Latest news with #GraemeClark
STV News
13 hours ago
- Business
- STV News
Council to consider using AI to cut costs and improve service
Renfrewshire Council will consider how artificial intelligence (AI) can cut costs and improve service delivery after the 'success' of its digital adviser, Millie. The local authority will embark upon an AI transformation assessment, including commissioning an AI partner, so it can gain a 'clearer understanding' of how the technology can make the organisation more efficient. This process aims to support the development of a business case that will outline 'the scale of opportunity' and priorities for building on Millie, which launched in November and has attracted mixed feedback. The state of play was set out in a report on the council's transformation and change programme, which also confirmed a 'working relationship' with Derby City Council to share best practice with the leadership board on Wednesday. It said: 'Based on Millie's success so far and the learning established from the AI innovation being progressed by Derby City Council (and other authorities across the UK), it is planned to progress an AI transformation assessment across the council over the coming months, which will involve, as a first step, commissioning an AI partner via an appropriate procurement route. 'Through a series of stakeholder engagement, workshops, data analysis, financial validation solution demonstrations and trials, this AI transformation assessment will give the council a clearer understanding of how AI solutions can enhance efficiency, reduce costs and improve service delivery. 'This critical initial assessment stage will support the development of a full business case that is intended to be brought back to a future board for detailed consideration later in the year. 'The business case will provide a clear understanding of the scale of opportunity and the key priorities for building on the success of Millie and progressing the council's sector-leading development of AI capability.' Councillor Graeme Clark, a Labour representative for Paisley Northeast and Ralston, said at the meeting: 'I'm glad that this council has committed to using AI as part of its services, as part of the transformation assessment. 'Do we have an estimate of the savings that AI may bring to the council through that commitment?' Council chief executive Alan Russell responded: 'That business case process will help us understand your question. 'I would be slightly uncomfortable committing to even an indication of that at the moment. 'It's a rapidly developing area, and I think the opportunities will continue to grow. 'The report does note that we are working closely with Derby City Council down south, who are a bit further ahead in the journey than us. 'I think that's very helpful. They've been very accommodating and open to working with us in partnership. 'They're maybe about a year or so ahead of us in that journey, they do have AI transformation as a key part of their transformation programme, which is looking to deliver several million pounds of efficiency savings, and they're well down the road on that. 'But no two organisations are the same, and we need to understand how it will work for Renfrewshire and, in terms of our circumstances, how we deliver services here. 'I've got no doubt it does provide the potential to deliver a step change in how we use that technology and how it supports the workforce to do all of our jobs better and support delivery of better outcomes.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Thousands of children still living in poverty in Renfrewshire despite fall from previous year
A total of 4,613 children were living in a relative low income household, before housing costs, in 2023/24. Thousands of children are still living in poverty in Renfrewshire, despite the latest statistics showing the number has fallen from the previous year. A total of 4,613 children were said to be living in a relative low income household, before housing costs, in 2023/24 – a rate of 15.2 per cent. But the figure is a decrease of 330 when compared to the previous year and also below the Scottish average of 16.3 per cent. The data was included in Renfrewshire Council's local child poverty action report, which was approved at a meeting of the leadership board yesterday. Councillor Graeme Clark, Labour representative for Paisley Northeast and Ralston, said at the meeting: "While I'm slightly encouraged to see the child poverty rate in Renfrewshire fall and that there are 330 fewer children in poverty than last year – 330 children who have got a greater possibility to thrive – I'm still deeply challenge by the 4,613 children who remain in poverty. "I would, therefore, encourage this board to continue to commit to Fairer Renfrewshire's sub-group in its three-fold strategy, which is supporting parents into work, maximising household incomes and using lived experience to shape council initiatives." The local authority has invested in tackling poverty through various measures such as free school breakfasts in areas with high levels of child poverty and funding for its mobile children's library. Meanwhile, council-funded advice services have helped residents secure almost £17 million in additional income and manage up to £22m in debt. The Winter Connections and Summer of Fun programmes have also been highlighted as success stories by the council as it tries to maximise the support available to families. However, a report to the board confirmed there continues to be "particularly high proportions" of children in low-income households in specific areas of Renfrewshire. It explained: "The most recently published figures on child poverty show that in Renfrewshire the rate of child poverty before housing costs is 15.2 per cent, representing 4,613 children – a decrease of 330 children compared to the previous year when the rate was 16.6 per cent. "This figure is less than the Scottish average of 16.3 per cent. Not all wards in Renfrewshire saw a reduction in the proportion of children in low-income families, with three of our wards seeing a slight increase in rate. "There continues to be particularly high proportions of children in low-income families in both the Paisley Northwest and Renfrew South and Gallowhill wards." Depute council leader Jacqueline Cameron, an SNP representative for Johnstone South and Elderslie, added at the meeting: "It's a really good report and [it] highlights all the really positive work that's been undertaken ... but it's absolutely true that our work isn't done until we can eradicate child poverty. "In a country like Scotland it's a scandal really that we have any children in poverty and nationally our work isn't done either, so I was delighted to see that the Scottish Government are scrapping the two-child limit as of March 2026. "Again, that will be a game changer in terms of child poverty and I think that's something really, really positive."
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
'Investment in saving lives': Contract for alcohol and drugs crisis outreach service approved by Renfrewshire councillors
Elected members authorised senior officers to award deal to nationwide charitable organisation Change, Grow, Live. A contract for an alcohol and drugs crisis outreach service has been approved by Renfrewshire councillors in a move dubbed an "investment in saving lives". Elected members authorised senior officers to award a deal for the initiative to nationwide charitable organisation Change, Grow, Live. The step was agreed at the council's finance, resources and customer services policy board and the agreement will be for two years with an option to extend for a further year, depending on funding. The contract – which is worth almost £300,000 per annum – is anticipated to start on Friday, August 1, however, the date will be confirmed in the local authority's letter of acceptance. Councillor Graeme Clark, a Labour representative for Paisley Northeast and Ralston, said at the meeting: "Given that drug and alcohol deaths in Renfrewshire continue to be above the Scottish average and given the increasing complexity of those presenting to our services, I believe that Change, Grow, Live can provide a range of services to support individuals, families and communities that's needed. "The charity has considerable experience in working with challenging service users with complex needs including those with entrenched drug habits, offending behaviour, homelessness, antisocial behaviour, domestic violence and social deprivation." He added he has "no doubt" this funding will be an "investment in saving lives". A report, which will be considered at the meeting, explained why the matter had been brought forward to the board for consideration. It said: "The purpose of this report is to seek the approval of the finance, resources and customer services policy board to enter into a contract for Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drugs Crisis Outreach Service with Change, Grow, Live. "The provider will engage with individuals at higher risk of overdose and those who have experienced a near fatal overdose, to provide care and support, and to increase access to life-saving protective treatment. "At present, the service is delivered by the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) in-house harm reduction response team." Thomas Paterson, service manager for contracts and commissioning at the HSCP, said: "I agree that they come with an awful lot of experience, a significant provider of alcohol and drug services across the UK, and we're certainly excited about the skills and experience they can bring into Renfrewshire. They will be completely embedded within the alcohol and drug recovery services." The costs associated with the deal will be met by Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership, which is a partnership consisting of the HSCP, council, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Prison Service and voluntary sector. The maximum approved value is up to just under £900,000 for the full contract period. The agreement is for two years with the option to extend for a further year on one occasion, but the extension is fully dependent on Scottish Government funding.
Otago Daily Times
23-04-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Civic trust's audit costs ‘very, very sobering'
Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust co-chairman Graeme Clark hoists the American flag for the East of Eden production shot in Oamaru in January. Photo: Brendon McMahon A key driver for the Oamaru heritage tourism sector says "disproportionate" audit costs are a significance issue. However, the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust has had "a good year", its chairman Richard Vinbroux says. The trust has been instrumental in putting the town of Oamaru and its built heritage on the international tourist map in the past 30 years. Mr Vinbroux said with the trust's annual meeting coming up on Tuesday it had much to celebrate. In particular, its key starring role centred on the precinct in January for the Netflix television adaptation of the Californian-set novel East of Eden. That production brought an unspecified financial boon and the trust was now in a "very positive" position, Mr Vinbroux said. The trust was forecasting a $500,000 turnover for the year was expected to turn about a $100,000 profit, which would go back into securing the precinct's assets. Mr Vinbroux said Netflix brought "a big contribution" to the trust and it was very timely. "It would have been over half of our profit. "It helped because we've got ever-rising compliance costs. "The big buzz kill is we're now having an audit." That cost alone for a community organisation was "very, very sobering", Mr Vinbroux said. "It's disproportionate ... we have our annual audit which costs $9500 — plus accounting costs. "We live in a world that tries to put corporate strategies on to every other aspect of life and it doesn't fit. "It doesn't fit for charities and I don't think it fits for councils." This was "on top of everything else". Mr Vinbroux said there was still a gap between its aims and what the trust was there to achieve: to maintain and enhance its assets on behalf of the community. The trust last November celebrated 35 years and owned 16 mercantile buildings dating from the 1860s to 1880s in the Harbour and Tyne street precinct. That area is now regarded as the single most significant collection of buildings of its type in Australasia. The area is now part of a bid via Heritage NZ to have the broader Oamaru historic town centre and its Victorian port recognised as a National Historic Landmark. At present the only site with that status is the Waitangi Treaty grounds.
Press and Journal
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Press and Journal
Ellon dad-of-two to make appearance on STV's The 1% Club quiz show
An Ellon man is to test his problem solving skills when he appears on STV quiz show The 1% Club. Fans of the logic-based question programme will be able to see local quizmaster Graeme Clark, 52, put through his paces on Saturday's episode. Dad of two Graeme is a well-known face around the Aberdeen pub quiz scene, after founding his own business which organises trivia games around the Granite City. He started out as a city DJ, before setting up Exclusive Quizzes a number of years ago. Now, Graeme is set to be on the other side of the quizmaster's desk in an episode of The 1% Club, which airs at 9.05pm on Saturday. Speaking to The Press and Journal, he said that he was inspired to go on the show after playing along from home with his son. Graeme said: 'I'm always keeping my eyes open on social media for these types of opportunities, so when this came up I just went for it. 'I run a business and we organise pub quizzes – I've done that for 20 years or so now. 'My son is absolutely brilliant on this show. He has the app downloaded on his phone. 'I got it into it so we could play together and that's what inspired me to apply.' Graeme also revealed what it was like to step into the bright lights of a national TV quiz show after his visit to Salford for filming. 'It feels completely different in the studio from watching at home,' he said. 'The questions just come at you really quickly. 'Just 30 seconds to answer a really tricky one is really not a lot of time at all.' He added: 'They start with a bit of a warm up act to get you energised for the show, and they throw some warm-up questions at you. 'Then Lee Mack comes on, and the questions just come at you really quite suddenly. 'I didn't go out on the first question, but I almost did! 'It was a really great experience overall though.' Graeme wouldn't give anything away regarding the results of the TV quiz. So to find out how he got on, fans of The 1% Club can tune in on STV or STVPlayer from 9.05pm.
