Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 19 March 2025
Back to Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board — 19 March 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Minute of Meeting Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board Date Time Venue Wednesday, 19 March 2025 10:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Present: Councillor Jennifer Adam, Councillor Stephen Burns, Councillor Jacqueline Cameron, Councillor Michelle Campbell, Councillor Eddie Devine, Councillor Audrey Doig, Councillor Chris Gilmour, Councillor Gillian Graham, Councillor James MacLaren, Councillor Janis McDonald, Councillor Iain McMillan, Councillor John McNaughtan, Councillor Iain Nicolson, Councillor John Shaw, Councillor Andy Steel Chair Councillor Campbell, Convener, presided. In Attendance G McNeil, Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure; G Hutton, Head of Operations & Service Development, G Hannah, Head of Climate, Public Protection & Roads, C Dalrymple, Head of Facilities and Property Services, N Drummond, Lead Officer (Environmental Co-ordination), G Darbyshire, Senior Service Delivery Manager, L Hepburn, Senior Manager, Neighbourhood Services, Waste and Fleet, S Herron, Roads Infrastructure & Operations Manager, M Higginbotham, Transportation & Active Travel Manager, J Wallace, Roads Infrastructure & Operations Manager, L Ward, Waste & Recycling Manager and B Wilson, Neighbourhood Services Manager (all Environment, Housing & Infrastructure); A Morrison, Head of Economy & Development and A Johnson, Principal Estates Surveyor (both Chief Executive’s); and L Dickie, Finance Business Partner, C MacDonald, Senior Committee Services Officer and J Barron, Committee Services Officer (all Finance & Resources). Webcasting of Meeting 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 on the Council's internet site. Apology Councillor Davidson.
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Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. 1 Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring 2024/25 at 7 January 2025 There was submitted a joint revenue and capital budget monitoring report by the Directors of Finance & Resources and Environment, Housing & Infrastructure for the period to 7 January 2025. The report intimated that the projected revenue outturn at 31 March 2025 for those services reporting to this Policy Board was an overspend of £1.210 million (3.6%) against the revised budget for the year. The projected capital outturn at 31 March 2025 was a breakeven position. DECIDED: (a) That the projected revenue outturn overspend position of £1.210m be noted; (b) That the projected capital outturn break-even position be noted; and (c) That it be noted that the service was currently conducting an exercise to ascertain the costs associated with Storm Eowyn in January; that an element of storm related costs had been included within the service's projected outturn position, however, these costs could rise, affecting the outturn position; and that this would be reported at year-end within the outturn report to Council. Sederunt Councillor Shaw joined the meeting during consideration of the following item of business. 2 Service Update Report There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to activity within the service. The report provided an overview of key service activities since the last meeting of this Policy Board held on 22 January 2025 and an update on the services and key projects delivered during this period. DECIDED: That the contents of the report be noted.
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3 Renfrewshire’s Local Air Quality Management Update – 2024 Air Quality Annual Progress Report & Revocation of Renfrewshire’s Air Quality Management Areas There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to air quality within Renfrewshire and the findings of the Council’s most recent Local Air Quality Management report. The 2024 Air Quality Annual Progress Report for Renfrewshire Council was attached at Appendix 1 of the report. The report provided an overview of the Council's obligations under the Environment Act 1995 in terms of the Local Air Quality Management regime and the requirement for Air Quality Management Areas to be established where objectives for air quality pollutants were exceeded. It was noted that Renfrewshire had three Air Quality Management Areas located in Paisley, Johnstone and Renfrew. The report advised that there had been no exceedances in these areas throughout 2023 and set out the process for revoking the Air Quality Management Areas. DECIDED: (a) That the outcome of Renfrewshire’s 2024 Air Quality Annual Progress Report, which found that there were no exceedances of any quality objectives identified within Renfrewshire during 2023, be noted; (b) That the contents of the Revocation of Renfrewshire’s Air Quality Management Areas report, which was set out at Appendix 2 of the report, be noted; and (c) That the following Revocation Orders be approved: (i) Renfrewshire Council, Paisley Air Quality Management Area, Revocation Order 2025; (ii) Renfrewshire Council, Johnstone Air Quality Management Area, Revocation Order 2025; and (iii) Renfrewshire Council, Renfrew Town Centre Air Quality Management Area, Revocation Order 2025. 4 Renfrewshire Council (Pavement Parking Exemption No.2) Order 202* (TRO 1004) There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to a proposed traffic order which would allow the Council to grant exemptions at specific roads from the nationwide pavement parking ban. The report provided a background to the pavement parking ban and referred to the exemption order approved at the meeting of this Policy Board held on 22 January 2025. It was noted that Renfrewshire Council (Pavement Parking Exemption No.2) Order 202* (TRO 1004) was the second of two exemption orders and covered the requests for revisions and additions received during consultation on the first order. The exemptions held over from the first order, together with the requests for exemptions which were deemed appropriate, were detailed in section 3.6 of the report. The locations which had been requested for exemption during consultation for the first order and which were not deemed as appropriate to include in the second
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order were listed at Appendix 2 of the report. The proposal for the second exemption order was consulted on during February and March 2025 and the four responses received were detailed at Appendix 1 of the report. Members were advised that, in accordance with the Local Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedures) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 and the Council’s procedures, this Policy Board could decide on the objections itself or to appoint a Reporter to do so. It was determined that the objections would be considered and decided on at this meeting of the Policy Board and that they be not upheld. DECIDED: (a) That the objections made in relation to The Renfrewshire Council (Pavement Parking Exemption No.2) Order 202* would be considered and decided on at this meeting of the Policy Board rather than appointing an independent Reporter and that the objections be not upheld; (b) That the implementation of The Renfrewshire Council (Pavement Parking Exemption No.2) Order 202*, which included the roads as listed at section 3.3 of the report be approved; and (c) That the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure, in conjunction with the Convener of this Policy Board, be authorised to make the Traffic Regulation Order. 5 The Renfrewshire Council (Prohibition and restriction of waiting, loading and parking places) (Consolidation & Amendment Order 1002) Order 202*, Ref TRO 1002 There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to a proposed traffic order which would allow the Council to complete its proposals to protect the public roads around the Council area, some of which suffer from inconsiderate, congestive and in some cases dangerous parking. The proposed amendment order was the third waiting, loading and parking places consolidation and amendment digital order and covered requests for revisions and additions received since the cut-off date for the previous order approved by this Policy Board in November 2024. The roads which were proposed to have restrictions imposed were detailed in section 3.3 of the report. The proposals were consulted on during July 2024 with a total of 39 pertinent responses being received, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report. Members were advised that, in accordance with the Local Authorities' Traffic Orders (Procedures) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 and the Council’s procedures, this Policy Board could decide on the objections itself or to appoint a Reporter to do so. It was determined that the objections would be considered and decided on at this meeting of the Policy Board and that they be not upheld. DECIDED: (a) That the objections made in relation to The Renfrewshire Council (Prohibition and restriction of waiting, loading and parking places) (Consolidation & Amendment Order 1002) Order 202* would be considered and decided on at this meeting of the Policy Board rather than appointing an independent Reporter and that the objections be not
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upheld; (b) That the implementation of The Renfrewshire Council (Prohibition and restriction of waiting, loading and parking places) (Consolidation & Amendment Order 1002) Order 202*, which included the roads as listed at section 3.3 of the report be approved; and (c) That the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure, in conjunction with the Convener of this Policy Board, be authorised to make the Traffic Regulation Order. 6 School Crossing Points Policy There was submitted a report by the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure relative to a proposed update to the Council’s policy on the criteria and implementation of school crossing points across Renfrewshire. The report advised that the current policy for crossing points was introduced in 1996 and further reinforced in 2004 by a review carried out under the then Scrutiny Board and that national guidance had not changed significantly over the previous 21 years. The review therefore sought to refresh the policy to ensure it aligned with guidance, rather than make any fundamental or substantive change with regards to the assessment of crossing points. Detail was provided around the assessment criteria for crossing points together with the current position within Renfrewshire. The proposed revised policy was attached as Appendix 1 to the report. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 11.27 am and reconvened at 11.38 am. Councillor Campbell proposed that the last sentence in paragraph 3.7 be removed and that the paragraph would read “The same process will also be adopted when reviewing whether a school crossing point should be removed should the local environment have changed since the crossing point was established e.g. local traffic management schemes have been introduced.” This was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: (a) That the refreshed policy for assessment of locations for school crossing facilities be approved; and (b) That the last sentence in paragraph 3.7 be removed and that the paragraph would read “The same process will also be adopted when reviewing whether a school crossing point should be removed should the local environment have changed since the crossing point was established e.g. local traffic management schemes have been introduced.”
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EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC The Board resolved that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business as it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 9 of part I of schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. 7 Update regarding Kelvin House / Forbes Place, Paisley There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to the proposed sale of the vacant property Kelvin House / Forbes Place. DECIDED: That the recommendations in the report be approved.