WEST OF SCOTLAND ARCHAEOLOGY SERVICE JOINT COMMITTEE'SMINUTES.
Glasgow, 21st September 2017.
West of Scotland Archaeology Service Joint Committee.

Present:Rhiannon Spear (Convener)
Natalie Don
Alistair Fulton
Diane Docherty

Glasgow City Council
Renfrewshire Council
South Lanarkshire Council
West Dunbartonshire Council

Apologies:

Gordon Jenkins
Iain Linton
Stewart Miller
Provost Ian Clarkson
Brian McGinley
Mary Donnelly
Lawrence Fitzpatrick

East Ayrshire Council
East Ayrshire Council
East Renfrewshire Council
North Ayrshire Council
South Ayrshire Council
South Lanarkshire Council
West Lothian Council

Also present:

Hugh McBrien

West of Scotland Archaeology
Service
East Ayrshire Council
South Lanarkshire Council
Audit Scotland
Glasgow City Council

Claire Lawrenson
Gwen McCracken
Gordon McAllister
Tony O’Neill (Clerk)

Minutes approved.
1
The minutes of the meetings of the joint committee of 17th August 2017 weresubmitted and approved.

Annual Report of West of Scotland Archaeology Service 2016/17, approved.
2
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 2016 to 31st March 2017, confirming that(1)during the report period, the WoSAS had dealt with 1732 new caseworkitems, 60 fewer than in the previous year which represented a reduction of
3.3%, with around three quarters of this reduction coming from a modest fallin the number of planning applications identified as potentially raisingarchaeological issues, with the only geographical area where this might bestatistically significant being in locations within easy travel distance ofEdinburgh;

Glasgow City Council, City Chambers, Glasgow G2 1DU(2)818 new planning and listed building applications had been identified as
potentially requiring archaeological advice across the area covered by theService, and a further 356 other items of casework were also dealt with orinitiated;(3)

during the report period 209 new site records were added to the Historic
Environment Record database, amendments or additions were made to 8,978
existing site records, 253 archaeological events records were added and 321
archive records were created;(4)

there were 203 recorded archaeological events (excavations, surveys,watching briefs, desk-based assessments etc) during the report period, a 10%
annual rise continuing the rising trend over the last few years;(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 2 PHD candidates with data for their theses andassisted or liaised with 3 local amateur archaeological or historical groups inthe preparation of local heritage fieldwork projects.

After consideration, the joint committee approved the report, which gave detailsregarding(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 2016/17; and(h)the revenue account for the year ended 31st March 2017.

West of Scotland Archaeology Service – 2016/17 Annual Accounts approved.
3There was submitted a report by the Executive Director of Financial Services,
Glasgow City Council regarding the 2016/17 Annual Accounts for the West ofScotland Archaeology Service advising thatGlasgow City Council, City Chambers, Glasgow G2 1DU

(1)the balance of usable reserves at 1st April 2016 was £100,013; and(2)in 2016/17 total expenditure was £164,638 and total income £159,578, which
resulted in a deficit for the year of £5,060, with a balance of usable reservesat 31st March 2017 of £94,953.

After consideration, the Joint Committee approved the 2016/17 Annual Accounts for
the West of Scotland Archaeology Service.
West of Scotland Archaeology Service – 2016/17 Annual Audit report noted.
4
There was submitted and noted a report by Audit Scotland regarding an audit ofthe 2016/17 financial statements of the West of Scotland Archaeology Service which
detailed key messages and significant findings which had arisen from the 2016/17audit.

Date and time of next meeting.
5
The Joint Committee noted that the Clerk would e-mail the Convener andwrite to the Members once a suitable date for the next meeting had been agreed.

Glasgow City Council, City Chambers, Glasgow G2 1DU