Renfrewshire Council

UK General Election

With the UK General Election less than two weeks away, I would like to personally thank everyone involved in preparations to ensure the smooth running of our election duties.

As returning officer, this is a reminder to check your polling details are correct and ensure you have the correct identification (ID) organised to vote on 4 July.  If you need to apply for a free voter ID certificate or set up a new proxy vote, please note the deadline for both is 5pm on Wednesday 26 June 2024.

Check you have what you need to vote (UK Government website)

Cyber security

Attempts to disrupt and challenge the security of our ICT systems are likely to increase during this pre-election period. To ensure our own network is well protected, all staff using our corporate network - those with our @renfrewshire.gov.uk email address - are required to complete the mandatory cyber security training and refresher course every twelve months.

You can check the status of your mandatory training on ERP Business World which now sends alerts to you and your line manager to track your progress and compliance.

Our new security and compliance manager, Cathie Fraser, has further details on the important security information we must all follow (Renfrewshire.gov.uk).

Celebrating success - COSLA Excellence Awards 2024

Each year, COSLA invite Scotland's 32 Council's to celebrate the achievements of the exceptional people who deliver vital services up and down the country, every day. We have a great track record at the COSLA Excellence Awards, most recently winning the Tackling Inequalities and Improving Health and Wellbeing Award alongside I Am Me, in 2023.

This year, we have submitted thirteen team and project entries which include:

• Smart Data
• Corporate Risk Management
• Recruitment Team, Business Services
• Culture, Arts, Health and Social Care (CAHSC) Project / Cultural Regeneration, Marketing & Communication
• Renfrewshire Delayed Discharge
• Winter Connections
• Customer Service and Advice Works

• The Promise Team
• City Deal and Infrastructure, Property Services
• Housing Regeneration and Development
• Inchinnan Cycleway
• District Heating Network
• Net Zero Stakeholder Engagement.

We'll hear who has made the shortlist in August - good luck everyone!
 

Employee Engagement Forums

I'm delighted with the response to our call for representatives to join our new employee engagement forums, which aim to inform future ways of working and improve our employee voice. There will be at least one forum in each service area with representatives across all grades and, while there's been a lot of interest, we are still a little short on applications from our frontline teams.

If you would like the opportunity to influence key decisions and make a difference to how we work together, please talk to your line manager or our People and Organisational Development team about what's involved.

Find out more and apply to be an employee engagement forum representative (Renfrewshire.gov.uk)

Economy Conference

Well done to everyone involved in our inaugural Economy Conference, this month, in the beautiful Paisley Town Hall. The successful event was jointly organised by our Economic Development team and the new Renfrewshire Business Support Partnership, welcoming 190 delegates, including partner agencies and business representatives, together to network and discuss opportunities in our local and regional economy.

With a focus on partnership and collaboration, we discussed the key economic factors for sustainable growth and invited local and national agencies to share experiences which will inform the next phase of Renfrewshire's Economic Strategy, the direction of future funding and key priorities for the Business Support Partnership in terms of local business need.

The feedback has been excellent, and it was great to see many council colleagues working with others at the conference to support Renfrewshire's future economy. I'm sure we will arrange a similar event again soon.

Housing

If you live, or have friends or relatives, in Gallowhill or Johnstone's Howwood Road area, you may be interested to note two further public consultations taking place next week on updated plans for 135 new build council houses. Following initial events and feedback last month, both drop-in sessions will be hosted by McTaggart Construction who will share the developed designs and layouts.

Find out more about housing consultation drop in events (Renfrewshire.gov.uk)

End of term

It's nearing the end of another school year, and while we've faced some challenges in recent months, we have much to look forward to, including the new Paisley Grammar School Community Campus - the first new secondary school to be built in Renfrewshire in more than a decade - which began construction this week.

I hope all our Renfrewshire schools and early years teachers and staff get a good summer break when it comes.  

Learn more about the new Paisley Grammar School Community Campus (Renfrewshire.gov.uk website).

Come on Scotland!

With Euros fever sweeping the country, and 4% of Scots in Germany to cheer on the men's football team, our very own Joyce Robertson proudly represented Scotland (and Ferguslie) in the Women's 55s squad at last weekend's Great Britain and Ireland 4 Nations Hockey Masters tournament, in Nottingham. Joyce, who leads our Soft FM service, has been playing Scottish Masters Hockey for the past 11 years, travelling to Cape Town in 2022 where she picked up the pennant for outstanding performance in Scotland's 2-0 victory against Chile in the Masters Hockey World Cup.

Like her football compatriots, Joyce and her teammates don't always have it their own way on the pitch but despite defeats against Ireland and the Auld Enemy, managed to enjoy a convincing 3-0 win over Wales. Next stop, New Zealand, in November, for the Masters Hockey World Cup. Best of luck to you and the team Joyce!

As we look ahead to what I hope is a relaxing, sunny summer, our upcoming gala days, Sma' Shot and possibly a good result in the football this weekend, here's a clip below of Joyce and her teammates in a rousing rendition of 'Scotland the Brave', with their Irish opponents, last weekend.

So... ��������������v���� who wins the singoff? @IrelandMasters pic.twitter.com/khj2hDxSp1

— Scottish Masters Hockey (@ScotlandMaster1) June 14, 2024

Best wishes,
Alan

Published Friday 21 June 2024