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Meeting Details

Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority Consultative Forum
27 May 2016 - 11:30 to 12:30
Occurred
  • Documents
  • Attendance
  • Visitors
  • Declarations of Interests

Documents

Agenda

Agenda
Notification
Committee Members
Membership
Councillor A Dickson (North Ayrshire Council); Councillor C Gilmour (Renfrewshire Council); Councillor D Wilson (Inverclyde Council); R Anderson (Scottish Rural Property and Business Association); A Armstrong (Visit Scotland); Z Bhatia and G McAuley (both RSPB Scotland); G Brown (Bell Ingram Limited); D Cochrane (Scottish National Farmers Union); S Garner (The Conservation Volunteers); Lord Glasgow, (Kelburn Country Centre); K MacKendrick (Lochwinnoch Community Council); H Graham (Ramblers Association): (Sustrans); J Kent (Sport Scotland); D Blair (Largs Community Council); A McLeman (Gryffe Valley Rotary Club); A McWilliam (Parkdean Holidays); A Clark (Inverkip/Wemyss Bay Community Council); S Simpson (Save Your Regional Park); G Canata (Inverclyde Local Access Forum); Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart (Ardgowan Estates) and (Scottish Water).

Chair - Councillor Gilmour
Standard Items
Further Information
This is a meeting which is open to members of the public. 

A copy of the agenda and reports for this meeting will be available for inspection prior to the meeting at the Customer Service Centre, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley and online at www.renfrewshire.cmis.uk.com/renfrewshire/CouncilandBoards.aspx

For further information, please either email
democratic-services@renfrewshire.gov.uk or telephone 0141 618 7112.
Members of the Press and Public
Members of the press and public wishing to attend the meeting should report to reception where they will be met and directed to the meeting.
Present
Councillors Gilmour (Renfrewshire Council), Wilson (Inverclyde Council) and Dickson (North Ayrshire Council); R Anderson (Scottish Rural Property and Business Association); A Armstrong (Visit Scotland); Z Bhatia and G McAuley (both RSPB Scotland); D Blair (Largs Community Council); D Cochrane (Scottish National Farmers Union); K McKendrick (Lochwinnoch Community Council); A MacLeman (Gryffe Valley Rotary Club); S Simpson (Save Your Regional Park); and L Shaw Stewart (Ardgowan Estate).
Chair
Councillor Gilmour, Chair, presided.
In Attendance
D Gatherer, Interim Regional Park Manager; E Currie, Senior Committee Services Officer and K Brown, Committee Services Officer (both Renfrewshire Council) and C Sharp (North Ayrshire Council).
Hydro Electric and Solar Panel Schemes
2
The Consultative Forum were provided an update in relation to the hydro electric and solar panel schemes under construction within the Regional Park boundary.

DECIDED: That the updates in relation to hydro electric and solar panel schemes be noted.
Review of Wind Farms
6

The Chair proposed that the Interim Regional Park Manager submit a report to a future meeting of the Joint Committee relative to the practicalities of operating a Regional Park in the 21st century. This was agreed.

 

DECIDED:That the Interim Regional Park Manager submit a report to a future meeting of the Joint Committee relative to the practicalities of operating a Regional Park in the 21st century.

Planning Applications
7
The Chair advised that this matter had been discussed under items 5 and 6 of this Minute.

DECIDED: That it be noted that this matter had been discussed under items 5 and 6 of this Minute.
Review of Consultative Forum Members
8
The Chair advised that he had sought advice from the Clerk to the Joint Committee regarding his dual role of Chair of both the Joint Committee and the Consultative Forum and that after considering this advice he would be stepping down from his role as Chair of the Consultative Forum at the next meeting to be held on 2 September 2016.

He requested that members of the Consultative Forum consider nomination for the position of Chair.

Both Nigel Willis, Save Your Regional Park and Councillor Nelson (Inverclyde Council), who were in attendance as members of the public, indicated that they would like to become members of the Consultative Forum. The Chair proposed that Nigel Willis and Councillor Nelson be appointed as members of the Consultative Forum. This was agreed.

DECIDED:

(a)That it be noted that Councillor Gilmour had indicated that he would be stepping down from his role as Chair of the Consultative Forum at the next meeting to be held on 2 September 2016;

(b)That members of the Consultative Forum consider nomination for the position of Chair; and

(c)That it be agreed that Nigel Willis, Save Your Regional Park, and Councillor Nelson (Inverclyde Council) be appointed as members of the Consultative Forum.
Items Of Business
Apologies
Apologies from members.
H Graham (Ramblers Association) and J Kent (Sport Scotland).
Declarations of Interest
Members are asked to declare an interest in any item(s) on the agenda and to provide a brief explanation of the nature of the interest.

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


 

 

 

 

Prior to the commencement of the meeting, members of the Consultative Forum raised concerns in relation to the accuracy of the Minute of the meeting of the Consultative Forum held on 19 February 2016 and also questioned the procedure that minutes of the Consultative Forum were submitted to the next meeting of the Joint Committee for approval without first being approved by the Consultative Forum.

The Senior Committee Services Officer advised that the Minute of Agreement stated that (vi) The Park Consultative Forum shall meet not less than twice during each year on such dates and at such times as they shall themselves determine. In determining where and when to meet the Park Consultative Forum shall have regard to the desirability of maximising access to the Park Authority and minimising the expense involved in advising the Park Authority. Minutes of each meeting of the Park Consultative Forum shall be submitted to the next meeting of the Park Authority. The Senior Committee Services Officer further advised that this was the procedure which had been followed.

The Chair proposed that the Clerk to the Joint Committee submit a report to the next meeting of the Consultative Forum to be held on 2 September 2016 relative to approval of the Minutes of meetings of the Consultative Forum. This was agreed.

The Chair further advised that the Minute of Agreement, approved by all three member Councils, had been last updated in 2004. The Chair proposed that the Clerk to the Joint Committee submit a report to a future meeting of the Joint Committee requesting that the three member Councils undertake a review of the Minute of Agreement. This was agreed.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Clerk to the Joint Committee submit a report to the next meeting of the Consultative Forum to be held on 2 September 2016 relative to the procedure for approval of the Minutes of meetings of the Consultative Forum; and

(b) That the Clerk to the Joint Committee submit a report to the next meeting of the Joint Committee to be held on 2 September 2016 relative to a review of the Minute of Agreement.


1
The Consultative Forum were provided with an overview of the proposed Blairpark/Halkshill Forestry project. It was highlighted that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) would be issued shortly and a 28 day consultation period would then follow. Concerns were highlighted regarding the short consultation period and the need for comments from Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park Authority in relation to the EIA and the revised development. The Interim Regional Park Manager committed to assign an officer to assess the revision plan in relation to any impact to the Regional Park Authority.

It was noted that a site visit would take place on 6 June 2016 and that following the publication of the EIA a short meeting would be convened with the relevant parties.

It was highlighted that attempts had been made to engage Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), however, no response had been received. C Sharp, North Ayrshire Council undertook to contact the SNH local officer.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be noted that following the issue of the EIA the Interim Regional Park Manager would assign an officer to assess the revision plan in relation to any impact to the Regional Park Authority;

(b) That it be noted that a site visit would take place on 6 June 2016; and

(c) That it be noted that C Sharp, North Ayrshire Council would contact the SNH local officer.
3

The matter of whether the Interim Regional Park Manager or a Regional Park representative would attend the Blackshaw Wind Farm Appeal was raised.

The Interim Regional Park Manager advised that he would not be attending this Appeal and that there were no plans for a Regional Park representative to attend. The Chair proposed that the Interim Regional Park Manager submit a report relative to the Blackshaw Wind Farm Appeal to a future meeting of the Joint Committee.

DECIDED: That it be noted that the Interim Regional Park Manager would submit a report relative to the Blackshaw Wind Farm Appeal to a future meeting of the Joint Committee.

 

 


4
The matter of closer partnership working arrangements between the Regional Park Authority and RSPB was again raised. It was noted that there had been no contact between the two organisations since the matter was last raised at the meeting of the Consultative Forum held on 4 December 2015.

The Chair advised that this was a matter for management of both organisations and proposed that the Interim Regional Park Manager and G McAuley, RSPB Scotland meet to discuss day-to-day activities and agree a future plan on how the two organisations could work together.

DECIDED: That the Interim Regional Park Manager and G McAuley, RSPB Scotland meet to discuss day-to-day activities and agree a future plan on how the two organisations could work together.
5
A discussion took place around the need to update the Regional Park Authority objectives, in particular the need to include landscape and built heritage and the protection and promotion of the Regional Park.

The Chair advised that the aims and objectives of the Regional Park would be considered as part of the upcoming review of the Minute of Agreement.

Concerns were expressed regarding the fact that the matter of the Corlic Hill Wind Farm Appeal had not been discussed by the Joint Committee at its earlier meeting. The Chair advised that the decision in relation to the Corlic Hill Wind Farm Appeal was published on 17 May 2016 and that officers required to consider the implications for the Regional Park prior to a report being submitted to Joint Committee. Councillor Wilson advised that a report was being submitted to a meeting of Inverclyde Council’s Planning Board to assess why the Council had lost the appeal and what the Council could do better in the future.

DECIDED:

(a)That it be noted that the aims and objectives of the Regional Park Authority would be considered as part of the upcoming review of the Minute of Agreement;

(b)That the Interim Regional Park Manger submit a report in relation to the outcome of the Corlic Hill Wind Farm appeal to a future meeting of the Joint Committee; and

(c)That it be noted that a report was being submitted to a meeting of Inverclyde Council’s Planning Board to assess why the Council had lost the appeal and what the Council could do better in the future.
9

A discussion took place relative to (i) the report commissioned by Renfrewshire Council to facilitate a review of the current operation of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park; (ii) the ‘State of the Park’ report; (iii) the withdrawal of the Regional Park’s International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Category V Protected Area Status; and (iv) management of the Regional Park.

The Chair proposed that Renfrewshire Council’s Head of Planning and Housing Services submit a report to a future meeting of the Consultative Forum relative to (i) the report commissioned by Renfrewshire Council to facilitate a review of the current operation of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park; and (ii) the ‘State of the Park’ report. This was agreed.

The Interim Regional Park Manager advised that the decision to withdraw the Regional Park’s IUCN Category V Protected Area Status had been taken by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). The Chair proposed that the Interim Regional Park Manager submit a report relative to this matter to a future meeting of the Consultative Forum. This was agreed.

Reference was made to the work undertaken by the North Pennines AONB Partnership and it was proposed that the Interim Regional Park Manager invite an officer from that organisation to a future meeting of the Consultative Forum. This was agreed.

DECIDED:

(a) That Renfrewshire Council’s Head of Planning and Housing Services submit a report to a future meeting of the Consultative Forum relative to (i) the report commissioned by Renfrewshire Council to facilitate a review of the current operation of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park; and (ii) the ‘State of the Park’ report;

(b) That the Interim Regional Park Manager submit a report to a future meeting of the Consultative Forum relative to SNH withdrawing the Regional Park’s International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Category V Protected Area Status; and

(c) That the Interim Regional Park Manager invite an officer from the North Pennines AONB Partnership to a future meeting of the Consultative Forum.


10
The Chair advised that this matter had been discussed during item 9 of this Minute.

DECIDED: That it be noted that this matter had been discussed during item 9 of this Minute.
Note that the next meeting of the Consultative Forum will be held at 11.30 am on Friday 2 September 2016 in the Greenock Cut Visitor Centre, Cornalees Bridge, Inverclyde.
11
DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the Consultative Forum would be held at 11.30 am, or following the meeting of the Joint Committee, whichever was the later on 2 September 2016 in Greenock Cut Visitor Centre, Cornalees Bridge, Inverclyde.


At the close of the meeting the Chair advised that RSPB had launched a report entitled ‘The RSPB’s 2050 Energy Paper’ which outlined three potential long-term energy scenarios that met the UK’s climate targets in harmony with nature, as well as ensuring energy security and affordability. The Chair proposed that the Interim Regional Park Manager submit a report on this matter to the next meeting of the Consultative Forum to be held on 2 September 2016. This was agreed.

DECIDED: That the Interim Regional Park Manager submit a report relative to the RSPB’s 2050 Energy Paper to a future meeting of the Consultative Forum.

Declarations of Interests

Member NameItem Ref.DetailsNature of DeclarationAction
No declarations of interest have been entered for this meeting.

Visitors

Visitor Information is not yet available for this meeting