Report by Director of Finance & Resources
1
Under reference to item 1 of the Minute of the special meeting of Renfrewshire Council held on 26 June 2024 there was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the review of the Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils (the Scheme).
Proposed amendments were set out in the Draft Scheme, which formed Appendix 1 to the report. The report advised that should these revisions be approved, it would be necessary, in terms of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to undertake a second and final phase of statutory public consultation on the revisions proposed.
It was noted that at the conclusion of the second and final phase of statutory public consultation, a report would be submitted to a future meeting of the Council called for that purpose.
Councillor Andy Doig, seconded by Councillor Hood, moved that the recommendations in the report be approved with the following addition to the first recommendation:
“That the options of making the position of Community Council Convenor a politically exempt post, and that Community Council members undergo a Disclosure Scotland check, be included in the second and final phase of public consultation.”
Councillor Gilmour, seconded by Councillor Mullin moved as an amendment that the recommendations in the report be approved subject to the following:
“Renfrewshire Council shall remove the proposed complaints procedure promulgated in “The Review of the Revised Scheme for the Establishment for Community Councils Appendix G” and shall revert to that procedure which was laid out in the previous Scheme of the Establishment for Community Councils. All complaints of a serious nature shall be dealt with by Renfrewshire Council Officers.”
On the roll being called the following members voted for the amendment: Councillors Ann-Dowling, Davidson, Gilmour, Grady, G Graham, N Graham, Gray, Leishman, J MacLaren, McCulloch, McDonald, McGonigle, McGuire, McMillan, Montgomery, Mullin, and Smith.
The following members voted for the motion: Councillors Adam, Airlie-Nicolson, J Cameron, Provost L Cameron, Councillors Campbell, Devine, Andy Doig, Audrey Doig, Hannigan, Hood, Hughes, Innes, MacFarlane, K MacLaren, M MacLaren, McEwan, McGurk, McNaughtan, Mylet, Nicolson, Paterson, Rodden, Shaw and Steel.
24 members having voted for the motion, and 17 members having voted for the amendment, the motion was accordingly declared carried.
DECIDED:
(a) That the revisions to the Draft Scheme, as set out in the amended Draft Scheme appended to this report, be approved with the addition that the options of making the position of Community Council Convenor a politically exempt post, and that Community Council members undergo a Disclosure Scotland check, be included in the second and final phase of public consultation;
(b) That it be noted that a second and final phase of statutory public consultation would be carried out on the content and provisions of the amended Draft Scheme; and
(c) That it be noted that at the end of the second and final phase of public consultation a report would be submitted to a special meeting of the Council called for that purpose, to consider the adoption of a duly revised Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils (2025).