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Meeting Details

Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority Consultative Forum
4 Dec 2015 - 11:30 to 12:00
Occurred
  • Documents
  • Attendance
  • Visitors
  • Declarations of Interests

Documents

Agenda

Agenda
Notification
RECONVENED MEETING
Further Information
This is a meeting which is open to members of the public. 

A copy of the agenda and reports for this meeting will be available for inspection prior to the meeting at the Customer Service Centre, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley and online at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/agendas. 

For further information, please either email
democratic-services@renfrewshire.gov.uk or telephone 0141 618 7112.
Members of the Press and Public
Members of the press and public wishing to attend the meeting should report to the customer service centre where they will be met and directed to the meeting.
Present
Councillors Gilmour (Renfrewshire Council) and Dickson (North Ayrshire Council); R Anderson (Scottish Rural Property and Business Association); Z Bhatia (RSPB Scotland); K McKendrick (Lochwinnoch Community Council); J Kent (Sport Scotland); A MacLeman (Gryffe Valley Rotary Club); T Marshall (Largs Community Council) and S Simpson (Save Your Regional Park).
Chair
Councillor Gilmour, Chair, presided.
In Attendance
D Gatherer, Interim Regional Park Manager; E Currie, Senior Committee Services Officer and K Druce, Assistant Democratic Services Officer (both Renfrewshire Council) and C Sharp (North Ayrshire Council).
Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.
Additional Item
The Chairman intimated that there was an additional item in relation to planning applications submitted to Renfrewshire Council for solar farms near to the boundary of the Regional Park which had not been included in the notice calling the meeting. The Chairman, being of the opinion that the item which is dealt with at item 16 of this Minute was urgent, in view of the need to advise members of these matters, authorised its consideration.
Planning Applications
16
The Chairman advised that two planning applications had been submitted to Renfrewshire Council for solar farms near to the boundary of the Regional Park. A discussion took place concerning identifying and marking the park boundary accurately on a location map to allow members of the public to check if any planning application matters affected the park.

DECIDED:

(a) That this matter be noted; and

(b) That the Interim Regional Park Manager investigate the possibility of identifying and marking the park boundary on a location map to allow members of the public to check if any planning application matters affected the park.
Date of Next Meeting
17
DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the Consultative Forum would be held at 11.30 am, or at the conclusion of the Joint Committee meeting, whichever was the later, on 19 February 2016 within the North Ayrshire Council area.
Committee Members
Standard Items
Items Of Business
Apologies
Apologies from members.
Councillor D Wilson (Inverclyde Council); A Armstrong (Visit Scotland); D Cochrane (Scottish National Farmers Union); and Lord Glasgow (Kelburn Country Centre).
1
The Interim Regional Park Manager intimated that all items he would wish to raise were included on the agenda.


SEDERUNT

Z Bhatia (RSPB Scotland) entered the meeting prior to consideration of the following item of business.
Report by Interim Park Manager.
2
There was submitted a report by the Interim Regional Park Manager relative to the proposed upland project between land managers, Newton Rigg College and Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park which would demonstrate how organisations with a range of moorland interests could combine to produce long-term farm and conservation benefits, contribute to the local economy of a moorland area, provide increased levels of employment, support farm and supporting businesses and encourage recreation in a way which was sustainable.

A discussion took place concerning involving other organisations in this project as they would have the expertise and knowledge to carry the project forward. The Interim Regional Park Manager advised that a steering group had been established to take this matter forward and that a report would be submitted to a future meeting of the Joint Committee.

DECIDED: That the matter be noted.
Report by Interim Park Manager.
3
There was submitted a report by the Interim Regional Park Manager relative to the further development of services within the park for mainstream and assisted needs groups of all ages delivered by the Activities Team.

The report intimated that a new service would be provided with the introduction of the Mk5 wheelie boat funded by the Rotary Club of Gryffe Valley and the Wheelyboat Trust. This would allow the park authority to continue working with partners to expand capacity for services for clients with additional support needs.

DECIDED:

(a) That the continued development of services within the park to local clients and those from further afield be noted; and

(b) That the continued efforts to increase capacity and income from partnership working to expand capacity and excellent service to clients be noted.
Report by Interim Park Manager.
4
There was submitted a report by the Interim Regional Park Manager relative to the investigation of the feasibility and possible development of long term work placement and modern apprenticeships within the Regional Park.

The report intimated that it had become increasingly difficult to recruit outdoor activity instructors with the skill set that the Regional Park required to run all of its activities including accessibility programmes. The Regional Park had identified an opportunity to recruit and train its own instructors using a 13 week work placement programme to identify likely candidates and then enrol these candidates on a modern apprenticeship course in active leisure, learning and wellbeing.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.
Report by Interim Park Manager.
5
There was submitted a report by the Interim Regional Park Manager relative to the success of the ‘Pedal the Park’ event 2015.

The report intimated that a ‘68km Sportive’, an 18km mountain bike ride, a 12km hand bike time trial and a 4km family ride had taken place with a total of 185 people participating. Cafe visitor numbers totalled 753, an increase of 200 on last year’s numbers.

DECIDED:

(a) That the continued development of cycling infrastructure and activities be noted;

(b) That the continued efforts to increase income using the existing staff skill base within the park and the continued growth of its reputation as a Centre of Excellence for land and water based accessible sport be noted; and

(c) That it be noted that the park would host a ‘Pedal the Park’ event in 2016.
Report by Interim Park Manager.
6
There was submitted a report by the Interim Regional Park Manager providing an update on the success of Race 2 the Games.




The report intimated that on 2 July 2014, 13 accessed dinghies sailed from James Watt Dock in Greenock to the Glasgow Science Centre in Glasgow. Each of the access dinghies raised funds through sponsorship to allow them to continue sailing development within their schools.

The report provided further details of the implementation of the fund raising strategy and marketing communications plan and it was noted that the event had gained Commonwealth Games recognition (Legacy 2014 approval), was filmed by three film crews and had featured in various newspapers both nationally and locally.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.
Report by Interim Park Manager.
7
There was submitted a report by the Interim Regional Park Manager relative to the Windows on Wildlife project which focused on increasing participation and understanding of our natural heritage. The project had been based at Castle Semple Country Park and used images of wildlife as its main theme for engaging audiences.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.
Report by Interim Park Manager.
8
There was submitted a report by the Interim Regional Park Manager relative to a funding application to Awards for All in partnership with the Renfrewshire Walking Network volunteers to develop a year-long walking programme for all abilities and ages.

The report intimated that the park sought to work with partner organisations to apply for more funding in the future as this would provide more opportunities for service users, increase income and raise the park profile.

A discussion took place relative to the use of council vehicles to assist walkers in reaching various starting destinations for organized walks. Councillor Gilmour advised that he would raise this matter with the Council’s Director of Community Resources and provide an update at a future meeting of the Consultative Forum.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted; and

(b) That it be noted that Councillor Gilmour would raise the matter of the use of Council vehicles with the Council’s Director of Community Resources and provide an update at a future meeting of the Consultative Forum.
Report by Interim Park Manager.
9
There was submitted a report by the Interim Regional Park Manager relative to the Tag-n-Track project which aimed to improve environmental education by being able to follow satellite tagged birds in the classroom; engage people through social media; encourage volunteers; and run training courses and wildlife events.

The Interim Regional Park Manager advised that LEADER funding had not been secured for this project and that a further application would be made after June 2016 when further funding would be available.

Zul Bhatia (RSPB Scotland) advised that partnership working was viewed favourably when applying for LEADER funding. RSPB Scotland had offered to work in partnership with the Park Authority and other organisations involved in the project but this offer was not taken up.

DECIDED: That this matter be noted.
Report by Interim Park Manager.
10
There was submitted a report by the Interim Regional Park Manager relative to the hosting of an accessible sport festival for Spinal Injury Scotland on 19 August 2015 which had necessitated the closure of the Castle Semple Visitor Centre for that day.

The report intimated that Spinal Injury Scotland had been awarded £10,000 in 2014 by Awards for All to run a 40 day activity programme at Castle Semple.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.
Report by Interim Park Manager.
11
There was submitted a report by the Interim Regional Park Manager relative to the award of £41,000 from the Sports Lottery Active Places Fund for the construction of a new pontoon and hoist at Castle Semple which would allow the Park Authority to cope with increased demand and develop service.

The report intimated that this work commenced in October 2015 and would be completed by the start of the season in 2016.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.
Item for discussion.
12
Councillor Gilmour advised that the management review had been completed, that it had not been as far reaching as it had been imagined but that the park was heading in the right direction.

DECIDED: That the matter be noted.
Item for discussion.
13
Councillor Gilmour referred to future of the park and advised that the matter of how the Park Authority consulted with the Consultative Forum was currently being looked at so that it adhered to the points referred to in the Minute of Agreement.


A discussion on the role of the Consultative Forum took place and it was proposed that the ‘non-elected’ members of the Consultative Forum meet to discuss the role of the Consultative Forum going forward.

Members were advised that any such meeting would not constitute a meeting of the Consultative Forum and would have no bearing on any future decisions of the Consultative Forum or the Joint Committee.

DECIDED: That the matter be noted.
Item for discussion.
14
A discussion took place regarding various offers of support to the Park Autority by RSPB at various events and venues and how these offers had been dealt with.

DECIDED: That the Interim Regional Park Manager meet with representatives of any relevant organisation to discuss projects that would benefit the Park.
Consider dates, times and venues for meetings of the Consultative Forum in 2016.
15
The Consultative Forum considered dates, times and venues for meetings of the Consultative Forum in 2016.

Members were advised that the Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority Joint Committee had decided that they would meet at 10.30 am on 19 February, 27 May, 2 September and 2 December, 2016 with the meetings on 27 May and 2 December, 2016 being held in Barnbrock Farm, the meeting on 19 February being held in the North Ayrshire Council area and the meeting on 2 September being held in the Greenock Cut Visitor Centre.

It was proposed that the Consultative Forum meet at 11.30 am, or at the conclusion of the Joint Committee meetings, whichever was the later, on the same dates and at the same venues as the Joint Committee. This was agreed.

DECIDED:

(a) That meetings of the Consultative Forum be held at 11.30 am, or at the conclusion of the Joint Committee meetings, whichever was the later, on 19 February, 27 May, 2 September and 2 December 2016;

(b) That the meeting of the Consultative Forum to be held on 19 February 2016 be held in the North Ayrshire Council area;

(c) That the meetings of the Consultative Forum to be held on 27 May and 2 December 2016 be held in Barnbrock Farm; and

(d) That the meeting of the Consultative Forum to be held on 2 September 2016 be held in the Greenock Cut Visitor Centre, Inverclyde.




Declarations of Interests

Member NameItem Ref.DetailsNature of DeclarationAction
No declarations of interest have been entered for this meeting.

Visitors

Visitor Information is not yet available for this meeting