Councillors Cameron, Devine, Andy Doig, Glen, Harte, Holmes, Henry, Kelly, M Macmillan, McCartin, I McMillan.

Councillor M Macmillan, Convener, presided.

S Black, Chief Executive; P Macleod, Director of Children's Services; S MacDougall, Director of Community Resources; M Crearie, Director of Development & Housing Services; A Russell, Director of Finance & Resources; S McFadden, City Deal Project Director; A McCann, Head of Communications and S Roberts, Communications Manager, Regeneration (both Chief Executive’s); and K Graham, Head of Corporate Governance and L Belshaw, Democratic Services Manager (both Finance & Resources).

Councillor McCartin entered the meeting during consideration of the following item of business.

Councillor McCartin for lateness and Councillor Noon.

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

There was submitted a report by the Director of Development & Housing Services relative to submission of the Strategic Business Cases for two of the Renfrewshire City Deal Projects - Renfrew Riverside and Clyde Waterfront Project and Glasgow Airport Investment Area Project - to the Programme Management Office(PMO). The report intimated that the City Deal would deliver investment of £274m on three infrastructure projects in the Renfrewshire area together with additional investment into employment support through the Labour Market Project. The infrastructure projects were forecast to provide enhanced accessibility for Renfrewshire residents to 59,000 jobs across the city region. There would be significant local business and investment opportunities over the lifetime of the City Deal. In addition, the construction of the projects would provide a large number of local job opportunities with appropriate community benefit clauses incorporated into the contracts.

The City Deal Project Director gave a presentation relative to the process for submission and approval of the business cases, including the assurance framework, the purpose of the business cases; highlighting project locations and setting out the next steps.

Councillor M Macmillan, seconded by Councillor Williams, moved that the strategic business cases for the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrewshire Riverside Project and the Glasgow Airport Investment Area Project be approved for submission to the City Deal PMO for assessment; and that the Director of Development & Housing Services be authorised to make such minor changes to the Strategic Business Cases that may be requested by the PMO.

Councillor Andy Doig, seconded by Councillor Nicolson, moved as an amendment that a new recommendation be added as 2.1 (iii) that the Board “calls for a special meeting of Renfrewshire Council to investigate options for promoting a City Deal project for the Johnstone area, with a view to submitting a strategic business case to the PMO.

This Board welcomes the existing City Deal projects for Renfrewshire, and their potential to create jobs and economic growth, but notes the economic and social imperative to stimulate growth in Western Renfrewshire.”

On the roll being called, the following members voted for the amendment: Councillors Cameron, Andy Doig and Nicolson.

The following members voted for the motion: Councillors Kelly, Williams, Glen, E Devine, Henry, M Macmillan, I McMillan, Holmes and Harte.

The following member abstained: Councillor McCartin.

3 members having voted for the amendment, 1 member having abstained, and 9 members having voted for the motion, the motion was accordingly declared carried.

DECIDED:

(a) That the strategic business cases for the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrewshire Riverside Project and the Glasgow Airport Investment Area Project be approved for submission to the City Deal PMO for assessment; and

(b) That the Director of Development & Housing Services be authorised to make such minor changes to the Strategic Business Cases that may be requested by the PMO.