Councillor Alan Moir (East Dunbartonshire Council); Councillor Alan Lafferty and Councillor Stewart Miller (both East Renfrewshire Council); Councillor Kenny McLean (Glasgow City Council); Councillor Tom Begg (Renfrewshire Council); Councillor Alistair Fulton (South Lanarkshire Council); and Councillor Lawrence 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); M Hislop, Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership Manager (Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership); A Laurence, Team Leader – Land Planning Policy (East Dunbartonshire Council); J Nicol, Principal Planner (East Renfrewshire Council); F Barron, Head of Planning and Building Services (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); and T Finn, Planning and Building Services Headquarters Manager (South Lanarkshire Council).

Bailie Glenn Elder (Glasgow City Council); Councillor David Wilson and Councillor Jim Clocherty (both Inverclyde Council); Councillor Harry Curran and Councillor Agnes Magowan (both North Lanarkshire Council); Councillor John Anderson (South Lanarkshire Council); and Councillor Jonathan 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 10 September 2018.

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 to 9 November 2018. 

The report intimated that gross expenditure and income were currently breakeven.  The projected year-end position was a breakeven position as the current overspend in employee costs would be offset against an over-recovery in income.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

There was submitted a joint report by the Treasurer and the Strategic Development Plan Manager relative to the revenue estimates of the Glasgow & the Clyde Valley Strategic Development Planning Authority including the requisition of the constituent authorities for financial year 2019/20 and indicative planning figures for 2020/21 and 2021/22.

Appendix 1 to the report detailed the revenue estimates for 2019/20 and Appendix 2 to the report detailed the member authority requisition levels.   

The report intimated that following its review of the Scottish planning system, the Scottish Government would publish a new Planning (Scotland) Bill in December 2017 which would have significant implications for the role and function of the Joint Committee as the Scottish Government intended to bring forward detailed arrangements for transitioning into the new Scottish Planning system.  It was considered that this transition period could be between 18 and 24 months and until such time planning authorities should continue to undertake their duties as defined in the existing legislation.  

The recent establishment of a Glasgow City Region Regional Partnership and proposed supporting staffing structure would also potentially have implications for the future role and function of the Joint Committee and its staff.  Any discussion in this regard would require to take account of the finalised terms of the Planning (Scotland) Bill and any associated transitional arrangements.

The report provided information on the assumptions that the budget had been based on and a financial overview for Clydeplan.

DECIDED:

(a) That the revenue estimates for financial year 2019/20 and the related requisitions of the constituent authorities be agreed;

(b) That it be agreed that the Strategic Development Plan Manager, in conjunction with the Treasurer, present a report to a future meeting of the Joint Committee should its remit and finances materially change; and

(c) That the indicative estimates for financial years 2020/21 and 2021/22 be noted.

Under reference to item 5 of the Minute of the meeting of this Joint Committee held on 10 September 2018 there was submitted a report by the Strategic Development Plan Manager providing an update on matters relating to the ongoing consideration by the Scottish Parliament of the Planning (Scotland) Bill.

The report intimated that the most relevant aspects of the Bill as it pertained to Clydeplan were the removal of the statutory requirement to prepare Strategic Development Plans and a requirement on planning authorities to provide information to assist the Scottish Ministers in their preparation of the National Planning Framework.

The Parliamentary scrutiny process had been ongoing since the Bill’s publication in December 2017. The process was being scrutinised by the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government and Communities Committee and Clydeplan had submitted both written views and oral evidence.  

The Stage 2 deliberations were completed on 14 November 2018 and the Planning (Scotland) Bill (as amended at Stage 2) had been published on 16 November 2018.  The primary provisions of the amended Bill included the retention of Strategic Development Plans and the removal of the requirement to prepare a Main Issues Report which was replaced by the requirement to prepare an Evidence Report for the preparation of a Strategic Development Plan.

A date for Stage 3 of the Bill had yet to be set but it was likely to be early 2019.  Given the progress to date and the number of amendments and Committee sessions it was likely that the Bill would not now receive Royal Ascent until spring 2019 at the earliest.

DECIDED: That the report and the progress and parliamentary scrutiny of the Planning (Scotland) Bill be noted.

Under reference to item 6 of the Minute of the meeting of this Joint Committee held on 10 September 2018 there was submitted a report by the Strategic Development Plan Manager providing an update on the ongoing role of Clydeplan within the portfolios and wider activities of the Glasgow City Region (GCR).

The report intimated that the inaugural meeting of the Glasgow City Regional Partnership (GCRP) was held on 31 October 2018 and it had been agreed that its purpose was to drive forward the growth of the Glasgow City Region economy; prioritise inclusive growth; and drive forward increased collaboration between public, private, third and academic sector.  

The Director of Regional Economic Growth was considering a dedicated staffing structure to support the GCRP and wider Glasgow City Region activities including the work of the eight local authorities led portfolios.  This structure would potentially seek to incorporate the Clydeplan staff resource and if this structure was agreed, a report would be submitted to a future meeting of the Joint Committee.

The report detailed Clydeplan’s involvement in the activities of the GCR; the key elements of the Core Team work plan; and observations on matters Clydeplan could support.

DECIDED: That the report and the approach of Clydeplan and its Core Team in relation to Glasgow City Region be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership Manager relative to the Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership (GCVGNP) Business Plan 2017/20 and the local authority contributions to support the Programme Plan for 2019/20. 

The report intimated that the GCVGNP Business Plan provided guidance to the GCVGNP Board on the delivery of the Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Green Network Programme for the three-year period 2017/20. The Programme Plan 2019/20 formed Appendix 1 to the report and the Business Plan 2017/20 formed Appendix 3 to the report. 

The report highlighted that the budget for the GCVGNP in 2019/20 was £200,000, which comprised contributions from partner agencies and local authorities. The local authority contribution to the 2019/20 budget was £96,187 and the contribution from each authority was calculated pro-rata based on population size.  A breakdown of the individual authorities’ contribution formed Appendix 2 to the report.
 
DECIDED: 

(a) That the content of the GCVGNP Business Plan be noted; and 

 

(b) That the allocation of local authority contributions to support the delivery of the Programme Plan for 2019/20 be approved.

DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the Joint Committee would be held at 11.15 am on 11 March 2019 in Glasgow City Council, Exchange House, 231 George Street, Glasgow.