Council Plan Connect 2022-27: Quarter 4

The Council Plan Connect covering the period 2022-27 was approved by South Lanarkshire Council at its meeting on 15 June 2022. The Plan sets out the council’s vision, values, priorities and outcomes for the five-year period.

As part of the performance reporting arrangements progress reports on the Council Plan are provided at the mid-year point (Quarter 2) and at the end of the financial year (Quarter 4).

To report progress against the Council Plan key measures within Resource Plans are brought together into a Connect report to provide a balanced picture of council performance against Connect Outcomes.

Progress

The council’s performance management reporting system IMPROVe uses a traffic light format with the following definitions to give a status report on each action or performance measure:

The overall summary of Connect progress to date is as follows:

Data as at 2 July 2026

Key achievements

Key achievements to date against each of the six Connect Outcomes are summarised below:

Connect Outcome - Communities and Environment

• Lanarkshire Carers is the commissioned service offering support to adult carers throughout South Lanarkshire. There are currently 8,700 carers known to the organisation and approximately 1,000 new carers identified each year.  The organisation has developed a customised digital portal for unpaid carers, called CarerSpace, offering a secure platform to document their caring experiences, store important files, and communicate directly with Carer Support Workers. This allows agencies to identify emerging issues before they become serious. (SWR)
• Care Day 2026 was marked through a large‑scale event in Hamilton, bringing together over 200 care experienced young people and staff from across South Lanarkshire. The event was planned and delivered by the South Lanarkshire Champions Board, demonstrating a strong commitment to ensuring that care experienced young people are actively involved in shaping the services and decisions that affect their lives. (SWR)
• There was an increase of 11.61% of properties with full fibre connection during 2025-2026, bringing the percentage of properties up to 70.48%, compared with the 2024-25 figure of 58.87% (CER)
• The percentage of streets found to be acceptable during Litter Monitoring Systems Surveys carried out over 2025-2026 was 93.9%. This is better than the annual target of 92% and is better than performance over the previous three years. (CER)
• The Waste Services review was completed and the percentage of household waste sent to landfill in the calendar year January to December 2025 was 1.17%, well within the target to be below 5%. (CER)
• Across our capital programme, the number of road safety schemes that have been delivered exceeded the number scheduled with 112 schemes (87 carriageway/25 footway) completed. (CER)
• The draft Local Transport Strategy (LTS) 2026-2036 was subject to a four-week consultation period in November/December 2025 and was approved at Community and Enterprise Committee in March 2026. The final document is now being produced ready for publication on our website. (CER)
• The new Hairmyres Transport Interchange, East Kilbride is complete. (CER)
• We demonstrate strong leadership in climate and sustainability education through large‑scale learner engagement initiatives that amplify young people’s voice and influence. In particular, the Conference of Schools (COS4) on Climate Change and Sustainability, led by the South Lanarkshire Youth Forum on Climate Change and Sustainability, brought together over 300 pupils and staff from 100 primary schools at Hamilton Palace Sports Grounds. The event showcased effective youth leadership in climate education and supported schools to embed sustainability within learning. There was strong interest from establishments in replicating the model, with continued support for future forums. This work aligns closely with the council’s commitment to empowering young people, responding to the climate emergency and fostering responsible global citizenship. (EDR)
• A variety of engagement approaches have been undertaken to recruit and increase participation in Stakeholder Groups. Community events, drop ins, and community conversations have been facilitated in several neighbourhood planning areas, bringing together residents and those delivering services, with the aim of promoting awareness around what has been achieved through neighbourhood planning to date and showcasing Participatory Budget funded activities and the benefits projects bring. The Community Planning Website is being used to highlight and promote the work and achievement of Stakeholder Groups, raising awareness of what communities are achieving and highlighting the variety of opportunities available to get involved. (FCR)

Connect Outcome - Education and Learning

• Education Resources continues to demonstrate sustained improvement in attainment across literacy, numeracy and the senior phase, building on recovery since the COVID‑19 pandemic while maintaining a strong focus on equity.
  The 2025 data also highlights an increase in course presentations across the senior phase, alongside growth in attainment of National Progression Awards (NPAs) and Skills for Work qualifications, particularly for learners following vocational and skills‑based pathways. Collectively, this demonstrates the success of inclusive curriculum planning, high expectations for all learners, and a continued commitment to recognising wider achievement aligned to individual strengths, aspirations and future destinations. (EDR)
• We continue to demonstrate strong performance in supporting young people to achieve positive destinations and nationally recognised qualifications. The most recent School Leaver Destination Report shows that 96.6% of pupils leaving school in academic year 2024-25 progressed to a positive destination. This represents a continued improvement on the previous year and remains above the national average of 95.7%. (EDR)

Connect Outcome - Health and Wellbeing

• Guardianship Orders related to Adults with Incapacity (AWI) increased by 12% from 2021-22 to 2025-2026, with overtime helping to meet demand and aid hospital discharge planning during winter. (SWR)
•  The Independent Living Fund (ILF) has also been used effectively to support independent living. In 2024-25, South Lanarkshire achieved 61% uptake, performing above the national average, while in 2025-2026 all allocated awards were fully utilised despite a reduced national allocation. This reflects effective internal processes and strong local practice, delivering tangible benefits for supported people and their carers. (SWR)
• The Home Assessment Team (HAT) and Care at Home services continue to support people to live well at home by promoting independence, self‑care, and self‑management. In 2025-2026, both HAT and 3 Care at Home registered services were inspected by the Care Inspectorate and achieved grades of 5 – Very Good, providing independent assurance on the quality and consistency of care. Inspectors highlighted strong staff teams, effective communication and care delivered with dignity, respect, and compassion. (SWR)
• Lanarkshire Carers is celebrating 30 years of Caring in Lanarkshire. During Carers Week, June 2025, a range of activities were undertaken to raise awareness to carers supports and services. South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership raised awareness to Carers Week (Caring in the workplace) with the flag raising ceremony, information sessions for staff, and publication of a carer’s information booklet. Lanarkshire Carers continues to develop online tools to assist carers to think about their caring situation. Lanarkshire Carers, Carer Connected representatives, continue to share their lived experiences and assist services to improve planning and delivery. They have visited the Scottish Parliament, heard about Local Development Plans, and engaged with “No need to Fall” workshops. (SWR)
• The team at MAPPA (Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements) Lanarkshire won the title of Outstanding External Partner at the Police Scotland Lanarkshire Excellence Awards. MAPPA Lanarkshire aims to minimise the potential risks posed by serious violent and sexual offenders. To ensure the safety of the public and reduce the risk of harm, MAPPA can use a variety of safeguarding measures such as surveillance, curfews, electronic tagging, and sexual offence prevention orders. MAPPA Lanarkshire is delivered through a partnership between South and North Lanarkshire Councils and each MAPPA area works with a number of different organisations including Police Scotland, the Scottish Prison Service, and the NHS. (SWR)
• The Decider Skills Groupwork Programme for men in South Lanarkshire Justice Services was launched in July 2025 and groupwork is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, to focus on mental wellbeing and emotional regulation, enabling people to be more resilient, resourceful, responsible, mindful of their actions and as such support the development of more pro-social behaviours. This has been implemented within the Hamilton/Blantyre team and to date 6 groups have commenced. There have been 51 referrals in total with 32 people engaged and continuing to attend. (SWR)
• The £13m Transformation Fund is helping to modernise the leisure and culture estate. Key projects completed include:
  - Gym and studio upgrades at Dollan Aqua Centre, Eastfield Lifestyles, Blantyre Leisure Centre
  - Blackwood Community Wing, Willie Waddell, Coalburn
  - Toilet upgrade at Chatelherault Country Park
  - Roof replacement at Calderglen Country Park conservatory
  - Upgraded air conditioning system at Hamilton Water Palace
  - Replacement changing pavilion at Priory (CER)
• The roll out of the further expansion of free school meals for Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment is complete. (CER)
• 107 new build homes were completed, all have been built to ‘Housing for Varying Needs’ standards and are easily adaptable to accommodate the changing needs of tenants over time. 15 of these homes (14%) to be fully wheelchair accessible. Our affordable housing supply programme continues to increase the supply of council homes across South Lanarkshire, with a focus on ensuring that the new homes provide for changes in people’s need over time. (HTR)
• Significant progress has also been made in building workforce capacity to support early mental health and emotional wellbeing. By the end of May, a further 148 early years staff will have been trained in the Infant Mental Health (IMH) programme, with an additional training offer extended to 38 childminders. (EDR)
• Attendance Campaign – ‘Every School Day Matters’: A council-wide campaign launched to promote school attendance, especially among early years and primary pupils. Featuring real pupils and superhero-themed messaging, the campaign highlights the social and emotional benefits of regular attendance. It aligns with national priorities and has been widely promoted across schools. (EDR)

Connect Outcome - Children and Young People

• South Lanarkshire’s Family Support Hubs have received national recognition for their impact in improving outcomes for children, young people and families, having been shortlisted for the COSLA Excellence Awards 2025. (SWR)
• Hillhouse Children’s House, managed by South Lanarkshire Council to support looked after children and young people, has achieved ‘Very Good’ grades following a recent inspection. The inspection recognised the strong, trusting relationships between children and staff and highlighted the importance of these relationships in helping children feel safe, respected and actively involved in decisions about their care. (SWR)
• All young people leaving care were provided with housing options advice and support tailored to their individual needs and circumstances. This resulted in   bespoke personal housing pathway plans being developed for each young person. (HTR)
• We continue to contribute to the reduction in child poverty within South Lanarkshire. Increasing the council’s stock of larger properties has been a particular focus for this with 48% of the new build properties completed in the year being larger homes to accommodate families. In addition, 34% of the existing homes purchased by the council to meet housing need were larger again to accommodate families. (HTR)
• Improving Attendance: Over 120 schools and Education Scotland representatives attended the Curriculum and Quality Improvement Service (CQIS) Attendance Conference, focused on tackling attendance through collaboration and innovation. New South Lanarkshire Council attendance data tools were launched, enabling real-time data use and reducing admin time. These tools were rolled out authority-wide, supported by a comprehensive learning programme. Our persistent absence level for session 2024-25 was 3.1% compared to 3.8% nationally. (EDR)
• Inclusion Conference 2025: Over 200 participants attended our “Embracing Diversity” themed Inclusion Conference in September 2025. Topics covered included a new vison for inclusive practice; embracing neurodiversity; embracing all behaviour as communication; embracing equality and embracing The Promise. (EDR)

Connect Outcome - Housing and Land

• 243 additional homes were delivered during 2025-2026 and comprise 107 new build units and 136 acquired through market purchase scheme. (HTR)
•  Average days to relet a home has decreased from 19.3 days in Quarter 4 (2024-25) to 18.1 days in Quarter 4 (2025-2026). (HTR)
• Ensuring those with the highest housing need are prioritised with 59.9% of lets to urgent homeless (UH) households. (HTR)

Connect Outcome - Our Economy

• The number of participants supported via council-operated employability programmes during 2025-2026 was 2,415, with 745 gaining sustainable employment and 801 participants accessing further education or training. (CER)
• UK Government have confirmed the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) spend deadline has been extended to 31 March 2028:
  Clydesdale Way: Detailed design is in progress, building on the concept design work previously undertaken. Stakeholder engagement sessions took place in October 2025; landowner engagement is ongoing
  Shawfield: The current anticipated completion date for all three LUF funded Shawfield projects is late 2026. The council has released £5,369,204 to date, covering expenditure to the end of quarter one 2026-27. (CER)
• East Kilbride Masterplan project is progressing at pace with a number of parallel workstreams being progressed and regular reports to committee on behalf of the Project Board: demolition contractor appointed and on site; enabling works commenced with new access routes fully in place; Planning Permission in Principle approved; detailed design of Civic Heart element, including a new Town Hall, progressing; and a two-stage design and build procurement route being taken forward. (CER)
• Hamilton Masterplan key milestones include: project managers appointed for delivery of the Hamilton Masterplan; former Baird’s Department Store returned to council ownership; New Cross Centre now vacant, and work ongoing towards demolition and development proposals; demolition of former Vogue Bingo Hall; and confirmation that the Pride in Place application for Hamilton Town Centre has been successful and an award of up to £20m (Capital and Revenue) made to support eligible activity. (CER)

In addition to working towards the six Connect Outcomes, the council will continually aim to improve and ensure effective and efficient use of resources, and that business will be conducted with integrity and transparency and will operate to the highest standards. In order to monitor and report progress against these values, Resource outcomes have also been identified, under the heading Delivering the Plan and achieving Best Value. Related achievements to date are summarised below:

Delivering the Plan and achieving Best Value

• During 2025-2026, significant progress has been made in implementing digital care systems to support modern, efficient and person‑centred service delivery across residential services. Person Centred Software (PCS) has now been fully implemented across all three council care homes and Blantyre LIFE, providing staff with secure, real‑time access to care plans, risk assessments and daily records. This has improved continuity of care. (SWR)
• Following a successful pilot at David Walker Gardens, the Care Messenger smart TV‑based video calling and messaging system has now been rolled out across all three council care homes and Blantyre LIFE. Using familiar technology, the platform supports simple video calls and messaging, helping residents maintain meaningful connections, reduce digital exclusion and contributing to reduced loneliness and improved wellbeing. (SWR)
• The Digital Telecare Project has been formally signed off and closed. (FCR)
• Education Resources has significantly refined its complaints handling arrangements to ensure they are fully aligned with the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman’s Child‑Friendly Complaints Handling Principles and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. These refinements support earlier resolution, improve the quality and consistency of responses, and reinforce a culture of listening, learning and accountability. (EDR)

Progress to date against the full suite of measures is contained in the Connect Quarter 4 Performance Report, presented to the Performance and Review Scrutiny Forum (PRSF)

Scrutiny of change in measure status

A further analysis introduced to aid scrutiny of performance is to highlight and explain all measures that have changed status from Quarter 2 to Quarter 4. On analysis of these, four measures improved, and five measures showed a decline in performance - details of which are below. The remaining measures under scrutiny showed an improvement in status between Quarter 2 and Quarter 4, for example, changed from Green or Report later to Blue (complete) and need no further action.

Performance has improved from Q2 to Q4

Performance has declined from Q2 to Q4