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Meeting Details

Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority Consultative Forum
2 Dec 2016 - 10:00 to 11:15
  • 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 and Councillor I Nelson (both 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 and N Willis (both Save Your Regional Park); G Canata (Inverclyde Local Access Forum); Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart (Ardgowan Estates) and (Scottish Water).

 

Chair – Councillor Nelson
Present
Councillors Gilmour (Renfrewshire Council), Wilson and Nelson (both Inverclyde Council) and Dickson (North Ayrshire Council); R Anderson (Scottish Rural Property & Business Association); Z Bhatia (RSPB Scotland); K MacKendrick (Lochwinnoch Community Council); A MacLeman (Gryffe Valley Rotary Club); and S Simpson and N Willis (both Save Your Regional Park).
Chair
Councillor Nelson, Chair, presided.
In Attendance
D Gatherer, Interim Regional Park Manager; K Graham, Head of Corporate Governance (Clerk), E Currie, Senior Committee Services Officer and K Druce, Assistant Democratic Services Officer (all Renfrewshire Council).
Also in Attendance
Councillor J MacLaren (Renfrewshire Council).
Additional Items
The Chair intimated that there were additional items in relation to the housing development at Beech Burn, Johnshill, Lochwinnoch and the proposed cycling hub in Lochwinnoch which had not been included in the notice calling the meeting. The Convener, being of the opinion that the items, which are dealt with at items 6 and 7 of this Minute, were urgent in view of the need to consider the matters timeously authorised their consideration.
Housing Development at Beech Burn Johnshill Lochwinnoch
6

Under reference to item 6 of the Minute of the meeting of this Consultative Forum held on 2 September 2016 it was noted that an Erection of Residential Development (in principle) Application had been submitted to Renfrewshire Council on 18 November 2016.  It was proposed that the Interim Regional Park Manager consider this planning application and submit comments to the planning authority.  This was agreed.

 

DECIDED: That the Interim Regional Park Manager consider this planning application and submit comments to the planning authority.
Consultation on Cycling Hub
7

The Interim Regional Park Manager provided an update on the consultation currently being carried out in relation to a proposed new cycling hub in Lochwinnoch.

 

 

 

 It was noted that the Transport Scotland’s Pre-application Support Fund (PASF) would provide grant funding of up to £10,000 to help public, community and third sector organisations to develop ideas for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Low Carbon Travel and Transport (LCTT) Challenge Fund.  Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park had made application for grant funding of £7,900 towards active travel in Lochwinnoch.

 

The proposed plans for the cycling hub had been on display during November at the Castle Semple Visitor Centre and would be available to view until 11 December 2016.  A survey monkey online consultation and a paper consultation would also be available for completion. 

 

DECIDED: That the matter be noted.
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 the customer service centre where they will be met and directed to the meeting.
Items Of Business
Apologies
Apologies from members.
A Armstrong (Visit Scotland); D Cochrane (Scottish National Farmers Union); J Kent (Sport Scotland); D Blair (Largs Community Council); G McAuley (RSPB Scotland) and Sir L Shaw Stewart (Ardgowan Estate).
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.
1 Welcome
1
The Chair welcomed members to the meeting.
Minute of meeting of the Consultative Forum held on 2 September 2016.
2

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Consultative Forum held on 2 September 2016.

 

With reference to the Declarations of Interest section of the Minute it was proposed that the second paragraph of this section be amended to read ‘S Simpson raised what she believed to be declarations of interest in relation to the fact that Minutes of meetings of the Consultative Forum were not submitted to the next meeting of the Consultative Forum for approval prior to being submitted to the Joint Committee.  Also the fact that members should be declaring any interest promoting commercial schemes contrary to the aims and objectives of the Park at meetings of the Consultative Forum’.

 

DECIDED: That the Minute, as amended, be approved.
Report by Clerk.
3

Under reference to item 2 of the Minute of the meeting of this Consultative Forum held on 2 September 2016 there was submitted a report by the Clerk relative to declarations of interest in terms of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct and whether the same considerations applied to members of the Consultative Forum who were not elected members.

 

The report intimated that the Code of Conduct for Councillors was published to comply with the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000. The Code of Conduct continued to play a vital role in setting out, openly and clearly, the standards councillors must apply when undertaking their Council duties. It was vital that the Code continued to give assurance to the public that their elected members were acting in accordance with high ethical standards.

 

The key principles of the Code, especially those which specified integrity, honesty and openness were given further practical effect by the requirement for councillors to declare interests at meetings which they attend. The rules on declaration of interest, along with the rules which required registration of interests, were intended to produce transparency in regard to interests which might influence, or be thought to influence, actions as a councillor.

 

It was for the individual councillor to take responsibility to make decisions about whether they had to declare an interest or make a judgement as to whether a declared interest prevented them from taking part in any discussions or voting. They were in the best position to assess personal circumstances and to judge how these circumstances affected their role as a councillor in regard to a particular matter.

 

It was noted that there was no requirement for non-elected members of the Consultative Forum to declare an interest at meetings as the Councillors’ Code of Conduct did not apply to them. It was an option for members of the Consultative Forum to agree to be bound by the standards of behaviour in the Councillors Code of Conduct although the sanctions for non-compliance with the Code, which were imposed by the Standards Commission for Scotland could not apply to those who were not elected members.

 

The report advised that members of the Consultative Forum might also wish to consider whether there would be circumstances where as a matter of good practice they should declare an interest. On bodies such as the Consultative Forum, which was not a decision making body, it was unlikely that a genuine conflict of interest would arise. Membership of the Consultative Forum was open to representatives of various interests in the Regional Park which meant that it was reasonable to expect that those representatives would seek to promote their own interests. There should also be an awareness amongst the members present at a meeting of the Forum of which interests each member was representing. In the absence of a statutory requirement to declare an interest, in most cases there should be no expectation that the interests of members of the Consultative Forum would be declared at a meeting.

 

It was proposed that there be an expectation that non-elected members of the Consultative Forum declare an interest at meetings of the Consultative Forum and this was agreed.

 

DECIDED:

 

(a) That the report be noted; and

 

(b) That it be agreed that there would be an expectation that non-elected members of the Consultative Forum declare an interest at meetings of the Consultative Forum.
Verbal report by the Interim Regional Park Manager.
4

The Interim Regional Park Manager, Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority, provided a verbal update on the issue of disposal of refuse at Shielhill Glen.  He advised that the problem had occurred over a prolonged period of time and that most of the refuse appeared to be of a commercial type.

 

The Interim Regional Park Manager would work with the owner of the land, Ardgowan Estate, Inverclyde Council, Scottish Natural Heritage and volunteers to establish if the refuse could be removed safely.  It was noted that a health and safety inspection would be required prior to any work being undertaken.

 

It was proposed that the Interim Regional Park Manager contact constituent authorities regarding the possibility of this work being carried out by offenders who had received a Community Payback Order which required them to work in the community without pay for a certain amount of hours.  This was agreed.

 

DECIDED:

 

(a) That the up-to-date position be noted;

 

(b) That the Interim Regional Park Manager contact constituent authorities regarding the possibility of this work being carried out by offenders who had received a Community Payback Order which required them to work in the community without pay for a certain amount of hours; and

 

(c) That the Interim Regional Park Manager submit a report on this matter to the next meeting of the Joint Committee.

Discussion item.

5

A discussion took place relative to the review of the Minute of Agreement for the Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority Joint Committee which had been agreed at the meeting of the Joint Committee held on 2 September 2016.

 

It was noted that several members of the Consultative Forum had met to discuss this matter and had submitted suggested amendments to the Chairs of the Joint Committee and the Consultative Forum which had been forwarded to the Head of Planning and Housing Services, Renfrewshire Council. 

 

The Chair advised that the suggested amendments would be considered by officers from the three constituent authorities in the first instance and that a report would then be submitted to a meeting of the Joint Committee for consideration following the local government elections in May 2017.

 

DECIDED:

 

(a) That it be noted that the suggested amendments to the Minute of Agreement would be considered by officers from the three constituent authorities in the first instance; and

 

(b) That a report relative to the review of the Minute of Agreement be submitted to a meeting of the Joint Committee for consideration following the local government elections in May 2017.
6 Matters Arising
Consider dates and venues for Consultative Forum meetings in 2017.
8

The Consultative Forum discussed the schedule of meetings of the Consultative Forum for 2017.

 

It was noted that the Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority Joint Committee would consider meeting at 11.30 am on 17 February, 23 June, 1 September and 1 December 2017.  It was proposed that the Consultative Forum meet at 10.00 am on these dates, should they be approved at the later meeting of the Joint Committee.  This was agreed.

 

DECIDED:

 

(a) That meetings of the Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority Consultative Forum be held at 10.00 am on 17 February, 23 June, 1 September and 1 December 2017, should these dates be approved for meetings of the Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority Joint Committee; and

 

(b) That members be advised of the venues for these meetings.

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