Renfrewshire Council seeks regular public updates on artificial intelligence tools like its digital advisor Millie, aiming to bolster ethical oversight and address public concerns over AI in frontline services.
Renfrewshire Council is being urged to place transparency at the heart of its use of artificial intelligence, after councillors lodged a motion seeking regular public reporting on the technology now embedded in frontline services. According to the original report, the motion , tabled by SNP Councillor Robert Innes and seconded by Councillor Bruce MacFarlane , would require a six‑monthly “AI Transparency Report” to be presented to the relevant policy board detailing which tools are in use, their purpose and function, assessments undertaken and any risks identified. [1][2][5]
The proposal frames transparency as a safeguard: “as AI becomes a larger part of public service delivery, ethical governance and transparent safeguards are essential to protect residents’ rights, prevent bias and ensure AI continues to support key services and our valued workforce,” the motion states. It calls for ongoing oversight and updates to elected members as systems evolve. Industry data and council materials show Millie , Renfrewshire’s AI‑powered digital advisor , is central to that evolution and is cited as evidence of both benefit and the need for scrutiny. [1][5][2]
Renfrewshire became the first Scottish council to deploy an AI phone assistant when it launched Millie in November 2024. The council says Millie has handled more than 240,000 customer calls and contributed to 35,000 fewer calls to the contact centre compared with the previous year, freeing advisers to focus on complex enquiries and personalised support. The council and its technology partner describe Millie as trained on a custom organisational language model covering more than 1,000 council topics and offering 24/7 assistance. [2][3][5]
Yet Millie’s roll‑out has not been uncontroversial. Local councillors and some residents have complained about the system’s limitations, and critics have highlighted moments of public frustration. Speaking to the finance, resources and customer services policy board last month, Labour Councillor Chris Gilmour quipped: “I’m a great believer in machine learning… I just think the machine needs to learn a bit quicker.” The motion’s advocates say a formal reporting cadence would address such concerns by making performance, assessments and mitigations visible to elected members and the public. [1][7]
The council’s own statements describe the deployment as award‑winning: Millie won the Leading Innovation prize at the COSLA Excellence Awards 2025 and is named among projects underpinning a broader push for digital transformation across the authority. According to council releases, the success of the pilot has prompted a wider AI assessment to identify further service improvements and efficiencies , developments that the proposed transparency reports would capture and subject to scrutiny. [2][6][4]
Placing transparency at the centre of AI governance would align Renfrewshire with wider public‑sector calls for accountable, ethical use of automated systems: the proposed six‑monthly report would record tools in use, purposes, data protection and equality assessments, changes since the prior report, and any identified risks, mitigations or recommendations for future deployment. If the motion is agreed at full council next Thursday, elected members will begin receiving those updates for consideration at the relevant board. [1][5][2]
📌 Reference Map:
##Reference Map:
- [1] (Daily Record) – Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2, Paragraph 4, Paragraph 6
- [2] (Renfrewshire Council news release) – Paragraph 1, Paragraph 3, Paragraph 5, Paragraph 6
- [3] (Renfrewshire Council: “And the winner is… Millie”) – Paragraph 3, Paragraph 5
- [4] (Renfrewshire Council: APSE Awards) – Paragraph 5
- [5] (Renfrewshire Council: “Meet Millie”) – Paragraph 2, Paragraph 3, Paragraph 6
- [6] (ICS.ai case study) – Paragraph 5
- [7] (STV News) – Paragraph 4
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative is recent, with the award announcement dated 28 November 2025. The earliest known publication date of similar content is 28 November 2025. The narrative is not republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The motion for a six-monthly ‘AI Transparency Report’ is a new development, indicating high freshness. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. No similar content appeared more than 7 days earlier. The article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([renfrewshire24.co.uk](https://www.renfrewshire24.co.uk/2025/11/28/renfrewshire-councils-digital-advisor-millie-wins-innovation-award/?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The direct quotes from Councillor John Shaw and Gary Innes are unique to this narrative. No identical quotes appear in earlier material. The wording of the quotes matches the original sources. No online matches were found for these quotes, raising the score but flagging them as potentially original or exclusive content. ([renfrewshire24.co.uk](https://www.renfrewshire24.co.uk/2025/11/28/renfrewshire-councils-digital-advisor-millie-wins-innovation-award/?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from Renfrewshire24.co.uk, a local news outlet. While it provides detailed information, its reputation and verification processes are not widely known, leading to some uncertainty. The Renfrewshire Council’s official website is also cited, enhancing credibility. ([renfrewshire24.co.uk](https://www.renfrewshire24.co.uk/2025/11/28/renfrewshire-councils-digital-advisor-millie-wins-innovation-award/?utm_source=openai))
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about Millie’s performance and the proposed ‘AI Transparency Report’ align with other reputable sources. The narrative includes specific factual anchors, such as dates, names, and institutions. The language and tone are consistent with official communications. No excessive or off-topic details are present. The tone is formal and appropriate for the subject matter. ([renfrewshire24.co.uk](https://www.renfrewshire24.co.uk/2025/11/28/renfrewshire-councils-digital-advisor-millie-wins-innovation-award/?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is recent and original, with no significant discrepancies or signs of disinformation. The source’s reliability is slightly uncertain due to its local nature, but the information is corroborated by official sources. The claims are plausible and supported by specific details.
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