Councillor Johnston and Councillor Moir (both East Dunbartonshire Council); Councillor Lafferty and Councillor Miller (both East Renfrewshire Council); Councillor Elder and Councillor McLean (both Glasgow City Council); Councillor Clocherty and Wilson (both Inverclyde Council); Councillor Curran (North Lanarkshire Council); Councillor Begg (Renfrewshire Council); Councillor Anderson (South Lanarkshire Council); and Councillor O’Neill (West Dunbartonshire Council).

Councillor O’Neill, Convener, presided.

S Tait, Strategic Development Plan Manager and D McDonald, Assistant Strategic Development Plan Manager (both Strategic Development Plan Core Team); J Nicol, Principal Planner (East Renfrewshire Council); N Urquhart, Team Leader Sustainability Policy (East Dunbartonshire Council); S Taylor, Principal Planner (Glasgow City Council); L Bowden, Business Manager (Strategic Planning) (North Lanarkshire Council); F Carlin, Head of Planning and Housing Services, K Festorazzi, Senior Accountant, and E Currie, Senior Committee Services Officer (all Renfrewshire Council); G Cameron, Planning and Building Standards Manager HQ (South Lanarkshire Council); P Clifford, Planning and Building Standards Manager (West Dunbartonshire Council); and A Haar, Senior Auditor (Audit Scotland). 

The Convener intimated that there was an additional item in relation to the Annual Audit Plan 2017/18 which had not been included in the notice calling the meeting. The Convener, being of the opinion that the item which is dealt with at item 10 below, was urgent in view of the need to advise members of the position, authorised its consideration.

There was submitted a report by the Strategic Development Plan Manager relative to the Scottish Government’s feedback on Clydeplan’s Planning Performance Framework 2016/17 and proposed changes to performance monitoring as specified in the Planning (Scotland) Bill.

The report intimated that the Planning Performance Framework, covering the period April 2016 to March 2017, had been submitted to the Scottish Government on 10 July 2017.  

It was noted that Clydeplan’s performance had been assessed positively on its plan preparation performance; culture of continuous improvement; and collaborative approach to sharing good practice, skills and knowledge between authorities with all categories rated as green.

The Minister for Local Government and Housing, Kevin Stewart MSP, had written to the Convener of the Joint Committee on 3 January 2018 and a copy of his letter and feedback report were appended to the report.

It was proposed that the Strategic Development Plan Manager arrange for the  Scottish Government’s feedback report to be issued to (i) a wider audience via social media and (ii) officers in constituent councils requesting that they provide this information to their respective Councils via the appropriate committee/board.  This was agreed.

DECIDED: 

(a) That the Scottish Government’s feedback on Clydeplan’s Planning Performance Framework 2016/17, as appended to the report, be noted; and

(b) That the Strategic Development Plan Manager arrange for the  Scottish Government’s feedback report to be issued to (i) a wider audience via social media and (ii) officers in constituent councils requesting that they provide this information to their respective Councils via the appropriate committee/board.

Councillor Magowan (North Lanarkshire Council); Councillor McGurk (Renfrewshire Council); Councillor Fulton (South Lanarkshire Council); and Councillor McColl (West Dunbartonshire Council).

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

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Joint Committee held on 11 December 2017. 

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.

There was submitted a joint report by the Treasurer and the Strategic Development Plan Manager for the period 1 April 2017 to 2 February 2018. 

The report intimated that gross expenditure and income were currently breakeven.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

Under reference to item 6 of the Minute of the meeting of this Joint Committee held on 11 December 2017 there was submitted a report by the Strategic Development Plan Manager providing an update on the legal challenge to the Clydeplan Strategic Development Plan (July 2017).

The report intimated that the appeal had been heard in the Court of Session on 6 and 7 February 2018.  The Law Lords had indicated that they would be issuing their decision in a few weeks, however, no decision had been issued as yet.  

The cost of supporting the legal challenge to date was £21,503 which could be met from earmarked balances.  Further legal advice may be required depending on the outcome of the Court of Session judgement.

DECIDED: That the report be noted and that it be agreed that the costs be met from earmarked balances.

 

 

 

 

There was submitted a report by the Strategic Development Plan Manager providing an update on the Planning (Scotland) Bill and the ongoing considerations of its implications on the role and remit of the Joint Committee.

The report intimated that the Planning (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament by the Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities on 4 December 2017 and was accompanied by Explanatory Notes, a Policy Memorandum and a Financial Memorandum which was published on 5 December 2017.  The Bill was currently undergoing a Parliamentary scrutiny phase.  It was anticipated that the Bill would be enacted by the Scottish Parliament in September 2018.

As agreed with the Convener and Vice Convener and Steering Group Chair, Clydeplan had submitted responses to the Local Government and Communities Committee and the Finance and Constitution Committee, which formed Appendices 1 and 2 to the report.  The Clydeplan Manager had given oral evidence to the Local Government and Communities Committee.

The report detailed the potential implications for the Glasgow and The Clyde Valley Strategic Development Planning Authority Joint Committee information in relation to the Glasgow City Regional Partnership.  
 
DECIDED: 

(a) That the report be noted;  

(b) That the Strategic Development Plan Manager and Steering Group Chair continue discussions with the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Region to consider the implications of the Planning (Scotland) Bill as they related to the role and remit of the Joint Committee; and

(c) That update reports be submitted to future meeting of the Joint Committee.

There was submitted a report by the Strategic Development Plan Manager relative to the Clydeplan Annual Report 2017, a summary of which was appended to the report. 

The Annual Report provided an overview of the work undertaken by Clydeplan during 2017 under the broad headings of the review of the Clydeplan Joint Committee; approval of the Strategic Development Plan and legal challenge; the Glasgow City Region and City Deal; the Scottish Government’s Review of Planning in Scotland – Publication of the Planning (Scotland) Bill; the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning – Clydeplan’s Flood Risk Mapping Tool; and priorities and issues affecting the future work of Clydeplan. 

DECIDED:

(a) That the Annual Report 2017, as set out in the appendix to the report, be approved; and

 

(b) That it be agreed that, in accordance with the practice in previous year, an enhanced version of the Annual Report be produced in order to promote the work of the Joint Committee. 

There was submitted a report by the Strategic Development Plan Manager relative to the Development Plan Scheme and Participation Statement 2018/19.

The report intimated that as part of the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006, planning authorities were expected to publish a Development Plan Scheme and Participation Statement and review it on an annual basis. Clydeplan published its first Development Plan Scheme and Participation Statement on 31 March, 2009, with subsequent revisions published annually in March. This year, given the terms of the Planning (Scotland) Bill and following discussions with the Scottish Government the Development Plan Scheme and Participation Statement 2018/19 had been reduced in scope to reflect the current position in respect of the legal challenge to the Clydeplan Strategic Development Plan; the terms of the Planning (Scotland) Bill which had been published in December 2017 and which sought the removal of the statutory requirement to prepare Strategic Development Plans and introduced a statutory duty on planning authorities to provide information to assist preparation of the next National Planning Framework; and the emerging context of the Glasgow City Regional Partnership in delivery of the Glasgow City Region Economic Strategy Action Plan.

A copy of the Development Plan Scheme and Participation Statement 2018/19 was appended to the report. 

It was proposed that the Strategic Development Plan Manager issue the Development Plan Scheme and Participation Statement 2018/19 to MSPs for information.  This was agreed.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Development Plan Scheme and Participation Statement 2018/19, as set out in the appendix to the report, be adopted; 

(b) That the Strategic Development Plan Manager make the necessary arrangements for publication and distribution to all local libraries throughout the city region, on Clydeplan’s website and Scottish Ministers; and

(c) That the Strategic Development Plan Manager issue the Development Plan Scheme and Participation Statement 2018/19 to MSPs for information.

There was submitted a report by the Strategic Development Plan Manager relative to  a request that Renfrewshire Council continue its role as administering partner in respect of the Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership (GCVGNP).

 

 

The report intimated that Renfrewshire Council, in line with its ‘host authority’ role for the Joint Committee, had agreed to act as the administering partner with responsibility for the employment of the Partnership staff and also act as Treasurer to the Partnership.  As the administering partner and for reasons of continuity, it was proposed that Renfrewshire Council be asked to extend this role until 31 March 2019.

The GCVGNP Board oversaw the strategic direction and development of the Green Network programme.  A small Executive Team of three full-time members of staff, led by a Programme Manager, were responsible for the development and delivery of the programme and were employed on temporary contracts linked to the period of funding for the Partnership which had been extended until 31 March 2019.

It was noted that local authority contributions had been agreed by the Joint Committee in December 2017 and not December 2018 as stated in the report.  

DECIDED:

(a) That Renfrewshire Council be requested to continue its role as the administering partner for the Green Network Partnership until 31 March 2019; 

(b) That the decision to extend the contracts of employment for the Green Network Executive Team to 31 March 2019 be endorsed; and 

(c) That it be noted that local authority contributions had been agreed by the Joint Committee in December 2017 and not December 2018 as stated in the report. 

There was submitted a report by the Treasurer and the Strategic Development Plan Manager detailing the list of expenses incurred through corporate procurement card payment by type and employee for the period 11 November 2017 to 2 February 2018. 

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the Joint Committee would be held on 11.15 am on 11 June 2018 in Glasgow City Council Exchange House, George Street, Glasgow.