What this EQHRIA is assessing
The Estate Maintenance Project focuses on optimising estate management services in Renfrewshire, specifically enhancing the grass cutting, garden maintenance and hedge trimming services for council tenants provided by our neighbourhood services.
Key initiatives include:
- Common Maintenance Programme (CMP): this programme delivers essential maintenance services, including grass cutting, hedge trimming, and weed management for 232 accommodation blocks from April to October, ensuring safe communal areas
- Garden Assistance Programme: this service offers free garden maintenance for council tenants aged 60 and over, or those under 60 with a disability that prevents them from looking after their gardens
- Void Maintenance: this initiative manages vacant council-owned properties until they are re-let or demolished, ensuring they remain tidy and safe
- HRA (Housing Revenue Account) Open Space Grass Panels: this programme provides bi-weekly grass cutting and edging for open spaces near council housing, enhancing their appearance and usability
- Neighbourhood Environmental Training Team (NETT): NETT focuses on improving local environments while providing training and employment opportunities for residents. With a flexible and responsive approach, the NETT increases capacity to address known ‘hot spots’ in neighbourhoods. As part of this project the NETT will be expanded to enhance maintenance across 4 housing areas through environmental initiatives and effectively supporting residents of Renfrewshire in their pursuit of employment through practical training.
What this EQHRIA has found
Overall, no negative impacts have been identified, as this project positively enhances service delivery.
Positive impacts have been identified for people living in poverty or facing socio-economic disadvantage through increased access to intensive housing support.
Many requests for improvements focus on communal gardens, which particularly benefit specific groups. For instance, older residents and those with disabilities may find it easier to move around in well-maintained areas, while younger residents have safer outdoor spaces to play.
Disabled tenants and older adults who are unable to look after and maintain their garden will also benefit through targeted garden maintenance.
What happens next
Specific NETT Employability Outcomes & Outputs will continue to be monitored by the Invest in Renfrewshire team.
Monitoring metrics that the initiative will report on are:
- age profile
- progress towards sustainable job outcomes
- eligible employability priority groups
- social housing clients.
More information
For more information on this Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessment (EQHRIA), email EQHRIA@renfrewshire.gov.uk