Wellbeing service as part of approach to joined up, early intervention support for families Children’s Services June 2027 Measures reported through Whole Family Wellbeing service 10.2 Support child health and development through early intervention, to include focus on children and young people’s mental health Health and Social Care Partnership Whole Family Wellbeing Dec 2026 Joint actions identified 10.3 Deliver the Health and Wellbeing Survey Action Plan Health and Social Care Partnership Dec 2026 Action plan produced and reported on 10.4 Pilot embedding the ‘Ask and Act’ duties around homelessness across public and community services and develop supporting resources Health and Social Care Partnership Community Planning Partnership Dec 2026 A proactive, person-centred approach to housing and wellbeing is embedded across Renfrewshire HSCP and its partners 10.5 Examine mechanisms to better engage with local Housing Associations with a view to improving housing conditions across Renfrewshire. Housing Connected Communities Mar 2027 Improved engagement with Housing Associations. Opportunities for Housing Associations to hear voice of lived experience. Page 89 of 434
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OFFICIAL Develop place-based joined up working and information sharing 11 Develop place-based joined up working and information sharing Connected Communities Dec 2026 Future model identified Page 90 of 434
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OFFICIAL Embedding equality and inclusion This priority focuses on embedding equality and inclusion across all services and projects, ensuring fairness is not an add-on but a core principle in everything we do. It aims to create systems and practices that remove barriers and enable every resident to access support and opportunities. This is a new and developing workstream within the Fairer Renfrewshire programme, and many of the actions will need further development as part of the Council’s wider work to develop our corporate Equalities Outcomes. Where we are now We have begun important work to better understand the needs of equalities communities in Renfrewshire. This insight will form the foundation for actions across all themes in this plan. Renfrewshire benefits from strong networks and structures that amplify the voices of lesser-heard groups, and these will be central to shaping our approach. However, our communities are changing. We need to ensure we are meeting current needs, addressing gaps, and planning for the future. For example, the New Scots Needs Assessment is underway to inform our strategic approach to supporting refugees and asylum seekers. We also recognise emerging concerns around community cohesion, which require proactive engagement and inclusive solutions. Strategic actions Promote digital inclusion and connectivity Strengthen voice and influence for lesser-heard groups Respond to changing community needs Ensure services are inclusive and accessible Page 91 of 434
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OFFICIAL Embedding equality and inclusion: Actions Promote digital inclusion and connectivity 12.1 Continue to support Digital Champions Programme to expand reach Citizens Voice Dec 2026 Measure: Number of digital champions Measure: Number of people accessing support and upskilling Measure: Number of volunteer hours 12.2 Expand DigiZones as a mechanism to access free devices, support and connectivity in line with Digital Strategy Citizens Voice Dec 2026 Measure: Number of DigiZones Measure: Numbers accessing DigiZones 12.3 Support Device Recycling Pilot Citizens Voice Sept 2026 Measure: Number of Devices donated Measure: Number of devices redistributed Measure: Volunteer Hours Measure: Numbers upskilled 12.4 Identify and develop new supports for those who are digitally excluded including in relation to skills development, online safety and wider barriers such as affordability. Citizens Voice Mar 2027 New supports identified Strengthen voice and influence for lesser-heard groups 13.1 Review and refresh the membership and purpose of the Diversity and Equality Alliance in Renfrewshire (DEAR) Connected Communities Jun 2026 Refreshed terms of reference 13.2 Develop a small grant programme to commission local organisations who engage with/represent equalities groups to share the experiences and perspectives of diverse groups. Connected Communities Sep 2026 Launch of programme Measure: Number of partners supporting programme Respond to changing community needs 14.1 Complete New Scots Needs Assessment Strategy, Policy & Insight Feb 2026 Needs Assessment complete 14.2 Support development of information pack for New Scots, which is accessible for all Strategy, Policy & Insight Connected Communities Jun 2026 Information pack produced Community feedback Page 92 of 434
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OFFICIAL 14.3 Develop New Scots Action Plan for Renfrewshire Connected Communities June 2026 Action plan developed with clear milestones and resources allocated by partners to support its delivery. 14.4 Consider further programme of work to better understand barriers and experiences of disabled residents Connected Communities Dec 2026 Programme of research complete with opportunities identified. Ensure services are inclusive and accessible 15.1 Analyse and respond to equalities outcome consultation and develop a SMART action plan Connected Communities Feb 2026 Action plan produced and reported 15.2 Identify available supports, including community services, for people, both digital and physical and work with stakeholders to develop an awareness campaign Connected Communities Sept 2026 Available supports mapped and communicated Practitioner and community feedback 15.3 Work with services on more inclusive communications in line with Residents Research findings Connected Communities Dec 2026 Examples of improved communications Page 93 of 434
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OFFICIAL Using insight and evidence for impact This priority focuses on turning data, evidence, and lived experience into action that improves outcomes for local communities. It builds on successful approaches such as our Cost of Living dashboard and aims to strengthen collaboration across services and partners to share and use data effectively. Where we are now We have demonstrated the power of targeted data use, for example, increasing uptake of holiday provision among low-income families and driving pension credit claims by using housing benefit data. We have also developed innovative models of participation, embedding lived experience in policy and practice. Our goal is to expand these approaches across different communities and services. Data sharing and interpretation can be complex—even within our own organisation—and even more so with partners. National datasets often lack the local detail we need, making it harder to plan and deliver services at ward or community level. We’ve had clear feedback from communities that they want to see genuine engagement and feedback mechanisms when working with the Council, and we recognise that for some communities we need to work on building trust and openness. Strategic actions Improve data sharing and integration Use insight to drive targeted action Build a culture of learning Page 94 of 434
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OFFICIAL Using insight and evidence for impact: Actions Improve data sharing and integration 16.1 Develop Cost of Living dashboard and strengthen partnerships for data exchange Connected Communities June 2026 Dashboard produced and shared regularly 16.2 Consider where developments in Artificial Intelligence might support the way we use data and systems Finance and Resources Mar 2027 AI workstreams and projects considered with ‘Fairer Renfrewshire’ lens Use insight to drive targeted action 17.1 Apply learning from lived experience and practitioner feedback to shape services, with a focus on customer facing services Connected Communities Fairer Renfrewshire Officer Group Dec 2026 Feedback at Fairer Renfrewshire Officer Group 17.2 Ensure communities see how their input influences decisions Connected Communities Communications, marketing and events Mar 2027 Feedback mechanisms developed Community feedback 17.3 Continue to embed lived experience and lesser heard voices as part of corporate approach to consultation and engagement Strategy Policy & Insight Connected Communities Dec 2026 Measure: Number of people engaged in consultation and engagement activity, and demographics 17.4 Ensure the voice of young people are captured and acted upon, including Care Experienced Young People Childrens Services Connected Communities Mar 2026 and ongoing Measure reported through Children’s Service Partnership Plan Build a culture of learning 18.1 Share best practice across services and partners to improve consistency Connected Communities Mar 2027 Feedback at Fairer Renfrewshire Officer Group 18.2 Consider the development of ‘No Wrong Door’ type network to support colleagues and partners to share knowledge and learning Connected Communities Mar 2027 Feedback at Fairer Renfrewshire Officer Group 18.3 Introduce a Fairer Renfrewshire Champions Network for staff to act as local advocates for Connected Communities HR/OD December 2026 Group set up/outcomes of meetings Page 95 of 434
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OFFICIAL fairness and inclusion within services, supporting cultural change and engaging with the Fairer Renfrewshire Panel/other voice groups, eg. DEAR Increase Transparency 19.1 Work with the Fairer Renfrewshire Panel to build an enhanced Dashboard so the public can easily see how Renfrewshire is performing across measures such as customer service and housing. Connected Communities Mar 2027 Dashboard developed and online Page 96 of 434
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PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Leadership Board On: 3 December 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Community Planning - Six-Monthly Update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This report is the six-monthly update of recent activity of Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership, covering the period from April to November 2025. It was agreed at Leadership Board in September 2022 that update reports would be provided every six months and would also include an update in relation to the development of the seven Local Partnerships. The previous update report was provided to the Leadership Board 2025. 1.2 This Board paper provides an update on the issues considered through the Community Planning Partnership Executive Group and other fora since the last update in April 2025, and highlights progress being achieved by partners collectively, as evidenced in the partnership’s recently agreed annual report, which is provided within Appendix 1 and 2 within this report. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that members of the Board note: • The progress being made to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities across the priorities of Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership • The steps being taken to develop Local Partnership working • Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership’s Annual Report 2024/25 3. Background 3.1 This paper represents the regular 6 monthly update submitted to the Leadership Board for consideration on wider community partnership developments. This includes both the work of Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Executive Group and Item 4 Page 97 of 434
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PUBLIC the development of the Local Partnerships, which are part of the community planning structure. 3.2 Community planning is a statutory duty placed on Councils in Scotland and defined community planning partners under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. These public, private and third sector bodies are required to collaborate in Community Planning Partnerships. There are 32 Community Planning Partnerships in Scotland, one for each Council area. The broad aims of community planning activity are to improve outcomes for people and communities and to reduce inequalities in those outcomes. 3.3 Partners are also required to develop and jointly progress a Local Outcomes Improvement Plan. In Renfrewshire, this is referred to as our local Community Plan, a ten-year plan spanning 2017-2027. At the mid-term point of the plan in 2022, partners agreed that a refresh exercise should be undertaken. This was felt to be timely due to the impact of the COVID pandemic and also the cost of living crisis emerging at that time. 3.4 The vision set out within the Community Plan has remained: Working together to make Renfrewshire a fairer, more inclusive place where all our people, communities and businesses thrive. 3.5 The four priorities of the Community Plan have also been retained – that Renfrewshire is Thriving, Well, Safe and Fair. The refresh carried out in 2022 identified three main areas of focus for collaborative working through the Community Planning Partnership. These are: • Supporting low income families • Tackling health inequalities • Addressing the climate emergency 3.6 Within each area of focus, three or four action areas have been identified to drive improvement. 3.7 Community Planning Partnerships are required to produce and publish each year an Annual Report. The Annual Report sets out performance against priorities identified by each Community Planning Partnership and reports on action taken to improve outcomes. Section 5 provides an overview of the recent annual report which has been agreed by local partners in Renfrewshire. 4. Update on Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Executive Group 4.1 One special meeting and one regular meeting of Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Executive Group have taken place during the period April -November 2025. 4.2 The special meeting held on 28 April 2025 included the members of the Fairer Renfrewshire Lived Experience Panel and was a workshop meeting focused on the results of the Renfrewshire Health and Wellbeing Survey. Page 98 of 434
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PUBLIC 4.3 This meeting was chaired by the Chief Executive of Engage Renfrewshire. Members of the Executive Group and the Fairer Renfrewshire Lived Experience Panel considered a presentation on the results of the Renfrewshire Health and Wellbeing Survey and discussed actions to be taken based on the findings of the survey. 4.4 The regular meeting of the Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Executive Group held on 25 August 2025 considered: • Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 2024/25 – The Annual Report set out highlights of activity during 2023/24 that address the three areas of focus of Supporting Low-Income Families, Tackling Health Inequalities and Addressing the Climate Emergency. • Community Wealth Building – the Executive Group discussed a presentation on the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill and current delivery and potential of Community Wealth Building approaches to local economic development within Renfrewshire. The focus of Community Wealth Building is on retaining wealth within the local area and the public pound driving economic growth. The Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Billis due to receive Royal Assent in March 2026. Local authorities will have a responsibility to work with other public bodies to develop an action plan to be published within the next three years. • Local Employability Partnership – the Executive Group received a presentation on the work of the Local Employability Partnership in supporting people in Renfrewshire into employment and progressing in their career. The Local Employability Partnership has 29 delivery partners offering support to people in Renfrewshire seeking employment and has been successful in supporting 1902 unemployed or low paid people into employment. 4.5 Renfrewshire Forum For Empowering Communities is the Third Sector-led component of the Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership structure, chaired by the Chief Executive of Engage Renfrewshire. The Forum held three meetings since April 2025. These meetings considered the results of Renfrewshire’s Wellbeing Survey, local influence, new Community Learning and Development (CLD) Governance arrangements and the Fairer Food Policy, from a third sector perspective. 4.6 A new Community Learning and Development Plan 2024-27 was approved in 2024, and new partnership arrangements have been put in place to support the delivery of the Plan. This includes a CLD Partnership Executive Group which is chaired by the Chief Executive of Engage Renfrewshire and includes local strategic partners. The CLD Partnership Group provides strategic co-ordination of community learning and development activity across Renfrewshire, shares priorities and measures the planning, delivery and monitoring of improvement actions and performance. 4.7 The CLD Plan is informed by the CLD Partnership Forum, made up of service providers and users. The Forum informs the CLD Plan and strengthens local partnership working. Page 99 of 434
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PUBLIC 5. Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 2024/25 5.1 As noted in section 3 above, each Community Planning Partnership in Scotland is required under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 to publish an Annual Report setting out progress made being made against ambitions to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities. 5.2 A draft annual report for the Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership for 2024/25 was developed and agreed in September 2025. The report notes the positive programme of work being progressed by partners in relation to supporting families, tackling inequality, and building a fairer, greener future. The report also notes positive performance across a number of Community Planning Partners on our collective priorities, and Renfrewshire’s strong partnership arrangements which deliver for local people. However, partners remain concerned about the challenges still faced by our communities in the wake of the pandemic and from the cost-of-living crisis, and the persistent inequalities that we know exist. The full annual report is attached at Appendix 1. 5.3 Key partnership activities highlighted with the annual report include: Supporting Low-Income Families • Across Renfrewshire, families were supported to live with dignity and opportunity. The Local Employability Partnership helped hundreds of parents into work, education, and training, while targeted programmes like Thrive Under 5 and Stronger Start provided holistic support for wellbeing, nutrition, and financial stability. • Advice services secured over £13 million in financial gains for residents, and new pathways like the Emergency Infant Formula scheme responded to urgent needs with compassion and care. • Partners have started to work together to understand how the CPP might be able to take a place-based approach to tackling local inequalities, starting with a Community Needs Assessment in the Gallowhill area of Paisley. Tackling Health Inequalities • Efforts to reduce inequality focused on improving access to work, mental health support, and community wellbeing. The adult Health and Wellbeing Survey produced by NHS GCC has given a range of insights into health and wellbeing across Renfrewshire, and partners have worked with lived experienced panels to understand community insights. • The partnership-led Alcohol and Drugs Change Programme has been drawing to a close over 2024/25, with an extensive programme of services and projects still in place to reduce the harm caused by alcohol and drugs, increase awareness and support recovery locally. Page 100 of 434
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PUBLIC • There has been a partnership focus on supporting people with disabilities and long-term conditions received tailored employability support, while initiatives like Ren10 and the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund strengthened local networks and reduced stigma. Older adults benefited from digital transformation and inclusive events, helping to reduce isolation and promote active ageing. Addressing the Climate Emergency • Renfrewshire’s Plan for Net Zero advanced a just transition by creating green jobs, restoring nature, and embedding sustainability across services. • Community growing projects, biodiversity restoration, and digital inclusion initiatives like DigiZones helped ensure that climate action is inclusive and locally rooted 5.4 The Partnership have done some work over the past few years to develop an initial performance framework linked to the current Community Plan. It is recognised by partners that further work to refine this framework is required to make sure that it is much easier to demonstrate the positive difference that partnership working is making to the outcomes being experienced by local communities. An overview of the indicators currently being tracked is provided in Appendix 2. 5.5 The Community Planning Partnership Executive Group will continue to discuss and develop this approach with an annual horizon scanning focus at its next meeting in December 2025. 6. Local Partnerships 6.1 Local Partnerships are an integral part of the structure of Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership. Since the last six-monthly report on development of the Local Partnerships to the Leadership Board, there have been three rounds of meetings of the seven Local Partnerships. These took place in April/May 2025, August/September 2025 and November 2025. The April/May 2025 Local Partnership meetings were special meetings which focused on consideration of funding applications. 6.2 Including the August/September 2025 Local Partnership meetings, 243 eligible funding applications were considered. A total of 152 grants were awarded to 123 different third sector organisations. 23 applications were referred to other applicable funding sources and 68 applications were not funded. The total value of Local Partnership awards from the 2026/27 Local Partnership budgets following the August/September meetings is £411,158.46. 6.3 The Local Partnership Development Programme continued delivery during April – November 2025. The appointment of a Local Partnerships Development Officer in October 2024 has helped deliver improvements to the operation of Local Partnerships, including additional support to applicants for funding and improved Page 101 of 434
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PUBLIC communications. The first in a proposed regular series of Local Partnership newsletters was produced and circulated in September 2025. 6.4 The timescale for the main 2025/26 funding round for Local Partnerships was successfully brought forward to April/May 2025 as a result of this additional capacity. Separately, the Celebrating Renfrewshire Participatory Budget exercise was also brought forward this year, enabling earlier awards for activities for young people aged 12-25 across the seven Local Partnership areas. 7. Next steps 7.1 The next meeting of Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Executive Group will focus on an annual stocktake by community planning partners to look at current and emerging issues that require to be addressed by partnership working. 7.2 The Executive Group will lead work to develop the strategic focus of the CPP to inform the development of a new community plan for 2027 and beyond. This will include planned inputs and discussion around data from the population health framework and newly emerging strategic plans and pieces of research such as the Renfrewshire Children’s Services Plan. Implications of the Report 1. Financial – There are no direct financial implications from this report. 2. HR & Organisational Development – none. 3. Community/Council Planning – The report sets out how partners are working together to achieve agreed outcomes defined in the Community Plan. 4. Legal - none. 5. Property/Assets – none. 6. Information Technology – none. 7. Equality and Human Rights – Community planning and Local Partnership work contributes towards the community planning outcomes for people and reducing inequalities 8. Health and Safety – none. 9. Procurement – none. 10. Risk – Progressing community planning working contributes to mitigating against the risk of poorer outcomes and increasing inequalities for people within Renfrewshire. 11. Privacy Impact – none. 12. COSLA Policy Position – COSLA is supportive of community planning as an approach to delivering outcome improvement and narrowing of inequalities in Scotland . 13. Children’s Rights – The three areas of focus identified in the refreshed community plan – Supporting Low Income Families; Tackling Health Inequalities; and Addressing The Climate Page 102 of 434
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PUBLIC Emergency – contribute to setting policy direction that supports progress in delivering Children’s Rights. 14. Climate Risk – The Renfrewshire Community Plan was refreshed in 2022 and one of its three areas of focus is Addressing The Climate Emergency. The Annual Report sets out actions being taken and tracks performance against outcomes. Author: Stuart Graham, Community Partnerships Manager, Chief Executive’s Service, 0141 487 1509 Page 103 of 434
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1 PUBLIC Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 2024/25 Page 105 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 2 PUBLIC Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................... 3 Introduction ............................................................................................. 4 Supporting low-income families: Action Areas ............................................. 6 Provide opportunities and support to parents to enter, sustain and progress at work……………………………………………………………………………………….6 Join up support for families within communities ....................................................... 8 Provide support that allows families to live dignified lives and respond to the cost- of-living crisis .............................................................................................................. 12 Work together to support children and young people at risk of trauma and harm 20 Tackling health inequalities: Action Areas ................................................. 30 Tackle the barriers to work for people with disabilities and health conditions ...... 30 Provide a network of community mental health and wellbeing supports…..…….33 Reduce the impact of alcohol and drugs and support recovery .............................. 37 Make sure people can live safely and independently at home and in the community 42 Addressing the climate emergency: Action Areas ....................................... 45 Create good, green jobs and a green skills pipeline everyone can access………...45 Make sure there are local spaces and nature that support health and wellbeing .. 47 Deliver a ‘just transition’ towards net zero with fairness at its core ........................ 49 Develop adaptations to climate impacts for vulnerable people….........................50 Page 106 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 3 PUBLIC Executive Summary This year, Renfrewshire’s Community Planning Partnership focused on what matters most: supporting families, tackling inequality, and building a fairer, greener future. In 2024/25, Renfrewshire saw continued positive performance across a number of Community Planning Partners on our collective priorities, and Renfrewshire’s strong partnership arrangements delivering for local people. However, we remain concerned about the challenges still faced by our communities in the wake of the pandemic and from the cost-of-living crisis, and the persistent inequalities that we know exist. Across every Community Planning Partnership, partners came together to respond to the cost-of-living crisis, improve wellbeing, and ensure that no one is left behind. Supporting Low-Income Families • Across Renfrewshire, families were supported to live with dignity and opportunity. The Local Employability Partnership helped hundreds of parents into work, education, and training, while targeted programmes like Thrive Under 5 and Stronger Start provided holistic support for wellbeing, nutrition, and financial stability. • Advice services secured over £13 million in financial gains for residents, and new pathways like the Emergency Infant Formula scheme responded to urgent needs with compassion and care. • Partners have started to work together to understand how the CPP might be able to take a place-based approach to tackling local inequalities, starting with a Community Needs Assessment in the Gallowhill area of Paisley. Tackling Health Inequalities • Efforts to reduce inequality focused on improving access to work, mental health support, and community wellbeing. The adult Health and Wellbeing Survey produced by NHS GCC has given a range of insights into health and wellbeing across Renfrewshire, and partners have worked with lived experienced panels to understand community insights. • The partnership-led Alcohol and Drugs Change Programme has been drawing to a close over 2024/25, with an extensive programme of services and projects still in place to reduce the harm caused by alcohol and drugs, increase awareness and support recovery locally. • There has been a partnership focus on supporting people with disabilities and long- term conditions received tailored employability support, while initiatives like Ren10 and the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund strengthened local networks Page 107 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 4 PUBLIC and reduced stigma. Older adults benefited from digital transformation and inclusive events, helping to reduce isolation and promote active ageing. Addressing the Climate Emergency • Renfrewshire’s Plan for Net Zero advanced a just transition by creating green jobs, restoring nature, and embedding sustainability across services. • Community growing projects, biodiversity restoration, and digital inclusion initiatives like DigiZones helped ensure that climate action is inclusive and locally rooted. Introduction Renfrewshire’s Community Plan 2017-2027 set out priorities to support the vision of “working together to make Renfrewshire a fairer, more inclusive place where all our people, communities and businesses thrive”. The priorities are focused around four themes of Thriving, Well, Fair and Safe. Following a Strategic Needs Assessment, a refreshed Community Plan was agreed in September 2022. The refreshed Plan provides a sharper focus on three areas where collaborative action can support delivery of the vision above by supporting low-income families, tackling health inequalities and addressing the climate emergency. This Annual Report demonstrates the work being undertaken to deliver on these new areas of focus and shows how Renfrewshire continues to benefit from strong partnership arrangements that provide a collective approach to progressing the priorities of the Renfrewshire Community Plan. Community Plan Areas of Focus 2022-2027 Page 108 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 5 PUBLIC Understanding Renfrewshire’s communities In 2024/25, new census data became available and provided a significant update in our understanding of the demography of Renfrewshire, particularly in relation to changing population patterns and the diversity of our communities. For example, local intelligence has highlighted that some of Renfrewshire’s communities are increasingly diverse, and this census data has helped to enhance our understanding of this and will help to inform Community Planning Partnership priorities moving forward. This year also saw the release of the NHS GGC Health and Wellbeing Survey results for 22/23, providing a range of important insights on a bread of health and wellbeing topics for Renfrewshire residents. The commitment of partners to listen and work alongside communities is well demonstrated throughout this 2024/25 Annual Report and continues to be a key theme and priority for Renfrewshire. Page 109 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 6 PUBLIC Supporting low-income families: Action Areas Provide opportunities and support to parents to enter, sustain and progress at work The Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership has continued to plan and co- commission local employability services to help Renfrewshire residents make a successful transition towards employment and reduce unemployment in the area. The Local Employability Partnership commissioned the following organisations for 2024/25 to provide pilot projects and specific support to unemployed and underemployed parents: • I Was Gonnae Charity provided a music-based project to support parents through a motivational and creative employability programme • REEM – Renfrewshire Effort to Empower Minorities engaged and supported parents to build confidence and assisted them to take the first steps to engaging with employability services • BDA Ltd provided support to people interested in progressing into self-employment Page 110 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 7 PUBLIC • West College Scotland delivered a YES (Your Employability Skills) programme, a personalised learning programme to support parents with multiple barriers into employment • Daring Greatly were commissioned to deliver ‘Parents with a Purpose’, focussing on parents’ personal development and wellbeing activities. Renfrewshire’s employability service, Invest in Renfrewshire, offers a wide range of tailored supports to help residents on their journey towards and into employment. In 2024/25 there has been a continued increase in the number of parents coming forward to use the services of Invest in Renfrewshire and the Local Employability Partnership funded organisations, with 486 parents accessing the service in comparison to 425 parents accessing the services last year. In 2024/25 there were 128 parents who progressed into employment and 7 progressed into self-employment. Funded Work Placements were commenced by 10 parents. Traineeship opportunities were funded for 18 parents within the Local Authority. There were 12 parents who entered Further Education and 132 who gained a qualification. The Transition to Work welfare fund was accessed by 44 parents in the year to support them financially in making this transition into employment. Parents were able to access up to £500 paid over a period of 13 weeks. In addition to this funding, they were able to receive support with clothing for interviews and for commencing employment and funding towards travel costs for the initial 3 months of employment. Digital champions in OneRen Library services have been supporting people with job applications and self-development, including support to access job searching sites, composing CV’s and completing job applications. Volunteer Digital Champions work with learners within the library to build their digital skills at drop-in sessions in Ferguslie Park, Johnstone and Paisley Central libraries, or on a one-to-one basis. Between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, Volunteer Digital Champions have provided 1,033.5 hours of support for learners wishing to improve their digital skills, an increase of 187% over the previous year’s provision. There has been an increase of almost 30% in free access to digital support within libraries since last year, with 35,837 instances provided. Page 111 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 8 PUBLIC Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme The Health and Social Care Partnership’s Health Improvement Team has been supporting businesses in Renfrewshire to sign up to the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland scheme. This builds maternal confidence and ensures mothers can breastfeed confidently and safely in a warm and welcoming environment. Since implementation of the scheme in 2022, 179 premises and 1,215 staff have been supported. In 2024/25, 50 premises signed up and 723 staff trained on breastfeeding and the law including HSCP, One Ren, Engage, Active Communities, Glasgow Airport, and GP practices. In addition, the team has supported Renfrewshire Council to sign up to the scheme and have trained front-facing staff. This also included supporting Renfrewshire Council to adapt their Parenting Leave and Pay policy to include guidance for managers with staff returning to work who want to continue breastfeeding. Join up support for families within communities The three-year Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership Plan covers the period 2023 – 2026. Key achievements during the second year of the plan include: • A physical education audit involving children, young people and teachers which has informed a new and improved framework for physical education. The draft First Level framework has now been completed and will be piloted further in schools across Renfrewshire. • The Upscaling Active Schools project has been working directly with targeted groups to introduce them to sport and physical activity or to increase their participation in sport and physical activity to the benefit of their health and wellbeing. Partner referrals and self-referrals have enabled us to engage and support almost 1000 individuals and families. • Engagement has been ongoing with Youth Services around their climate action work with children and young people, to identify opportunities to incorporate their views into Renfrewshire’s Plan for Net Zero • Building on existing strong foundations in gathering children’s voices. A draft Voice Strategy and Plan has been developed by Renfrewshire Child Protection Committee. • Through the Scottish Government’s Whole Family Wellbeing Fund, Children’s Services is engaging with partners to develop collaborative proposals to address the needs of Renfrewshire’s families in a way that is non-stigmatising, community-based, and underpinned by children’s rights. The Whole Family 1 2 Page 112 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 9 PUBLIC Wellbeing Service has seen a rise in the average family wellbeing score across all measures while the Education Advisor to CAMHS has directly supported over 900 children and families across all Renfrewshire schools. Since the Whole Family Wellbeing Service began in January 2024 there have been a range of developments which has put the service at the forefront of early intervention and partnership working to support families and communities. These developments have included: • Family wellbeing multi-agency launch event in May • Families with ASN multi-agency partnership group • Family wellbeing space developed in St David’s primary and Castlehead secondary • Joint community and schools team P7 summer transition programme • Family support framework linked to stage intervention process • Continued development of Sleep work and increased number of Sleep Counsellors • Increased number of Non Violent Resistance parents groups • Successful system proof of concept ( FORT) • Additional ASN summer playscheme in Mary Russell school • Emotionally Based School Avoidance focus and training • 4 locality family launch events in November 2024 In their recent year 2 report of the impact of Whole Family Wellbeing, the Scottish Government highlighted as an example of good practice, Renfrewshire’s use of the FORT system as a platform to support improved data sharing and case management. The service has funded 15 third sector organisations through a grants process to provide a range of additional supports and added value to our work with families. The organisations funded between 2023 and 2025 have had their projects evaluated and WFW is moving into a new phase of funding for the third sector during 2025/26. The work of the ASN Family Wellbeing Partnership group is a good example of partnership working with parents with lived experience of additional support needs within their families. Parents are working with a wide range of agencies including Education, Social Work, Health, CAMHS, OneRen and the third sector to raise awareness of opportunities for families with children with additional support needs, and to build further capacity and create new opportunities where there are gaps in provision. Stronger Start is a person-centred wrap-around service that provides money advice and advocacy to women who engage with Blossom Maternity Services. Stronger Start aims to take an early intervention and prevention approach to support at-risk women to maximise their income, increase financial capability, increase resilience for the future Page 113 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 10 PUBLIC and increase health and wellbeing. The one-year pilot was implemented at Royal Alexandra Hospital and then rolled out to Inverclyde Royal and Vale Of Leven Maternity Units. The pilot concluded in January 2025 with additional funding of £190,434 being secured to allow Stronger Start to continue until January 2027. The service received a total of 135 referrals during the first year, with 105 of those coming from the RAH. A total of 98 women received both advice and advocacy support during the first year, with 85 women initially referred via the RAH. During the pilot, £150k of financial gains was achieved, which equates to an average gain of £1,500 per woman who received support. Stronger Start staff provided support on a variety of issues including benefits, debt, finance and charitable support, housing, immigration, asylum, and tax. Clients have been assisted to apply for grants such as Best Start and Crisis, as well as Council Tax Reductions and Universal Credit. Clients have also been supported with housing issues such as rent arrears, homelessness, and threatened homelessness. Skoobmobile is a mobile service providing activities and access to library services for children and families in communities that do not have a local library in close vicinity. The service works in partnership with schools and community organisations. This year: • 185 school sessions were attended by 5,706 children • 129 nursery sessions were attended by 1,550 children • 162 community outreach sessions were attended by 2,758 children and 1,553 adults. The Skoobmobile supported playschemes at Mary Russell and Riverbrae, as well as the ON-X summer camps. The service has also been involved in bringing play sessions to communities as part of the Winter Connections and Summer of Fun programmes and supporting primary schools storytimes and access to library digital resources and learning activities. Public Wi-Fi has been installed onboard, and the Skoobmobile is now part of the DigiZone offering in Renfrewshire. Renfrewshire Libraries are working with the Good Things Foundation to distribute free SIMs and mobile data to local people experiencing data poverty. Recipients are supported by a Digital Champion to activate their SIM, with further one-to-one digital skills support available if required. OneRen delivers fortnightly Job Clubs and Family Support sessions in partnership with Invest at Paisley Central Library as well as provision of a monthly Community drop- in session at Ferguslie Park Library in partnership with CARIS Special Education Services to offer support with; Speech, Language and Communication, Educational Agency, Page 114 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 11 PUBLIC Reading Support and Signposting. They also work with the Citizens Advice Bureau to provide weekly drop-in sessions in Johnstone and Renfrew Libraries. The “Multiply” programme, funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), aimed to deliver a programme of activities and learning to support adults aged 19+ and young adults 16-18 who are not in education, employment, and training to increase their confidence in using numbers and to improve maths skills in everyday life. Programmes supported people from helping with children's homework to learning how to cook nutritious meals on a budget, measuring a carpet and budgeting finances. The programme was overseen by Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership and delivered by a range of local partners. The programme came to an end in March 2025. Between April 2024 and the end of March 2025, 134 Multiply courses were delivered to 742 people. Page 115 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 12 PUBLIC Provide support that allows families to live dignified lives and respond to the cost-of-living crisis Renfrewshire’s Local Child Poverty Action Report for 2024/25 sets out the activity that has taken place to reduce child poverty and looks forward to the actions planned for 2025/26 around the themes of the Scottish Government child poverty delivery plan, Best Start, Bright Futures. Delivering advice in partnership Advice Works and Renfrewshire Citizen’s Advice Bureau (RCAB) have continued to work closely to ensure people are getting the benefits they are entitled to and the best money advice. The Council funded RCAB general service gave over 7,100 appointments and has gained £2.48 million for the people of Renfrewshire this year. This is in addition to the 342 people seen by the Legal Service, who had additional gains of over £3,400. The Welfare Rights service had 463 contacts resulting in 249 clients and £383,813 in financial gain for clients. New debt cases this year have led to nearly £9.36 million worth of debt being managed. Overall, the financial gain for clients this year from new claims to benefit was over £13 million, with an additional £0.56 million in mandatory reconsiderations and appeals. Advice Works have also helped clients manage £12.47 million in debt. The Family Advice team works with families to maximise household income through advice and increasing take-up of wider supports provided by the Council, for example, free school meals, school clothing grants or employability support for parents. The service is provided by the Council’s Advice Works and supports families with children in early years and primary school settings. The Family Advice Service received 331 Page 116 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 13 PUBLIC referrals during 2024/25, with 227 clients engaging. This led to client financial gains of £82,417.21. During 2024/25, the Renfrewshire HSCP Health Improvement Team refreshed their early-years financial inclusion pathway and delivered a briefing session to promote this with Health Visiting staff. Most referrals (55%) to the Family Advice Service were from the Health Visiting Team, with a number from Other Healthcare Staff, Social Work, Education, and Self-Referrals. A refreshed Family Advice Pathway (formerly Healthier Wealthier Children Pathway) has been implemented to increase referrals for families and child poverty priority groups with the highest levels of poverty. The service provides income maximisation advice and support for families. Support provided includes benefit checks, support applying for benefits, help to reduce and manage debts, access to emergency funds and grants, support with budgeting and assistance dealing with food and fuel poverty. Renfrewshire Citizen’s Advice Bureau are supporting an embedded model of advice in all Renfrewshire secondary and additional support needs schools. The School Support Service works with school staff, including guidance, pastoral and home link staff to reach families who are struggling with money issues and ensure preventative support is provided. During 2024/25, 263 advice appointments/contacts were made, and the service has helped 138 families with a client financial gain of £415,884. More than half of the client financial gains related to Universal Credit, although a significant proportion related to disability benefits. The School Support Service was initially a 2-year pilot to establish the most effective way to support young people and their families to maximise their income through using school premises and staff. The service has since been extended to run throughout 2025/26. Cost of the Nursery Day is a pilot project delivered by the Health Improvement Team (HIT) that supports early years establishments through upskilling staff to become a ‘Cost of the Nursery Day’ Champion. The Health Improvement Team worked closely with Fairer Renfrewshire and Education colleagues to ensure a collaborative approach to pilot development and implementation. Engagement and consultation were completed with parents, carers and staff from Home-Start, and with the Fairer Renfrewshire Panel. These groups reviewed proposed training content and were consulted on issues that were relevant to them. Page 117 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 14 PUBLIC Cost of the Nursery Day was piloted during February and March 2025 with four training sessions delivered. In total, 18 staff from early years centres completed two training sessions to become ‘Cost of the Nursery Day’ champions. An evaluation of the pilot findings will be reported to the consultees at Home-Start and the Fairer Renfrewshire Panel, to inform the next steps for the roll out of the project across Renfrewshire. Thrive Under 5 The Health Improvement Team worked with partners Active Communities and Citizens’ Advice Bureau to deliver the pilot Thrive Under 5 Programme in Johnstone. The pilot aimed to reduce child poverty, increase healthy eating, physical activity, and reduce the likelihood of diabetes in the under 5s. The pilot ran from May 2024 to March 2025 provided the following support for families: • Support to apply for Best Start Grants and Scottish Child Payment • Applications for wider grants and benefits to maximise income including fuel support • Meal packs for every family at least twice a week for 8 weeks • Access to local food pantry with free membership and 12 free shops for families • Free cookery classes and cooking equipment as required for every family • Physical activity opportunities for the whole family • Onward referral to partner organisations such as Invest, or any others based on families’ needs. • 42 families, including 75 children, took part in the programme. 241 meal packs and 516 pantry vouchers were provided during the duration of the pilot. All families were provided with cooking equipment and weekly fruit and vegetables worth £11.74. • 30 families and 31 children took part in physical activity sessions with Gym Joey’s. Emergency Infant Formula Pathway Due to the cost of infant formula increasing by an average of 14%, access to formula has become challenging for families from the most deprived communities. Renfrewshire’s Emergency Infant Formula Pathway followed Scottish Government guidance published Page 118 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 15 PUBLIC in February 2024 to provide a safe, reliable route for parents with an infant under 12 months in urgent need to access formula milk and support for safe and responsive feeding. The pathway was developed in August 2024 and went live following briefing sessions delivered in September 2024. A total of 4 sessions were facilitated with 48 staff from Health Visiting, Family Nurse Partnership, a range of third sector, West College Scotland, and Renfrewshire Council staff. The pathway is rights-based, free from stigma, aligns with trauma informed approaches and is integrated into wider local supports and provisions to minimise repeated need for crisis intervention. The information on the Pathway is now included in the Pregnancy, Maternity & Early Years resource as part of Engage Renfrewshire's website. Monitoring has identified a total of 7 referrals since the pathway became live. The Renfrewshire Affordable Credit Alliance (RACA) comprises Renfrewshire Council, credit unions, and not-for-profit social enterprises like Fair For You. Its mission is to ensure equitable access to affordable credit. Supported by Engage Renfrewshire’s Affordable Credit Officer (ACO) in collaboration with Renfrewshire Council, RACA aimed to disrupt the cycle of illegal money lending (IML) through awareness initiatives. Over the past year, the ACO has engaged with organisations, including Housing Associations and organisations supporting those with mental health issues and caring responsibilities. She has also engaged with groups supporting child poverty priority groups carried out work with young people, speaking about safe borrowing, budgeting and other money concerns. In May 2024, RACA hosted a successful partnership Networking and Information Session, bringing together over 50 delegates to explore ways to strengthen financial resilience across Renfrewshire. 2024 also saw the launch of RACA’s educational resource, The Good Guide to Credit, which is now available across Renfrewshire’s library system, and is offered to new tenants at local housing associations. Renfrewshire’s Talk Money week event was an example of a cross-partner activity where Advice Works, RCAB and Scottish Social Security came together with Energy Advocates and Invest in Renfrewshire to support maximisation of income, supported by third sector partners and our Skoobmobile to attract and entertain families. Renfrewshire HSCP Health Improvement piloted Nourish Nurseries within 4 pre five centres. The pilot started in March 2024 and ran for 6 weeks, with each nursery receiving a weekly delivery of fresh vegetables from a local provider. The pilot encouraged creativity in how the produce was used in nursery learning activities, while promoting a positive relationship with vegetables. Page 119 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 16 PUBLIC The model aligns with Setting the Table and the Peas Please initiative, both supporting the integration of fresh produce into early years settings and healthier eating habits from a young age. The pilot has been received positively, and an evaluation report is being developed to highlight the outcomes and support future funding. Renfrewshire’s food partnership, Fair Food Renfrewshire brings together key stakeholders from right across the local food system including the local authority, Renfrewshire HSCP, Health Board, third sector and community groups, public sector establishments and food growers to develop a healthier, fairer and more sustainable food system locally. They are working towards developing a food strategy for Renfrewshire to achieve four key priorities: • Ending food insecurity and the need for foodbanks. • Increasing access and availability of growing grounds in every town and village within Renfrewshire. • Widening access and availability to educational opportunities regarding nutrition and cooking skills, within education, health, and community settings. • Encouraging individuals and businesses to buy local food, and encourage organisations to use local food suppliers within a procurement policy context Last year, Fair Food Renfrewshire became a member of Sustainable Food Places, giving the partnership access to additional support and expertise from regional and national partners. This year the partnership joined forces with the Waste and Resources Action Programme to support Food Waste Action Week 2025, encouraging individuals and families to buy loose fruit and veg to reduce food waste and save money. Fair Food Renfrewshire has established a food support working group made up of representatives from local emergency and community food providers such as Renfrewshire Foodbank and community larders and pantries. The group is working to develop a new, sustainable model of food provision in Renfrewshire to support those experiencing food insecurity with an improved holistic approach. The Fairer Renfrewshire programme work focuses on tackling poverty and inequality in Renfrewshire looking at financial insecurity and the cost-of-living crisis, food and fuel insecurity. Street Stuff is a partnership programme between Renfrewshire Council, St Mirren Football Club, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue and Engage Renfrewshire. It provides free multi-sport, gaming and Youth Club activities for children aged 8 – 16 across Renfrewshire in the evenings and at weekends. Street Stuff buses have free Wi-Fi to ensure young people aren’t digitally excluded and provide/support school holiday programmes for ages 5 – 14 which includes the provision of a healthy meal, including over the festive break and in October. Page 120 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 17 PUBLIC The Summer of Fun Programme delivered over July and August 2024 was very well received, with Council funding providing a comprehensive free programme, supported with free food and drinks. Activities included: • Summer camps - 2,776 attendees, 44% of children from lone parent families, 36% from large families and over a fifth from families where a family member has a disability • Specific summer camps for young people with Additional Support Needs, with 193 families using this support • Street Stuff activities for young people aged 8 – 16, which had 2,221 attendances across 7 locations • An Adult and Family learning programme, attracting 54 families • 249 events delivered across all 12 libraries including craft activities, sessions from the Dog Trust , old school Scottish games and Animal Man Mini Zoo • A small grants programme led by local community groups and organisations delivering free activities benefitting over 577 adults and 1,939 children. The Winter Connections Programme funded 42 projects to provide free activities and hot drinks, snacks and food for parents and children at community venues and libraries throughout Renfrewshire over the winter period in 2024/25. This year’s programme delivered a wide range of activities, including line dancing, songwriting, and retro gaming and benefitted over 2,500 people. One Ren supported the programme by offering hot drinks, soup, and snacks in all Renfrewshire libraries. Page 121 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 18 PUBLIC Benefits of the programme included connecting people with each other, reducing social isolation and encouraging new people to engage with services. It also helped to create a sense of belonging to the local community, provide fun activities, reduce financial costs and provide access to information and advice. Established in 2022/23, the Fairer Renfrewshire Panel has continued to meet throughout 2024/25, supported by STAR Project, ensuring that people on low incomes have their voices heard on the policies and decisions that most impact their lives . The Panel has provided insight into their experiences around transport which fed into the development of a Local Transport Strategy. They have also worked with the Council’s Commissioning and Creative Events Lead to ensure that the Events strategy was inclusive of people facing barriers to participation. The Panel has continued to meet with Invest in Renfrewshire, and their feedback has been actioned in the development of a new project for those at the beginning of their employment journey and they have also been involved in the Cost of the Nursey Day pilot delivered by the Renfrewshire HSCP Health Improvement Team during 2024/25. In August 2024, in their joint Digital Exclusion Report, the Accounts Commission and Auditor General recognised Renfrewshire’s #DigiRen network’s person-centred, place-based approach as an exemplar in understanding and addressing digital exclusion. #DigiRen is co-chaired by Engage Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire Council and brings together a diverse coalition of over 180 individuals from more than 80 unique organisations, spanning the Public, Third, Community, Voluntary, Academia, and Social Housing sectors. This broad collaboration has been instrumental in ensuring digital inclusion is embedded across local services and strategies. In September 2024, #DigiRen hosted a joint hybrid event at Paisley Central Library, aligning with the Digital Poverty Alliance’s National End Digital Poverty Day. The event brought together nearly 100 delegates, both in person and online, providing a crucial platform for Audit Scotland to present its findings and for key stakeholders to discuss innovative solutions to digital exclusion. With a growing network and continued recognition at a national level, #DigiRen is at the forefront of shaping a more digitally inclusive Renfrewshire. A key priority and success during 2024/25 was the creation of DigiZones across 21 venues in Renfrewshire. This project was co-designed with a range of partners and those with lived experience, and provides a consistent approach and branding, offering digital support, free access to devices and WiFi or signposting. During National Get Online Week, in October 2024, DigiZones launched across our network of 12 Libraries, 6 CLD Adult Learning Centres, 4 CLD Youth Venues, Station Seven in Johnstone (with 3rd Page 122 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 19 PUBLIC sector partners Active Communities) and a mobile library (The Skoobmobile) was transformed into a mobile DigiZone. An evaluation framework was co-produced and is demonstrating considerable positive impact with the following information based on Q4: • Over 100k visitors; • 236 training sessions delivered; • Over 208 hours of digital champions support delivered; • 14 devices loaned as part of device lending library; • Over 8.7k public devices accessed; and • Over 10.7k public access WI-FI sessions. Through OneRen Leisure’s under 5 swim initiative, free access is provided to parents with children under 5 years. This initiative significantly improved access to OneRen venues, reducing financial barriers to participation. OneRen libraries have provided free events throughout the year including the Will Eisner Week Comic Book Festival (13 events over the week beginning 1 March 2025), the Schools programming element of the Paisley Book Festival, the Janet Coats Memorial poetry prize, a programme of Easter/October Week/Christmas holiday activities as well as the Marvellous Makers Summer Reading Challenge 2024, which was delivered by libraries in partnership with the Reading Agency. There was a special launch event with award winning children’s author Lindsay Littleson at Paisley Central Library in June 2024. Children also collected 2 free swim passes for OneRen swimming pools and other incentives to encourage them to read throughout. IN-Ren: Advancing Equality and Inclusion in Care Services In 2024, IN-Ren played a role in facilitating a cross-sector partnership between Scottish Care and Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) to develop and launch an Anti-Racism Policy for all care providers across Renfrewshire. This landmark initiative aims to create a more inclusive, equitable, and respectful environment for both care providers and those receiving care, ensuring that everyone in the sector is treated with dignity, regardless of their race or ethnicity. The development of the policy was driven by the collaboration of key stakeholders from various sectors, with a focus on creating a robust, actionable framework that could be adopted across Renfrewshire’s care services. This approach reflects the importance of collective responsibility in addressing racism and promoting inclusivity within healthcare and social care settings. Page 123 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 20 PUBLIC As part of the process, IN-Ren hosted a fact-finding session that provided a platform for both residents and workers to share their lived experiences. This open dialogue allowed individuals to highlight challenges, offer insights, and suggest solutions for creating a more inclusive and welcoming care environment. By listening to those directly impacted by racial inequalities in the care sector, the session ensured that the policy would be informed by the real needs and experiences of the local community. Work together to support children and young people at risk of trauma and harm The joint inspection of Renfrewshire Children’s Partnership was awarded a Very Good grade in the report published on 22 October 2024, recognising their effective support for children and young people at risk of harm and their families. This achievement reflects a strong partnership approach, with Renfrewshire Council's Children’s Services, Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership, Police Scotland, the Scottish Children’s Reporter Association, Children’s Hearing System, and third- sector organisations all playing essential roles. You can read the full report here. The re-design of social work services continued throughout 2024/25, with an aim to improve the capability and capacity within the service to drive change forward. The re- design, which has incorporated Families First, Home Link and Care Experienced Home Link into the Renfrewshire Family Wellbeing Service, has streamlined the way that family support is accessed and provided to ensure consistency and equity across localities. Renfrewshire Council continues to pledge that when children are accommodated by the council, brothers and sisters will be placed together where it is appropriate to do so. Young people have been returned to Renfrewshire via the Close to Home initiative. The majority of all looked after children continue to live in a community setting either with their own family or with an alternative family. Choose Life Training The HSCP Suicide Prevention Strategic Group is now well established with a workplan and subgroups in place including a new Data subgroup. 17 suicide training courses were delivered during 2024/25 per the table below, with a total of 231 attendees from a wide range of services and organisations including Health Page 124 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 21 PUBLIC Emergency Infant Formula Pathway Due to the cost of infant formula increasing by an average of 14%, access to formula has become challenging for families from the most deprived communities. Renfrewshire’s Emergency Infant Formula Pathway followed Scottish Government guidance published in February 2024 to provide a safe, reliable route for parents with an infant under 12 months in urgent need to access formula milk and support for safe and responsive feeding. The pathway was developed in August 2024 and went live following briefing sessions delivered in September 2024. A total of 4 sessions were facilitated with 48 staff from Health Visiting, Family Nurse Partnership, a range of third sector, West College Scotland, and Renfrewshire Council staff. The pathway is rights-based, free from stigma, aligns with trauma informed approaches and is integrated into wider local supports and provisions to minimise repeated need for crisis intervention. The information on the Pathway is now included in the Pregnancy, Maternity & Early Years resource as part of Engage Renfrewshire's website. Monitoring has identified a total of 7 referrals since the pathway became live. The Renfrewshire Affordable Credit Alliance (RACA) comprises Renfrewshire Council, credit unions, and not-for-profit social enterprises like Fair For You. Its mission is to ensure equitable access to affordable credit. Supported by Engage Renfrewshire’s Affordable Credit Officer (ACO) in collaboration with Renfrewshire Council, RACA aimed to disrupt the cycle of illegal money lending (IML) through awareness initiatives. Over the past year, the ACO has engaged with organisations, including Housing Associations and organisations supporting those with mental health issues and caring responsibilities. She has also engaged with groups supporting child poverty priority groups carried out work with young people, speaking about safe borrowing, budgeting and other money concerns. In May 2024, RACA hosted a successful partnership Networking and Information Session, bringing together over 50 delegates to explore ways to strengthen financial resilience across Renfrewshire. 2024 also saw the launch of RACA’s educational resource, The Good Guide to Credit, which is now available across Renfrewshire’s library system, and is offered to new tenants at local housing associations. Renfrewshire’s Talk Money week event was an example of a cross-partner activity where Advice Works, RCAB and Scottish Social Security came together with Energy Advocates and Invest in Renfrewshire to support maximisation of income, supported by third sector partners and our Skoobmobile to attract and entertain families. Renfrewshire HSCP Health Improvement piloted Nourish Nurseries within 4 pre five centres. The pilot started in March 2024 and ran for 6 weeks, with each nursery Page 125 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 22 PUBLIC receiving a weekly delivery of fresh vegetables from a local provider. The pilot encouraged creativity in how the produce was used in nursery learning activities, while promoting a positive relationship with vegetables. The model aligns with Setting the Table and the Peas Please initiative, both supporting the integration of fresh produce into early years settings and healthier eating habits from a young age. The pilot has been received positively, and an evaluation report is being developed to highlight the outcomes and support future funding. Renfrewshire’s food partnership, Fair Food Renfrewshire brings together key stakeholders from right across the local food system including the local authority, Renfrewshire HSCP, Health Board, third sector and community groups, public sector establishments and food growers to develop a healthier, fairer and more sustainable food system locally. They are working towards developing a food strategy for Renfrewshire to achieve four key priorities: • Ending food insecurity and the need for foodbanks. • Increasing access and availability of growing grounds in every town and village within Renfrewshire. • Widening access and availability to educational opportunities regarding nutrition and cooking skills, within education, health, and community settings. • Encouraging individuals and businesses to buy local food, and encourage organisations to use local food suppliers within a procurement policy context Last year, Fair Food Renfrewshire became a member of Sustainable Food Places, giving the partnership access to additional support and expertise from regional and national partners. This year the partnership joined forces with the Waste and Resources Action Programme to support Food Waste Action Week 2025, encouraging individuals and families to buy loose fruit and veg to reduce food waste and save money. Fair Food Renfrewshire has established a food support working group made up of representatives from local emergency and community food providers such as Renfrewshire Foodbank and community larders and pantries. The group is working to develop a new, sustainable model of food provision in Renfrewshire to support those experiencing food insecurity with an improved holistic approach. The Fairer Renfrewshire programme work focuses on tackling poverty and inequality in Renfrewshire looking at financial insecurity and the cost-of-living crisis, food and fuel insecurity. Street Stuff is a partnership programme between Renfrewshire Council, St Mirren Football Club, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue and Engage Renfrewshire. It provides free multi-sport, gaming and Youth Club activities for children aged 8 – 16 Page 126 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 23 PUBLIC across Renfrewshire in the evenings and at weekends. Street Stuff buses have free Wi-Fi to ensure young people aren’t digitally excluded and provide/support school holiday programmes for ages 5 – 14 which includes the provision of a healthy meal, including over the festive break and in October. The Summer of Fun Programme delivered over July and August 2024 was very well received, with Council funding providing a comprehensive free programme, supported with free food and drinks. Activities included: • Summer camps - 2,776 attendees, 44% of children from lone parent families, 36% from large families and over a fifth from families where a family member has a disability • Specific summer camps for young people with Additional Support Needs, with 193 families using this support • Street Stuff activities for young people aged 8 – 16, which had 2,221 attendances across 7 locations • An Adult and Family learning programme, attracting 54 families • 249 events delivered across all 12 libraries including craft activities, sessions from the Dog Trust , old school Scottish games and Animal Man Mini Zoo • A small grants programme led by local community groups and organisations delivering free activities benefitting over 577 adults and 1,939 children. Page 127 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 24 PUBLIC The Winter Connections Programme funded 42 projects to provide free activities and hot drinks, snacks and food for parents and children at community venues and libraries throughout Renfrewshire over the winter period in 2024/25. This year’s programme delivered a wide range of activities, including line dancing, songwriting, and retro gaming and benefitted over 2,500 people. One Ren supported the programme by offering hot drinks, soup, and snacks in all Renfrewshire libraries. Benefits of the programme included connecting people with each other, reducing social isolation and encouraging new people to engage with services. It also helped to create a sense of belonging to the local community, provide fun activities, reduce financial costs and provide access to information and advice. Established in 2022/23, the Fairer Renfrewshire Panel has continued to meet throughout 2024/25, supported by STAR Project, ensuring that people on low incomes have their voices heard on the policies and decisions that most impact their lives . The Panel has provided insight into their experiences around transport which fed into the development of a Local Transport Strategy. They have also worked with the Council’s Commissioning and Creative Events Lead to ensure that the Events strategy was inclusive of people facing barriers to participation. The Panel has continued to meet with Invest in Renfrewshire, and their feedback has been actioned in the development of a new project for those at the beginning of their employment journey and they have also been involved in the Cost of the Nursey Day pilot delivered by the Renfrewshire HSCP Health Improvement Team during 2024/25. Page 128 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 25 PUBLIC In August 2024, in their joint Digital Exclusion Report, the Accounts Commission and Auditor General recognised Renfrewshire’s #DigiRen network’s person-centred, place-based approach as an exemplar in understanding and addressing digital exclusion. #DigiRen is co-chaired by Engage Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire Council and brings together a diverse coalition of over 180 individuals from more than 80 unique organisations, spanning the Public, Third, Community, Voluntary, Academia, and Social Housing sectors. This broad collaboration has been instrumental in ensuring digital inclusion is embedded across local services and strategies. In September 2024, #DigiRen hosted a joint hybrid event at Paisley Central Library, aligning with the Digital Poverty Alliance’s National End Digital Poverty Day. The event brought together nearly 100 delegates, both in person and online, providing a crucial platform for Audit Scotland to present its findings and for key stakeholders to discuss innovative solutions to digital exclusion. With a growing network and continued recognition at a national level, #DigiRen is at the forefront of shaping a more digitally inclusive Renfrewshire. A key priority and success during 2024/25 was the creation of DigiZones across 21 venues in Renfrewshire. This project was co-designed with a range of partners and those with lived experience, and provides a consistent approach and branding, offering digital support, free access to devices and WiFi or signposting. During National Get Online Week, in October 2024, DigiZones launched across our network of 12 Libraries, 6 CLD Adult Learning Centres, 4 CLD Youth Venues, Station Seven in Johnstone (with 3rd sector partners Active Communities) and a mobile library (The Skoobmobile) was transformed into a mobile DigiZone. An evaluation framework was co-produced and is demonstrating considerable positive impact with the following information based on Q4: • Over 100k visitors; • 236 training sessions delivered; • Over 208 hours of digital champions support delivered; • 14 devices loaned as part of device lending library; • Over 8.7k public devices accessed; and • Over 10.7k public access WI-FI sessions. Through OneRen Leisure’s under 5 swim initiative, free access is provided to parents with children under 5 years. This initiative significantly improved access to OneRen venues, reducing financial barriers to participation. Page 129 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 26 PUBLIC OneRen libraries have provided free events throughout the year including the Will Eisner Week Comic Book Festival (13 events over the week beginning 1 March 2025), the Schools programming element of the Paisley Book Festival, the Janet Coats Memorial poetry prize, a programme of Easter/October Week/Christmas holiday activities as well as the Marvellous Makers Summer Reading Challenge 2024, which was delivered by libraries in partnership with the Reading Agency. There was a special launch event with award winning children’s author Lindsay Littleson at Paisley Central Library in June 2024. Children also collected 2 free swim passes for OneRen swimming pools and other incentives to encourage them to read throughout. IN-Ren: Advancing Equality and Inclusion in Care Services In 2024, IN-Ren played a role in facilitating a cross-sector partnership between Scottish Care and Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) to develop and launch an Anti-Racism Policy for all care providers across Renfrewshire. This landmark initiative aims to create a more inclusive, equitable, and respectful environment for both care providers and those receiving care, ensuring that everyone in the sector is treated with dignity, regardless of their race or ethnicity. The development of the policy was driven by the collaboration of key stakeholders from various sectors, with a focus on creating a robust, actionable framework that could be adopted across Renfrewshire’s care services. This approach reflects the importance of collective responsibility in addressing racism and promoting inclusivity within healthcare and social care settings. As part of the process, IN-Ren hosted a fact-finding session that provided a platform for both residents and workers to share their lived experiences. This open dialogue allowed individuals to highlight challenges, offer insights, and suggest solutions for creating a more inclusive and welcoming care environment. By listening to those directly impacted by racial inequalities in the care sector, the session ensured that the policy would be informed by the real needs and experiences of the local community. Work together to support children and young people at risk of trauma and harm The joint inspection of Renfrewshire Children’s Partnership was awarded a Very Good grade in the report published on 22 October 2024, recognising their effective support for children and young people at risk of harm and their families. This achievement reflects a strong partnership approach, with Renfrewshire Council's Children’s Services, Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership, Police Scotland, Page 130 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 27 PUBLIC the Scottish Children’s Reporter Association, Children’s Hearing System, and third- sector organisations all playing essential roles. You can read the full report here. The re-design of social work services continued throughout 2024/25, with an aim to improve the capability and capacity within the service to drive change forward. The re- design, which has incorporated Families First, Home Link and Care Experienced Home Link into the Renfrewshire Family Wellbeing Service, has streamlined the way that family support is accessed and provided to ensure consistency and equity across localities. Renfrewshire Council continues to pledge that when children are accommodated by the council, brothers and sisters will be placed together where it is appropriate to do so. Young people have been returned to Renfrewshire via the Close to Home initiative. The majority of all looked after children continue to live in a community setting either with their own family or with an alternative family. Choose Life Training The HSCP Suicide Prevention Strategic Group is now well established with a workplan and subgroups in place including a new Data subgroup. 17 suicide training courses were delivered during 2024/25 per the table below, with a total of 231 attendees from a wide range of services and organisations including Health Improvement, Social Work Adult and Children’s Services, Learning Disability Service, Active Communities, Community Mental Health Team, Community Learning and Development, Day Services, RAMH, Rehabilitation and Enablement Service, Scottish Fire and Rescue, West College Scotland, and local primary and secondary schools. Activities related to The Promise are coordinated across Children’s Services and other Council services and with various partners such as the Renfrewshire HSCP, the Police and the third sector. A Promise Mapping Tool is used to track progress and inform decision-making. The Promise Manager and Ambassador in Renfrewshire provide support to teams and services within the council to raise awareness about The Promise and assess how they can best support Care Experienced individuals. Page 131 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 28 PUBLIC The Promise team also engage with the Care Experienced community to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met in service design and delivery, and they can contribute to the development of policies. The Promise Champs programme, led by Youth Services, empowers Care Experienced young people to voice their needs and drive change. Activities such as leadership training, summer clubs, and festive events foster a sense of belonging and community among participants. Additionally, the Promise Arts and Culture Programme provides creative opportunities for Care Experienced young people, helping them build social and cultural capital. Several initiatives support the workforce in delivering The Promise, including the Promise Human Library, which matches Care Experienced young people with professionals in their field of interest, and the development of a Care Experienced Staff Network. A cornerstone of Renfrewshire's approach is the Promise Keeper Network, comprising, by end March 2025, over 362 local champions from various services, including social work, education, and the third sector. These Promise Keepers are empowered to enact changes within their services, share knowledge, and promote positive, non-stigmatising language as outlined in the Renfrewshire Language Policy. In 2025/26, the aim is to expand the Promise Keeper Network by recruiting more local champions and increasing visibility and awareness of The Promise across various services. Workforce support will be further enhanced by expanding initiatives such as the Promise Human Library and the Care Experienced Staff Network. The introduction of guaranteed interviews for Care Experienced individuals will be fully implemented, aiming to address barriers to employment and promote equality. The Care Experienced Data Dashboard and the Promise Progress Framework will be enhanced to provide more comprehensive insights into progress and impact. Funded Promise Projects managed by Corra and funded by the Scottish Government’s Promise Partnership Fund include: • This project aims to reduce school exclusions within the Care Experienced community within Johnstone High School. The pupils of Johnstone High School played an important role in designing the job description for this role. This project also includes Contextual Safeguarding work, which will be delivered by Barnardo’s to create greater understanding of the risks that children and young people are exposed to in a range of different places, such as at home, at school, online or in their local communities. Page 132 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 29 PUBLIC • This project creates a Promise Team in St Andrew’s Academy to overcome the challenges caused by “last minute” transitions. The aim is to provide intensive support for any child who will be moving from primary to St Andrew’s Academy. Police Scotland’s Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Division have a dedicated missing- person coordinator, who has good links and relationships with private and Local Authority care homes. Working with care home staff, the Philomena Protocol has now been fully embedded in the area, which involves carers collating all relevant information in relation to each individual child, ensuring that information is quickly accessible in the event of a missing episode. The missing person coordinator has established excellent working relationships with house managers, social work and external partners to offer alternative support and outreach programmes to come of our more vulnerable young people. Police Scotland officers regularly provide sessions for school pupils around crime, support and reporting mechanisms. Inputs are provided on topics that may cause harm/risk/trauma, for example bullying, internet safety and consent. The Police Scotland Partnership and Preventions team also promote the Fearless programmes with pupils and schools. This programme enables young people to pass on information about a crime anonymously. There is also regular support on the Division social media platforms for Crimestoppers/Fearless and child protection. In response to the UK-wide disorder that took place during the summer of 2024, IN- Ren/DEAR (Diversity Equality Alliance Renfrewshire group) convened a meeting to hear from members of ethnically diverse support groups about their experiences and concerns, and to propose solutions. The meeting brought together representatives from PACHEDU, Sewing Together All Nations, the Scottish Refugee Council, the School of African Culture, Kairos, and Inspiring Families. One of the key issues raised was the need for a unified and inclusive approach to messaging within schools to promote understanding, prevent tensions, and support young people from all backgrounds. As a result, discussions have since progressed with the Chief Social Work Officer for Renfrewshire, the Children’s Services Directorate Management Team, and the Children’s Services Partnership. Scottish Fire and Rescue’s Fireskills programme engages with young people and aims to educate them about the dangers of participating in risk taking behaviour and build positive relationships between young people and the emergency services. The Fireskills course was delivered in partnership with Renfrewshire Youth Team with input from Police Scotland, Scottish Ambulance SORT and Glasgow Airport Fire Service. Members of the Community Action Team have had training on providing a trauma- informed approach. Fire Safety Support and Education interventions are delivered to Page 133 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 30 PUBLIC young people known to have started fires and officers deliver presentations to schools, community groups and youth clubs. Online training on the value of being trauma-informed has been developed and piloted within the Council and will be rolled out on the iLearn platform in the second half of 2025. Options for making this available to the wider workforce are currently being reviewed. The Trauma Informed and Responsive Renfrewshire steering group has a refreshed membership and includes our partners from the HSCP. The group meets quarterly and provides strategic oversight to ensure consistency in embedding trauma informed practice and to foster closing working on this topic. Tackling health inequalities: Action Areas Tackle the barriers to work for people with disabilities and health conditions Two key target groups for Renfrewshire’s Local Employability Partnership (LEP) are people with health issues and people with disabilities/long term conditions. The Disability sub-group, co- chaired by DWP/HSCP, commissioned some research in 2024/25 to provide insight from Renfrewshire residents who have disabilities and long- term conditions. 52 people engaged in the research - both users of employability services and those who have not, and the findings have helped to shape the support on offer in 2025/26. Of those who had engaged with employability support, feedback was very positive. In 2024/25, 519 people with disabilities /long term conditions accessed LEP Employability support. This included specialist key worker support provided by Invest and access to two LEP commissioned supported employment programmes delivered by Values into Action Scotland and Search, managed by Renfrewshire Council. Page 134 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 31 PUBLIC The LEP has also provided grant funding to Scottish Union of Supported Employment to work with local employers in 2024/25 including local anchor organisations such as Renfrewshire Council. The shared goal is to achieve more job outcomes for disabled people and people with long term conditions and better rates of retention, by building the capacity of employers to attract, recruit and retain jobseekers. The Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership subgroup on Health Conditions and Recovery, chaired by the Health Improvement Team, works to support people in Renfrewshire in recovery from health conditions to improve their employability. The group brings together and supports services while identifying gaps to people accessing support to work or in-work support. This group also looks at support for those in recovery from addictions and mental health, commissioning mental health support for employability clients through RAMH and Youth Inspired. This provided talking therapies on a 1:1 and group work basis to 71 clients in 2024/2025. The group has continued to progress their Action Plan throughout 2024/25. Key pieces of work have included the promotion and evaluation of mental health support for employability clients and the delivery of mental health training for employability staff, including Scottish Mental Health First Aid, Trauma-Informed Practice workshops, and Neurodiversity Awareness sessions. The subgroup has also continued to progress work on an “Asking the Employability Question” toolkit for staff working in health and social care settings. The toolkit’s purpose is to increase staff confidence when discussing employability with the individuals they work with and increase knowledge of referral routes. Page 135 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 32 PUBLIC Skills Development Scotland (SDS) deliver an all-age guidance service to all residents of Renfrewshire including career information, advice and guidance on career choices, advice on the routes into career including jobs, apprenticeships, training and learning, support with CVs, application forms and interviews. They also offer free redundancy advice and support, as the lead agency of Partnership Action for Continuing Employment. As part of the Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership, SDS’s local management team have been actively involved in the commissioning process for employability provision within Renfrewshire through the assessment of LEP Grant bids, including those for people with disabilities and health conditions and increasing access to mental health support and counselling services for young people. Page 136 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 33 PUBLIC OneRen’s Vitality Programme of exercise classes allows for people with long term medical conditions to exercise safely in their community, whatever their functional ability. 539 Vitality classes were delivered in 2024/25 with the attendances rising by 32% from the previous year to 11,890. Provide a network of community mental health and wellbeing supports Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund Engage Renfrewshire has, since 2021, distributed over £1.5 million to more than 160 projects across Renfrewshire for Community Mental Health and Wellbeing programmes aimed at adults. This programme of work, funded by Scottish Government, has made a significant impact, offering a wide range of initiatives that focus on improving mental health, promoting wellbeing and supporting community resilience. Notable initiatives include Waterbaby Arts, an organisation dedicated to creating high- quality dance performances by and for artists with disabilities; ‘Talk Menopause’ workshops, monthly sessions hosted by RAMH that are open to Renfrewshire residents, providing crucial support and information; and CREATE Paisley, which delivers tailored programmes to help young people navigate the transition from adolescence to adulthood, fostering resilience and personal growth. The Renfrewshire Wellbeing Network has grown to include 222 members, reflecting the collaborative spirit and shared commitment to enhancing mental health across the region. The network connects organisations, practitioners, and community members who are all working towards building a healthier and more supportive environment for individuals at every stage of life. With increasing pressures on mental health services, this funding allows for proactive, community-based solutions that complement traditional healthcare services. Engage Renfrewshire have also directly funded, through the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, the Renfrewshire Anti Stigma Alliance which is an alliance of third and public sector organisations looking to tackle mental health stigma and offer supports and guidance both to the public and other third sector organisations. During 2024/25 OneRen received 324 referrals to the Health and Wellbeing team via a referral form on the OneRen website. Their Social Prescribing Coordinator manages these referrals and provides support and information to individuals who would benefit from accessing and attending activities. The service is client centred. The menu Page 137 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 34 PUBLIC includes knitting and crochet groups, book groups, film clubs, health and cultural walks, exercise classes and Sporting Memories. External community activity supplements the offer and can include community choirs, planting in a local allotment, Men's Sheds, activities at the St Mirren Foundation, with Kairos and the STAR project. This includes the introduction of 10 Mental Health First Aiders who completed their training in December 2024. This service is being launched in May in conjunction with Mental Health week. Supported by the Community & Mental Health Fund, Open Aye, a photographic participation group, has developed a programme of regular therapeutic nature-based arts activities for refugees living in Renfrewshire. By combining creativity, nature and social connection, the project is helping to reduce isolation, support mental health and improve integration. Through creative expression, refugees can share their experiences, build confidence and develop a sense of belonging. Beyond the immediate benefits, the project has fostered connections between participants and local support groups, strengthening Renfrewshire’s refugee integration network. This approach not only provides direct support to individuals but also helps to create a more inclusive and welcoming community. The Ren10 mental health and wellbeing supports has helped connect teams and services across education, social work, health and the third Sector which has meant the journey and outcome of those using Ren10 can be better understood. Key activity has included the development of non-violent resistance approaches, inter- agency training and the creation of digital supports. The network/ platform is open and accessible to all in need and helps bridge the gap between universal services that deal broadly with wellbeing and the specialist support for severe mental health conditions. During its first year, the service supported over 1,000 children and young people, including 125 who were care experienced. Well in Renfrewshire (WiRe) is a collaborative approach to make information on community-based supports and activities easier to find and to develop new opportunities to improve wellbeing. The HSCP has developed an interactive map with partners’ input, and since launching in July 2024 it has had over 5,000 views on the HSCP website and over 1,300 active users. Page 138 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 35 PUBLIC Police Scotland make use of the TIFY (This Is For You) Card for Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, which provides links to support services for adults requiring additional support/specialist support rather than police involvement. Inputs have been provided to all frontline officers in the division, ensuring they are better equipped when dealing with concern for persons and persons in mental health distress. The Culture, Arts, Health, and Social Care (CAHSC) Partnership is Renfrewshire’s innovative approach to bringing arts and culture to residents (18+) engaging in social care services. By funding an arts and culture coordinator post embedded within the Health and Social Care Partnership, CAHSC can create opportunities for some of Renfrewshire’s most disadvantaged residents to access arts and culture and improve their health and wellbeing. Thanks to CAHSC funding, 10 training sessions were delivered to build capacity within services to deliver more creative projects and provide information on conditions and topics affecting service-users in Renfrewshire. 135 people attended 10 sessions with 78 feedback responses received. Older Adults Day Service Digital Transformation The HSCP Day Services Team has been transforming the lives of older adults with a range of 15 social groups per week delivered on Microsoft Teams. This was started through COVID, but has continued to grow, with 25 current registered users and up to 15 group sessions per week delivered over the course of 2024/25. Page 139 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 36 PUBLIC The groups cover everything from Falls Prevention to knitting, quizzes, news discussions, friendship groups, digital skills, and internet safety. The groups call themselves the “Digital Buddies” with an age range from 72 to 100 years old and includes participants who are registered blind, deaf, or have learning disabilities. The service has seen friendships and romance blossom and is key to reducing loneliness and social isolation. The eldest member Janet ‘Nettie’ Mclean has been encouraged to write a memoir and reminds us of the value of our older generation, illustrated by an old African proverb: “When an old person dies a library is lost.” Strengthening Opportunities for Older People in Renfrewshire (SOOPIR) The SOOPIR event has been running for 10 years, bringing older people together to celebrate ageing and improve both mental and physical wellbeing in later life. The planning and delivery are facilitated by workers from the HSCP, Renfrewshire Council Sheltered Housing, Renfrewshire Seniors Forum, and ROAR Connections for Life and they, along with volunteers from Seniors Forum and local High Schools decorate, organise, and serve refreshments on the day. Ticket cost is kept low to maintain affordability, there is entertainment to involve and engage participants, and information stalls from the likes of Citizens Advice, Care and Repair, Energy Advice, and Food Train. Each year has a theme e.g., Royal Wedding, Halloween, Country & Western, and in October 2024 over 300 people gathered in the Lagoon Centre in Paisley to commemorate the anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Entertainment over the years has ranged from Glasgow Senior Citizens Orchestra to ballroom fitness, to a ceilidh band, to choirs, all of which aim to involve and engage participants regardless of ability. The event helps to build confidence, knowledge and friendships thus reducing loneliness and isolation and are often described as the highlight of the year. Reduce the impact of alcohol and drugs and support recovery The Alcohol and Drugs Change Programme has been drawing to a close over 2024/2025, with most projects now completed or moved into mainstream provision, either in whole or in part. The Harm Reduction Response Team (HaRRT) service is delivered through a mobile unit, which has been situated in specific areas in relation to near fatal overdoses and suspected drug deaths. HaRRT plays a key role in supporting individuals who may not Page 140 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 37 PUBLIC be in contact with other services, providing access to harm reduction advice, equipment, and services, to support their health, safety and wellbeing. This Service is currently transitioning to a commissioned service model, with a tender process taking place in early 2025. My Life Ahead (MyLA) is a housing-led project has been delivered in partnership with Turning Point Scotland and provides support for individuals and families in Renfrewshire whose daily lives are impacted by drug and/or alcohol use and require wraparound support to sustain, or access settled housing. For those supported by MyLA there have been positive outcomes emerging in terms of reduction in alcohol/drug use; people being supported to successfully access settled housing and the specialist services they require; those with a history of non- engagement now working positively with the MyLA team. Police Scotland’s Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Division work closely with the Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drugs Partnership and make use of the Connected and Caring cards, which provide signposting to local services for support. Safeguarding Vulnerable Young People Partnership Programme - Schools This project has provided targeted support in a Renfrewshire school with pupils experiencing significant challenges and are identified as at risk of missing out on education. A Principal Teacher was recruited to provide enhanced pastoral support, to those who may be experiencing issues relating to alcohol and/or drug use (own or parental), and poor mental health, with the aim to improve outcomes relating to attendance, exclusions, and health and wellbeing. I Am Me were commissioned to develop an interactive Stigma Awareness training package aiming to improve the understanding, awareness, and confidence of the workforce in relation to stigmatising language around alcohol and drugs, and the impact of stigma on individuals and communities. The resources have been co- developed with people who have lived and living experience of drug and alcohol use and recovery. As part of the Connected Communities Programme, this training aims to align with other current and emerging pieces of work, such as Every Contact Counts. Alcohol and Substance Awareness Educational resources were developed for use in nursery, primary, and secondary settings, and continue to be accessed by schools across Renfrewshire. The packs were produced by I Am Me Scotland, Renfrewshire Children’s Services, teachers, Police Scotland, NHS, Renfrewshire HSCP and, most importantly, children, young people, and those who have lived experience of drug and alcohol use. These packs continue to be utilised across Renfrewshire schools, as well as by wider partners across Scotland. Page 141 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 38 PUBLIC Alcohol Brief Interventions (ABIs) is a key element of the Scottish Government’s Alcohol Strategy to reduce harmful alcohol consumption. Public Health Scotland has recently published recommendations such as encouraging community outreach programmes to reach individuals at higher risk of alcohol related harm in wider settings, as well as strengthening training and support for practitioners who deliver ABIs. Renfrewshire ADP commissioned a specific Alcohol Brief Intervention Practitioner who has been in post since October 2024. During this time, 70 staff from several care groups, such as Community Mental Health Team, Criminal Justice Social Work, and Circle Recovery Service have received training to equip the staff with the skills to feel confident and able to deliver an ABI effectively, whilst supporting early intervention and engagement. Training sessions continue to be offered to partners across Renfrewshire. The delivery target per year is 1,116 ABIs and in 2024-2025 a total of 2,185 ABIs were recorded. Positive feedback has also been provided by individuals who have engaged with service. So far, a total of 12 referrals for support have been linked directly with the delivery of an ABI. Fibro Scan Pilot The first Fibro Scan clinic was established in December 2024 as a joint pilot community outreach initiative, run by the Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service (ADRS) along with liver nurses from the Royal Alexandra Hospital. The clinic is designed to offer eight appointments per month to increase detection and identification of early liver disease/fibrosis or undiagnosed cirrhosis. It is anticipated that by facilitating easier access to the service it will improve attendance, reduce barriers, and promote long term engagement. To date, 5 clinics have taken place resulting in 38 individuals receiving fibro scans. 21% of the scans carried out have resulted in referrals to the consultant out-patient clinic with 6 referred urgently for intervention. A further 21% were allocated a review appointment and scan in a year’s time, along with advice on lifestyle, and given verbal and written information on alcohol-related liver disease. Although it is too early to highlight the outcomes of the pilot outreach service, it should be noted these patients may not have come to the attention of the liver team for months or years. Liver disease is known as the ‘silent killer’ as it can be largely asymptomatic in its early stages and without accessing this outreach service, this could have resulted in poorer health outcomes for the patients. Public Health Scotland has recently reported the number of people with chronic liver disease in Scotland is projected to increase by 54% by 2044, and without effective prevention and early Page 142 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 39 PUBLIC intervention like this pilot, alcohol harms will continue to impact services and devastate lives in the future. Alcohol and Drugs Needs Assessment Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) commissioned a needs assessment in June 2024 to provide a population based comprehensive understanding of need and challenges experienced within Renfrewshire relating to alcohol and drug use. This included scoping existing services and resources to support the identification of gaps in provision as well as assessing the demand and capacity needs. The needs assessment is aligned to national frameworks and responds to increasing concerns around alcohol and drug related harm and inequalities in access to support. The assessment will inform commissioning decisions and will identify potential areas for service development and/or improvement as part of the wider commissioning process. Some of the headlines from the needs assessment include: • the need to address the imbalanced equilibrium between alcohol and drug provision and priorities • the need to review current resource allocation and whether it meets strategic priority areas, and • an increased focus on prevention and early intervention. The Needs Assessment concluded in January 2025 with the findings expected to be reported at the end of May 2025. Renfrewshire ADP will work with partners to develop a local Delivery Plan aligned to the findings of the Needs Assessment and will organise a key stakeholder event to progress key actions. Provision of Naloxone Kits Renfrewshire’s proactive approach to the distribution of Naloxone and training reflects commitment to reducing the number of drug related deaths. In Renfrewshire, services provided 1,023 Take Home Naloxone kits, a life-saving medicine that reverses an opioid overdose, to people in our communities in 2024/25 (662 in 23/24). The recommended annual provision should be 9-20 times the number of opioid related deaths, so this is more than the 2024/25 target of 740. The ADP Support Team in conjunction with HSCP colleagues will continue to offer free Naloxone Training Sessions in locations throughout Renfrewshire. ADP Connected and Caring at Christmas Campaign Page 143 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 40 PUBLIC Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership organised a week-long Christmas Campaign to promote harm reduction, raise awareness about alcohol and drug recovery services, and support local communities during the festive season. The campaign engaged with various community partners, distributed care bags, and included media outreach to amplify its message. The Christmas Campaign demonstrated the power of community collaboration and media engagement in promoting harm reduction and raising awareness about recovery services. The activities successfully connected individuals with resources, educated stakeholders on vital harm reduction strategies, and offered direct support to vulnerable populations. Alcohol and Drug Prevention and Education Alcohol and drug prevention activity has continued within the HI team. The Prevention and Education Sub-Group has been recommenced with good attendance from Renfrewshire Council (RADAR, Children’s Services, Education, Community Development), Action for Children, St Mirren, STAR Project, RCA Trust, NHS GGC and Renfrewshire ADP, Renfrewshire HSCP. Terms of Reference for the Group have been shared and will be agreed at the next meeting in June 2025. The Action Plan will be progressed during 2025/26 with priorities agreed and aligned with national and local strategies. Support has been provided to the ADP Alcohol Death Prevention Lead with the review of licensing applications that have been submitted to Renfrewshire Licensing Board. A report has also been completed on the effectiveness of the work carried out by Renfrewshire HSCP in response to licensing applications submitted to Renfrewshire Licensing Board. This paper provides an overview of licensing applications submitted to Renfrewshire Licensing Board from February 2022 to November 2024 and has been submitted to Renfrewshire ADP. A total of 13 Naloxone and Overdose Awareness training sessions were delivered by the team between June 2024 and March 2025. Three of these sessions were delivered as part of Renfrewshire training calendar and 10 were delivered as ad hoc sessions. All sessions were delivered face to face throughout Renfrewshire. Across all sessions there was a 70% attendance rate (118 total attendees) and an average attendance of 9 participants at each session. Training will continue to be delivered during 2025/26. Increasing Awareness of Alcohol and Drugs in Renfrewshire Page 144 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 41 PUBLIC During 2024, key partners worked collaboratively in the development of a number of events and campaigns to raise awareness of treatment services available throughout Renfrewshire as well as access to harm reduction resources. • Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service organised an ‘Open Day’ to enable local people and staff from other care groups to visit the building to find out more information about local services, harm reduction information, and messaging. The Harm Reduction Response Team visited a number of local communities to promote the service and deliver key harm reduction messages. • During Alcohol Awareness Week Renfrewshire ADP Support Team encouraged community participation through discussions on alcohol related harm aiming to foster open conversations and support alternative choices. • This year’s International Overdose Awareness Day held on 31 August 2024 was marked with events across Renfrewshire. Renfrewshire’s ADP Support Team in collaboration with the Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service (ADRS), alongside partners, hosted information hubs in various venues across Renfrewshire. The hubs provided the opportunity to learn more about local services and receive Naloxone training. • After the stalls closed there was a short processional walk to the Chapel of St Mirin at Paisley Abbey where stories of recovery were shared from those with lived and living experience, as well as a short poem. In the evening, buildings and landmarks across Renfrewshire were lit up purple in remembrance, joining landmarks across the world to remember those who have lost their lives. Medication Assisted Treatment standards aim to improve access, choice and care for people affected by problematic substance use across Scotland, with Alcohol and Drug Partnerships taking the lead role in supporting their delivery. These evidence-based standards enable the consistent delivery of safe, accessible, high-quality drug treatment across Scotland. These are relevant to people and families accessing or in need of services, and the health and social care staff responsible for the delivery of recovery orientated systems of care. Renfrewshire’s Alcohol and Drugs Partnership has been praised by Public Health Scotland for their ongoing hard work and commitment, demonstrating year on year sustained improvements in standards of care, stating it is “a reflection of the consistent levels of innovation, hard work, and sharing of good practice by local teams.” Renfrewshire’s performance journey can be charted from the introduction of the standards in 2022 until 2025, with red being the lowest score and blue the highest. The standard in Renfrewshire has been green for two consecutive years and is testament to the hard work and dedication of the services involved. Page 145 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 42 PUBLIC Make sure people can live safely and independently at home and in the community Adult Support and Protection Service Inspection A major focus in 2024/25 was the anticipated Joint Inspection of Renfrewshire HSCP’s Adult Support and Protection processes and procedures. In the report published in March 2025, Inspectors stated that “in Renfrewshire, the inspection found clear strengths in ensuring adults at risk of harm are safe, protected and supported.” The final report has now been published and Renfrewshire is one of only two Partnerships in Scotland to receive ‘very effective’ progress statements against the two quality indicators, with Inspectors concluding: ‘the partnership’s key processes for adult support and protection were very effective and demonstrated major strengths supporting positive experiences and outcomes for adults at risk of harm’; and ‘the partnership’s strategic leadership for adult support and protection was very effective and demonstrated major strengths supporting positive experiences and outcomes for adults at risk of harm’. The full report can be found here. Delayed Discharge Performance Renfrewshire has maintained its position as the highest performing HSCP in Scotland for Standard Delayed Discharge for the third year running. The team has achieved this due to a combination of measures including: • Ongoing redesign and change work undertaken to improve efficiency and effectiveness of Care at Home services in Renfrewshire, with a continued focus on supporting Hospital Discharge and Waiting Times for services. • Continued strong partnership working with external providers, Acute services, hospital based Social Work staff, and Locality teams. • Results: reduced waiting times for new care packages, sustained Delayed Discharge performance, and continued improvements to service delivery. The Delayed Discharge Team was also recognised as the overall winner of the local HSCP category for Renfrewshire at the NHSGGC Staff Awards ceremony in May 2024. Police Scotland host regular community engagement events, assisted by partners, to provide advice on home security, doorstep crime, online safety, personal safety and fraud. This includes Shut out Scammers campaigns, Acquisitive Crime campaigns, and the After Dark campaign. These events are further supported by sharing additional information on the Renfrewshire and Inverclyde social media accounts. Page 146 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 43 PUBLIC Scottish Fire and Rescue’s Community Action Team received training from Telecare to increase their knowledge of the system and to be able to confidently talk about what services they can offer at Home Fire Safety Visits to keep occupiers safe. They also provide fire-retardant bedding, bins and mats to those who need them. During Home Fire Safety Visits, they raise awareness and provide information about local services to assist those who may require extra support or adapted equipment in their home, for example, strobe light fire alarms for individuals with sensory impairment. Officers also attend groups such as ROAR to provide fire safety and older driver inputs and refer individuals who may benefit from ROAR services through their Home Fire Safety Visits. Care at Home Inspection An unannounced inspection of the Care at Home Service was graded as Good and Very Good in the Care Inspectorate’s report published on 2 October 2024. The inspection report highlighted how people supported by the service had positive experiences and were treated with dignity and respect. It further noted individuals were supported in a safe and personalised manner, and people and their families felt assured their opinions mattered. The report recognised significant strengths in the care provided, particularly in how it supports positive outcomes. Throughout the report, a consistent message was that frontline staff, managers, and senior leaders are all committed to working together to deliver the best possible care and outcomes for those who use our Care at Home services. The full report is available here - Care Inspectorate Inspection Report of Care at Home Services. Care at Home Staff Regrade Care at Home services has undergone a review to ensure it operates efficiently and effectively to meet service demand and deliver the most effective services to people across Renfrewshire. Part of this review work was to explore the redesign of frontline Care at Home worker job outlines, with a supporting objective of seeking to improve staff retention. The roles of Home Care Worker and Senior Home Care Worker were comprehensively reviewed by Renfrewshire HSCP in conjunction with Trade Union representatives and Renfrewshire Council HR, as part of an improvement and modernisation project. The outcome of this work saw the role of Home Care Worker increase from Grade 2 to Grade 4, and the Senior Home Care Worker role increase from Grade 4 to Grade 5, based predominantly on the understanding all postholders would complete training to cover the new task of ‘administration of medication’, whilst it also recognised the significant Page 147 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 44 PUBLIC rise in people they support with more complex needs. Consequently, there has been significantly more recruitment interest in the roles due to the higher grading and decreased levels of sickness absence in comparison to 12 months ago (5% reduction) and 2 years previous (8% reduction), as of March 2025. Providing Breaks from Caring Supporting carers to get a break is a priority of the IJB’s Carers Strategy which recognises that breaks support the caring relationship and promote the health and well-being of the carer and the supported person. A break is any form of service or assistance which enables the carer to have periods away from their caring routines or responsibilities. Breaks can take many forms, and a carer might need an hour each week, a day here and there, a week or two for a holiday, or a combination of all of these. In partnership with Renfrewshire Carers Centre, two new services supporting breaks launched in 2024/25. The Carers Discount Card launched in July 2024 and provides carers with a range of discounted opportunities across Renfrewshire, helping carers keep costs down during these challenging times. 428 cards have been issued to carers and 63 local businesses have signed up to the scheme since launch. In March 2025, the Short Breaks Service launched to provide micro-grants to carers so they can take a break and enjoy physical activity sessions in partnership with Daring Greatly and craft activities in partnership with Sewing2gether All Nations. OneRen’s Live Active Referral Scheme is a health behaviour change intervention that supports inactive people, many of whom have a long-term medical condition, to become more physically active. It provides additional support for an individual, ensuring follow up is carried out regularly. All abilities are catered for, from low level walking and wheeling, strength and balance classes and a Sporting Memories community class, to more moderate circuit classes and supervised gym sessions. OneRen received 1052 referrals to the programme in 2024/25. Page 148 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 45 PUBLIC Addressing the climate emergency: Action Areas Create good, green jobs and a green skills pipeline everyone can access Renfrewshire’s Plan for Net Zero aims to capture the opportunities of a just transition to net zero - creating local green jobs, developing sustainable skills and embedding community wealth building and a wellbeing economy at the heart of what we do. There is regular engagement with local business and 3rd sector organisations to collaborate and raise awareness of the net zero agenda and we are taking a proactive approach to explore how we can provide every person with the opportunity to reskill and upskill to participate in a just transition to net zero through work with Skills Development Scotland and local education and training providers to ensure that training opportunities exist for the jobs that will be created. Renfrewshire Council is committed to increasing spend with local suppliers and building an inclusive, green and resilient economy. Meet the Buyer events are one way the Council is bringing together key representatives, such as the NHS and UWS, so local businesses can learn more about contract opportunities with public sector organisations and upcoming plans. Producing proposed pipelines of projects and activities links with the net zero skills transition and will identify local employment, supply chain and manufacturing opportunities and requirements ahead of time. This helps local businesses and our local workforce plan for what is on the horizon, attracting investment, supporting business growth and retaining and creating local sustainable employment opportunities with a skilled workforce. Page 149 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 46 PUBLIC We are also supporting local businesses through initiatives such as the Net Zero Business Grant, which offers local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) grant funding of up to £10,000 to cover up to 50% of eligible costs to enable changes to business premises and/or operations to reduce their carbon footprint. As part of enhancing the Council’s structure in response to the climate challenge, a centralised Sustainability Team has been established in the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Service. The team will lead on the climate responsibilities the Council has and advance our net zero aspirations further. This will involve working across the Council and with local partners and communities. Supported by colleagues in the Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Government, Skills Development Scotland led on a Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan Pathfinder (CESAP). The pathfinder looked at the demand for skills across key sectors identified as important to the transition to net zero and provided an enhanced evidence base to allow for the development of an effective skills response, identified issues and gaps, and highlighted appropriate areas for current and future focus. It also looked at decarbonisation of domestic and commercial heating to understand the potential job opportunities and the consequent demand for skills. Two pilot areas were identified in Shetland and Glasgow City Region. Partners were provided with the evidence collected in each region and agreed on three areas of action for each region to take forward which will help address the identified skills challenges. Renfrewshire’s Plan for Net Zero aims to optimise biodiversity and nature locally to enhance our natural environment and ensure everyone can enjoy and access nature. Renfrewshire’s Green Network Project is an ongoing project which aims to enhance green spaces to conserve and restore native biodiversity. Over 30 sites were selected and have been developed across Renfrewshire following a period of public consultation. Planning is now underway to develop future potential projects which includes visual enhancement of existing sites using plug plants, low growing road edge seed mix and interpretation signage to raise awareness of the sites. There are opportunities to learn from the existing project areas to improve future phases through expanded public consultation, and increased education and awareness within communities. This may include exploring opportunities to work alongside other engagement being undertaken by other services to optimise and maximise responses and input. Page 150 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 47 PUBLIC Restoring Renfrewshire’s Rivers Project is an ongoing Council project which aims to tackle invasive non-native plan species (INNS) and restore natural habitats along 5 watercourses within the Renfrewshire Council area - River Calder, Locher Water, Dargavel Burn, Old Patrick Water and Sergeantlaw Burn. Site reconnaissance work began in April 2024, with Surveys for INNS plants on all 5 of the watercourses carried out between mid-June and late October. The project encourages the support and contribution of local volunteers from the community to work alongside Biodiversity officers. There are currently over 50 volunteers on the project mailing list, with regular public events held to raise awareness of the project and provide information on how to take part. Various local partners work closely with the project including local community groups, countryside rangers, RSPB and local landowners. The project is currently funded from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund until January 2026. Make sure there are local spaces and nature that support health and wellbeing Renfrewshire’s Plan for Net Zero aims to optimise biodiversity and nature locally to enhance our natural environment and ensure everyone can enjoy and access nature. Since its launch in October 2023, the Sustainable Communities Fund has supported a range of projects that promote community collaboration and wellbeing and provide for a greener future, with nature projects including a Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Area, a Sensory Garden, and a range of community growing projects across Renfrewshire. The Fund will strengthen work within communities to identify opportunities for land and assets within local areas and develop projects that benefit those who live there - connecting people through regenerated local spaces, tackling inequality through community collaboration and building connections through projects and activities that alleviate loneliness and isolation. Nature-based solutions are also being implemented to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and alleviate issues such as surface water management and temperature control, while making our local areas nicer places to walk, wheel, cycle and spend time in. This includes delivery of the initial phase of the Clyde Climate Page 151 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 48 PUBLIC Forest with the planting of 3,000 trees (‘whips’) and the delivery of new biodiversity areas. Community Based Growing Initiative Funding As part of the Community Food Framework, the HSCP developed a small grants community based growing initiative. 10 organisations were awarded funding and began their growing initiatives in May 2024. Finding Your Feet service-users’ harvest yielded a variety of vegetables and herbs, with potatoes being successful. The funding also had a wider impact as it benefited other organisations sharing the space. Third Sector group Create Paisley contributed to the garden's planting design; Who Cares? Scotland’s children’s autism group used the garden for play; HomeStart hosted family growing playdates; and a local primary school’s Primary 7 class helped with the garden's upkeep. Community Food Framework The HSCP Health Improvement Team secured funding from NHSGGC Public Health to implement a Community Food Framework within Renfrewshire that aligns with Fair Food Renfrewshire principles and Community Wealth Building. The plan aims to support healthy eating through community-based awareness-raising and skills development activities with a view to help improve diet, support a healthier lifestyle, and reduce health inequalities. The Framework took place from May 2024-March 2025 and the funding enabled: • Provision of free training for 11 local community chefs to help develop community food literacy and deliver cookery programmes to local organisations and families. • Delivery of 9 free cookery classes which included ingredients for families to take home and cook themselves. • A small grant fund, which supported 10 local organisations to begin, or continue developing, healthy community food provision/growing that promotes dignity and resilience within Renfrewshire. • Helping organisations that support people from ethnic minority backgrounds to target health and food activity and increase access to healthy foods – activity delivered to 27 participants. • Providing training opportunities to 14 third sector organisations to support employability. Overall, food was provided to a total of 384 people of which 249 were under 18; 83 people were at risk of type 2 diabetes, overweight and obesity; 20 people with Page 152 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 49 PUBLIC additional support needs; and 70 people with mental health issues were supported through the framework. Deliver a ‘just transition’ towards net zero with fairness at its core The climate crisis is not felt equally – often the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our communities, who have contributed least to climate change, are most impacted. Renfrewshire’s Plan for Net Zero puts people and our communities at the centre of our transition to net zero to address existing and future inequalities to create benefits and opportunities for all. The activities planned for 2024-25 listed below hope to contribute to one of the priority areas for action in the alleviation of fuel poverty through improved energy efficiency and provision of affordable energy. • The commencement of developing a Ren Zero community engagement programme to inform, educate and upskill local communities, stakeholders and our workforce. • Following the approval of Renfrewshire’s Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy and the successful delivery of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) district heating network, feasibility studies have been completed to expand the current network as well as exploring additional district heating networks in Paisley. • Renfrewshire Council has been successful in securing funding to develop Outline business Cases for potential heat networks in Paisley Central and an extension of AMIDS, with partnership working to optimise the opportunities including UWS, OneRen, NHS, Scottish Water and Glasgow Airport. Engagement has been ongoing with Youth Services around their climate action work with children and young people, to identify opportunities to incorporate their views into Renfrewshire’s Plan for Net Zero. Formal engagement has been undertaken with Renfrewshire’s Youth Climate Champions, to support young people’s voices in climate campaigns and increase climate awareness. The Renfrewshire Lived Experience Panel have also been asked to share their views and feedback relating to all aspects of the Plan for Net Zero and a focus on their local areas. A Local Transport Strategy, supported by revised Active Travel and Public Transport Strategies, called “Travel Renfrewshire 2035” was approved by Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board on 5 November 2025, informed by far-reaching data gathering engagement exercises. This included online surveys, stakeholder workshops and pop-up engagement sessions at supermarkets and direct in person workshops with community organisations. We specifically engaged with group Page 153 of 434
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Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 50 PUBLIC representing people with disabilities and those who are particularly affected by the cost-of-living crisis. The draft strategy was issued for further consultation in November 2024 Subject to the feedback for the consultation it is expected that the final strategy will be ready by summer 2025. Develop adaptations to climate impacts for vulnerable people Severe weather and climate impacts are already affecting our communities. Renfrewshire’s Plan for Net Zero has a focus on resilience and adapting to a changing climate to prioritise actions that enable us to prepare, respond and recover from severe weather and climate impacts and reduce the risks and vulnerability of our communities, infrastructure and nature. An Adaptation Plan will be developed in 2026 which will capture adaptation solutions and outline a phased programme of priority actions which are designed to respond to and address the local impacts of climate change that are already happening, as well as prepare for future climate risks across the Renfrewshire area. These actions will be centred around communities, security and resilience, infrastructure and our local environment. Renfrewshire’s Energy Advocacy Officers work with a wide range of external partners to support residents in resolving domestic energy issues. The advocacy service supported a total of 934 households in 2023/24, contributing to over £250,000 in savings. It is a people orientated service aimed to provide help to those who need it, and it has received recognition from other local authorities and Energy Action Scotland. Renfrewshire Council is exploring large scale renewable energy generation in collaboration with multiple internal services and external specialists to evaluate sites in Renfrewshire that could be commercially viable. This aims to optimise locally generated energy opportunities and maximise the renewable energy generated locally being used locally. This approach increases energy security and resilience, brings about increased emissions reductions; provides opportunities for increased energy cost savings at a local level; more cost effective, locally sourced energy, revenue generation and enhanced community benefits. As part of the Glasgow City Region, Renfrewshire will benefit from a share of £3.5 million of funding to accelerate the delivery of public EV Charging Infrastructure, which should see over 3,000 additional charge points installed over the coming years. The project is currently being scoped out, with suitable locations being identified and prioritised based on clear metrics such as deprivation, flood risk and existing local infrastructure. Page 154 of 434
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PUBLIC Appendix 2 – Draft Community Plan Performance Framework Dashboard Summary: 2024/25 Performance Indicators 🔺🔺 Areas requiring review Indicator Issue Commentary Real Living Wage ↑ 19.3% earn below RLW Rising trend from 12.5% (2022/23) to 19.3% (2024/25); higher than Scottish average. New Business Start-ups ↓ Below target 265 vs target of 320 in 2024/25; declining trend. Procurement Spend on Local Enterprises ↓ Below target 20.15% vs target of 21%; still below desired threshold. Health Perception (General) ↓ 73% rate health as good Down from 79.7% in 2017/18; 68% in most deprived areas. Attainment Gap (Literacy & Numeracy) Persistent gap Literacy gap at 14pp (target: 10); Numeracy gap at 11pp (target: 9). Children Living in Poverty ↑ 24% Above Scottish average (21.8%); second-lowest in family group. Drug & Alcohol Hospital Stays ↑ Above target Drug stays: 260.66 (target: 170); Alcohol stays: 712 (Scotland avg: 594.5). Telecare (75+) ↓ Significant drop From 61 to 40 per 1,000; shift to basic alarms. Climate Emergency Indicators Data gaps Most indicators under “Thriving”, “Well”, “Fair”, and “Safe” lack data. Page 157 of 434
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PUBLIC ✅ Areas of Improvement Indicator Progress Commentary Claimant Count ↓ 3,755 → 3,315 Positive trend in unemployment-related benefits. Economically Inactive (16–64) ↓ 25.9% → 21.4% Lower than Scottish average; positive labour market movement. Employability Programme (INVEST) ↑ 288 sustained in work Exceeds target of 180; strong retention. Parents Supported by INVEST ↑ 486 total 54% moved into positive outcomes; 295 improved incomes. Free School Meal Uptake ↑ 60.2% Up from 52.5%; meets target. Adult Support Plans for Carers ↑ 192 Significant increase from 25 (2022/23). Drug-related Deaths ↓ 50 → 27.5 Positive reduction, though still above national average. Alcohol & Drugs Waiting Times ↑ 98.5% seen within 3 weeks Exceeds 90% target. Community Alarm Access (All Ages) ↑ 2,503 → 3,767 Reflects increased support needs and service adaptation. Page 158 of 434
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PUBLIC ________________________________________________________________ To: Leadership Board On: 3 December 2025 ________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ________________________________________________________________ Heading: Council Plan 2022/27 – six monthly progress update ________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 In September 2022, the Council approved a new Council Plan for Renfrewshire, which set the strategic direction and vision for Renfrewshire, covering the period 2022 to 2027. In order to best reflect the current context, a refreshed plan was approved by Leadership Board in June 2024, alongside an updated performance framework. 1.2 The Council Plan sits alongside Renfrewshire’s Community Plan. This covers the longer period of 2017 to 2027, but was revised in 2022 to consider how to respond to and recover from the unique challenges experienced over the last few years. The Community and Council Plans are closely aligned, ensuring that the Council’s role in delivering a wide range of community outcomes is clearly understood. 1.3 The Council Plan sets out five strategic outcomes which the Council will work towards, grouped as Place, Economy, Fair, Green, and Living Our Values. Additionally, the Plan outlines a cross-cutting theme of improving outcomes for children and families, which underpins the delivery of the five strategic outcomes. 1.4 Alongside this, each Council service prepares a Service Improvement Plan, themed around the Council Plan’s strategic outcomes, demonstrating how each service will contribute to the delivery of the Council Plan. Progress is regularly scrutinised by the relevant Policy Boards. Item 5 Page 159 of 434
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PUBLIC 1.5 The reporting framework for the Council Plan includes an action plan and performance scorecard, and is reported to Leadership Board biannually, which ensures actions are adaptable to any emerging national or local changes in circumstance while delivering agreed outcomes. This update report covers the 40 high level actions and 34 performance and data indicators in the Council Plan. 1.6 This report provides an update on progress made in the six months since the last update to Leadership Board in June 2025. Council services have continued to make good progress in terms of delivering against the five strategic outcomes and cross-cutting theme, as outlined in section 4 of this report. A detailed summary of progress against the action plan and key performance indicators is provided in Appendix 1. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that Elected Members: • note the progress achieved since the last reporting period in June 2025 in terms of Council Plan delivery; and • note that progress reports will continue to be presented to the Leadership Board every six months with the next update scheduled in June 2026. 3. Background 3.1 Our Council Plan 2022-2027 was refreshed in mid 2024, in order to ensure that this was reflective of the current context in which the organisation is operating. Priority actions and indicators were also reviewed and refined at that time to ensure a stronger focus on key areas of delivery. 3.2 The Council’s vision to 2027, as described in the Council Plan is ‘Creating a fairer Renfrewshire built on innovation, wellbeing, and opportunity’. The five strategic outcomes which the Council is working with partners, communities, and businesses to deliver are: • Place: working together to enhance wellbeing across communities; • Economy: building an inclusive, green, and resilient economy; • Fair: nurturing bright, happy, and healthy futures for all; • Green: leading Renfrewshire to Net Zero; and • Living Our Values: making a difference together. Page 160 of 434
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PUBLIC 3.3 Each of these outcomes is being delivered in a way that directly contributes to the cross-cutting theme - Improving outcomes for children and families. Within the appendix, actions which significantly contribute to this cross-cutting theme are highlighted with a ‘CF’ and there is a section in the performance scorecard with indicators relating to this theme. 3.4 Council Plan activity also sits alongside the Council’s arrangements in relation to progressing and achieving Best Value. The Accounts Commission published their Best Value Audit findings on Renfrewshire Council in June 2025 and more detail on this is provided in paragraph 4.24 below. 3.5 As well as the overarching Best Value work, all councils are included in an annual thematic review programme. The thematic review area for 2024/25 was Transformation and the report by the Council’s external auditors was presented to the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board in September 2025. Auditors found that the Council had effective programme management and oversight arrangements, and the involvement of partners and communities in transformation plans was also seen as effective. It was felt there was minor scope for improvement in how the Council presents its transformation plans to improve clarity and help measure impact. 3.6 The delivery of the Council Plan is also closely aligned with the Council’s budget setting process, with the Council Plan setting the strategic direction and framework, the budget clearly setting out the focus of the Council’s financial spend, and the progress monitoring of the Council Plan, through regular reporting to Leadership Board, demonstrating progress and impact. This golden thread flows through to the Service Improvement Plan process, where services report delivery of Council Plan strategic outcomes at a service-level, again with a range of actions and performance indicators designed to demonstrate impact. 3.7 Linked closely to this is the new phase of the Council’s transformation programme, Reshaping Renfrewshire. This programme links the Council’s financial challenge, and the vision for our place as described through the Council Plan, and explores how we can continue to develop how we work and operate and ensure a financially sustainable long-term future, while transforming our impact across Renfrewshire and improving outcomes for our communities. This phase of our transformation programme also has a sharp external focus on the needs of our communities and to ensure our vital services are financially sustainable for the longer term – again this is closely aligned to the Council Plan. The Leadership Board receives regular updates on Reshaping Renfrewshire. Page 161 of 434
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PUBLIC 4. Progress of delivery of the Council Plan during 2025 4.1 This section provides an overview of recent achievements, progress with actions, and gives information on any areas of action where progress has been delayed. Across all the themes, the major investment in Renfrewshire's infrastructure is evident including targeted investment to unlock up to £170million over future years investing in Renfrewshire schools in support of the learning estate strategy, and a further £700,000 for existing school pitches which will also benefit pupils and communities. We continue to invest in the roads network with our ten-year plan to improve roads and footways. Our Fairer Renfrewshire programme continues to tackle inequality and poverty, including the winter school clothing payment to eligible children and delivering a summer school holiday programme which provides activities and a healthy meal for children and young people, and another Winter Connections programme being delivered across Renfrewshire in the coming months. Strategic Outcome 1: Place 4.2 The Council's ambitious programme of cultural infrastructure investment and economic regeneration in Paisley was most recently recognised when it was awarded Town of the Year in October 2025, acknowledging the “ambitious regeneration and community-led transformation” and noting the town’s “resurgence”. The award follows on from Renfrewshire Council being named Council of the Year at the Association of Public Sector Excellence (APSE) Awards in September 2025. The APSE Awards are UK-wide and Renfrewshire Council frontline services were finalists in seven different categories, leading to the Council winning this prestigious award for the quality and impact of those frontline services which directly benefit the residents of Renfrewshire. 4.3 Plans to regenerate town centres across Renfrewshire are all making good progress. In Johnstone, detailed designs are being drawn up for Houston Court and Houstoun Square, and funding has been secured to open up a key site in the town centre by demolishing a former supermarket. In Erskine, funding has been secured to allow designs to be drawn up for a new civic square. In Linwood, consultation with local residents is being planned following work done to prepare proposals for enhancements in the Linwood Lade area. Consultants have created detailed designs to transform the Brown Institute site in Renfrew and it is Page 162 of 434
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PUBLIC expected that the project will complete in 2026. In Paisley, the recent focus has been on preparing a Wayfinding Strategy to improve the visitor experience in the town, and another major milestone will be achieved in Paisley next year when the museum reopens. 4.4 The Council’s Learning Estate Strategy has now been agreed and extensive work is underway to progress business cases to support the development of the learning estate within identified initial localities. In terms of current projects, the new flagship Paisley Grammar Community Campus is on track for delivery in 2026, the design process for the new Thistle Primary School is largely complete and a contract has been awarded for the site preparation, with the school expected to complete in summer 2027. Planning permission has been granted for the extension of Park Mains High School and it is expected that the contract for site works will be awarded in early 2026, with the project scheduled for completion in 2027. 4.5 Our strategic capital investment programme has also delivered a new 3G pitch at Dargavel Primary School and upgrades to two Multi Use Games Areas (MUGAs). Kitchen refurbishment work has been completed at Heriot, Our Lady of Peace, Kilbarchan and St Margaret’s Primary Schools. 4.6 Work is being progressed to review the services commissioned by OneRen. This is aligned to our Reshaping Renfrewshire transformation programme and will result in a new service level agreement which will have a greater focus on outcomes and will reflect current and future operating conditions. 4.7 The Council’s Housing-led Regeneration Programme is now in the fourth year of a ten-year programme. Tenant rehousing programmes and demolition of vacant blocks is progressing well, and 64 of the 89 private properties identified for acquisition are now under Council ownership, with a further 13 agreed and going through legal processes. Pop-up events have taken place in the Auchentorlie and Howard Street neighbours and similar events are planned for the other regeneration areas. 4.8 Extensive data-gathering and stakeholder engagement has informed our new Transport Strategy “Travel Renfrewshire 2035” which was presented to the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board in November 2025. As part of the work, we have identified priorities for active travel routes, which also links to our climate ambitions. 4.9 The new Connected Communities function within the Chief Executive’s service has been established, bringing together Community Learning and Page 163 of 434
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PUBLIC Development and the Partnerships and Inequalities team. Much of the restructuring has taken place and recruitment work is progressing for the outstanding elements. The programme has moved into Phase 2 with workstream leads identified and action plans being developed. 4.10 Throughout summer and autumn, another successful programme of events was delivered, culminating in Paisley’s Hallowe’en Festival at the end of October. This year’s programme of events included Sma’Shot Day, Renfrew Pipe Band Championships, Renfrew Gala Day and Barshaw Gala Day. Strategic Outcome 2: Economy 4.11 The Council is working with partners in Glasgow City Region to secure Investment Zone funding for a new tax zone, which would provide an incentive for businesses to locate at the AMIDS site and therefore attract significant investment and jobs to the area. It is expected that the tax site will go live during this financial year. 4.12 At the AMIDS site, the Tech Terrace development continues to be progressed which will provide a range of units for start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The AMIDS South project, which will provide infrastructure to connect communities to education and employment opportunities at AMIDS, reached another milestone with the award of the construction contract in September 2025. The project includes a new road bridge crossing at Paisley Harbour, a gateway route from Paisley to AMIDS via Abercorn Street, a road link from that new route to Renfrew Road (which will also improve access to Paisley Grammar Community Campus), a connection to the Gallowhill Link which will provide an additional alternative safe walking route to the school without crossing Renfrew Road, traffic calming on Love Street, and improved active travel routes between Inchinnan Business Park and AMIDS. 4.13 As part of our approach to Community Wealth Building, we continue to secure community benefits through our procurement activity. In 2024/25 benefits realised across 64 Council contracts included 13 new entrant jobs, 5 graduate jobs, 19 modern apprenticeships and 41 work experience placements. There were also community engagement funding opportunities and development opportunities for local suppliers delivered. 4.14 During September 2025, the Renfrewshire Employability Partnership hosted 46 events including a conference which attracted 180 participants. It focused on work to identify and respond to those with most need, and on Page 164 of 434
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PUBLIC Renfrewshire’s future labour market and growth sectors. Over 800 people have registered for support from Invest Renfrewshire in the first six months of 2025/26. The service continues to support hundreds of people in Renfrewshire to achieve qualifications and/or move into paid employment each year. Strategic Outcome 3: Fair 4.15 A range of initiatives continue to be progressed as part of the Fairer Renfrewshire programme, and a planning session has taken place to support the development of a Fairer Renfrewshire Plan, with input from our Lived Experience Panel. Our Summer of Fun programme ran again in 2025 with an estimated 8,800 attendances and this year’s Winter Connections programme has recently been launched and provides funding to third sector and community groups to provide free activities across Renfrewshire over the winter period. A Fairer Renfrewshire Action Plan has been developed through consultation with stakeholders and is being considered on this agenda for approval. This will shape our focus over the next 18-24 months. 4.16 The Alcohol and Drug Change Programme, which was established to respond to the recommendations of the Alcohol and Drug Commission, formally concluded in August 2025. The five year programme, to which the Council committed £2m, provided investment to test new ideas and ways of working, and, where suitable, transition to mainstream provision, or business as usual. The legacy of the Programme is evident in the mainstreaming of several projects and initiatives, in the strengthening of the local recovery community, in enhanced partnership working as part of a whole systems approach, in the development of the workforce and of a lived-experience volunteer base, and of course, in the direct positive impact on the lives of those impacted by drug and alcohol use. The learning from the Programme will continue its impact through the learning it has provided to Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership as they continue to work for better outcomes for individuals and communities. 4.17 A strategic needs assessment is also being undertaken by an officer led Strategic Migration Group, recognising that Renfrewshire’s population continues to change, as evidenced in the latest census data. Strategic Outcome 4: Green 4.18 Renfrewshire Council remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint and using our influence within the area to encourage communities, partners and other stakeholders to do the same. We recently reported our 2024/25 Page 165 of 434
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PUBLIC carbon emissions as part of our annual reporting to the Scottish Government. The 2024/25 emissions for Renfrewshire Council were 18,079.104tCO2e – this is a decrease of 807.23tCO2e from 2023/24, which is a 4.27% reduction. We saw a reduction in scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions from the previous year. Overall, this means that Renfrewshire Council’s total annual emissions have reduced by 35,449.9 tCO2e since the baseline year of 2012/13 – a reduction of 66.23%. 4.19 Our new Carbon Management Plan 2025-2030 has been prepared and has identified priority projects and targets for the next five years, including work on Waste, Transport and with the Council’s partner OneRen. The Plan will be presented to elected members in early 2026. 4.20 Priority projects have been identified to support our net zero journey within the Council through the new Carbon Management Plan and our Climate Capital Programme for 2025/26. The Capital Programme has been developed over a 3-year period to indicate what further investment/funding will be required to deliver projects in their entirety. The Council will continue to explore emerging opportunities for funding to support future climate related activity. 4.21 The programme of work to support the delivery of a regional approach to Public Electric Vehicle Charging continues to progress, with the details of the proposals nearing being finalised. This includes reviewing and refining a proposed list of on-street and off-street charging locations across Renfrewshire and carrying out further feasibilities and grid capacity analysis through Scottish Power Energy Networks. 4.22 The Strategic Property Programme is moving into its next phase; extensive data has been gathered and is helping identify buildings where usage could be increased or where rationalisation is appropriate. Groups wishing to progress Community Asset Transfers continue to be supported. 4.23 As part of our commitment to a just transition and aligned closely to developing our local economy, the Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership have approved funding for a net zero “retrofit” programme to support unemployed people being trained in this area for future job roles, supporting green skills pipeline. Strategic Outcome 5: Living Our Values 4.24 In June 2025, the Accounts Commission published its report on Renfrewshire Council’s Best Value Audit. The auditors commended the prudent financial management of the Council in the context of increasing Page 166 of 434
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PUBLIC demand and cost pressures, and welcomed the commitment to leadership and a positive working culture. Auditors also noted a number of examples of good community engagement, and the Council’s robust performance framework. The full report on the audit was provided to elected members at the full Council meeting in June 2025. 4.25 Following approval of the Council’s Consultation and Engagement Policy at the start of 2025, work is underway to develop a toolkit and checklist to support staff carrying out engagement with communities and other stakeholders. An officer governance structure is being established, with a ‘communities of practice’ group to focus on training and best practice sitting alongside a monitoring and oversight group. A major piece of consultation has been delivered this year in the form of the Resident’s Survey; this garnered over 2,000 responses, and there were six focus groups to follow up on key findings in more depth. A full report on this is detailed as separate item on the agenda of this Leadership Board meeting. 4.26 The Council’s Digital Strategy (launched in April 2025) is overseen by the Digital Board, which is now monitoring the programme of work delivering against the four strategic objectives of the Strategy. Recent workshops have taken place with leaders across all Council services to identify opportunities to use AI tools to reduce manual processes and enhance service delivery. 4.27 The Workforce Planning Group is progressing the priorities identified in our People Strategy and, following the publication of the Best Value thematic report on Leadership, is incorporating improvement actions from that into its work. Work has begun on identifying strategic priorities for our next People Strategy and a progress report was recently provided to the Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board. Cross-cutting theme: Improving outcomes for children and families 4.28 Renfrewshire’s Keep the Promise programme is at the midpoint of its 10 year programme. Our Promise Keeper Network currently has 362 members and is generating local and national interest as an example of best practice. The work carried out in services to help Keep the Promise is reflected in their Service Improvement Plans and includes work to deliver affordable housing pathways for care-experienced young people, the establishment of a Care Experienced Staff Network, and a guaranteed interview for care-experienced job applicants who meet the essential criteria for a post. Page 167 of 434
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PUBLIC 4.29 Our Promise Champs delivered the Youthyfest event in August 2025, which was attended by almost 200 people. The development of the event was led by the Champs group and provided a day-long, free, festival event for care- experienced young people, young carers, and their friends and family. The focus was on inclusion, accessibility and youth empowerment and on removing common barriers to participation in this type of event. 4.30 A new Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership Plan is currently being developed and will be informed by an updated strategic needs assessment. It will align to Renfrewshire’s new Promise Strategic Plan 2026-29. 5. Performance Indicators 5.1 Overall, progress is steady with a range of areas of strong performance, and above national average, highlighted below. Stretching targets are set for our performance indicators and these are continually reviewed throughout the lifetime of the Council Plan, so that when targets are achieved, the Council continues to strive for improved performance. The Council Plan performance framework has 34 indicators, of which 22 have targets; the remainder are data only. Of the 22 indicators with targets, 8 are meeting or exceeding the target, 4 are narrowly missing the target, 8 are behind target and 2 do not yet have 2024/25 data available. 5.2 Within the attached appendix, there is a graphic which shows at-a-glance the overview of performance by Council Plan strategic outcome. It should be noted that while the ‘at a glance’ graphic gives a broad overview, it doesn’t account for strong performance in indicators which are data only - for example, while the ‘Green’ strategic outcome shows progress to be around 55% complete, data only indicators within this suite are amongst the best in Scotland and all actions are on track and in line with timescales. 5.3 Areas of strong performance include: • Helping our citizens back into work, with 288 people supported by our employability service sustained in paid employment for at least six months; • Supporting those experiencing homelessness into accommodation with 55% of lets being allocated to homeless families and the service continuing to exceed target timescales for resolution; • Reducing CO2 emissions that are within the scope of the local authority continues to perform very strongly, with Renfrewshire Council one of the best-performing councils in the country by this measure; Page 168 of 434
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PUBLIC • Reducing the poverty-related attainment gap in literacy and numeracy, whilst recognising that the Council remains committed to progressing further in this area; • Keeping our looked after children in family settings wherever possible, with 91.8% looked after in the community; • The percentage of FOI requests responded to within 20 working days is continuing to meet our target of 90%, despite increasing volumes and complexity of requests in recent years. 5.4 Many of the 12 indicators which are data only are also showing very positive performance. For example, the percentage gender pay gap stands at -0.52% as of 31 March 2025. A number of structural and strategic factors have contributed to this positive shift including the ongoing implementation of the Council’s revised Pay & Grading Model to create a more equitable pay structure across roles and grades; service redesigns and targeted workforce planning have supported more balanced recruitment, retention, and progression opportunities across genders; and the Council continues to develop and implement progressive HR policies which support our workforce to share parental and caring responsibilities. 5.5 Another data-only indicator showing positive progress is the percentage of children living in poverty (after housing costs). This is a key area of focus for the Council, with investment and a range of activities undertaken to support families, through Fairer Renfrewshire, employability services, the Summer of Fun and Winter Connections programmes. The most recent figures for 2023/24 show the percentage of children living in poverty (after housing costs) to be 21%, compared to 24% in 2022/23. This brings Renfrewshire below the Scottish average of 22%. 5.6 We are narrowly missing our annual targets in relation to the number of new business start-ups supported by Business Gateway; uptake of free school meals in primary schools; CO2 emissions from the public fleet; and the percentage of LGBF indicators in the top two quartiles. 5.7 Areas for further improvement and development include: • The delivery of affordable housing by a mix of developers in line with projections, with fewer completions than originally planned; • Our media reach, which was ahead of target in Q1 but behind target in Q2, though 54% of all media coverage was positive and included coverage of summer events and City Deal investment; • The percentage of Council procurement spend which is with businesses headquartered in Renfrewshire, which is just over 20% though the amount spent with bordering authorities amounts to almost Page 169 of 434
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PUBLIC another 60% reflecting the interconnectedness of the Glasgow City Region; • The amount of CO2 emitted from public lighting, which is above target and has almost levelled out as the LED programme is mostly complete; • Recycling rates, which have reduced to below 50%; • Work days lost due to staff absence, which is currently a focus area for the officer Performance Group. 5.8 Targets for the percentage of council housing meeting the Scottish Housing Quality Standard. Whilst a historical target of 100% has been in place for many years, it has been assessed that full compliance at 100% is unlikely to be achievable given the range of factors which impact this performance. This may include property access issues, tenant refusals, legal issues and property exemptions. As part of the Council’s annual return on the Housing Charter, we will confirm the level of compliance we expect to reach in the forthcoming year and develop more appropriate operational targets for this indicator. 5.9 One indicator has been replaced since the last Council Plan update. The Plan previously included a data-only indicator on the amount of vacant and derelict land. This has been replaced with the indicator “Amount of vacant and derelict land brought forward for re-use and development”; it is felt that this is a more useful measure of work done to promote economic growth and enhance the environment. 5.10 Since the last Council Plan update, an officer Performance Group has been established. This meets every four weeks and creates an additional opportunity for senior management scrutiny of performance, looking at both areas for improvement and good practice. In its initial sessions, the Group has identified areas for ‘deep dive’, focused work aimed at addressing specific areas where performance has fallen behind target for several reporting periods. The Group reports progress to CMT following each meeting. 6. Focus for the next six months 6.1 The Council Plan is moving into its final eighteen months, and 17 of the 40 actions have been completed. In the next six months, our areas of specific corporate focus will include: Page 170 of 434
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PUBLIC • Supporting the delivery of a balanced budget for 2026/27 and the Reshaping Renfrewshire programme in order to support the financial sustainability of the organisation; • Delivering across our ambitious infrastructure investment programmes including the Learning Estate Strategy, our roads investment and our Housing Led Regeneration programme • Complete the review of culture and leisure services delivered in partnership with OneRen, and agree a new service level agreement; • Progress the Tech Terrace development at AMIDS and the delivery of AMIDS South transport links; • Agreeing our Carbon Management Plan for 2025-2030 and moving to the implementation phase; • Progressing delivery of the Corporate Improvement Plan, continuing the Council’s commitment to Best Value; • Progressing Phase 2 of the Connected Communities model, strengthening how we work alongside our communities; • Supporting the delivery of the new Paisley Museum; • Implementing a Fairer Renfrewshire Plan outlining how we will continue to support our residents on issues such as poverty, equalities and opportunities for all; • Continuing to refresh and modernize HR and OD policies, as well as prepare for the delivery of a new People Strategy; • Building on the work already delivered by the Resident’s Survey to ensure our consultation and engagement with stakeholders and communities is meaningful and timely; • Delivering measurable improvements to performance in specific areas as a result of the work of our Performance Group; • Continuing to deliver our workforce actions, including improvement actions arising from our employee survey and our Cultural Assurance Model. Implications of the Report 1. Financial – updates in the appended report relate to areas that fall under the remit of Finance, particularly relating to supporting the Council’s financial sustainability workstreams 2. HR & Organisational Development – updates in the appended report relate to areas that fall under the remit of HR and Organisational Development, particularly under strategic outcome 5, Living our Values Page 171 of 434
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PUBLIC 3. Community/Council Planning – the content of the report relates specifically to the delivery of the Council Plan and the appendix shows the associated progress for the latter half of 2025/26. 4. Legal - none 5. Property/Assets – the report provides an update on actions relating to property owned by the Council. 6. Information Technology – the report provides update on actions relating to IT provision. 7. Equality and Human Rights - The Recommendations contained within this report have not been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights because the report provides an update on progress with current actions and is for noting only. Impact assessments will be carried out by relevant services in relation to actions which require them. 8. Health and Safety - none 9. Procurement – updates in the appended report relate to areas that fall under the remit of the procurement team, under both the strategic outcomes relating to ‘economy’ and ‘green’. 10. Risk – none 11. Privacy Impact – none 12. COSLA Policy Position – none 13. Climate Risk – the Council Plan priorities are underpinned by actions which will directly support the Council’s response to the climate emergency – ‘green’ has a particular focus on activities supporting this priority area. 14. Children’s Rights – the Council Plan includes a number of actions targeted at improving outcomes for children and young people. The Council is committed to complying with UNCRC and this will be reflected in our activity. Appendices: Six-month update report June 2025 Author: Lisa Fingland, Policy Manager, Lisa.fingland@renfrewshire.gov.uk Page 172 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Council Plan Six monthly progress update December 2025 Page 173 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level How we report progress • This update reflects on the past six months of delivering our Council Plan, highlighting areas where we’re already making progress and some areas we’d like to focus on more, perhaps because performance isn’t moving in the direction we anticipated or because of other pressures or factors that makes this even more of a priority for us. We previously reported on our progress in June 2025. • The following pages shine a spotlight on some great projects and practice. Towards the end of this document, you’ll find a full update against all the actions and performance indicators we use to measure progress. • Many of our performance indicators are high-level, annual indicators –our Council Plan spans a 5- year time period so it might take some time to show some trends and patterns. The Council also reports a wide range of performance indicators to our Council Boards through our Service Improvement Plans and also through regular operational performance updates –you can access these reports here. Page 174 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Council Plan Context • As the overarching strategic plan for the organisation, the Council Plan sets the direction and vision that the Council is working towards and can measure itself against delivery. • This aligns closely with the Council’s approved budget –resources are targeted at the priorities for the organisation, as outlined in the Council Plan. • Some key workstreams feed into the Council Plan, which have been further developed over the past 6 months: • Reshaping Renfrewshire –the Council’s fifth phase of transformation, with a focus on how we work together with our communities to improve outcomes • Digital –a new digital strategy was approved in April 2025, aligned to the Council Plan, delivering across four strategic objectives –enabled people; corporate approach to transformation; data driven Council; and modern organisation. • Workforce–reflecting on and taking action to address the feedback from both the Cultural Assurance Model and the Council’s Employee Engagement Survey • The Corporate Improvement Plan continues to progress improvement actions to support our ongoing commitment to Best Value • To reflect the context additional actions have been included and some existing actions have been refocused –this is clearly shown in the action plan. Page 175 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Council Plan: Progress at a glance Page 176 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Place: Working together to enhance wellbeing across communities Paisley is Town of the Year The extensive infrastructure investment and regeneration of Paisley was recognised by Scotland Loves Local in October 2025, when they awarded Paisley Town of the Year. Judges commended the “ambitious regeneration and community-led transformation”. Town Centre Regeneration Town centre regeneration continues with a new Vision for Johnstone, public space studies completed in Erskine, a landscape framework for Linwood Lade, design plans underway for Renfrew’s former Brown Institute site, and rapid progress in Paisley following its Action Plan. Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal As part of our investment in Renfrewshire as a place, positive progress is being made across all areas of the programme, which is now in Year 4 of 10. The acquisition and rehousing strategy is progressing well and various phases of demolition are being taken forward as blocks become fully council-owned and vacant. Learning Estate Our learning estate strategy represents our biggest-ever long- term investment in the area’s schools – with an initial £170m to help transform and modernise the area’s learning estate for future generations. While plans for the next phases are being developed, current priority projects across our learning estate are progressing well. Paisley Grammar Community Campus remains on track for opening in 2026, a contract has been awarded for site preparation for Thistle Primary, and planning permission has been granted for the extension of Park Mains High School. Page 177 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Economy: building an inclusive, green and resilient economy Empowering People Through Employability DuringEmployability Month in September Renfrewshire’s Local Employability Partnership hosted 46 events, attracting thousands of attendees 180 attendees took part in sessions on Renfrewshire’s response to No One Left Behind, support for New Scots and migrants, and future skills needs, particularly in engineering and STEM growth sectors at the Annual Employability Partnership Conference Supporting young people into positive destinations A series of internships and training programmes have been introduced to support young people into positive destinations. Work is ongoing to upscale the delivery of these programmes to improve access to more young people. Renfrewshire outperforms the national average of the percentage of school leavers entering a positive destination. Infrastructure to improve connectivity The Renfrew Bridge, linking the Renfrewshire town with Yoker and Clydebank on the north bank, is part of a £117m project to improve connectivity and regenerate waterfront areas. Since June, there have been over 1 million car crossings of the new Renfrew-Yoker bridge, as well as over 45,000 crossings on foot and over 26,000 by bicycle. The bridge has quickly become a vital travel link enhancing connectivity and supporting sustainable travel. Page 178 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair: nurturing bright, happy and healthy futures for all Attainment gap in literacy decreased between pupils living in the most and least deprived SIMD areas Care Inspectorate registration for Refugee Resettlement Team achieved We have 22 Digizones operating across Renfrewshire, including a mobile service from the Skoobmobile. Our Digizones offer up to four kinds of support: digital skills support, internet access, digital devices, and signposting to where you can get online. To help us build on the success of this approach, which has been recognised as national good practice, we are creating toolkits to help more organisations apply and get set up. The Fairer Renfrewshire programme launched its fourth Winter Connections round. Funding supports free social activities and refreshments to tackle isolation, food poverty, and boost creativity Page 179 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Green: leading Renfrewshire to Net Zero Climate Change Champions Programme Empowering young people in Renfrewshire aged 11–18 to take meaningful action on Net Zero • In Glenburn, P7 volunteers were recruited for the third year through outreach in local primaries. An S1 group is working with The Promise to create a mural, due for completion in October • Erskine’s established group hosted a climate networking event in June, and is now focused on completing Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards by December • New activities launching in October include a Wednesday climate group (running through March) in partnership with Active Travel and Global Citizenship organisations, and a Saturday Eco Volunteers programme Climate Impacts We continue to work hard to reduce the level of CO2 emissions produced by the Council. For example, we are exploring the expansion of solar PV and other renewables on Council buildings, as approved as part of a 2025/26 Climate Capital Programme. We are also finalising our Carbon Management Plan, which will be taken to Policy Board early next year for approval. We have developed a Climate Change Impact Assessment and are piloting this across projects to help refine our approach and criteria before it is rolled out across the Council. The impact of this work is evident in our performance - LGBF benchmarking shows that Renfrewshire is one of the lowest producers of carbon emissions amongst all 32 councils. Page 180 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Living our Values: making a difference together Renfrewshire Council Wins UK Council of the Year Renfrewshire Council was named Overall Council of the Year for Service Delivery at the UK-wide APSE Awards 2025, held in September The Council, alongside partners including OneRen, was shortlisted in seven out of sixteen categories — the highest number of nominations for any UK local authority — reflecting the strength and breadth of service delivery across Renfrewshire Driving Performance and Improvement The recent Best Value report recognised areas of strong performance across the Council, highlighting our “robust” performance management arrangements and ongoing work to strengthen performance improvement In response, the Accounts Commission’s focus areas were incorporated into the Corporate Improvement Plan. Progress was reported to the Leadership Board in September, and work continues across the improvement agenda 78,924 people engaging with the Council’s digital channels (not including website) 87% of frontline complaints and 100% of investigation complaints dealt with in the required timescale Page 181 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Improving Outcomes for Children and Families The Promise Keeper Network in Renfrewshire continues to grow and develop, with over 350 ‘Promise Keepers’ now being involved. The network is now working collaboratively with other local authorities to share and develop best practice. As part of our commitment to The Promise, we will now guarantee an interview for care-experienced job applicants who meet the essential criteria for our posts. We’ve also established our Care-Experienced Staff Network and are working to grow membership of the group. 91.8% of our care experienced children and young people are looked after in the community. An increased number of care leavers are in employment, training, or education Page 182 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Actions and indicators Full list December 2025 Page 183 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Place What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Progress Renfrewshire’s Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal programme 31 Mar 2027 This is year 4 of the 10-year Housing-led regeneration programme Overall, the ten-year programme is running as per the agreed timeline with the exception of the Ferguslie/Broomlands area, where the delivery of the newbuild homes on the cleared Carbrook Street site has had to be retendered. Owner acquisitions are progressing well with 64 of the 89 privately owned properties identified for acquisition for demolition now within Council ownership. A further 13 owners have agreed to the sale of their properties and are with legal services to conclude. Tenant Rehousing programmes and demolition of vacant blocks is progressing well across each area as per the delivery timeline set out. Several neighbourhood pop up events have taken place in the Auchentorlie and Howard Street areas and further events are being planned for each of the other regeneration areas in line the project delivery timeline Support our citizens to access affordable cross-tenure homes that are digitally enabled and meet community needs 31 Mar 2025 The Business Case for Smart Social Assets is now complete and has been shared internally within Renfrewshire Council and also with Glasgow City Region (GCR). The Council continues to investigate potential national funding opportunities via strategic partners such as Commsworld, CityFibre, etc. In addition, work is now underway with regards to the development of other stackable business cases that would supplement Smart Social Assets. Design a new Connected Communities service model for the Council, transforming how we support, collaborate and engage with our communities 31 Dec 2025 Work has been progressed to develop a new Connected Communities function within the Chief Executive’s Service which will bring together staff from the existing Community Learning and Development and Partnership and Inequalities teams. Phase one of this work which focuses on the enabling internal restructure is progressing, with the new service structure agreed and communicated. The Connected Communities Management Team now recruited and in place and progressing recruitment processes for the rest of the new service. Page 184 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Place What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Deliver the ambitions in our long-term place visions for our key settlements and town centres 31 Mar 2027 The Regeneration Team is currently updating our town centre strategies to reflect the changes that have occurred in a post-pandemic environment. These strategies will align with the guidance and principles outlined in National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4). A new vision has been developed for Johnstone, focusing on improving the town centre, enhancing public spaces, and supporting local businesses to foster a more vibrant and sustainable community. Further feasibility work has been commissioned in Johnstone, with a particular focus on the two civic squares, the reimagining of the Town Hall, and the development of a heritage trail. An architect has been commissioned to complete more detailed designs (RIBA stage 4) for the Houston Court and Houstoun Square. Funding has also been secured to demolish a former supermarket which will open up a key site within the town centre. Works are hoped to commence winter 25/26. In Erskine, a study has been completed to identify potential proposals for improving public spaces and greenspaces as part of a wider review of the town’s Centre Strategy. Short-, medium-, and long-term actions have been identified, and consultants were appointed to develop detailed designs for a new civic square in the town centre. Funding for these designs have now been secured, and officers are currently in the process of hiring a contractor to deliver the works. It is expected that the works will take place over winter 25/26. Consultants have prepared an initial landscape framework for enhancements in the Linwood Lade area, located immediately south of the town centre. Officers will now be looking to consult local residents further on these initial proposals. In Renfrew, a consultant has been engaged to produce detailed designs for transforming the former Brown Institute site into a new community space. It is hoped that this project will be delivered in 2026. In Paisley, the town’s transformation is progressing rapidly following the implementation of the Action Plan. Notable achievements include establishing Paisley as an international culture and heritage destination and stimulating property investment, development, and reuse. Completed regeneration projects include the refurbishment of the Town Hall and Arts Centre, and the creation of a new Culture and Learning Hub on the High Street. The restoration of Paisley Museum—another major project—is due for completion next year. A new wayfinding strategy for Paisley has also been developed to improve the visitor experience in the town centre.The publication of the Paisley Vision document provides further inspiration for future development in and around the town centre. The Liberal Club, identified as a key building in the Vision, has recently been renovated, securing its long-term future. Discussions continue with the owner of the Paisley Centre regarding its potential mixed-use regeneration. Page 185 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Place What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Deliver Renfrewshire’s strategic capital investment programmes, including cultural, infrastructure, housing and school estate, and maximise the long-term benefits for our communities 31 Mar 29 Extensive work in regards to communication and collaboration has continued for sites that remain in the building process or have been handed over in recent years. Facilities Management have been discussing both Paisley Grammar School Community Campus (PGSCC), Thistle PS and Park Mains HS in relation to a new Building Manager, Building Information Modelling, maintenance of the building as well as cleaning, catering and janitorial services. In relation to handover of public buildings, close working continues on resolving any long-term issues and plans being made to introduce more Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) across key sites. Boiler replacement programme has now progressed to the install stage and a number have now been actioned. This information has been fed back to Hubwest Net Zero Collaboration Group. Condition Survey investment had to be realigned due to the Learning Estate Strategy, however, 5 alternative schools have now been identified. Further to this, the Life Cycle Capital Plan has been developed for the next 4/5 years and a further 3 schools have been added. Works have progressed and a new 3G surface has been laid at Dargavel PS. (This will allow more community use). Upgrades to 2 MUGAs also complete and we are currently in discussion with Children’s Services re red blaes/grass pitches. A robust Business Plan for Building Services was presented to the Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board in November 2025. Develop Travel Renfrewshire 2035, our Transport Strategy, supported by revised Active Travel and Public Transport Strategies and aligned to the regional and national travel strategies 31 Mar 2027 Our draft Local Transport Strategy, called “Travel Renfrewshire 2035” is now complete, informed by far-reaching data gathering engagement exercises. The strategy was presented for approval at the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board in November 2025. Active travel priority routes identified and concept design work for the top priorities are underway. Page 186 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Place What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Deliver the next phase of Local Partnerships development, through our new Local Plans, Local Priorities and Local Voices programme 31 Mar 2025 The final round of Local Partnership meetings for 2024/25 took place in February 2025. All Local Partnerships have now finalised their local priorities following the review of the previously agreed local priorities in autumn/winter 2024/25. Local Partnerships continued to receive presentations on subjects relevant to each area, specifically Civil Contingencies (Gleniffer and Johnstone & Linwood), the refresh of the Villages Investment Fund (The Villages) and Winter Connections (Paisley North West and Central). Erskine, Inchinnan, Bishopton and Langbank Local Partnership also received an update on the development of Renfrewshire Community Transport. Young people’s representatives have now been nominated for Paisley North West and Central Local Partnership and an induction programme has been agreed. New arrangements were agreed for community members of Local Partnerships to claim expenses, which will simplify this process. Applications for Local Partnership funding for 2025/26 were invited from 10 February to 16 March 2025. Over 130 applications for funding were received, to be presented to the April/May 2025 round of Local Partnership meetings. Preparation for the 2025/26 Celebrating Renfrewshire Priority Budgeting exercise to take place during spring/early summer 2025 has also been undertaken. Progress development work in relation to the priority schools identified in the Learning Estate Management Plan. 31 August 2027 Paisley Grammar School continues to progress in construction and remains on track for 2026 delivery. Building is progressing ahead of schedule at this point in time, and the fit out of classrooms has begun for test purposes on quality. A travel plan is being developed for the new school, and a new working group set up to develop and implement improved local infrastructure on Renfrew Road. Page 187 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Place Indicator Curren t Status Shor t term tren d Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 Q1 2025/26 Q2 2025/26 Explanation of performance Valu e Target Value Target Value Targe t Value Targe t Opportunities to see or hear something positive about Paisley and Renfrewshire 268,08 2,849 240,000, 000 216,953, 038 150,000 64,810,2 24 62,500,0 00 53,194,6 95 62,500,0 00 54% of coverage in Q2 was positive. Highlights include coverage of the summer events programme, positive inspection results for schools and nurseries, exam results and city deal investments. Amount of land brought forward for re-use and development contributing to economic activity and enhancing the built and natural environment 40 20 4.83 20 Not measured for quarters The 2025 vacant and derelict land survey indicates that 4.83 hectares of land has been brought forward for reuse and redevelopment in the year April 2024 to March 2025. The figure varies considerably from year to year. Not all of this land is in council ownership so we have limited levers to influence development. Page 188 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Place Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Percentage of Council housing stock which meets the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (LGBF) 68.31% 100% 68.55% 100% 80.2% 71.5% Historically, we reported 100% SHQS compliance as an aspirational target. This figure included properties with abeyances and exemptions, which was permitted under previous reporting guidance. In practice, however, not all properties can be upgraded due to tenant refusals, legal exemptions, access issues, or other resource constraints. To ensure greater transparency and realism in our reporting, we have revised our SHQS target to reflect what is practically achievable. From now on, we will report the level of compliance we expect to achieve in the forthcoming year as reported in our Annual Return on the Charter (ARC)—this will become our new annual target. We remain committed to resolving abeyances wherever possible and continue to explore solutions for exemptions. This includes monitoring changes in technology, construction methods, and legislation that may allow us to address previously exempt properties. While 100% compliance remains a long-term ambition, our revised approach ensures that our targets are both realistic and transparent. Affordable housing completions 369 200 196 159 104 159 Affordable housing completions figures vary from year to year. Lower than target completions in recent years may be as a result of increased construction costs that have made the viability of some schemes more challenging to deliver. The SHIP identifies a pipeline of affordable housing developments and opportunity sites for future years. Percentage pothole repairs completed within timescales 95% 80% 94% 95% * 95% *Data not available. Page 189 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Economy What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Develop an Investment Proposition for Renfrewshire that is clear on our economic ambitions for our place 31 Mar 2026 A new webpage has been created to highlight Renfrewshire’s key investment locations: (https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/article/13818/Renfrewshire-investment-prospectus) Additional information on investing in Renfrewshire and development opportunities has also been added to the Invest in Renfrewshire website: (https://investinrenfrewshire.com/locate-in-renfrewshire/) In addition, a dedicated website has been launched to promote investment opportunities at AMIDS: https://amids.co.uk/ Monitor the benefits of City Deal Projects, including Glasgow Airport Investment Area, Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside and City Region wide employment programmes 31 Mar 2025 Monitoring of benefits reported through the City Region PMO is ongoing. This is currently being transitioned to Regeneration Team as CWRR project now complete. Fully participate in the AMIDS joint venture 31 Jul 2024 AMIDS joint venture fully established and operational, Council is fully participating. Complete the Tech Terrace development and attract the first large occupier 31 Mar 2026 This is a AMIDS Joint Venture obligation and again Council is fully participating. Planning is due to be submitted early 2026 Develop a Community Wealth Building Plan for Renfrewshire 31 Mar 2025 A “Community Wealth Building in Renfrewshire” paper has been produced and approved at board to set out the way forward. Additionally, the CWB(Scotland) Bill was published in March 2025 which sets out the way ahead for the public sector. Plans are moving forward with speed now, local events have been organised and board is being kept up to date. Page 190 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Economy What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Continue to support local employment through the delivery of targeted support through the Council’s employability programme 31 Mar 2027 September was Employability Month in Renfrewshire and the Renfrewshire Employability Partnership hosted 46 different events for people across the area and attracting thousands of people. One of the events was the annual Renfrewshire Employability Partnership Conference with 180 people attending. This year's event had two distinct parts: • The morning sessions focused on the area’s response to the Scottish Governments No One Left Behind (NOLB) strategy and the work of the Local Employability Partnership to identify, and respond to, those most in need. This included looking at the support to New Scots and Migrant groups (a key issue at last year’s event) and the specific needs they have, especially those with no recourse to public funds or with restricted right to work. • The afternoon sessions focused on the skills agenda and Renfrewshire’s future labour market with an emphasis on the growth sectors of engineering and STEM. The conference was aimed at current employability and skills practitioners operating within Renfrewshire and able to contribute to discussions around current service delivery and improving services and outcomes. Continue to progress core actions to support local and regional economic growth. 31 Mar 2027 The Council continues to focus on securing investment at AMIDS to unlock its full potential for job creation and economic growth. External funding from Scottish Enterprise and the City Deal has been identified to support the development of Tech Terrace—a speculative project that will deliver industrial floorspace for advanced manufacturing SMEs and start-ups. Construction is expected to begin next year The Council is also working with Glasgow City Region and the Government to secure Investment Zone funding for a new tax zone (£25m), which would incentivise businesses to locate at AMIDS/Airport. It is hoped that this will serve as a catalyst for significant investment in the years ahead. Gateways 3 and 4 for the IZ were recently submitted to Government. It is expected that the IZ and tax site will go live in 25/26. Page 191 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Economy Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Percentage of council procurement spend spent on local enterprises (LGBF) 19.3% 23% 20.15% 23% * 21% In the period 2023-2024 Renfrewshire Council recorded direct spend of £56.4 million with businesses based Locally. This accounted for 19.58% of the Council’s total spend. A further 59.38% of our spend was with businesses located in bordering local authorities (Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire). The update to our Standing Orders Relating to Contracts in June 2023 included increasing the threshold for the use of Quick Quote for Works contracts up to £500,000 with a requirement that where possible, a minimum of 75% local businesses should be invited to quote. Increasing direct spend with local businesses is a key element of Community Wealth Building and the use of public procurement to facilitate or support such generation, circulation and retention of wealth locally is a measure set out in the new Community Wealth Building Bill (as introduced on 25th March 2025). In addition, the Corporate Procurement team and Economic Development are working closely to encourage more local businesses to participate in market engagement for the development of future council frameworks and to bid for work on frameworks due for renewal. Work is ongoing to identify ways to support services to identity and invite quotes from local businesses for Quick Quotes and updates to the new Purchase to Pay system will create opportunity for better recording of local suppliers and help to identify potential opportunities to increase local engagement with certain areas of spend where appropriate. *This is an LGBF indicator and data for 2024/25 is not yet available. Page 192 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Economy Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 Q1 2025/26 Q2 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Value Target Gross Value Added (GVA) per capita (LGBF) £25,925 Data only * Data only Not measured for quarters Renfrewshire had lower percentage GVA growth than the Regional average but performed well in labour market indicators with employment increasing while unemployment and inactivity decreased - including a significant decrease in the number of people inactive due to long term sickness. There was a large decrease in the volume of residents with no qualifications but there was also a reduction in the volume of residents with degree level qualifications. According to ONS figures, overall GVA in Renfrewshire grew by £365 million between 2019 and 2022. Considering this period included the Covid pandemic, the growth is a positive sign. Renfrewshire also contributes the fourth highest level of GVA in the City Region (2022). *This is an LGBF indicator and the latest data is for 2022/23. Number of people supported, sustained in work at 6 Months through Renfrewshire Council Employability Programme (INVEST) 268 180 288 180 Not measured for quarters This information is collected from a survey of people who have been supported into employment and the figure reflects the number of responses received and may be under- reporting. Nonetheless, performance is well ahead of target for the year. Number of new business start-ups in Renfrewshire with Business Gateway support 305 320 265 320 80 80 78 80 The team supported 78 new startups this quarter. Work is ongoing to encourage those interested in starting their own business to take the final step. This indicator is dependent on businesses making decisions about when to launch. Page 193 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Economy Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 Q1 2025/26 Q2 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Value Target Renfrewshire Claimant Count 3,590 Data only 3,315 Data only 3235 Data only 3225 Data only This measure is a snapshot figure from September 2025 and is the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits. The figure continues to reduce. The Council continues to provide employability support to hundreds of people each year. Percentage of Renfrewshire population working age (16-64) 63.9% Data only 64.3% Data only Not measured for quarters Work to explore Renfrewshire’s demographics was undertaken by officers following the census release and this also looked at the regular data updates from the National Records of Statistics, this showed that while Renfrewshire has an overall ageing population (in line with the national trends), our proportion of the population of working age is above average and puts us in the higher end, just behind the city authorities. Percentage of Renfrewshire population working age (16–64) who are economically inactive 22.4% Data only 21.4% Data only Not measured for quarters This figure is for the calendar year 2024. The percentage has been falling in recent years and is lower than the figure for Scotland (which is a positive). This measure includes those who are students and those who are retired. Analysis on census data also showed Renfrewshire have a higher percentage of our economically inactive population who are long term sick or disabled. Page 194 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Deliver the Fairer Renfrewshire programme, working with partners to support Renfrewshire residents through the cost-of-living crisis 31 Mar 2027 A planning session has been held to support development of a Fairer Renfrewshire Plan. The session included members of the Fairer Renfrewshire Lived Experience Panel. Advice has continued to be provided through Advice Works and Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau, including specific services for families. Work has also commenced on the contract for RCAB, as this runs out on 30 June 26. Winter Connections has opened to community organisations for applications. Funding will provide a range of free activities across Renfrewshire. The Winter Clothing Payments of £50 per eligible child were made in October. The Fairer Renfrewshire Panel has continued to input to policy and practice withing Council services, most recently taking part in Employability month and Events planning for Halloween. Develop mechanisms for supporting individuals with lived experience of poverty to influence policy in this area 31 Mar 2024 The Fairer Renfrewshire panel, facilitated by STAR Project, continues to meet with officers across Council services to ensure the voice of those with lived experience of poverty informs Council’s policy and practice. The Panel has provided insight in a number of areas. The initial discussion was around holiday provision in Renfrewshire, with the Panel contributing to the plans for our ‘Summer of Fun’, providing feedback on what is useful for low-income families, eg, provision of food in all settings, provision for siblings, local provision so there are no transport costs and provision for older teenagers. The Panel has also fed into the Council’s new School Meal Debt processes, which now include earlier referral to available supports. They have met the Digital Strategy Delivery Manager to discuss digital exclusion and have provided feedback and ideas to our Climate Emergency Lead Officer around Renfrewshire’s Net Zero Delivery Plan. Discussions with the panel around employability, especially parental employability have been used to inform events, and target work. As part of the Council Tax Debt Pilot, the panel were consulted with, to help those engaged in the Pilot to understand barriers to accessing support, such as advice, and to review correspondence associated with collection of Council Tax as well as potential for enhancing collection processes in general. The Panel has met with the Convenor and Depute of the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee and we also intend to bring the Panel together with the full Sub-Committee and Fairer Renfrewshire Officers Group to discuss Panel priorities and their future plans Developing new and radical approaches to tackling child poverty in Renfrewshire (CF) 31 Mar 2027 Priorities have been identified and progress is being made with regard to actions identified through the Community Needs Assessment in Gallowhill, through engagement with Council Services. Work with health colleagues and discussions with Scottish Government are informing the approach here and in other areas identified through use of data. Page 195 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair What we will do Due Date Status Progress update The Promise Strategic Oversight Board and workstreams will progress and ensure Renfrewshire ‘Keeps the Promise’ and delivers improved outcomes for individuals who are care experienced, wherever possible keeping children within their families (CF) 31 Mar 2025 A comprehensive report outlining the first 5 years of Renfrewshire’s work to Keep The Promise was presented and discussed at the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board on the 13th March 2025. The publication of this report coincided with the 5-year midpoint of the 10-year programme to Keep The Promise by 2030. Going forward this report will be updated on an annual basis and presented to the Board for consideration by elected members. The report has been well received and shared across our local and national networks. The Promise Keeper Network sits at 362 Promise Keepers with efforts taking place to grow the network. The network is receiving both local and national interest. There has been engagement with Scottish Government’s Promise Team (Care Experience, Children’s Services Reform & The Promise Division) around the merits and best practice nature of this initiative. On the 26th March three Renfrewshire Promise Funded projects were showcased at the Promise Partnership Showcase Event in Stirling organised by CORRA. The projects, the Youth Services Led Grant Programme and the two Keep The Promise Funded Education Projects, were showcased and shared learning with partners across Scotland. The Promise Manager has been working with colleagues in Environment, Housing and Infrastructure (E,H&I) around how that service will work towards Keeping The Promise and support our Care Experienced Community, and a number of actions have been incorporated into EH&I’s 2025/26 Service Improvement Plan. At February’s Promise Strategic Oversight Group, it was agreed that a review of membership take place and a proposed refreshed membership proposal be made. A suggested proposal has been produced and submitted to the Chair, for approval. The Supporting the Workforce workstream is actively progressing on a number of projects of note: “Promise Human Library,” “Care Experienced network for staff and “Guaranteed Interviews” activity. A full update was provided at recent The Promise Strategic Oversight Group. Page 196 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Build local capacity for transformational whole systems change and to scale up and drive the delivery of holistic whole family support services (CF) 31 Mar 2025 FORT data shows that 636 families have been supported through the community family wellbeing service since recording on this system began. Funded third sector organisations now using FORT to make referrals and record wellbeing information. Three successful family wellbeing launch events in November 2024 reached 559 children and families. Third sector evaluations now underway and outcomes will inform funding for 2025/26. 1086 families to date have been supported by the community family wellbeing team and funded third sector partner organisations. 62% of families supported are from SIMD 1-5 Outcomes recorded include: • Improved parental understanding of the need of child, including healthy attachment • Improved sleep routine • Improved parental understanding of the needs of unborn child • Improved participation in community facilities and universal services • Improvement in parenting, family functioning, relationships and reduction in child’s distressed behaviour Following a successful system proof of concept, a procurement exercise is currently underway to secure a client record system for Whole Family Wellbeing ( including partner third sector organisations) ; community learning and development and educational psychology service Following evaluation of partner third sector organisations, year 4 funding will be awarded to allow continuation and development of family support work already underway, with a key focus on partnership working for added impact. Currently exploring more joined up working with Connected Communities. Page 197 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Develop the Trauma Informed and Responsive Renfrewshire Programme 31 Mar 2025 The pilot of the Level 1 training will take place in the first quarter of 2025/26. The TIRR Steering Group has a refreshed membership and terms of reference and is meeting on a quarterly basis. A new officer is in post to help further roll-out the programme of work. Progress the design and delivery of the Curriculum, Learning, Teaching and Assessment; the Families and Communities; and the Inclusion Portfolios within Children’s Services (CF) 31 Mar 2025 All portfolios continue to focus on the actions plans which they have developed through self-evaluation activity. Portfolio planning teams meet regularly with heads of service to discuss progress and there is now a standing agenda item on challenges, so discussions are solution focused. Data continues to be shared across portfolios to ensure continuous improvement. Portfolio action plans are being developed to align with Service Improvement Priorities. Deliver mental health and wellbeing support, including Ren10 mental health and wellbeing network to support children, young people and their families (CF) 31 Mar 2025 A plan is in place for the next session (2025/26) and there will be a continuation of the support and resources which are demonstrating the biggest impact on children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Work is still ongoing to merge the referral process with FORT. Deliver strategic and operational responses to migration and asylum, supporting individuals and families into settled accommodation (CF) 31 Mar 2026 The census releases over the latter half of 2024 provided a significantly updated picture of Renfrewshire’s communities – significant work was undertaken to analyse this data. As part of Members Development Week 2025, a series of Ward Census Profile presentations were delivered to Elected Members and a data dashboard developed and shared. A Senior Policy Officer post with a focus on Migration and Population was successfully recruited and is developing strategic needs assessment in partnership with the Strategic Migration Group, and a workshop on this took place in October. Page 198 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Percentage of children living in poverty (after housing costs) (LGBF) 24% Data only 20.99% Data only * Data only The percentage in Renfrewshire in 2023/24 was 21%, compared to 24% in 2022/23. The Scottish average was 22%. The Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 set a Scotland wide target of 18% relative child poverty in 2023/24 falling to 10% in 2030/31. Only four local authorities had child poverty rates at or below the 18% target in 2023/24 and these same four were below 18% nearly a decade earlier in 2014/15. Proportion of people earning less than the real living wage (LGBF) 12.5% Data only 16% Data only 15.5% Data only In Renfrewshire, about 15.5% of employees earn less than the real living wage (RLW) higher than the Scotland average of 11.3%. The combination of more lower-paid occupations, part-time/insecure work, local labour market dynamics, and structural issues (skill/qualification mismatch, deprivation) contribute to this gap. Because wholesale & retail is a large employment sector in Renfrewshire (14,000 jobs) and this sector nationally has a relatively higher share of jobs below the RLW (~30%) compared to many other sectors, it’s reasonable to infer that retail is likely a significant contributor to the lower-wage share in Renfrewshire. The accommodation & food services sector nationally has a very high share of below-RLW pay (~46% in 2023). Even if this sector’s share in Renfrewshire is smaller than the Scottish average, it may still contribute as Renfrewshire has 6,000 jobs in this sector. The fact that median hourly pay in Renfrewshire is around £19.52 suggests many full-time roles are above RLW—but that masks many part-time, lower-paid, or volatile roles (often found in retail, hospitality) which bring down the share earning below RLW. Page 199 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair Indicator Curren t Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 Q1 2025/26 Q2 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Targe t Value Target Value Target Value Target Percentage uptake of free school meals in primary schools 52.5% 60% 60.2% 60% 55.7% 60% 56.4% 60% The Q2 figure of 56.4% is slightly below the target of 60% but shows improvement from 55.7% in Q1. Officers continue to work with Children’s Services and individual schools to increase uptake. Page 200 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Number of children in receipt of school clothing grants 6104 Data only 5860 Data only 5,316 Data only The number of FSM/CG applications in 2024/25 during the period June to March fell by approximately 7% compared to the same period in in 2023/24, with the number of children being awarded a Clothing Grant in 2024/25 (June to March) falling by 9% compared to the same period during 2023/24. Whilst it cannot be definitively determined why there has been a reduction in the number of children being awarded a Clothing Grant, it appears that the primary reason for declinature is due to parental income exceeding the Clothing Grant eligibility thresholds for earned income within tax credits or Universal Credit. We would suggest that the reduced amount in applications and awards could be a combination of four reasons: natural and managed migration from tax credits/legacy benefits to Universal Credit where earned income thresholds are less generous, 40% of tax credits only recipients in Renfrewshire choosing not to move initially onto Universal Credit as part of managed migration between July 2023 and December 2024 and therefore potentially losing eligibility to FSM/CGs, higher pay settlements as a consequence of inflationary pressures increasing wages, and/or parents taking on additional working hours to help alleviate cost of living pressures. A campaign ran alongside the launch of 2025/26 applications, highlighting the amount of money that could be saved and encouraging an increase in take-up. Page 201 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Fair Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 Q1 2025/26 Q2 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Value Target Average time from household presenting themselves as homeless to completion of duty (number of weeks) 21.23 26 21.96 26 21.38 26 22.51 26 Similar to the national picture the demand for Homeless Services in Renfrewshire remains consistently high, however Renfrewshire Council are continuing to deliver on their commitment to allocate 55% of their lets to Homeless families, but due to increasing demand we expect to the time to conclude duty to come under increasing pressure in the short to medium term. Page 202 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Green What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Develop costed, targeted interventions and actions to support our net zero journey within the Council and working in partnership with key stakeholders (CF) 31 Mar 2026 Priority projects and associated targets for the next 5 years have been identified and scoped in partnership with key service areas including Waste, Transport and OneRen as part of a new Carbon Management Plan 2025-2030. The Plan will be submitted to the ILE board in early 2026 for approval. Development of Low Emissions / Electrification Strategy 31 Mar 2026 The programme of work to support the delivery of a regional approach to Public Electric Vehicle Charging continues to progress, with the details of the proposals nearing being finalised. This includes reviewing and refining a proposed list of on-street and off-street charging locations across Renfrewshire and carrying out further feasibilities and grid capacity analysis through Scottish Power Energy Networks Develop a Strategic Property Review of Council operational, non-operational and surplus assets 31 Mar 2026 Following on-going discussions, a paper will be presented to the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board in due course to close the review of the properties. A lot of data has been gathered and this will highlight the buildings that require to be focused on and potentially rationalised or use better. An action plan is being devised and the recruitment of a Lead Facilities Manager – Strategy and Development is in progress to drive this forward. Buildings continue to be rationalised as and when required e.g. Robertson Centre/leased Records store, including discussions around Community Asset Transfers (CAT). Develop a funding strategy to support the resourcing of actions to deliver net zero 31 Mar 2026 Priority projects have been identified to support our net zero journey within the Council through the new Carbon Management Plan and our Climate Capital Programme for 2025/26. The Capital Programme has been developed over a 3-year period to indicate whether further investment/funding will be required to deliver projects in their entirety. The Council will continue to explore emerging opportunities for funding to support future climate related activity. Page 203 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Green What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Establish a carbon budget for Renfrewshire Council 31 Dec 2025 Sustainability Strategy Lead Officer now in post to progress with development of a carbon budget for the Council. This includes revisiting previous work done to date and identifying key next steps in development and implementation. Due date amended from 31 December 2025 to 31 March 2026. Review opportunities within the Council’s infrastructure pipeline projects to align with the skills transition and green skills development for local people 31 Dec 2026 Renfrewshire LEP have approved funding for a net zero “retrofit” programme to support unemployed people being trained in this area for future job roles. The Economic Development Team work with local contractors to maximise community benefit opportunities in all contracts and are able to identify where local people can benefit. Page 204 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Green Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target CO2 Emissions area wide per capita (LGBF) 4.4 Data only 4.06 Data only * Data only Renfrewshire Council is below both the Scottish national average and the Family Group average for emissions area-wide per capita. Renfrewshire Council area saw a decrease of 7.7% compared with previous year. *This is an LGBF indicator and 2024/25 data is not yet available. CO2 Emissions area wide: emissions within scope of LA per capita (LGBF) 3.8 Data only 3.49 Data only * Data only Renfrewshire Council is below both the Scottish national average and the Family Group average for emissions area-wide within scope of the LA per capita. Renfrewshire Council area saw a decrease of 8.9% compared with the previous year. *This is an LGBF indicator and 2024/25 data is not yet available. Amount of CO2 emitted from Council buildings New indicator in 2023/24 12,719 Data only * Data only Targets are being set as part of the refreshed Carbon Management Plan. The Council’s natural gas consumption and electricity consumption both decreased in 2023-24. *Figures for 2024/25 are not yet available. Page 205 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Green Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 Q1 2025/26 Q2 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Value Target Amount of CO2 emitted by the public vehicle fleet 3118 3000 3180 3000 777.56 750 777.50 750 The total for the first 6 months of the year is 1,555.06 tonnes of CO2e. If this trend continues, whilst comparatively small, the emissions would be slightly over target of 3,000 tonnes of CO2. Amount of CO2 emitted from public space lighting 1,216 1,100 1217 1100 Not measured for quarters This performance indicator is an annual indicator and not measured for quarters. Although not measured in quarters, the emissions levels are anticipated to level out year on year as the LED programme is substantially complete. Page 206 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Green Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Percentage of household waste Recycled (Calendar year data) (LGBF) 53.7% 50% 44% 50% 42.8% 50% There are several factors that have contributed to the reduction in recycling rate for 2024, these include: • Scottish Government introduced the legislation around Waste Upholstered Domestic Seating at the beginning of 2024, with the Council enforcing separate collections of these materials, some of which would have been recycled previously, now having to go to incineration. • A change in contractor and processing arrangements for our HWRC black bag waste which means less recycling can be recovered. • There was a general decrease in recycling collected at kerbside, however general market trends show that less Paper, Card and Cardboard is being collected at kerbside. With support from the Recycling Improvement Fund, the service has delivered a series of ambitious projects throughout 2025 aimed at significantly enhancing recycling performance. These initiatives focus on improving both the quality and quantity of materials recycled by increasing participation in food waste recycling, implementing additional recycling infrastructure at communal and flatted properties and expanding brown bin provision to properties that previously did not have access to this service. Together, these measures demonstrate our commitment to driving positive change and achieving higher recycling rates across the area. It should be noted that we won’t see the impact of these measures until the 2025 recycling rate is published around October 2026. Page 207 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Living our Values What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Implement the next phase of transformation through the actions arising from the Council’s financial sustainability and improvement workstreams and the new Reshaping Renfrewshire programme 31 Mar 2027 The aim of this action is that the Council is able to maintain a balanced budget by 31 March 2028 within the context of a challenging financial environment. This has so far been achieved for 2025/26, the first of the three financial years in scope. Deliver improvement activity across the organisation in line with revised best value audit methodology 31 Mar 2026 Following the publication of the Controller of Audit’s Best Value Report, the ‘areas of focus’ identified by the Accounts Commission have been added to the Corporate Improvement Plan. These were detailed in a report to Council on 26 June 2025. A progress report was taken to the Leadership Board in September and work continues across all elements of the improvement agenda, continuing to represent a key focus for the CE’s service in the coming year. Page 208 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Living our Values What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Continue to develop our approaches and activities in relation to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, responding to the needs and views of our workforce 31 Mar 2027 Key areas of progress include new and revised HR&OD Policies written using friendly, inclusive language and tone. The Council is embedding our economic development employability programmes throughout our recruitment processes ensuring barriers faced by employees and interns are removed. Recruitment, onboarding and pastoral support processes for overseas workers have been established, through participation in a Scottish Government pilot programme. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Awareness is now one of the Council’s mandatory training modules and all employees are being supported and encouraged to complete the training, whether that be online or via face to face/toolbox talks. Our workforce received communications throughout November to encourage them to update their personal equality monitoring information currently held by the Council. This will enable the Council under its statutory duty to ensure the most up to date information is held and policies/strategies, etc are meeting the needs of our people. The Council is currently revising its Equality & Diversity and Respect at Work Policies and associated training, with a view to implementing later in 2025. The 3 year Plan will continue to be implemented throughout 2025 and beyond Develop new approaches to consultation and engagement with our communities, underpinned by our values. 31 Mar 2025 This action is complete. A new policy (with additional checklist and toolkit) and Terms of Reference for an officer-led engagement oversight group has been produced, responding to service engagement and feedback and national best practice guidance. The Policy was agreed in February 2025 and work is now underway on an implementation plan. There is a new action focusing on monitoring the effectiveness of our engagement with communities. Develop a framework to monitor the effectiveness of community engagement 31 Mar 2027 The new Senior Policy Officer to lead work on the consultation and engagement strategy has now started with the Council, has been developing a toolkit to accompany the new policy and checklist and governance to support this workstream is being developed. An update on consultation and engagement will be reported to Leadership Board in December as part of the Council Plan 6 monthly update. Colleagues in Marketing and Comms and Policy and Insight have continued to collaborate on the resident survey and subsequent focus groups, again a report on this will be presented to Leadership Board in December. Page 209 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Living our Values What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Lead implementation of the council brand, ensuring council communications are responsive, informed, inclusive and accessible (CF) 31 Mar 2025 This action is complete. A report was taken to Leadership Board in 2024 to update members on the outcome of the evaluation of place brand activity over the past five years and the findings of an independent review, and to recommend next steps for place promotion. Officers from marketing and communications will work with regeneration and economic development colleagues and wider place partners to explore the six recommended areas of activity to help drive the marketing of Renfrewshire in future. A further report will be taken to Leadership Board in the autumn to update on progress. Deliver a refreshed approach to workforce planning and workforce innovation, with a focus on recruitment and retention; learning and development; and career pathways. 31 Mar 2027 The Workforce Planning Group continues to advance the priorities set out in the People Strategy, implementing recommendations from the Best Value audit. The group is working closely with the Head of People & OD to shape strategic approaches to workforce planning and organisational development, identifying new priority areas for the next five years. A biannual People Metrics report was presented to the FARS Board on 13 February 2025 for noting and monitoring. A subsequent report on 12 June 2025 introduced a broader and more comprehensive set of People Metrics for the same purpose and a further update was provided to Board on 20 November 2025. Work is underway to develop the new People Strategy for (2027–2032), which will be shaped around four strategic outcomes that support long-term financial sustainability: • Healthy and Performing • Enabled and Engaged • Empowered and Sustainable • Adaptable and Resilient Engagement with Directors, Heads of Service, and service leaders will begin in early 2026 to review the draft strategy, agree key priorities, and provide feedback on implementation themes. This work will be fully aligned with the vision and strategic priorities of the new Council Plan, scheduled for implementation in 2027. A progress update on the current People Strategy was presented to Members of the FARS Board on 20 November 2025. Drive improved attendance and reduced absence across the organisation 31 Mar 2025 The Workforce Planning Group are progressing the key priorities of the People Strategy, taking forward the recommendations from the Best Value audit and will work collaboratively with the Head of People and OD on strategic approaches to workforce planning and OD to establish new key priority areas over the next 5 years. A bi-annual report on our People Metrics was presented to FARS Board on 13 February 2025 for noting and monitoring. Page 210 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Living our Values What we will do Due Date Status Progress update Embed our Wellbeing Strategy, meeting the current and future needs of our workforce 31 Mar 2025 Training for colleagues who are already mental health first aiders on how to support colleagues with specific types of mental health conditions was rolled out on 5th December – A conversation on Anxiety. Further sessions planned during 2025 will be delivered on Suicide, Depression, Self-Harm and Psychosis. We continue to raise awareness of menopause. An action plan of support based on findings from the Menopause Survey conducted in November 2024 will include further RenTalks on Supporting Menopause during February, toolbox talks on support for employees and managers and ‘Let’s Pause’ sessions, our virtual get-together. Council officers continue to work in collaboration with RCA Trust to provide colleagues with specialist support, training and advice on gambling addiction. ‘Bet you can help now’ training is being rolled out during January and February, with focus groups consisting of line managers, People & OD and Trade Unions. We have recently been recognised as a Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland employer. Training will be rolled out to the Customer Contact Centre employees initially, to provide advice and signposting people to available facilities and Council locations outwith Renfrewshire House. This training will be recorded and developed as a module on iLearn for all employees. A Council website page is being created in the staff information section that will include guidance around reasonable adjustments etc. Wellbeing Support toolbox talks are being rolled out to line managers within HSCP and EH&I. This will also be delivered during the Head Teachers meeting in February. Implement the new Digital Strategy 31 Mar 2030 A programme of work has now been created and is monitored by the Digital Board which meets on a regular basis. There are opportunities for new initiatives (e.g. AI) to added to this programme of work. Page 211 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Living Our Values Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 Q1 2025/26 Q2 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Value Target Average number of work days lost through sickness absence per employee 13.01 9.9 * 9.9 3.00 2.6 2.78 2.1 Psychological and musculoskeletal causes remain the most common reasons for sickness absence, and data indicates that some absence continues to be impacted by delays caused by NHS treatment times. The Council provides a range of supports to staff experiencing health issues including access to Occupational Health services and the Time to Talk counselling service. Absence is an area of focus for the Council’s Performance Group. Page 212 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Living Our Values Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Percentage of posts of the highest 5% of earners among employees (excl. Teachers) who are women (LGBF) 56.84% Data only 57.59% Data only 57.1% Data only Total number of employees = 6,268 Total number of employees in top 5% = 324 (per guidance value 313 has been increased to 324 due to numbers on the salary point) Total number of women in top 5% = 185 (57.10%) The number of employees in top 5% has increased by 1 and the number of women in top 5% has decreased by 1. This has resulted in a decrease of 0.49% for 2024/25. The decrease in this indicator from 57.59% in 2023/24 to 57.10% in 2024/25 has arisen due to turnover activity within the Council. We will continue to monitor this indicator as part of our equality monitoring processes to ensure that our recruitment, training, development, and retention processes treat everyone in an equal and consistent basis. We also now provide senior officers with frequent statistics inclusive of attrition & retention to help create awareness of where potential challenges may exist whilst offering a range of interventions. Due to several external factors out with the council’s control it is difficult to accurately predict future impact, however, based on the council’s trends and interventions over recent years it is hoped that performance levels will improve or at least be maintained over the next financial year. Page 213 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Living Our Values Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Percentage gender pay gap between average hourly rate of pay for male and female employees (LGBF) 0.48 Data only 0.44 Data only -0.52 Data only As at 31st March 2025, the Council’s mean gender pay gap stands at -0.52%. This figure is based on and follows the standard methodology of comparing the mean hourly pay of males and females, excluding overtime payments. Average hourly rate (Male): £21.25 Average hourly rate (Female): £21.36 Gender Pay Gap: -0.52% A number of structural and strategic factors have contributed to this positive shift: · The ongoing implementation of the Council’s revised Pay & Grading Model continues to create a more equitable pay structure across roles and grades. · Service redesigns and targeted workforce planning have supported more balanced recruitment, retention, and progression opportunities across genders. · Natural turnover and external labour market factors have had some influence but appear to be offset by internal interventions. · People & OD continue to develop and implement progressive HR policies which support out workforce to share parental and caring responsibilities. We will continue to monitor, benchmark and report our performance annually. While external factors, such as labour market trends and workforce demographics, remain outside the Council’s control, the consistent downward trend in the gender pay gap in recent years, culminating in a reversed gap, suggests that sustained improvement is achievable. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation will be essential to maintaining this position. Page 214 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Living Our Values Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 Q1 2025/2026 Q2 2025/2026 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Value Target Complaints closed at Frontline Resolution as a percentage of all complaints 82.8% 85% 63.5% 85% 90.8% 85% 89.8% 85% In Q1, 3300 complaints were received, and 2995 were dealt with at the frontline. In Q2, 3054 complaints were received and 2742 were dealt with at the frontline. The Council’s Performance Group are currently undertaking an intensive piece of work to understand complaints performance and identify improvements. Percentage of FOI requests completed within timescale 89.9% 90% 90% 90% 92% 90% 90% 90% Targets continue to be met for this indicator. In Q1 the Council received 440 FOI requests and responded to 404 within 20 days. In Q2, 446 requests were received and 402 were responded to within 20 days. Percentage of LGBF performance indicators performing in the top 2 quartiles 50% 56% 50% 56% Not measured for quarters This data is provided by the Improvement Service and is a snapshot in time. At present, half of our indicators are in the top two quartiles. This reflects our relative performance. Consideration of our actual performance shows that 74% of indicators have Improved since the base year. Page 215 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Improving Outcomes for Children and Families Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Percentage Point Gap in % Pupils Achieving Expected Level for their stage in Literacy between pupils living in 30% Most Deprived areas and those living in 70% Least Deprived Areas (SIMD) 16 10 14 10 9 10 The size of the attainment gap has decreased by 6 percentage points since 2023-24 as a result of increased attainment of pupils living in SIMD 30% most deprived areas. The size of the gap is the lowest in the previous 7 years at 9 percentage points. Pupils living in most deprived areas were more significantly impacted by the pandemic which caused these gaps to widen. The data indicates that positive progress has been made to rectify this, and the size of the gap is now lower than in 2018-19. Percentage Point Gap in % Pupils Achieving Expected Level for their stage in Numeracy between pupils living in 30% Most Deprived areas and those living in 70% Least Deprived Areas (SIMD) 11 9 11 9 9 9 The size of the attainment gap has decreased by 2 percentage points since 2023-24 as a result of improved attainment of pupils living in SIMD 30% most deprived areas. The size of the gap is the lowest in the previous 7 years. Pupils living in most deprived areas were more significantly impacted by the pandemic which caused these gaps to widen. The data indicates that positive progress has been made to rectify this, and the size of the gap is now lower than in 2018-19. Page 216 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Improving Outcomes for Children and Families Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Average total tariff score of leavers living in SIMD 30% most deprived areas 681 700 681 700 * It is not possible to make a like for like comparison to previous years within this measure due to the cancellation of exam diets in 2020 and 2021. Renfrewshire’s data follows national trends with an increase during this period which is now returning to post-pandemic levels. Renfrewshire is consistently ahead of the national figure in this measure but remains marginally below the virtual comparator. The latest data is ahead of the 2018/19 leavers cohort, which was 674. Targets for this measure were set before the pandemic. *Data for 2024/25 is not yet available. Average total tariff score of all school leavers in Renfrewshire 933 960 941 960 * As above, it is not possible to make a like for like comparison to previous years within this measure due to the cancellation of exam diets in 2020 and 2021. Renfrewshire’s data follows national trends with an increase during this period which is now returning to post-pandemic levels. Renfrewshire is consistently ahead of the national figure in this measure but remains marginally below the virtual comparator. The latest data is ahead of 2018/19 leavers cohort, which was 923. Targets for this measure were set before the pandemic. *Data for 2024/25 is not yet available. Page 217 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Improving Outcomes for Children and Families Indicator Current Status Short term trend Long term trend 2023/24 2024/25 Q1 2025/26 Q2 2025/26 Explanation of performance Value Target Value Target Value Target Value Target Proportion of children being looked after in the community (LGBF) 90.9% 89.9% 91.6% 83% 91.6% 89.9% 91.8% 89.9% The proportion of looked after children residing in community settings has increased by 0.2 percentage points, reaching 91.8%. The majority of looked after children continue to be cared for within the community, either with their families or with alternative carers such as extended family or friends. This reflects the service’s ongoing commitment to prioritising family-based care wherever appropriate. While residential placements may be necessary for a small number of children and young people due to their individual needs, such arrangements are considered only when community-based care is not suitable. The overarching aim remains to support children in environments that promote stability, wellbeing, and continuity of care. This indicator is also reported annually through the Local Government Benchmarking Framework (CHN9: ‘Balance of care for looked after children’), which measures the percentage of children being looked after in the community. The most recent published data for 2023/24 shows that 92.8% of looked after children in Renfrewshire were cared for in community settings, exceeding the national average of 88.8%. Page 218 of 434
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Council Plan Six monthly progress update December 2025 For more information, please contact: policycefar@renfrewshire.gov.uk Page 219 of 434
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PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Leadership Board On: 03 December 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Resident Research ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The Council undertook research with Renfrewshire residents in summer 2025 to measure residents’ views on council services and help inform future decision making. 1.2 This paper summarises the purpose of this research, the methodology used, and the key findings. 1.3 An update on the Consultation and Engagement Policy approved at board in February this year is also provided. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 Members are requested to: • note the contents of the report including the key findings and the evaluation report in the appendices. • note the research findings will be used by the Council and community planning partners alongside other community and citizen engagement feedback and insight to inform future strategies and plans, including the development of budget proposals. • note an action plan linked to learnings and future consultation and engagement activities will be reported to Leadership Board in February 2026 as part of the Corporate Improvement Plan progress report. ___________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 Aligned with the Council’s ongoing programme of self-assessment to learn and improve, it was agreed a Resident Research survey should be undertaken to highlight our ongoing commitment to improving our dialogue with residents. This also Item 6 Page 221 of 434
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PUBLIC aligns with the new Consultation and Engagement Policy which was approved by members at Leadership Board in February 2025. 3.2 The purpose of the resident research exercise was to: • measure perceptions of and satisfaction with Council services • inform planning and decision-making in relation to budget decisions • benchmark against results from the Scottish Household Survey (2023) • access new information, ideas and suggestions • support the introduction of the new Consultation and Engagement Policy 3.3 It is the intention that this piece of work will be used to build on the knowledge and insight gathered from existing consultation and engagement exercises. For example, Local Partnerships, Tenants and Residents Associations, Renfrewshire Youth Voice, YouDecide, Celebrating Renfrewshire and subject-specific consultation and engagement such as the transport strategy and the Local Development Plan. 3.4 External support from a market research agency was commissioned following a procurement exercise to conduct the fieldwork and analysis on our behalf over a four- month period between May and August 2025. ___________________________________________________________________ 4. Methodology 4.1 A hybrid research methodology was used to gain extensive feedback from a representative sample of the Renfrewshire population. 4.2 A question set was developed into a survey by the Agency, based on the Scottish Household Survey but augmented with questions to help inform future planning and budget decisions. 4.3 The Agency conducted the fieldwork with a sample chosen as representative of the Renfrewshire population. In total, 1,016 individual fieldwork interviews were completed by telephone or face-to-face (interview-led) between 2 May – 11 June 2025. 4.4 The interview-led (telephone or face-to-face) survey was conducted across all areas of Renfrewshire. The sample size was recommended by the Agency to ensure the results were reliable for the whole area and included a pro-rata spread of interviews across each ward. This means we can be confident that the findings are accurate within a small margin of error (about plus or minus 3%). That level of accuracy is based on standard research methods and provides 95% confidence in the results. 4.5 Survey respondents were checked to ensure they matched the overall population of Renfrewshire - both in terms of who took part and their location. Postcodes provided by residents were used to identify which Council ward they live in and where they ranked in the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). Interviews were also spread evenly across each Council ward, so every area was properly represented. 4.6 The same survey was made available online to ensure all Renfrewshire residents had an opportunity to participate in the research. Hard copies of the survey were also made available in Renfrewshire Libraries. In total, 1,029 survey responses were completed online between 2 May – 11 June 2025. It was reported by the Agency that while this provided all residents with an opportunity to take part, it is worth noting the Page 222 of 434
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PUBLIC self-completion methodology was not demographically representative of the Renfrewshire population. They also reported the results may be affected by the self- selection bias - where individuals with stronger opinions, particularly negative ones, are more likely to respond. For this reason, the results are reported separately from the interview-led survey sample, which was designed to be representative. 4.7 To complement the survey fieldwork, interviewees were invited to register an interest in participating in follow-up focus groups. Six focus groups were then conducted with residents to explore their perceptions and attitudes in more depth between 19 – 27 August 2025. ___________________________________________________________________ 5. Interview-led survey findings 5.1 The profile of the respondents for the telephone and face-to-face survey can be broken down as follows: • Almost 6 in 10 (57%) survey respondents were female, 40% were male and 3% said they would prefer not to say. 1% of respondents said they consider themselves to be trans, or have a trans history, 94% said they did not and 5% said they would prefer not to say. • 10% of survey respondents were aged 16-34, 57% were aged 35-64 and 30% were aged 65 and over. • 19% of respondents reported having a disability. • Analysis of the profile for those who provided information on tenure and postcode revealed that respondents were broadly representative across Ward, SIMD and tenure. A full breakdown of the profile of respondents can be found in Appendix 1. 5.2 The majority of respondents (93%) rate Renfrewshire as a Very or Fairly Good place to live. 95% rate their neighbourhood as a Very or Fairly Good place to live. This is in line with Scottish Household Survey (2023) results for Scotland overall and Renfrewshire, where (95%) also stated that their neighbourhood was a very or fairly good place to live. When considering a range of statements about their neighbourhood: • 86% agree ‘this is a neighbourhood where people are kind to each other’. • 88% agree ‘this is a neighbourhood I feel proud to belong to’. • 81% agree ‘this is a clean and tidy neighbourhood’. • 90% agree ‘this is a safe neighbourhood’. 5.3 Respondents were asked to agree or disagree with various statements about how Renfrewshire Council is performing. % figure shows the percentage of respondents who strongly agree and tend to agree. • 62% agree Renfrewshire Council is good at letting local people know about what services it provides. • 61% agree Renfrewshire Council provides high quality services. • 58% agree Renfrewshire Council designs its services around the needs of the people who use them. Page 223 of 434
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PUBLIC • 54% agree Renfrewshire Council is good at letting local people know how well it is performing. • 54% agree Renfrewshire Council does the best it can with the money available. • 53% agree Renfrewshire Council is addressing the key issues affecting the quality of life in my local neighbourhood. • 44% agree Renfrewshire Council is good at listening to local people's views before it takes decisions. The remaining % is split into neither/nor, disagree and strongly disagree and no opinion. 5.4 Respondents were asked how often they use various Council and partner services. % figure shows the percentage of respondents who use that service at least once a month. • Parks, gardens and open spaces (62%) • Household waste recycling centres (46%) • Swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres (40%) • Children’s play areas (35%) • Local schools and nurseries (33%) • Libraries - including services (23%) • Community centres, halls and facilities. Including Paisley Town Hall, Johnstone Town Hall, Paisley Arts Centre (18%). • Museums and galleries (15%) • Care services (10%) 5.5 Respondents were asked how satisfied or dissatisfied they were with various public services provided in Renfrewshire. % figure shows the percentage of respondents who were Very or Fairly Satisfied (excluding respondents with no opinion). By removing 'no opinion' responses, we focus only on those who have experience with the service and can give meaningful feedback: • Local schools and nurseries (94%) • Children’s play areas (89%) • Parks, gardens and open spaces (88%) • Libraries (88%) • Household Waste Recycling Centres (87%) • Community centres, halls and facilities (85%) • Swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres (84%) • Museums and galleries (84%) • Care services (75%) • Refuse collection (73%) • Street cleaning (64%) • Roads maintenance (39%) 5.6 It was explained to respondents that the Council may need to take a different approach to help balance its budget in the future. They were then asked how strongly they agree or disagree that the Council should look at doing a range of things. % figure shows the percentage of respondents who Strongly Agreed or Agreed with the statements: Page 224 of 434
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PUBLIC • Renfrewshire Council could make better use of its buildings and properties (82%) • Renfrewshire Council could target resources to areas and people with the greatest need (81%) • Renfrewshire Council could deliver services in new ways (64%) • Renfrewshire Council could identify services it could stop providing that are not legally required (46%) • Renfrewshire Council could introduce charges for some services (33%) 5.7 Respondents were asked to rank services according to how essential they are as Council priorities. The following agreed these services were Absolutely Essential/Very important (excluding don’t know responses): • Support older people (97%) • Maintain roads, pavements, open spaces and public places (96%) • Support vulnerable people (96%) • Support the health and wellbeing of children and families through early intervention (95%) • Provide community safety services (88%) • Invest in school buildings and our learning estate (86%) • Support people into employment, training or further education (86%) • Support libraries, community facilities, sports and leisure facilities (79%) • Support local businesses (77%) • Support cultural activities, arts, museums and events (62%) • Support tourism and the visitor economy (62%) • Invest in measure to achieve Net Zero for Renfrewshire (49%) 5.8 To help inform our wider Fairer Renfrewshire programme, respondents were asked how well their household is currently managing financially. 45% of respondents say they are managing very well or quite well. 43% said they were getting by alright and 5% said they either don’t manage very well, have some financial difficulties or are in deep financial trouble. 0.1% said they are in deep financial trouble. More than 7% of respondents answered that they didn’t know or preferred not to say. 5.9 The use of the Scottish Household Survey questions in the survey provides an opportunity to benchmark our performance against several key indicators nationally and locally with a larger sample size. When compared to the Scottish Household Survey (SHS) 2023, the resident survey provides a more locally representative picture and shows that residents generally feel more positive about their neighbourhoods and Council services than the national average. These findings offer a strong foundation for future planning and contributes to the programme of work to strengthen the Council’s approach to performance scrutiny. 5.10 A copy of the Renfrewshire Resident Survey 2025 analysis report prepared by the Agency is included in Appendix 1. Page 225 of 434
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PUBLIC 6. Online survey findings 6.1 The profile of the respondents for the online survey can be broken down as follows: • 64% of survey respondents were female, 31% were male and 5% said they would prefer not to say. 0.4% of respondents said they consider themselves to be trans, or have a trans history, 96% said they did not and 4% said they would prefer not to say. • 14% of survey respondents were aged 16-34, 67% were aged 35-64 and 17% were aged 65 and over. 2.3% preferred not to disclose their age. • 20% of respondents reporting having a disability. • A breakdown of the profile of respondents for the online survey can be found in Appendix 2. As mentioned above, it is important to note that while good representation was achieved across Renfrewshire for both surveys, the online survey results are heavily skewed in some geographical areas and the sample is not representative. 6.2 The majority of respondents (77%) rate Renfrewshire as a Very or Fairly Good place to live. 81% rate their neighbourhood as a Very or Fairly Good place to live. When considering a range of statements about their neighbourhood: • 73% agree ‘this is a neighbourhood where people are kind to each other’. • 62% agree ‘this is a neighbourhood I feel proud to belong to’. • 47% agree ‘this is a clean and tidy neighbourhood’. • 64% agree ‘this is a safe neighbourhood’. 6.3 Respondents were asked to agree or disagree with various statements about how Renfrewshire Council is performing. % figure shows the percentage of respondents who strongly agree and tend to agree. • 21% agree Renfrewshire Council is good at letting local people know about what services it provides. • 19% agree Renfrewshire Council provides high quality services. • 18% agree Renfrewshire Council does the best it can with the money available. • 14% agree Renfrewshire Council is good at letting local people know how well it is performing. • 12% agree Renfrewshire Council designs its services around the needs of the people who use them. • 11% agree Renfrewshire Council is addressing the key issues affecting the quality of life in my local neighbourhood. • 9% agree Renfrewshire Council is good at listening to local people's views before it takes decisions. 6.4 Respondents were asked how often they use various Council and partner services. % figure shows the percentage of respondents who use that service at least once a month: • Parks, gardens and open spaces (81%) • Household Waste Recycling Centres (68%) Page 226 of 434
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PUBLIC • Swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres (44%) • Children’s play areas (37%) • Local schools and nurseries (36%) • Libraries (including services) (30%) • Community centres, halls and facilities (20%) • Museums and galleries (9%) • Care services (7%) 6.5 Respondents were asked how satisfied or dissatisfied they were with various public services provided in Renfrewshire. % figure shows the percentage of respondents who were Very or Fairly Satisfied (excluding respondents with no opinion). By removing 'no opinion' responses, we focus only on those who have experience with the service and can give meaningful feedback: • Libraries (66%) • Household Waste Recycling Centres (61%) • Community centres, halls and facilities (57%) • Local schools and nurseries (52%) • Children’s play areas (52%) • Parks, gardens and open spaces (50%) • Museums and galleries (47%) • Swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres (46%) • Refuse collection (41%) • Care services (20%) • Street cleaning (19%) • Roads maintenance (10%) 6.6 It was explained to respondents that the Council may need to take a different approach to help balance its budget in the future. They were then asked how strongly they agree or disagree that the Council should look at doing a range of things. % figure shows the percentage of respondents who Strongly Agreed or Agreed with the statements: • Renfrewshire Council could make better use of its buildings and properties (75%) • Renfrewshire Council could deliver services in new ways (55%) • Renfrewshire Council could target resources to areas and people with the greatest need (55%) • Renfrewshire Council could identify services it could stop providing that are not legally required (29%) • Renfrewshire Council could introduce charges for some services (21%) 6.7 Respondents were asked to rank services according to how essential they are as Council priorities. The following agreed these services were Absolutely Essential/Very important: • Maintain roads, pavements, open spaces and public places (95%) • Support older people (90%) • Invest in school buildings and our learning estate (82%) • Support the health and wellbeing of children and families (77%) • Provide community safety services (74%) • Support people into employment, training or further education (73%) Page 227 of 434
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PUBLIC • Support vulnerable people (69%) • Support libraries, community, sports and leisure facilities (68%) • Support local businesses (66%) • Support cultural activities, arts, museums and events (43%) • Support tourism and the visitor economy (37%) • Invest in measure to achieve Net Zero for Renfrewshire (28%) 6.8 To help inform our wider Fairer Renfrewshire programme, respondents were asked how well their household is currently managing financially. 34% of respondents say they are managing very well or quite well. 44% said they were getting by alright and 17% said they either don’t manage very well, have some financial difficulties or are in deep financial trouble. More than 5% of respondents answered that they didn’t know or preferred not to say. 6.9 A copy of the online survey results prepared by the Agency is included in Appendix 2. 7. Focus groups 7.1 A small number (37) of Renfrewshire residents were recruited from the larger survey sample and invited to participate in focus groups which were designed to explore key themes from the survey in more depth. While smaller in size, these groups provided rich, qualitative insights that complement the survey’s quantitative data. The discussions provide further insight from residents which will help to add context and further understanding from people with lived-experience. 7.2 Participants were from a range of backgrounds and areas across Renfrewshire. Participants ranged in age from 30s - 70s. Council tenants and owner-occupiers participated, and a range of single people, older couples, families with children and people with a disability participated. Four groups met in-person and two groups met online. 7.3 It is the intention to organise additional focus groups with children and young people, disabled residents and the lived-experience panel to help build on further understanding. 7.4 Two groups focused on Budget Principles; two groups focused on Council Priorities; and two groups focused on Place and Neighbourhood. Two cross-cutting themes were discussed at all six focus groups – Listening to Residents and Improving Transparency and Communication. 7.5 Budget Principles groups discussed: the Council making better use of its buildings and assets; introducing charges for some services; how resources should be targeted; new ways to deliver some services; and whether the Council should stop providing some services. 7.6 Participants had mixed views but generally expressed a willingness to pay for some non-essential or discretionary services provided the charge was ‘reasonable’, the service was ‘high-quality’ and the money raised was ‘invested locally’. Examples where participants would be willing to pay included for museums and cultural activities, library services, leisure activities, venue hire and parking. It was generally expressed that some services such as general refuse collection, school/education Page 228 of 434
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PUBLIC services and care services should always be free at point-of-use, but some aspects or elements (for example, a ‘meals on wheels’ service for older adults) could be means-tested. In general, there was strong support for means-testing and targeting resources to those with greatest need. Participants also expressed a desire for transparency in how charges are set and how the money raised from charges is spent. 7.7 Participants were generally unsure of which services the council is legally required to provide. It was discussed that local communities, charities, third sector organisations, housing associations and social enterprises could help deliver some of these discretionary services that are not legally required. There was strong support for community involvement in maintaining parks and open spaces and organising local events – with support from the Council to apply for funding, develop leadership skills and help to build capacity. 7.8 There was strong support for the principle of targeting resources to those in the greatest need – this is seen as a fair and necessary approach, especially in the context of limited budgets. Participants suggested there should be an emphasis on balance and inclusivity – targeting should not mean neglecting others or prioritising one group or area at the expense of others. The elderly, people with a disability, those on low incomes (and children from low-income households), and unpaid carers were consistently identified as the top priority for support. It was felt important that support should go beyond geographical area-based deprivation, as children and adults in perceived ‘more affluent’ areas may still face hardship and the fact that their needs aren’t always ‘visible’. 7.9 Participants offered several practical and creative ideas to deliver services in new ways. There was strong support for expanding online access to services, while ensuring that no-one is digitally excluded. Community-led initiatives, volunteering and community ownership should all be encouraged and supported. More use of schools, libraries and town halls as community hubs and venues for services and information was also supported. 7.10 Council Priorities groups talked about where the Council gets its funding from and how it must make decisions each year about how that money is spent. They also discussed that the Council must make sure its budget is balanced. Each participant was given tokens which they used to identify their highest priorities. They were required to allocate one token to each priority and then allocate an additional token to any priority as they saw fit. The allocation process identified priorities in this order: Maintain roads, pavements, open spaces and public places 49 Support vulnerable people 39 Support older people 32 Support libraries, community and sports & leisure facilities 29 Support the health and wellbeing of children and families 28 Support local businesses 27 Support cultural activities, arts, museums and events 27 Support people into training, employment and education 26 Invest in our school buildings and learning estate 23 Support tourism and the visitor economy 22 Community safety services 19 Invest in measures to achieve Net Zero for Renfrewshire 16 Page 229 of 434
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PUBLIC These priorities were also ranked highly in the quantitative research. 7.11 Participants discussed their priorities in more detail. Participants prioritise the general environment around them and how this looks and feels. They want to live somewhere they can take pride in and believe this is influenced by quality of roads, pavements, open spaces, public places and buildings. There is a strong desire to use schools, libraries and community facilities to build community connections. 7.12 It was considered essential that services for vulnerable people are joined-up and have effective communication, for example, care services link with the police and social work to ensure the safety of vulnerable people. The risk of loneliness and isolation for older people was highlighted. Providing a safe environment for children and families with early interventions and a focus on emotional and social wellbeing was considered essential. 7.13 Participants did not dismiss Net Zero and environmental priorities - but these were seen as longer-term goals that shouldn’t detract from immediate needs which were believed to be a greater priority. 7.14 Place and Neighbourhood groups discussed that, overall, they consider living in Renfrewshire as positive. The majority have actively chosen Renfrewshire as a place to live, in some cases having previously lived elsewhere, and in some cases, participants choose to commute to work in another area but enjoy living in Renfrewshire. 7.15 Positives identified by participants include: excellent transport links; nice surroundings; a rich history; a strong sense of community; the quality of organised cultural events; and the quality of local facilities. 7.16 Areas where improvements were identified by participants include: a lack of facilities or activities for younger people; neighbourhood appearance, influenced by street cleanliness and on-street parking; limited public transport options in rural areas; and the ‘decline of the High Street’, particularly in Paisley. 7.17 The cleanliness and maintenance of neighbourhoods; easy access to open areas, spaces and places; attractive town centres with option to shop local; and feeling safe in a neighbourhood or town centre, were all identified as factors which impact on resident’s quality of life. 7.18 Participants discussed how they perceive Council services in their place and neighbourhood. Care services for elderly people, people with a disability and families in need of support are perceived as very important. Local schools are perceived to perform well academically, with acknowledgement that schools face many challenges. Parks and play areas, libraries and sports & leisure facilities are valued by residents and generally good in Renfrewshire, with residents wanting to see these maintained in good quality. Road maintenance, street cleanliness and refuse collection services are all considered crucial. 7.19 Across all six groups, participants discussed how the Council could improve transparency, keeping residents informed and listening: Page 230 of 434
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PUBLIC • Contacting the Council directly should be as easy and accessible as possible, especially for those who find it difficult to do so online. Contact with individual officers and teams is valued and rated as good. • Information about ‘how the Council is performing’ should be made easily available, online and offline. • Residents want to be kept informed about decisions made, with proactive outreach from councillors and officers, and visible outcomes from residents’ feedback. • Residents want to participate in decision-making and have input into how things are done, with support from the Council to encourage participation. • The Council should use multiple communications channels to keep residents informed, online and offline. 7.20 A copy of the final focus group insights prepared by the Agency is included in Appendix 3. ___________________________________________________________________ 8. Council’s approach to Consultation and Engagement 8.1 The resident research survey was a key piece of work undertaken to improve the Council’s dialogue with local people and refresh the approach to community consultation and engagement. This action is included within the Council’s Corporate Improvement Plan. 8.2 In addition to this, the Leadership Board approved a new Consultation and Engagement policy in February 2025. This built on existing best practice and established standards and guidance for all elements of conducting public engagement. 8.3 Following this, an officer to support this workstream was appointed and is now in post. An officer governance structure has also been established to support monitoring, evaluation and sharing of best practice across the organisation as follows: • Consultation and Engagement Coordination Group (CECG) to provide high- level scrutiny and assurance, as previously outlined in the Leadership Board meeting in February 2025. The CECG also monitors the impact of consultation activity, including evaluating how consultation activities have influenced decision making, policy development and service planning. • Consultation and Engagement Advisory Group (CEAG) acts as a ‘community of practice’ providing training, sharing best practice, coordinating a consultation calendar, and embedding consistency of approach across the organisation. 8.4 Related activities are underway or planned for the coming months including: • The development and launch of a consultation and engagement toolkit to support officers across the organisation and to ensure consistency of quality. • A rapid review and triage of upcoming activities and plans that would or should involve consultation and engagement, to ensure support is offered throughout the process. Page 231 of 434
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PUBLIC • Linked to the above, development of a consultation calendar and mapping exercise (working with the CEAG) to help avoid significant overlap of consultation and engagement activities and any duplication. • Delivering comprehensive training across the organisation on the consultation and engagement policy, including best practice examples, equalities and ethical guidance, data and information security considerations etc. • Develop potential options for a citizen’s panel approach to further explore the issues and suggestions raised in the resident research survey and focus groups. 9. Next steps 9.1 A comprehensive engagement plan has been produced to ensure the results of the resident survey are shared with residents, staff and elected members in a clear, transparent and accessible way. 9.2 An action plan will be developed that sets out how we will respond to learnings and insight from the resident research findings. This will ensure residents’ feedback is used to shape future strategies and plans and supports our ongoing commitment to improving how we engage with our residents and communities. 9.3 The action plan will be reported in February 2026 as part of the planned report to Leadership Board on the progress of the Council’s Corporate Improvement Plan. An update on the Consultation and Engagement Policy will also be reported back at this time. In addition to this, ongoing progress reports on the Consultation and Engagement Policy will be incorporated into the established six-monthly Council Plan updates. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – A budget of £30,000 was allocated to deliver the Resident Research Survey 2025. 2. HR & Organisational Development – none 3. Community/Council Planning – our commitment to refreshing our approach to community consultation and engagement is included within the Council’s Corporate Improvement Plan. Research findings will be used by the Council and community planning partners to inform future strategies and plans. 4. Legal - none 5. Property/Assets – none 6. Information Technology - none 7. Equality and Human Rights – there are no negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individual’s human rights arising from the recommendations contained in the report, as the report is for noting only. 8. Health and Safety - none 9. Procurement – none Page 232 of 434
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PUBLIC 10. Risk – none 11. Privacy Impact – none 12. COSLA Policy Position – none 13. Climate Risk – none 14. Children’s Rights - in order to reflect the views of Renfrewshire’s children and young people bespoke focus groups are being planned to ensure we have reflected their experiences of living in Renfrewshire. Author: Joanne Quinn, Marketing Manager Page 233 of 434
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PUBLIC Prepared by: Prepared for: Research Resource Renfrewshire Council Contact: Lorna Shaw Contact: Joanne Quinn E-mail: Lorna.shaw@researchresource.co.uk E-mail: joanne.quinn@renfrewshire.gov.uk RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL RESIDENT SURVEY 2025 July 2025 Page 235 of 434
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2 PUBLIC Page 236 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 3 PUBLIC Renfrewshire Council Resident Survey 2025 Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................... 6 1. INTRODUCTION, BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES ..................................... 12 1.1. Background and objectives ......................................................................... 12 1.2. Methodology ................................................................................................. 12 1.3. Data analysis and reporting ......................................................................... 14 2. PROFILE OF RESPONDENTS ............................................................................ 15 2.1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 15 2.2. Length of time living in Renfrewshire (Q1) ................................................... 15 2.3. Age and Sex (Q16, Q21, Q22) ...................................................................... 16 2.6 Disability (Q17, Q18) ...................................................................................... 17 2.4. Ethnicity (Q19) ................................................................................................ 18 2.5. Religion (Q20) ................................................................................................ 19 2.6. Sexual orientation (Q23) ............................................................................... 19 3. NEIGHBOURHOOD AND QUALITY OF LIFE .................................................... 20 3.1. Renfrewshire as a place to live (Q1) ........................................................... 20 3.2. Neighbourhood as a place to live (Q2) ...................................................... 22 3.3. Agreement with statements about the neighbourhood (Q4) .................. 25 4. PERCEPTIONS OF THE COUNCIL AND PUBLIC SERVICES ............................. 32 4.1. Opinions on Renfrewshire Council (Q5) ...................................................... 32 4.2. Use of Council services (Q6) ......................................................................... 44 4.3. Satisfaction with Council services (Q7) ....................................................... 55 5. COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND BUDGET OPTIONS............................................... 70 5.1. Making savings in the Council’s budget (Q8) ............................................ 70 5.2. Perceptions of Council priorities (Q9) .......................................................... 72 6. MONEY MATTERS ............................................................................................ 73 6.1. Financial management (Q15) ..................................................................... 73 APPENDIX 1: SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE .................................................................. 77 APPENDIX 2: TECHNICAL REPORT SUMMARY ....................................................... 87 Page 237 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 4 PUBLIC TABLE OF FIGURES Figure 1: Survey response profile by Electoral Ward ....................................................................... 13 Figure 2: Survey response profile by Tenure ..................................................................................... 13 Figure 3: Length of time living in Renfrewshire ................................................................................. 15 Figure 4: Age profile ........................................................................................................................... 16 Figure 5: Age by Ward ....................................................................................................................... 16 Figure 6: Disability ................................................................................................................................ 17 Figure 7: Disability by Ward ................................................................................................................ 17 Figure 8: Ethnicity ............................................................................................................................... 18 Figure 9: Ethnic group by Ward ......................................................................................................... 18 Figure 10: Religion ............................................................................................................................... 19 Figure 11: Sexual orientation .............................................................................................................. 19 Figure 12: Renfrewshire as a place to live........................................................................................ 20 Figure 13: Renfrewshire as a place to live analysed by demographic ........................................ 21 Figure 14: Neighbourhood as a place to live .................................................................................. 22 Figure 15: Rating of neighbourhood as a place to live, SHS 2023 ................................................ 22 Figure 16: Neighbourhood as a place to live by demographic ................................................... 23 Figure 17: Perceptions of the neighbourhood ................................................................................ 25 Figure 18: Percentage of adults agreeing with statements about their neighbourhood strengths, 2023, SHS 2023 .................................................................................................................... 25 Figure 19: Agreement with the statement ‘This is a neighbourhood where people are kind to each other’ by demographic ........................................................................................................... 26 Figure 20: Agreement with the statement ‘This is a neighbourhood I feel proud to belong to’ by demographic ................................................................................................................................. 28 Figure 21: Agreement with the statement ‘This is a clean and tidy neighbourhood’ by demographic ...................................................................................................................................... 29 Figure 22: Agreement with the statement ‘This is a safe neighbourhood’ by Ward .................. 31 Figure 23: Opinions on Renfrewshire Council .................................................................................. 32 Figure 24: Statements about the Council (SHS 2023 Scotland compared to Renfrewshire Resident Survey 2025) ......................................................................................................................... 33 Figure 25: Renfrewshire Council provides high quality services by demographic ..................... 34 Figure 26: Renfrewshire Council does the best it can with the money available by demographic ...................................................................................................................................... 36 Figure 27: Renfrewshire Council is addressing the key issues affecting quality of life in my local neighbourhood by demographic .................................................................................................... 37 Figure 28: Renfrewshire Council is good at listening to local people’s views before it takes decisions by demographic ................................................................................................................ 39 Figure 29: The Council designs its services around the needs of the people who use them by demographic ...................................................................................................................................... 40 Figure 30: Renfrewshire Council is good at letting people know how well it is performing by demographic ...................................................................................................................................... 42 Figure 31: Renfrewshire Council is good at letting people know about the kinds of services it provides by demographic ................................................................................................................. 43 Figure 32: Frequency of usage of Council and partner services .................................................. 45 Figure 33: Frequency of usage of Children’s play areas by demographic ................................. 46 Figure 34: Frequency of usage of local schools and nurseries by demographic ...................... 47 Figure 35: Frequency of usage of libraries by demographic ........................................................ 48 Figure 36: Frequency of usage of community centres, halls and facilities by demographic .. 49 Figure 37: Frequency of usage of household waste recycling centres by demographic ....... 50 Figure 38: Frequency of usage of parks, gardens and open spaces by demographic ........... 51 Figure 39: Frequency of usage of swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres by demographic ..................................................................................................................................... 52 Figure 40: Frequency of usage of care services by demographic ............................................. 53 Figure 41: Frequency of usage of swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres by demographic ..................................................................................................................................... 54 Page 238 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 5 PUBLIC Figure 42: Satisfaction with public services provided in Renfrewshire (all respondents) ............ 55 Figure 43: Satisfaction with public services (excluding don't know responses) ........................ 56 Figure 44: Satisfaction with Council services (SHS 2023 Scotland compared to Renfrewshire Resident Survey 2025) ......................................................................................................................... 57 Figure 45: Satisfaction with children’s play areas (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic ................................................................................................................................. 58 Figure 46: Satisfaction with parks, gardens and open spaces (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic ............................................................................................ 59 Figure 47: Satisfaction with local schools and nurseries (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic ................................................................................................................ 60 Figure 48: Satisfaction with care services (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic ...................................................................................................................................... 61 Figure 49: Satisfaction with refuse collection (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic ...................................................................................................................................... 62 Figure 50: Satisfaction with street cleaning (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic ...................................................................................................................................... 63 Figure 51: Satisfaction with roads maintenance (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic ................................................................................................................................. 64 Figure 52: Satisfaction with Household waste and recycling centres (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic ............................................................................................ 65 Figure 53: Satisfaction with libraries (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic ...................................................................................................................................... 66 Figure 54: Satisfaction with swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic ........................................................................ 67 Figure 55: Satisfaction with museums and galleries (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic ................................................................................................................ 68 Figure 56: Satisfaction with community centres, halls and facilities (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic ............................................................................................ 69 Figure 57: Agreement with approaches for making savings in the Council’s budget .............. 70 Figure 58: Views on Council priorities ............................................................................................... 72 Figure 59: Financial management .................................................................................................... 73 Figure 60: Household financial management (SHS Scotland 2023 compared to ELC Resident Survey 2024) ......................................................................................................................................... 74 Figure 61: Financial management analysed by ward ................................................................. 76 Figure 62: Financial management analysed by demographic .................................................. 75 Report written by: Lorna Shaw Date: 24/07/2025 Report reviewed by: Elaine MacKinnon Date: 24/07/2025 Page 239 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 6 PUBLIC EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION The 2025 Renfrewshire Residents Survey was undertaken using a mixed methodology comprising a large-scale interviewer led survey with a representative sample of 1,016 Renfrewshire residents. This was augmented with an online survey which was open to all Renfrewshire residents to respond to. A total of 1,029 Renfrewshire residents responded to this. This was designed to present an open opportunity to all Renfrewshire residents to participate in the research. This report focuses on the robust and representative interviewer led methodology. The self-completion methodology, whilst providing an open opportunity, was not demographically representative of the Renfrewshire population and is therefore reported separately from the interviewer led survey sample. The survey was carried out between 2nd May and 11th June 2025. Interviews were carried out using a combination of telephone and face-to-face interviews with 509 carried out by telephone and 507 carried out on a face-to-face basis. The survey was conducted across all areas of Renfrewshire, with the number of respondents designed to provide robust data at the overall level (+/-3% margin of error based upon a 50% estimate at the 95% level of confidence) and a pro rata spread of interviews across each Ward within Renfrewshire. This executive summary highlights the key findings from this programme of research. NEIGHBOURHOOD AND QUALITY OF LIFE The majority of residents (93%) rated Renfrewshire as a very or fairly good place to live. In terms of their neighbourhood, 95% rated their neighbourhood as a very or fairly good place to live. This is in line with the Scottish Household Survey results for Scotland overall and Renfrewshire in 2023 where 95% also stated that their neighbourhood was a very or fairly good place to live. When considering a range of statements about their neighbourhood: o 86% agree ‘this is a neighbourhood where people are kind to each other’ (85% for Scotland overall in Scottish Household Survey 2023) o 88% agree ‘this is a neighbourhood I feel proud to belong to’ (82% for Scotland overall in Scottish Household Survey 2023) o 81% agree ‘this is a clean and tidy neighbourhood’ o 90% agree ‘this is a safe neighbourhood’ (81% for Scotland overall in Scottish Household survey 2023). Page 240 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 7 PUBLIC A number of these questions were also asked in the Scottish Household Survey. In terms of the statement ‘This is a neighbourhood where people are kind to each other’, the level of agreement from Renfrewshire residents is broadly in line with the Scottish and Renfrewshire averages from the Scottish Household Survey 2023 where 85% and 87% respectively stated that they agree with the statement. Agreement with ‘This is a neighbourhood I feel proud to belong to’ is slightly higher in Renfrewshire 2025 than for Scotland as a whole where 82% said they agree with this statement. Feeling of safety is also higher than was noted in the Scottish Household Survey. Percentage of adults agreeing with statements about their neighbourhood strengths, SHS 2023 SHS 2023 Scotland SHS 2023 Renfrewshire Renfrewshire Resident Survey 2025 This is a neighbourhood where people are kind to each other 85% 87% 86% This is a neighbourhood I feel proud to belong to 82% 87% 88% This is a safe neighbourhood (NB SHS states feel safe when walking alone after dark) 81% 86% 90% Demographic and ward differences were noted as: o Older residents (65+) were most likely to rate their neighbourhood as “very good.” o Homeowners and two-parent families reported higher satisfaction than council tenants and single adult households. o Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank and Houston, Crosslee and Linwood had the highest neighbourhood satisfaction. o Renfrew South and Gallowhill and Paisley Northwest had the lowest. PERCEPTIONS OF THE COUNCIL Survey respondents were asked to agree or disagree with various statements about how Renfrewshire Council is performing. Agreement from highest to lowest (excluding those with no opinion) was as follows: o 62% agree Renfrewshire Council is good at letting local people know about what services it provides. o 61% agree Renfrewshire Council provides high quality services. o 58% agree Renfrewshire Council designs its services around the needs of the people who use them. o 54% agree Renfrewshire Council is good at letting local people know how well it is performing. o 54% agree Renfrewshire Council does the best it can with the money available. o 53% agree Renfrewshire Council is addressing the key issues affecting the quality of life in my local neighbourhood. o 44% agree Renfrewshire Council is good at listening to local people's views before it takes decisions. Page 241 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 8 PUBLIC These statements were also asked in the 2023 Scottish Household Survey. The following table shows the level of agreement reported in the 2023 Scottish Household Survey for all Scottish respondents and also specifically for Renfrewshire respondents. As can be seen below, the level of agreement for the Renfrewshire Residents Survey 2025 is generally higher than the published figures for all statements when compared to the Scottish Household Survey Results for Renfrewshire residents. Percentage of adults agreeing with statements about their local Council, SHS 2023 % strongly agree/ tend to agree SHS 2023 Scotland SHS 2023 Renfrewshire Renfrewshire Residents Survey 2025 The Council provides high quality services 42% 38% 61% The Council does the best it can with the money available 42% 41% 54% The Council is addressing the key issues affecting the quality of life in my local neighbourhood 33% 34% 53% The Council is good at listening to local people’s views before it takes decisions 23% 23% 44% The Council designs its services around the needs of the people who use them 31% 35% 58% The Council is good at letting local people know how well it is performing 30% 34% 54% The Council is good at letting people know about the kinds of services it provides 37% 45% 62% Analysis shows the following insight: o Respondents aged 35–54 were the most positive across all council performance indicators, particularly in believing the council provides high-quality services (73%) and listens to residents (67%). o Disabled residents were consistently less likely to agree with positive statements about the council, especially around listening to views (41%) and addressing local issues (49%). o Private and housing association tenants were more likely to agree that the council designs services around users’ needs (82% and 80%) than homeowners (61%). o Single parent families and two-parent families were more likely to feel the council communicates well and listens to residents than single adult households. o Economically active residents were more positive across all council performance measures than those not working or retired. o Paisley Northwest, Johnstone South and Elderslie, and Renfrew North and Braehead were more positive. o Erskine and Inchinnan, Paisley Southeast, and Renfrew South and Gallowhill were less positive. Page 242 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 9 PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF COUNCIL SERVICES Respondents were asked about their usage of a range of facilities and services. Most likely to be used were parks, gardens and open spaces (44.5% weekly+) and household waste recycling centres (45% monthly+). Least used services were care services (84% no use), Museums and galleries (63% no use), Community centres (61% no use). All respondents were asked how satisfied or dissatisfied they were with various public services provided in Renfrewshire. The majority of respondents who were able to give an opinion (excluding don’t know responses) were in general either very or fairly satisfied with the services provided, and satisfaction levels were highest regarding: o Local schools (94% very or fairly satisfied) o Children’s play areas (89%) o Parks, gardens and open spaces (88%) o Libraries (88%) o Household Waste Recycling Centres (87%). On the other hand, the proportion of respondents who were dissatisfied (either very or fairly dissatisfied) was highest with regards to: o Roads maintenance (43% very or fairly dissatisfied) o Street cleaning (22%) o Refuse collection (15%) o Care services (11%). Compared to the Scottish Household Survey, where comparisons are available, satisfaction is slightly higher or broadly similar in the resident survey for most aspects with the exception of libraries, where satisfaction in the resident survey is lower than the SHS. Satisfaction with Council services, SHS 2023 % strongly agree/ tend to agree SHS 2023 Scotland SHS 2023 Renfrewshire Renfrewshire Residents Survey 2025 Children’s play areas* 84% 85% 89% Parks, gardens and open spaces 88% Local schools and nurseries 80% 90%** 94% Care services*** 63% 58% 75% Refuse collection 79% 74% 73% Street cleaning 57% 50% 64% Roads maintenance 20% 23% 39% Libraries (including services – access to internet, printing, classes and Skoobmobile) 91% 93% 88% Swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres 83% 84% 84% Museums and galleries 90% 86% 84% Community centres, halls and facilities 53% 64% 85% *Children’s play areas included in Parks, gardens and green spaces in SHS **Renfrewshire Local Schools data from 2019 ***Care Service comparison is taken from Health Care Experience Survey 2023/24 - overall positive rating for rating help, care or support services 'Overall, how would you rate your help, care or support services? Please exclude the care and help you get from friends and family’ Page 243 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 10 PUBLIC Further analysis shows the following key insights: o Ward level insights showed Houston, Crosslee and Linwood and Renfrew North and Braehead had high satisfaction with play areas and parks. Paisley Southeast consistently reported lower satisfaction across multiple services. Johnstone South and Elderslie showed high satisfaction across several services. o Younger adults (16–34) and families with children were the most frequent users and most satisfied with services like play areas, schools, and leisure facilities. o Disabled residents reported lower satisfaction with most services, particularly care services and access to leisure facilities. o RSL tenants were more satisfied with services like play areas (95%) and care services (91%) than council tenants or owner-occupiers. o Single pensioners and single adult households were less satisfied with refuse collection and street cleaning compared to family households. COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND BUDGET OPTIONS It was explained to respondents that the Council may need to take a different approach to help balance its budget in the future. They were then asked how strongly they agree or disagree that the Council should look at doing a range of things. Respondents were most likely to agree with the following: o 47% strongly agree that Renfrewshire Council could make better use of its buildings and properties. Additionally, 35% tend to agree with this whereas just 4% disagreed. o 38% strongly agree that Renfrewshire Council could target resources to areas and people with the greatest need. A further 43% tended to agree with this and just 5% disagreed. o 25% strongly agree and 39% tend to agree that Renfrewshire Council could deliver services in new ways. 17% disagreed. On the other hand, respondents were less likely to agree, and more likely to disagree with the following: o 7% strongly agree and 39% tend to agree that Renfrewshire Council could identify services it could stop providing that are not legally required. It was noted that this would not include statutory services. 35% neither agree nor disagree with this and 18% disagreed. o 8% strongly agree and 25% tend to agree that Renfrewshire Council could introduce charges for some services. 22% neither agree nor disagree and 46% disagreed. Of note, some areas were more positive than others with Johnstone South and Elderslie and Paisley East and Central more open to service innovation and targeting resources. Erskine and Inchinnan and Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank were more resistant to change. Page 244 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 11 PUBLIC Finally in terms of Council and partner services, respondents were asked which services they felt should be prioritised in order to help inform planning and decision making. They were asked to score services on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 was not at all important and 5 was absolutely essential. Most likely to be perceived as absolutely essential were: o Support older people – for example, care at home and care homes (81% absolutely essential) o Support vulnerable people – for example, providing free activities to promote social interaction (77%) o Support the health and wellbeing of children and families through early intervention support (76%) o Maintain and look after roads, pavements, open spaces and public places (74%) o Invest in school buildings and our learning estate (55%). MONEY MATTERS Over half of respondents (54%) were in employment. Four in ten respondents (40%) were in full time employment, 12% part time employment and 2% were self-employed. Of those in employment, 7% worked for Renfrewshire Council, OneRen or Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership. 31% were retired and the remaining were either unemployed, not working due to illness or disability, looking after family or a carer. Respondents were asked how well their household is currently managing financially, with 46% of respondents saying they are managing very well or quite well. 39% said they were getting by alright and 5% said they either don’t manage very well, have some financial difficulties or are in deep financial trouble. For comparison purposes to the Scottish Household Survey, the figures have been adjusted to exclude those who said they don’t know or would prefer not to answer the question in the Resident Survey. This shows that slightly fewer Renfrewshire Residents 2025 said they were managing very or quite well (48%) than the Scottish Average (52%). However, this is more in line with the Renfrewshire proportion managing very or quite well in the SHS 2023 when 47% said they were managing well. Household financial management, SHS 2023 SHS 2023 Scotland SHS 2023 Renfrewshire Renfrewshire Residents Survey 2025* Managing very/ quite well 52% 47% 48% Getting by alright 39% 41% 46% Not managing very well/ have some financial difficulties/ deep financial trouble 9% 12% 4% * Figures have been adjusted to exclude the % who said prefer not to say and don’t know Our analysis shows that owner-occupiers and older adults were more financially secure whereas Council tenants, private renters, single parents, and those with disabilities were more likely to report financial hardship. Page 245 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 12 PUBLIC 1. INTRODUCTION, BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES 1.1. Background and objectives This report represents and discusses the findings to emerge from Renfrewshire Council’s 2025 Resident Satisfaction Survey which was undertaken by Research Resource. The specific research objective of the Residents Survey was to measure residents’ current perceptions and satisfaction with the Council, access new information, ideas and suggestions which will improve planning and decision making in relation to budget decisions and help shape future activities around resident needs and priorities. 1.2. Methodology The 2025 Renfrewshire Residents Survey was undertaken using a mixed methodology comprising a large-scale interviewer led survey with a representative sample of 1,016 Renfrewshire residents. This was augmented with an online survey which was open to all Renfrewshire residents to respond to. A total of 1,029 Renfrewshire residents responded to this. This was designed to present an open opportunity to all Renfrewshire residents to participate in the research. This report focuses on the robust and representative interviewer led methodology. The self- completion methodology, whilst providing an open opportunity, was not demographically representative of the Renfrewshire population and is therefore reported separately from the interviewer led survey sample. The survey was carried out between 2nd May and 11th June 2025. Interviews were carried out using a combination of telephone and face to face interviews with 509 carried out by telephone and 507 carried out on a face-to-face basis. The survey was conducted across all areas of Renfrewshire, with the number of respondents designed to provide robust data at the overall level (+/-3% margin of error based upon a 50% estimate at the 95% level of confidence) and a pro rata spread of interviews across each Ward within Renfrewshire. The response profile was reviewed and compared to the overall Renfrewshire population in terms of demography and geography. For geographical comparisons the postcode provided by residents within the survey data was used to identify multi member ward and also Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation Data (SIMD) Zones. Analysis of the profile for those who provided information on tenure and postcode revealed that respondents were broadly representative across Ward, SIMD and tenure. Page 246 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 13 PUBLIC The table below illustrates the final number of interviews achieved, by Ward, and the margin of error associated with the data collected: Figure 1: Survey response profile by Electoral Ward Electoral Ward Population % of population Respondents % of survey respondents Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank 13501 8.8% 100 9.8% Erskine and Inchinnan 13820 9.0% 62 6.1% Houston, Crosslee and Linwood 13527 8.8% 88 8.7% Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch 12835 8.3% 68 6.7% Johnstone South and Elderslie 14233 9.2% 102 10.0% Paisley East and Central 11825 7.7% 82 8.1% Paisley Northeast and Ralston 9814 6.4% 70 6.9% Paisley Northwest 16803 10.9% 117 11.5% Paisley Southeast 10193 6.6% 62 6.1% Paisley Southwest 13300 8.6% 87 8.6% Renfrew North and Braehead 14363 9.3% 103 10.1% Renfrew South and Gallowhill 10025 6.5% 75 7.4% Renfrewshire 154239 1016 Figure 2: Survey response profile by Tenure Tenure Renfrewshire population Respondents Owner occupied 65.73% 67.1% Rented privately 10.60% 7.9% Rented from housing associations 9.71% 10.2% Rented from local authorities 13.97% 14.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% By SIMD, 25% of our respondents live in the most deprived areas. This is in line with the overall Renfrewshire population. The survey questionnaire was developed in partnership with Renfrewshire Council, combining Scottish Household Survey questions in order to provide national comparators along with Renfrewshire specific questions in order to reflect the current information needs of the Council. A copy of the final questionnaire is available in Appendix 1. Page 247 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 14 PUBLIC 1.3. Data analysis and reporting Data was collated and analysed in SNAP survey software. Once the data was collated, appropriate range and logic checks were applied. Data tables were then produced for the overall Renfrewshire level and then analysing results by multi member ward, SIMD, age, tenure, household composition, sex, disability and ethnicity in order that any significant differences between groups could be reported. This report details the findings of the survey for Renfrewshire overall and includes some statistically significant differences between demographic and geographic groups. In reading this report, a number of points should be noted: The findings are based upon a sample of residents, rather than the whole population of Renfrewshire being surveyed, therefore, all results are subject to sampling tolerances and not all differences will be statistically significant. Results have been compared to the previous Scottish Household Survey where relevant. When reporting the data in this document, in general, percentages in tables have been rounded to one decimal place. Columns may not add to 100% because of rounding or where multiple responses to a question are possible. The total number of respondents to each question is shown either as 'Base' or 'n=xxx' in the tables or charts. Where the base or 'n' is less than the total number of respondents, this is because respondents may be 'routed' past some questions if they are not applicable or respondents may not have been able to answer or chosen not to answer a particular question. Where categories have been added together and referenced in the text of the report, these percentages have been calculated using the counts achieved to each option rather than adding together rounded percentages and may vary by +/-1% compared to the adding of rounded percentages. Page 248 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 15 PUBLIC 2. PROFILE OF RESPONDENTS 2.1. Introduction Details on the profile of Renfrewshire residents who responded to the survey are detailed below over the following topics: • Length of time living in Renfrewshire • Age and gender • Household composition • Ethnicity • Sexual orientation • Disability 2.2. Length of time living in Renfrewshire (Q1) The majority of respondents have lived in Renfrewshire for a significant period of time, with 54% having lived there all their life and 32% having lived there for more than 10 years. Figure 3: Length of time living in Renfrewshire The proportion of respondents who have lived in Renfrewshire all their life was significantly higher in Crosslee and Linwood (72%), Renfrew and Gallowhill (69%) and Paisley North East and Ralston (61%). Those living in the most deprived 20% areas were more likely to have lived in Renfrewshire all their life (65%) than those living in other areas (51%). Analysis also shows that those of white Scottish/ British ethnicity were significantly more likely to have lived in Renfrewshire all their life (56%) than those of other ethnic groups (9%). Those with a disability were also more likely to have lived in Renfrewshire all their life (67%) than those without (52%). Page 249 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 16 PUBLIC 2.3. Age and Sex (Q16, Q21, Q22) Almost 6 in 10 survey respondents were female (57%), 40% were male and 3% said they would prefer not to say. Just 1% of respondents said they consider themselves to be trans, or have a trans history, 94% said they did not and 5% said they would prefer not to say In terms of the age profile of survey respondents 10% were aged 16-34, 57% were aged 35- 64 and 30% were aged 65 and over. Figure 4: Age profile Analysis by ward shows that respondents in Paisley South East (47%), Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (41%), Erskine and Inchinnan (41%) and Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch (41%) were more likely to have respondents aged 65 and over. On the other hand, respondents in Paisley Southwest (21%) and Houston, Crosslee and Linwood (18%) were the areas most likely to have younger respondents aged 16-34. Figure 5: Age by Ward 16-34 35-54 55-64 65+ Paisley Southeast (n=60) 6.7% 15.0% 31.7% 46.7% Erskine and Inchinnan (n=59) 6.8% 30.5% 22.0% 40.7% Paisley Northeast and Ralston (n=66) 9.1% 31.8% 25.8% 33.3% Paisley Northwest (n=116) 6.0% 45.7% 22.4% 25.9% Johnstone South and Elderslie (n=99) 7.1% 39.4% 25.3% 28.3% Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (n=100) 4.0% 28.0% 27.0% 41.0% Renfrew South and Gallowhill (n=73) 16.4% 35.6% 23.3% 24.7% Paisley East and Central (n=78) 11.5% 39.7% 16.7% 32.1% Houston, Crosslee and Linwood (n=85) 17.6% 41.2% 12.9% 28.2% Renfrew North and Braehead (n=97) 10.3% 50.5% 18.6% 20.6% Paisley Southwest (n=82) 20.7% 48.8% 12.2% 18.3% Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch (n=66) 7.6% 34.8% 16.7% 40.9% Page 250 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 17 PUBLIC 2.6 Disability (Q17, Q18) Almost one in five respondents (19%) said that they considered themselves to have a disability. This was most commonly a physical impairment (58%) followed by mental health issues (20%) or some other kind of disability (20%). These were most typically chronic health issues such as COPD, heart disease, stroke or other long term health conditions. Figure 6: Disability Significant differences were noted with regard to age where just 8% of those aged under 35 consider themselves to have a disability, rising to 34% of those aged 65+. Geographical analysis shows that the greatest proportion of respondents with a disability were in Renfrew South and Gallowhill (32%), Houston, Crosslee and Linwood (31%) and Erskine and Inchinnan (31%). Figure 7: Disability by Ward Yes No Prefer not to say Paisley Southeast (n=62) 19.4% 74.2% 6.5% Erskine and Inchinnan (n=62) 30.6% 64.5% 4.8% Paisley Northeast and Ralston (n=70) 25.7% 65.7% 8.6% Paisley Northwest (n=117) 16.2% 82.9% 0.9% Johnstone South and Elderslie (n=102) 16.7% 79.4% 3.9% Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (n=100) 12.0% 87.0% 1.0% Renfrew South and Gallowhill (n=75) 32.0% 58.7% 9.3% Paisley East and Central (n=82) 15.9% 79.3% 4.9% Houston, Crosslee and Linwood (n=88) 30.7% 64.8% 4.5% Renfrew North and Braehead (n=103) 8.7% 81.6% 9.7% Paisley Southwest (n=87) 12.6% 74.7% 12.6% Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch (n=68) 17.6% 79.4% 2.9% Page 251 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 18 PUBLIC 2.4. Ethnicity (Q19) The vast majority of respondents (93%) were of White Scottish, British or Irish ethnicity. 1% were Pakistani, 1% were Polish and 1% were African. 4% said they would prefer not to say. Figure 8: Ethnicity Analysis by ward shows that those living in Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (100%) and Houston, Crosslee and Linwood (100%) were most likely to be of White Scottish or British ethnicity whereas those living in Renfrew South and Gallowhill (93%) and Renfrew North and Braehead (94%) were less likely to be White Scottish or British Figure 9: Ethnic group by Ward White Scottish/ English/ other British Other ethnic origin Paisley Southeast (n=53) 94.3% 5.7% Erskine and Inchinnan (n=61) 96.7% 3.3% Paisley Northeast and Ralston (n=65) 98.5% 1.5% Paisley Northwest (n=116) 94.8% 5.2% Johnstone South and Elderslie (n=98) 98.0% 2.0% Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (n=100) 100.0% - Renfrew South and Gallowhill (n=73) 93.2% 6.8% Paisley East and Central (n=77) 96.1% 3.9% Houston, Crosslee and Linwood (n=85) 100.0% - Renfrew North and Braehead (n=98) 93.9% 6.1% Paisley Southwest (n=84) 95.2% 4.8% Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch (n=65) 98.5% 1.5% Page 252 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 19 PUBLIC 2.5. Religion (Q20) When asked what religion, religious denomination or body they belong to, the most common response was none, which was stated by 44% of respondents. Church of Scotland was the most common religion noted (26%) followed by Roman Catholic (17%) and then Other Christian (6%). Figure 10: Religion 2.6. Sexual orientation (Q23) The majority of respondents (91%) said that they were of heterosexual or straight sexual orientation. Figure 11: Sexual orientation Page 253 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 20 PUBLIC 3. NEIGHBOURHOOD AND QUALITY OF LIFE 3.1. Overview The survey began asking questions on residents’ perceptions of Renfrewshire, their neighbourhood and quality of life. Most residents (93%) rated Renfrewshire as a good place to live, with 95% feeling positively about their neighbourhood. Older adults and homeowners were more likely to express strong satisfaction, while council and private tenants were less positive. Key strengths identified included safety, pride in the community, and kindness among neighbours. 3.2. Renfrewshire as a place to live (Q1) The majority of residents (93%) rate Renfrewshire as very or fairly good as a place to live, 6% were of the opinion it was a fairly or very poor place to live and 1% had no opinion. Figure 12: Renfrewshire as a place to live Analysis of rating of the neighbourhood as a place to live shows the following key trends: Age: Respondents aged 65+ were most likely to rate Renfrewshire as a very good place to live (52%), however those most likely to rate Renfrewshire as a very/fairly good place to live were those aged 35-54 (96.5%) and 16-34 (96%). Tenure: Respondents renting their homes from a Housing Association (50%) and owner occupiers (48%) were most likely to rate Renfrewshire as a very good place to live, whereas those renting from a private landlord (34%) and those renting from the Council (35%) were less likely to do so. Electoral ward Page 254 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 21 PUBLIC Electoral wards where respondents were most likely to rate Renfrewshire as a fairly/very good place to live were Houston, Crosslee and Linwood (98.9%), Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (97%), and Paisley Southwest (96.6%). Figure 13: Renfrewshire as a place to live analysed by demographic Page 255 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 22 PUBLIC 3.3. Neighbourhood as a place to live (Q2) The majority of residents (95%) rate their neighbourhood as very or fairly good, 4% were of the opinion it was a fairly or very poor place to live and 0.2% had no opinion. Figure 14: Neighbourhood as a place to live This is in line with the Scottish average from the Scottish Household Survey 20231 where 95% of respondents in both Scotland overall and Renfrewshire specifically rated their neighbourhood as a very or fairly good place to live. Figure 15: Rating of neighbourhood as a place to live, SHS 2023 Scotland Edinburgh Glasgow Renfrewshire Very/fairly good 95% 95% 92% 95% Very good 55% 57% 37% 51% Fairly good 40% 39% 55% 44% Fairly poor 4% 4% 6% 3% Very poor 1% 1% 2% 2% No opinion 0% 0% 0% 0% 1 https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/research-and-analysis/2024/12/neighbourhoods- communities-2023-findings-scottish-household-survey/documents/shs-2023-neighbourhoods-communities/shs-2023- neighbourhoods-communities/govscot%3Adocument/shs-2023-neighbourhoods-communities.ods Page 256 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 23 PUBLIC Analysis shows the following key differences in rating of the neighbourhood by demographic characteristics: Age Respondents most likely to rate their neighbourhood as a very good place to live were those aged 65+ (61%), while those aged 16-34 were least likely to rate their neighbourhood as a very good place to live (44%). Figure 16: Neighbourhood as a place to live by demographic Ethnic group White Scottish/English/Other British respondents were positive about the neighbourhood that they live in, with 44% rating their neighbourhood as a fairly good place to live, compared to 24% of those from other ethnic origins. Tenure Homeowners were most likely to rate their neighbourhood as a very good place to live (58%). Less likely to rate their neighbourhood as a very good place to live were those renting from the council (35%) or renting from a private landlord (32%). Page 257 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 24 PUBLIC Household type Households most likely to rate their neighbourhood as a very/fairly good place to live were two parent families (99%) and adult family household with two or more adults and no dependent children (97%). Single adult households with no children were least likely to rate their neighbourhood as a very/fairly good place to live (90%). Electoral ward Respondents most likely to rate their neighbourhood as very/fairly good were those from Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (99%) and Houston, Crosslee and Linwood (99%). Respondents most likely to rate their neighbourhood as a very/fairly poor place to live were those from Renfrew South and Gallowhill (9%), and Paisley Northwest (8.5%). SIMD 2020 Quintile The most deprived 20% by SIMD 2020 Quintiles were slightly more likely to rate their neighbourhood as a very/fairly poor place to live (7%), compared to other quintiles (4%). Page 258 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 25 PUBLIC 3.4. Agreement with statements about the neighbourhood (Q4) When asked the extent to which they agree with a number of statements about their neighbourhood, the highest level of agreement was with: This is a safe neighbourhood (90% strongly agree or agree) This is a neighbourhood I feel proud to belong to (88%) Agreement was slightly lower with regard to: This is a neighbourhood where people are kind to each other (86%) This is a clean and tidy neighbourhood (81%). Figure 17: Perceptions of the neighbourhood In terms of the statement ‘This is a neighbourhood where people are kind to each other’, the level of agreement from Renfrewshire residents is broadly in line with the Scottish average from the Scottish Household Survey 2023 where 85% stated that they agree with the statement. Agreement with ‘This is a neighbourhood I feel proud to belong to’ is slightly higher in Renfrewshire than for Scotland as a whole where 82% said they agree with this statement. Figure 18: Percentage of adults agreeing with statements about their neighbourhood strengths, SHS 2023 SHS 2023 Scotland SHS 2023 Renfrewshire Renfrewshire Resident Survey 2025 This is a neighbourhood where people are kind to each other 85% 87% 86% This is a neighbourhood I feel proud to belong to 82% 87% 88% This is a safe neighbourhood (NB SHS states feel safe when walking alone after dark) 81% 86% 90% Page 259 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 26 PUBLIC Analysis of agreement with the statement ‘This is a neighbourhood where people are kind to each other’ showed the following: Figure 19: Agreement with the statement ‘This is a neighbourhood where people are kind to each other’ by demographic Age Respondents most likely to agree with the statement “this is a neighbourhood where people are kind to each other” were those aged 35-54 (89%) and 65+ (87%). 80% of respondents aged 55-64 agreed with this statement. Page 260 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 27 PUBLIC Disability Respondents who did not consider themselves to have a disability were more likely to agree with the statement (88%) while 80% of those with a disability agreed with this statement. Tenure Home owners were significantly more likely to agree with this statement (89%) than those who rent from the Council (77%). Household demographic Households most likely to agree were two parent families with two adults (non- pensioner) and at least one dependent child (93%) whereas least likely to agree were single adult households (non-pensioner) (77%). Electoral ward Nearly all respondents (99%) from Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank agreed with the statement. Conversely, just over three quarters (76%) of respondents from Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch agreed with this statement. SIMD 2020 Quintile Significantly fewer respondents from the most deprived 20% SIMD Quintile agreed with this statement (79%) than respondents from other quintiles (88%). Page 261 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 28 PUBLIC Analysis of agreement with the statement ‘This is a neighbourhood I feel proud to belong to’ shows no significant differences in agreement with regard to age, disability or ethnicity. Significant differences were noted with respect to the following: Figure 20: Agreement with the statement ‘This is a neighbourhood I feel proud to belong to’ by demographic Tenure Homeowners were significantly more likely to agree with the statement (90%), than respondents renting from the council (83%) Household type Two parent families were most likely to agree with the statement (95%). Households least likely to agree with this statement were single adult households (non-pensioner) (78%) Employment status Significantly more economically active respondents agreed with the statement “this is a neighbourhood I feel proud to belong to” (90%), than respondents not working/retired (86%). Page 262 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 29 PUBLIC Electoral ward Almost all respondents from Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (99%) agreed with the statement “this is a neighbourhood I feel proud to belong to,” significantly more than those from Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch (76%) and Renfrew South and Gallowhill (83%). SIMD 2020 Quintile Respondents from the most deprived 20% SIMD Quintile were less likely to agree with the statement (83%) than other respondents (90%). In terms of the statement ‘This is a clean and tidy neighbourhood’, analysis shows the following: Figure 21: Agreement with the statement ‘This is a clean and tidy neighbourhood’ by demographic Age Respondents most likely to agree with the statement were those aged 35-54 (87%). Those least likely to agree with this statement were those aged 55-64 (77%) and those aged 65+ (79%). Page 263 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 30 PUBLIC Household type Households most likely to agree with the statement were households with two parent families (88%) and older adult family households containing at least one pensioner (84%). Single adult households with no children (76%) and single pensioner households (78%) were least likely to agree with the statement. Employment status Economically active respondents were significantly more likely to agree (86%) with the statement than those not working/retired (76%). SIMD 2020 Quintile Respondents from the most deprived SIMD 2020 Quintile were significantly less likely to agree (75%) with the statement than respondents from other quintiles (83%). Electoral ward Most likely to agree with the statement “this is a clean and tidy neighbourhood” were respondents in Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (97%) and Houston, Crosslee and Linwood (91%). Significantly fewer respondents from Paisley Southwest (67%) and Paisley Southeast (69%) agreed with the statement “this is a clean and tidy neighbourhood”. In terms of the statement ‘This is a safe neighbourhood’, analysis shows: Age Respondents aged 35-54 were more likely to agree their neighbourhood was safe (93%) than those aged 55-64 (86%). Disability Respondents with a disability were less likely to agree (82%) than those without a disability (92%). Household demographic Households most likely to agree with the statement “this is a safe neighbourhood” were households with two parent families (94%). Conversely, single adult households with no children (86%) and adult family households (88%) were less likely to agree. Employment status Economically active respondents were significantly more likely to agree (93%) than those not working/retired (86%). SIMD 2020 Quintile Respondents from the most deprived 20% by SIMD 2020 Quintiles were significantly less likely to agree (86%) with the statement than those from other SIMD Quintiles (91%). Ward Significantly more respondents from Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (99%) and Paisley Northeast and Ralston (97%) agreed whereas agreement was much lower in Renfrew South and Gallowhill (79%), Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch (83%) and Paisely Southeast (82%). Page 264 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 31 PUBLIC Figure 22: Agreement with the statement ‘This is a safe neighbourhood’ by Ward Page 265 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 32 PUBLIC 4. PERCEPTIONS OF THE COUNCIL AND PUBLIC SERVICES 4.1. Overview Respondents were then asked about their perception of the Council and public services. Residents expressed moderate to strong agreement that the Council communicates well, provides quality services, and addresses local issues. However, fewer felt the Council listens to residents before making decisions. Perceptions varied by age, tenure, and disability status, with economically active and family households generally more positive. 4.2. Opinions on Renfrewshire Council (Q5) When asked their opinions on Renfrewshire Council, respondents were most likely to agree that: Renfrewshire Council is good at letting people know about what services it provides (62% strongly agree/ agree) Renfrewshire Council provides high quality services (61%) Respondents least likely to agree with the statement: Renfrewshire Council is good at listening to local people’s views before it takes decisions. Figure 23: Opinions on Renfrewshire Council Page 266 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 33 PUBLIC These statements were also asked in the 2023 Scottish Household Survey. The following table shows the level of agreement reported in the 2023 Scottish Household Survey for all Scottish respondents and also specifically for Renfrewshire respondents. As can be seen below, the level of agreement for the Renfrewshire Residents Survey 2025 is generally higher than the published figures for all statements when compared to the Scottish Household Survey2 Results for Renfrewshire residents. This is most notably the case for the statement ‘The Council designs its services around the needs of the people who use them’, where the level of agreement in the Renfrewshire Resident survey is 27% points higher than the Scottish Household survey. It is also notable that in terms of the Scottish Household Survey, comparison of Renfrewshire results to those of Scotland overall does show higher levels of agreement with statements concerning communications such as letting people know the kind of services it provides and letting people know how well it is performing. Figure 24: Statements about the Council (SHS 2023 Scotland compared to Renfrewshire Resident Survey 2025) % strongly agree/ tend to agree SHS 2023 Scotland SHS 2023 Renfrewshire Renfrewshire Residents Survey 2025 The Council provides high quality services 42% 38% 61% The Council does the best it can with the money available 42% 41% 54% The Council is addressing the key issues affecting the quality of life in my local neighbourhood 33% 34% 53% The Council is good at listening to local people’s views before it takes decisions 23% 23% 44% The Council designs its services around the needs of the people who use them 31% 35% 58% The Council is good at letting local people know how well it is performing 30% 34% 54% The Council is good at letting people know about the kinds of services it provides 37% 45% 62% 2 https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2024/11/scottish- household-survey-perceptions-of-local-councils-2023/documents/scottish-household-survey- perceptions-of-local-councils-2023-tables/scottish-household-survey-perceptions-of-local-councils- 2023- tables/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BHousehold%2BSurvey%2B%2528SHS%2529%2B2023%2B- %2BPerceptions%2Bof%2BLocal%2BCouncils%2BTables.xlsx Page 267 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 34 PUBLIC Analysis of each of these statements by demographic and geographic characteristics shows the following key differences: The Council provides high quality services Age Almost three quarters of respondents aged 35-54 (73%) agreed with the statement “Renfrewshire Council provides high quality services,” significantly more than those aged 16-34 (61%), 55-64 (55%) and 65+ (60%). Disability Respondents without a disability were more likely to agree (66%) than those with a disability (56%). Figure 25: Renfrewshire Council provides high quality services by demographic Tenure Homeowners were less likely to agree that Renfrewshire council provides high quality services (60%) when compared to respondents renting from a Housing Association (74%) and private tenants (73%). Page 268 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 35 PUBLIC Household demographic Two parent family households were significantly more likely to agree that Renfrewshire council provides high quality services (72%), than single adult households (59%) and adult family households (60%). Employment status Significantly more economically active respondents agreed that Renfrewshire council provides high quality services (68%) than those not working/retired (58%). SIMD 2020 Quintile Respondents from the most deprived 20% SIMD quintiles were less likely to disagree that Renfrewshire council provides high quality services (12%) compared to respondents from other SIMD quintiles (20%). Electoral ward Electoral wards where respondents were more likely to agree that Renfrewshire council provides high quality services were Paisley Northwest (77%), Johnstone South and Elderslie (74%) and Renfrew North and Braehead (73%). Least likely to agree with this statement were from electoral wards Erskine and Inchinnan (38%), Paisley Southeast (46%) and Renfrew South and Gallowhill (45%). The Council does the best it can with the money available Disability Respondents without a disability were more likely to agree that Renfrewshire Council does the best it can with the money available (65%) than those with a disability (49%). Tenure Homeowners were significantly less likely to agree that Renfrewshire Council does the best it can with the money available (58%) and RSL tenants (63%), compared to respondents renting from a private landlord (84%). Household type Households most likely to agree that Renfrewshire Council does the best it can with the money available were households with two parent families (70%). Conversely, older adult family households (58%) and adult family households (56%) were least likely to agree with this statement. Employment status Significantly more economically active respondents agreed (65%), than those not working/retired (57%). Page 269 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 36 PUBLIC Figure 26: Renfrewshire Council does the best it can with the money available by demographic Electoral ward Electoral wards most likely to agree Renfrewshire Council does the best it can with the money available were Paisley East and Central (78%). Paisley Northwest (75%), Johnstone South and Elderslie (74%) and Renfrew North and Braehead (75%). Those least likely to agree were Renfrew South and Gallowhill (34%), PaisleySoutheast (40%) and Houston, Crosslee and Linwood (43%). SIMD 2020 Quintile Significantly more respondents from the most deprived SIMD 2020 Quintile (68%) agreed that Renfrewshire Council does the best it can with the money available than those from other SIMD Quintiles (59%). Page 270 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 37 PUBLIC The Council is addressing the key issues affecting the quality of life in my local neighbourhood Age Significantly more respondents aged 35-54 agreed with this statement (72%) than those across all other age groups. Least likely to agree were those aged 55-64 (50%). Disability Respondents without a disability were significantly more likely to agree that Renfrewshire Council is addressing the key issues affecting the quality of life in their local neighbourhood (65%) than those with a disability (49%). Tenure Homeowners were significantly less likely to agree that Renfrewshire Council is addressing the key issues affecting the quality of life in their local neighbourhood (57%) than private tenants (78%) and RSL tenants (72%). Figure 27: Renfrewshire Council is addressing the key issues affecting quality of life in my local neighbourhood by demographic Page 271 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 38 PUBLIC Household type Significantly more two parent family households (73%) agreed that Renfrewshire Council is addressing the key issues affecting the quality of life in their local neighbourhood than single adult households (57%), adult family households (57%) and older adult family households (57%). Employment status Economically active respondents were more likely to agree that Renfrewshire Council is addressing the key issues affecting the quality of life in their local neighbourhood (67%) than those not working/retired (55%). Electoral ward Electoral wards where respondents were more likely to agree that Renfrewshire Council is addressing the key issues affecting the quality of life in their local neighbourhood were Paisley East and Central (76%), Johnstone South and Elderslie (73%), Paisley Northwest (72%) and Renfrew North and Braehead (72%). Respondents from Paisley Southeast (42%) and Renfrew South and Gallowhill (42%) were those least likely to agree with this statement. SIMD 2020 Quintile Significantly more respondents in the most deprived SIMD quintile (68%) agreed than respondents in other SIMD quintiles (59%). The Council is good at listening to local people’s views before it takes decisions Age Respondents aged 35-54 were more likely to agree that Renfrewshire Council is good at listening to local people's views before it takes decisions (67%) than those aged 55-64 (43%). Disability Respondents with a disability were less likely to agree (41%) than those without a disability (59%). Tenure RSL tenants (71%) and private tenants (69%) were significantly more likely to agree than homeowners (50%). Household demographic Significantly more two parent family households (70%) agreed Renfrewshire Council is good at listening to local people's views before it takes decisions compared to adult family households (48%) and older adult family households (46%). Employment status Economically active respondents were more likely to agree that Renfrewshire Council is good at listening to local people's views before it takes decisions (62%) than those not working/retired (47%). SIMD 2020 Quintile Respondents from the most deprived SIMD quintile were significantly less likely to agree (53%) than those from other SIMD quintiles (62%). Page 272 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 39 PUBLIC Figure 28: Renfrewshire Council is good at listening to local people’s views before it takes decisions by demographic Electoral ward Significantly more respondents agreed Renfrewshire Council is good at listening to local people's views before it takes decisions in Johnstone South and Elderslie (68%), Paisley Northwest (67%) and Paisley East and Central (66%) than respondents from Paisley Southeast (24%), Erskine and Inchinnan (39%) and Renfrew South and Gallowhill (38%). Page 273 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 40 PUBLIC The Council designs its services around the needs of the people who use them Age Respondents aged 35-54 were most likely to agree Renfrewshire Council designs its services around the needs of the people who use them (73%) while those aged 55- 64 were least likely to agree (56%). Disability Fewer respondents with a disability agreed (54%) when compared to those without a disability (56%). Tenure Private tenants (82%) and RSL tenants (80%) were significantly more likely to agree Renfrewshire Council designs its services around the needs of the people who use them than homeowners (61%). Figure 29: The Council designs its services around the needs of the people who use them by demographic Page 274 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 41 PUBLIC Household type Households most likely to agree Renfrewshire Council designs its services around the needs of the people who use them were single parent families (76%) and two parent families (72%), while adult family households (57%) were significantly less likely to agree with this statement. Employment status Economically active respondents were significantly more likely to agree (70%) than those not working/retired (59%). SIMD 2020 Quintile Almost three quarters (73%) of respondents from the most deprived SIMD quintile agreed compared to 62% of those from other areas. Electoral ward Significantly more respondents from Paisley Northwest (81%) and Paisley East and Central (78%) agreed than those from Paisley Southeast (42%) and Renfrew South and Gallowhill (42%). The Council is good at letting local people know how well it is performing Age Respondents most likely to agree with the statement “Renfrewshire Council is good at letting local people know how well it is performing” were those aged 35-54 (72%) whereas those aged 55-64 (59%) and 65+ (59%) were less likely to agree. Disability Respondents with a disability were significantly less likely (56%) to agree compared to those without a disability (67%). Tenure Private tenants (78%) and RSL tenants (79%) were significantly more likely to agree than owners/occupiers (60%). Household demographic Households most likely to agree Renfrewshire Council is good at letting local people know how well it is performing were single parent family (74%) and two parent family households (75%). Conversely, older adult family with at least one pensioner (53%) and adult family households (57%)expressed lower levels of agreement. Employment status Significantly more economically active respondents agreed that Renfrewshire Council is good at letting local people know how well it is performing (69%), when compared to those not working/retired (60%) SIMD 2020 Quintile Significantly more respondents agreed that Renfrewshire Council is good at letting local people know how well it is performing from the most deprived SIMD quintile (74%) than other SIMD quintiles (61%). Page 275 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 42 PUBLIC Figure 30: Renfrewshire Council is good at letting people know how well it is performing by demographic Electoral ward Electoral wards most likely to agree Renfrewshire Council is good at letting local people know how well it is performing were Johnstone South and Elderslie (76%) and Paisley Northwest (80%). While only 38% of respondents from Paisley Southeast agreed with this statement. Page 276 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 43 PUBLIC The Council is good at letting people know about the kinds of services it provides Age Respondents most likely to agree Renfrewshire Council is good at letting people know about what services it provides were those aged 35-54 (73%), compared to 61% of those aged 55-64, and 60% of respondents over the age of 65. Disability Significantly more respondents without a disability agreed Renfrewshire Council is good at letting people know about what services it provides (68.8%) than those with a disability (55%). Tenure Respondents most likely to agree Renfrewshire Council is good at letting people know about what services it provides were private tenants (78%) and council tenants (73%), while only 62% of owner/occupiers agreed with this statement. Figure 31: Renfrewshire Council is good at letting people know about the kinds of services it provides by demographic Page 277 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 44 PUBLIC Household demographic Households most likely to agree Renfrewshire Council is good at letting people know about what services it provides were single parent families (77%) and two parent families (74%). 60% of older adult families with at least one pensioner and 60% of adult family households thought Renfrewshire Council is good at letting people know about what services it provides. Employment status Significantly more economically active respondents agree Renfrewshire Council is good at letting people know about what services it provides (70%) when compared to respondents who are not working/retired (61%). SIMD 2020 Quintile Respondents from the most deprived SIMD quintile (74%) were significantly more likely to agree Renfrewshire Council is good at letting people know about what services it provides than those from other SIMD quintiles (62%). Electoral ward Significantly more respondents from Paisley Northwest (83%) and Johnstone South and Elderslie (81%) agreed Renfrewshire Council is good at letting people know about what services it provides than those from Paisley Southeast (49%), Paisley Southwest (51%) and Erskine and Inchinnan (52%). Page 278 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 45 PUBLIC 4.3. Use of Council services (Q6) All respondents were asked how frequently they used a range of Council and partner services. Services most likely to be used were: Parks, gardens and open spaces (62% use at least once a month) Household waste recycling centres (46% use at least once a month) Swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres (40% use at least once a month) Children’s play areas (35% use at least once a month) Local schools and nurseries (33% use at least once a month) Least used were: Libraries - including services (23% use at least once a month) Care services (10% use at least once a month) Museums and galleries (15% use at least once a month) Community centres, halls and facilities (Including Paisley Town Hall, Johnstone Town Hall, Paisley Arts Centre) (18% use at least once a month). Figure 32: Frequency of usage of Council and partner services Page 279 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 46 PUBLIC Analysis shows the following groups were most likely to have used these services: Children’s play areas Respondents aged 16 to 34 (68%) and aged 35 to 54 (58%). Respondents without a disability (45%) were more likely to have used than those with (24%). Half of female respondents (49%) compared to 27% of male respondents use children’s play areas. RSL tenants were most likely to use play areas (54%) compared to owner occupiers (37%) and Council tenants (37%) Families were most likely to use with 89% of single parent households and 82% of two parent family households reporting using children’s play areas. Usage of play areas was lowest in Paisley Southeast (27%) and Erskine and Inchinnan (27%). Usage was greatest in Johnstone South and Elderslie (45%) and Paisley Southwest (49%). Figure 33: Frequency of usage of Children’s play areas by demographic Page 280 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 47 PUBLIC Local schools and nurseries A significantly greater proportion of respondents aged 16 to 34 (61%) and 35 to 54 (59.59%) use local schools and nurseries, when compared to those aged 55-64 (10.1%) and over the age of 65 (7.9%). Respondents without a disability (39%) were more likely to have used than those with (16%). Half of female respondents (41%) compared to 20% of male respondents use. RSL tenants were most likely to use (50%) compared to owner occupiers (31%) and Council tenants (31%) and those renting from a private landlord (42%). Families were most likely to use with 91% of single parent households and 88% of two parent family households reporting using. Usage was lowest in Paisley Southeast (21%). Usage was greatest in Johnstone South and Elderslie (40%) and Renfrew North and Braehead (42%). Figure 34: Frequency of usage of local schools and nurseries by demographic Page 281 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 48 PUBLIC Libraries Respondents aged 35 to 54 were significantly more likely to use libraries (45%) than those aged 55 to 64 (28%) and over the age of 65 (28%). The proportion of respondents with a disability who use libraries (26%) was significantly less than those without a disability (38%). Male respondents were significantly less likely to use libraries (26%) than female respondents (41%). Significantly fewer council tenants reported using libraries (28%) compared to private tenants (49%). Over half of two parent family households (55.8%) and single parent families (53%) use libraries, which is significantly more than single pensioner households (17%). Almost half of respondents from Johnstone South and Elderslie use libraries (47%), which is significantly more than those from Paisley East and Central (23%) and Paisley Southwest (26%). Respondents from the most deprived SIMD quintile were less likely to use libraries at least once or twice a year (8%) than those from other SIMD quintiles (13%). Figure 35: Frequency of usage of libraries by demographic Page 282 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 49 PUBLIC Community centres, halls and facilities Over half of respondents aged 16 to 34 (51%) and 35-54 (51%) use community centres, halls and facilities, which is significantly more than those aged 55 to 64 (32%) and those over the age of 65 (25%). Significantly more respondents without a disability use community centres, halls and facilities (44%) than those without a disability (24%). Only a third of male respondents (31%) use community centres, halls and facilities, which is significantly less than female respondents (45%). The proportion of two parent family (60%) and single parent family households (64%) who use community centres, halls and facilities is significantly more than single adult (30%), single pensioner (20%) and older adult family households with at least one pensioner (30%). Around half of respondents from Johnstone South and Elderslie (55%) and Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (50%) use community centres, halls and facilities. This is significantly more than those from Paisley Southeast (18%) and Paisley Southwest (24%). Respondents from the most deprived SIMD quintile use community centres, halls and facilities significantly less (32%) than those from other SIMD quintiles (41%). Figure 36: Frequency of usage of community centres, halls and facilities by demographic Page 283 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 50 PUBLIC Household Waste Recycling Centres Fewer respondents aged 16 to 34 (59%) and over the age of 65 (63%) use household waste recycling centres than those aged 35 to 54 (79%) and 55 to 64 (74%). Fewer respondents with a disability reported using household waste recycling centres (62%) than those without a disability (73%). The proportion of council tenants who use household waste recycling centres (53%) was significantly lower than owner/occupiers (75%) and RSL tenants (67%). Significantly fewer single pensioner (43%) and single parent family households (59%) use than two parent family (89%) and adult family households (75%). Around half of respondents from Paisley Northwest (57%) and Paisley East and Central (60%) use household waste recycling centres. This is significantly less than those from Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (86%) and Renfrew South and Gallowhill (85%). Significantly fewer respondents use household waste recycling centres from the most deprived SIMD quintile (59%), than those from other SIMD quintiles (74%). Figure 37: Frequency of usage of household waste recycling centres by demographic Page 284 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 51 PUBLIC Parks, gardens and open spaces Respondents aged 55-64 (67%) and 65+ (62%) who reported using parks, gardens and open spaces was significantly less than those aged 16 to 34 (90%) and those aged 35 to 54 (82%). Over half of respondents with a disability (56%) reported using parks, gardens and open spaces, which is significantly less than those without a disability (78%). The proportion of male respondents (66%) who use parks, gardens and open spaces was significantly less than female respondents (79%). Owner/occupiers (76%) and RSL tenants (72%) were significantly more likely to use park, gardens and open spaces than council tenants (59%). Most likely to use parks, gardens and open spaces were two parent family households (94%) and single parent family households (96%). 77% of respondents from Renfrew North and Braehead and 79% in Paisley Southeast reported using parks, gardens and open spaces, compared to 70% of respondents from Johnstone South and Elderslie. Only 7% of respondents from the most deprived SIMD quintile reported using parks, gardens and open spaces most days, compared to 12% of respondents from other SIMD quintiles. Figure 38: Frequency of usage of parks, gardens and open spaces by demographic Page 285 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 52 PUBLIC Swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres Respondents most likely to use swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres were those aged 16 to 34 (72%) and 35-54 (67%). Respondents with a disability were significantly less likely to use swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres (30%) than those without a disability (54%). Female respondents were significantly more likely to use swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres (52%) than male respondents (42%). Single parent family (81%) and two parent family households (80%) were more likely to use swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres than single pensioner (18%) and older adult family households (32%). Respondents from Paisley Southeast (32%), Paisley Southwest (35%) and Johnstone North, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch (37%) were significantly less likely to use swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres than those from Johnstone South and Elderslie (57%), Houston, Crosslee and Linwood (59%) and Renfrew North and Braehead (26%). Figure 39: Frequency of usage of swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres by demographic Page 286 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 53 PUBLIC Care services Fewer respondents aged 16-24 use care services (10%) than those over the age of 65 (15%). The proportion of respondents with a disability who use care services (34%) was significantly more than those without a disability (12%). Significantly more RSL tenants reported using care services (29%), when compared to owner/occupiers (15%), council tenants (13%) and private tenants (9%). Respondents from Houston, Crosslee and Linwood were significantly more likely to use care services (38%) than those from Johnstone South and Elderslie (8%), Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (7%) and Paisley Southwest (6%). Respondents from the most deprived SIMD quintile (12%) use care services less than other SIMD quintiles (18%). Figure 40: Frequency of usage of care services by demographic Page 287 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 54 PUBLIC Museums and galleries The age group most likely to use museums and galleries were age 35-54 (51%). Respondents with a disability were significantly less likely to use museums and galleries (24%) than those without a disability (41%). Females were significantly more likely to use (42%) than male respondents (31%). Over half of private tenants (55%) used museums and galleries, which is significantly more than owner/occupiers (38%) and council tenants (26%). Two parent family (61%) or single parent family households (54%) were more likely to use museums and galleries than other household types. Economically active respondents were significantly more likely to use museums and galleries (47%) than those not working/retired (25%). Around half of respondents from Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (48%) and Johnstone South and Elderslie (50%) use museums and galleries. This is significantly more than those from Paisley Southeast (27%), Erskine and Inchinnan (29%), Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch (29%) and Paisley Southwest (24%). Significantly fewer respondents from the most deprived SIMD areas use museums and galleries (29%) than those from other SIMD areas (40%). Figure 41: Frequency of usage of museums and galleries by demographic Page 288 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 55 PUBLIC 4.4. Satisfaction with Council services (Q7) All respondents were asked how satisfied or dissatisfied they were with various public services provided in Renfrewshire. Satisfaction levels were highest regarding: Refuse collection (70% very/ fairly satisfied) Parks, gardens and open spaces (69%) Household waste recycling centres (68%). Figure 42: Satisfaction with public services provided in Renfrewshire (all respondents) On the other hand, the proportion of respondents who were dissatisfied (either very or fairly dissatisfied) was highest with regards to: Road maintenance (41% very or fairly dissatisfied) Street cleaning (21%) Refuse collection (14%) Page 289 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 56 PUBLIC The results to this question have then been analysed excluding the proportion of respondents who answered ‘don’t know’ for each service, highlighting satisfaction for those that have an opinion on the service, either through usage of the service or knowledge of others experience of the service. This shows that satisfaction is significantly higher where don’t know responses are taken out. The highest level of satisfaction was with regard to: Local schools and nurseries (94% very/ fairly satisfied) Children’s play areas (89%) Parks, gardens and open spaces (88%) Libraries (including services – access to internet, printing, classes and Skoobmobile) (88%). Figure 43: Satisfaction with public services (excluding don't know responses) On the other hand, the proportion of respondents who were dissatisfied (either very or fairly dissatisfied) was highest with regards to: Road maintenance (43% very or fairly dissatisfied) Street cleaning (22%) Refuse collection (15%). Page 290 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 57 PUBLIC Compared to the Scottish Household Survey, where comparisons are available, satisfaction is slightly higher or broadly similar in the resident survey for most aspects with the exception of libraries, where satisfaction in the resident survey is lower than the SHS. Figure 44: Satisfaction with Council services (SHS 2023 Scotland compared to Renfrewshire Resident Survey 2025) % Very or Fairly satisfied excluding no opinion SHS 2023 Scotland SHS 2023 Renfrewshire Renfrewshire Residents Survey 2025 Children’s play areas* 84% 85% 89% Parks, gardens and open spaces 88% Local schools and nurseries 80% 90%** 94% Care services*** 63% 58% 75% Refuse collection 79% 74% 73% Street cleaning 57% 50% 64% Roads maintenance 20% 23% 39% Household waste recycling centre Not available Not available 87% Libraries (including services – access to internet, printing, classes and Skoobmobile) 91% 93% 88% Swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres 83% 84% 84% Museums and galleries 90% 86% 84% Community centres, halls and facilities 53% 64% 85% *Children’s play areas included in Parks, gardens and green spaces in SHS **Renfrewshire Local Schools data from 2019 ***Care Service comparison is taken from Health Care Experience Survey 2023/24 - overall positive rating for rating help, care or support services 'Overall, how would you rate your help, care or support services? Please exclude the care and help you get from friends and family’ The charts shown below show analysis by demographic characteristics in order to provide an indication of where higher or lower levels of satisfaction are reported. Please note that for this analysis, the number of respondents in some characteristics for some services are very small therefore this analysis should be treated with caution. Analysis by ward has also been carried out. Please note that for both demographic and ward analysis only statistically significant differences are reported. Page 291 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 58 PUBLIC Children’s play areas Figure 45: Satisfaction with children’s play areas (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic Age Respondents aged 35 to 54 were significantly more satisfied (92%) with children’s play areas than those aged 55 to 64 (82%) and over the age of 65 (84%). Tenure RSL tenants had a significantly higher satisfaction rate (95%) regarding children’s play areas than council tenants (82%). Household demographic The satisfaction rate for children’s play areas was significantly lower for single pensioner households (73%) than two parent family (90%) and adult family households (95%). Electoral ward Respondents from Houston, Crosslee and Linwood (100%) and Renfrew North and Braehead (96%) were significantly more satisfied with children’s play areas than those from Paisley Southeast (68%). Page 292 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 59 PUBLIC Parks, gardens and open spaces Figure 46: Satisfaction with parks, gardens and open spaces (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic Age Respondents aged 35 to 54 were significantly more satisfied with parks, gardens and open spaces (92%) than those aged 55 to 64 (83%). Electoral ward The satisfaction rate for parks, gardens and open spaces was significantly lower for respondents from Paisley Southeast (70%) when compared to those from Johnstone South and Elderslie (94%), Houston, Crosslee and Linwood (97%) and Paisley Southwest (94%). Page 293 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 60 PUBLIC Local schools and nurseries Figure 47: Satisfaction with local schools and nurseries (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic Age All respondents aged 16 to 34 reported that they were satisfied with local schools and nurseries, compared to only 86% of those over the age of 65. Household demographic All respondents from single adult households and single parent households reported that they were satisfied with local schools and nurseries, compared to only 90% of older adult family households and 95% of two parent family households. Electoral ward All respondents from Johnstone South and Elderslie, Renfrew South and Gallowhill, Houston, Crosslee and Linwood reported that they were satisfied with local schools and nurseries. Fewer respondents from Paisley Northeast and Ralston (84%) and Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch (82%) were satisfied with local schools and nurseries. Page 294 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 61 PUBLIC Care services Figure 48: Satisfaction with care services (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic Age More respondents aged 35-54 (79%) and aged 65+ (82%) reported that they were satisfied with care services than those aged 16 to 34 (65%) and 55-64 (61%). Tenure Council tenants had a significantly higher satisfaction rate for care services (91%) than owner occupiers (71%). Household demographic Significantly fewer adult family households were satisfied with care services (62%) than single pensioner (88%) and single parent family households (94%). Electoral ward The satisfaction rate for care services was significantly lower for respondents from Paisley Northeast and Ralston (59%), Renfrew South and Gallowhill (48%) and Houston, Crosslee and Linwood (62%) compared to those from Paisley Northwest (93%), Johnstone South and Elderslie (93%) and Renfrew North and Braehead (90%). Page 295 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 62 PUBLIC Refuse collection Figure 49: Satisfaction with refuse collection (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic Age The lowest level of satisfaction was amongst respondents aged 55 to 64 (67%). Those aged 65+ were most likely to be satisfied (76%). Tenure Dissatisfaction was significantly higher among owner occupiers (17%) than council tenants (8%). Household demographic Fewer single adult households were satisfied with refuse collection (64%) than single pensioner (78%) and older adult family households (77%). Electoral ward Satisfaction was lowest among respondents from Paisley Southeast (57%), and Erskine and Inchinnan (56%). It was highest in Paisley Southwest (84%). SIMD 2020 Quintile Respondents from the most deprived SIMD quintile reported a lower dissatisfaction rate for refuse collection (10%) than those from other SIMD quintiles (16%). Page 296 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 63 PUBLIC Street cleaning Figure 50: Satisfaction with street cleaning (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic Age Satisfaction with street cleaning was highest for those aged 16-34 (75%) and lower for those aged 55-64 (59%) and those aged 65+ (59%). Sex Fewer male respondents were satisfied with street cleaning (60%) than female respondents (67%). Tenure Owner/occupiers were less likely to be satisfied with street cleaning (61%) than council tenants (70%) and RSL tenants (74%). Electoral ward Around half of respondents from Erskine and Inchinnan (51%) and Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (49%) were satisfied with street cleaning, which is significantly less than respondents from Paisley Northwest (69%), Johnstone South and Elderslie (80%) and Renfrew North and Braehead (72%). Page 297 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 64 PUBLIC Nearly half of respondents from Paisley Southeast (42%) and Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (42%) were dissatisfied with street cleaning. SIMD 2020 Quintile Respondents from the most deprived SIMD quintile (16%) were less likely to be dissatisfied with street cleaning dissatisfaction than those from the other SIMD quintiles (23.5%). Roads maintenance Figure 51: Satisfaction with roads maintenance (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic Age Respondents aged 16-34 (56%) and those aged 35-54 (44%) were more likely to be satisfied with road maintenance than those aged 55-64 (30%) and 65+ (33%). Tenure Nearly half of owner/occupiers (49%) reported that they were dissatisfied with road maintenance, which is significantly more than council tenants (24%), RSL tenants (35%) and private tenants (29%). Page 298 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 65 PUBLIC Electoral ward The dissatisfaction rate for road maintenance was significantly higher among respondents from Paisley Southeast (75%) and Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (71%). Conversely, only 11% of respondents from Johnstone South and Elderslie, reported that they were dissatisfied with road maintenance. SIMD 2020 Quintile A third of respondents from the most deprived SIMD quintile (34%) were dissatisfied with road maintenance, which is significantly less than respondents from the other SIMD quintiles (46%). Household waste and recycling centres Figure 52: Satisfaction with Household waste and recycling centres (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic Age Satisfaction with household waste recycling centres was highest for those aged 16- 34 (92%) and aged 65+ (90%) and was lower than for those aged 35-64 (84%) and those aged 55-64 (87%). Page 299 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 66 PUBLIC Tenure Fewer private tenants were satisfied with household waste recycling centres (73%) than owner/occupiers (88%) and council tenants (88%). Household demographic Two parent families were significantly less satisfied with household waste recycling centres (83%) when compared to adult family households (92%). Electoral ward Satisfaction with household waste recycling centres was greatest for respondents from Erskine and Inchinnan (94%), Paisley Northeast and Ralston (95%) and Renfrew South and Gallowhill (95%). Satisfaction was lower in Paisley Northwest (83%), Johnstone South and Elderslie (81%) and Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch (77%). Libraries Figure 53: Satisfaction with libraries (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic Age Significantly fewer respondents aged 35-54 were satisfied with libraries (82%) than those aged 16-24 (98%) and those over the age of 65 (92%). Page 300 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 67 PUBLIC Electoral ward Respondents from Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch had the lowest satisfaction rate for libraries (63%). This was followed by Paisley East and Central (80%) All respondents from Houston, Crosslee and Linwood were satisfied with libraries. Satisfaction was also incredibly high in Paisley Northeast and Ralston (97%), Paisley Southeast (96%) and Erskine and Inchinnan (95%). Swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres Figure 54: Satisfaction with swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic Age The satisfaction rate for swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres was significantly lower among respondents aged 35 to 54 (80%) than those aged 16 to 34 (92%). Tenure RSL tenants were significantly more satisfied with swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres (90%) than private tenants (73%). Page 301 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 68 PUBLIC Electoral ward Respondents most dissatisfied with swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres were those from Paisley Southeast (16%) and Erskine and Inchinnan (20%). Satisfaction was greatest in Paisley Northeast and Ralston (95%), Houston, Crosslee and Linwood (95%) and Renfrew North and Braehead (91%). Museums and galleries Figure 55: Satisfaction with museums and galleries (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic Household demographic Single pensioner households were significantly more satisfied with museums and galleries (97%) than two parent family households (79%). Electoral ward The highest satisfaction rate for museums and libraries was among respondents from Renfrew South and Gallowhill (96%), Houston, Crosslee and Linwood (98%) and Renfrew North and Braehead (93%). Page 302 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 69 PUBLIC Community centres, halls and facilities Figure 56: Satisfaction with community centres, halls and facilities (excluding don't know responses) analysed by demographic Age Satisfaction was highest among those aged 16-34 (96%) and over the age of 65 (92%), and lowest for those aged 35 to 54 (79%). Household demographic Older adult family households were most satisfied with community centres, halls and facilities (95%), and lowest for two parent family households (79%). Electoral ward Less than half of respondents from Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch were satisfied with community centres, halls and facilities (41%), compared to those from Renfrew South and Gallowhill (96%) and those from Houston, Crosslee and Linwood (98%). Page 303 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 70 PUBLIC 5. COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND BUDGET OPTIONS 5.1. Overview The survey then went on to ask about Council priorities and potential options to help the Council balance its budget in the future. Residents supported the Council making better use of buildings (82%) and targeting resources to those in greatest need (81%). There was less support for introducing service charges or stopping non-statutory services. Priorities included supporting older and vulnerable people, maintaining infrastructure, and investing in children and families. 5.2. Making savings in the Council’s budget (Q8) Respondents were told that the Council may need to take a different approach to help balance its budget in the future. They were then asked how strongly they agreed or disagreed that the Council should look at doing a range of things. Respondents were most likely to agree that the Council should look at: Renfrewshire Council could make better use of its buildings and properties (82% strongly agree/ agree) Renfrewshire Council could target resources to areas and people with the greatest need (81%) Renfrewshire Council could deliver services in new ways (64%). Figure 57: Agreement with approaches for making savings in the Council’s budget Page 304 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 71 PUBLIC On the other hand, options which had the highest proportions stating they were unacceptable were: Renfrewshire Council could identify services it could stop providing that are not legally required (46%) Renfrewshire Council could introduce charges for some services (33%). Analysis by ward reveals that the biggest differences can be seen regarding the following: The Council could make better use of its buildings and properties: The proportion of respondents from Johnstone South and Elderslie (61%) and Renfrew South and Gallowhill (60%) who strongly agreed that Renfrewshire Council could make better use of its buildings and properties was significantly higher than Erskine and Inchinnan (18%) and Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (35%). Renfrewshire Council could introduce charges for some services: The proportion of respondents from Johnstone South and Elderslie (24.5%) who strongly agreed Renfrewshire Council could introduce charges for some services was significantly greater than Paisley Southeast (1%), Erskine and Inchinnan (0%), Paisley Northeast and Ralston (1%) and Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (1%). Renfrewshire Council could deliver services in new ways: Significantly more respondents from Paisley East and Central (43%), Renfrew North and Braehead (42%) and Johnstone North, Kilbarchan Howwood and Lochwinnoch (37%) strongly agreed that Renfrewshire Council could deliver services in new ways, compared to Erskine and Inchinnan (3%) and Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (6%). Of note, respondents aged 35-54 were most likely to strongly agree that Renfrewshire Council could deliver services in new ways (37%), compared to 15% of those above the age of 65. Renfrewshire Council could identify services it could stop providing that are not legally required (not statutory): No respondents from Erskine and Inchinnan and only 1% from Paisley East and Central strongly agreed that Renfrewshire Council could identify services it could stop providing that are not legally required (not statutory). Significantly more respondents from Paisley Southeast (11%) and Paisley Southwest (17%) strongly agreed with this statement. Renfrewshire Council could target resources to areas and people with the greatest need: The proportion of respondents from Johnstone South and Elderslie (55%) and Paisley East and Central (56%) who strongly agreed that Renfrewshire Council could target resources to areas and people with the greatest need was significantly higher than Erskine and Inchinnan (8%) and Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank (21%). Respondents from the most deprived SIMD quintile were significantly more likely to strongly agree that Renfrewshire Council could target resources to areas and people with the greatest need (46%) than those from other SIMD quintiles (36%). Page 305 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 72 PUBLIC 5.3. Perceptions of Council priorities (Q9) When asked to rate a range of Council services on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is not at all important and 5 is absolutely essential, most likely to be considered as absolutely essential/very important were: Support older people – for example, care at home and care homes (97%) Maintain and look after roads, pavements, open spaces and public places (96%) Support vulnerable people – for example, providing free activities to promote social interaction (96%) Support the health and wellbeing of children and families through early intervention support (95%) On the other hand, less likely to be perceived as absolutely essential/very important were: Support tourism and the visitor economy (62%) Support cultural activities, arts, museums and events (62%) Invest in measures to achieve Net Zero for Renfrewshire (49%) Figure 58: Views on Council priorities Page 306 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 73 PUBLIC 6. MONEY MATTERS 6.1. Overview Respondents were asked about their financial management. While 45% of residents reported managing well financially, 5% were experiencing financial difficulties. Owner- occupiers were most financially secure, while council tenants and single-parent households were more likely to report hardship. Younger adults and those with disabilities were also more likely to face financial challenges. 6.2. Financial management (Q15) Respondents were asked how well their household is currently managing financially, with 45% of respondents saying they are managing very well or quite well. 43% said they were getting by alright. On the other hand, 5% of respondents said they were not managing very well, had some financial difficulties or were in deep financial trouble. Figure 59: Financial management Page 307 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 74 PUBLIC The table below shows the results for the 2025 Resident Survey compared to the 2023 Scottish Household Survey. For comparison purposes the figures have been adjusted to exclude those who said they don’t know or would prefer not to answer the question in the Resident Survey. This shows that slightly fewer Renfrewshire Residents 2025 said they were managing very or quite well (48%) than the Scottish Average (52%). However, this is more in line with the Renfrewshire proportion managing very or quite well in the SHS 2023 when 47% said they were managing well. Figure 60: Household financial management (SHS Scotland 2023 compared to Renfrewshire Resident Survey 2025) SHS 2023 Scotland SHS 2023 Renfrewshire Renfrewshire Residents Survey 2025* Managing very/ quite well 52% 47% 48% Getting by alright 39% 41% 46% Not managing very well/ have some financial difficulties/ deep financial trouble 9% 12% 4% * Figures have been adjusted to exclude the % who said prefer not to say and don’t know Demographic analysis shows the following significant differences: Age Respondents aged 16-34 (23%) were the age group least likely to state that they were managing very or quite well. Respondents in all other age groups were more likely to state that they were managing very or quite well with 46% aged 35-54, 50% aged 55-64 and 51% aged 65+ stating this. Disability Respondents with a disability were significantly more likely to state that they were having financial difficulties (11%) than those without a disability (4%). Tenure Owner/ occupiers were most likely to state that they were managing very or quite well financially (55%) whereas tenants were all much less likely. Least likely to state that they were managing well were Council tenants (21%). Private tenants were most likely to state that they were having financial difficulties (17%). Household demographic Two parent families (52%), adult family household (53%), older adult family households (51%) and other household types (57%) were most likely to state that they are managing well. Single parent families were significantly less likely to state they were managing well (14%) and more likely to state that they are having financial problems (11%). Single adult households were also most likely to state they are having financial problems (11%). SIMD Those living in the most deprived 20% were more likely to state that they were having financial difficulties (8%) than those living in other areas (4%). Page 308 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 75 PUBLIC Figure 61: Financial management analysed by demographic Page 309 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 76 PUBLIC Analysis by ward indicates that: Respondents in Houston, Crosslee and Linwood were least likely to state that they were managing very or quite well (18%) whereas those living in Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank were most likely to say they were managing very or quite well (79%). The greatest proportion of respondents stating they were having some financial difficulties was in the Houston, Crosslee and Linwood area (9%) followed by Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch (6%), Paisley Northwest (6%) and Paisley Northeast and Ralston (6%). Figure 62: Financial management analysed by ward Page 310 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 77 PUBLIC Appendix 1 Survey Questionnaire Page 311 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 78 PUBLIC RENFREWSHIRE AS A PLACE TO LIVE We would like to begin by asking about your neighbourhood and Renfrewshire as a place to live. 1. How long have you lived in Renfrewshire? (RC) Less than 1 year 1 1-5 years 2 6-10 years 3 Over 10 years 4 All your life 5 Don't know 6 2. How would you rate Renfrewshire as a place to live? RC Very good 1 Fairly good 2 Fairly poor 3 Very poor 4 Don’t know / No opinion 5 3. How strongly do you feel that you belong to Renfrewshire? RC If asked prompt – i.e. how comfortable, connected, and accepted do you feel? Very strongly 1 Fairly strongly 2 Not very strongly 3 Not at all strongly 4 Don’t know/ no opinion 5 YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD Now I’d like to ask about your neighbourhood and the community you live in. Prompt – if-asked - Your neighbourhood is typically defined as nearby streets, parks, schools, shops, or shared spaces within 15-minute walk from your home. 4. Thinking about the neighbourhood that you live in, how would you rate it as a place to live? SHS Very good 1 Fairly good 2 Fairly poor 3 Very poor 4 Don’t know/No opinion 5 5. How strongly do you agree or disagree with each of these statements about your neighbourhood? SHS Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither agree nor disagree Tend to disagree Strongly disagree This is a neighbourhood where people are kind to each other 1 2 3 4 5 This is a neighbourhood I feel proud to belong to 1 2 3 4 5 This is a clean and tidy neighbourhood 1 2 3 4 5 This is a safe neighbourhood 1 2 3 4 5 Page 312 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 79 PUBLIC COUNCIL SERVICES The next few questions are about Council services. 6. This is a list of statements that could be used to describe a local council. To what extent do you agree or disagree that they apply to Renfrewshire Council? SHS Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither agree nor disagree Tend to disagree Strongly disagree No opinion Renfrewshire Council provides high quality services 1 2 3 4 5 6 Renfrewshire Council does the best it can with the money available 1 2 3 4 5 6 Renfrewshire Council is addressing the key issues affecting the quality of life in my local neighbourhood 1 2 3 4 5 6 Renfrewshire Council is good at listening to local people's views before it takes decisions 1 2 3 4 5 6 Renfrewshire Council designs its services around the needs of the people who use them 1 2 3 4 5 6 Renfrewshire Council is good at letting local people know how well it is performing 1 2 3 4 5 6 Renfrewshire Council is good at letting people know about what services it provides 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. How often do you use the following Council and partner services? SHS Most days At least once a week About once a month Once or twice a year Not at all Children’s play areas 1 2 3 4 5 Parks, gardens and open spaces 1 2 3 4 5 Local schools and nurseries 1 2 3 4 5 Household Waste Recycling Centres 1 2 3 4 5 Libraries (including services – access to internet, printing, classes and Skoobmobile) 1 2 3 4 5 Swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres 1 2 3 4 5 Museums and galleries (including Heritage Centre and archives, Renfrew Museum and Paisley Museum development) 1 2 3 4 5 Community centres, halls and facilities (Including Paisley Town Hall, Johnstone Town Hall, Paisley Arts Centre) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Page 313 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 80 PUBLIC 8. How satisfied are you with the following services? SHS Very satisfied Fairly satisfied Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied Fairly dissatisfied Very dissatisfied No opinion Children’s play areas 1 2 3 4 5 6 Parks, gardens and open spaces 1 2 3 4 5 6 Local schools and nurseries 1 2 3 4 5 6 Refuse collection 1 2 3 4 5 6 Street cleaning 1 2 3 4 5 6 Roads maintenance 1 2 3 4 5 6 Household Waste Recycling Centres 1 2 3 4 5 6 Libraries (including services – access to internet, printing, classes and Skoobmobile) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres 1 2 3 4 5 6 Museums and galleries (including Heritage Centre and archives, Renfrew Museum and Paisley Museum development) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Community centres, halls and facilities (Including Paisley Town Hall, Johnstone Town Hall, Paisley Arts Centre) 1 2 3 4 5 6 9. The Council may need to take a different approach to help balance its budget in the future. I’m going to read out some options they could consider. How strongly do you agree or disagree that they should look at doing each of these? Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither agree nor disagree Tend to disagree Strongly disagree Renfrewshire Council could make better use of their buildings and properties If-asked prompt- For example, they could: • Move public services into modern, shared spaces—like schools, health centres, or other community hubs • Stop using buildings that are old, underused, expensive to run, or bad for the environment • Transfer buildings or land to local community groups to use and run 1 2 3 4 5 Page 314 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 81 PUBLIC Renfrewshire Council could introduce charges for some services. If-asked prompt E.g In April 2025, a non-residential social care charging policy was introduced for Day Services, Community Meals and Community Alarms. Discounts may still be provided for some people following a financial assessment. 1 2 3 4 5 Renfrewshire Council could deliver services in new ways If-asked prompt– e.g. Encourage people to use the website to find and pay for council services online. 1 2 3 4 5 Renfrewshire Council could identify services it could stop providing that are not legally required 1 2 3 4 5 Renfrewshire Council could target resources to areas and people with the greatest need 1 2 3 4 5 10. The Council and partners want to know which services residents want to prioritise to help inform planning and decision making. On a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is not at all important and 5 is absolutely essential, how would you score these priorities? 1 – not at all important 2 – of little importance 3 – of average importance 4 – very important 5 – Absolutely essential Supporting people and communities Support the health and wellbeing of children and families through early intervention support 1 2 3 4 5 Support older people – for example, care at home and care homes 1 2 3 4 5 Support vulnerable people – for example, providing free activities to promote social interaction 1 2 3 4 5 Employment, education and skills Support people into employment, training or further education 1 2 3 4 5 Page 315 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 82 PUBLIC Invest in school buildings and our learning estate 1 2 3 4 5 Community life and wellbeing Support cultural activities, arts, museums and events 1 2 3 4 5 Support libraries, community facilities and sports and leisure facilities 1 2 3 4 5 Places and infrastructure Maintain and look after roads, pavements, open spaces and public places 1 2 3 4 5 Provide community safety services to improve local community issues 1 2 3 4 5 Economy and environment Invest in measures to achieve Net Zero for Renfrewshire 1 2 3 4 5 Support tourism and the visitor economy 1 2 3 4 5 Support local businesses – for example, grants to occupy empty premises 1 2 3 4 5 ABOUT YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD The final questions are about you and will help Renfrewshire Council understand the profile of its residents. Please be assured the questions are completely confidential and will only be used for analysis purposes to see if there are differences in the views between different types of household or resident. These additional questions are voluntary. If there are any questions you do not want to answer, please just move on to the next one. 11. So that we can check we are getting responses from the right people, can you provide your postcode. This will allow us to check that you live in the Renfrewshire area POSTCODE (ensure space) 12. Do you own your home, or rent it? I own my home – owner/ occupier 1 I rent from the Council – Council tenant 2 I rent from a Housing Association – RSL tenant 3 I rent from a private landlord – private tenant 4 Other (please specify) 5 Page 316 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 83 PUBLIC 13. What best describes your household? Single Adult Household (non-pensioner) and no children 1 Single Pensioner Household 2 Two parent family - two adults (non pensioner) and at least one dependent child 3 Single Parent family - one adult any age and at least one dependent child 4 Adult Family Household with two or more adults and no dependent children 5 Older Adult Family Household contains at least one pensioner 6 Other (please specify) 7 14. Which of the following best describes your employment status? [ONE ONLY] Full time employment (more than 30 hrs pw) 1 Go to Q15 Part time employment (less than 30 hrs pw) 2 Self employed 3 Unemployed/Seeking Work 4 Go to Q16 Unemployed/Not seeking work 5 Not working due to long term illness or disability 6 Looking after home/ family 7 Carer 8 Retired 9 Studying at school, college or university 10 Other (please write in below) 11 15. Do you work for Renfrewshire Council, One Ren or Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership? Yes, Renfrewshire Council 1 Yes, OneRen 2 Yes, Renfrewshire HSCP 3 No 4 16. Which of the following best describes how you say your household is currently managing financially? RC PSP/ SHS Question Managing very well 1 Managing quite well 2 Getting by alright 3 Don’t manage very well 4 Have some financial difficulties 5 Are in deep financial trouble 6 Don’t know 7 Prefer not to say 8 Page 317 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 84 PUBLIC 17. Which age band best describes you? 16-24 1 25-34 2 35-44 3 45-54 4 55-59 5 60-64 6 65-74 7 75+ 8 Prefer not to say 9 18. Do you consider yourself to have a disability? Yes 1 Go to Q19 No 2 Go to Q20 Prefer not to say 3 19. How would you describe the nature of your disability from the following list? Autoimmune: (e.g. multiple sclerosis, HIV, Crohn’s/ulcerative colitis) 1 Learning difficulties: (e.g. Down’s Syndrome) 2 Mental health issue: (e.g. depression, bi-polar) 3 Neuro-divergent condition: (e.g. autistic spectrum, Dyslexia, dyspraxia) 4 Physical impairment: (e.g. wheelchair-user, cerebral palsy) 5 Hearing impairment 6 Visual impairment 7 Other (please specify) 8 Prefer not to say 9 20. What is your ethnic group? Choose ONE section from A-F, then tick ONE box which best describes your ethnic group or background. A White Scottish 1 English 2 Welsh 3 Irish 4 Other British 5 Polish 6 Gypsy / Traveller 7 Roma 8 B Mixed or multiple ethnic groups Any mixed or multiple ethnic groups, please write in 9 C Asian Pakistani, Scottish Pakistani or British Pakistani 10 Indian, Scottish Indian or British Indian 11 Bangladeshi, Scottish Bangladeshi or British Bangladeshi 12 Chinese, Scottish Chinese or British Chinese 13 Other Asian background, please write in: 14 D African African, Scottish African or British African 15 Other African background, please write in 16 E Caribbean or Black Caribbean, Caribbean Scottish or Caribbean British 17 Black, Black Scottish or Black British 18 Page 318 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 85 PUBLIC Other Caribbean or Black background, please write in 19 F Other ethnic group Other, please write in 20 Prefer not to say 21 21. What religion, religious denomination or body do you belong to? Buddhist 1 Church of Scotland 2 Hindu 3 Jewish 4 Muslim 5 Other Christian 6 Pagan 7 Roman Catholic 8 Sikh 9 Other religion or body 10 None 11 Prefer not to say 12 22. What is your sex? Male 1 Female 2 Prefer not to say 3 Q1 23. Do you consider yourself to be trans, or have a trans history? Yes 1 No 2 Prefer not to say 3 24. Which of the following best describes your sexual orientation? Bisexual 1 Gay or Lesbian 2 Straight/ Heterosexual 3 Other 4 Prefer not to say 5 Future engagement and consultation Research Resource will be organising six focus group sessions to explore the answers and key themes of this survey in more detail. These will take place in August. The focus groups are an opportunity for you to discuss your answers in more detail, telling us more specifically about the impact Council services have on your life and the areas you would like to see change or improve. 25. Are you potentially interested in taking part in the focus groups? If you say yes, Research Resource will get in touch with more details about the focus groups and you can decide at that time if you are willing and able to take part? Yes (please record respondent name, email address and telephone number) 1 No 2 Page 319 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 86 PUBLIC INTERVIEWER READ OUT Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions. Your answers will be reported back to Council officers and Elected Members. A survey report will be available on the council website from October 2025. Would you like to take a note of our website address were you can read our privacy notice and find out more about how we use the data you provide? Page 320 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 87 PUBLIC Appendix 2 Technical Report Summary Page 321 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 88 PUBLIC TECHNICAL REPORT SHEET – QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH Project name Renfrewshire Council Resident Survey 2025 Project number P1483 Objectives of the research The specific research objective of the 2025 Residents Survey is to provide the Council information on local residents’ experience and perceptions across a range of topics with regard to living in Renfrewshire and Council and public services. Target population Renfrewshire residents Description of sample frame/ source and validation methods if applicable A database was procured with a representative cross section of 5,000 Renfrewshire residents for the telephone research methodology. This was then augmented with face to face interviews going door to door within geographical areas. Sampling method (probability or non probability) and quotas used A quota based approach to sampling was used targeting sub groups geographically by ward and tenure. Sample units drawn A database was procured with a representative cross section of 5,000 Renfrewshire residents for the telephone research methodology. Target sample size 1000 Achieved sample size and reasons if target not achieved 1,016 Date of fieldwork 2nd May and 11th June 2025 Data collection method The 2025 Renfrewshire Residents Survey was undertaken using a mixed methodology comprising a large-scale interviewer led survey with a representative sample of 1,016 Renfrewshire residents. 509 carried out by telephone and 507 carried out on a face-to-face basis. This was augmented with an online survey which was open to all Renfrewshire resident to respond to. A total of 1,029 Renfrewshire residents responded to this. This was designed to present an open opportunity to all Renfrewshire residents to participate in the research. Response rate and definition and method of how calculated Not applicable for face to face interviews 10% for telephone interviews (509 interviews out of our procured sample of 5,000 residents) Questionnaire length c. 10-15 minutes Any incentives? No Number of interviewers 13 Page 322 of 434
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Research Resource RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL 89 PUBLIC Interview/ self completion validation methods Interviews were validated using a combination of remote listening for telephone interviews and respondent recontact for face to face interviews. Online interviews were validated using the full respondent postcode. Showcards or any other materials used? None. Weighting procedures (if applicable) None Estimating and imputation procedures (if applicable) Not applicable Reliability of findings and methods of statistical analysis if applicable +/-3% for Renfrewshire overall based upon a 50% estimate at the 95% confidence level NB If publishing any results please ensure that any conclusions or data reported are adequately supported by the data provided in this report. Page 323 of 434
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OFFICIAL Renfrewshire Resident Survey Primary Research Results summary Page 324 of 434
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OFFICIAL Overview • Hybrid research methodology • 1,016 interview led surveys (telephone and face to face) • Statistically robust sample c. +/-3% • Representative sample spread across Renfrewshire • Augmented by an online survey • 1,029 interviews online • Self-selecting sample • Inclusiveness of opportunity but may provide a more biased view Page 325 of 434
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OFFICIAL Good representation has been achieved across Renfrewshire for both surveys but online surveys are heavily skewed in some geographical areas. Ward Response profile NB 164 online respondents did not provide postcode Electoral Ward Population % of population Interviewer led survey respondents % of interviewer led survey respondents Online survey respondents % of online survey respondents Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank 13501 8.8% 100 9.8% 105 12.1% Erskine and Inchinnan 13820 9.0% 62 6.1% 100 11.5% Houston, Crosslee and Linwood 13527 8.8% 88 8.7% 98 11.3% Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch 12835 8.3% 68 6.7% 127 14.6% Johnstone South and Elderslie 14233 9.2% 102 10.0% 68 7.8% Paisley East and Central 11825 7.7% 82 8.1% 29 3.3% Paisley Northeast and Ralston 9814 6.4% 70 6.9% 21 2.4% Paisley Northwest 16803 10.9% 117 11.5% 45 5.2% Paisley Southeast 10193 6.6% 62 6.1% 22 2.5% Paisley Southwest 13300 8.6% 87 8.6% 37 4.3% Renfrew North and Braehead 14363 9.3% 103 10.1% 151 17.4% Renfrew South and Gallowhill 10025 6.5% 75 7.4% 64 7.4% 154239 1016 867 Page 326 of 434
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OFFICIAL A significantly higher proportion of online respondents were owner occupiers compared to the interviewer led survey and the Renfrewshire population as a whole Tenure Response profile Tenure Renfrewshire Interviewer led Survey Online survey Owner occupied 65.73% 67.1% 84.6% Rented privately 10.60% 7.9% 5.3% Rented from housing associations 9.71% 10.2% 4.1% Rented from local authorities 13.97% 14.8% 5.9% Total 100.0% 100.0% 100% (Source: NRS household population projections 2018 based, projected for 2023) Page 327 of 434
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OFFICIAL Online survey as younger response profile 2.0% 11.9% 20.4% 23.7% 11.8% 10.6% 14.9% 2.5% 2.3%1.1% 8.8% 21.0% 15.6% 12.0% 8.4% 21.1% 8.7% 3.4% 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-59 60-64 65-74 75+ Prefer not to say Q16 Which age band best describes you? Online (n=1021) Phone (n=1016) Page 328 of 434
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OFFICIAL More females responded online 31.2% 63.9% 5.0% 40.3% 56.8% 3.0% Male Female Prefer not to say Q21 What is your sex? Online (n=1008) Phone (n=1016) Page 329 of 434
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OFFICIAL Online survey are more likely to be in employment 51.2% 12.2% 5.1% 0.7% 0.6% 5.0% 0.7% 1.2% 21.0% 1.2% 1.1% 41.1% 10.6% 2.1% 2.1% 0.3% 4.9% 3.5% 0.4% 31.6% 0.2% 3.1% Full time employment (more than 30 hrs pw) Part time employment (less than 30 hrs pw) Self employed Unemployed/Seeking Work Unemployed/Not seeking work Not working due to long term illness or disability Looking after home/ family Carer Retired Studying at school, college or university Other Q13 Which of the following best describes your employment status? Online (n=1017) Phone (n=1016) Online 13% Council 0.6% On Ren 2% HSCP Phone 4% Council 0.2% OneRen 1% HSCP Page 330 of 434
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OFFICIAL Online survey more likely to have children in the household 12.5% 4.2% 31.3% 5.5% 29.2% 13.0% 4.2% 16.0% 11.8% 20.5% 6.9% 23.0% 14.4% 7.4% Single Adult Household (non- pensioner) and no children Single Pensioner Household Two parent family - two adults (non pensioner) and at least one dependent child Single Parent family - one adult any age and at least one dependent child Adult Family Household with two or more adults and no dependent children Older Adult Family Household contains at least one pensioner Other (please specify) Q12 What best describes your household? Online (n=1020) Phone (n=1016) Page 331 of 434
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OFFICIAL Renfrewshire as a place to live 13.9% 62.9% 18.9% 3.6% 0.7% 44.8% 48.1% 5.1% 1.3% 0.7% Very good Fairly good Fairly poor Very poor Don’t know / No opinion Q2 How would you rate Renfrewshire as a place to live? Online (n=1026) Phone (n=1016) 77% Online 93% Phone Page 332 of 434
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OFFICIAL Rating of the neighbourhood 28.4% 52.8% 14.6% 3.8% 0.4% 51.8% 43.6% 3.5% 0.9% 0.2% Very good Fairly good Fairly poor Very poor Don’t know/No opinion Q3 Thinking about the neighbourhood that you live in, how would you rate it as a place to live? Online (n=1025) Phone (n=1016) 81% Online 95% Phone 95% SHS Page 333 of 434
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OFFICIAL Neighbourhood perceptions 73% 86% 62% 88% 47% 81% 64% 90% Online (n=1028) Phone (n=1016) Online (n=1022) Phone (n=1016) Online (n=1026) Phone (n=1016) Online (n=1027) Phone (n=1016) This is a neighbourhood where people are kind to each other This is a neighbourhood I feel proud to belong to This is a clean and tidy neighbourhood This is a safe neighbourhood Q4 How strongly do you agree or disagree with each of these statements about your neighbourhood? 82% SHS 81%* SHS 85% SHS *SHS states feel safe when walking alone in neighbourhood after darkPage 334 of 434
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OFFICIAL Perceptions of Council services 19% 61% 18% 54% 11% 53% 9% 44% 12% 58% 14% 54% 21% 62% Online (n=1021) Phone (n=1016) Online (n=1019) Phone (n=1016) Online (n=1026) Phone (n=1016) Online (n=1025) Phone (n=1016) Online (n=1026) Phone (n=1016) Online (n=1021) Phone (n=1016) Online (n=1026) Phone (n=1016) Renfrewshire Council provides high quality services Renfrewshire Council does the best it can with the money available Renfrewshire Council is addressing the key issues affecting the quality of life in my local neighbourhood Renfrewshire Council is good at listening to local people's views before it takes decisions Renfrewshire Council designs its services around the needs of the people who use them Renfrewshire Council is good at letting local people know how well it is performing Renfrewshire Council is good at letting people know about what services it provides Q5 This is a list of statements that could be used to describe a local council. To what extent do you agree or disagree that they apply to Renfrewshire Council? SHS 42% SHS 42% 33% 23% 31% 30% 37% Page 335 of 434
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OFFICIAL Service usage - ranked 10% 15% 18% 23% 33% 35% 40% 46% 62% 7% 9% 20% 30% 36% 37% 44% 68% 81% Care services Museums and galleries (including Heritage Centre and archives, Renfrew Museum and Paisley Museum development) Community centres, halls and facilities (Including Paisley Town Hall, Johnstone Town Hall, Paisley Arts Centre) Libraries (including services – access to internet, printing, classes and Skoobmobile) Local schools and nurseries Children’s play areas Swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres Household Waste Recycling Centres Parks, gardens and open spaces Q6 How often do you use the following Council and partner services? (% using at least once a month) Online Phone Page 336 of 434
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OFFICIAL Service satisfaction (all respondents) 43% 69% 43% 19% 70% 61% 37% 68% 40% 46% 37% 38% 36% 48% 29% 6% 40% 19% 9% 57% 37% 32% 23% 35% Children’s play areas Parks, gardens and open spaces Local schools and nurseries Care services Refuse collection Street cleaning Roads maintenance Household Waste Recycling Centres Libraries (including services – access to internet, printing, classes and … Swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres Museums and galleries (including Heritage Centre and archives,… Community centres, halls and facilities (Including Paisley Town Hall,… Q7 How satisfied are you with the following services? (all respondents) Online Phone Page 337 of 434
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OFFICIAL Service satisfaction (excluding DK) 89% 88% 94% 75% 73% 64% 39% 87% 88% 84% 84% 85% 52% 50% 52% 20% 41% 19% 10% 61% 66% 46% 47% 57% Children’s play areas Parks, gardens and open spaces Local schools and nurseries Care services Refuse collection Street cleaning Roads maintenance Household Waste Recycling Centres Libraries (including services – access to internet, printing, classes and … Swimming pools, football pitches and leisure centres Museums and galleries (including Heritage Centre and archives,… Community centres, halls and facilities (Including Paisley Town Hall,… Q7 How satisfied are you with the following services? (excluding don't know responses) Online Phone Page 338 of 434
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OFFICIAL Balancing budgets 75% 82% 21% 33% 55% 64% 29% 46% 55% 81% Online (n=1009) Phone (n=1016) Online (n=1015) Phone (n=1016) Online (n=1021) Phone (n=1016) Online (n=1019) Phone (n=1016) Online (n=1024) Phone (n=1016) Renfrewshire Council could make better use of its buildings and properties Renfrewshire Council could introduce charges for some services Renfrewshire Council could deliver services in new ways Renfrewshire Council could identify services it could stop providing that are not legally required (not statutory) Renfrewshire Council could target resources to areas and people with the greatest need Q8 The Council may need to take a different approach to help balance its budget in the future. How strongly do you agree or disagree that they should look at doing each of these? Page 339 of 434
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OFFICIAL Priorities – ranked 49% 62% 62% 77% 79% 86% 86% 88% 95% 96% 96% 97% 28% 43% 37% 66% 68% 82% 73% 74% 77% 69% 95% 90% Invest in measures to achieve Net Zero for Renfrewshire Support cultural activities, arts, museums and events Support tourism and the visitor economy Support local businesses – for example, grants to occupy empty … Support libraries, community facilities and sports and leisure facilities Invest in school buildings and our learning estate Support people into employment, training or further education Provide community safety services to improve local community issues Support the health and wellbeing of children and families through… Support vulnerable people – for example, providing free activities to … Maintain and look after roads, pavements, open spaces and public… Support older people – for example, care at home and care homes Q9 On a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is not at all important and 5 is absolutely essential, how would you score these priorities? (excludes don't know) online Phone Page 340 of 434
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OFFICIAL Financial management 11.1% 22.6% 43.6% 5.6% 9.6% 2.0% 0.3% 5.3%5.3% 39.4% 42.8% 2.9% 1.9% 0.1% 0.4% 7.3% Managing very well Managing quite well Getting by alright Don’t manage very well Have some financial difficulties Are in deep financial trouble Don’t know Prefer not to say Q15 Which of the following best describes how you say your household is currently managing financially? Online (n=1026) Phone (n=1016) Page 341 of 434
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OFFICIAL Renfrewshire Resident Survey Focus Group Key Findings Report Page 342 of 434
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OFFICIAL Background Research Resource carried out Renfrewshire Council’s 2025 Resident Satisfaction Survey. A representative cross section of 1,016 Renfrewshire residents were interviewed either face to face or by phone during May and June 2025. The objective of the Residents Survey was to measure residents’ current perceptions and satisfaction with the Council, access new information, ideas and suggestions which will improve planning and decision making in relation to budget decisions and help shape future activities around resident needs and priorities. 6 focus groups were then carried out with respondents to explore their perception and satisfaction in more depth and provide further insight into resident priorities. This report summarises the key findings of the focus groups. Page 343 of 434
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OFFICIAL Focus group profile 6 focus groups were carried out between 19th and 27th August 2025. Focus group participants were recruited from resident survey respondents who had said they would be interested in taking part in further research. Focus groups were carried out in person and online, daytime and evening. 4 focus groups were held in Renfrewshire House, Paisley and 2 were online in the evening in order to allow a wide range of residents to participate. Overall 37 residents participated in the focus groups. Residents were from across Renfrewshire, including the more rural villages and ranged in age from mid 30s to into their 70s. Participants included Council tenants and owner occupiers, single people, older couples and families with children. There were also a small number of disabled residents who attended. Page 344 of 434
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OFFICIAL Focus group themes Budget Principles Introducing charges for some services? How should resources be targeted? Suggestions for innovation in service delivery? Should the Council stop providing some services? Council priorities Understanding residents priorities for Council priority themes Where budgets are limited where do residents want the Council to focus? Place and Neighbourhood What is it like living in Renfrewshire? What impacts residents quality of life? General perceptions of Council services Cross cutting themes Improving transparency and communication Listening to residents Three focus group themes were covered with two focus groups covering each theme. There were also two cross cutting themes which were discussed at every focus group. These were: Page 345 of 434
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OFFICIAL Budget Principles Page 346 of 434
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OFFICIAL Budget principles Introducing charges • There were mixed views on charging for services. • There was generally a willingness to pay for non essential or discretionary services, especially if the charge is reasonable, the service is high quality and the money is invested locally. • Examples where residents would be happy to pay are aspects such as museums and other cultural activities, nominal library fees, leisure activities, venue hire and small parking charges. • Garden waste bin charge was already paid by most participants and it was reluctantly accepted. There were concerns about price increases and fly tipping as a consequence of charges for waste collection. It was believed that further charges should not be introduced or carefully considered. • It was believed that some services should always be free at point of use such as general refuse, schools/ education and care services, although there was discussion that some aspects that support older people such as a ‘meals on wheels’ type service should be means tested. • There was strong support formeans-testingandtargeting resourcesbased on need. • Residents expressed some confusion over what services arestatutory vs discretionary. • Residents had a desire fortransparencyon how charges are set and how revenue is used. Page 347 of 434
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OFFICIAL Budget principles Targeting resources • There was strong supportacross both groups for the principle of targeting resources to those in greatest need. This is seen as afair and necessary approach, especially in the context of limited budgets. • There was some concern over prioritising one group or area at the expense of others and residents wanted there to be an emphasis on balance and inclusivity. Targeting should not mean neglecting others. • People in greatest need: In terms of people in the greatest need, elderly, disabled, those on low incomes were consistently identified as the top priority for support, reflecting vulnerability and limited access to services. Carers, especially unpaid carers were noted as important as were children from low income households. • Areas in greatest need: Geographically Paisley, Johnstone and Linwood were highlighted as needing more attention but there was concern that need could be hidden in areas such as Bridge of Weir and Bishopton and that those in more rural areas may have different needs that warrant support such as lack of transport and broadband which create isolation. • It was felt important that support should go beyond area-based deprivation, as children in “better” areas may still face hardship, particularly in single-parent families. It was highlighted that need isn’t always visible and sometimes people in more “affluent” areas are struggling. • It was also believed that there are services to help out there, but they are not always widely known about and residents pointed to a gap in communication and outreach. Page 348 of 434
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OFFICIAL Budget principles Delivering services in new ways Participants offered several practical and creative ideas: • Digital Services: There was strong support for expandingonline accessto services (e.g. reporting issues, booking appointments , logging fallen trees or road issues) via the Council website. However, residents suggested improvements to theCouncil’s websitewere required to make it more user-friendly and intuitive. Inclusion for those not digitally engaged was also a concern. • Community-Led Initiatives: Residents believed that volunteering and community ownership should be encouraged. It was suggested that tasks such as park maintenance, flower planting, and events could be done by community groups and volunteers. Participants mentioned successful local groups likeBonnie Bishopton,Smile in Kilbarchan, andBridge of Weir volunteers. • In terms of transferring ownership to the community there was broad interest in the idea, though participants highlighted significant challenges around logistics, capacity, and sustainability. While some communities have managed successful transfers, others struggled to get projects off the ground. Potential barriers included the need for strong local leadership, funding, and governance structures like trusts. Furthermore, success was seen as dependent on community willingness to engage, volunteer, and sustain activities over time. • Better Use of Libraries, Schools and Town Halls: Libraries were seen as a venue which could be a hub for information and access to services. Schools were seen as a place that could be a focal point for children’s focused services out of hours allowing leisure clubs, cubs and scouts and other activities to be held at these venues meaning they are better used. Town halls could host events, weddings, cinema nights, and community meetings. A good example was that Johnston’s police now share a space in the town hall. Page 349 of 434
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OFFICIAL Budget principles Stop delivering services that are not legally required • Participants were unsure what the Council is legally obliged to provide, with some questioning if anything is required at all. Schools, roads and child protection were mentioned as likely statutory duties, though with uncertainty. • When told about services that the Council is and is not legally obliged to provide, the biggest surprise was that parks and open spaces are not legally required, particularly as some had been gifted to towns. Others, however, felt unsurprised by the list. • Participants suggested thatlocal communities, charities, and organisationscould help deliver some discretionary services, especially where Council resources are stretched. • Examples of organisations who could help were local housing associations (who are already known to be involved in tenant participation and community development), local charities and social enterprises (who could take over community centres or run services like befriending, gardening or cultural activities). • There was strong support for community involvement, particularly around parks and open spaces. Examples were given of local groups already raising funding play equipment and maintaining flower beds, parks and organising local events. • It was suggested, however, that the council could share responsibilities on some of these services and that there was a need for support and co-ordination from the Council to help with funding applications, leadership skills and ensuring that groups have the capacity to do what is required. Page 350 of 434
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OFFICIAL Council Priorities Page 351 of 434
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OFFICIAL Council priorities and budget options Prioritisation activity Maintain roads, pavements, open spaces and public places 49 Support vulnerable people 39 Support older people 32 Support libraries, community and sports & leisure facilities 29 Support the health and wellbeing of children and families 28 Support local businesses 27 Support cultural activities, arts, museums and events 27 Support people into training, employment and education 26 Invest in school buildings and our learning estate 23 Support tourism and the visitor economy 22 Community safety services 19 Invest in measures to achieve Net Zero for Renfrewshire 16 • It was explained to participants that the Council’s funding comes from a number of different sources and that each year the Council has to agree on how this budget will be spent and that the Council has to balance its budget every year. Each participant was given tokens which they had to use to identify their greatest priorities. They must allocate one token to each priority and then could allocate additional to any priority as they saw fit. • This identified priorities in the following order: Page 352 of 434
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OFFICIAL Budget principles Cross cutting themes • It was noted that there are a lot of cross cutting themes across priorities and participants did not always find it easy discuss what was important about one particular priority without straying into other priority areas. • For example children and young people were a priority group but that crossed into health and wellbeing, education, school buildings and learning estate, and also libraries, community and sports & leisure facilities. • A further example is that supporting vulnerable people strayed into both older people and children and families. Page 353 of 434
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OFFICIAL Budget principles Top priorities • Maintaining roads, pavements, open spaces and public places: Participants prioritised the general environment around them and how this looked and feels. They wanted to live somewhere they can take pride in and that stems from roads, pavements, open spaces, public places and buildings were also mentioned. Roads were a source of frustration with participants perceiving a lack of joined up thinking and frustration at seeing utilities companies digging up roads on repeated occasions and works not being co- ordinated. They were also frustrated at patch filling of pot holes and a lack of supervision of contractors. Participants said they don’t see cycle lanes being well used due to cars spitting stones onto cycle lanes and meaning that cyclists are instead using the pavements to cycle on. Parks are seen as a valuable community asset but they are often believed to be under used or neglected. There was a desire for more community gardens, green spaces and places to sit and reflect. • Support libraries, community and sports & leisure facilities: Libraries were seen as multi-functional spaces for study, safety, socialising and access to services. Some participants wanted to see longer and more reliable opening hours and tailoring to young people’s needs as well as providing a space for older people to socialise, to learn how to IT and to support their mental health. Participants raised concerns about libraries being closed down which they would not want and also spoke about having quiet areas as well as separate areas for children such as toddler groups. Community and sports and leisure facilities were also considered critical for health and wellbeing, socialisation and inclusion for all sections of the community, not just young people. There was a strong desire to use these facilities to build community connections. Participants also spoke about the use of schools in the evenings for clubs etc but spoke about the charges involved in using school buildings. Some felt that facilities were not accessible enough or evenly distributed across the area. There was also concern about lack of investment and poor maintenance. Page 354 of 434
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OFFICIAL Budget principles Top priorities • Supporting vulnerable people: vulnerable people were noted as children and young people, those with a disability, drug addicts and older people. With respect to children and young people this was interlinked with the health and wellbeing of children and families. Discussions also highlighted the role of schools and community facilities. Vulnerabilities for older people are discussed below under this aspect. It was noted that it essential that services are joined up and have effective communication for example care services with the police and social work to ensure the safety of vulnerable people. A number of participants were unaware of what to do if they were worried about the safety of a neighbour who they believe to be vulnerable and where to access support to help them especially if they do not have a next of kin. Participants also said there can also be challenges when vulnerable people don’t want help. Mental health and trauma in adults was also highlighted and it was noted that mental health support is seen as inaccessible and underfunded. Participants shared stories of long-term trauma and the need for early intervention. • Supporting older people: loneliness and isolation were major concerns. Participants advocated for community visitors, befriending services and non clinical-support. There was also frustration that care services are being too task focused and lacking compassion. • Support the health and wellbeing of children and families: it was noted that many children face trauma, chaotic home lives and hidden disabilities. It was believed that schools are overcrowded and teachers are untrained to deal with the complex needs they are facing in class rooms. There was also concern that the education system is too focused on metrics and not sufficiently focused on emotional and social development. Children and families were believed to be key as without this early intervention, long term change was not believed to be possible. Safe environments and emotional and social wellbeing is believe to be key. Page 355 of 434
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OFFICIAL Budget principles Lower priorities and limited resources • When discussing lower priorities, the only priority that was unanimously agreed as a lower priority and one which does not require focus and could be one area where the Council withdraws some focus for a time would be Net Zero and environmental goals. • Participants did not entirely dismiss Net Zero and Environmental goals but they were seen as long-term goals that shouldn’t detract from immediate human needs which were believed to be a much greater priority. • When participants were asked to remove tokens to indicate where cut backs could potentially be made, there was a focus on Net Zero. However, it was also felt that there was potential for more prudent and efficient spending and planning across different areas. For example: • Road resurfacing was criticised for inefficiency and poor oversight. “same road done three times”. • Arts and cultural events: are these areas where spending could be reduced or restructured? • Older adults and isolated individuals: can community based support, partnership with charities and voluntary organisations fill service gaps? • Unused Council buildings: residents suggested selling or repurposing abandoned assets. They also wanted to see more communication about plans for buildings such as Paisley Grammar School and had concerns about the impact of the closure on local businesses within the area. • Participants who removed tokens from supporting local businesses said that this was because they felt that if other priorities such as parking, roads, cleanliness etc were fixed then this would help local businesses. Page 356 of 434
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OFFICIAL Place and Neighbourhood Page 357 of 434
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OFFICIAL Place and neighbourhood Positives about living in Renfrewshire • Overview: Overall participants found Renfrewshire a positive place to live. The majority had lived in Renfrewshire for many years, or since birth and several said that although they work or have worked in other areas outside the local authority, they have actively chosen to live in Renfrewshire and commute to their place of work because they enjoy living there. Participants spoke about the nice surroundings for example the Braes, walks and the rich history and that all contribute to making the area an enjoyable place to live. • Transport links: It was evident from discussions that one of the key positives about Renfrewshire is that it has good transport links such as motorway networks and public transport. As mentioned above, several participants chose to commute to their place of work due to excellent transport links. • Sense of community: It was clear from participants that one of the key things that makes Renfrewshire such an enjoyable place to live is the people who live there. In some instances, participants noted that they may like to live in other areas but ultimately it is their family and friends that prevent them from moving away. • Organised cultural events: Participants were positive about organised events that take place in Renfrewshire which are very well thought of by residents and a fantastic way to bring families together. • Local facilities: Participants were positive about many Council led services such as good schools and sports and leisure services. Others spoke positively about nice places to go for food, nightlife and for socialising with friends. Participants were also positive about new facilities opening such as the Observatory and museum which will be a positive addition and hopefully draw people into the area. Page 358 of 434
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OFFICIAL Place and neighbourhood Negatives about living in Renfrewshire • Facilities for young people: At both groups participants expressed the need for more facilities for young people in an attempt to get them off the streets and to reduce the potential for antisocial behaviour issues. It was felt that there is nowhere for young adults to go and participants spoke about the challenges facing facilities for young people such as a lack of volunteers and commitment from volunteers to take part in safeguarding training. • Neighbourhood appearance: A number of participants spoke about cleansing issues within their neighbourhood such as bins being on the pavements (particular issue in Paisley), dirty streets and a lack of street cleaning. • Roads: potholes, cars parked on street (across different neighbourhoods) and narrow streets mean people have to park on pavements which causes issues for pedestrians and also makes the area look untidy. • Decline of the high street: Participants spoke with pride about the renovated Town Hall and Paisley’s heritage, but also highlighted the decline on the High Street, the loss of major shops, and a need for regeneration and vibrancy. Participants spoke about shopping units lying empty, being an eyesore and in some cases being dangerous. It was felt that Paisley town centre lacks a range of shopping outlets and that there are too many of the same types of shops such as hairdressers and nail salons. • Transport: While participants were happy with the central traffic infrastructure a number of participants were unhappy with the local transport outside of Paisley and in more rural areas. Participants spoke about bus service timetables changing frequently and services being unreliable. Others spoke about the cost of the train being expensive and about a lack of connectivity between different bus routes and also the train service. They spoke about the Edinburgh bus service being an example of a good service where there is a more joined up approach. Page 359 of 434
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OFFICIAL Place and neighbourhood What could improve your quality of life? • Cleanliness/ maintenance: One of the main issues which impacts residents’ quality of life was noted as “the dirt”. Participants want to live in clean and well maintained neighbourhoods and gave examples of areas such as Dunn Square in Paisley which has a problem with pigeon mess and noted that people do not want to spend time in the square due to this issue. Another point of note was to ensure hedges are maintained on public pathways which can be dangerous for pedestrians as they often have to walk on the roads as not enough space on pavements . • Open areas: Having well maintained open areas such as the Glennifer Braes was identified as being important for leisure purposes and providing a good quality of life. Participants were very positive about the area in terms of it being well looked after. However, they did note that there can be a problem with motorbikes on open spaces such as this. • Town centres and shopping more locally: Participants spoke about a lot of derelict buildings and empty buildings within the town centres and that the Council should help address these, e.g. by putting a false face on the empty buildings or having initiatives to encourage people to take the buildings on. Participants said that while they would like to shop more locally parking charges and availability of parking prevent them from doing so. Others said that the parking charges were reasonable and they found parking to be easy compared to Glasgow and if there were more diversity in terms of shopping outlets they would prefer to shop in Renfrewshire town centres than in other areas such as Glasgow or Braehead. • ASB/ safety: Participants felt feeling safe in the neighbourhood and town centres was important to their quality of the life and that they would like to see more community police patrols or community wardens. Having more CCTV was also something participants highlighted as something that would make them feel more safe (Bridge of Weir). Page 360 of 434
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OFFICIAL Place and neighbourhood Perception of Council services • Care services: Services that deliver care such as to the elderly, disabled people or families in crisis were perceived as being very important. Respondents spoke about Council run care homes that have shut down had a perception that private care homes treat care as a business and aren’t of the same quality as council led facilities where participants were complimentary and said they had well trained and caring staff. Participants also spoke about people living longer and that there is more of a need for elderly care and rehabilitation care for patients to ensure that they are not using up hospital beds. • Local schools and nurseries: Participants felt that Renfrewshire had good local schools that perform well academically compared to other local authorities. One participant spoke about the schools in Howwood and Johnstone being of similar age and that they are looking rundown and shabby. Participants also spoke about the challenges facing schools and teachers with neurodivergent children who need extra help are in with mainstream children and the importance of ensuring that children are able to get the support they need as without investing in these things it will lead to problems later. • Playpark, parks, gardens, open spaces: Parks and play areas are valued by residents and residents were complimentary about these in Renfrewshire generally and in their local area. Some residents had concern about decline in facilities and also about facilities being taken away without consultation and that the Council should consult with residents when removing or adding facilities to find out what will be used and what is needed within the community. One participant had been involved with a community group and the Council to source funding for a local playpark and residents felt that this was something they would like to see the Council doing more to promote within neighbourhoods. • Libraries: Participants felt that libraries can offer much more activities to the community, particularly to older residents. Accessibility was seen as key and ensuring that there aren’t many stairs and that parking spaces are available nearby. Page 361 of 434
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OFFICIAL Place and neighbourhood Council services • Road maintenance: upkeep of roads, pothole repairs, and transport connections (bus routes between communities) were seen as crucial. Currently pot holes are a challenge around the Renfrewshire area – in and around local areas. Participants spoke about inconsistency in how roads are maintained with some areas having full roads upgraded whilst other areas have poor quality pothole filling. • Sports and leisure facilities – Participants who use the facilities were generally positive about the range of sports and leisure facilities available to them and were complimentary on the staff who deliver the services. However, a number of participants spoke about the buildings and facilities within the centres needing to be maintained. Others spoke about the cost of facilities and also community events and that it is important to keep facilities affordable to all and that for families of multiple children the costs can add up. • Street cleaning:– This was a service which had a lot of discussion around responsibilities. Participants noted the importance of living somewhere that is clean and tidy. There’s little evidence of ‘street cleaning’ in action apart from one participant who lives opposite a quarry and has noted bags lined up at the side of the road. Others noted that they are aware of street cleaning being done by volunteers, especially in Bridge of Weir. Participants suggested the Council could do more to encourage local residents to get involved with small grants available to provide equipment, flowers and plants etc. • Refuse collection: Participants believed that refuse collection was done consistently well in Renfrewshire. However as noted earlier the key issue was with residents leaving bins on pavements and participants wondered if bin collection staff could report these issues to the Council. Other comments related to the charges for brown bins which has seen an increase recently. • Customer care: Throughout the groups participants spoke highly of Renfrewshire Council staff being helpful and easy to contact within various departments such as the planning team, staff at council run leisure facilities and when telephoning the Council. Page 362 of 434
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OFFICIAL Cross cutting questions Page 363 of 434
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OFFICIAL Improving transparency and communication • Improving direct Council contact: In terms of communication, there was a feeling that the current systems where residents contact the Council could be improved. There was frustration relation to automated systems such as the website’s usability (which is seen as being confusing and hard to navigate) and the ability to speak to a real person as opposed to “Millie”. This led to some participants feeling ignored or unheard when trying to resolve issues. • Current sources of information: Participants felt that there is information available to residents but they have to search for it. It was suggested that having KPI tracking on the front page of the website would be useful. Local councillors were also seen as a good source of communication. Some older residents had concerns about communication being too focussed online, leaving some people without access to updates. While some receive council e-mails, others prefer or rely on paper copies. Local channels such as libraries and especially the Advertiser were highlighted as effective tools for sharing information. • Suggestions for improvement to communications: Some participants suggested having an annual report available to residents on Council performance. It was important that this was cheap to produce and residents suggested this should be made available on the Council website. • Transparency: Participants stressed the importance of openness from the council, particularly when resources are stretched or when the wrong or difficult decisions have been made. They felt residents should be kept informed, rather than issues being hidden. Transparency could be improved via things such as quarterly updates on actions taken, visible outcomes from resident feedback and more proactive outreach from councillors or officers. Page 364 of 434
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OFFICIAL Listening to residents • Participation: Participants welcomed the chance to get involved in future decision-making activities and suggested that their preference would be face to face meetings with Council representatives to input into things such as the design of future builds, or new facilities. Another suggestion was for a Community Liaison Officer who residents can speak to about any issues and can take forward to the Council, someone local within their community and who they can meet with regularly in the community. • Responding to complaints and queries: Participants felt that listening should be evidenced in the way that the Council can respond to residents queries and complaints. This meant things such as being able to speak to a real person if they want to, having acknowledgement of contact, following up on contact with updates and resolving issues effectively. • Providing feedback and updates: Participants wanted to see evidence that their input leads to action. Some suggestions were things such as quarterly updates on progress, publishing results from surveys and focus groups and evidencing visible changes in service or infrastructure as a result of resident input. • Transparency in decision making: Participants want to understand how decisions are made, where money is spent and why certain things are prioritised. They want to see clear evidence that the Council has heard residents and is prioritising the things that are most important. They want to know how money is spent and whether it is spent prudently. • Supporting communities: Listening to residents means also supporting and empowering them to take action. For example helping residents set up local clean ups or events, providing funding and co-ordination support and supporting local groups. • Using multiple communication channels: listening also means using multiple communication channels and acknowledging that not everyone uses social media or websites. This includes printed newsletters, library displays, community notice boards and local newspapers. Page 365 of 434
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PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Leadership Board On: 3 December 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Migration and Asylum Update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This paper provides an overview of recent developments in relation to migration and asylum provision in Renfrewshire. 1.2 Services and partners continue to work closely to respond to emerging policy developments in relation to migration and asylum activities, and have established a number of partnership groups and structures to work closely on any identified issues, including through the Strategic Migration Group chaired by the Chief Social Work Officer. 1.3 Regular updates will be provided to elected members as these develop, with regular briefings provided to group leaders in line with a previous decision of the Leadership Board. Information at ward level will be communicated to elected members should significant information at this level be provided to the organisation. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 Members are requested to note the content of the report. ___________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 Renfrewshire has a strong track record in terms of supporting people who come to live and settle in the area through different humanitarian programmes or resettlement routes, and services and partners have worked very closely in Item 7 Page 367 of 434
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PUBLIC recent years to develop the skills, experience and supports required in response. 3.2 The level of change experienced in terms of migration and asylum related activities in recent years has been considerable, and has required officers to work with partners to monitor and consider the impact of these changes through new partnership groups and initiatives. As highlighted in previous updates, the focus in 2025 has been on working with partners to assess how services should respond to increasing levels of diversity in Renfrewshire’s communities, and to develop initial actions to support New Scots as they resettle in Renfrewshire. 3.3 As previously reported to Elected Members, the 2022 Census evidenced significant change in terms of the diversity of Renfrewshire’s communities in relation to ethnicity in particular. A report was previously provided to the board in November 2024 which highlighted how international migration has driven short term increases in our local population. Officers recently offered presentations on ward-level demographic changes, as part of elected member development week, which were well received. 3.4 This paper provides an update for members on the work programme being progressed by officers and partners, and also highlights a number of emerging issues for consideration. 4. Resettlement Programmes 4.1 The Council and its partners have supported a number of resettlement programmes since 2015 in Renfrewshire. In recent years these have involved in particular, support for Ukrainian people displaced as a result of the invasion by Russia, and the Afghan resettlement programme. As of 30 September 2025, just under 600 refugees are known to be supported across Renfrewshire through resettlement or humanitarian protection schemes. This includes Afghan, Somalian, Syrian and Ukrainian families and individuals. 4.2 Support for Ukrainian Displaced Persons has been a significant undertaking in recent years, with this group representing a significant proportion of the caseload for the Council’s resettlement team. At this time, 506 Ukrainian Displaced Persons (UDPs) across Renfrewshire are currently being supported, totalling 215 households. 187 households are being supported through tenancies with social landlords including the Council. Page 368 of 434
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PUBLIC 4.3 The rate of arrivals has slowed significantly following the closure of the main visa schemes, with many UDPs now applying for the 18th month extension offered by the UK Government on their existing 3 year visa. 4.4 The Council has also been asked in recent years to support Afghan nationals through a number of specific resettlement programmes. In May 2025, these were replaced by a new umbrella Afghan Resettlement Programme, with the UK Government writing to all local authorities in the UK to request participation and support given the urgent requirement for Afghan nationals to be resettled within the UK. These resettlement schemes typically operate on the basis of a visa being provided for a period of 3-5 years, with participants coming to the UK being approved for resettlement by the UK Government prior to entry, and gaining rights to education, employment, welfare benefits etc for the period of residency. 26 Afghan households are currently being supported by the resettlement team. 4.5 The Council receives funding from the UK Government to provide resettlement support through the above programmes, although elements of the Ukraine programme funding are now coming to an end. The funding is used to resource the resettlement team, with recent developments including the recruitment of specialist posts to support the health and wellbeing of refugees being supported by the team. This ensures there is enhanced signposting to services such as employability and advice services. 5. Asylum dispersal 5.1 As previously reported to the Leadership Board, the UK Government have rolled out a programme of asylum dispersal over the past few years, in order to ensure that the requirement to provide support to asylum seekers is shared more proportionately across regions and local authority areas. 5.2 It is important to note that people have a legal right to seek asylum once in the country – if assessed as destitute, support and accommodation is provided by Home Office and Mears whilst formal application to remain is assessed. This may be in hotel accommodation or in an individual property procured or leased through Mears. In Renfrewshire, hotel accommodation and individual properties are utilised by Mears. The Home Office publishes information on those seeking asylum by country and local authority – this can be accessed at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-system-statistics-year- ending-june-2025 5.3 Local authorities are not responsible for housing people who are seeking asylum and do not receive funding to provide this support. However, they do have a statutory duty to provide support once people have been granted Page 369 of 434
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PUBLIC asylum and the right to remain in the UK. Regular updates on any housing related issues have been reported regularly to the Communities and Housing Board, with the most recent update being provided in October 2025. This noted that support to individuals who have been assessed by the UK Government as having the right to remain, has continued to steadily grow, however this is not playing as significant a role in terms of housing related pressures as is being experienced in other local authorities. 6. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people 6.1 The Home Office indicates there remains significant pressure on the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) in the UK and there is a possibility that the allocation to individual authorities will increase through the National Transfer scheme and protocol. Renfrewshire continues to receive arrivals through the scheme and like all other local authorities remains under a duty to comply. 6.2 The UASC Team receive referrals from Migrant Help and Mears, and work collaboratively with Council services to ensure that the needs of all children are met. 7. Recent development activities 7.1 As noted above officers have recently provided ward briefings to elected members as part of elected member development week, highlighting the results from the 2022 population census, including increasing levels of ethnic diversity across Renfrewshire and within specific wards. 7.2 Officers have worked with partners over the past 12-18 months to form a Strategic Migration Group to consider the impact of Renfrewshire’s changing population, and to commence the process of developing a New Scots action plan for Renfrewshire. A needs assessment session with partners was held on 23 October 2025 to initially consider information available on provision and support for New Scots. 7.3 Whilst this work has been developing over the past 12-18 months, the level of focus and discussion asylum and migration related issues has increased considerably. In September 2025, full Council agreed a motion which recognised that: “Renfrewshire has a proud history of welcoming and supporting refugees to settle here and become part of our communities and recognises the rich contributions Page 370 of 434
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PUBLIC they and other migrants who choose Renfrewshire as their home make to the area. Renfrewshire Council reaffirms its commitment to welcoming refugees and migrants who choose to make Renfrewshire their home” 7.4 It is recognised by partners that it will be increasingly important to work together to support community cohesion, and to provide information on activities that take place in relation to migration and asylum. This is particularly important in terms of tackling mis/dis/mal information which may be being circulated. 7.5 In the short term, work is underway to create an information page on the Council’s website to make sure factual information is in the public domain. This uses information which has been collated by COSLA for use by local authorities and is being supplemented with local information by the local team. 7.6 Officers will also be linking with the Renfrewshire Integration Network (In Ren), who have been working on an action plan relating to the integration of New Scots in Renfrewshire. They have launched a pledge – linked to a “We Are All Renfrewshire” campaign. 7.7 Officers will also continue to work proactively with partners and the wider community to identify opportunities to support Renfrewshire’s communities in relation to these issues, with various partnership discussions being scheduled to explore some of the opportunities and challenges being identified. 8. Next steps 8.1 As outlined above, officers will continue to engage through the Strategic Migration Group chaired by the Chief Social Work Officer, to monitor and respond to the impact of any emerging pressures as a result of the developments outlined in this paper. 8.2 In line with the previous decision of the Leadership Board, officers will continue to brief Group Leaders on any strategic developments outwith the Leadership Board meetings as scheduled, whilst ward members will be specifically briefed should any emerging information be relevant and available at that level. Page 371 of 434
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PUBLIC Implications of the Report 1. Financial – the increasing demand on services has been largely managed within existing resources with some additional staffing being put into place through migration and asylum funding streams allocated to the Council by the UK and Scottish Government. 2. HR & Organisational Development – – Grant funding allocated by both the UK Government and Scottish Government for different schemes has been utilised to fund additional support staff as required. 3. Community/Council Planning – Supporting New Scots to resettle in Renfrewshire is an important element of the Fairer Renfrewshire programme, and has been identified as a priority by members of the Fairer Renfrewshire lived experience panel. 4. Legal - relevant legal advice is sought from colleagues in relation to proposed policy changes and their impact on Renfrewshire as required. 5. Property/Assets – none 6. Information Technology - none 7. Equality and Human Rights – the Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. The New Scots strategy supports a human rights based approach to the resettlement of people in local communities. These principles remain core to local discussions with partners in relation to proposed policy changes which may arise 8. Health and Safety - none 9. Procurement – none 10. Risk – the paper notes potential risks in terms of increased pressure on local resources as a result of national policy changes around asylum dispersal and wider resettlement programmes, and particularly highlights increased financial risks which have been identified in relation to potentially significant pressures on housing and homeless services. 11. Privacy Impact – none 12. COSLA Policy Position – regular updates on migration and asylum developments are considered through COSLA Leaders and policy boards. 13. Climate Risk – none 14. Children’s Rights – Childrens rights are considered in relation to the support that is offered to children and young people receiving support in Renfrewshire through asylum and resettlement programmes. Author: Laura McIntyre, Head of Policy and Partnerships Page 372 of 434
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PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Leadership Board On: 3 December 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Finance and Resources ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Non-Residential Social Care Charging Policy – Implementation Update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The Board agreed in September 2025 that an update report would be provided to a future meeting in respect of the implementation of the above policy. This report outlines work undertaken by the Council to implement the Non- Residential Social Care Charging Policy, and the support arrangements which have been put in place. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Board: • Note the contents of the report. _________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 The Council’s Finance and Assessments team has been implementing the amended Non-Residential Charging Policy approved by the Board on 19 February 2025, effective from 7 April 2025. 3.2 Financial Assessments for Day Centre clients have been prioritised as this is the first time this assessment will be undertaken. Item 8 Page 373 of 434
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PUBLIC 3.3 The updating of records requires colleagues within Renfrewshire HSCP to liaise with their social care system software provider to facilitate the updating of charge rates attached to clients’ records. This process can take a number weeks following the start of the financial year to finalise, due to the rollover of the system and the updating of financial records for all services. A working group has been established to support a smoother billing cycling next financial year. 3.4 Once charge rates are updated, the team undertake the financial assessment process. Clients who normally receive a financial assessment every year are aware of this process and are therefore familiar with the timescales whereby they will receive a contribution letter during the first quarter of the financial year. This process was new to the 855 Day Centre users who were receiving a financial assessment for the first time in 2025. As stated, this particular client group was prioritised, and assessments were all completed by the end of July. 3.5 Following completion of a Financial Assessment, a letter is issued detailing the amount of any contribution. Where it has been determined that a contribution is required, an invoice for payment is subsequently raised the following week. These letters include the offer of a payment plan to support the transition. 3.6 The updated policy also included a change in charges for Community Meals and Community Alarms. Meals and Alarms are not part of the Non-Residential Charging provisions and have always attracted a set charge therefore no Financial Assessment is required, the bills for these were issued in a similar timeframe as previous years. 4. Notification of charges 4.1 Following Policy approval, letters were issued to all clients individually who required a Financial Assessment, explaining the changes. The letter also included an invitation to submit, where appropriate, a Disability Related Expenditure form to ensure these costs were included in the assessment. To date the team has supported 232 clients in completing a Disability Related Expenditure form, with most resulting in a reduction in their charge. 4.2 Visits were arranged to provide an opportunity for clients and carers to ask questions directly and understand what support was available, prior to the changes coming into effect. Senior officers visited Johnstone, Ralston and Renfrew Day Centres along with the Carers Forum during May. 5. Billing 5.1 Of the 855 clients now covered by the policy change, 413 are assessed as requiring a contribution to the cost of their service. All clients have been on the standard 4 weekly billing cycle since August 2025, with 4 clients making a request for a payment plan to help support with payments, all of which have been agreed. Page 374 of 434
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PUBLIC 6. Ongoing engagement 6.1 The service continues to proactively support clients through the change in policy. 6.2 To date, the Service has received 161 requests for their Financial Assessment to be reviewed, with the majority then providing Disability Related Expenditure information which has reduced the level of charge. 6.3 The team have received 14 elected member enquiries and 3 complaints direct from clients, all of which have resulted in further support being provided to the client. 11 clients have cancelled their service since the introduction of the revised policy. 6.4 As stated previously, the offer of a payment plan was included in the charging letters issued. Where customers have cancelled their service the cancellation letter also details the contact details for Advice Works for further support. 6.5 Following positive feedback about the visits described in section 4.3 above, further meetings are in the process of being arranged at a wide range of locations to provide as much help and support to clients as possible. A variety of daytime and evening options will be offered. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – None 2. HR & Organisational Development – None 3. Community/Council Planning – our Council Plan sets out the importance of financial sustainability and this policy will support that. Charges are based on individual financial assessments and there is signposting to services which could help people maximise their income. 4. Legal - Councils are permitted to levy charges for some non-residential social care services, as covered under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 Section 87, the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984, and the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002. 5. Property/Assets – None 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality & Human Rights – It is recognised that there may be some negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights which were identified in the original Equality Impact Assessment. A full copy of the Equality Impact Assessment undertaken prior to the Non-Residential Charging Policy being approved on 19 February 2025 is available from the report author. Page 375 of 434
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PUBLIC 8. Health & Safety - None 9. Procurement – None 10. Risk - None 11. Privacy Impact - None 12. Climate Risk – None. 13. Children’s Rights – None 14. COSLA Policy Position – Renfrewshire Council applies COSLA’s guidance in relation to charging policy, as detailed in the report and the policy. _______________________________________________________ List of Background Papers None ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Emma Shields, Strategic Service Delivery Manager Page 376 of 434
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PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Leadership Board On: 3rd December 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Compulsory Purchase Reform in Scotland – Consultation Response ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This paper sets out the Council’s proposed response to the consultation launched by the Scottish Government. The deadline for submission of responses is 19th December 2025. 1.2 The Council’s proposed response has been drafted by officers familiar with the Compulsory Purchase process and informed by their experiences of the current system. 1.3 A summary of the consultation process is provided within this report with the proposed response itself attached at Appendix 1. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that members approve the proposed response to the Scottish Government’s Compulsory Purchase Reform in Scotland consultation which will be submitted to the Scottish Government prior to the deadline of 19th December 2025. Item 9 Page 377 of 434
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PUBLIC _________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 On 19th September 2025, the Scottish Government launched the Compulsory Purchase Reform in Scotland consultation. 3.2 The purpose of the consultation is to inform the Scottish Government’s approach to the comprehensive reform they consider is required to the Scotland’s compulsory purchase system. The consultation puts forward a package of options and proposals for comment. 3.3 The consultation is informed by the Scottish Law Commission’s Discussion Paper on Compulsory Purchase No 159 which consulted on their discussion paper between December 2014 and June 2015. The Council issued a response form to this earlier consultation. 3.4 The Commission’s 2016 Final Report concluded that “the legislation is old, difficult to understand and does not work effectively in a modern context” and that those who the Commission consulted with “took the view that the system, both procedurally and in relation to the award of compensation, does not operate fairly”. 3.5 The Scottish Government state in their Consultation Paper that Compulsory Purchase Orders are a powerful tool with the potential to help drive real change for Scotland’s people and places by enabling delivery of development and infrastructure projects. However, this potential has not been fully realised as CPO powers are under-utilised due to the perception that the current system is opaque, antagonistic, costly and time consuming. The reforms aim to address some of these issues whilst ensuring that any CPO is clearly justified as taking someone’s home or business is a serious step. 3.6 The consultation also invites views on the associated concept of Compulsory Sale Orders, which have been suggested as an alternative or additional tool to complement Compulsory Purchase Orders. 3.7 Officers from Finance and Resources, Chief Executives and Environment, Housing and Infrastructure have prepared a draft response which could be submitted by The Renfrewshire Council in relation to the consultation which is attached as Appendix 1. This has been informed by their experience of the Compulsory Purchase process which has been utilised regularly by the Council in recent years to support to key regeneration and infrastructure products. ___________________________________________________________________ Page 378 of 434
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PUBLIC Implications of the Report 1. Financial – there are no financial implications immediately arising from this report, future decisions on the compulsory purchase order process including streamlining the process for unopposed CPOs, digitalisation and may reduce the costs of some a compulsory purchase order applications however the process will be similar for opposed compulsory purchase orders and the reforms to the compensation system may increase costs by extending eligibility for compensation in certain circumstances. Without clarity on the specific reforms that will be introduced, any financial analysis is premature. 2. HR & Organisational Development - none 3. Community/Council Planning – Compulsory Purchase powers are a valuable tool in delivering economic growth and vital regeneration and infrastructure projects for Renfrewshire and its people and as such any efforts to streamline the compulsory purchase process to deliver projects contingent on a fully assembled site will be positive and in keeping with the principles of the Council Plan. 4. Legal – proposed reforms to Compulsory Purchase powers will have significant impact on the current legal framework for CPOs and may require revisions to the Council’s governance if proposals to permit Council’s to confirm certain unopposed CPOs themselves are introduced however until the Scottish Government conclude the consultation and bring forward a reform bill this is hypothetical. The proposed introduction of Compulsory Sales Orders would grant all local authorities additional powers to force the sale of properties where this can be justified in the public interest. 5. Property/Assets - the proposed reforms would not have a significant impact on the assets of the Council however if procedures for certain protected assets are extended to include local authority this would make the process of acquiring Council assets compulsorily more onerous. 6. Information Technology – if the proposed reforms to the CPO process to extend digitalisation are introduced, this may require the Council utilise new applications or additional technology support to staff working on individual compulsory purchase order applications however until the extent to which reforms will extend the digitalisation of the process this cannot be confirmed. Page 379 of 434
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PUBLIC 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 because this is a report seeking approval of a consultation response to a Scottish Government consultation. 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 - none 9. Procurement – none 10. Risk – the consultation response at Appendix 1 highlights certain potential risks in relation to governance and finance but at this stage this is speculative. 11. Privacy Impact - none 12. Climate Risk – none 13. Children’s Rights – none 14. Cosla Policy Position –not applicable. _______________________________________________________ List of Background Papers none ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Declan MacAskill, Assistant Managing Solicitor (Housing Regeneration and Development) Page 380 of 434
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PUBLIC Compulsory Purchase Reform in Scotland – Consultation List of Questions Please respond to this consultation using the Scottish Government’s consultation hub, Citizen Space. Access and respond to this consultation online at https://consult.gov.scot/planning-architecture/compulsory-purchase-reform/. If you are unable to respond using Citizen Space, you can use this document to structure your response. Please remember to include the Respondent Information Form with your response. 1. Introduction 2. Overview: How compulsory purchase works Legislation and guidance Question 1: Do you agree that legislation governing compulsory purchase procedures and compensation in Scotland should be brought into a single statute? YES Question 2: Do you have any specific concerns in relation to the repeal of existing legislation on CPO procedures and compensation that we should consider? Great care should be taken when consolidating the provisions of decades of compulsory purchase legislation into a single statute ensuring that no gaps are created unintentionally when repealing the existing legislation without adequate re-provision in the new statute. If gaps are created, this creates a need for additional regulations on top of the new statute that will create the same issues of having to read across multiple pieces of legislation to take forward a CPO. 3. Enabling powers Question 3: With the exception of the bodies referred to at paragraph 3.6, are there any gaps in acquiring authorities’ enabling powers? Please provide specific examples. Existing acquiring authority enabling powers are sufficient with no reform required in this area. Question 4: Are local authorities’ compulsory purchase powers (set out on page 13-14) sufficiently broad to cover the circumstances in which they may need to compulsorily acquire land in carrying out their statutory functions? If not, please specify which powers require to be amended, clarified or supplemented. Page 381 of 434
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PUBLIC Existing acquiring authority enabling powers are sufficient with no reform required in this area. Question 5: Should there be a general power for acquiring authorities to create new rights in land and to attach conditions to such rights? YES Question 6: Should there be a general power for acquiring authorities to seek temporary possession of land? YES Question 7: Do you agree with the proposed list of matters that should be addressed in any new temporary possession power? If not, please give details. YES – however if it is likely that temporary possession powers will be used in circumstances where voluntary agreement to occupy has been sought but will not be forthcoming, it would be useful to have a mechanism to fast track disputes or postpone compensation negotiations to ensure that the necessary works can be delivered without unnecessary delays. Question 8: How might the use of back-to-back CPOs be further encouraged? More detailed guidance on back-to-back CPOs would be welcomed but we would agree that the existing Circular 6/2011 is clear in its support for this mechanism in any case. Page 382 of 434
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PUBLIC 4. Early engagement and preliminary steps Question 9: Do you agree that early and effective engagement is best promoted through non-statutory measures (e.g. guidance) rather than legislative requirements? YES Question 10: How might early and effective engagement between acquiring authorities and affected parties be further encouraged? The existing legislative framework provides flexibility which is important given the significant variations in how compulsory purchase can be used. There may be value, however, in providing examples of best practice, for example, that illustrate what effective early engagement looks like for CPOs of different scales e.g. single empty properties v large infrastructure or regeneration projects. Question 11: Would it be helpful to introduce a general power for acquiring authorities to require specified parties to provide information about ownership, occupation and other interests in land? Please explain your views. YES – it is likely that such a power would be used sparingly as in most cases land referencing should be sufficient to obtain ownership information. However, in certain circumstances where the position is more complicated then a general power to require specified parties to provide information under penalty would a useful means of moving forwards with a project that has stalled due to lack of information. Question 12: Do you agree that acquiring authorities should have a general power of entry prior to the making of a CPO for the purposes of surveying etc? YES Question 13: Does the outline proposal at paragraph 4.23 strike a reasonable balance between the needs of acquiring authorities and rights of the owner/occupier? If not, how should it be changed? Yes, we are supportive of this proposal. 5. Confirmation procedures – Making a CPO Form and content of a CPO Question 14: Are any changes required to the legislation which prescribes the form and content of CPOs? If so, please give details. NO Question 15: Should any or all of the following documents be placed on a statutory footing? Page 383 of 434
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PUBLIC • Statement of Reasons - NO • General Certificate - NO • Protected Assets and Special Category Land Certificate - NO Notification and advertisement of a CPO Question 16: Do you agree that the notification requirements for CPOs should be prescribed through secondary rather than primary legislation? YES Question 17: Should heritable creditors be added to the list of parties who must be individually notified of a CPO? YES Should they have the status of statutory objectors? NO Question 18: Are any other changes required to the list of people to be individually notified? No, the existing list is considered to be appropriate, the obvious gap being heritable creditors which it is proposed will be filled. Question 19: Do you agree that the CPO (and map) should be published on a suitable website, in addition to being made available for inspection at a specified physical location? YES Question 20: Should newspaper notices continue to be used to publicise the making of CPOs? YES – on balance, there does not seem to be an alternative means of reaching local people who may be digitally excluded. The notice must be shorter and simpler though, the length is not only expensive it is also off- putting and potentially confusing to the people we are trying to reach. Question 21: What alternative approaches might be appropriate for publicising CPOs – either in addition to or instead of newspaper notices? There should be greater flexibility on notice requirements, for example for the CPO of a single vacant property should perhaps be limited to affected persons i.e. owner, heritable creditor. Equally, local notices should be placed at the acquiring authority’s discretion e.g. on bus shelters, local noticeboards in community centre where they believe they will be seen by the most people in line with the existing legislation but without obliging newspaper notices on top of this. Newspaper advertisements should be reserved for larger projects. Digitisation Question 22: Should Scottish Ministers have a power to prescribe (through secondary legislation) common data standards for compulsory purchase documentation? If not, please explain your reasons. YES Page 384 of 434
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PUBLIC Question 23: Should acquiring authorities be able to serve compulsory purchase notices by electronic means, if a party agrees to this in writing and provides an address for this purpose? If not, please explain your reasons. YES 6. Confirmation procedures – Deciding a CPO Considering objections to a CPO Question 24: Should there be a statutory time period within which an opposed CPO should be referred to a Reporter after it has been submitted for confirmation? If not, please explain your reasons. YES Question 25: If there is to be a statutory time period, how long should it be? There may be value in setting a statutory time period on a sliding scale e.g. 3 months for 1-3 plots, 6 months for 3 – 10 plots, 9 months for 10+ plots Question 26: Should express provision be made in legislation for objections to be considered through written submissions? YES Question 27: Should the procedural rules for hearings and written submissions for CPO cases be set out in secondary legislation? YES Question 28: Do you agree that statutory objectors’ right to be heard at either a PLI or a hearing should be retained? YES Question 29: Should Scottish Ministers continue to decide whether a PLI or hearing is used? If not, in what circumstances should a PLI be required? YES Question 30: Should provisions on awards of expenses be extended to cover cases where objections are considered through hearings and written submissions? YES How CPOs are decided Question 31: Does the public interest test, as currently set out in Circular 6/2011, strike a fair balance between private and public interests? Please explain your views. Page 385 of 434
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PUBLIC YES – the existing test is fit for purpose and does not require specific revision. Question 32: Do you agree that the public interest test should continue to be policy-based rather than statutory? YES Who takes CPO decisions Question 33: Should acquiring authorities be empowered to confirm unopposed CPOs? YES Question 34: If acquiring authorities are empowered to confirm unopposed CPOs, which approach outlined at paragraph 6.34 would be preferable – Option 1 or 2? Please explain your views. OPTION 2 – unopposed CPOs should be dealt with as efficiently as possible and more radical reform is preferred here, Option 2 strikes the correct balance between efficiency for unopposed CPOs and following due process for CPOs with objections from statutory objectors. Question 35: Should Reporters be empowered to take CPO decisions, subject to published criteria regarding delegation by Scottish Ministers? Please explain your views. Yes, reforms should stive to improve efficiency and speed in making CPO decisions therefore removing double handling and empowering Reporters to take CPO decisions is supported. Special category land Question 36: Is additional scrutiny still needed for CPOs which include particular land? If yes, which of the four current special categories of land should this apply to? • land owned by a local authority • statutory undertaker land • land held inalienably by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) • land forming part of a common or open space YES Question 37: If additional scrutiny of certain CPOs is needed, could there be alternative ways to achieve this other than Special Parliamentary Procedure? Please outline your suggestions Renfrewshire Council supports applying the special procedure to local authority land and sees an opportunity to remove inconsistencies based on Page 386 of 434
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PUBLIC the acquiring authority, which currently create unnecessary complexity and uncertainty. Renfrewshire Council supports the requirement for mandatory public local inquiries when confirming CPOs involving special category land. Renfrewshire Council supports the extension of the restriction on confirmation unless specific certification is received to include all special category land. Replacing the need for an Act of Parliament with a motion at Scottish Parliament would be more efficient and seems proportionate. Question 38: Should the restriction on confirmation of CPOs that include statutory undertaker land apply only where a relevant objection is made by the undertaker whose land is included in the Order? If not, please explain your reasons. YES Question 39: Do you agree with the proposals at paragraph 6.57 regarding the interaction between CPOs and public rights of way? If not, please explain your reasons. YES Scope and timing of CPO decisions Question 40: Should there be a mechanism that would allow statutory objections to be addressed during the confirmation process, so avoiding unnecessary hearings or PLIs? YES Question 41: If provision for such a mechanism were made, what procedures or safeguards would need to be put in place to ensure fairness? Could either of the suggestions in paragraph 6.62 achieve this? Both suggestions sound reasonable and proportionate. Question 42: Would a power to confirm CPOs subject to conditions be helpful in terms of overall project delivery? Please explain your views. Yes – one of the main disadvantages of the CPO process is the potential for it add lengthy delays to delivery of a project, therefore if conditional CPOs could be sought earlier in the process this would alleviate once of the main challenges with for example a regeneration project reliant on fully site assembly before funding requirement are met. Question 43: If conditional CPOs were taken forward, what additional procedures and safeguards would need to be in place to ensure fair and proportionate use? Page 387 of 434
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PUBLIC There should be no opportunity for objectors to re-visit substantial issues settled during the confirmation process of the conditional CPO or seek to re-litigate these issues causing delays that undermine the effectiveness of the conditional CPO initiative. However, it is accepted that the current 3 year implementation period is justified and proportionate and subject to specific, limited exemptions e.g. loss funding, economic conditions there should be a limited period for acquiring authorities to discharge conditions. Question 44: Do you agree that the Scottish Government should publish target timescales for the issuing of CPO decisions, rather than having binding statutory time limits? If not, please explain your reasons. YES Question 45: If targets (statutory or otherwise) are not met, what sanctions might be appropriate? Renfrewshire Council does not consider sanctions appropriate in these circumstances but supports reporting obligations to promote transparency and apply external accountability Question 46: Should the Scottish Government be required to report on compliance with any target timescales for CPOs? YES Challenges to a CPO Question 47: Do you agree that the grounds on which a confirmed CPO may be legally challenged should be retained? If not, please explain your reasons. YES Question 48: Should the 6-week period within which a confirmed CPO may be legally challenged be retained? If not, what should the period be? YES Question 49: If a legal challenge is successful, should the court have discretion to quash just the confirmation decision, rather than its only remedy being to quash the Order itself? YES 7. Implementation Procedure Question 50: Do you agree that there should be a single procedure for implementing compulsory purchase, similar to GVD? If not, what problems do you see with this approach? Page 388 of 434
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PUBLIC YES Objection to severance Question 51: Should there be a single test for objection to severance, or a different categorisation? If you propose different categories, please explain what they would be. A single test or perhaps two distinct tests for residential v commercial/agricultural to take account of the different considerations that are relevant between these two categories of land. Question 52: Under the new CPVD, should a notice of objection to severance prevent the land included in the CPO from vesting in the acquiring authority? NO – it is vital that these notices do not delay vesting, the present system is at risk of abuse with spurious notices issued that not only delay vesting but also expose the acquiring authority to unnecessary additional claims by their contractors. Timing Question 53: Should confirmation notices be required to be published within 6 weeks of the date on which the order is confirmed? If you disagree, what timing would you prefer, and why? No – while there is currently no time limit for submitting confirmation notices, they are typically published as soon as reasonably practicable. Given the complexity and cost of the CPO process, any delay is likely to be justified. If a time limit is introduced, it should be significantly longer than six weeks. Question 54: Do you agree that the standard implementation period should remain at three years? YES Question 55: Should confirming authorities be able to specify a longer or shorter implementation period? YES Question 56: Do you agree that the time limit should be suspended during any court challenge to the validity of the CPO? YES Question 57: Please add any comments on the time limit for implementation, if you wish to expand on your answers to questions 53 to 56. Question 58: Do you agree that the new CPVD should take effect six weeks after notification that it has been made? If not, what should the period be, and why? Page 389 of 434
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PUBLIC YES Question 59: Is there a need for a separate stage to notify people with an interest in the land and seek information from them? NO Effect on title Question 60: Should the new CPVD provide the acquiring authority with a valid title, removing all defects, real burdens, servitudes etc and securities? If not, please explain your reasons. YES Question 61: In relation to section 107 of the Title Conditions Act, should the legislation be amended to clarify that the acquiring authority simply has to have relevant compulsory purchase powers? If not, please explain your reasons. YES Question 62: Should acquiring authorities be able to include land in a CPVD which belongs to them, or where they are unsure if it does? If not, please explain your reasons. YES Question 63: Should a note be added to the title sheet in the Land Register stating that the title was acquired by compulsory purchase? If not, please explain your reasons. YES Rights subordinate to ownership Question 64: Would there be any difficulties in including all leases and liferents in a CPVD, extinguishing them in return for compensation? Clear guidance would be required in relation to valuation of a liferent for compensation purposes. 8. Compensation Value of land acquired Question 65: Do you agree that compulsory purchase compensation in Scotland should continue to be based on the principle of equivalence? If not, please explain your reasons. YES Page 390 of 434
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PUBLIC Question 66: Should compensation for land acquired compulsorily continue to be based on an assessment of its market value (disregarding increases/decreases attributable to the CPO scheme)? Please note that the following questions consider potential exceptions to this approach. YES Question 67: Should acquiring authorities have the power to request that, for a specific CPO, compensation would take no account of the prospect of planning permission being granted for alternative development? It would be for Scottish Ministers to make the decision when confirming the CPO. YES In what circumstances do you think this approach would be justified? In limited cases, land costs may be so high that key regeneration or infrastructure projects become unviable without changes to the compensation valuation regime to enable affordable acquisition. Question 68: Should the no-scheme principle be codified in the legislation? YES Question 69: If the no-scheme principle is codified, do you agree with the outline proposal at paragraph 8.39? Are there any other matters that would need to be addressed? YES - no other matters are considered necessary for inclusion. Question 70: Should the planning assumptions be repealed and re-written? YES Question 71: Do you agree with the broad outline for how the planning assumptions might be reformed set out in paragraphs 8.45 to 8.46? Do you have any comments on the proposed changes to the planning assumptions? YES – it is felt that the outline planning assumptions are broadly correct and are consistent with codifying the “no-scheme” principles in the new legislation. Question 72: Should CAADs be retained as a tool to establish development value in a CPO context, or should they be abolished? Please explain your reasons. CAAD should be retained – it has value as a transparent process with a public decision delivered through the application process. It is felt that there in insufficient detail in the consultation paper on the alternative proposal should CAAD be abolished. Question 73: If CAADs were to be retained, how could they be made more effective, efficient and equitable? Page 391 of 434
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PUBLIC We have no comments to make on this proposal. Question 74: Should Part V of the 1963 Act be repealed and not re-enacted? YES Injurious Affection Question 75: Do you agree that the method of valuation for injurious affection should be dealt with in guidance rather than set in legislation? YES Question 76: Should set-off of betterment continue or be removed from the legislation? Please explain your views. Renfrewshire Council supports retaining this provision for the reason set out in the consultation paper: where public investment increases the value of retained land, this uplift should be reflected in the compensation assessment. Question 77: Please provide details of any acquiring authorities which you believe would need new powers to enable them to carry out accommodation works on a discretionary basis. The current discretionary approach to accommodation works, assessed on a case-by-case basis, remains sufficient and does not require new powers. Disturbance Question 78: Do you agree that separate statutory provision should be made for compensation for disturbance? If not please explain your reasons. YES Question 79: Should compensation for disturbance be able to cover losses incurred from the date on which the notice of making of the CPO is published (and the claimant’s duty of mitigation should apply from the same date)? YES If not, from what date should compensation apply? Please explain your reasons. Question 80: Should compensation for disturbance be payable to those who have a compensable interest in land included in the CPO when it is made, even if that land is not ultimately acquired? YES Question 81: Should owners who do not occupy the property be able to claim a wider range of disturbance compensation than at present? Page 392 of 434
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PUBLIC NO Question 82: Would it be helpful to provide guidance on compensation in cases of complex corporate structures? YES Question 83: Do you agree that the impecuniosity rule should be removed? YES Question 84: Do you agree with the proposals on mitigation, including compensation for business relocation and extinguishment? Please add any comments on these issues. YES Question 85: Should the jurisdiction of the LTS should be extended to cover discretionary as well as mandatory disturbance payments? YES Loss Payments Question 86: Should the minimum period of residence necessary to qualify for a HLP (currently one year) be increased? If so, what should the period be, and why? NO Question 87: How should the amount of HLP be calculated, among the options discussed in paragraphs 8.104 to 8.110? Please add any comments on these options or other approaches. The current approach of calculating HLP as 10% of market value is supported. It is less arbitrary than a flat rate and better reflects differences in property condition and value, even within the same area. A flat rate fails to account for these variations, and grading HLP by length of occupation introduces unnecessary complexity and evidence gathering. Therefore, the 10% approach remains the most practical and equitable. Question 88: If a person is displaced from an agricultural unit as a result of compulsory purchase, should they be eligible for a loss payment regardless of whether they continue farming elsewhere? YES Question 89: Should there continue to be a minimum area of land (currently 0.5 hectares) below which a FLP is not payable? If yes, what should the minimum area be? YES – maintain a minimum of 0.5 hectares Page 393 of 434
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PUBLIC Question 90: Do you agree that we should move away from the current profit- based approach to calculating FLP? YES Question 91: If a new approach to calculating FLP is taken forward, which of the options outlined at paragraph 8.118 would you prefer? Option 1 – Market rate: base the amount of FLP on a proportion of the market value of the land acquired. Question 92: Should loss payments be extended to other non-residential interests displaced as a result of compulsory purchase? Please explain your views. YES – the extension of loss payments to other non-residential interests is supported provided there is sufficient detail on how this is to be calculated as experience of existing loss payments are that they are a valuable tool in brining negotiations to a close much more quickly. 9. Compensation procedures Making a claim Question 93: Should acquiring authorities be required to advise owners of their rights to compensation and how to claim it? YES Question 94: Should a statutory claim form be provided to collect more information about the amount of compensation sought? YES Question 95: Should acquiring authorities be required to provide information on their assumptions relating to compensation, if this is requested by a claimant? NO Question 96: Should acquiring authorities be required to offer compensation, rather than requiring owners to claim it? YES Question 97: Please provide any comments about the procedure for claiming compensation, if you wish to expand on your responses to questions 93 to 96. Advising Owners of Rights: Existing forms offer no flexibility in terms of information provided to owners, amendments to the forms required to take this proposal forward. Providing Assumptions on Request: While supportive of greater transparency, there is currently insufficient Page 394 of 434
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PUBLIC guidance on what assumptions acquiring authorities should make. Without clearer direction, this requirement cannot be supported. Offering Compensation Proactively: This is an area lacking guidance, and we are supportive of clearer directions being provided to acquiring authorities. Time limits Question 98: Do you agree that an application to the LTS should be able to be made from the date of vesting? If not, when should the earliest date for application be? YES Question 99: Should there be a final time limit for making a claim for compensation? If yes, what should the limit be? YES – six years from date of vesting, as an acquiring authority we are not supportive of maintaining an open-ended payment obligation. Question 100: Are any other changes needed in relation to the timing of compensation claims? No Advance payments Question 101: Are any new powers needed to enable acquiring authorities to make discretionary advance payments, if one is sought before they take possession? YES – it would be beneficial for this power to be expressly stated. Question 102: Would it be helpful to enable advance payments to be made to heritable creditors, with the landowner’s agreement? YES Question 103: What mechanisms do you think would help to ensure advance payments are made promptly? • enforcement through the courts • LTS enforceable valuation • penalty interest • other (please explain). Renfrewshire Council are not supportive of penalty interest or court enforcement, as delays are often due to unrealistic or disputed claims rather than bad faith. Of the options presented, an LTS-enforceable valuation by a Page 395 of 434
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PUBLIC neutral third party is the most effective and balanced mechanism to ensure timely advance payments. Question 104: Should acquiring authorities have the power to offer advance payments even where one is not requested? If so, should interest on the amount of outstanding compensation be capped? Yes - capping interest on the outstanding balance is reasonable. It avoids financially penalising authorities acting in good faith and encourages early engagement, while still protecting claimants' rights. Interest rates Question 105: What should be the basis for the interest rate payable on outstanding compensation? • current rate (0.5% below standard rate) • average rate for overdrafts • average rate for loans • statutory interest • other (please give details) Maintain the current rate (0.5% below the standard rate). This rate is fairer than statutory interest and more straightforward to ascertain than the other options presented and avoids unnecessary complexity in processing time-sensitive payments. 10. Compulsory Sale and Lease Orders Compulsory Sale Orders Question 106: Should local authorities be able to instruct the sale of a property without permission from the property owner? Please explain your reasons. YES – a compulsory sale power to complement the CPO powers is desirable. Question 107: In what circumstances might compulsory sale be justified, and what benefits or drawbacks might there be? CSOs could be used to bring into use empty or problem homes that are not in areas with a compelling housing need, or are not suitable for social housing due to their size, or location, or type. However, a CSO as proposed only seeks and achieves a change of ownership. If that new owner then leaves the property vacant and does not invest in overcoming its vacancy then little will be achieved. Question 108: If a CSO process was introduced, would the procedures involved in preparing a CSO need to be equivalent to those that apply to a CPO? If not, how should those procedures differ? Page 396 of 434
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PUBLIC As noted in the consultation paper, a CSO would not result in the local authority obtaining an income bearing asset. Accordingly, whilst balancing the public good in, for example, bring a vacant property back into use with the ECHR considerations for deprivation of property the process needs to be proportionate but not overly onerous for the local authority who are essentially exercising step in rights to facilitate a sale that is in the public interest but not benefiting directly from the end result. Question 109: What governance or regulatory frameworks would need to be introduced to ensure that any future CSO process is used fairly and effectively? Question 110: What measures could be taken to control the use of the property by the new owner? There may be a good reason to permit local authorities to impose conditions on the new owner to ensure they bring the property back into use as soon as possible. This may include a time limit for investment by the new owner with this monitored by the local authority. One proposed measure would be a CSO application for investment to the local authority and a decision/certification being made prior to the change in ownership being confirmed. There is also an argument that there should be an opportunity to penalise a failure to comply with conditions with a simplified CSO process to force a further sale without the same level of scrutiny on the basis a CSO has previously been approved by the confirming authority. Any conditions imposed must strike a balance between ensuring the CSO serves its purpose and the negative impact that any controls or obligations that are put on a new owner will have – reducing the potential marketability and prospects of sale and will also detrimentally affect value of the property. Question 111: How long should a property subject to a CSO remain on the market? There are difficulties in setting a default marketing period for properties subject to a CSO – e.g. a residential property may sell quickly with a 12 week marketing period appropriate here however for non-residential property or property that has been long term vacant and in a deteriorated condition a much longer marketing period may be required. Question 112: What should happen if the property does not sell? Ownership stays with the existing owner but there may be an argument for simplified CPO powers for the local authority who obtained approval for a CSO from the Scottish Ministers. Compulsory Lease Orders Question 113: Should local authorities be able to instruct the lease of a property without permission from the property owner? Please explain your reasons. More detail required to be able to provide an informed view on these matters. Page 397 of 434
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PUBLIC Question 114: In what circumstances might compulsory lease be justified, and what benefits or drawbacks might there be? More detail required to be able to provide an informed view on these matters. Question 115: If a CLO process was introduced, would the procedures involved in preparing a CLO need to be more onerous than those that apply to a CPO? Please explain your views. More detail required to be able to provide an informed view on these matters. Question 116: If you think there are any other measures or issues that we should be aware of as part of our consideration of CLOs, please tell us more about these. More detail required to be able to provide an informed view on these matters. Question 117: Do you think that the introduction of either Compulsory Sale Orders or Compulsory Lease Orders in Scotland would add any benefits beyond a reformed CPO process, as a tool for tackling long-term vacant or derelict properties? Please provide details. CSOs would allow local authorities to require the sale of such properties, without the need to acquire them directly. This could: • Reduce the financial and administrative burden on councils. • Enable quicker action on problematic sites. • Incentivise owners to bring properties back into use voluntarily. In contrast, Compulsory Lease Orders (CLOs) remain underdeveloped as a policy concept. Insufficient detail has been provided to assess their potential effectiveness or legal viability 11. Assessment of impacts Question 118: Do you have any comments on the draft BRIA provided in the Annex? No Question 119: Do you consider that any of the options and proposals in this consultation document would impact (positively or negatively) on people with protected characteristics? Please provide details. No Page 398 of 434
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PUBLIC Question 120: Do you consider that any of the options and proposals in this consultation document would affect children’s rights and wellbeing? Please provide details. No Question 121: Do you consider that any of the options and proposals in this consultation document would have significantly different impact on island communities from other communities? Please provide details. No Question 122: Do you consider that any of the options and proposals in this consultation document would impact (positively or negatively) on people who are socio-economically disadvantaged? Please provide details. No Page 399 of 434
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PUBLIC To: Leadership Board On: 3rd December 2025 Report by: Chief Executive Heading: OneRen - Six Monthly Monitoring Report 1. Summary 1.1 On 23rd April 2025, the Leadership Board approved OneRen’s annual business plan priorities. As noted at that time, progress in terms of implementing the business plan and in relation to OneRen performance overall, is monitored on a quarterly basis by the Head of Policy and Partnerships, who acts as the Council’s appointed monitoring officer for OneRen. Six-monthly progress update reports are also provided to the Leadership Board. 1.2 This report provides a summary of progress achieved over the last 6 months, including performance information provided by OneRen in relation to the first two quarters of the current financial year 2025/26. It also provides a summary of the context in which the organisation is currently operating. 1.3 A more detailed overview of activity is provided within Appendix 1 to this report which has also been provided by One Ren for information. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Leadership Board: • Notes the update on performance provided within this report, with additional information on activities delivered provided by OneRen at Appendix 1. 3. Background 3.1 The Services Agreement with OneRen forms the basis of the funding Item 10 Page 401 of 434
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PUBLIC arrangement between the Council and One Ren, and sets out the terms for OneRen to deliver culture, leisure and sport services within Renfrewshire. 3.2 One Ren develop an annual business plan which is closely aligned to the strategic priorities set out in the Council and Community Plan. OneRen is also required to provide quarterly monitoring reports to provide an overview of its financial, operational and customer related performance each quarter. 3.3 In preparing the business plan for 2025/26, OneRen recognised the challenging economic environment in which the organisation is operating and identified a range of activities to achieve its vision of ensuring that “everyone locally is living lives that are healthy, happy and fulfilled”. The plan acknowledged key influential factors particularly the economic environment; inflationary cost pressures; changed customer behaviours post pandemic affecting income; and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on local communities, customers and employees. 3.4 At the same time, the plan noted OneRen’s continuing role in supporting Renfrewshire’s regeneration ambitions through building brand new performance and festival programmes as part of the operational return of key cultural venues. During 2025, £300,000 of funding was awarded from Creative Scotland to One Ren to support this work. 3.5 Officers regularly discuss the ongoing challenges being managed by One Ren through the quarterly monitoring discussions that are undertaken. These challenges specifically include ongoing energy cost pressures which One Ren estimate have added up to £1m in additional cost pressures being faced in year. One Ren report that these costs along with other cost pressures, have been actively managed in recent years through internal efficiencies. 3.6 In 2025/26, the charity’s Business Plan set out the following areas of focus: • Support Renfrewshire’s priorities for children and young people. • Ongoing organisational development, supported by enhanced data. • Increase participation opportunities through an integrated approach to programming. • Strengthen communications framework and brand profiles. • Strengthen income generation to ensure service running costs are covered. • Provide quality visitor experience and consistent audience profiles. Page 402 of 434
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PUBLIC 3.7 The Head of Policy and Partnerships is the Council officer nominated to monitor OneRen and along with the Head of Finance is also an observer at OneRen’s Board meetings. 4. Six-month Progress Report 4.1 Based on the monitoring information provided, OneRen is making progress against its business plan objectives for 2025/26, despite the financial challenges stemming from cost-of-living increases and pressure on disposable income within local communities. 4.2 The One Ren Board agreed its budget for 25/26, which anticipated a small deficit of 69k, with a view to a break-even position being delivered by the end of the financial year, to be achieved through expenditure controls and vacancy management. The budget agreed included a small number of spend to save initiatives which are intended to generate financial savings in future years. 4.3 In terms of income and growth opportunities, data confirms that leisure membership trends are now stabilising, with work being undertaken to grow membership by improving facilities, and enhanced programming. New equipment will be launched across targeted centres over the winter period. 4.4 The attached report at Appendix 1 provides a summary of key highlights for Elected Members in terms of overall activity. In terms of the key elements of the activity information provided, it should be noted that this growth must be viewed in the context of specific cultural and leisure venues coming back into operation over the past 12-24 months including, Paisley Arts Centre, Paisley Central Library and Paisley Town Hall. Highlights include: • Festival Audience Growth and Regional Impact: The festivals programme saw a 67% increase in audience numbers in 2025, with a 42% of attendees travelling from beyond the region, demonstrating national scale and elevating Renfrewshire’s profile as a cultural destination. • Performance Ticket Sales: Performance ticket sales significantly increased, with 28,423 tickets sold between April and September 2025, compared with 18,000 during the same period in 2024. • Significant increase in Library Visits through Event Programming: An increase of almost 28% on the previous year’s attendances to author events, activity clubs, quizzes, and knitting groups, creating a sense of belonging and social connection. • Record Participation in Flagship Road Races: The Paisley 10k and 3k Road Races achieved record participation, with 5,569 runners in the 10k (a 22% increase) and 2,201 runners in the 3k (a 37% increase). • Substantial Increase in Leisure Centre Events: The number of events hosted at major leisure centres increased by 38% over the six-month period, which also resulted in a 30% increase in spectators, highlighting their growing role as community and regional event hubs. • Investment in Ferguslie Delivering Results: attendances up by 42% from Q1 2024/25 with the improvements to changing areas increasing bookings and participation from younger and female players. Page 403 of 434
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PUBLIC • Supporting More People through Vitality Classes: Tailored for individuals living with medical conditions, or for those who experience reduced strength, balance issues, or a fear of falling - the six-month period saw an 18% increase in clients. 4.5 OneRen reports on approximately 70 operational performance indicators to meet the terms of the services agreement; five of which are reported nationally on behalf of the Council through the Local Government Benchmarking Framework. 4.6 The main culture, leisure and sport performance indicators for OneRen are summarised in the table below: Performance indicator Q1 & 2 2023/24 Q1 & 2 2024/25 Q1 & 2 2025/26 Change from 2024/25 to 2025/26 Number of attendances at indoor sports and leisure facilities excluding pools 372,756 445,221 462,693 4% Number of online attendances (digital fitness classes) in leisure services 286 0 0 Please note this indicator was added during COVID and is no longer collected. This will be removed from the reporting schedule going forward. Number of attendances at pools 208,866 172,776 159,764 -8% Number of attendances at outdoor facilities 79,932 89,788 96,505 7% Number of people engaged with Sport Services (online and offline) 23,962 28,850 18,582 -36% Number of people engaged in Health and Wellbeing service 6,108 7,791 9,475 22% Number of OneRen YouTube channel views (switched from 359 9,469* 17,581 86% Page 404 of 434
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PUBLIC in Q3 23-24) Number of visits to museums – 358,377 210,800 588,788 179% Number of visits and engagements with libraries (inc. digital) 1,173,303 1,202,547 3,516,468 192% Number of books and e- book issues 251,857 293,329 321,036 9% Total activity and engagement 2,475,829 2,661,473 5,817,938 119% Explanation for the performance trends: 4.7 One Ren report that during the first half of 2025/26 there has been overall growth in total activity engagement in OneRen services. The organization believes that strategic changes, including onboarding new swim instructors, streamlining digital services have facilitated greater capacity and continued improvement moving into 2026. • Outdoor services continue to show increases in attendances year on year. The data for the first half of 2025/26 reflects an increase in outdoor pitch usage and significant investment in the Ferguslie site. • The number of attendances at pools reduced in the first half of 2025/26 and reflects challenges in retaining instructors for the learn to swim programme. 12 new swim instructors are now onboarded and undertook their qualification 22nd-25th Oct. This will increase the capacity in swimming lessons from this winter. A second wave of prospective teachers will be interviewed in the coming weeks and will increase capacity of swimming lessons again in early 2026. • Health and Wellbeing engagement has seen a 22% increase. Vitality classes remain very popular increasing by 18% year on year. We offer other activities including healthy walks to support recovery, fitness and social connection. Our referrals programme continues to go from strength to strength, with new referral form on the webpage is supporting more people to self-refer. • Library engagement figures have increased by 192%, this is mainly due to an increase in website views from 996,202 to 3,314,641 year on year. In February we updated our Library Management System, the software now sends automatic emails to members. This has resulted in library members using our digital services more often, to renew books, update membership and access online Library and information services. Physical visits to libraries have remained steady, reducing slightly to 201,827 for the first half of this year compared to 206,345 last year. • OneRen YouTube channel has been available since Q3 2023-24 and RENTV is no longer being used to share video content. • Online fitness classes were put in place during the pandemic, however numbers reduced to zero once people were allowed to attend classes in person. To reflect the changes in customer behaviours, online digital fitness classes are no longer offered. Therefore, this indicator will no longer be monitored in future reports. Page 405 of 434
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PUBLIC Implications of the Report 1. Financial – as detailed in the report. 2. HR & Organisational Development – not applicable 3. Community/Council Planning – • Our Renfrewshire is thriving – One Ren recruits and trains volunteers and creates a pathway into employment; • Our Renfrewshire is well – One Ren’s cultural, leisure and sport services and programmes help to maintain positive physical and mental health and well-being; • Our Renfrewshire is fair – One Ren’s and programmes are accessible to all our citizens; • Reshaping our place, our economy and our future – development and delivery of the cultural infrastructure investment programme supports the regeneration aspirations for the area; • Building strong, safe and resilient communities – Tackling inequality, ensuring opportunities for all – One Ren’s services and activities are accessible to all our citizens; • Creating a sustainable Renfrewshire for all to enjoy – One Ren’s programmes build sustainability through volunteer and community development; • Working together to improve outcomes – partnership working to deliver shared outcomes remains a key priority in One Ren’s company strategy. 4. Legal – not applicable 5. Property/Assets – not applicable 6. Information Technology – not applicable 7. Equality & Human Rights (a) 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 Page 406 of 434
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PUBLIC recommendations contained in the report because for example it is for noting only. 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 – not applicable. 9. Procurement – not applicable. 10. Risk – not applicable. 11. Privacy Impact – not applicable. 12. Children’s Rights –not applicable. 13. Climate Risk – not applicable. 14. COSLA Policy position - none List of Background Papers (a) OneRen Key Highlights April to September 2025 Author: Laura McIntyre, Head of Policy and Partnerships, Telephone: Page 407 of 434
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PUBLIC Overview. OneRen is the local charitable organisation providing culture, leisure and sporting opportunities to help people enjoy active and healthy lives across Renfrewshire and beyond. This report provides an overview of OneRen’s key highlights during the first six months of 2025/26. We are passionate about the part we play in improving life-long physical and mental health in every one of our communities, as well as playing a lead role in developing Renfrewshire’s tourism ambitions through our strategic objective A Great Place to Live, Play and Visit. Our charity provides a range of affordable, accessible and ambitious services that are open to all to improve personal, social and economic outcomes. Our goal is to improve the people’s health and wellbeing by working in partnership to design and deliver a range of life-enhancing and accessible cultural, leisure and sporting opportunities that meet local needs and improve life chances across the population. Renfrewshire Council provides an annual management fee towards the cost of delivery - approximately 55% of our operating costs. The rest of OneRen’s costs have to be met through a combination of commercial income and fundraising activities to deliver our full range of important community services. We do this by offering a range of paid-for services such as leisure memberships, charged for events, and external hires. OneRen recognises the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and while the charity needs to charge for some services, we have introduced ‘pay what you can’ models to ensure low, or no cost access, to programmes such as the annual Paisley Book Festival. Culture. Headline Achievements • Festival Audience Growth and Regional Impact: The festivals programme saw a 67% increase in audience numbers in 2025, with a staggering 42% of attendees travelling from beyond the region, demonstrating national scale and elevating Renfrewshire’s profile as a cultural destination. • Outstanding Performance Ticket Sales: Performance ticket sales significantly increased, with 28,423 tickets sold between April and September 2025, compared with 18,000 during the same period in 2024. Page 409 of 434
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PUBLIC • Significant increase in Library visits through event programming: An increase of almost 28% on the previous year’s event attendances to author events, activity clubs, quizzes, and knitting groups, supporting a sense of belonging and social connection. Festivals Programme The development of OneRen’s festival portfolio is having a transformative impact on Renfrewshire as a tourism destination. Paisley Book Festival and Paisley Comedy Festival are not just standout events, they are cultural crown jewels for a region undergoing bold, ambitious regeneration. Anchored in the transformed Paisley Town Hall and Paisley Central Library - flagship projects of Renfrewshire’s ambitious cultural investment - these festivals have redefined what’s possible for our region. The festivals programme has attracted nationally and internationally renowned writers and comedians who, in turn, have broadcast their experiences to their millions of followers, amplifying the message that Renfrewshire is a serious player on the UK’s cultural map. With a 67% increase in audience numbers in 2025 and a staggering 42% of attendees coming from beyond the region, these are not ‘just’ local festivals, they are national in scale, ambition, and impact. They are game changers, elevating the region’s profile and delivering a experience offering that rivals anything found in other major cultural hubs across the UK. Our festivals programme is an annual celebration of the region’s rich stories, culture, and distinctive locations. It brings the town to life through a dynamic programme of unique events that animate the town centre and showcase newly transformed cultural venues including Paisley Town Hall, Paisley Arts Centre and Paisley Central Library. This year marked the successful launch of the first-ever Paisley Comedy Festival, which received an overwhelmingly positive response and laid strong foundations for future growth. We also continue to develop the Paisley Book Festival, supported by Creative Scotland’s Extended Open Fund. This vital funding enables us to sustain and evolve this brilliant literary event, which has become a staple of Scotland’s national festival calendar. Paisley Book Festival Page 410 of 434
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PUBLIC Paisley Book Festival 2025 continued its rise as one of Scotland’s significant literary events, celebrating both established and emerging literary voices with energy and inclusivity. Held over three vibrant days in April, the festival took place across Renfrewshire including iconic venues Paisley Town Hall and Paisley Central Library. A short film can be watched here. Over 4000 people enjoyed 42 events across the main programme, including 8 interactive workshops, 3 live streamed events via the festival’s official YouTube page, 13 free of charge events for families. The festival was supported by a team of 18 dedicated volunteers recruited, trained and supported by our Volunteer, Placement and Employability Coordinator. A dedicated school's programme brought the festival spirit to young readers and writers across Renfrewshire through 18 events: 4 in Paisley Town Hall (1 x live streamed) and 14 in our school libraries and public libraries including Bishopton, Erskine, Ferguslie, Foxbar, Glenburn, Johnstone, Linwood, Lochwinnoch and Renfrew. For the first time, the festival received support from Creative Scotland’s Extended Open Fund, alongside a contribution from the Glasgow Airport FlightPath Fund, helping to expand its reach and impact. The 2025 theme, “The Lives We Live,” inspired a rich and diverse programme. Writers, audiences, and participants came together to explore the stories, experiences, and joys that shape our lives. Highlights included appearances by Irvine Welsh, The Hebridean Baker, Julie Lin, and Michael Pedersen, among others and once again offered a Pay What You Can A standout moment was Irvine Welsh’s headline event, which drew a record- breaking crowd – marking a major milestone in the festival’s history. “Wonderful event, pricing makes it accessible. Great venue - wonderfully staffed. An amazing event for the community and creatives.” “Everything was brilliant, such a great well organised event, interesting talks and people. Lovely staff and choice of books. Fantastic premises, clean, tidy.” Paisley Comedy Festival April 2025 saw the first edition of OneRen’s newest festival taking place across Paisley Town Hall and Paisley Arts Centre attracting audiences of over 1800 over three days. Page 411 of 434
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PUBLIC The festival featured sell out performances from Mhairi Black and Stuart Mitchell as well as local emerging comedians at the open mic. Feedback has been extremely positive showing the festival is contributing to Paisley being a great place to live, play and visit. “I was born in Paisley and it was nice to come back for a night out, the centre is lovely and will definitely be attending more events here.” “The town hall looks fantastic and is very welcoming and comfortable. Staff friendly and helpful too. The show itself was excellent.” Our festival survey showed that: • 80% of survey respondents knew they were attending a Paisley Comedy Festival event. • 25% of survey respondents hadn’t attended PAC or PTH previously. • 83% of survey respondents would like to come to more Comedy events at PTH and PAC • 66% of survey respondents went out for a meal • 54% of survey respondents went out for a drink • Audiences were drawn from across West and South Scotland postcodes (see chart) • 30% were from Greater Glasgow Performance Programme Our Performance Programming team is dedicated to bringing high-quality cultural experiences to Renfrewshire, positioning the town as a vibrant destination for exceptional events. We achieve this by collaborating with national companies, promoters, and agents to curate a programme of outstanding artists and performances that resonate with our existing audiences, while also attracting new ones. Through innovative initiatives such as The Hangar and Paisley Comedy Club, we strive to offer a distinctive and exciting cultural programme. Our team also ensures that visiting artists and companies actively engage with local organisations, helping to grow audiences and broaden access to the programme. This includes facilitating creative learning opportunities such as workshops and post-show discussions, delivered in partnership with local groups and aligned with the interests and expertise of visiting creatives. Page 412 of 434
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PUBLIC 28,423 performance tickets were sold in April to September 2025. This compares with 18,000 tickets sold during the same period in 2024. Full details of our spring / summer performance brochure can be accessed here. This year a particular highlight has been to re-establish Paisley Arts Centre, which has long been established as one of Scotland’s most vibrant and exciting venues for comedy, dance, drama, music, theatre, and family events. It is an intimate and special place where unique performances happen and where audiences get to experience culture up close. 91.5% of Paisley Arts Centre audience attendees rated their experience as ‘Very Good’ and 94% of customers said yes, they would return to the venue. Several companies have noted the venue’s flexibility and commitment to artist development, with Paisley Arts Centre regularly cited as an “ideal space for new Scottish work”. Paisley Arts Centre Performance highlights Theatre When Billy Met Alasdair (Alan Bissett): A sell-out performance following a highly successful Edinburgh Fringe run, reinforcing Bissett’s connection to Renfrewshire audiences and demonstrating local appetite for contemporary Scottish storytelling. Stuntman (Superfan): Opening its national tour at Paisley Arts Centre following a week-long residency in the venue, the company’s engagement officer worked with local organisations including Create Paisley, Star Project, and Right2Dance, creating opportunities between the artists and community participants. Wee Man (Barrowland Ballet): An ambitious dance-theatre production exploring masculinity across generations, featuring a community cast of local men and teenagers. Music The Hangar: A bold new addition to Paisley Art Centre’s music programme, The Hangar is a multi-arts night that has quickly established itself as a hub for Scotland’s indie community, showcasing Scotland’s alternative arts scene through music, art, film, and unique collaborations. Curated with Sushil K Dade (The Soup Dragons / Future Pilot AKA), the series has featured intimate and Page 413 of 434
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PUBLIC genre-defining performances including BMX Bandits’ Duglas T Stewart, Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai), rising post-rock duo Cloth and Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake. Each event combines live music, DJ sets, film screenings, and artist Q&As to create immersive, cross-disciplinary experiences that connect audiences with the creative spirit of Scotland’s independent music community. “It was very well curated – I couldn’t believe we saw two bands, a film and a book reading in the time, and it felt short! The quality of the acts was excellent” Horse: An unforgettable sell-out performance from Scotland’s legendary singer-songwriter, celebrating the 25th anniversary of her iconic album The Same Sky. A deeply moving evening that resonated with both long-time fans and new audiences Siobhan Miller: Four-time Scots Trad Music Awards Best Singer brought her powerful vocals and heartfelt contemporary folk to Paisley Arts Centre. A spellbinding performance that combined tradition with warmth and emotional depth, reaffirming Paisley Arts Centre’s reputation for hosting leading Scottish folk artists. Comedy Paisley Comedy Club: A standout strand in our programme, the Comedy Club continues to attract strong audiences and high-quality acts. Highlights this season included Gary Delaney, Marc Jennings and John Gavin, delivering a brilliant night of stand-up that rounded off with a fantastic set. Earlier in the season, Hal Cruttenden brought his sharp observational humour to a sold-out audience. The Club remains a cornerstone of our live entertainment offer, providing regular opportunities for audiences to experience top-tier comedy in an intimate local setting. Grado & Purdon: Hilarious, heartfelt, and full of local flavour, this dynamic duo packed the house with a sell-out show of their trademark mix of banter and storytelling. A post-show meet and greet was warmly received, reinforcing their strong connection with Renfrewshire audiences. Comedy Sneak Peeks: Craig Hill & Connor Burns: Two special sell-out preview nights delighted audiences with high-energy performances and sharp wit. Both acts return to Paisley Arts Centre for headline shows in the 2025 Autumn Season, following enthusiastic audience response. Page 414 of 434
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PUBLIC Johnstone Town Hall continues to offer a varied programme of events and activities to a diverse range of audiences, including high quality performances aimed at families such as Elmer Adventure and The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy & Tentacle Girls. Performances dealing with difficult themes have also been incorporated into the programme, including Barrowland Ballet’s Wee Man, When we were Young and Provy Wummin’. Johnstone Town Hall continues to be a venue of choice for returning companies with Right 2 Dance and MacDougalls booking multiple shows annually. The daytime café by Bianco Nero in Johnstone Town Hall, introduced in 2025, continues to go from strength to strength with a marked increase in gross sales and the street area once again being animated with local audiences. The permanent sole supplier in the venue has allowed for the development of a range of new packages and offers for venue hire that aim to attract new business to the venue. This has been well received by the market with bookings already being taken for this financial year and next. Community Libraries Bookbug Early Years Development Within the scope of supporting healthier communities, Renfrewshire Libraries have provided 635 Bookbug sessions, supporting families to read, sing, and play, sharing stories, songs and rhymes with their little ones from birth. During this period our teams served 14,149 Bookbug attendees. Social Connection and Participation In addition to this our Libraries and Information Services teams have organised and run 1,719 physical events, incorporating author visits, activity clubs, quizzes, and knitting groups, supporting a sense of belonging and social connection. In the first half of this year, we have seen 21,769 event visits to our Libraries, an increase of almost 28% on the previous year’s event attendances for the first 2 quarters of the year. These events help to facilitate the community of Renfrewshire, and particularly those who may be socially excluded, to come together, for free, in recognised safe places. We have stimulated local creativity with 141 Book/Writers group sessions attracting 861 visits across all our facilities. Our Home Delivery service has provided 417 visits to households inhabited by older people, people who find leaving their own home challenging, as well as Page 415 of 434
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PUBLIC families with pre-school or school age children. This is an increase of 106 visits over the same period last year. Community wellbeing Throughout this period we have continued to work in partnership with local groups across Renfrewshire, for example: a breast-feeding support group that meets weekly in Johnstone Library; a domestic abuse support service called Ask Crystal in Paisley Central Library; monthly hearing aid clinics in our libraries in the Erskine, Johnstone and Renfrew as well as providing 12 locations for the pick-up of replacement hearing aid batteries; a wellbeing café that runs weekly in Renfrew Library; Dementia ‘cuppa and activity’ afternoon sessions in Johnstone Library; Talk Together book collections in many of our libraries and the ‘Near Me’ video health consultancy service to name a few. Community capacity Throughout this period we have continued to support people and their economic wellbeing striving to create libraries as safe, non-judgemental spaces. We work to achieve this in partnership with Citizens Advice to provide weekly clinics in Johnstone and Renfrew Libraries, a fortnightly Job Club in our new flagship Library on Paisley High Street as well as a Home Education Support group in Lochwinnoch Library, continuing to provide validation points in all of our libraries for National Entitlement Cards, the introduction of film clubs within Paisley Central and Ferguslie Park libraries and we will be entering into a partnership within the next couple of months for free musical instrument lending within selected areas of Renfrewshire. Digital Support Libraries and Information Services also assist the public with challenges they may be experiencing using digital devices, such as mobile phones, tablets and laptops. Our teams are, in many instances, the go-to service when people require support in the wake of society’s continued advance towards digital interaction and AI. Our facilities catered for 16,399 sessions of computer access during the first 6 months of 2025/26, accompanied by 21,040 WiFi interaction sessions more than double the instances of the equivalent period in 2024/25. Our staff also provided further digital support on 19,611 occasions, again, almost doubling the instances of the equivalent period in 2024/25, supporting people to pay bills, apply for jobs, become informed about issues relevant to them, help them with everyday digital tasks. Page 416 of 434
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PUBLIC Our Digital Champions Coordinator continues to expand the Digital Champions network across Renfrewshire, strengthening support for digital inclusion in local communities. To enhance our offer, we’ve introduced regular additional digital skills drop-in sessions and Databank drop-in sessions Mondays 2-4pm in Ferguslie Library and Fridays 2-4pm in Renfrew Library. Over the summer, we also piloted outreach sessions on-board the Skoobmobile, targeting families in areas with limited access to local libraries. These sessions aimed to bring digital support and connectivity (via the on- board public WiFi) directly into communities and explore new ways of engaging residents. Between April and October 2025, the project delivered 333 digital skills sessions, supported by 557 hours of Digital Champion time. We distributed 97 Databank SIM cards to individuals experiencing data poverty, providing a total of 665 months of free calls, texts and mobile data to Renfrewshire residents. We also loaned 20 Chromebooks, with MiFi devices provided where needed, to help bridge the digital access gap. School Libraries Between April and September, the school library service continued to provide a busy and varied programme of events including both curricular and extra- curricular events. In April, Paisley Book festival school’s programme organised by the library service involved 18 events. Events were held by 6 authors with total physical attendees as 1,163 from both primary and secondary schools. 42 primary and secondary schools also signed up to watch the live stream of the Joseph Coelho session at Paisley Town Hall which was very well received. In May, an event to award the Janet Coats Memorial Poetry Prize was held as part of the festival with 5 pupils from 4 schools being shortlisted. An S1 pupil from Gryffe High School won the 2025 young people’s prize with her poem ‘Now it’s a Memory’ winning £200 in poetry books. In June, Johnstone High School achieved Reading School Gold status with a significant amount of work led by the school librarian. This is now the 5th secondary school in Renfrewshire to achieve this top award which solidifies the school librarian’s role in creating a positive reading culture. Page 417 of 434
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PUBLIC Activities days in June took place across all schools allowing school librarians to support both in-school and out of school trips including bookshop trips to choose books for the library as well as running their own activities in the libraries. The Japanese pen-pal project at Renfrew High finished in June. Over the last year pupils had been paired with a school in Japan with pupils had been recommending books to each other as well as finding out about each other’s schools. Schools across Renfrewshire took part in an Empathy Day conference in June. This was organised by school librarians and was held in Paisley Central Library with pupils and school librarians attending from 5 schools. Pupils had a chance to speak about their favourite books and delivered creative presentations. £15,840 grant funding was awarded by the Scottish Government’s School library improvement fund for an empathy project to take place across all secondary school libraries and some cluster primary schools. This will involve 10 schools becoming accredited empathy schools as well as work taking place across the academic year on storytelling sessions with cluster primary schools. Transition work continued with school librarians visiting P7s, hosting sessions in the school libraries and pupils visiting cluster primaries to do storytelling sessions. Enhanced transition activities also took place at Paisley Grammar and Park Mains High School with Scottish comic artist Neil Slorance visiting to run comic sessions with pupils. All school librarians took part in training by Renfrewshire Council on de- escalation of challenging behaviour to better support the pupils they work with. St Benedict’s library piloted a summer programme opening the library up twice weekly to a group of targeted pupils. The club was created after several pupils who frequent the library asked if there was any way it could be made accessible during the summer. After meeting with the senior management team at the school and completing a risk assessment to ensure pupil safety, the club was approved. 5 school libraries organised visits to Edinburgh Book Festival in August to attend author sessions with Trinity and St Benedict’s running a joint trip for the first time. All pupils were gifted books by Edinburgh Book Festival. These sessions only took place due to the school librarians successfully bidding for transport funding. Page 418 of 434
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PUBLIC Johnstone High was awarded a competitive author residency which was granted to only 8 schools in Scotland and was worth approximately £5000. Pupils will undertake poetry sessions and visits to Lochwinnoch’s RSPB nature reserve to get inspiration to write their own poetry. The author Katharine Macfarlane was appointed to be part of this residency with work starting in September. Leisure & Sport. Headline Achievements • Record Participation in Flagship Road Races: The Paisley 10k and 3k Road Races achieved record participation, with 5,569 runners in the 10k (a 22% increase) and 2,201 runners in the 3k (a 37% increase), showcasing a massive surge in community fitness and engagement. • Substantial Increase in Leisure Centre Events: The number of events hosted at major leisure centres increased by 38% over the six-month period, which also resulted in a 30% increase in spectators, highlighting their growing role as community and regional event hubs. • Investment in Ferguslie is delivering results, with attendances up by 42% from Q1 2024/25. The improvements to changing areas have increased bookings and participation from younger and female players. • Supporting more people through Vitality Classes: Tailored for individuals living with medical conditions, or for those who experience reduced strength, balance issues, or a fear of falling, the six month period saw an 18% increase. Record-breaking Paisley 10k and 3k Road Races This year’s Paisley 10k saw record participation with 5,569 runners – a 22% increase on 2024. The 2025 3k Fun Run saw a fantastic surge in community participation, with 2,201 runners taking part, a 37% increase on 2024. A short film of the event can be watched here. Local sports clubs rallied behind the event in impressive numbers, turning the run into a celebration of teamwork, fitness, and fundraising. Johnstone Burgh led the charge with 228 runners, followed by Renfrew FC (178), Gleniffer Thistle FC Page 419 of 434
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PUBLIC (163), and St Peter’s Netball Club (94). Each club using the event to strengthen team bonding and raise important finds for grassroots teams. The race also made a major splash online, with 205,652 video views and a reach of nearly 49,000 in just 24 hours, alongside a 341% increase in Facebook impressions (354,332 total). The event not only showcased local pride and participation but also delivered powerful digital and social impact for Renfrewshire. On the weekend of the race, local, regional and national press coverage was achieved reaching an audience of 134,000. “Got to say the whole thing was amazing, Paisley did it proud, as it was heavin’, well done to all involved.” - Spectator. “Congratulations to the OneRen team for organising such a tremendous event! Paisley is now undoubtedly the 'go to' 10K in the Scottish road racing calendar, with the event going from strength to strength.” - Graham Anderson, event commentator. “I think the tone of the event is great, I think that its positioning as a community- based run that uplifts local people and stories is part of its draw to locals and beyond.” - Runner. “It's the best 10k & the friendliest!” - Runner. Leisure Our leisure offer remains a key driver across OneRen activity. Total indoor fitness and exercise attendances saw a modest increase of 2.53%. We recognise the ongoing challenges of maintenance as well as being agile enough to keep pace with fitness trends. Therefore, this winter period we will move to a new style of gym equipment and maintenance arrangements launching at On-X in November, followed by The Lagoon in February 2026. We also hosted 69 events at our major leisure centres during the first 6 months of this year, an increase of 38% on last year. For the same period we have also seen an increase in spectators of 30%. Events ranged from the facilitation of a Pentathlon event (a first) hosted at On-X Linwood in June and Scotland’s premier Muay Thai competition event at the Lagoon in May. Also in May, The Lagoon welcomed more than 500 spectators to enjoy the family-friendly Blockbuster Pro Wrestling Show. A karate event at the same venue saw 250 participants compete in front of an audience of 350 spectators. Renfrew Victory Baths supported the local amateur swimming club’s league event. Page 420 of 434
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PUBLIC The 2nd Paisley Comic Con was a stand-out success, with The Lagoon welcoming more than 2,400 visitors to this year’s event – up 20%. Visitors were immersed in a vibrant atmosphere filled with talented creators, stunning costumes and displays of props from beloved movies and TV shows. Swimming Across Scotland, many Learn To Swim Programmes have found challenges in retaining swim coaches as the labour market changed following the pandemic. We have previously reported we are taking a new approach to the provision of swim coaches and this year, an initial cohort of 12 new swimming instructors has been onboarded as part of a 1st phase of a new contracted recruitment approach to enhance the existing programme by over 1000 new spaces. Within this change, we offered our existing session swim instructors the opportunity to become contracted employees within this 1st cohort. This approach means all new swim instructors receive enhanced terms and conditions. A 2nd phase is underway with a further 12 candidates being onboarded and a further training course being arranged. All successful candidates will be supported to participate in a fully funded STA swim teacher course qualification. Under 5s access to swimming initiative. We have introduced a discounted access offer of “2 for £2” effective 1st September 2025. 313 families have taken up this new initiative for under 5s with 626 attendances during September. Outdoor Community Sports Across KGV Renfrew, Ralston Sports Centre, Ferguslie Sports Centre, Seedhill Community Sports Complex, this year’s first six months attendance figures are 96,167 and spectator figures are 49,186 (please note this figure takes in the close season of June, July and start of August). The Council’s investment in Ferguslie is delivering results, with attendances up by 42% from Q1 2024/25. The improvements to changing areas have increased bookings and participation from younger and female players. St James’ playing fields opened for the start of the new 2025/26 season and has been well received by teams. In addition, both Mossvale and St James Primary Schools held their school sports days at St James. The team pulled out all the stops to support Mossvale Primary to host their annual sports day after their own facility was vandalised. About 200 parents and guardians cheered on Page 421 of 434
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PUBLIC as pupils took part in various events. The school’s head teacher, Jane Houston, said: “Thank you so much for all of your help. We were a bit anxious about how it would all go but you made it so easy.” The School of African Cultures booked Ferguslie Sports Centre for their Spring week football camp. This was well received with the organisers thanking the staff for their support throughout the week. In June, the Nepalese Community of Scotland held their annual football tournament and gala day at Ralston Sports Centre. The event organisers thanked the staff for their support and how well they supported the day’s events. KGV Renfrew once again hosted the Paisley, Johnstone and District Youth Football League finals on the 30th May and 1st June 2025 which attracted more than 1,500 participants and over 6,500 spectators. It continues to be a huge event for teams and players from Renfrewshire and surrounding areas, including Inverclyde, Ayrshire, West and East Dunbartonshire and Glasgow. The refurbished tennis courts at Robertson Park, Brodie Park and Johnstone opened in July 2024. OneRen operate the booking system on behalf of Renfrewshire Council. From April 2025 bookings are as follows: Robertson Park (831), Brodie Park (1,062) and Johnstone (705). Licence to Occupy (LTO) Agreements have increased with Inchinnan Playing Fields (Parkmoor FC), Bishoptop FC (Newton Road), Glenpatrick Playing Fields (Johnstone Burgh Community Club), Moredun (Paisley Community Sports HUB), Thomas Shanks Playing Fields (Thorn Athletic), Millar Street (Kilbarchan Thistle), The Marshes (Gleniffer Thistle FC). Calderglen FC continues to have a LTO for the Lochwinnoch Annex football pitch whilst they pursue a Community Asset Transfer (CAT). Renfrew Vics FC successfully applied for a CAT for the Kirklandkneuk pavilion. During August the Ralston Community Council Gala Day took place at Ralston Sports Centre. A Community Council member said, “Thanks for the lovely helpful staff, everyone enjoyed the day so that makes all the planning worth it.” And at Ferguslie Sports Centre, St Mirren Charitable Foundation held their Fit and Fed Camp. St Mirren Charitable Foundation Development Manager said, “Thank you to all the staff for your support over the camp, it helped make it the great success it was.” Lochfield Ladies Bowling Club celebrated their 90th Anniversary on the 26th July 2025, which was attended by the Provost, Councillors, MSPs and MPs. Page 422 of 434
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PUBLIC Sports Development The Upscaling Active Schools programme provides a more targeted approach towards those groups who experience barriers to sport. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is the key driving force of this project. We are continuing to address challenges like sustaining engagement and managing logistical barriers to participation through partnerships to achieve local successes with clubs for care experienced young people and families on low incomes. These clubs were set up throughout Renfrewshire to boost confidence and involved many families through inclusive spaces and person-centred activities. Despite funding from Sportscotland concluding in March 2026, the aim of the project is to embedded the practice into the core Active Schools programme, maintaining targeted efforts whilst ensuring an inclusive culture. The OneRen Activity Camps across Spring and Summer breaks deliver an exciting and diverse programme, attracting 1,639 bookings as well as disability sport provision which, while smaller in scale, maintained consistent attendance and remains a vital part of our inclusive programming. Overall, while we saw lower numbers than last year, young people enjoyed a wide range of outdoor adventures including kayaking, gorge walking, cycling, and climbing, alongside energetic indoor sessions like dance, gymnastics, football, and multi-sports. The camps created a fun, inclusive environment where young people could stay active, build confidence, and make lasting memories. The Renfrewshire School of Sport Education Graduation in August at Paisley Town Hall celebrated the achievements of a remarkable group of young leaders who embraced challenges, built lasting friendships, and made a real impact in their schools and communities. Highlights included organising a dodgeball festival, volunteering in PE departments, and leading extracurricular activities like netball and basketball. The evening also showcased the 60 pupils’ exceptional dedication to coaching, their personal growth, and between them volunteering over 3,000 hrs to other young people across Renfrewshire. The event concluded with an inspiring address from guest speaker Kieron Achara, former Olympian and OneRen board member. The Bikeability programme continues to be successfully delivered across schools and communities, with strong engagement at multiple levels: Page 423 of 434
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PUBLIC Programme Level Number of schools Number of participants Bikeability level 1 23 610 Bikeability level 2 31 961 Bikeability level 3 2 12 Adult training courses 4 31 These figures reflect a continued commitment to promoting cycling skills and safety across age groups, with a notable increase in Level 2 participation. Further development of Level 3 and adult training opportunities will be explored to enhance community-wide cycling confidence and capability. Health & Wellbeing The Live Active Referral Scheme is a health behaviour change initiative designed to support inactive individuals – many of whom live with long-term health conditions – to become more physically active. Between April and September 2025, we received 519 referrals from a range of health professionals across NHSGGC. Each referral is followed up with a triage call from our Health and Wellbeing Referral Support Assistant, a role funded by NHSGGC, to assess suitability for the programme and identify the level of support required. During this period, Live Active Advisors delivered 397 baseline consultations across Renfrewshire, with sessions taking place in Paisley, Renfrew, Linwood, Johnstone, and Erskine. Our Health & Wellbeing Active Life membership is a 12-month leisure membership available to individuals referred through the Live Active Referral Scheme. It is specifically designed to support and encourage participants as they begin their physical activity journey and explore new opportunities. Between April and September 2025, 183 Live Active clients have taken out an Active Life membership. Notably, many of these individuals may have previously lacked the confidence, knowledge, or support to access leisure services independently. This highlights the significant impact of the programme in empowering people to take positive steps toward improving their health and wellbeing. Our Vitality Classes are tailored for individuals living with medical conditions, or for those who experience reduced strength, balance issues, or a fear of falling Page 424 of 434
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PUBLIC — factors that may impact their daily lives. The programme offers four progressive levels, ranging from chair-based sessions to moderate-intensity circuits. To ensure safe and effective delivery, instructors are required to hold advanced qualifications. Currently, OneRen delivers 11 classes across Renfrewshire, with growing demand for additional sessions. Between April and September, these classes recorded an impressive 6,991 attendances, representing an 18% increase compared to the same period in 2024/25. Our free walking programme recorded 1,147 attendances between April and September – 123 more than the same period last year. While our health walks are designed to include individuals with disabilities and long-term health conditions, we have recognised the need to expand our offer to include those with lower functional ability. As a result, new ‘entry-level’ health walks have recently been introduced in Johnstone, Linwood, and Paisley. These shorter walks last 20–30 minutes, compared to the standard 30–60 minute sessions. We have also continued to deliver an indoor Functional Walking Class in Paisley, providing a supportive environment for individuals who may not yet feel confident walking outdoors. Since April, 20 classes have been delivered, with a total of 223 attendances (staff to participant ratios are in place). In addition, our 5-week First Steps Programme remains a valuable resource for individuals looking to improve their strength, balance, and walking ability. A recent block was delivered in Johnstone, and our Activities Coordinator is eager to expand this programme to other areas across Renfrewshire, enabling more communities to benefit. We continue to offer a weekly Gentle Movement class in Renfrew, free of charge and delivered by dedicated volunteers. This class is designed for individuals living with cancer or other long-term health conditions. Rooted in the practice of Qigong, it combines slow, intentional movements with a focus on breathing and meditation to support physical and mental wellbeing. Between April and September, the class has welcomed 146 attendances. For the same client group, we also offer a weekly Move More circuit class. This class provides a moderate cardiovascular workout for those who can manage. Over the six-month period, 26 classes were delivered, with a total of 380 attendances. Between April and September, our Social Prescribing Coordinator received 137 referrals through the Health and Wellbeing referral form. Taking a person- centred approach, the coordinator shares information to help individuals access Page 425 of 434
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PUBLIC a wide variety of opportunities both within OneRen and across the wider community. These include health and cultural walks, Sporting Memories sessions, knitting and crochet groups, singing groups, Men’s Sheds, local gardening initiatives, and many other activities offered by community organisations. In collaboration with Renfrewshire HSCP, OneRen’s Health & Wellbeing team has developed a new programme called ‘6 Weeks to Wellbeing’. Blocks of these free sessions have already been delivered at Linwood Library and Johnstone Town Hall. The aim is to encourage people to try new activities, connect with others, and learn about local opportunities for ongoing participation. Staff are committed to building confidence and supporting individuals to continue engaging with activities beyond the initial six weeks. Sessions have included arts and crafts, reminiscence activities, quizzes, photography walks, games and chair yoga. Alongside this, the Social Prescribing Coordinator has also co- delivered a weekly gardening session at Paterson Park Allotments in Renfrew, contributing to a combined total of 199 attendances across these initiatives since April. As part of our wider Health & Wellbeing offer, the weekly Sporting Memories class in Renfrew – delivered in partnership with the Sporting Memories Foundation – is now led by a dedicated group of volunteers. This volunteer-led model has enabled us to expand our overall delivery. The class has welcomed 356 attendances across 23 sessions, highlighting both its popularity and the ongoing need for such opportunities. The Health & Wellbeing Hub at the Lagoon Leisure Centre serves as a key venue for delivering some of the above cited appointments and group activities. We continue to host NHSGGC’s Quit Your Way service once a week, offering local residents access to expert advice and support to stop smoking. The Health & wellbeing hub is available for partners and community groups to book out space on a half day, full day or weekly basis. Development Activities Delivering Change Programme As we have previously reported, through the course of 2025 we have been participating in Delivering Change: Museum Transformers, an anti-oppression programme that aims to empower the workforce to make changes to help all Page 426 of 434
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PUBLIC people to access culture. It has been developed by Museums Galleries Scotland and an Expert Advisory Group. It is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Scottish Government. The programme aimed to help us to: • Understand how race and racism show up, specifically at work • Understand our current position; as an institution, as a team and as individuals • Develop tools and action plans that identify, counteract and dismantle racism • Enhance and embed anti-racist practices within our team, institution and wider communities • Commit to continuous improvement in anti-racism together Staff from across OneRen, from frontline colleagues to Board members, are participating and in August, we participated in our last session of anti-racism training, with this quote from a member of our staff echoing the reflections of many: “It has been a profound experience and I’m really grateful to have been part of it.” Volunteers, Placements and Employability As part of a programme to help S5 and S6 pupils on their journey into work, Career Ready in Scotland is designed to support every young person to a positive post-school destination and prosper in the world of work. We were very pleased to welcome two, month-long placements where the students took part in a number of office-based tasks, culminating in a presentation to staff. One of the students said “I was really scared when I first arrived, but once I got here, all the nervousness went away because everyone was so nice, welcoming and kind to me. I’ve gained insight into professional life, how meetings work, how you talk to your colleagues – it’s not like school where you can just talk to your friends”. The second student said that she was very shy, naturally, but had gained a real confidence boost from the placement. She added “I met so many very welcoming, very kind people and it didn’t feel like I was out of place – I felt like an equal, rather than a child. I’s a lot more confident and my communication skills are so much better and that’s a very big win for me.” Page 427 of 434
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PUBLIC More broadly we continue to maintain ongoing liaison with school coordinators, supporting careers events and offering student placements for those with no positive destinations. We established a Coproduction Volunteer Group with partners from University of the West of Scotland, West College Scotland and Community Learning. We led the group taken through Failspace training, which looks at how to talk honestly about failure and see it as an opportunity for growth. The group is exploring pilot coproduction models for welcome host and tour guide volunteers, research and workshop volunteers. During this period we have formalised the process for “academic” (further and higher education or employment partner) placements within OneRen. We also finalised a formal arrangement with West College Scotland Health & Fitness Students who are all now offered a 6 week placement. In September we participated in two Employability Month events: The Value of Volunteering hosted by Engage and Skills Careers Awareness as part of the Public Sector day hosted by Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership at Paisley Town Hall, attended by 5 Renfrewshire high schools and adults, which included a hugely popular Virtual Live Broadcast from the Secret Collection museum store. Travel Trade Travel trade represents a significant new opportunity for OneRen, particularly with the international interest anticipated from Paisley Museum's opening. To be market-ready, OneRen has been actively developing and promoting high quality travel trade product for Paisley Museum, building strong, collaborative relationships VisitScotland and major Destination Management Companies who will provide global reach for the museum, for Paisley and for Renfrewshire. This is a deliberate and forward-thinking move, one that positions Renfrewshire to be able to welcome international visitors at a scale previously unseen. Page 428 of 434
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PUBLIC __________________________________________________________________ To: Leadership Board On: 3 December 2025 ________________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ________________________________________________________________________ Heading: Paisley Museum Reimagined Ltd – Charitable Trust arrangements 1. Summary This report updates Leadership Board on the process of dissolving the Charitable Trust Paisley Museum Reimagined (PMR) Ltd (SC049225) and outlines plans for ongoing donor stewardship following completion of the Paisley Museum Capital Appeal. 2. Recommendation 2.1 Members are asked to note the report and the intention to wind down Paisley Museum Reimagined (PMR) Ltd in 2026 and to agree to progressing the transfer of the Charity’s assets to Renfrewshire Council and One Ren. 2.2 Members are asked to delegate authority to the Chief Executive to complete all the necessary actions required and sign any relevant documentation to facilitate the wind up of the charity and any transfer of assets to Renfrewshire Council and One Ren. 2.3 Members are asked to note the provision for PMR Ltd administrative costs in the Council’s Annual Accounts approved on 24 October 2024 and 23 October 2025, and the subsequent application of this provision. _________________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 PMR Ltd is an independent company (Charitable Trust), established by Renfrewshire Council in 2019 to drive the Capital Appeal for Paisley Museum. PMR Ltd was officially registered as a charity by OSCR on 16 April 2019 and a small temporary fundraising Item 11 Page 429 of 434
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PUBLIC team was appointed later that year. The Trust Board consists of four Trustees, Councillor Iain Nicolson, Marion White MBE, James Lang (Chair) Director, Scottish Leather Group Ltd and Bob Grant, Chief Executive of Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce. Throughout the campaign, the fundraising team was supported by several Appeal Ambassadors who championed Paisley Museum through their networks and made important introductions. The Fundraising Manager and Fundraising Assistant moved on to new employment in 2024. 3.4 PMR Ltd trustees met most recently in May 2025 and are due to meet in November to approve the Annual Accounts for 2024-25. 4. The impact of COVID19 4.1 The pandemic and successive national lockdowns had a profound and sustained impact on the campaign and the ability of the team to meet and cultivate new relationships with High-Net-Worth Individuals, which was a main pillar of the fundraising strategy and was subsequently not realised. Paisley Museum lacks a history of philanthropy, and the Capital Appeal was a first attempt to build and nurture important donor relationships. The Fundraising Strategy, approved by the Board, identified prospective donors and Trusts and Foundations with the capacity to support an Appeal of this kind however, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, planned donor events and activities were cancelled in 2020 and 2021, and many Trusts and Foundations temporarily closed for applications. 4.2 This situation was not unique to Paisley Museum, with fundraising significantly impacted across the UK due to the pandemic and further exacerbated by the cost-of- living crisis. Research from the Charity Commission confirms that nearly all charities were impacted – over 90% experiencing negative impact, resulting from the months of frustration and uncertainty. The majority (60%) saw a loss of income. 5. Income overview and donor stewardship 5.1 Despite the challenges, £1.6 million has been raised by the Capital Appeal through confirmed and pledged income and in-kind support: - £1.33 million from 20 Trusts and Foundations, with almost all major UK Trusts and Foundations providing support and championing the Museum project, recognising the approach to co-design and community engagement as sector leading. Support includes £300,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation who will sponsor the Introductory Gallery. £250,000 from the Hugh Fraser Foundation who will sponsor the Balcony Gallery. £200,000 from the Clore Duffield Foundation who will sponsor Learning Room 1 - Paisley Museum is only the second project in Scotland to be supported by Clore Duffield, with the only other being National Museums Scotland. £200,000 from the Wolfson Foundation, £100,000 from the Reo Stakis Charitable Foundation, who will sponsor Gallery 1, and £100,000 from the Mazumdar-Shaw Philanthropy Trust who will sponsor the Studio Gallery. - £110,000 has been secured from five corporates - Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce, Coats Group, University West of Scotland, Malcolm Group and Scottish Leather Group, driven through Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce, Page 430 of 434
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PUBLIC - £89,000 (incl. Gift Aid) has been raised from over 30 individual donors, and almost £78,000 in bank account interest has accrued. - £180,000 has been gifted in kind, through the provision of 16 paintings to Renfrewshire Council from Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. 5.2 Clause 4 of the PMR Ltd Articles of Association detail the company’s objects are to manage the development and delivery of the fundraising strategy for Paisley Museum and to drive the capital appeal for the redevelopment of Paisley Museum and Art Gallery. The fundraising income secured by PMR Ltd forms part of a planned suite of funding from both donors and the Council, which supports the delivery of Paisley Museum Reimagined. The income will require to be released to Renfrewshire Council, who has to date funded the build cost. 5.3 OneRen will ensure that any grant conditions attached to sponsorship and donor income and in-kind support are met as part of the latter stages of the Paisley Museum Reimaged programme in the lead up to opening in the second half of 2026. This will include reporting to donors on outcomes as required. 5.4 Having reviewed the status of prospective donors; we do not anticipate further significant capital pledges beyond that already pledged. Additionally, at the start of this year, we were advised by UK Government that the Community Ownership Fund was to close and as such, PMR Ltd was no longer be able to submit our prepared application, following our successful Expression of Interest in 2024. 5.5 The priority going forward will be to maintain effective donor stewardship and identify opportunities as part of One Ren’s wider future revenue fundraising to support the delivery of cultural, leisure and sporting activity in Renfrewshire. To achieve this, donor stewardship and management of the donor database linked to the donor website, will be transferred to OneRen, as operator of Paisley Museum and other cultural venues in Renfrewshire, maximising the opportunity presented by OneRen’s Charitable Trust status. 6. Governance and dissolution arrangements 6.1 Initial advice has been sought from OSCR with regards to the wind up of PMR Ltd. Due to clause 115 in the Articles of Association (Appendix 1), the Charity Assets, which extend to donors and the donor database, must initially transfer to Renfrewshire Council. Application to OSCR for consent is required 42 days in advance of the transfer, with evidence that the assets will only be used for charitable purposes. Following the transfer, Renfrewshire Council will be required to seek legal advice, taking into consideration the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, to assess the viability of transferring the donor data to One Ren. The transfer of assets is a key stage that must be completed before the charity can be dissolved. 6.2 The PMR Ltd Trustees have confirmed their support for the proposed arrangement and are being kept fully updated throughout the process. OneRen has also indicated their support and will be required to follow their own governance arrangements, should the proposal be approved and progressed. Page 431 of 434
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PUBLIC 6.3 Renfrewshire Council has provided support to PMR Ltd over the life of the charitable company via a Fundraising Team, comprising up to three members of staff over the period from January 2019 to July 2024. The team has been wholly responsible for securing the pledges from donors, as outlined in section 5. It was originally intended that an element of the income generated would fund the costs of the team, however this was substantially affected by the impact of Covid-19, as described above. In 2023/24, the Council made provision for the support costs incurred to date by PMR Ltd as reported in the Annual Accounts 2023/24 (£0.768m). The provision was increased to £0.791m in 2024/25 to reflect final costs incurred to July 2024 (net of VAT). The Annual Accounts 2023/24 and 2024/25 were approved on 24 October 2024 and 23 October 2025 respectively, and the Director of Finance & Resources will now apply this provision to write off the debt outstanding from PMR Ltd. For noting, the sum is detailed gross of VAT in the PMR Ltd accounts filed with Companies House. 6.4 The fundraising website www.reimagined.paisleymuseum.org will continue to be supported by the council’s communications and marketing service until the point of asset transfer, and a maintenance and hosting contract is in place. The site URL was specifically selected to build search engine ranking and value for Paisley Museum and can switch to, or be replaced by, a dedicated museum website or integrated with another at a later date. 6.5 A briefing note on next steps will be provided to the PMR Ltd Board of Trustees and communication issued to Museum donors and supporters to advise them of the intended wind up of the Capital Appeal and the transfer of data to Renfrewshire Council in the first instance. This will provide reassurance that there is no impact on pledges or donations made and no changes to any agreed fulfilment arrangements in place. Implications of the Report 1. Financial – none 2. HR & Organisational Development – none 3. Community/Council Planning – Place Priority - Demonstrating that Renfrewshire is a great place to live, work and visit. ACTION: Delivering our ambitious regeneration programme, enhancing our culture and heritage assets, using these as a catalyst for growth and renewal across our towns, villages and communities 4. Legal – Application is required to OSCR, providing 42 days’ notice. Legal advice should be sought regarding the GDPR implications of asset transfer to OneRen at a future date. 5. Property/Assets – The stated Charity Assets will transfer to Renfrewshire Council from PMR Ltd as required by the Articles of Association. 6. Information Technology – none Page 432 of 434
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PUBLIC 7. Equality & Human Rights – The proposal does not require an Equality Impact Assessment as there is no change to Policy or process impacting individuals. 8. Health & Safety – none 9. Procurement – none 10. Risk – none 11. Privacy Impact – none 12. Climate Risk –not applicable 13. Children’s Rights - This report does not cover a new policy which will have an impact on children’s rights. 14. Cosla Policy Position - not applicable Author: Head of Marketing and Communications Lucy Adamson T: 0141 487 1487 Page 433 of 434
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