Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 30 November 2022
Back to Leadership Board — 30 November 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, 30 November 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; M Crearie, Director of Communities & Housing; A MacArthur, Director of Finance & Resources; G McNeil, Director of Environment & Infrastructure; S Quinn, Director of Children's Services; L McIntyre, Head of Policy & Commissioning; L Mahon, Head of Marketing & Communications; B Walker, Programme Director - City Deal & Infrastructure, A Armstrong-Walter, Strategic Partnership & Inequalities Manager and K Nicoll, Lead Officer (Culture Regeneration) (all Chief Executive's); M Conaghan, Head of Corporate Governance, C McCourt, Head of Finance & Business Services, D Low, Democratic Services Manager, C MacDonald, Senior Committee Services Officer and D Pole, End User Technician (all Finance & Resources); V Hollows, Chief Executive and J Doherty, Strategic Communications & Public Affairs Manager (both OneRen); and C O’Byrne, Head of Health & Social Care (Paisley), (Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership). 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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Transparency Statement Councillor Ann-Dowling indicated that she had a connection to item 3 of the agenda - Fairer Renfrewshire Update - and item 8 of the agenda - Future Paisley Cultural Funding Programme 2022 - by reason of her being a Director of Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau. However, she indicated that she had applied the objective test and did not consider that 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 and voting thereon. Declarations of Interest Councillor Campbell declared an interest in item 3 of the agenda - Fairer Renfrewshire Update - and item 8 of the agenda - Future Paisley Cultural Funding Programme 2022 - as she was the Chair of Erskine Arts and intimated that it was her intention to leave the meeting and take no part in the discussion and voting thereon. Councillor Hannigan declared an interest in item 8 of the agenda - Future Paisley Cultural Funding Programme 2022 - as she was a member of Paisley Opera and intimated that it was her intention to leave the meeting and take no part in the discussion and 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 revenue and capital budget monitoring as at 16 September 2022. The report intimated that the projected revenue and capital outturn at 31 March 2023 for those services reporting to this Board was an underspend of £0.693 million and a breakeven position respectively. 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 as 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 26 October 2022.
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DECIDED: That the Minute be approved. 3 Fairer Renfrewshire Update There was submitted an update report by the Chief Executive relative to all key activities that had been progressed as part of the local response since the last meeting of this Board held on 14 September 2022, including the launch of the Winter Connections programme in November 2022. The report also provided details of the Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-committee's call for evidence session held on 2 October 2022, the purpose of which was to engage with local community and third sector organisations on the impact of the cost of living crisis and to identify further actions that partners could take forward in response to support local people. The report highlighted the overarching messages from the session and intimated that a follow-up meeting was being scheduled in order to explore further practical steps to take forward in partnership, and to share emerging trends and experiences through the winter period. In relation to the Winter Connections programme, which provided a network of local places and spaces where people could connect to others in their community this winter. the report referred to the £50,000 of grant funding allocated by the Leadership Board in September 2022, to support local groups and organisations to participate in the programme and to contribute some of the costs of delivery where this was required. Appendix 1 to the report detailed approved applications. The report proposed that a further £20,000 be allocated to the Winter Connections fund to allow additional awards, and to allow the programme to extend into January and February 2023. In addition, the report proposed that £10,000 of grant funding be awarded to OneRen to deliver a programme of Winter Connections activities across Renfrewshire’s library network. DECIDED: (a) That the content of the report be noted; (b) That the funding awarded to 15 organisations through the Winter Connections Funding, as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report, noted; (c) That the allocation of an additional £30,000 to the Winter Connections programme; to top-up the Winter Connections small grants fund for community organisations by an additional £20,000 as well as awarding a grant of £10,000 to OneRen to provide a programme of Winter Connections activities across Renfrewshire’s libraries be approved; (d) That the allocation of £29,659.54 from the Recovery Change Fund to support the initiatives detailed in Section 5 of this report be approved; and (e) That it be agreed that the Recovery Change Fund remain open for new applications until end February 2023.
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4 Council Plan 2022 to 2027 - Performance Framework Under reference to item 6 of the Minute of the meeting of Renfrewshire Council held on 29 September 2022, when the Council Plan 2022-27 (the Plan) was approved, there was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the proposed performance framework for the Plan. The report intimated that the Plan set out how the Council would work with partners, communities and businesses to progress the five strategic outcomes of Place, Economy, Fair, Green and Living our values. The Plan also described a cross- cutting theme – improving outcomes for children and families and it was highlighted that every one of the five strategic outcomes should directly contribute to this outcome and demonstrate that services were working together. The performance framework included a targeted suite of actions and indicators, progress against which would be reported to this Board every six months. Where possible, the scorecard of indicators for each Council plan outcome would contain quarterly and annual indicators to ensure that members of the Board were able to access timely and relevant performance information. The report noted that work was ongoing to develop more outcome focused performance measures, which would assist the Council to demonstrate the impact that services had on the lives of local people and communities. It was indicated that additional measures such as these could be recommended for inclusion in the framework as the Council Plan was taken forward. The report proposed that the performance framework was subject to regular review by this Board in order to ensure that it remained aligned with the strategic priorities of the Council as these evolved over time and as the most effective actions and indicators continued to be developed. DECIDED: (a) That the Council Plan Performance Framework attached as Appendix 1 to the report be approved and; (b) That it be noted that six-monthly updates on progress would be reported to this Board with the first being presented in June 2023. 5 City Deal and AMIDS Projects Update There was submitted an update report by the Chief Executive relative to the progress of Renfrewshire Council’s Glasgow City Region City Deal and Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) projects being undertaken by the Council’s City Deal and Infrastructure Team. The report intimated that the Council was delivering a regeneration agenda, focused on creating the infrastructure and business environment that would generate economic growth and jobs whilst promoting active travel and green opportunities ensuring that the area was a fairer, more inclusive place where people, communities, visitors and businesses thrived. As a partner in the Glasgow City Region City Deal, signed in 2014, the Council along with the Scottish and UK Governments and the
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other Member Authorities had been tasked with growing the economy through the delivery of £1.13 billion of infrastructure projects and supporting economic development activity. The report highlighted that since the City Deal projects were approved in 2014, the scale of the economic shock from global events such as the pandemic and war in Ukraine had been unforeseeable. However, the Council continued to invest and build on the enabling infrastructure provided by the City Deal to deliver the AMIDS and the Levelling Up funded AMIDS South project as completion of these projects were central to the recovery and inclusive growth of the Renfrewshire economy. DECIDED: That the scale of ambition and progress of the City Deal and AMIDS projects as outlined in this report be noted. 6 Six Monthly Monitoring Report – OneRen There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the performance of OneRen and providing a summary of the environment in which the organisation was operating within and highlighting key achievements over the last six months, listed under the organisation’s four strategic objectives. The report also provided national performance indicator data for cultural and leisure services, including indicators on digital engagement. The report advised that OneRen currently reported on approximately 70 operational performance indicators to meet the terms of the services agreement with the Council, five of which were reported nationally on behalf of the Council through the Local Government Benchmarking Framework. However, it was noted that over the last two years, OneRen’s operating model had adapted and shifted due to the pandemic to meet the changing needs of Renfrewshire communities and this made comparisons of annual performance indicators difficult from 2020/21 onwards. OneRen’s recovery operating model 2022/23 reflected a greater focus on increasing physical attendance at its venues. Therefore, the financial strategy recognised that the charity was not operating at identical capacity to pre pandemic levels and this was reflected in some of the performance data reported. DECIDED: That the progress being made by OneRen in the delivery of its Business Plan for 2022/23 be noted together with the change in the operating context for performance statistics. 7 Future Paisley Programme 6-monthly Progress Update There was submitted an update report by the Chief Executive relative to a strategic overview of the programme of cultural regeneration activity being delivered by the Council and its partners, through Future Paisley and provided an update on the previous six months of programme activity. The report intimated that on 21 February 2018, following Paisley’s Bid for UK City of Culture, this Board had agreed resources to deliver a bid legacy action plan and further embed the Council’s approach to cultural regeneration, building on the momentum and profile created through the bidding process. Accordingly the Future Paisley programme was created and covered several commitments, originally expected to be delivered by the end of 2021, but which had been extended to April 2024, due to the impact of the Covid19 pandemic. These commitments were detailed
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in the report, including the step change ambitions to: radically change Paisley's image and reputation in Scotland, the UK, and internationally; raise prosperity and increase wellbeing in our communities; Paisley would be recognised for its cultural innovation; transform Paisley into a vibrant town centre; and develop a sustainable and resilient creative economy in Renfrewshire. The report included a spotlight on programme activity contributing to the first two Step Changes. The report also highlighted the programme's focus over the next six months. DECIDED: That the report be noted. 8 Future Paisley Cultural Funding Programme 2022 There was submitted an update report by the Chief Executive relative to the award of cultural funding in 2022, through Round 12 of the Culture, Heritage and Events Fund (CHEF) and Round 3 of the Cultural Organisational Development Fund (CODF), funded by Future Paisley. Recommendations for awards were made by Renfrewshire Council’s Cultural Review Panel. The report intimated that 33 grant awards had been made to the value of £426,233. The report intimated that three projects of interest had been identified by the Review Panel for further development by the Head of Marketing & Communications, and funding through Future Paisley, recognising their strength and potential impact. The report further advised that OneRen officers would engage directly with artists, groups and organisations from an ethnic minority background, recognising the number of applications from this group, to provide advice and support for future applications and to facilitate access to existing networks in Renfrewshire. It was noted that work to identify a recurring Fund to support cultural organisational development would continue though Future Paisley and the Renfrewshire Cultural Strategy working group and that an evaluation of the 2022 funding programme would be brought to a future meeting of this Board. DECIDED: (a) That the decisions of the Cultural Review Panel to award cultural grants as part of Round 12 of CHEF and Round 3 CODF as follows be noted: 23 CHEF grant awards to the total value of £226,233; 10 CODF grant awards to the total value of £200,000; and (b) That the recommendations made for development activity to support Renfrewshire’s cultural and creative sector for action by OneRen officers; and recommendations for the development and funding of three projects of interest for action by the Head of Marketing & Communications be noted. 9 Renfrewshire Gaelic Language Plan 2022-27 There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the Renfrewshire Gaelic Language Plan 2022-27. The report intimated that public authorities had a responsibility under the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 to produce a Gaelic Language Plan. Gaelic Language Plans allowed the public sector to demonstrate how they contributed to creating a
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sustainable future for Gaelic by raising the status and profile of the language. Renfrewshire’s Gaelic Language Plan 2022-27 outlined the steps the Council would take to support Gaelic in the Council and in Renfrewshire communities. Councillor Nicolson, seconded by Councillor McGurk, moved that the Leadership Board approve Renfrewshire’s Gaelic Language Plan 2022-27 for publication. Councillor McMillan, seconded by Councillor Ann-Dowling, moved as an amendment that the Board agrees to continue the report until full costings of this plan are available to members. On the roll being called, the following members voted for the amendment: Councillors Ann-Dowling, Clark, G Graham, N Graham, Leishman and McMillan. The following members voted for the motion: Councillors J Cameron, Campbell, Hannigan, McGurk, Nicolson, Paterson, Rodden, Shaw and Steel. 6 members having voted for the amendment and 9 members having voted for the motion, the motion was accordingly declared carried. DECIDED: That Renfrewshire’s Gaelic Language Plan 2022-27 be approved for publication. 10 The Royal National Mod 2023: Mod Phaislig There was submitted an update report by the Chief Executive relative to arrangements underway to prepare for Paisley to host The Royal National Mòd in October 2023. The official handover of the event from the 2022 host city Perth, took place at the culmination of the Perth Mòd on Saturday 22 October, and was attended by Renfrewshire’s Provost. The report intimated that this would be the second time that Paisley had hosted the Mòd, building on the success of the 2013 festival, which at the time was one of the best attended in the event's history, attracting over 8000 visitors over the nine days, and the economic benefits to the area of this event were highlighted. DECIDED: That the report be noted.