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Under reference to item 1 of the Minute of the meeting of this Joint Committee held on 12 June 2023, there was submitted a report by the Clydeplan Steering Group outlining potential options for the management and governance arrangements for the duty to prepare a Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) and seeking the views of the Joint Committee on the preferred model for implementation. The report also dealt with the potential cessation of the Joint Committee due to the recent changes in planning legislation enacted by the Scottish Parliament.
The report provided the background in relation to National Planning Framework (NPF4) and the introduction of RSSs which, unlike the Clydeplan, would not form part of the statutory development plan, this would now comprise NPF4 and individual authorities’ local development plans (LDPs). RSSs would feed into the planning process by guiding the preparation of relevant LDPs and future iterations of NPF.
The report intimated that, given these changes, the role and remit for which the Joint Committee had been originally established would significantly change. A copy of the Minute of Agreement formed Appendix 1 to the report.
The report advised that there was no prescription in the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 on how local authorities discharged the duty to prepare an RSS and it was open for local authorities to consider their preferred model. The RSS would not be a statutory document and it was not clear what, if any, role a regional body like the Joint Committee would have in approving its content. Guidance on the preparation of RSSs was pending, however the Scottish Government were yet to confirm the timescale.
Appendix 2 to the report set out four proposed options for the Joint Committee in terms of a proposed way forward with the preparation and governance of the forthcoming RSS; and the report provided detail in relation to staffing and funding; and the next steps.
Councillor O’Neill, seconded by Councillor Wilson, moved that the contents of the report be noted; that the cessation of strategic development plans be noted; and that the preferred option for considering regional spatial strategy planning issues going forward be as detailed in option 1(b) which stated that ‘the Clydeplan staff team would be integrated into the existing city region Programme Management Office (overseen by the Director of Regional Economic Growth) who would take responsibility for preparing an RSS and reporting this through to the Joint Committee for approval’.
Councillor Stubbs, seconded by Councillor Brown, moved as an amendment that the contents of the report be noted; that the cessation of strategic development plans be noted; and that the preferred option for considering regional spatial strategy planning issues going forward be as detailed in option 1 which stated ‘existing Clydeplan staff resource would be reviewed in light of the new requirements for RSS preparation. Staff would be consulted on a possible TUPE transfer to Glasgow City Council. If transferred, the team would be integrated into the existing city region structures (overseen by the Regional Director) who would take responsibility for preparing an RSS and reporting this through to the GCR Cabinet for approval. This would move the duty to prepare an RSS directly into the city region governance structures’.
On the roll being called, the following members voted for the amendment: Councillors Gibbons, Edlin, Merrick, McLean, Andrew, Fisher, Stubbs and Brown.
The following members voted for the motion: Councillors Wilson, McNaughtan, O’Neill and Johal.
8 members having voted for the amendment and 4 members having voted for the motion, the amendment was accordingly declared carried.
DECIDED:
(a) That the contents of the report be noted;
(b) That the cessation of strategic development plans be noted; and
(c) That the preferred option for considering regional spatial strategy planning issues going forward be that existing Clydeplan staff resource be reviewed in light of the new requirements for RSS preparation. Staff would be consulted on a possible TUPE transfer to Glasgow City Council. If transferred, the team would be integrated into the existing city region structures (overseen by the Regional Director) who would take responsibility for preparing an RSS and reporting this through to the GCR Cabinet for approval. This would move the duty to prepare an RSS directly into the city region governance structures.