Approved Minutes - IRED 21 05 25
West Dunbartonshire Council · 21 May 2025
Back to Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development Committee — 21 May 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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INFRASTRUCTURE, REGENERATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE At a Hybrid Meeting of the Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development Committee held in the Civic Space, 16 Church Street, Dumbarton on Wednesday, 21 May 2025 at 10.02 a.m. Present: Provost Karen Murray Conaghan and Councillors David McBride, John Millar, Lawrence O’Neill, Lauren Oxley, Chris Pollock, Martin Rooney, William Rooney, Gordon Scanlan, Clare Steel and Sophie Traynor. Attending: Gail Macfarlane, Chief Officer - Roads and Neighbourhood; Laurence Slavin, Chief Officer - Resources; Alan Douglas, Chief Officer - Regulatory and Regeneration; Michelle Lynn, Asset Manager; Liam Greene, Roads and Transportation Manager; Elaine Troup, Economic Development Manager; Christopher Anderson, Principal Solicitor; Nicola Moorcroft and Scott Kelly, Committee Officers. Apology: An apology for absence was intimated on behalf of Councillor Hazel Sorrell. Councillor David McBride in the Chair STATEMENT BY CHAIR – AUDIO STREAMING Councillor McBride, Chair, advised that the meeting was being audio streamed and broadcast live to the internet and would be available for playback. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST It was noted that there were no declarations of interest in any of the items of business on the agenda. RECORDING OF VOTES The Committee agreed that all votes taken during the meeting be carried out by roll call vote to ensure an accurate record.
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OPEN FORUM The Committee noted that no open forum questions had been submitted by members of the public. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of Meeting of the Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development Committee held on 5 February 2025 were submitted and approved as a correct record. DEPUTATION – BALLOCH CASTLE COUNTRY PARK REGENERATION Having heard the Chair, the Committee noted that a request had been received from Balloch Castle Country Park Regeneration Group to address the Committee to present the work of the Group and explain the aims and ambitions for the future of Balloch Castle Park, through the joint MoU between the Group and WDC Greenspace. The Committee agreed to hear the deputation. The Chair invited the delegation, namely Sally Page (Chair) and Matt Buckland (Treasurer), forward to join the meeting, and each was heard in relation Balloch Castle Country Park Regeneration Group. The Chair thanked the Representatives from Balloch Castle Country Park Regeneration Group for their contributions. ROADS AND NEIGHBOURHOOD 24/25 DELIVERY PLAN YEAR-END REPORT AND ROADS AND NEIGHBOURHOOD 25/26 DELIVERY PLAN A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Roads and Neighbourhood setting out the year-end progress of the 2024/25 Delivery Plan and presenting the new Delivery Plan for 2025/26. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Roads and Neighbourhood, in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the progress achieved at year-end and the new Plan for 2025/26. REGULATORY AND REGENERATION DELIVERY PLAN 2024/25 - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT YEAR-END PROGRESS AND REGULATORY AND REGENERATION DELIVERY PLAN 2025/26 - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Regulation and Regeneration setting out the year-end progress of the 2024/25 Delivery Plan and presenting the new Delivery Plan for 2025/26 in relation to Economic Development.
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After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Regulation and Regeneration and the Economic Development Manager, in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the progress achieved at year- end and the new Delivery Plan for 2025/26. RESOURCES DELIVERY PLAN 2024/25 YEAR-END PROGRESS (ASSET MANAGEMENT) AND RESOURCES DELIVERY PLAN 2025/26 (ASSET MANAGEMENT) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Resources providing setting out the year-end progress of the 2024/25 Delivery Plan and presenting the new Delivery Plan for 2025/26 in relation to Asset Management. After discussion and having heard the Asset Manager in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the progress achieved at year-end and the new Delivery Plan for 2025/26. WINTER PLAN 2025 – 2030 A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Roads and Neighbourhood providing a reviewed and updated Plan to reflect the Council Budget decisions for 2025/26, set out within RN09 Phase 2 Hire Vehicles Purchase, RN18 Cease Footway Gritting and RN31 Reduce Winter Plan. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Roads and Neighbourhood and the Roads and Transportation Manager, in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, Councillor David McBride, seconded by Councillor Martin Rooney moved that the Committee: (1) note the contents of the report; and (2) approve the adoption of the Winter Maintenance Plan 2025-2030 (in Appendix 1 of the report). As an amendment, Councillor Lauren Oxley, seconded by Councillor Sophie Traynor moved: Committee notes with concern the review of the Winter Maintenance Plan, which includes significant service reductions arising directly from the Labour administration’s budget decisions. One of the cuts voted through by Labour is the cessation of footway gritting which will leave many residential areas and footpaths without treatment during severe weather, creating health and safety risks for residents across West Dunbartonshire. The Equality Impact Assessment accompanying the plan highlights that these cuts will disproportionately affect elderly people and disabled residents, who are more vulnerable to slips, falls, and isolation during winter. Given this cut to footway gritting, Committee is extremely worried about the
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changes to the Location and Maintenance of Grit Bins policy following the review of the Winter Plan, including a 50% increase to the minimum distance between grit bins where there is a request for an additional bin. This may leave residents who require an additional bin unable to apply for them Therefore, Committee does not agree to adopt the Winter Maintenance Plans as currently presented, and instead agrees to ask officers to bring back an amended Winter Plan to a future IRED committee which that protects vulnerable residents and maintains the current Location and Maintenance of Grit Bins policy in the face of Labour’s cuts to gritting services. On a roll call vote being taken 5 Members voted for the amendment, namely Provost Murray Conaghan and Councillors Oxley, Pollock, Scanlan and Traynor and 6 Members voted for the motion namely, Councillors McBride, Millar, O’Neill, Martin Rooney, William Rooney and Steel. The motion was, accordingly, declared carried. WDC 20MPH STRATEGY A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Roads and Neighbourhood providing an overview on the process of prioritising and implementing 20mph speed limits across the authority and agree an appropriate strategy. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Roads and Neighbourhood and the Roads and Transportation Manager, in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the contents of the report; (2) to approve the new policy for implementing 20mph streets throughout the authority; and (3) to note that a programme of implementation will be developed following confirmation of sufficient available external funding. LEASE OF DALMUIR GOLF COURSE It was noted that it had not been possible for a report on the disposal of Dalmuir Golf Course to be provided in time for this meeting of the IRED Committee. The Asset Manager provided a brief verbal update and explained that a report regarding this matter would be brought to a future committee.
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INFRASTRUCTURE, REGENERATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REVENUE BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORT 2024/25 TO PERIOD 10 (31 JANUARY 2025) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Resources providing update on the revenue financial to Period 10 (31 January 2025) of those services under the auspices of the Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development Committee (IRED). The Committee agreed:- (1) to note the contents of the report which showed the revenue budget forecast to overspend against budget by £2.530m (18.40%) at the year-end; and (2) to grant delegated authority to Chief Officer - Roads and Neighbourhood, in consultation with the Procurement Manager, to award contracts in relation to: The Provision of the Treatment of Organic Waste (food and garden) and Reception, Processing and Treatment of Co-mingled Recyclate. INFRASTRUCTURE, REGENERATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CAPITAL BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORT 2024/25 TO PERIOD 10 (31 JANUARY 2025) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Resources providing update on the capital financial to Period 10 (31 January 2025) of those services under the auspices of the Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development Committee (IRED). The Committee agreed:- (1) to note the current position of the 2024/25 IRED capital budget; (2) to note the additional capital budget of £0.333m in respect of Posties Park, as agreed at Council 5 March 2025 and £2.617m for Exxon City deal both agreed at Council on 30 October 2024; (3) to note the revised completion date in respect of Allotment Developments detailed in Appendix 2 of the report; (4) to note the reprofiling of various projects at appendix 3 of the report, as reported to Council on 5 March 2025; and (5) to note the project life total is currently on track. The meeting closed at 11.46 a.m.