Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland

Minutes of Meeting held at 3 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh

at 2.00 p.m. on Monday 3 July 2006

 

 

Present

 

Mr J Marjoribanks

Mr B Wilson

Prof Begg

Dr A Glen

Mr R Millham

 

Mr R Smith, Secretary

Mr A Inglis

Mr B White

Mr A Gunn

 

 

1.      The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed all present.

 

Apologies for Absence

 

2.       Apologies for absence were received from Mr McDonald.

 

Minutes of the Commission meeting held on 5 June 2006

 

3.      Minutes of the meeting of 5 June were agreed subject to amendment.

 

Progress Report (LGBC 2092)

 

4.      Commissioners welcomed the coming into effect of the first Scottish Statutory Instrument, in respect of East Lothian Council area, as of 3 July 2006.  They noted that a further eleven Scottish Statutory Instruments were planned to be made by Scottish Ministers on 14 July.

 

5.      Twenty-four reports would be published by 6 July 2006 and a further five were near to publication.  This left only 3 reports that still required further action.  Commissioners were content that the Commission remained on course to complete the review by August 2006.   

 

6.      Commissioners noted that publication of reports had generated a small number of representations.  Where necessary comments had been provided to the sponsor division giving additional background concerning the consideration of these matters during the review.  Renfrewshire Council area was the most recent to produce correspondence in the form of a handful of letters and a petition. 

 

7.      Commissioners received a brief oral report regarding the first quarter’s expenditure. Expenditure during the first quarter had been within an acceptable variance of the profile and early indications suggested the Commission’s future expenditure would come in on budget.

 

8.      Commissioners noted recent attendances at a meeting of Standards in Public Life Standing Committee and a meeting concerning the Scottish Geography Forum which is led by the Scottish Executive.

 

Risk Management

 

9.      The Secretariat gave a brief presentation summarising the conclusions reached during recent brain storming exercises, separately undertaken by Commissioners and the Secretariat, to identify potential risks to the effective operation of the Commission.  Following discussion, it was agreed that, given the similarity between the conclusions, the Secretariat should develop a draft Risk Management strategy and register which outlined the principle categories of risk, level of risk and proposed mitigating action.  The draft document would be presented to the Commission at the next meeting.    

 

Date of Next Meeting

 

10.  The date of the next meeting was agreed as 7 August 2006 at 2.00 p.m.