Update release branch for 3.0.9
This PR updates the 3.0.x series release branch to finalise 3.0.9:
- #1616
- #1637
- #1641
- #1747
- #1749
- #1753
- #1755
- #1760
- #1762
- NOTE: this is only partially applied, as part of the changes build upon #1632 which is scheduled for 3.1.0.
- #1763
- #1764
- #1765