Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Depute Convener intimated that this meeting of the Board would be webcast live on the Council's website.

Thereafter the Clerk undertook a roll call of members in attendance at the meeting, indicating those in the Council Chamber and those participating remotely.

Councillor Hughes declared an interest in item 4 of the agenda as she was Chair of the Board of Directors for Renfrewshire Leisure and intimated that she would leave the meeting during consideration of the item.

Councillor Sharkey declared an interest in Item 4 of the agenda as a notifiable neighbour and intimated that it was his intention to remain in the meeting and take part in any discussion and voting thereon.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources highlighting the petitions considered by the Petitions Board during the period March 2019 to August 2021, during which time the Board had met on four occasions.

The report intimated that four petitions had been considered by the Petitions Board during the period covered and provided details of the outcomes.

It was proposed that in relation to the number of petitions received from the same ward that the reasons for this be examined and reported to all members of the Board.

DECIDED: 

(a)  That in relation to the number of petitions received from the same ward that the reasons for this be examined and reported to all members of the Board;  and

(b) That the report on petitions received and their outcomes be otherwise noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the current review of the petitions process.

The report intimated that the procedure for submitting petitions had been introduced in 2007 and following annual reviews it had been agreed that the petitions process be reviewed biennially. The last review had been carried out in 2018 with another being due to have been carried out in 2020 but this had not been undertaken dur to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The report advised that as part of the current review, consultation had been undertaken with elected members, senior Council officers, community council representatives and members of the public to obtain feedback to further improve awareness of, access to and participation in the petitions process. It was noted that 16 responses had been received and that an action plan had been developed to address some of the issues raised. A copy of the action plan was appended to the report.

DECIDED:

(a) That the consultation responses be noted.

(b) That the suggestions for improvement, in particular with regard to publicising the process in a variety of media, be noted;

(c) That the action plan, as appended to the report, be approved; and

(d) That it be noted that the next review of the Petitions process be should have been due to take place in 2022 but would now take place in 2023.

Under reference to item 1 of the Minute of the meeting of this Board held on 30 August 2021, there was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to a petition  received from Mr H Lister in the following terms:-

“Cars parked in Gartmore Road (mainly, parking by residents living in Hawkhead Road, not using their own driveways) near or on the corner are forcing motorists entering or exiting into a narrow slot which has led to cars just avoiding head on collisions. Motorists parking and using Gartmore Road ignore the access only signs. School children crossing the road are being put in danger as cars parked block a driver's view. As we have a number of schools with pupils using Hawkhead Road this problem of child safety requires your urgent attention. A child's view when crossing Gartmore Road is restricted by parked cars.

We the Residents of Gartmore Road wish the Council to Double Yellow Line the entrance to our road up to the bollards. To consider a solution to stop motorists using our road as a shortcut to avoid the lights at the junction of Glasgow Road and Hawkhead Road. Through traffic using Gartmore Road is on the increase. The large number of houses being built on Hawkhead Road will only increase the foregoing problems. Your early attention would be appreciated. Can an Access only Road be backed by law and drivers warned or fined?

Note: - Even numbers start at 40. Odd numbers have gaps and numbers 25, 27 and 41 to 55 have not been used. Stopped at Alton Road and did not take· in houses in Gartmore Road beyond this point as they tend to exit Glasgow Road.
Resident in number 3 agreed that there was a serious problem parking and his reason for not signing was the cars would be parked further up the road. Could lead to problems with accessing or exiting his driveway.  Extended yellow lines might.be a solution.

The response from the residents signing to support the need for double yellow Iines was very positive and many were angry that our road was being used for parking by people living in Hawkhead Road”.

The report intimated that the Petitions Board at its meeting held on 30 August 2021 had agreed that consideration of the petition be continued to allow the petitioner to be in attendance and that subsequently a third-party representation had been received which the Convener had agreed, in the interests of transparency, be attached as an appendix to the report together with tfurther comments from the Transport & Development Manager in addition to those contained within the report relative to the petition. 

The Board heard from the petitioner in support of his petition.


Councillor Sharkey, seconded by Councillor Campbell moved that the petition be referred to the relevant Director with the recommendation that the petition be adopted and a further recommendation that the Director also undertake a review of the travel corridor from the roundabout junction at Barrhead Road to Penilee Road at Queen Elizabeth Avenue. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That the petition be referred to the relevant Director with the recommendation that the petition be adopted and a further recommendation that the Director also undertake a review of the travel corridor from the roundabout junction at Barrhead Road to Penilee Road at Queen Elizabeth Avenue.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to a petition received in relation to an application for the transfer of Ralston Community Sports Centre to private ownership.

The report intimated that the Head of Economy & Development had advised that a community asset transfer application had been received from Kelburne Hockey Club for Ralston Sports Centre and that this application had yet to be validated by the Council. The statutory process in terms of wider consultation with local community and other stakeholders only commenced when an application was validated.

The report further intimated that the Head of Corporate Governance considered that the petition was not valid in terms of paragraph 3 (iii) of the procedures which stated that “Petitions about individual planning, licensing or other applications (including decisions already taken) where there are already procedures in place” could not be considered by the Board.

It was noted that it was for the Board to determine the validity of the petition and whether they wished to hear it.

Councillor Campbell proposed that the petitioner be heard and the Board then heard from the Petitioner, Mr S Harrigan, and from a representative of Ralston Community Council who was in attendance remotely as a member of the public

Councillor Campbell then proposed that consideration of the petition be continued to the next meeting of the Board to allow members to consider the petition and the additional points raised at the meeting. This was agreed

DECIDED: That consideration of the petition be continued to the next meeting of the Board to allow members to consider the petition and the additional points raised at the meeting.