Agenda 27 03 24 REVISED
West Dunbartonshire Council · 27 March 2024
Back to West Dunbartonshire Council — 27 March 2024 and its agenda
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Agenda (revised) West Dunbartonshire Council Date: Wednesday, 27 March 2024 ___________________________________________________________________ Time: 16:00 ___________________________________________________________________ Format: Hybrid meeting ___________________________________________________________________ Contact: Carol-Ann Burns, Senior Democratic Services Officer Email: carol-ann.burns@west-dunbarton.gov.uk committee.admin@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Dear Member Please attend a meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council as detailed above. Members will have the option to attend the meeting remotely or in person at the Civic Space, 16 Church Street, Dumbarton. The business is shown on the attached agenda. Yours faithfully PETER HESSETT Chief Executive
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Distribution:- Provost Douglas McAllister Councillor John Millar Councillor James Bollan Councillor Karen Murray Conaghan Councillor Ian Dickson Councillor Lawrence O’Neill Councillor Diane Docherty Councillor Lauren Oxley Councillor Gurpreet Singh Johal Councillor Chris Pollock Councillor Daniel Lennie Councillor Martin Rooney Councillor David McBride Councillor Gordon Scanlan Councillor Jonathan McColl Councillor Hazel Sorrell Councillor James McElhill Councillor Clare Steel Councillor Michelle McGinty Councillor Sophie Traynor Councillor June McKay Chief Executive Chief Officers Date of issue: 26 March 2024 Audio Streaming Audio recordings of the meeting (including the attendance or contribution of any party participating or making a contribution) will be published on the Council’s website and the Council’s host’s webcast/audio stream platform. You should be aware that the Council is a Data Controller under the General Data Protection Regulation. Data collected during this audio stream will be retained in accordance with the Council’s Privacy Notice* and Retention Schedules including, but not limited to, for the purpose of keeping historical records and making those records available via the Council’s internet site.
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL WEDNESDAY, 27 MARCH 2024 AGENDA 1 STATEMENT BY CHAIR – AUDIO STREAMING 2 APOLOGIES 3 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Members are invited to declare if they have an interest in any of the items of business on the agenda and the reasons for such declarations. 4 RECORDING OF VOTES The Council is asked to agree that all votes taken during the meeting will be done by roll call vote to ensure an accurate record. 5 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS Submit for approval, as correct records, the undernoted Minutes of Meetings of West Dunbartonshire Council:- (a) Ordinary meeting – 20 December 2023; and 9 – 30 (b) Budget meeting – 6 March 2024 31 – 39 (Appendices 1,2 & 3) 215 – 240 5.1 CLYDEBANK: LONG–TERM PLAN FOR TOWN FUNDS At the meeting of the Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development Committee on the 7th February 2024, committee considered the a report entitled Clydebank: Long - Term Plan for Towns Fund and it was agreed that Committee:- (v) Invites the meeting of Council on 27th March 2024 to nominate two elected members to the Clydebank Town Board; Accordingly Council is requested to nominate two Elected Members to serve on the Town Board.” 6/
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6 MINUTES OF MEETING OF AUDIT COMMITTEE 41 – 43 Submit for information, and where necessary ratification, the Minutes of Meeting of the Audit Committee held on 13 December 2023. 7 OPEN FORUM The Council is asked to note that no open forum questions have been submitted by members of the public. 8 DC23/149/FUL: ERECTION OF 128 RESIDENTIAL 45 – 77 HOMES, ASSOCIATED ROADS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPEN SPACE ON EXISTING BROWNFIELD SITE, RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT SITE, ABBOTSFORD ROAD, CLYDEBANK BY MILLER HOMES. Submit report by the Chief Officer – Regeneration and Regulatory seeking planning permission approval, subject to the conditions set out in the report. 9 GLASGOW CITY REGION CITY DEAL – UPDATE 79 – 82 Submit report by the Chief Officer – Regulatory and Regeneration advising of the progress with the implementation of the Exxon Infrastructure Project, and providing an update on Glasgow City Region City Deal Programme 10 TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY AND ANNUAL 83 – 115 INVESTMENT STRATEGY Submit report by the Chief Officer – Resources seeking approval of the proposed Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy. 11 GENERAL SERVICES BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORT TO 117 – 171 31 JANUARY 2024 (PERIOD 10) Submit report by the Chief Officer – Resources providing an update on the General Services revenue budget and the approved capital programme to 31 January 2024. 12/
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12 HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT (HRA) BUDGETARY 173 – 192 CONTROL REPORT TO 31 JANUARY 2024 (PERIOD 10) Submit report by the Chief Officer – Resources providing an update on the financial performance to 31 January 2024 (Period 10) for the HRA revenue budget and the HRA capital budget. 13 REPRESENTATION ON OUTSIDE BODIES 197 – 202 Submit report by the Chief Officer – Regeneration and Regulatory requesting that consideration be given to making a nomination to the Blindcraft Trust. 14 CLYDEPLAN AND REGIONAL 203 – 213 SPATIAL STRATEGY GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS Submit report by the Planning, Building Standards and Environmental Health Manager seeking permission to formally withdraw from the Clydeplan Joint Committee and agree to transfer the responsibility for the development of a Regional Spatial Strategy to the Glasgow City Region Cabinet. 15 NOTICE OF MOTIONS (a) Motion by Councillor Jim Bollan – Equal Pay Claims Council recognises the steps taken by West Dunbartonshire Council in the past to settle equal pay claims, but that pay discrimination remains an ongoing issue in local authorities across Scotland; believes that all Scottish local authorities must learn the lessons of the past and that it is incumbent on all Councillors – especially Council Leaders – to demonstrate and exercise political leadership in ending pay discrimination and securing equal pay for equal value work. Council believes that West Dunbartonshire Council and West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust have an equal pay issue due to a disparity in the levels of pay received by those in male-dominated roles i.e. craft roles, compared to those in female-dominated roles; notes that these roles are carried out by workers – predominantly women – in the heart of communities on the frontline of our public services; and notes the invitation from GMB Scotland to the council’s workforce to lodge equal pay claims. Council notes that West Dunbartonshire Council has carried out a job evaluation for certain female-dominated roles, but believes the job evaluation scheme may have increased the value of those roles in contradiction to the precedent set by the Employment Tribunal against Fife Council1. Council believes that equal value work must result in equal pay and equal terms and condition; that roles currently being underpaid must be brought up
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with no detriment to those currently in receipt of higher pay; and notes the consultative ballot carried out by GMB Scotland which demonstrated 100% support for industrial action by craft workers if pay inequality is not addressed by bringing everyone up. Council resolves to set an example for other local authorities in delivering equal pay by working with trade unions to negotiate compensation for lost wages for those workers who have been the victim of pay discrimination, and carrying out a fair job evaluation which takes full account of the Employment Tribunal ruling against Fife Council. 1 https://www.gov.uk/employment-tribunal-decisions/mrs-y-allan-and- others-v-fife-council-4102824-slash-2016-and-others (b) Motion by Councillor Jonathan McColl – Transfer / Lease of Community Facilities Council notes that despite the best efforts of officers, timing and resource issues have made the process for transferring/leasing Council facilities as a result of budget decisions difficult. This has led to concerns being raised by Councillors in recent Committee meetings. To assist Elected Members to better understand the differences in process and consider how we could enable officers to better meet the needs of our communities, Council asks that a report be brought to a future Council or IRED Committee for the purpose of: • Outlining the current process being followed for leasing/community asset transfer of Council owned facilities. • Proposing changes to the process to facilitate proper discussions with current users of facilities prior to bringing reports to committee for agreement. • Proposing any further changes that can make the process more transparent and ensure officers are able to provide Councillors with all the information we require to make informed decisions, including proposed rent levels and any non-standard conditions of the lease/transfer. It may be useful to have an Elected Members’ seminar on this topic in advance of a report being brought to committee. (c)/
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(c) Motion by Councillor Jim Bollan – Unison Charter Council agrees to adopt, support and implement the Unison Charter as follows: “To qualify for the UNISON Violence At Work Charter mark, employers must meet the following standards: 1. The employer has a written violence and aggression at work policy, which is available to all staff. The policy should also cover lone working. 2. Responsibility for implementing these policies lies with a senior manager. 3. Measures are taken to reduce staff working in isolated buildings, offices or other work areas to a minimum. 4. Staff are encouraged to report all violent incidents and they are told how to do this. 5. The employer collects and monitors data on violent incidents on a regular and ongoing basis. 6. Where they are in place, union safety reps are able to access this data and are consulted on solutions to issues relating to violence in the workplace. 7. Thorough risk assessments are conducted for staff placed in vulnerable situations. 8. The employer has support pathways in place for staff who are victims of violence at work, so that they know where to turn for advice and support. 9. Training to ensure staff are aware of the appropriate way to deal with threatening situations. 10. Where appropriate, independent counselling services are available to staff who are the victims of violence at work” (d) Motion by Councillor Michelle McGinty – Immediate Resignation of Convicted Criminal Councillor Craig Edward This Council calls on Councillor Craig Edward to resign from his position as an Elected Member on West Dunbartonshire Council with immediate effect. Edward has demeaned the public office to which he was elected and abused the trust placed in him by local residents. On 14th February 2024 Edward pled guilty at Dumbarton Sheriff Court to a number of serious sexual offences.
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Prior to being elected in 2022 Edward was a community activist and served on a variety of committees like housing associations, tenants associations, and a mental health charity. Edward was also an active member in two political parties over recent years. It has become clear that Edward has duped our whole community in getting them to place their trust in him. Council agrees that Edward is not fit to remain in his role as an Elected Member and in the event that he fails to do the right thing and resign, this Council calls on the Chief Executive to take all the necessary action required to remove him from office. (e) Motion by Councillor Karen Murray Conaghan – Equalities Act Council notes it’s responsibilities under the Equality Act, to make reasonable adjustments to facilitate the participation of disabled people in the democratic processes of Council. In the case of Council meetings, the interpretation of this duty falls to the Provost. To ensure that there is no misinterpretation, Council agrees that Standing Orders will be updated by the Monitoring Officer to include a provision as follows: That the Provost be required to call a minimum of a 10-minute recess where, 1. A motion to set the General Services budget in full or part is moved and, 2. Any Elected Member has requested such a recess. Note: Members are asked to note that the suspension of Standing Order 20 (d) will be required in order to consider this motion, using the procedure provided in Standing Order 28.