WEST OF SCOTLAND ARCHAEOLOGY SERVICE JOINT COMMITTEE'SMINUTES.
Glasgow, 22nd September 2016.
West of Scotland Archaeology Service Joint Committee.

Present:

Lawrence Fitzpatrick(Convener)
Stewart Miller
Alistair Watson
Mary Kilpatrick
Provost Eileen Logan

West Lothian Council

Apologies:

Mary-Jean Devon
Stephanie Primrose
John Bruce
John Mooney

Argyll and Bute Council
East Ayrshire Council
North Ayrshire Council
West Dunbartonshire Council

Also present:

Hugh McBrien
Julie Nicol

West of Scotland Archaeology
ServiceEast Renfrewshire Council

Neil Feggans
Gwen McCracken
Alan Williamson
Thomas Rees
Tony O’Neill (Clerk)

South Ayrshire Council
South Lanarkshire Council
West Dunbartonshire Council
Rathmell Archaeology Ltd
Glasgow City Council

East Renfrewshire Council
Glasgow City Council
South Ayrshire Council
South Lanarkshire Council

Presentation on excavations at Irvine Townhouse, North Ayrshire noted.
1
The joint committee heard a presentation by Thomas Rees, Rathmell
Archaeology Ltd regarding excavations at Irvine’s Townhouse, North Ayrshire.
After discussion, the joint committee noted and thanked Mr Rees for a very
interesting and informative presentation.

Minutes approved.
2
The minutes of the meetings of the joint committee of 17th March and 17thJune 2016 were submitted and approved.

Matters arising.
3The following matters arose from the minutes of 17th March 2016:-Glasgow City Council, City Chambers, Glasgow G2 1DU

(1)Notice of withdrawal of West Dunbartonshire Council from WoSAS – Hugh
McBrien advised that West Dunbartonshire Council had rescinded its decision
to withdraw from WoSAS. He also advised that both East Renfrewshire
Council and South Lanarkshire Councils had submitted notices of withdrawal
from the service, subject to a review of options for service delivery. The JointCommittee noted the position;(2)

Service Financial Programme and Proposed budget 2016/17 – there wassubmitted and noted a revised financial programme for 2016/19 by theService Manager which took into account West Dunbartonshire Council’s
decision to remain in the Service and Government changes to NI andSuperannuation rates. The Joint Committee noted the report; and(3)Meeting with Cabinet Secretary on changes to Planning System – It wasnoted that this meeting had still to be arranged, Hugh McBrien tabled a letterto the Minister for Local Government and Housing seeking a meeting withhim and the Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security andEqualities with Convenor, the vice convenor and any other member todiscuss proposed changes to the Planning system. The Joint Committee
noted that the Convener signed the correspondence.

Annual Report of West of Scotland Archaeology Service 2015/16, approved.
4
There was submitted a report by the Manager of the West of Scotland
Archaeology Service (WoSAS) detailing the activities of the service for the year from
1st April 2015 to 31st March 2016, confirming that(1)during the report period, the WoSAS had dealt with 1792 new caseworkitems, 9 fewer than in the previous year which represented a statisticallyinsignificant reduction of 0.5%, this continued the service’s successful shift tostreamlining the treatment of preliminary or supporting planning casework,
allowing staff to deal with the increased number of cases in planning anddevelopment casework which are found to raise historic environment issues
after detailed assessment;(2)

866 new planning and listed building applications had been identified as
potentially requiring archaeological advice across the area covered by theService, a 2.3% drop on the previous year and a further 371 other items ofcasework were also dealt with or initiated;(3)

during the report period 378 new site records were added to the Historic
Environment Record database, amendments or additions were made to 189
existing site records, 292 archaeological events records were added and 213
archive records were created;(4)

there were 184 recorded archaeological events (excavations, surveys,watching briefs, desk-based assessments etc) during the report period, a 13%

Glasgow City Council, City Chambers, Glasgow G2 1DU

annual growth reflecting sustained economic activity in the historic
environment sector;(5)during the reporting period, the Service been consulted on and contributed tothe development of Scotland’s Archaeological Strategy, a national strategy forthe historic environment sector, which had been published by Historic
Environment Scotland; and(6)the service had also assisted 4 PHD candidates with data for their theses andassisted or liaised with other local groups with their researches or projects.

After consideration, the joint committee approved the report, which gave details
regarding(a)planning applications for each of the joint committee's local authorities;(b)

the running of the service;(c)Historic Environment Record Maintenance and Development;(d)advice provided to other local authorities and organisations;(e)information and advice to developers/agents and to statutory
undertakers;(f)agri-environment advice provided;(g)the annual performance statistics for 2015/16; and(h)the revenue account for the year ended 31st March 2016.

West of Scotland Archaeology Service - 2015/16 Annual Accounts approved
etc.
5
There was submitted a report by the Executive Director of Financial Services,
Glasgow City Council regarding the 2015/16 Annual Accounts for the West ofScotland Archaeology Service advising that(1)

the balance of usable reserves at 1st April 2015 was £103,562; and(2)in 2015/16 total expenditure was £163,163 and total income £159,614, which
resulted in a deficit for the year of £3,549, with a balance of usable reservesat 31st March 2016 of £100,013.

After consideration, the Joint Committee

Glasgow City Council, City Chambers, Glasgow G2 1DU

(1)approved the 2015/16 Annual Accounts for the West of Scotland Archaeology
Service; and(2)requested that an update on the Reserves policy be submitted to the nextmeeting.

West of Scotland Archaeology Service – 2015/16 Annual Audit report noted.
6
There was submitted and noted a report by Audit Scotland regarding an audit ofthe 2015/16 financial statements of the West of Scotland Archaeology Service which
detailed key messages and significant findings which had arisen from the 2105/16audit.

Date and time of next meeting.
7
It was agreed that the next meeting of the joint committee would take place in
the City Chambers, Glasgow at 1400 hours on Thursday, 23rd February 2016.

Glasgow City Council, City Chambers, Glasgow G2 1DU