Councillor Alan Moir (East Dunbartonshire Council), Councillor Tom Fisher (North Lanarkshire Council), Councillor Jim Paterson (Renfrewshire Council) and Councillor Richard Nelson (South Lanarkshire Council). 

 

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of this Joint Committee held on 22 January 2024.

In relation to item 2 it was noted that decision (c) should read ‘That the proposal detailed in the briefing note by the Director of Regional Economic Growth, Glasgow City Region be agreed, in principle, and that it be noted that the decision taken by the Glasgow City Region Cabinet in February 2024 would be submitted to the next meeting of the Joint Committee to be held on 11 March 2024’.

DECIDED: That the Minute, as amended, be approved.

There was submitted a joint revenue budget monitoring report by the Treasurer and the Head of Economy & Development Services, Renfrewshire Council for the period to 2 February 2024. 

The report intimated that by 31 March 2024, the forecast position for Clydeplan was a projected underspend of £51,000 and further detail was provided in Appendix 1 to the report. 

The report noted that there had been no budget adjustments since the start of the financial year.

DECIDED: That the report be noted. 

There was submitted a report by the Treasurer relative to the Annual Audit Plan 2023/24 for the Joint Committee which outlined Azets timescales and planned audit activity during the audit of the 2023/24 Annual Accounts, a copy of which was appended to the report. 

The report intimated that Azets had submitted an Audit Plan which outlined the approach to the audit of the Joint Committee’s 2023/24 Annual Accounts to assess whether the accounts provided a true and fair view of the organisation’s financial position and also whether the accounts had been prepared in accordance with proper accounting practice, the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the UK 2023/24.

The Audit Plan outlined the responsibilities of the Joint Committee and Azets; the assessment of key challenges and risks; and the approach and timetable for completion of the audit. The report advised that the statutory deadline for the approval of the audited accounts for 2023/24 was 30 September 2024 and that the annual audit report was planned to be reported to the meeting of this Joint Committee scheduled to be held on 9 September 2024.

The report noted that the proposed audit fee was indicated at £5,540 for the current financial year.

Adrian Kolodziej, Senior Manager, Azets, presented the Audit Plan to members. 

DECIDED: 

(a) That the Annual Audit Plan 2023/24 by Azets, appended to the report, be noted; and

(b) That the proposed audit fee of £5,540 be approved.

Under reference to item 2 of the Minute of the meeting of this Joint Committee held on 22 January 2024, there was submitted a report by the Director of Regional Economic Growth which had been considered by the Glasgow City Region (GCR) Cabinet at a meeting held on 13 February 2024.

The report submitted to the Cabinet proposed a revised governance structure for the oversight of the development of a Regional Spatial Strategy for the GCR following the recommendation of this Joint Committee in June 2023 to transfer the responsibility to the GCR Cabinet. The proposal was that a Glasgow City Region Spatial Planning Committee be established as a Sub-committee of the GCR Cabinet with membership consisting of Planning Conveners or equivalent form each of the local authorities, with the Chair decided by its membership. The Committee would oversee the development of a Regional Spatial Strategy for the GCR for approval by all eight member authorities. Directors or Heads of Service with responsibility for planning in each council would attend meetings in support of members.

 

The Director of Regional Economic Growth advised that at the meeting of the Cabinet on 13 February 2024, the Cabinet (i) noted the report; and (ii) agreed (a) to the establishment of a new Spatial Planning Sub-committee, with approval of a Spatial Planning Strategy resting with the individual member authorities; and (b) that member authorities seek approval for this approach through their own democratic structures at the earliest opportunity.

 

It was noted that individual member authorities required to take their own decisions on how they wished to proceed with the develop of Regional Spatial Strategies and the Joint Committee’s recommendation.

Councillor O’Neill, seconded by Councillor McNaughtan, moved that membership of the new Planning Sub-committee be two full members from each of the eight member authorities.

Councillor McLean, seconded by Councillor Andrew, moved as an amendment that membership of the new Planning Sub-committee be one full member and one substitute member from each of the eight member authorities.

On the roll being called, the following members voted for the motion: Councillors Gibbons, Edlin, Curley, Wilson, Stubbs, McNaughtan, O’Neill and Johal.

The following members voted for the amendment: Councillors McLean and Andrew.

8 members having voted for the motion and 2 members having voted for the amendment, the motion was accordingly declared carried.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report and update by the Director of Regional Economic Growth be noted; and

(b) That membership of the new Planning Sub-committee be two full members from each of the eight member authorities.

DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the Joint Committee would be held at 11.15 am on 10 June 2024 and it be agreed that it be a hybrid meeting in the Council Chamber, Renfrewshire Council, Renfrewshire House, Paisley.