Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 16 September 2026
Back to Leadership Board — 16 September 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Minute of Meeting Leadership Board Date Time Venue Wednesday, 16 September 2026 13:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Present: Councillor Alison Ann-Dowling, Councillor Jacqueline Cameron, Councillor Graeme Clark, Councillor Audrey Doig, Councillor Neill Graham, Councillor Anne Hannigan, Councillor David McGonigle, Councillor Marie McGurk, Councillor Iain McMillan, Councillor Iain Nicolson, Councillor Jim Paterson, Councillor Emma Rodden, Councillor John Shaw, Councillor Andy Steel Chair Councillor Nicolson, Convener, presided. In Attendance A Russell, Chief Executive; J O'Neil, Director of Children's Services; G McNeill, Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure; A MacArthur, Director of Finance & Resources; L McIntyre, Head of Policy & Partnerships, L Adamson, Head of Marketing & Communications, A Morrison, Head of Economy & Development; P Moss, Strategy, Policy & Insight Manager, E Shearer, Regeneration and Place Manager and A McKean, Tourism Officer (all Chief Executive's); P Murray, Head of Digital Transformation & Customer Services, R Cree, Head of People & Organisational Development, D Low, Democratic Services Manager, D Cunningham, Senior Committee Services Officer and I Gilmour and C Mulrooney, both Committee Services Officers (all Finance & Resources); B McClean, Chief Officer (Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership); and V Hollows, Chief Executive (OneRen). Webcasting of Meeting Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Convener intimated that this meeting of the Board would be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council's internet site.
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Apology Councillor McCulloch. Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest declared prior to the commencement of the meeting. Transparency Statement Councillor McMillan indicated that he had a connection to Item 3 by reason of him being a private landlord. However, he indicated that he had applied the objective test and did not consider he had an interest to declare. 1 Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring as at 19 June 2026 There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive, Director of Finance & Resources and Chief Finance Office, Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership relative to the year end projected revenue and capital outturns as at 19 June 2026 for those services reporting to this Board. DECIDED: (a) That the projected revenue outturn deficit position of £5.076 million be noted; (b) That the projected capital outturn break-even position be noted; and (c) That the budget adjustment detailed at section 6.3 of the report be noted. 2 Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-committee There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub- committee held on 2 September 2026, a copy of which forms the Appendix to this Minute. DECIDED: That the Minute be approved. 3 Fairer Renfrewshire Update There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to progress on the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme, providing a summary of the issues as reported to the meeting of the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-Committee held on 2 September 2026 including the cost of living and programme updates; an update with regard to the Summer of Fun Programme; an update on plans for Winter Connections 2026/27 programme and proposed approval process for projects submitted in terms of the Programme; details of the proposed Renfrewshire Voices small grants programme, as
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part of the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme’s Advancing Equality of Opportunity workstream. DECIDED: (a) That the content of the report and the work being undertaken to progress the Fairer Renfrewshire programme be noted; (b) That the update provided on the Summer of Fun programme in Section 5 of the report, with detailed information on all funded applications provided in Appendix 1 be noted; (c) That the guidance for the Winter Connections 2026/27 programme and associated implementation arrangements as detailed in section 5 and Appendix 2 of the report be approved; (d) That authority be delegated to the Head of Policy and Partnerships to award Winter Connections grant funding, in consultation with the Council Leader and in line with the guidance attached at Appendix 2 of the report; and (e) That the guidance and arrangements for the proposed Renfrewshire Voices small grant programme, including the allocation of £20,000 for the programme which would run as a pilot in 2026/27 as detailed in section 6 and Appendix 3 of the report be approved. 4 Best Value – Corporate Improvement Plan There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the Corporate Improvement Plan, a copy of which was appended to the report. DECIDED: That the progress of the Corporate Improvement Plan as outlined in the appendix to the report be noted. 5 Reshaping Renfrewshire –Transformation and Change Programme – Update Report There was submitted a joint report by the Chief Executive and Director of Finance & Resources relative to the progress of the Reshaping Renfrewshire – Transformation and Change Programme since February 2025, focusing primarily on areas with relevant and substantive progress. DECIDED: (a) That the update provided in the report on the progress of key areas within Reshaping Renfrewshire be noted; and (b) That it be noted that regular reports would continue to be submitted to future meetings of this Policy Board at appropriate key junctures as the overall programme was progressed.
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6 Responsible and Ethical Expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Renfrewshire Council Under reference to Item 17 of the Minute of the meeting of Renfrewshire Council held on 11 December 2025, there was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the safe, transparent and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence) AI by the Council. DECIDED: That the contents of the report be noted. The next update would be in February 2027 which would be prior to the start of the first phase of the AI Transformation Programme 2026/30. This update would include the initial log outlining AI tools utilised by the Council, their purpose and function, safeguards and any identified risks. 7 AMIDS Enabling Works – Cost Underwrite There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive and Director of Finance & Resources seeking the Board’s approval to underwrite enabling costs associated with the expansion of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) District Heating Network (DHN), together with the associated costs required to develop the full business case for Tech Terrace Phase 2. DECIDED: That the Director of Finance & Resources be authorised to enter into underwrite agreements with AMIDS (Renfrewshire) LLP in relation to (i) enabling works costs associated with the expansion of the AMIDS DHN and (ii) development of the Full Business Case (FBC) for Tech Terrace Phase 2. 8 Adult Social Care: 2025/26 Annual Update There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer, Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership relative to an overview of adult social care activity and performance. DECIDED: (a) That the contents of the report updating activity and performance of adult social work services delegated to the Integration Joint Board (IJB) be noted; and (b) That it be noted that the next six-monthly update report would be presented to the meeting of this Board to be held on 24 February 2027. 9 OneRen Update There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to an update on several matters connected to the provision of services through OneRen including an update relating to the forthcoming opening of the Lagoon Adventure Zone; a progress update on the final stages of the Paisley Museum Re-Imagined Project ahead of its completion; the development of an operational agreement through which OneRen would manage the operation of community facilities within Paisley Grammar School Community Campus; and an update on the reprovisioning of library provision in
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Erskine. DECIDED: (a) That the content of the report be noted: (b) That the progress in terms of the Lagoon Adventure Zone, which was scheduled to open during October be noted; (c) That it be noted that the Paisley Museum fitout and install was due to be completed in December ahead of a formal opening to the public early in the new year and that Elected Members would be kept updated regarding the opening programme; and (d) That a short-term suspension of the provision of library services in Erskine be agreed as detailed in paragraph 6.5 of this report to facilitate the decant of Erskine Library from Bridgewater Shopping Centre to the temporary building at Erskine Sports Centre. 10 Renfrewshire’s Tourism Plan - Update There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to progress made in the delivery of Renfrewshire’s Tourism Today: Tourism Plan 2024/27. DECIDED: (a) That the progress in actions supporting the delivery of the Renfrewshire Tourism Plan, as set out in Section 4 of the report be noted; and (b) That it be noted that further progress on delivery of the plan, including a proposed review and refresh of priorities and actions, would be reported to the Board as appropriate.