Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Convener intimated that this meeting of the Policy Board would be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council's internet site.

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

There was submitted a joint revenue and capital budget monitoring report by the Chief Executive and Director of Finance & Resources for the period 1 April to 14 November 2025. The report intimated that the projected revenue outturn at 31 March 2026 for those services reporting to this Policy Board was an underspend position of £0.032 million (3.7%) against the revised budget for the year. The projected capital outturn at 31 March 2026 for projects reporting to the Board was a break-even position.

DECIDED:

(a) That the projected revenue outturn underspend position of £0.032 million be noted; and

(b) That the projected capital outturn break-even position be noted.

Sederunt

Councillor N Graham entered the meeting during consideration of the following item of business.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to Service Standards as they applied to the Building Standards Service.  Appendix 1 to the report outlined the service standards as they applied to the Building Standards Team.

DECIDED: That the Service Standards outlined in Appendix 1 to the report be agreed.

Under reference to item 2 of the Minute of the meeting of this Policy Board held on 26 August 2025 there was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) request and requests to apply TPO designations to various sites throughout Renfrewshire. The report indicated that the requests had been considered in terms of the relevant legislation and in accordance with the procedures set out in the Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation Order and Trees in Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 2011. Copies of ‘TEMPO’ assessments, undertaken by an independent arboriculturist in respect of the trees at each of the sites where TPOs had been requested were appended to the report.



DECIDED:

(a) That it be noted that the TPO designation, agreed at the meeting of this Policy Board  held on 26 August 2025, in respect of the site at Braids Road, Paisley was currently subject to a period of public consultation and that the TPO designation as it applied to the site would be submitted to a future meeting of this Policy Board for confirmation or otherwise of the order;

(b) That the need for a tree preservation order in respect of trees at Hollybush be approved and that officers be authorised to proceed to prepare the order, serve it on relevant parties, make the order available to the public and seek representations;

(c) That it be noted that an assessment had been undertaken of a tree at 35 Haining Road, Renfrew and that the tree in question was found not to meet the criteria for a tree preservation order;

(d) That it be noted that an assessment had been undertaken of trees at a site at Inchinnan Business Park and that the trees in question were found not to meet the criteria for a tree preservation order;

(e) That the need for a tree preservation order in respect of a tree at Paisley Grammar be approved and that officers be authorised to proceed to prepare the order, serve it on relevant parties, make the order available to the public and seek representations; and

(f)  That it be noted that an assessment had been undertaken of trees at a site at Ladyacres Way, Inchinnan and that the trees in question were found not to meet the criteria for a tree preservation order.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the Private Members Bill, the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill, currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee.  The report outlined the main objectives of the Bill, indicated that the current proposals had been reviewed by officers and that a briefing note had been circulated to members, together with a copy of a draft response prepared on behalf of the Council to the proposals.  The response, a copy of which was appended to the report, had thereafter been submitted prior to the response deadline of 25 November 2025.  

DECIDED:

(a) That it be noted that correspondence had been received inviting the Council to make comment on the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill;  

(b) That it be noted that officers had reviewed the proposed Bill in its current state and prepared a response for submission to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee; and

(c) That the response, appended to the report, which had been issued to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on behalf of the Council be noted.

Under reference to item 6 of the Minute of the meeting of the Council held on 25 September 2025 there was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the Renfrewshire Local Development Plan (LDP3) Evidence Report and its subsequent submission to the Scottish Government Planning and Environmental Appeals Division for the Gate Check review. The report indicated that notification had been received by the Council that the Gate Check process was completed and that the appointed Reporter was satisfied that the Evidence Report contained sufficient information to enable the planning authority to prepare the next Local Development Plan for Renfrewshire.  

DECIDED: That it be noted that the Gate Check process was now complete and that the appointed Reporter had concluded that the Council’s Evidence Report contained sufficient information to enable the planning authority to prepare the next Local Development Plan for Renfrewshire. 

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the consultation being undertaken in connection with an Airspace Change Proposal (ACP) to modernise arrival and departure routes at Glasgow Airport and the surrounding airspace. From a review of the current and projected noise levels which would arise should the proposal be implemented, it appeared likely that there would be a minor disbenefit to a small number of communities which were under the flightpath.  Following discussion, it was proposed and agreed that the Council’s response incorporate a request that the airspace change proposal consider slight modification of routes to minimise impact on Renfrewshire’s communities and to request mitigation measures/compensation to be offered by Glasgow Airport where impact was increasing.

DECIDED: That a response to the consultation be submitted on behalf of the Council requesting: that the comments and concerns of Renfrewshire residents be given due weight when finalising Glasgow Airport’s Airspace Change Proposal; that the slight modification of routes be considered to minimise impact on Renfrewshire’s communities; that mitigation measures/compensation be offered by Glasgow Airport to domestic housing where impact was increasing; and that Renfrewshire Council officers are involved in discussions regarding these responses from Renfrewshire residents prior to the proposals being finalised.

There were submitted reports by the Chief Planning Officer relative to the following applications for planning permission that required to be determined by the Board.

(a) 25/0643/PP - Treeworks comprising of crown reduction of 5 trees, removal of 2 trees and associated maintenance works at Ground Between Normandy Hotel and Blythswood Industrial Estate, West Lodge Road, Renfrew by Mr Ewan Mackay

Under reference to item 9(f) of the Minute of  the meeting of this Policy Board held on 4 November 2025 consideration of the application was resumed. Councillor Shaw, seconded by Councillor Nicolson, moved that the planning application be refused as it was considered contrary to Policy ENV2 of the Local Development Plan and NPF4 Policy 6 and the tree survey submitted was considered out of date and no recent tree survey had been submitted. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That the application be refused as it was considered contrary to Policy ENV2 of the Local Development Plan and NPF4 Policy 6 and the tree survey submitted was considered out of date and no recent tree survey had been submitted. 

(b) 22/0178/PP - Residential development comprising fifty-seven dwellinghouses and eighteen flats, including access, drainage, landscaping and associated works at Site between Sandieland Wood and Florish Road, Erskine by Trustees of the Blyswood 1969 & Stewart Milne Group Ltd

J McCafferty, Planner, delivered a presentation relative to the proposal.

Councillor Nicolson, seconded by Councillor Adam, moved that the design and layout previously approved in 2022 by this Policy Board specifically and solely regarding the treatment of Sandielands Woods be part of the finished design and layout of this current proposal as per Policy ENV 2 and that a section 75 agreement be sought to secure relevant contributions towards the school estate and to secure the affordable housing element being delivered and built along with the general housing. 

DECIDED: That the design and layout previously approved in 2022 by this Policy Board specifically and solely regarding the treatment of Sandielands Woods be part of the finished design and layout of this current proposal as per Policy ENV 2 and that a section 75 agreement be sought to secure relevant contributions towards the school estate and to secure the affordable housing element being delivered and built along with the general housing..

(c) 25/0551/PP - Erection of industrial unit to accommodate use classes 5 and 6 with associated yard space, access, and landscaping at Land to Southeast of Roundabout Junction with Greenock Road, Inchinnan Drive, Inchinnan by Michael McDowall West Ranga Property Group

A McGlone, Assistant Planner, delivered a presentation relative to the proposal.

In terms of Standing Order 59 Councillor Paterson moved that the planning application be granted subject to the conditions and reasons detailed within the report, that the development be subject to a legal agreement which secured the commensurate and compensatory replacement of the habitat and tree loss in the local area to improve and retain the tree cover and habitat levels and that members be informed of the detail of the legal agreement detail in due course.

DECIDED: That the planning application be granted subject to the conditions and reasons detailed within the report, that the development be subject to a legal agreement which secured the commensurate and compensatory replacement of the habitat and tree loss in the local area to improve and retain the tree cover and habitat levels and that members be informed of the detail of the legal agreement detail in due course.

(d) 25/0834/PP Use of land for open storage (Class 6), erection of fencing and associated works at West Lodge Road, Renfrew by Ewan Mackay

J McCafferty, Planner, delivered a presentation relative to the proposal.

Councillor Shaw, seconded by Councillor Paterson, moved that consideration of the application be continued to the next meeting of this Policy Board pending a site visit. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That consideration of the application be continued to the next meeting of this Policy Board pending a site visit.