THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY 1997 - 4.00 pm

Present:- Provost Allan, Councillors Calvert, Morrison (D), Clocherty, Morrison (M), O'Rourke, Jackson, Roach, McGhee, Nimmo, Robertson (Y), Mulholland, Sir Simpson Stevenson, Rebecchi, Mitchell, Finnie, Welch, Hunter and Campbell, Provost Allan in the Chair.

In attendance:- The Chief Executive, the Depute Chief Executive, the Assistant Chief Executive (Economic Development and Urban Regeneration), the Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development), the Director of Central Services, the Director of Legal Services, the Director of Finance, the Director of Economic Development, the Director of Education Services, the Director of Property and Technical Services, the Director of Leisure and Recreation, the Director of Social Work, the Director of Housing and Customer Services, the Director of Personnel Services, the Director of Information Technology and the Chief Consumer Protection and Trading Standards Officer.

An apology for absence was intimated on behalf of Councillor Robertson (A).

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ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEM

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The Provost referred to a report by the Chief Executive requesting the Council to alter the date on which to formally set the Council Tax from 6 March 1997 as previously agreed to 10 March 1997. The Provost indicated that consideration of the item was urgent to allow the Council to consider the proposed alterations in sufficient time to make the necessary arrangementsand moved that the item be added to the Agenda. This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF

THE INVERCLYDE COUNCIL, COMMITTEES AND SUB-COMMITTEES

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THE INVERCLYDE COUNCIL - 9 JANUARY 1997

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APPROVED on the motion of Provost Allan seconded by Councillor Jackson.

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COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE - 14 JANUARY 1997

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APPROVED on the motion of Councillor Morrison (M) seconded by Councillor Welch.

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CONTRACT SERVICES COMMITTEE - 14 JANUARY 1997

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APPROVED on the motion of Councillor Robertson (Y) seconded by Councillor McGhee.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND URBAN REGENERATION COMMITTEE - 16 JANUARY 1997

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Approval of the minute was moved by Councillor McGhee seconded by Councillor Morrison (M).

Councillor McGhee seconded by Councillor Morrison (M) moved with reference to paragraph 46 (Planning Application for the Erection of a Dwellinghouse at 23 Margaret Street, Greenock) that planning permission be granted subject to appropriate conditions to be determined by the Director of Planning. As an amendment, Councillor Mitchell seconded by Councillor Calvert moved that planning permission be refused for the reasons detailed in the report to the Committee by the Director of Planning. On a vote, 6 Members voted for the amendment and 11 for the motion which was declared carried.

DECIDED: That the minute be approved.

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TRANSPORTATION AND ROADS COMMITTEE - 21 JANUARY 1997

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APPROVED on the motion of Councillor Roach seconded by Councillor McGhee.

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HOUSING COMMITTEE - 21 JANUARY 1997

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APPROVED on the motion of Councillor O'Rourke seconded by Councillor Clocherty.

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THE INVERCLYDE COUNCIL - 21 JANUARY 1997

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APPROVED on the motion of Provost Allan seconded by Councillor Jackson.

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SOCIAL WORK COMMITTEE - 23 JANUARY 1997

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APPROVED on the motion of Councillor O'Rourke seconded by Councillor McGhee.

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CORPORATE RESOURCES COMMITTEE - 28 JANUARY 1997

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APPROVED on the motion of Councillor Sir Simpson Stevenson seconded by Councillor Welch.

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PERSONNEL COMMITTEE - 30 JANUARY 1997

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APPROVED on the motion of Councillor Clocherty seconded by Councillor Welch.

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POLICY AND STRATEGY COMMITTEE - 4 FEBRUARY 1997

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APPROVED on the motion of Councillor Mulholland seconded by Councillor Jackson.

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COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE - 6 FEBRUARY 1997

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APPROVED on the motion of Councillor Morrison (M) seconded by Councillor Roach.

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THE INVERCLYDE COUNCIL - 6 FEBRUARY 1997

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APPROVED on the motion of Provost Allan seconded by Councillor Mulholland.

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EDUCATION SERVICES COMMITTEE: VICE-CONVENERSHIP

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The Council considered the filling of a vacancy in the Vice-Convenership of the Education Services Committee caused by the resignation of Councillor Clocherty from that position.

DECIDED: That the vacancy be not filled meantime.

198

RESOLUTION: BYE-LAWS RELATING TO THE SALE OF SOLID FUEL

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SUBMITTED: Report dated 13 February 1997 by the Director of Central Services on a recommendation by the Community Services Committee that the Council make bye-laws relating to the sale of solid fuel.

RESOLVED on the motion of Councillor Mulholland seconded by Councillor Jackson that:-

THE INVERCLYDE COUNCIL RESOLVE TO MAKE as they HEREBY MAKE, bye-laws in terms of Section 202 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended relating to the sale of solid fuel, all as detailed in a copy of the said bye-laws forming a supplement to the principal Minute hereof; and that the Director of Central Services be authorised to take all necessary action in connection therewith.

199

SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENTS FOR SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS: REVISED SCHEME

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SUBMITTED: Report dated 31 January 1997 by the Director of Central Services on a recommendation by the Education Services Committee that the Council adopt a revised Scheme of Arrangements for School Board elections following the enactment of the Education (Scotland) Act 1996, a copy of which was appended to the report.

Suspension of the relevant Standing Order was moved by Councillor Robertson (Y) seconded by Councillor Welch and this was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That the revised Scheme of Arrangements for School Board elections be adopted, all as detailed in a copy of the said Scheme forming a supplement to the principal Minute hereof.

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EDUCATION SERVICES COMMITTEE: SCHOOL REPROVISIONING

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SUBMITTED: Letter dated 7 February 1997 from Councillor Campbell requesting that in view of the immense public interest in the consultation process on school reprovisioning proposals, the Education Services Committee at which the proposals would be discussed and the ensuing meeting of The Inverclyde Council be held at 7.00 pm on the appropriate day within the Town Hall, Greenock. Councillor Campbell seconded by Councillor Finnie moved that the proposal be approved. As an amendment, Councillor Robertson (Y) seconded by Councillor Sir Simpson Stevenson moved that the meeting of the Education Services Committee and The Inverclyde Council to consider school reprovisioning take place at 3.00 pm and 4.00 pm respectively at a venue to be decided. On a vote, 7 Members voted for the motion and 12 for the amendment which was declared carried.

DECIDED: That the meeting of the Education Services Committee and The Inverclyde Council to consider school reprovisioning take place at 3.00 pm and 4.00 pm respectively at a venue to be decided by the Convener and Provost respectively.

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THE WARM HOMES AND ENERGY CONSERVATION (15-YEAR PROGRAMME) BILL

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SUBMITTED: Report dated 13 February 1997 by the Director of Central Services together with correspondence from the Campaign to End Fuel Poverty regarding the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation (15-Year Programme) Bill requiring the Secretary of State to initiate and ensure any funding for a 15-year programme to facilitate the insulation of 500,000 cold homes per year and requesting the Council to resolve to support the Bill. It was noted that both local Members of Parliament had already signed an Early Day Motion relative to the Bill.

DECIDED: That the Campaign to End Fuel Poverty be informed of the Council's support for the Parliamentary Bill.

202

UNIFORM BUDGET SETTING DAY: PROPOSAL FROM COSLA

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SUBMITTED: Report dated 19 February 1997 by the Chief Executive referring to the decision of the Policy and Strategy Committee at its meeting on 29 October 1996 (paragraph 1032) that the Council fix the Council Tax on Thursday 6 March 1997. The report recommended that, to provide for flexibility in the process and to take account of any possible late adjustments announced by the Scottish Office to the Local Government Finance settlement, a meeting of The Inverclyde Council be held on Monday 10 March 1997 at 4.00 pm for the purpose of confirming or otherwise the recommendations of the Policy and Strategy Committee relating to the Council Tax to be held on Thursday 6 March 1997 at 4.00 pm.

Councillor Mulholland seconded by Councillor Jackson moved the suspension of the relevant Standing Order and this was agreed unanimously. Thereafter, Councillor Mulholland seconded by Councillor Jackson moved that the recommendations in the report be approved and this was agreed.

DECIDED: That a meeting of the Policy and Strategy Committee to recommend the Council Tax be held on Thursday 6 March 1997 at 4.00 pm and that a meeting of The Inverclyde Council be held on Monday 10 March 1997 at 4.00 pm to confirm or otherwise the recommendations of the Policy and Strategy Committee.

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RESOLUTION: EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

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On the motion of the Provost 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 remainder of the meeting on the grounds that consideration of the remaining items involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the respective paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act, the nature of which is set out in the Minute of the Committee which considered each respective item in the Appendix to the Minute.

APPENDICES TO MINUTES

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