APPROVED Minutes - IRED 13 08 25
West Dunbartonshire Council · 13 August 2025
Back to Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development Committee — 13 August 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, 13 August 2025 at 10.03 a.m. Present: Councillors David McBride, Kevin Crawford, Michelle McGinty, Lawrence O’Neill, Lauren Oxley, Chris Pollock, Martin Rooney, William Rooney, Gordon Scanlan, Hazel Sorrell, 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; Michael McDougall, Manager of Legal Services; Nicola Moorcroft and Scott Kelly, Committee Officers. 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. OPEN FORUM The Committee noted that no open forum questions had been submitted by members of the public.
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MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS The Minutes of Meetings of the Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development Committee held on 21 May 2025 (Ordinary) and 4 June 2025 (Special) were submitted and approved as correct records. SALE OF FORMER PARKHALL LIBRARY PREMISES, STREET, PARKHALL, CLYDEBANK G81 3HZ A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Resources seeking approval to dispose of the former Parkhall Library to Rose Donaghey. After discussion and having heard the Asset Manager in further explanation of the report and in answer to Members’ questions, Councillor David McBride, seconded by Councillor Lawrence O’Neill moved that the Committee: (1) approve the disposal of the former Parkhall Library to Rose Donaghey at a sale price of £151,000; (2) authorise the Chief Officer - Resources to conclude negotiations; and (3) authorise the Chief Officer - Regulatory and Regeneration to conclude the transaction on such conditions as considered appropriate. As an amendment, Councillor Sophie Traynor, seconded by Councillor Lauren Oxley, moved that: Committee notes with concern the community’s frustration regarding the closure and relocation of Parkhall Library. The move into Clydebank High School has led to a significant reduction in both the range of services and activities available, as the new space is considerably smaller and shared with the school community. Opening hours have been drastically reduced, with the library now accessible to the public for only nine hours per week, spread across three weekday evenings. This limited availability has made it difficult or impossible for many residents who previously relied on the library to continue accessing its facilities. The reduced usage resulting from these restricted hours risks being used as justification for the permanent closure of Parkhall Library, which would be devastating for the local community. The only way to avoid this outcome is by relocating Parkhall Library back to a suitable venue that allows the full range of activities and services to be offered once again, with accessible opening hours that meet community needs. The potential sale of the original Parkhall Library building for commercial use would eliminate any possibility of the library returning to its former premises. Therefore, the Committee agrees that the sale of the building should be paused, pending a thorough exploration of alternative funding options and potential partnerships to secure a permanent, fully accessible library space in Parkhall that meets the community’s needs.
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On a roll call vote being taken 5 Members voted for the amendment, Councillors Crawford, Oxley, Pollock, Scanlan and Traynor and 7 Members voted for the motion namely, Councillors McBride, McGinty, O’Neill, Martin Rooney, William Rooney, Sorrell and Steel. The motion was, accordingly, declared carried. INFRASTRUCTURE, REGENERATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REVENUE BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORT 2025/26 TO PERIOD 3 (30 JUNE 2025) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Resources providing update on the revenue financial performance to Period 3 (30 June 2025) of those services under the auspices of the Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development Committee (IRED). After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Resources and the Chief Officer - Roads and Neighbourhood, in further explanation of the report and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the contents of the report and the projected budget overspend which taking account of earmarked spending meant an underlying adverse variance as £987,000. Committee also noted that where possible the services will review and reduce costs to reduce anticipated overspends or under-recovery of income. In addition, Committee noted that the efficiencies and management adjustments are progressing as outlined in Appendiix 4 of the report. Furthermore, the Committee is aware that given the financial circumstances faced by Local Government in Scotland, the Council has cut £1.75 million from services which impact on the number of Greenspace operatives, and the services provided to the community. Given the above, the Committee agreed: That subject to Housing and Communities Committee approval and subsequent Council approval, Greenspace services are restored as follows: One-Off Costs for the Current year 2025/26 to: Apply a one-off £130,000 from the general reserves to fund additional grass cutting capacity over the rest of the year. The cost should be split between the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Fund (£65,000 each). The Committee understands that the deliverability of this would be dependent on operational capacity as overtime working is voluntary. Retain ten seasonal workers to cut back the areas of long grass to the 2024/25 levels. At a cost of £150,000 split between the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Fund (£75,000 each). Recuring costs for financial year 2026/27 to:
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Increased grass cutting for 2026/2027 to fund grass cutting services at a cost of £300,000 split between the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Fund (£150,000 each). Reinstate twice yearly weed-killer service at a cost of £50,000 to the General Fund. Retain bedding plants in public parks at a cost of £50,000 to the General Fund. The Committee therefore recommends to Housing and Communities Committee that it agrees the above proposals relating to the Housing Revenue Account, subject to confirmation from the West Dunbartonshire Tenants and Residents Organisation (WDTRO), in respect of the 2026/27 costs and approval of the General Spending commitment at Council. The stepped approach meaning that next year that the grass cutting service capacity will be restored to its 2024/25 levels in a planned and achievable way. INFRASTRUCTURE, REGENERATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CAPITAL BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORT 2025/26 TO PERIOD 3 (30 JUNE 2025) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Resources providing update on the capital financial performance to Period 3 (30 June 2025) of those services under the auspices of the Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development Committee (IRED). After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Regulatory and Regeneration, the Chief Officer - Resources and the Chief Officer - Roads and Neighbourhood, in further explanation of the report and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the current position of the 2025/26 IRED capital budget; (2) to note the additional capital budget of £0.013m in respect of Vale of Leven Cemetery which is subject to formal approval at Council on 27 August 2025, detailed in appendix 2 of the report; (3) to note the revised completion dates in respect of 4 projects detailed in appendix 2 of the report to be formally approved at Council on 27 August 2025; (4) to approve the reprofiling of 7 projects in appendix 3 of the report to be formally approved at Council on 27 August 2025; (5) to grant delegated authority to Chief Officer - Roads and Neighbourhood, in consultation with the Procurement Manager, to award any procurement and contract awards for projects related to Roads/Infrastructure recurring budget using appropriate procurement routes; and
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(6) to grant delegated authority to Chief Officer - Roads and Neighbourhood, in consultation with the Procurement Manager, to award any procurement and contract awards for projects related to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport provided the contract costs remain within the approved budget of £0.278m as set out in Appendix 4 of the report. The meeting closed at 11.07 a.m.