Councillor Agnes Magowan (North Lanarkshire Council); Councillor Alistair Fulton (South Lanarkshire Council); and Councillor Jonathan McColl (West Dunbartonshire Council).

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

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of this Joint Committee held on 14 June 2021.

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.

There was submitted a joint revenue budget monitoring report by the Treasurer and the Strategic Development Plan Manager for the period 1 April to 20 August 2021. 

 

The report intimated that gross expenditure was currently £6,000 overspent and income was currently £20,000 over-recovered resulting in a net underspend of £14,000.  The projected year-end position was an underspend of £38,000, mainly due to the reduction in premises costs due to the move from West Regent Street to John Street and an over-recovery in income.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

Under reference to item 4 of the Minute of the meeting of this Joint Committee held on 14 June 2021, there was submitted a joint report by the Treasurer and Strategic Development Plan Manager relative to the audited annual accounts 2020/21.

The report intimated that in accordance with the Local Authority Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2014 the audited accounts required to be approved for signature by the Joint Committee no later than 30 September each year, although some flexibility was available this year due to the provisions of the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020.

Section 10 of the regulations required that the Joint Committee consider any report made by the appointed auditor before deciding whether to sign the audited accounts. The findings of the appointed auditor, Audit Scotland, formed Appendix 1 to the report, and these included details of the adjustments made to the accounts during the course of the audit.

Following approval, the audited accounts, which formed Appendix 2 to the report, would be signed by the Convener, the Treasurer and the Strategic Development Plan Manager by secure digital signature.

DECIDED: 

(a) That the findings of the 2020/21 audit, as contained in the annual audit report, which formed Appendix 1 to the report, be noted; and

(b) That the audited annual accounts 2020/21, which formed Appendix 2 to the report, be approved for signature.

There was submitted a report by the Strategic Development Plan Manager relative to the delivery of the Green Network ‘Blueprint’ and the resources required to support that delivery.

The report intimated that at the meeting of this Joint Committee held on 14 June 2021 it was noted that the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership would evolve into the Strategic Environmental Partnership with a remit to support the delivery of the Green Network ‘Blueprint’ and local and regional spatial planning. Under this change, local authority contributions would be used to support the existing Green Network staffing resource with other partners directing their support to the development and delivery of the elements of the ‘Blueprint’. 

The report detailed the current staffing resource line managed by the Clydeplan Manager and the five delivery focused projects identified in the ‘Blueprint’. The role of the Green Network Development Officer in ensuring the successful delivery of the ‘Blueprint’, as well as providing wider green network support for local authorities and partners, was vital. However, the lack of support to the Development Officer was undermining efforts particularly at a time when the agenda was becoming more visible and important in respect of placemaking, 20-minute neighbourhoods and the climate and ecological emergencies.

It was noted that it took approximately two years to develop the Clyde Climate Forest project to a point where funding and governance were secured, so a two-year funded temporary/secondment position was being sought at a cost of £95,000. This funding would also build in a degree of resilience to the staffing resource to take the ‘Blueprint’ projects forward.

The report advised that Sustrans were encouraging an application to the National Partnerships Scheme for a dedicated post for two years to support the delivery of the strategic access network. To support the bid process, a contribution of £30,000 from local authorities was required to cover 50% of year two costs. This post would support another potentially Sustrans funded active travel post within SPT. 
To support the delivery of the ‘Blueprint’ including supporting the Sustrans funding bid, the report proposed that £125,000 of the useable revenue reserves held by Clydeplan be utilised over a period of three financial years.

DECIDED: That the Joint Committee agree to the appointment of a Green Network Development Officer on a temporary two-year contract/secondment and the contribution to Active Travel Sustrans bid to support the delivery of the Green Network ‘Blueprint’ to be drawn over a period of three financial years totalling £125,000.

DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the Joint Committee would be held at 11.15 am on 13 December 2021.