Documents
Agenda
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); R Hissett (Scottish Wildlife Trust); S Banks (Water Baliff) and (Scottish Water).
Chair – Councillor Nelson
Present
Councillors C Gilmour (Renfrewshire Council), D Wilson and I Nelson (both Inverclyde Council) and A Dickson (North Ayrshire Council); R Anderson (Scottish Rural Property & Business Association); D Cochrane (Scottish National Farmers Union); K MacKendrick (Lochwinnoch Community Council); P Perman (Largs Community Council); A MacLeman (Gryffe Valley Rotary Club); S Simpson and N Willis (both Save Your Regional Park); and R Hissett (Scottish Wildlife Trust – Ayrshire Branch).
Chair
In the absence of the Chair, Councillor C Gilmour, presided.
In Attendance
D Gatherer, Interim Regional Park Manager; E Currie, Senior Committee Services Officer and K Brown, Committee Services Officer (both Renfrewshire Council).
Also In Attendance
Councillor T Marshall (North Ayrshire Council).
Additional Items
Councillor Gilmour intimated that there were additional items in relation to land within the Regional Park Boundary, the housing development at Beech Burn, Johnshill, Lochwinnoch, the Revenue Estimates 2017/18, the Lochwinnoch Active Travel Hub, Corlick Hill, Greenock and feeding the birds at Castle Semple which had not been included in the notice calling the meeting. The Chair, being of the opinion that the items, which are dealt with at items 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of this Minute, were urgent in view of the need to consider the matters timeously authorised their consideration.
Land Within Regional Park Boundary
7
A discussion took place relative to the refusal of a planning application for the erection of a dwelling house at a property within the Regional Park Boundary. The current owners of the property had sold their home and were living in a caravan on the land.
The Interim Regional Park Manager advised that the Park Authority had no authority to intervene in this matter and that the matter would require to be raised with Renfrewshire Council as the planning authority.
It was agreed that the details would be passed to the planning authority regarding this matter and the correspondence copied to Councillor Gilmour. This was agreed.
DECIDED: That the details be passed to the planning authority regarding this matter and the correspondence copied to Councillor Gilmour.
Lochwinnoch Housing Development: Beech Burn Johnshill
8
Under reference to item 6 of the Minute of the meeting of this Consultative Forum held on 2 December 2016 it was noted that a petition containing 600 signatures had been submitted to Renfrewshire Council in respect of the proposed development at Beech Burn, Johnshill, Lochwinnoch.
Concern was expressed that this proposed development would be next to one of the principal viewpoints of the Regional Park and on a greenbelt site.
The Interim Regional Park Manager advised that he had submitted comments to the planning authority.
DECIDED: That the update be noted.
Revenue Estimates 2017/18
9
A discussion took place concerning the Revenue Estimates 2017/18 which would be considered by the Joint Committee at the meeting held immediately following the Consultative Forum.
It was noted that the income generated by the cafe at Castle Semple could increase if the facilities were improved.
The Interim Regional Park Manager intimated that work would require to be done on establishing capital for the upgrade or replacement of the current kitchen and whether the provision of catering would be delivered in-house or tendered.
DECIDED: That the matter be noted.
Lochwinnoch Active Travel Hub
10
Under reference to item 7 of the Minute of the meeting of this Consultative Forum held on 2 December 2016 it was noted that there was no update in relation to the Lochwinnoch Active Travel Hub.
The consultation, which had been launched at a meeting of Lochwinnoch Community Council, closed on 11 December 2016 and as yet the Interim Regional Park Manager had received no further information.
DECIDED: That the matter be noted.
Corlick Hill
11
DECIDED: That it be noted that there was no update in relation to Corlick Hill.
Feeding Birds at Castle Semple
12
A discussion took place relative to the erection of signs at Castle Semple to advise members of the public not to feed bread to the birds and the reason why bread was harmful to birds.
Members were advised that birds could be fed brown bread, peas and cabbage. If the birds were admitted to a wildlife hospital they would be fed brown bread as that is what they were used to. Park staff regularly spoke to members of the public to make them aware of this and the Park provided barley which could be fed to the birds.
DECIDED: That the matter be noted.
Standard Items
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.
Councillors I Nelson and D Wilson (for lateness) (both Inverclyde Council); J Kent (Sport Scotland); Z Bhatia and G McAuley (both RSPB Scotland) and S Banks (Angling Interests).
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.
Minute of meeting of the Consultative Forum held on 2 December 2016.
1
There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Consultative Forum held on 2 December 2016.
DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.
Consider any matters arising.
2
There were no matters arising.
DECIDED: That it be noted that there were no matters arising.
Verbal report by Interim Regional Park Manager.
3
Under reference to item 4 of the Minute of the meeting of this Consultative Forum held on 2 September 2016 the Interim Regional Park Manager provided a verbal update on the issue of disposal of refuse at Shielhill Glen.
He advised that the owner of the land, Ardgowan Estate, had given permission for access to the site to establish if the rubbish could be removed safely. He would now contact Scottish Natural Heritage to ascertain the best approach for this to be carried out. Following this he would contact Inverclyde Council with a view to the rubbish being removed during the summer months of 2017.
DECIDED:
(a) That the up-to-date position be noted; and
(b) That the Interim Regional Park Manager report on this matter at the next meeting of the Consultative Forum.
4
Under reference to item 3 of the Minute of the meeting of this Consultative Forum held on 2 September 2016 a discussion took place relative to the up-to-date position of the forestry application at Halkshill and Blairpark.
It was noted that Tilhill Forestry now operated as a subsidiary of BSW Timber Limited. It was proposed that Largs Community Council contact BSW Timber Limited to advise them of the concerns and objections of the local community and invite a representative of the company to attend future meetings of Largs Community Council and the Consultative Forum to discuss this matter. This was agreed.
DECIDED: That Largs Community Council contact BSW Timber Limited to advise them of the concerns and objections of the local community and invite a representative of the company to attend future meetings of Largs Community Council and the Consultative Forum to discuss this matter.
SEDERUNT
Councillors I Nelson and D Wilson entered the meeting prior to consideration of the following item of business.
CHAIR
Councillor I Nelson took the Chair.
5
A discussion took place relative to the proposal by Forestry Commission Scotland to tree plant 44 hectares in an area north of Corseford Road in Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park near to a core path.
Concern was expressed that the single track road and private water supply beneath the would be damaged when the trees were being felled.
Councillor Gilmour undertook to raise this matter with Renfrewshire Council’s Directors of Community Resources and Development & Housing Services requesting that this matter be raised with Forestry Commission Scotland by either the roads or planning service and that an update be provided to a future meeting of the Consultative Forum. This was agreed.
DECIDED:
(a) That Councillor Gilmour raise this matter with Renfrewshire Council’s Directors of Community Resources and Development & Housing Services requesting that this matter be raised with Forestry Commission Scotland by either the roads or planning service; and
(b) That an update be provided to a future meeting of the Consultative Forum.
6
A discussion took place relative to the possible introduction of a cross country skiing club at Castle Semple.
It was noted that the Huntly Nordic and Outdoor Centre regularly attended training at Soar at Intu, Brahead and roller skiid on the cycle track at Castle Semple. Those currently representing Great Britain at the Youth Winter Olympics attended the Nordic Centre and regularly trained at Braehead and Castle Semple.
It was proposed that the Interim Regional Park Manager investigate the possibility of establishing a cross country skiing club at Castle Semple and investigate establishing a partnership programme with Soar at Intu, Braehead to offer a joint training package to the Huntly Nordic and Outdoor Centre and other similar centres. It was further proposed that the Interim Regional Park Manager report back to the Consultative Forum. This was agreed.
DECIDED:
(a) That the Interim Regional Park Manager investigate the possibility of establishing a cross country skiing club at Castle Semple and the establishment of a partnership programme with Soar at Intu, Braehead to offer a joint training package to the Huntly Nordic and Outdoor Centre and other similar centres; and
(b) That the Interim Regional Park Manager report back to the Consultative Forum.
Note that the next meeting of the Consultative Forum will be held at 10.00 am on Friday 23 June 2017 in the Greenock Cut Visitor Centre, Cornalees Bridge, Inverkip.
13
DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the Consultative Forum would be held at 10.00 am on Friday 23 June 2017 in the Greenock Cut Visitor Centre, Cornalees Bridge, Inverkip.
Attendance
Declarations of Interests
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No declarations of interest have been entered for this meeting.
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Visitors
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