Councillor Dempsey (East Dunbartonshire Council); McCaskill (East Renfrewshire Council); Scanlon (Glasgow City Council); Wilson (Inverclyde Council); B Brown (Renfrewshire Council); Dunsmuir (South Lanarkshire Council); and O’Neill (West Dunbartonshire Council)

Councillor Scanlon, Convener, presided.

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Joint Committee held on 12 September 2016.

There was submitted an update report by the Strategic Development Plan Manager relative to the Strategic Development Plan (SDP) Examination, the review of the Scottish Planning System and the Glasgow City Region Portfolios.

The report intimated that as part of the ongoing SDP Examination process, the Reporter had issued six further information requests and on the 18 November 2016 the Reporter indicated that he wished to hold a hearing to cover issues on housing related matters.  Appendix 1 to the report detailed the further information requests and Appendix 2 to the report detailed the agenda for the hearing. The hearing was scheduled for one day and would be held on 14 December 2016 in Renfrew Town Hall.  The Reporter had indicated an initial estimate of cost of £18,200 (plus VAT), which was based on 90 days Reporters work and 5 days admin work at 50% of the Local Development Plan cost rates.  These costs would be met from Clydeplan’s current earmarked balances.

The report detailed that on 12 and 13 September 2016, the Scottish Government held a two day working session on the review of the Scottish Planning System’s recommendations.  The Strategic Development Plan Manager attended the Development Planning session and the Assistant Manager attended the Housing session.  A further Development Planning working group session was held on 1 November 2016.  The four Strategic Development Planning Authority Managers also met with the Scottish Government on 8 November 2016 and the review was considered as part of Heads of Planning on 9 November 2016.  It was intimated that the Scottish Government would publish their consultation paper in January 2017 to enable a Planning Bill to be brought forward in 2017.  A report on the consultation paper would be brought to the next meeting of the Joint Committee.

The report highlighted that the Glasgow City Region Cabinet had set up eight portfolios which it was intended would strengthen leadership at the city region level beyond that of the City Deal related projects and activities.  Each portfolio had a role and remit and were establishing work plans.  The engagement of key stakeholders was an important part of the emerging process.  Clydeplan had increasingly become involved in a number of portfolios, in particular, Enterprise and Economic Growth, Land Use and Sustainability and Housing and Equalities.  Clydeplan had also actively been involved in the development of the emerging Regional Economic Strategy and in discussions around the establishment of the new City Region Intelligence/Research Hub.  It was proposed that regular reports be brought to the Joint Committee on Clydeplan’s involvement in the emerging Glasgow City Region portfolios to ensure future work programmes and outputs were aligned in support of the SDP’s Vision and Spatial Development Strategy.

DECIDED:

(a) That the update on the SDP Examination and the intention for a hearing to be held into housing related issues be noted;

(b) That the ongoing engagement and publication by Scottish Government in January 2017 of a consultation paper on the review of the Scottish planning system be noted; and

There was submitted a report by the Glasgow & 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 Business Plan for 2017/18.

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. Copies of the Programme Plan 2017/18 and Business Plan 2017/20 were appended as Appendix 1 and 3 to the report and provided a review of progress against the Partnership’s remit, a plan for the continuing development of the Green Network Programme in 2017/18 and the Programme Management Budget for 2017/18.

The report highlighted that the budget for the GCVGNP in 2017/18 was £210,000, which comprised contributions from partner agencies and local authorities. The local authority contribution to the 2017/18 budget was £93,386 and the contribution from each authority was calculated pro rata based on population size and a breakdown of the individual authorities’ contribution was outlined within the report. The GCVGNP Manager gave a presentation on the GCVGNP Business Plan highlighting the main aims and objectives for 2017/18.

DECIDED:

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

There was submitted a joint report by the Treasurer and Strategic Development Plan Manager for the period 1 April to 11 November 2016.

There was submitted a joint report by the Treasurer and the Strategic Development Plan Manager detailing the list of expenses incurred through corporate procurement card payment by type and employee for the period 20 August to 11 November 2016.

There was submitted a report by the Treasurer, in consultation with the Strategic Development Plan Manager, relative to the revenue estimates of the Glasgow & the Clyde Valley Strategic Development Plan Authority and included the requisition of the constituent authorities for the financial year 2017/18.

The report intimated that the unaudited accounts for the year ended 31 March, 2016 indicated the level of reserves as £258,488. Of these reserves, £192,486 was earmarked for specific purposes, with £66,002 held in General Reserves. It was anticipated that the level of earmarked reserves would ensure that the Authority’s statutory mandate was achieved and that the impact of the increased workload experienced at certain periods over the five year cyclical production of the Strategic Development Plan (SDP) could be reserved.

The report highlighted that given the ongoing review of the planning system and the current financial climate, operational costs would remain under review and any savings which may arise would be brought forward to a future meeting.  The level of reserves would also remain under review and any proposed draw on reserves (general and earmarked) would be reported as appropriate to the Joint Committee.

DECIDED:

(a) That the revenue estimates for financial year 2017/18 and the related requisitions of the constituent authorities be agreed; and

There was submitted a report by the Treasurer relative to the revision of the Financial Regulations undertaken in response to a recommendation by Audit Scotland in the “Annual Report to Members and the Controller of Audit” issued with the Annual Accounts for financial year 2015/16.  A copy of the updated Financial Regulations was appended to the report.