Councillors Bibby, Caldwell, E Devine, M Devine, Audrey Doig, Gilmour, Provost Hall Councillors J MacLaren, K MacLaren, McGurk, I McMillan, Murrin, Mylet and Nicolson.

Councillor E Devine, Convener, presided.

S MacDougall, Director of Community Resources; S Allan, Head of Amenity Services, D Gillies, Head of Facilities Management, O Reid, Head of Public Protection, K Carr, Site Services Manager, G Hannah, Strategic Change Manager, Services, D Kerr, Service Co-ordination Manager, K MacLeod, Waste Services Manager, K Markwick, Amenity Services Manager - Roads & Transportation, A McNab, Transportation Manager and E Scott, Building Services Manager (all Community Resources); and D Farrell, Finance Business Partner and D Low, Senior Committee Services Officer (both Finance & Resources).

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Resources relative to progress on, and content of, the finalised Clyde and Loch Lomond Flood-Risk Management Plan (the Plan) which had been published on 22 June 2016.

The Plan set out the actions which were required across the flood risk area over the next six years with the actions prioritised through an evaluation of risk and number of properties affected. The key issues for Renfrewshire were the progression of flood-risk studies to develop proposals for flood-risk alleviation. The report anticipated that capital projects to address flooding would emerge from studies, potentially becoming considerations for future bids against centrally-held grant money for major flood-alleviation schemes.

Projects specific to Renfrewshire and incorporated in the Plan for early action included an integrated catchment study encompassing Erskine, Inchinnan, Linwood, Johnstone and Kilbarchan, in collaboration with Scottish Water commencing in 2016.
Early action was anticipated with respect to a collaborative study led by Glasgow City Council into surface-water management in the Hillington/Cardonald area again commencing in 2016. A potential contribution from Renfrewshire had still to be negotiated in respect of this but around £100,000 in financial year 2016/17 was anticipated.

DECIDED:

(a) That the progress update on the Council’s strategy for Flood-Risk Management as reported to this Board on 16 March 2016 be noted and it be noted that the Clyde and Loch Lomond Flood-Risk Management Plan was published on 22 June 2016;

(b) That the programme of flood-risk studies as set out in paragraph 3.12 of the report as attributed to Renfrewshire within the Clyde and Loch Lomond Flood-Risk Management Plan with associated timescales for completion be noted;

(c) That it be noted that the Scottish Government had allocated non-ringfenced capital funding of £2.517million in financial year 2016/17 to local authorities to progress actions in the Flood-Risk Management Plans, with the allocation to Renfrewshire being £370,000;

(d) That the expectation of the Scottish Government that studies could lead to future bids for centrally-held capital funding grants for major flood-alleviation projects be noted; and

(e) That it be noted that a funding contribution of around £100,000 from Renfrewshire in respect of a Glasgow-led study into surface water catchment in the Hillington/Cardonald area in 2016 could be required, which would be funded from existing resources.

There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.

There was submitted a joint revenue budget monitoring report by the Directors of
Finance & Resources and Community Resources for the period 1 April to 24 June 2016.

DECIDED:

(a) That the budget position be noted: and

(b) That it be noted that there had been net budget realignments of £856,311 processed since the last report related to the transfer of lighting maintenance to Corporate Landlord, partially offset by the transfer of recreational facilities to Renfrewshire Leisure.

There was submitted a capital budget monitoring report by the Director of Finance &
Resources for the period 1 April to 24 June 2016.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

There was submitted an update report by the Director of Community Resources relative to the services and key projects delivered by Community Resources during the period 1 April to 24 June 2016.

The report included updates in relation to the Renfrewshire Community Safety Partnership; Regulatory Services; Amenity Services – Waste; Amenity Services – Streetscene & Land Services; Amenity Services – Roads & Transportation (Fleet and Infrastructure); Facilities Management; performance indicators and benchmarking targets; and quality training and development.

Councillor E Devine, seconded by Councillor Gilmour, moved that the report be noted.

Councillor McGurk, seconded by Councillor Nicolson, moved as an amendment that the Board notes the report with the exception of 6.2 Changes to Household Waste Recycling Centre.

This Board accepts and agrees that the changes to this service by this Labour administration have been an unmitigated disaster. It therefore instructs the Convener in discussion with the relevant officers to bring forward proposals immediately to revert to the service offered to the residents of Renfrewshire by the previous SNP/Lib Dem administration.

On the roll being called, the following members voted for the amendment: Councillors Audrey Doig, J MacLaren, K MacLaren, McGurk, Mylet and Nicolson.

The following members voted for the motion: Councillors Bibby, Caldwell, E Devine, M Devine, Gilmour, Provost Hall and Councillors I McMillan and Murrin.

 

6 members having voted for the amendment and 8 members having voted for the motion, the motion was accordingly declared carried.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Resources relative to Public Protection Service’s Operational Service Plan 2016/19. A copy of the Service Plan was attached to the report.

The key responsibilities detailed in the Service Plan included business regulation; environmental improvements; trading standards and licensing; civil contingencies; and Renfrewshire Community Safety Partnership. The statutory Business Regulation Service Plan 2016/17 for food safety enforcement and health and safety enforcement was appended to the Operational Service Plan.

DECIDED: That the Public Protection Service’s Operational Service Plan 2016/19, incorporating the statutory Business Regulation Service Plan 2016/17 for food safety enforcement and health and safety enforcement be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Resources relative to the review and assessment of air quality in Renfrewshire as required in terms of the Environment Act 1995.

The report intimated that Air Quality Management Areas had to be declared where air quality assessments confirmed that statutory levels had been exceeded. The Council’s most recent air quality reports detailing monitoring and modelling work undertaken in 2014/15 had been reported to this Board on 27 January 2016 and had confirmed that air quality objective levels had been exceeded at Johnstone High Street and Renfrew town centre. Appendix 1 to the report provided details of the options considered for the establishment of wider or multiple Air Quality Management Areas within Renfrewshire together with an assessment of each option.

The report proposed that two new Air Quality Management Areas be created within Renfrewshire, in Johnstone and Renfrew. This recommendation took into account the different issues impacting on air quality within each area and the potential that this approach provided to enable the Council to develop individual Air Quality Action Plans that could address specifically the different issues in a focused way. Following Board approval, the Air Quality Management Areas would be designated by means of Orders, copies of which were attached as Appendix 2 to the report.

 

 

 

 

The report highlighted the need to review the Council’s air quality performance indicators within the Community Resources Service Improvement Plan and Community Plan Local Outcome Indicator Plan. The Council had one existing Air Quality Management Area covering Paisley town centre and a performance indicator related to maintaining or reducing this number. This target was no longer an accurate measure of progress in improving air quality in areas where air quality objective levels had been exceeded and the report suggested that this be updated and replaced with a range of improved measures being developed that would allow the Council to more accurately reflect its progress in tackling air quality. Other existing performance indicators would be retained in addition to the introduction of a new indicator concerning particulate matter (PM10).

Councillor E Devine, seconded by Councillor Gilmour, moved that the options for the declaration of Air Quality Management Areas within Renfrewshire, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, be noted; that the Air Quality Management Area Orders for each area of exceedance, as detailed within Appendix 2 to the report, be approved; that the review of air quality performance indicators be noted and that the recommendation to remove the performance indicator relating to maintaining or reducing the number of Air Quality Management Areas, retaining the other existing performance indicators and introducing a new performance indicator concerning particulate matter (PM10) be approved; and that the proposal to develop quality management areas for a range of environmental issues based on evidence of need be approved.

Councillor Audrey Doig, seconded by Councillor McGurk, moved as an amendment that an additional recommendation be added to paragraph 2.1 of the report:

"Council notes the standing policy of Renfrewshire Council that it will work with Johnstone Community Council, and the Johnstone Business Consortium, to develop solutions to the traffic management issues in Johnstone town centre, which are a major contributor to poor air quality in Johnstone High Street.

Council regrets the lack of action by the administration on this crucial issue for residents and businesses alike, and calls on options for a traffic management scheme in Johnstone Town centre to be brought to the next meeting of the Environment Board, with a timetable for both community consultation and implementation."

On the roll being called, the following members voted for the amendment: Councillors Audrey Doig, J MacLaren, K MacLaren, McGurk, Mylet and Nicolson.

The following members voted for the motion: Councillors Bibby, Caldwell, E Devine, M Devine, Gilmour, Provost Hall and Councillors I McMillan and Murrin.

6 members having voted for the amendment and 8 members having voted for the motion, the motion was accordingly declared carried.

DECIDED:

(a) That the options for the declaration of Air Quality Management Areas within Renfrewshire, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, be noted;

(b) That the Air Quality Management Area Orders for each area of exceedance, as detailed within Appendix 2 to the report, be approved;

(c) That the review of air quality performance indicators be noted and that the recommendation to remove the performance indicator relating to maintaining or reducing the number of Air Quality Management Areas, retaining the other existing performance indicators and introducing a new performance indicator concerning particulate matter (PM10) be approved; and

(d) That the proposal to develop quality management areas for a range of environmental issues based on evidence of need be approved.

The Board resolved that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business as it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that if members of the press and public were present, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 8 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.