Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 14 September 2022
Back to Leadership Board — 14 September 2022 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, 14 September 2022 13:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Present: Councillor Alison Ann-Dowling, Councillor Jacqueline Cameron, Councillor Michelle Campbell, Councillor Graeme Clark, Councillor Gillian Graham, Councillor Neill Graham, Councillor Anne Hannigan, Councillor Alec Leishman, 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; S Quinn, Director of Children's Services; M Crearie, Director of Communities & Housing Services; G McNeill, Director of Environment & Infrastructure; A MacArthur, Director of Finance & Resources; L McIntyre, Head of Policy & Commissioning, L Mahon, Head of Marketing & Communications, A Morrison, Head of Economy & Development Services, L Adamson, Communications & Public Affairs Manager and A Armstrong-Walter, Strategic Partnership and Inequalities Manager (all Chief Executive’s); M Boyd, Head of People and Organisational Development, M Conaghan, Head of Corporate Governance, C McCourt, Head of Finance & Business Services, D Low, Democratic Services Manager, D Pole, End User Technician, C MacDonald, Senior Committee Services Officer and J Barron and D Cunningham, both Assistant Committee Services Officers (all Finance & Resources); C O'Bryne, Head of Health and Social Care (Paisley) (Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership); and V Hollows, Chief Executive and J Doherty, Strategic Communications and Public Affairs Manager (both OneRen).
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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. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II A minute's silence was held as a mark of respect following the recent death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Motion for Adjournment Councillor N Graham, seconded by Councillor Leishman, moved, in terms of Standing Order 38, that the meeting be adjourned. On the roll being called, the following members voted that the meeting be adjourned: Councillors N Graham and Leishman. The following members voted that the meeting not be adjourned: Councillors Ann- Dowling, J Cameron, Campbell, Clark, G Graham, Hannigan, McGurk, McMillan, Nicolson, Paterson, Rodden, Shaw and Steel. 2 members having voted that the meeting be adjourned and 13 members having voted that the meeting not be adjourned, the meeting was not adjourned. Sederunt Councillors N Graham and Leishman left the meeting prior to the following item of business. Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. Transparency Statements Councillor Ann-Dowling indicated that she had a connection to item 3 – Fairer Renfrewshire Update - by reason of her employment with the Citizens Advice Bureau, a group which was recommended for funding in the report. However, she indicated that she had applied the objective test and did not consider she had an interest to declare and intimated that it was her intention to remain in the meeting and to take part in any discussion or voting thereon.
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Councillor Paterson indicated that he had a connection to item 3 – Fairer Renfrewshire Update - by reason of him being appointed by the Council as a representative to the Citizens Advice Bureau, a group which was recommended for funding in the report. However, he indicated that he had applied the objective test and did not consider he had an interest to declare and intimated that it was his intention to remain in the meeting and to take part in any discussion or voting thereon. Councillor Campbell indicated that she had a connection to item 4 – Adult Social Care: Annual Report 2021/22 - by reason of her being an employee of NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, but not in this Council area. However, she indicated that she had applied the objective test and did not consider she had an interest to declare and intimated that it was her intention to remain in the meeting and to take part in any discussion or voting thereon. 1 Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring Report There was submitted a joint report by the Chief Executive, Director of Finance & Resources and the Chief Finance Officer, Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership relative to the projected revenue and capital outturn position as at 24 June 2022 across all services reporting to this Board. The revenue budget monitoring report identified a projected annual underspend of £1.798 million and the capital budget monitoring report indicated a breakeven position against the revised budget for the year. DECIDED: (a) That the projected revenue outturn position as detailed in Table 1 of the report be noted; (b) That the projected capital outturn position as detailed in Table 2 of the report be noted; and (c) That the budget adjustments detailed at sections 4 and 6 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 16 August 2022. DECIDED: That the Minute, as appended hereto, be approved. 3 Fairer Renfrewshire Update There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the Fairer Renfrewshire programme. The report intimated that the Council and its partners had worked collectively for many years to tackle the inequalities that existed across Renfrewshire’s communities, through targeted programmes of work such as the local Tackling Poverty Programme and the Alcohol and Drugs Commission. The pandemic had however exacerbated the
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inequalities that local residents faced, with disproportionate impacts being experienced in terms of issues such as income, health and wellbeing. The report highlighted that all activities previously under these programmes had now come together to form the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme which would also extend to include further actions and initiatives to support local residents, especially with regards to the cost-of-living crisis. The report outlined funding and support allocated since March 2022; emerging opportunities and developments to enhance support, including the winter clothing grant; the school support service; extension of the financial insecurity winter payment; the establishment of warm spaces; and the community food fund. The report referred to the establishment of the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-committee and indicated that a cross-service officer group would be established to explore the issues raised by the sub-committee as well as identifying opportunities on an ongoing basis to support the response to the cost-of-living crisis. DECIDED: (a) That the content of the report and the funding that had been allocated to support individual households and residents in Renfrewshire impacted by financial insecurity and the emerging cost of living crisis be noted; (b) That the allocation of £300,000 from the Fairer Renfrewshire programme be approved to deliver an additional £50 winter clothing payment per child currently in receipt of a school clothing grant be approved; (c) That funding of £100,000 to Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau be approved for a school advice pilot in Renfrewshire secondary schools, as detailed in section 5 of the report; (d) That arrangements for the extension of the financial insecurity winter payment be approved to support families and individuals in Renfrewshire who are struggling with low incomes, as detailed in section 5 of the report; (e) That plans be agreed to develop a winter connections programme in Renfrewshire, and the allocation of £50,000 be approved to support the provision of welcoming and warm spaces across communities, with a focus on promoting wellbeing, reducing isolation and making sure people have access to advice and support; (f) That the allocation of £44,970 of the community food fund be approved, as detailed in section 6 and Appendix 1 of the report; (g) That the allocation of £14,279 from the recovery change fund be approved to support the initiatives detailed in section 7 and Appendix 2 of the report; and (f) That the arrangements for progressing the next round of the recovery change fund be approved as detailed in section 7 of the report.
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4 Adult Social Care: Annual Report 2021/22 There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer, Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership relative to the Adult Social Care Annual Report 2021/22. The report set out the list of functions that must be delegated by the Local Authority to the IJB as set out in the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Prescribed Local Authority Functions, etc) (Scotland) Regulations 2014, and as noted in Annex 2, part 1 of Renfrewshire’s Integration Scheme. Whilst regular reporting in relation to these services was provided to the Integration Joint Board, it was previously agreed that regular updates would also be presented to the Leadership Board. This ensured oversight of the key activities and wider context relating to the delivery of these services. The report, together with a scorecard, provided an overview of activity and performance using the most up to date information available. DECIDED: (a) That the contents of the report updating activity and performance of adult social work services delegated to the Integration Joint Board be noted; and (b) That it be noted that the six-monthly update report would be presented to the Leadership Board in January 2023. 5 Update on Ukrainian Resettlement and Asylum Dispersal Under reference to item 5 of the Minute of the meeting of this Board held on 22 June 2022, there was submitted a report by the Chief Executive providing an update on the Ukrainian Resettlement and Asylum Dispersal programme. The report provided an update on the local response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine with a focus on the work undertaken to welcome and support the resettlement of Ukrainian nationals across Renfrewshire communities, outlined the work carried out by the Welcome Hub at Glasgow Airport which represented an area of significant activity for the Council which was likely to be required into 2023; highlighted the achievements to date in managing the Welcome Hub; and gave an overview of the positive and proactive role that Renfrewshire Council had taken in meeting the needs of those seeking asylum and refuge and the positive and generous response that had been shown by the people and communities of Renfrewshire to the families and individuals who have sought safety here. The report noted that with the anticipated growth in the number of displaced people who were forecast to arrive in Scotland, Local Authorities had been asked to identify accommodation to support the resettlement of those fleeing the war in Ukraine, and proposals to support this were outlined in report. An update on the Asylum Dispersal programme was provided detailing that the UK Government was moving to a system of full asylum dispersal across Scotland and the implications this had for Renfrewshire Council.
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The report proposed that given the level of uncertainty that currently existed in terms of the arrival of displaced Ukrainian nationals, and the requirement of the local authority to respond at pace to any requests for support, that the Chief Executive and Director of Communities & Housing Services be authorised to put in place such arrangements and resources as may be required to support both the operation of the Welcome Hub and the resettlement and support of refugees from Ukraine within Renfrewshire. The report also proposed that the Chief Executive be authorised to put in place the necessary arrangements to ensure a coordinated partnership response to any implications that might arise from the Asylum Dispersal programme. DECIDED: (a) That the report be noted; (b) That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive and the Director of Communities & Housing Services to put in place such arrangements and resources as may be required to support the provision of suitable properties for resettlement as detailed in section 5 of the report; (c) That the current position in respect of the implementation of a national dispersal programme for asylum dispersal and the associated implications within the local authority area as outlined in section 6 of the report be noted; and (d) That the extension of delegated authority to the Chief Executive as detailed in paragraphs 7.1 and 7.2 of the report be approved. 6 OneRen - Active Schools Funding 2023-2027 There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the Renfrewshire Active Schools programme managed by OneRen. The report intimated that the programme was part funded by sportscotland and by Renfrewshire Council through a partnership agreement. In addition to the funding provision for staffing costs, sportscotland also provided an operational budget of £16,500 allocated across all schools to fund coaches and sports equipment. The report higlighted that sportscotland had agreed in principle to continue to support the Active Schools programme for a further four-year period from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2027 on the same basis as the current arrangement. The report set out the performance of the programme during 2021/22 and provided details of the future programme for 2023/27. DECIDED: (a) That the performance of the Active Schools service programme for 2021/22 be noted; (b) That the preliminary discussions with sportscotland to develop a new partnership agreement for the Active Schools service for the next four years - 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2027 be noted; (c) That the Council commit to the acceptance of the indicative offer of £1,616,928 for
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the continuation of the 13.2 full time equivalent Active Schools team and the Community Sports Hub role; (d) That it be noted that sportscotland's in principle funding commitment was subject to continued partnership funding from Renfrewshire Council; and (e) That the partnership funding required from Renfrewshire Council of around £1,409,769, dependent on pay awards, be approved over the four year period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2027 on the proviso that the dynamic financial environment within which the Council was operating might require services to be adapted in this period.