Councillors Bibby, Caldwell, Andy Doig and Gilmour (Renfrewshire Council); Councillors Nelson and Wilson (Inverclyde Council); and Councillor Dickson (North Ayrshire Council).

Councillor Gilmour, Chairman, presided.

D Gatherer, Interim Park Manager; F Carlin, Head of Planning, F Johnston, Senior Accountant, G Borland, Accountant and E Currie, Senior Committee Services Officer (all Renfrewshire Council) and C Sharp (North Ayrshire Council).

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority Joint Committee held on 5 June, 2015.

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.

There was submitted the note of the inquorate meeting of the Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority Consultative Forum held on 5 June, 2015.

DECIDED: That the note of the inquorate meeting be noted.

There was submitted a revenue budget monitoring report by the Treasurer in respect of the Joint Committee for the period 1 April to 24 July, 2015.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.


SEDERUNT

Councillor Dickson (North Ayrshire Council) entered the meeting during consideration of the following item of business.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be noted that the next meeting of the Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority Joint Committee be held on 4 December, 2015; and

(b) That this meeting commence at 9.30 am.

The Convener referred to David O'Neill's imminent retirement from the Park Authority and paid tribute to his service to the Park Authority. On behalf of the Park Authority the Convener thanked David for his contribution to the development of the Park Authority.

There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.

Under reference to item 3 of the Minute of the meeting of this Joint Committee held on 5 June, 2015 there was submitted a report by the Treasurer relative to the annual accounts for the Joint Committee for 2014/15. The report intimated that the Audit Certificate issued by Audit Scotland provided an unqualified opinion that the abstract of accounts presented a true and fair view of the financial position of the Joint Board as at 31 March, 2015, in accordance with the accounting policies detailed in the accounts. A report on the 2014/15 audit by Audit Scotland was also attached to the report and indicated that there were no matters arising from the audit which required specific reporting to members.

DECIDED: That the audited annual accounts 2014/15 be approved for signature and the report by Audit Scotland be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Regional Park Manager relative to the quarterly absence statistics for the Regional Park Authority for the period 23 March to 21 June, 2015. The report provided information relating to the absence statistics and reasons for absence.

DECIDED:

(a) That the absence statistics for the period 23 March to 21 June, 2015 be noted; and

(b) That it be noted that the Regional Park Manager would submit a report relative to the next quarterly absence statics to the next meeting of the Joint Committee to be held on 4 December, 2015.

There was submitted a report by the Regional Park Manager relative to a restriction in the use of the campsite at Barnbrock Farm to organised groups only, being those taking part in group activity organised by Clyde Muirshiel’s Outdoor Activity team or Countryside Ranger team.

The report intimated that Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority Joint Committee had operated the campsite at Barnbrock Farm since 1990. The campsite was open seven days per week from April to October. Facilities on the site included eight wooden shielings, space for seven tent pitches and general utilities for washing and cooking. The site was not suitable for trailer tents, caravans or campervans. Income from the campsite was variable and the campsite operated at a loss.

The report detailed the campsite income, running costs, deficit and campsite user numbers from 2010 to 2014.


ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 10.55 am to allow members to visit the campsite and reconvened at 11.10 am.


A discussion took place relative to the Regional Park Authority working with other groups to make the campsite viable; identifying other fields for wild camping; keeping the campsite open to members of the general public on local bank holiday weekends; marketing of the campsite; the use of a volunteer site warden; and using the campsite as a retreat venue.

DECIDED:

(a) That consideration of the report be continued; and

(b) That the matters raised be investigated and that the Regional Park Manager submit a report on these matters to the next meeting of the Joint Committee to be held on 4 December, 2015.

Under reference to item 10 of the Minute of the meeting of this Joint Committee held on 5 June, 2015 there was submitted a report by the Regional Park Manager relative to the development of the Spinal Injury Scotland programme.

The report intimated that Spinal Injury Scotland was a charity which supported people with spinal injuries once they were discharged from the Queen Elizabeth Spinal Unit in Glasgow. The primary role of the charity was to give members information on all opportunities for them to participate in sport and facilitate this process. In late 2014 the charity had been awarded £10,000 by Awards for All to run a 40 day activity programme at Castle Semple. The programme had been running for a few months with great success and feedback from all who had taken part.

An accessible sport festival was held on 19 August, 2015 with 45 wheelchair users taking part in the range of activities on offer. Park staff were supported by members of the spinal injury unit, volunteer coaches from the Scottish Canoe Association and 15 members of the team from Digby Brown, Solicitors, who were sponsoring the event. The event was attended by the Minister for Sport and Mental Health, Jamie Hepburn, the west area manager for Scottish Disability Sport and the clinical director of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

DECIDED: That the continued efforts to increase income using the existing staff skill base within Clyde Muirshiel and Clyde Muirshiel’s reputation as a centre for excellence for accessible sport be noted.


SEDERUNT

Councillor Wilson left the meeting during consideration of the following item of business.

There was submitted a report by the Regional Park Manager relative to the Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority annual report which provided details of the activities of the Park Authority and its staff in 2014/15.

DECIDED: That the annual report 2014/15 be noted.

Under reference to item 6 of the Minute of the meeting of this Joint Committee held on 20 February, 2015 there was submitted a report by the Head of Planning, Renfrewshire Council providing an update in terms of the ongoing review of the Regional Park’s activities and resources.

The report intimated that the review carried out in 2014/15 suggested that the Regional Park’s activities could be demonstrated more effectively through a streamlined strategy that in turn would inform appropriate governance and management structures. Following discussion between officers of the three constituent authorities it was considered that three strategic priorities for development and investment were emerging against broad themes of education; leisure activity; and environmental management.

Work was underway to align the activity and resources required to promote these three strategic themes and this would be reported to a future meeting of the Joint Committee to allow the Joint Committee to agree its priority activities and take advantage of the income generation opportunities that would sustain the ongoing success of the Regional Park.

At the meeting of the Joint Committee held on February, 2015 it was also agreed that work would be undertaken with officers from the three constituent authorities with a view to informing the future strategy and investments for the Regional Park and the report detailed the activities which had commenced.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted;

(b) That a workshop be undertaken at the next meeting of the Joint Committee to be held on 4 December, 2015 to fully advise members of the detail of the Regional Park review; and

(c) That following this workshop, members of the Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority Consultative Forum be informed of the decisions taken by the Joint Committee.