WEST OF SCOTLAND ARCHAEOLOGY SERVICE JOINT COMMITTEE'SMINUTES.
Glasgow, 17th March 2016.
West of Scotland Archaeology Service Joint Committee.

Present:

Lawrence Fitzpatrick(Convener)
Stewart Miller
Alistair Watson
Mary Kilpatrick
Eileen Logan
John MooneyWest Lothian Council

Apologies:

John Bruce

North Ayrshire Council

Also present:

Hugh McBrien

West of Scotland Archaeology
ServiceEast Renfrewshire Council
Glasgow City Council
South Ayrshire Council
South Lanarkshire Council
West Dunbartonshire Council
Guard Archaeology Ltd
Glasgow City Council

Julie Nicol
Cathy Johnston
Neil Feggans
Gwen McCracken
Alan Williamson
Warren Bailie
Maureen Hughes (Clerk)

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

Appointment of Councillor Lawrence Fitzpatrick as convener unanimously
approved.
1
The Clerk advised the joint committee that in terms of its Minute of Agreement
it required to appoint a convener. Councillor Watson, seconded by Councillor
Kilpatrick moved that Councillor Lawrence Fitzpatrick be appointed Convener. There
being no other nominations, the joint committee unanimously agreed to appointCouncillor Fitzpatrick as convener.

Appointment of Councillor Stewart Miller as Vice-convener unanimouslyapproved.
2The Clerk advised the joint committee that in terms of its Minute of Agreement
it required to appoint a Vice-convener. Councillor Fitzpatrick, seconded by ProvostLogan, moved that Councillor Stewart Miller be appointed Vice-convener. There
being no other nominations, the joint committee unanimously agreed to appoint
Councillor Miller as Vice-convener.

Glasgow City Council, City Chambers, Glasgow G2 1DUPresentation on excavations at the Bishops’ residence at Partick/Partick
Castle, Glasgow noted.
3
The joint committee heard a presentation by Warren Bailie, Guard
Archaeology Ltd regarding excavations at the Bishops’ residence at Partick,Glasgow.
After discussion, the joint committee noted and thanked Mr Bailie for a very
interesting and informative presentation

Minutes approved.
4
The minutes of the meeting of the joint committee of 5th November 2015 weresubmitted and approved.

Matter arising.
5

The following matter arose from the minutes of 17th November 2015:-(1)

Notice of withdrawal of West Dunbartonshire Council from WoSAS – NeilFeggans advised that West Dunbartonshire Council’s decision to withdraw
from the service on 1st April 2016 still stood, but that it was still possible aletter withdrawing its notice might be received before 31st March 2016. The
likely withdrawal of West Dunbartonshire Council had been reflected in theService Financial Programme 2016/17. The Joint Committee noted thatCouncillor Fitzpatrick would contact West Dunbartonshire Council in an
attempt to get it to reconsider its withdrawal.

Reserves Policy approved.
6With reference to the minutes of the meeting on 24th September 2015, there
was submitted a report by the Manager of the West of Scotland Archaeology Service
regarding the development of a financial reserves policy,(1)

proposing that the Reserves Policy for the West of Scotland Archaeology
Service be closely linked to the Service Financial Programme, be reviewed
annually and that it should take account of the(a)expenditure and income projections for future years, and the predictedsize of any surplus or deficit;(b)risks associated with income sources, including the level of income andthe existing and future number of sources;

Glasgow City Council, City Chambers, Glasgow G2 1DU

(2)

(c)

the economic climate and political policy background which may
determine the outlook of the member Councils and their ability to fundthe Service; and(d)the level of financial liabilities and other costs in the future; andrecommending the adoption of a reserves policy statement, as set out in thereport.

After consideration, the joint committee(i)approved the adoption of a reserves policy as detailed in the report; and(ii)authorised the Officer Steering Group to implement the policy from 2016-17
onwards.

Service Financial Programme 2016/17 – Proposed budget 2016/17 approved –Authority to Convener and officers etc agreed.
7
There was submitted a report by the Manager of the West of Scotland
Archaeology Service regarding the projected income and operating costs of theService for the period 2016/17(1)

detailing the current financial position of the service; and(2)setting out the future financial projections for the service for 2016/17 together
with the proposed budget for 2016/17.

After consideration, the joint committee(a)approved the proposed budget for 2016/17;(b)authorised the Officer Steering Group to review service delivery and funding
options and bring forward sustainable proposals for the Service; and(c)authorised officers to arrange a meeting with Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary forSocial Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights along with the Convener,
Vice-convener and any other member, regarding the Scottish Government’s
consultation on the revision of the planning system whereby the member
councils wished to emphasise their commitment to safeguarding Scotland’s
heritage through the joint working of the Archaeology Service in the planningsystem, and their belief that the Scottish Government should provide clearer
direction to Local Authorities on the appropriate form of historic environment
advice that should be secured in order to ensure appropriate weight is
attached to historic environment matters in decision-making.

West of Scotland Archaeology Service – Audit Plan 2015/16 approved.
etc.

Glasgow City Council, City Chambers, Glasgow G2 1DU

8There was submitted a report by Audit Scotland regarding the 2015/16 auditof the financial statements of the West of Scotland Archaeology Service.
After consideration, the Joint Committee(1)

noted the key challenges and risks facing the Service together with details ofthe audit work which would be undertaken;(2)

noted that audit work would commence in March 2016 with the audit reportplanned for September 2016;
accepted the Audit Plan and the financial statements audit timetable asdetailed in the report; and(3)(4)

noted that the Convener would meet with the Service Manager on 17th June
2016 to discuss and assess the pre-audit accounts.

Date and time of next meeting.
9It was agreed that the next meeting of the joint committee would take place in
the City Chambers, Glasgow on Thursday, 22nd September 2016 at 1400 hours.

Glasgow City Council, City Chambers, Glasgow G2 1DU