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Meeting Details

Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority Joint Committee.
16 Feb 2018 - 11:30 to 12:30
  • Documents
  • Attendance
  • Visitors
  • Declarations of Interests

Documents

Agenda

Agenda
Notification
Committee Members
Membership
Councillor Andy Steel: Councillor Andy Doig: Councillor Tom Begg and Councillor Bill Binks (Renfrewshire Council): Councillor Innes Nelson and Councillor David Wilson (Inverclyde Council): and Councillor Donald L Reid and Councillor Todd Ferguson (North Ayrshire Council). 

Councillor Andy Steel (Chair): Councillor David Wilson (Vice Chair): Councillor Todd Ferguson (Vice Chair).
 
Present
Councillors Andy Steel, Andy Doig, Tom Begg and Bill Binks (all Renfrewshire Council); Innes Nelson and Graeme Brooks (substitute for Councillor David Wilson) (both Inverclyde Council); and Todd Ferguson and Donald L Reid (both North Ayrshire Council).
Chair
Councillor Andy Steel, Chair, presided.
In Attendance
D Gatherer, Interim Regional Park Manager and H Douglas, Tag ‘n’ Track Officer (both Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park); A MacArthur, Head of Finance, F Carlin, Head of Planning and Housing Services, V Howie, Finance Business Partner Development and Housing Services),  S Jones, Regeneration Manager, E Currie, Senior Committee Services Officer and K O’Neill, Assistant Democratic Services Officer (all Renfrewshire Council); M McNab, Acting Head of Safer and Inclusive Communities (Inverclyde Council); Dr A Sutton, Education Services (North Ayrshire Council) and S Afzal, Auditor (Audit Scotland).
Apology
Councillor David Wilson (Inverclyde Council).
Order of Business
In terms of Standing Order 15, the Convener intimated that he proposed to alter the order of business to facilitate the conduct of the meeting by considering item 10 of the agenda prior to item 1 of the agenda.
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.
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 Joint Committee held on 1 December 2017.
2
There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Joint Committee held on 1 December 2017.  

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.
Minute of meeting of the Consultative Forum held on 1 December 2017.
3
There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Consultative Forum held on 1 December 2017.

DECIDED: That the Minute be noted.
Report by Treasurer.
4
There was submitted a revenue budget monitoring report by the Treasurer in respect of the Joint Committee for the period 1 April 2017 to 5 January 2018.

The report intimated that gross expenditure was currently £38,000 overspent and income was currently £52,000 over-recovered resulting in a net underspend of £14,000.  It was noted that the projected year-end position was an estimated underspend of £17,000.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.
Report by Treasurer.  (not available - copy to follow)
5

There was submitted a report by the Treasurer relative to the revenue estimates for the Joint Committee for the financial year 2018/19.

The report intimated that the financial outlook in the medium term was characterised by uncertainty and at this point, the level of pay award and the level of requisition income, both major areas of financial risk for the Joint Committee were unknown. 

The requisition income available to the Park Authority had reduced in recent years, acknowledging the financial pressures that councils had been facing and also an increasingly commercial approach to the operations of the park.  The Treasurer had proposed a further 9.5% reduction from the 2017/18 requisition level to each partner council in advance of the formal requisition being agreed by the Joint Committee.  This proposal was noted as being acceptable by Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Councils, however North Ayrshire Council had intimated a £60,000 (59%) reduction in their requisition.

 

 

 

It was noted that a reduction in requisition on this scale called into question the financial sustainability of the Park Authority in its current form and the report proposed that the Interim Regional Park Manager be instructed to seek additional in-year savings in order to continue to manage in-year expenditure within the resources available; that the Interim Regional Park Manager develop a report for consideration by the Joint Committee as soon as possible but not later than September 2018 and that this report outline options and recommendations with regards the future operation and governance of the Park Authority recognising the reduced level of requisition income available.

The budget had been constructed on the basis of assumptions detailed in the report.  Appendix 1 to the report detailed the requisitions for constituent authorities and Appendix 2 to the report detailed the revenue estimates 2018/19 for the Joint Committee.

Councillor Brooks, seconded by Councillor Donald L Reid, moved that the report be not approved and that the Treasurer submit a report to the next meeting of the Joint Committee reflecting the pro-rata share of constituent authorities. 

Councillor Andy Doig, seconded by Councillor Steel, moved as an amendment that  the requisitions for constituent authorities, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, and the 201819 revenue estimates, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, be approved; that it be noted that any decision on requisitions would be subject to ratification by constituent authorities and that the Interim Regional Park Manager report back to the Joint Committee on the implications for park services should any constituent authority agree any alteration to the level of requisition recommended by the Joint Committee; that the Interim Regional Park Manager develop options to address the unallocated savings outlined in the report; and that the Interim Regional Park Manager submit a report to the Joint Committee no later than September 2018 outlining options and recommendations for the future governance and operation of the Park and the Joint Committee which recognised the financial constraints outlined in this report.

The Head of Finance, Renfrewshire Council, recommended that the Joint Committee  approve the revenue estimates 2018/19 prior to constituent authority budget meetings which were being held in February/March 2018.

Following further discussion and in terms of Standing Order 20, Councillors Brooks and Donald L Reid, being the mover and seconder of the motion, then withdrew their motion. 

DECIDED:

(a) That the requisitions for constituent authorities, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, and the 201819 revenue estimates, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, be approved;

(b)That it be noted that any decision on requisitions would be subject to ratification by constituent authorities and that the Interim Regional Park Manager report back to the Joint Committee on the implications for park services should any constituent authority agree any alteration to the level of requisition recommended by the Joint Committee; 

(c) That the Interim Regional Park Manager develop options to address the unallocated savings outlined in the report; and

(d) That the Interim Regional Park Manager submit a report to the Joint Committee no later than September 2018 outlining options and recommendations for the future governance and operation of the Park and the Joint Committee which recognised the financial constraints outlined in this report.

Report by Audit Scotland.
6
There was submitted a report by the Treasurer relative to the annual audit plan 2017/18 for the Joint Committee which outlined Audit Scotland’s planned activities in their audit for the 2017/18 financial year. 

The report highlighted that the annual audit plan 2017/18 included a section on Audit Issues and Risks and that within this section Audit Scotland had identified a risk of ‘management override of controls’. This risk had been included in the audit plans of all bodies which Audit Scotland worked with, in light of updated international standards on auditing. The inclusion of this risk was not a reflection of increased risk within the Joint Committee and Audit Scotland had confirmed that they had not found any issues on this in previous years. 

DECIDED: That Audit Scotland’s annual audit plan 2017/18 be noted.
Report by Interim Regional Park Manager.
7
Under reference to item 6 of the Minute of the meeting of this Joint Committee held on 1 September 2017 there was submitted a report by the Interim Regional Park Manager relative to the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park Risk Management Plan and Risk Register, a copy of which was appended to the report.

It was noted that paragraph 1.2 of the Risk Management Plan should reflect that the Risk Register would be approved on a bi-annual basis and not on an annual basis as stated. 

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted; 

(b) That the Park’s efforts to reduce risk to the Park and its services be recognised; and

(c) That it be noted that paragraph 1.2 of the Risk Management Plan should reflect that the Risk Register would be approved a bi-annual basis and not on an annual basis as stated.
Report by Interim Regional Park Manager.
8

There was submitted a report by the Interim Regional Park Manager relative to the quarterly absence statistics for the Regional Park Authority for the period 18 September to 31 December 2017.  The report provided information relating to the absence statistics and reasons for absence. 

DECIDED: 


(a) That the quarterly absence statistics for the period 18 September to 31 December 2017 be noted; and

(b) That it be noted that regular reports on the Park’s absence statistics would be submitted to future meetings of the Joint Committee.

Report by Interim Regional Park Manager.
9
There was submitted a report by the Interim Regional Park Manager providing information on the quarterly health and safety monitoring for the period October to December 2017.

The report intimated that there had been no RIDDOR reportable accidents; two incidents involving staff and two incidents involving visitors.  There had been three health and safety related courses held during the period which seven members of staff had attended and one toolbox talk delivered during the period. 

It was noted that staff continued to work with Renfrewshire Council Health & Safety Officers to align its health and safety policies, plans and accident prevention programmes with those currently in use within Renfrewshire Council.  

The report highlighted that there was still a problem with water ingress at Muirshiel Visitor Centre and that further investigation was required to fully rectify the problem.

DECIDED: 

(a) That it be noted that there had been no RIDDOR reportable accidents, no occupational diseases and four incidents during the period; and

(b) That it be noted that the problem of water ingress at Muirshiel Visitor Centre continued to be under investigation.
Report by Interim Regional Park Manager.
10
Under reference to item 7 of the Minute of the meeting of this Joint Committee held on 1 December 2017 there was submitted a report by the Interim Regional Park Manager advising that due to the success at the Sheffield national games, the sailors who were coached and trained at Castle Semple, had been selected to be part of Team GB for the Special Olympic World Games in Abu Dhabi in March 2019.

DECIDED:

(a) That the continued development of Special Olympic training within the Park to local people and those from further afield be supported; 

(b) That the Park’s continued efforts to increase income and provide a quality service to current and new visitors be recognised; and

(c)  That Castle Semple’s status as a nationally recognised centre of excellence in
performance disability sport be recognised.
Presentation.
1
Hayley Douglas, Tag ‘n’ Track Officer, Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, gave a presentation updating members on all aspects of the Tag ‘n’ Track project.

DECIDED: That the presentation be noted.
Note that the next meeting of the Joint Committee will be held at 11.30 am on 22 June 2018 in North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE.
11
DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the Joint Committee would be held at 11.30 am on Friday 22 June 2018 in the Council Chambers, North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE.

Supplementary Agenda

Agenda
Notification
Committee Members
Committee Members:

Councillor Andy Steel: Councillor Andy Doig: Councillor Tom Begg and Councillor Bill Binks (Renfrewshire Council): Councillor Innes Nelson and Councillor David Wilson (Inverclyde Council): and Councillor Donald L Reid and Councillor Todd Ferguson (North Ayrshire Council).

 

Councillor Andy Steel (Chair): Councillor David Wilson (Vice Chair): Councillor Todd Ferguson (Vice Chair).

Standard Items
Revenue Estimates 2018/19

I refer to the agenda for the meeting of the Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority Joint Committee to be held on 16 February 2018 at 11.30 am in Corporate Meeting Room 1, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley and now enclose the undernoted report relative to item 4 previously marked 'to follow':

Items Of Business

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