Agenda Contents
North Lanarkshire Council · 1 October 2026
Back to Council — 1 October 2026 and its agenda
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22 September 2026 Members of the Council Chief Executive’s Office Rachel Blair Chief Officer (Legal, Democratic and Strategy) Civic Centre, Windmillhill Street, Motherwell ML1 1AB www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk Notice is given that a Meeting of the Council is to be held in the Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Windmillhill Street, Motherwell, ML1 1AB on Thursday, 01 October 2026 at 16:00 PM which you are requested to attend. The agenda of business is attached. Des Murray Chief Executive Members : Clerk Name: Mark Hamill Clerk Telephone: 07811294702 Clerk Email: committee@northlan.gov.uk D Ashraf, A Ballinger, C Barclay, B Baudo, A Beveridge, M Boyd, H Brannan-McVey, G Brennan, B Burgess, A Bustard, J Cairns, A Campbell, T Carragher, C Costello, M Coyle, S Coyle, D Crichton, G Currie, P Di Mascio, K Docherty, K Duffy, A Duffy-Lawson, H Dunbar, T Fisher, F Fotheringham, W Goldie, H Gray, K Harmon, M Hughes, J Hume, L Jarvie, D Johnston, T Johnston, J Jones, P Kelly, J Keltie, A Khan, K Larson, J Leckie, G Lennon, J Logue, H Loughran, F MacGregor, A Masterton, M McBride, B McCluskey, A McCrory, B McCulloch, M McCulloch, P McDade, F McKay, R McKendrick, J McLaren, C McManus, M McPake, J McPhilemy, A McVey, L Mitchell, L Nolan, P Patton, C Quigley, J Reddin, L Roarty, D Robb, G Robinson, N Shevlin, W Shields, A Smith, A Stubbs, L Stubbs, R Sullivan, A Thomas, J Toner, S Watson, C Williams, N Wilson, G Woods.
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Agenda 1 Declarations of Interest In Terms of the Ethical Standards In Public Life Etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 2 Minutes of Meetings of Committees, Sub-Committees and Panels - Cycle Three Submit volume of minutes of meetings of Committees, Sub- Committees and Panels for Cycle Three 2026 for approval in terms of standing order number 21 (copy to follow) 3 Membership of Committees, Sub-Committees, Panels, Working Groups and Outside Bodies Submit proposed amendments to Membership of Committees, Sub-Committees, Panels, Working Groups and Outside Bodies (copy to follow) 4 Public Service Reform and the Implications for Local Government Set Out in the Programme for Government 2026-31 Submit report by the Chief Executive providing an overview of the key elements of the Programme for Government 2026-31 and associated ministerial statements, together with the latest position articulated by COSLA. 9 - 24 NOTICE OF MOTIONS 5 Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Lennon and Councillor McCluskey “Council notes: The increasing number of proposals for hyperscale data centres and AI infrastructure within North Lanarkshire, including developments representing many billions of pounds of private investment and significant electricity demand. Council notes the briefing provided to elected members on 3 August 2026 regarding these proposals. Council further notes recent public statements issued by North Lanarkshire Council and the Council Administration regarding the proposed Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone, referring to approximately £8 billion of private investment and the creation of thousands of jobs. Council recognises that investment in digital infrastructure may provide significant opportunities for economic growth, employment and innovation.
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Council also recognises that developments of this scale have implications extending beyond individual planning applications and local authority boundaries, including for Scotland’s electricity network, energy security, environment, infrastructure and long-term economic strategy. Council notes concerns raised by residents regarding the cumulative impact of such developments, including: • electricity demand and future grid capacity; • renewable energy and Scotland’s climate obligations; • water consumption, drainage and environmental sustainability; • operational noise and backup generation; • biodiversity, landscape and agricultural land; • construction traffic and transport infrastructure; • emergency planning and infrastructure resilience; and • the cumulative effect of multiple large-scale developments within the same area. Council further notes questions regarding the long-term economic benefits of hyperscale data centres, including permanent operational employment, opportunities for Scottish businesses, business-rate revenues and the extent to which headline investment and employment projections translate into lasting economic benefit for North Lanarkshire and Scotland. Council believes that both the opportunities and cumulative impacts of developments of this scale merit appropriate independent and strategic examination. Council further recognises that applications of this nature may require specialist expertise and place additional demands upon local authority planning and other services. Council notes that City of Edinburgh Council has called upon the Scottish Government to introduce a national moratorium on new hyperscale data-centre developments pending the establishment of an appropriate national policy framework. Council believes there is a strong case for a comprehensive national framework capable of considering the cumulative strategic implications of hyperscale data-centre development across Scotland.
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Council therefore agrees: 1. To call upon the Scottish Government to introduce a temporary national moratorium on the determination of new hyperscale data-centre developments until a comprehensive national policy framework has been established. 2. To write to the First Minister, the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Planning, the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, and the UK Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero requesting national consideration of the strategic implications of hyperscale data-centre development. 3. To call upon the Scottish Government to develop a National Data Centre Framework addressing matters including: • cumulative electricity demand and national grid capacity; • future grid connections and competing infrastructure requirements; • renewable energy, carbon accounting and climate obligations; • water use and environmental sustainability; • waste heat recovery and district heating opportunities; • biodiversity, landscape and agricultural land; • operational noise, backup generation and battery storage; • infrastructure and emergency resilience; • cumulative planning impacts; • community benefit expectations; • permanent employment and long-term economic benefit; and • appropriate environmental assessment requirements. 4. To request that the Chief Executive prepares a report for consideration at the next appropriate meeting of Council, or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, setting out, insofar as information is available to the Council: • existing, approved, proposed and known pre- application data-centre developments within North Lanarkshire;
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• anticipated electricity demand and known infrastructure implications; • anticipated permanent employment and projected business-rate income, where known; • likely demands upon Council services; • any additional staffing or specialist technical support considered necessary; • opportunities to recover technical assessment costs from applicants where legislation permits; and • any implications for the operation of the Planning Committee. 5. To request that the Chief Executive includes within that report consideration of appropriate arrangements for future member briefings relating to developments which may subsequently require determination by elected members, having regard to the need to maintain public and member confidence in the impartiality of the planning process and to ensure that such arrangements appropriately distinguish between factual information, projected benefits, potential risks and information provided by developers or other interested parties, while respecting the professional responsibilities of officers. 6. To request that future Council communications relating to proposed data-centre developments clearly distinguish between confirmed facts, projected investment, anticipated employment, developer or investor projections and independently verified outcomes. 7. To write to COSLA seeking its support for the development of a consistent national policy framework governing hyperscale data-centre developments across Scotland. 8. To reaffirm that nothing in this motion shall prejudice the determination of any current or future planning application, each of which must continue to be determined on its individual planning merits in accordance with the Development Plan, statutory planning policy and all other material planning considerations. Resource implications Council notes that implementation of this motion will involve officer time and associated administrative resources.
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Council agrees that correspondence, preparation of the requested report and other administrative actions arising from the motion will be undertaken from within existing approved resources and budgets where this can reasonably be accommodated. Where specialist technical or external advice, or any other element of the work requested by this motion, cannot reasonably be undertaken within existing approved resources, no additional expenditure shall be committed as a consequence of this motion. Any requirement for additional resources shall instead be identified in the report to Council, together with the estimated cost, proposed source of funding and any consequential impact upon previously agreed commitments, for subsequent determination by Council. Council believes that the opportunities and challenges presented by hyperscale data centres are matters of national significance and that Scotland requires an appropriate national policy framework within which developments of this scale, complexity and strategic importance can be considered.” 6 Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Larson and Councillor Toner “Council notes with concern the continued prevalence of racism, prejudice and hate crime within our communities and wider society. In 2024-2025, 62% of all hate crimes recorded by Police Scotland included a race aggravator, with racial crime remaining the most commonly reported hate crime in Scotland. North Lanarkshire Council's own Equality Strategy records 324 hate crimes in 2022 - 2023 and identifies the need for continued action to tackle inequality and discrimination. This council condemns racism and prejudice in all their forms and recognises the damaging impact that misinformation and harmful narratives can have in reinforcing, prejudice, division and hostility. Council therefore commits to developing a social media strategy which proactively counters misinformation and harmful narratives with accurate, factual and accessible educational information. The strategy should promote understanding, challenge prejudice and encourage respectful dialogue, working where appropriate with community organisation and relevant partners, with the aim of strengthening community cohesion and ensuring that Council communications make a positive contribution to an informed, inclusive and welcoming North Lanarkshire.”
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7 Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Smith and Councillor Sullivan “Council notes the continuing concerns of North Lanarkshire residents about the use of glyphosate-based weedkiller treatments in communities, with a number of pet owners reporting that their pets have experienced ill health when weedkiller has been sprayed. Council notes a previous ban was implemented following a successful motion to council on 13th August 2020 but overturned on 19th August 2021. Council recognises that Glyphosate is only currently approved for use in the UK until 15th December 2026 and, even if approval is renewed, agrees that council officers should revisit and measure the effectiveness of alternative pet-safe weedkiller treatments. Council also agrees to report these findings back to a future Environment and Climate Change Committee meeting.” 8 Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Ballinger and Councillor Sullivan “Council notes the distress suffered by parents who lose their babies up to 24 weeks gestation. Council resolves to investigate the potential provision of Baby Gardens across North Lanarkshire's Cemetery estate to enable local access for bereaved families, with a report being considered at a future meeting of the Environment and Climate Change Committee” QUESTIONS 9 Questions Received in Terms of Standing Order 51 Submit two Questions Received in Terms of Standing Order 51. 25 - 26 10 Committee Questions Log - Cycle Three 2026 Submit the Questions Log for Cycle Three of 2026 outlining the questions asked at Committee Meetings during the cycle together with the officer responses. (A3 copy attached to agenda pack) 27 - 30