(b) That the Department of Housing and Customer Services continue to implement savings wherever possible.

268.00

HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1996/97 - FINANCIAL POSITION

268

SUBMITTED: Report dated 14 February 1997 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the HRA Capital Programme 1996/97.

NOTED

269.

HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1996/97 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS

269

SUBMITTED: Report dated 14 February 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the technical progress of the HRA Capital Programme 1996/97.

DECIDED:

(a) That the technical progress of the HRA Capital Programme 1996/97 be noted; and

(b) That the Committee approve the following expenditure reduction and increase in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations:-

Project Effect on Expenditure

Belville Street Re-Roofing Project

Re-measurement of steel work quantities £5,368 reduction

Bagatelle Court

Construction of a gardener's store £8,700 increase

270.00

HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98

270

SUBMITTED: Report dated 17 February 1997 by the Directors of Finance and Housing and Customer Services advising that the Scottish Office had now notified the Council that the net HRA Capital Allocation for 1997/98 had been set at £3,904,000 which was £168,000 less than the 1996/97 Allocation. In addition, it was noted that the Government's decision to increase from 25% to 75%, the amount which Councils are required to utilise from Council house sales receipts to redeem debt meant that estimated useable receipts in 1997/98 had been reduced to £1,000,000 and this resulted in an estimated gross allocation of £4,904,000, £1,000,000 less than the figure used by the Committee in October 1996 (para 961) when agreeing the Draft Capital Programme 1997/98. Therefore, should the Committee decide to continue with the list of projects agreed, this would result in a programme of £8,813,000, some 80% above the estimated Allocation and unless there was a major increase in capital receipts or significant slippage, then projects would require to be delayed later in the year to avoid an overspend.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee note the reduction in the size of the HRA Capital Allocation for 1997/98; and

(b) That it be noted that projects may require to be delayed later in the year unless there is a major increase in capital receipts or slippage occurs.

271.00

NON-HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1996/97 - FINANCIAL POSITION

271

SUBMITTED: Report dated 12 February 1997 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the Non-HRA Capital Programme 1996/97.

NOTED

272.00

HOUSING AND CUSTOMER SERVICES DEPARTMENT - PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 1996/97

272

SUBMITTED: Report dated 13 January 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services providing statistical information on the performance of his Department in undertaking various functions for the period 1 April to 31 December 1996.

NOTED

273.00

SALE OF HOUSES: INVERCLYDE COUNCIL AND SCOTTISH HOMES

273

SUBMITTED: Report dated 18 February 1997 by the Director of Central Services giving statistics relating to the sale of Inverclyde Council and Scottish Homes houses.

NOTED

274.00

DOOR ENTRY SYSTEM PROGRAMME 1997/98

274

SUBMITTED: Report dated 12 February 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on the proposed door entry system programme 1997/98.

DECIDED:

(a) That the door entry system programme 1997/98 as detailed in the appendix to the report be approved; and

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers to arrange for the invitation of competitive tenders for the various works.

275.00

WINDOW REPLACEMENT PROGRAMME 1997/98

275

SUBMITTED: Report dated 17 February 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on the proposed window replacement programme 1997/98.

DECIDED:

(a) That the window replacement programme 1997/98 as detailed in the appendices to the report, including the proposed contract packages, be approved;

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers to arrange for the invitation of competitive tenders for the works;

(c) That it be agreed that the houses in the South Craigieknowes area remain within the window replacement programme but that it be remitted to the Director of Housing and Customer Services to submit a further detailed report to the next meeting of the Committee on proposals for the properties within the area; and

(d) That the CFCR window replacement programme comprise replacement of timber windows and that it be remitted to the Director of Housing and Customer Services to report with precise details of the number of houses involved and the estimated cost of the works.

276.00

STRONE FARM, GREENOCK - REFURBISHED HOUSING

276

SUBMITTED: Report dated 17 February 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services setting out design proposals for the refurbishment of the tenemental properties at 1-9 Clydeview Road, Greenock and outlining a number of options for the future of the properties at 2-10 Clydeview Road.

DECIDED:

(a) That the design proposals detailed in the report for 1-9 Clydeview Road, Greenock be agreed and that it be remitted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers to arrange for the invitation of competitive tenders for the works; and

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Housing and Customer Services to consult with the tenants of 2-10 Clydeview Road regarding the future of the properties and to report further thereon to the Committee in due course.

277.00

SCOTTISH HOMES - TRANSFER OF HOUSING STOCK

277

SUBMITTED: Report dated 14 February 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on the present position regarding the transfer of Scottish Homes housing stock to local Housing Associations.

NOTED

278.00

AD-HOC HEATING REPLACEMENT PROGRAMME - DECORATION ALLOWANCES

278

SUBMITTED: Report dated 21 February 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services recommending the payment of decoration allowances to tenants whose gas or solid fuel heating systems are replaced on an ad-hoc basis.

DECIDED: That decoration allowances be paid as detailed in the report to tenants whose gas or solid fuel heating systems are replaced on an ad-hoc basis.

279.00

CHANGES TO HOUSING BENEFIT REGULATIONS

279

SUBMITTED: Report dated 11 February 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services advising of changes to housing benefit regulations from 1 April 1997 which will affect families in receipt of partial housing benefit with children who attain the ages of 11 or 16 after that date and advising and commenting on proposed changes to the regulations which may take effect from October 1997.

NOTED

280.00

MAXIMISING TAKE-UP OF HOUSING BENEFIT

280

SUBMITTED: Report dated 13 February 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on the current take-up levels of housing benefit by Council tenants in Inverclyde and outlining measures taken by the Department in the past year, and those proposed in the coming financial year, with a view to increasing take-up.

NOTED

281.00

CHANGES TO FRAUD INCENTIVE SCHEME

281

SUBMITTED: Report dated 12 February 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services advising of proposed changes to the rules governing the Housing Benefit Fraud Incentive Scheme operated by the Department of Social Security, assessing their impact on the Council in the coming financial year, examining the resources currently dedicated to this area and proposing a number of changes for 1997/98 to ensure that the Council meets its target for the identification of fraud and does not lose funds from Central Government.

NOTED

282.00

DEPARTMENTAL TRAINING PLAN

282

SUBMITTED: Report dated 17 February 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services outlining a draft schedule for implementation of his departmental training plan and highlighting broad areas in which staff will require training in order to implement policy and procedures effectively, as identified by the training needs survey.

DECIDED:

(a) That the results of the training needs survey be noted; and

(b) That the implementation schedule appended to the report be agreed.

283.00

1/95 WOODSTOCK ROAD, GREENOCK

283

SUBMITTED: Report dated 11 February 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on the outcome of consultations with the tenants of 1/95 Woodstock Road, Greenock regarding the future of the property and recommending that the block now be demolished and the remaining tenants rehoused.

The Director of Central Services referred to a letter received from Hole Farm Community Council relative to this matter which had been submitted in terms of the Code of Practice for Community Councils and also to a letter received from Peat Road Tenants' Association. The Committee agreed to consider both submissions.

Following discussion, Councillor Morrison moved (a) that the remaining tenants at 1/95 Woodstock Road be rehoused in alternative accommodation in accordance with the Council's Housing Allocation Policy and that Home Loss/Disturbance Payments be made as appropriate; (b) that, following vacation, the empty property be secured and a report be submitted to the Committee at that stage; (c) that demolition of the property be deferred and be considered as a later phase of the Peat Road refurbishment project; and (d) that consultations take place with representatives of the Community Council and the Tenants' Association at an appropriate time regarding the future of the property and thereafter an approach be made to the private sector to ascertain the level of interest in the future use of the property either as an existing building or as a cleared site.

As an amendment, Councillor Mitchell moved that the properties at 1/95 Woodstock Road be vacated and thereafter demolished, the cost of the demolition to be funded from the amount allocated to the Peat Road refurbishment within the Capital Programme 1997/98.

On a vote, one Member voted for the amendment and seven for the motion which was declared carried.

DECIDED:

(a) That the remaining tenants at 1/95 Woodstock Road be rehoused in alternative accommodation in accordance with the Council's Housing Allocation Policy and that Home Loss/Disturbance Payments be made as appropriate;

(b) That, following vacation, the empty property be secured and a report be submitted to the Committee at that stage;

(c) That demolition of the property be deferred and considered as a later phase of the Peat Road refurbishment project; and

(d) That consultations take place with representatives of the Community Council and the Tenants' Association at an appropriate time regarding the future of the property and thereafter an approach be made to the private sector to ascertain the level of interest in the property either as an existing building or as a cleared site.

284.00

KELBURN TERRACE, PORT GLASGOW

284

SUBMITTED: Report dated 18 February 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services advising that, following the decision of the Committee at its meeting on 26 November 1996 (para 1146) to investigate the feasibility of having the houses at 30-36 Kelburn Terrace developed by another agency, six developers had been approached and four responses had been received which confirmed an interest in developing the cleared site but not in refurbishing the existing properties. It was noted that initial discussions had taken place with Scottish Homes regarding the possibility of their assisting the private sector in developing the area and providing suitable GRO-grant to ensure a successful development.

The Director of Housing and Customer Services orally advised the Committee that the estimated cost of demolition of the properties was £27,000 including fees to which required to be added the sum of approximately £18,000 in respect of Home Loss and Disturbance Payments.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate

Officers to arrange for the invitation of competitive tenders for the demolition of the properties at 30-36 Kelburn Terrace, Port Glasgow at an estimated cost of £27,000 including fees;

(b) That the cost of the demolition together with the estimated sum of £18,000 in respect of Home Loss and Disturbance Payments be funded from the Capital Programme 1997/98; and

285.00

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

285

SUBMITTED: Report dated 14 February 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on the progress made by the Working Group established to examine ways of responding to complaints of anti-social behaviour and appending a proposed policy statement which clearly defines anti-social behaviour and the aims and objectives of the Council in dealing with the problem.

DECIDED:

(a) That the policy statement on anti-social behaviour be agreed; and

(b) That further reports be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee on (i) the results of the current monitoring exercise being undertaken by housing staff; (ii) legal remedies; (iii) alternative remedies; (iv) a detailed cost analysis on the possibility of priority partnership area funding for the establishment of a mediation service; and (v) an outline of proposed intensive staff training to be carried out prior to implementation of any of the procedures described.

286.00

RESOLUTION: EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

286

On the motion of the Vice-Convener, it was agreed unanimously that, in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the undernoted items of business on the grounds that consideration of the items involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the respective paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act as are set opposite each item:-

Item Paragraph(s)

Contract for Renewal of Fences 1996/97 6 & 9

Tenant in Port Glasgow - Requirement for

Alternative Accommodation 2

Properties in Garvald Street, Greenock 6 & 13

House of Non-Standard Construction -

Grant Assistance 4

287.00

CONTRACT FOR RENEWAL OF FENCES 1996/97

287

SUBMITTED: Report dated 17 February 1997 by the Director of Central Services advising that as a result of the failure of the contractors appointed to carry out the renewal of fences contract 1996/97 to comply with their contractual obligations, and with a view to ensuring expenditure in the current financial year, the second lowest tenderer, the Contract Services Division, had been appointed to undertake the works.

NOTED

288.00

TENANT IN PORT GLASGOW - REQUIREMENT FOR ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION

288

There was submitted a report by the Director of Housing and Customer Services advising that a tenant and her family were currently residing in accommodation in Port Glasgow which was unsuitable to their requirements and suggesting options which could assist in meeting their housing needs. The Committee agreed to provide accommodation by converting the former library premises at King Street, Port Glasgow into a 4 apartment flat, all as detailed in the Appendix.

289.00

PROPERTIES IN GARVALD STREET, GREENOCK

289

There was submitted a report by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on the results of consultations undertaken with the owners of properties in Garvald Street, Greenock and assessing the options available for the future of the properties. The Committee agreed that the properties be included within the Capital Plan as a proposed Housing Action Area for Improvement, all as detailed in the Appendix.

290.00

HOUSE OF NON-STANDARD CONSTRUCTION - GRANT ASSISTANCE

290

There was submitted a report by the Directors of Housing and Customer Services and Legal Services on the position relative to a house of non-standard construction in respect of which the Committee had previously agreed to provide grant assistance and the Committee agreed, following a vote, to note the report, all as detailed in the Appendix.