THURSDAY 21 AUGUST 1997 - 4.00 pm

 

Present:-  Provost Allan, Councillors Calvert, Robertson (A), Morrison (D), Clocherty, Morrison (M), Jackson, Roach, McGhee, Nimmo, Robertson (Y), Mulholland, Rebecchi, 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 Assistant Chief Executive (Contract Services), the Director of Central Services, the Director of Legal Services, the Director of Finance, the Director of Education Services, the Director of Property and Technical Services, the Director of Planning, the Director of Leisure and Recreation, Mr N Buchan (for the Director of Social Work), the Director of Transportation and Roads, 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.

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Sir Simpson Stevenson, O'Rourke and Mitchell.

 

MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF

THE INVERCLYDE COUNCIL, COMMITTEES AND SUB-COMMITTEES

 

   897      THE INVERCLYDE COUNCIL - 26 JUNE 1997                                                                                  897

 

Approval of the minute was moved by Provost Allan seconded by Councillor Jackson subject to the Minute being corrected at paragraph 755 (Policy and Strategy Committee - 10 June 1997) by rewording sub-paragraph (iii) to read as follows:-

"The roles of the Depute and Assistant Chief Executives as having the management responsibility for the respective Divisions, and for ensuring that the strategic plans, policies and divisional and service plans and resource allocations are developed and implemented corporately and in accordance with the decisions of the Council."

DECIDED:  That the minute as corrected be approved.

 

   898      SOCIAL WORK AND HOUSING COMMITTEE - 22 JULY 1997                                                      898

 

APPROVED on the motion of Councillor Morrison (D) seconded by Councillor McGhee.

 

   899      LEISURE AND CULTURAL SERVICES COMMITTEE - 24 JULY 1997                                            899

 

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

 

   900      EDUCATION SERVICES COMMITTEE - 29 JULY 1997                                                                    900

 

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

 

   901      ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE - 31 JULY 1997                                                           901

 

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

 

   902      CORPORATE BUSINESS COMMITTEE - 5 AUGUST 1997                                                               902

 

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

 

   903      PLANNING AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SUB-COMMITTEE - 6 AUGUST 1997                     903

 

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

 

   904      POLICY AND STRATEGY COMMITTEE - 7 AUGUST 1997                                                             904

 

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

Councillor Finnie seconded by Councillor Rebecchi moved with reference to paragraph 867 (Members' Basic Allowances, Rates of Travelling and Subsistence Allowances:  Increase) that the increases recommended by the Secretary of State be approved less 5% in the Basic Allowance as previously agreed by the Policy and Strategy Committee at its meeting on 6 March 1997.  As an amendment, Councillor Jackson seconded by Councillor Mulholland moved that the decision of the Committee as minuted be approved.  On a vote, 4 Members voted for the motion and 12 for the amendment which was declared carried.

DECIDED:  That the minute, including the suspension of Standing Orders, be approved.

 

   905      SOCIAL WORK AND HOUSING COMMITTEE (SPECIAL) - 7 AUGUST 1997                              905

 

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

 

   906      LICENSING AND REGISTRATION PANEL - 12 AUGUST 1997                                                       906

 

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

 

   907      FINANCE SUB-COMMITTEE - 14 AUGUST 1997                                                                             907

 

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

 

   908      PERSONNEL (APPEALS AND APPLIED CONDITIONS OF SERVICE)                                          908

SUB-COMMITTEE - 20 AUGUST 1997

 

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

 

   909      STANDING ORDERS/SCHEME OF ADMINISTRATION/FINANCIAL REGULATIONS                909

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 15 August 1997 by the Director of Central Services advising that the Standing Orders Working Group recommended that certain amendments be made to the Council's Standing Orders, Scheme of Administration and Financial Regulations as detailed in the report and that, subject to the suspension of Standing Orders, the Council resolve accordingly.

RESOLVED:  On the motion of Councillor Mulholland seconded by Councillor Jackson that: "THE INVERCLYDE COUNCIL, incorporated under the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994, under the powers conferred on them by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and the said Act of 1994, RESOLVE TO ADOPT as they hereby ADOPT the Standing Orders and Scheme of Administration and Financial Regulations, copies of which form Appendices to the Principal Minute hereof and that with effect from date of this Resolution, videlicet 21 August 1997."

 

   910      OUTSIDE BODIES:  FILLING OF VACANCIES                                                                                 910

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 14 August 1997 by the Director of Central Services requesting the Council to consider filling vacancies which had arisen on two Outside Bodies, namely the Boards of Renfrewshire Careers Partnership Limited and Renfrewshire Educational Trust.

DECIDED:

(a)  That Councillor Roach be appointed to represent the Council on the Board of Renfrewshire Careers Partnership Limited;  and

(b)  That Councillor Welch be appointed as the Council's representative on the Board of Renfrewshire Educational Trust.

 

   911      JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEES:  APT&C STAFF, MANUAL WORKERS AND               911

CRAFT OPERATIVES

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 8 August 1997 by the Director of Central Services recommending that, following the introduction of the new Committee structure, the Council representation on the Joint Consultative Committees for APT&C staff, manual workers and craft operatives be the 10 Members of the Corporate Business Committee.

DECIDED:  That the 10 Members of the Corporate Business Committee be appointed to serve on both Joint Consultative Committees.

 

   912      SCOTTISH REFERENDUM ISSUES                                                                                                     912

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 15 August 1997 by the Chief Executive (i) setting out for information of Members arrangements currently being made for the Scottish Referendum on 11 September 1997 and (ii) asking them to consider (a) a request from Scotland Forward for a statement of support, assistance with distribution of literature, raising awareness and a financial contribution and (b) whether or not the Council should organise a local campaign to encourage voting in the Referendum along similar lines to that recently launched by Fife Council.

Councillor Clocherty seconded by Councillor Nimmo moved that Inverclyde Council fully support the aims and objectives of the Scotland Forward movement and the campaign for a Yes, Yes vote in the Referendum on 11 September 1997, that the Council recognises the impact a Referendum result will have on local government and would urge all citizens of Inverclyde to use their vote to have their say on Scotland's future and that the Council will use all methods at its disposal to advertise the Referendum and this was agreed.  Councillor Calvert requested that his dissent be recorded to the decision of the Council.

DECIDED:  That the terms of the motion be approved.

 

   913      INVERCLYDE DISTRICT COUNCIL:  ANNUAL REPORT AND ABSTRACT OF                           913

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 1996

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 15 August 1997 by the Director of Finance on the Certified Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 1996 of the former Inverclyde District Council incorporating the Auditor's Certificate in terms of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

NOTED

 

   914      DRAFT ANNUAL REPORT AND ABSTRACT OF ACCOUNTS                                                       914

 

SUBMITTED:  Draft Annual Report and Abstract of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 1997, copies of which were available for inspection by Members.

NOTED

 

   915      RESOLUTION:  EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS                                                                    915

 

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

 

   916      SOCIAL WORK AND HOUSING COMMITTEE - 22 JULY 1997                                                      916

 

APPROVED on the motion of Councillor Morrison (D) seconded by Councillor McGhee.

 

   917      POLICY AND STRATEGY COMMITTEE - 7 AUGUST 1997                                                             917

 

Approval of the minute was moved by Councillor Mulholland seconded by Councillor Jackson.

Councillor Mulholland seconded by Councillor Jackson moved that the minute as printed be approved.  As an amendment, Councillor Rebecchi seconded by Councillor Nimmo moved that at paragraph 874(a) (Catering Provision - Waterfront Leisure Complex) the arrangement proposed with McDonalds not be proceeded with but that a lease arrangement for rent only be offered to McDonalds.  On a vote, 2 Members voted for the amendment and 13 for the motion which was declared carried.

As a further amendment, Councillor Finnie seconded by Councillor Campbell moved that at paragraph (c) the Director of Leisure and Recreation continues discussion with the Council's Hotel Services and, as a matter of urgency, issues specifications to appropriate parties seeking submission of offers by 31 August 1997 regarding the provision of the bar service within the Curling Ice Rink.  On a vote, 6 Members voted for the amendment and 9 for the motion which was declared carried.

DECIDED:  That the minute be approved.

 

   918      PERSONNEL (APPEALS AND APPLIED CONDITIONS OF SERVICE)                                          918

SUB-COMMITTEE - 20 AUGUST 1997

 

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