THURSDAY 14 MAY 1998 - 4.00 pm

 

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

 

In attendance:-  The Chief Executive, the Assistant Chief Executive (Economic Development and Urban Regeneration), the Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development), Mr A Barnes (for the Assistant Chief Executive (Contract Services)), the Director of Central Services, the Director of Legal Services, the Director of Finance, the Director of Economic Development, the Director of Education Services, Mr S McDonald (for the Director of Property and Technical Services), Mr A Frater (for the Director of Planning), Mr W Wilson (for the Director of Leisure and Recreation), the Director of Social Work, Mr D Robin (for the Director of Housing and Customer Services), the Director of Information Technology, the Chief Environmental Services Officer and the Chief Consumer Protection and Trading Standards Officer.

 

An apology for absence was intimated on behalf of Councillor Hunter.

 

The Rev R G Lawson MA BD opened the proceedings with Prayer.

 

   520      APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES AND CONVENERS AND VICE-CONVENERS                     520

 

Councillor Mulholland seconded by Councillor Jackson moved that the present membership of Committees and Conveners and Vice-Conveners thereof be continued and this was agreed.

 

   521      APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES TO OUTSIDE BODIES, ETC                                          521

 

Councillor Mulholland seconded by Councillor Jackson moved that the following alterations be made in the appointment of Members to serve as Council representatives on the undernoted Outside Bodies:-

Clyde Muirshiel Park Joint Committee

Make provision for substitutes where current representatives (Councillors Mulholland and Jackson) are unavailable, such substitutes to be notified at a later date.

Inverclyde Branch of the Scottish Veterans' Garden City Association (Inc)

Councillor Nimmo in place of Councillor Mitchell.

DECIDED:  That the alterations in the appointments to Outside Bodies be approved in terms of the motion.

 

   522      SCOTTISH MARITIME MUSEUM TRUST:  APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES                                  522

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 22 April 1998 by the Director of Central Services advising that the Scottish Maritime Museum Trust had invited the Council to nominate 2 Members to serve as Trustees on the basis of a three-year term of office commencing 18 June 1998.

DECIDED:  That Councillors McGhee and Roach be appointed to serve as Trustees on the Scottish Maritime Museum Trust.

   523      ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS:  CYCLE OF COUNCIL/COMMITTEE                              523

MEETINGS

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 6 May 1998 by the Director of Central Services recommending (i) that the normal schedule of Committee meetings follow the now established pattern of a 6-weekly cycle, (ii) that, to accommodate a 4-week fallow period in July, there be a 5-week cycle immediately following and (iii) that, at the conclusion of the present Council's life with the impending Council elections on 6 May 1999, there be an abbreviated 4-week cycle running from Tuesday 6 April 1999 and concluding on Thursday 29 April 1999, one week before the election day, and that, to accommodate this arrangement, the Licensing and Registration Panel and the Finance Sub-Committee both meet on Tuesday 13 April 1999 at 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm respectively.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the normal schedule of Committee meetings follow the now established pattern of a 6-weekly cycle;

(b)  That, to accommodate a 4-week fallow period in July, there be a 5-week cycle immediately following;  and

(c)  That, at the conclusion of the present Council's life with the impending Council elections on 6 May 1999, there be an abbreviated 4-week cycle running from Tuesday 6 April 1999 and concluding on Thursday 29 April 1999, one week before the election day, and that, to accommodate this arrangement, the Licensing and Registration Panel and the Finance Sub-Committee both meet on Tuesday 13 April 1999 at 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm respectively.

 

MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF

THE INVERCLYDE COUNCIL, COMMITTEES AND SUB-COMMITTEES

 

   524      THE INVERCLYDE COUNCIL - 2 APRIL 1998                                                                                  524

 

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

 

   525      SOCIAL WORK AND HOUSING COMMITTEE - 7 APRIL 1998                                                      525

 

APPROVED on the motion of Councillor O'Rourke seconded by Councillor Morrison (D).

 

   526      PERSONNEL (APPEALS AND APPLIED CONDITIONS OF SERVICE)                                          526

SUB-COMMITTEE - 8 APRIL 1998

 

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

 

   527      LEISURE AND CULTURAL SERVICES COMMITTEE - 9 APRIL 1998                                            527

 

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

   528      LICENSING AND REGISTRATION PANEL - 14 APRIL 1998                                                           528

 

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

 

   529      EDUCATION SERVICES COMMITTEE - 21 APRIL 1998                                                                  529

 

Approval of the minute as a correct record was moved by Councillor Robertson (Y) seconded by Councillor Welch subject to correction of the decision at paragraph 448 (a) to read as follows:-

"That Gourock Primary School be replaced by a new building with a planning capacity of 231 pupils, the building to be designed also to include further accommodation for 2 nursery classes" and this was agreed.

Councillor Robertson (Y) seconded by Councillor Welch moved with reference to paragraph 446 (Interim Plan for the Provision of Pre-Five Education for Session 1998/99) that the decision of the Committee as minuted be approved.  As an amendment, Councillor Mitchell seconded by Councillor Finnie moved that a pre-five facility be provided within Ardgowan Primary School during the academic year 1999/2000, to be achieved by limiting the number of placing requests.  On a vote, 6 Members voted for the amendment and 13 for the motion which was declared carried.

Councillor Robertson (Y) seconded by Councillor Welch moved with reference to paragraph 448 (Proposed Amendment to Delineated Areas of Moorfoot and Gourock Primary Schools and Construction of Replacement School for Gourock Primary School - Results of Consultation) that the decision of the Committee in the minute as corrected be approved.  As an amendment, Councillor Campbell seconded by Councillor Finnie moved that the recommendations set out in the report be not accepted and that the Director of Education Services, in view of the serious public disquiet about the area of the Darroch Park site, as a matter of urgency, examine and report on other possible locations for the replacement building for Gourock Primary School (the present delineated areas of Moorfoot and Gourock Primary Schools to remain unaltered meantime).  On a vote, 5 Members voted for the amendment and 13 for the motion which was declared carried.

DECIDED:  That the minute as corrected be approved.

 

   530      ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE - 23 APRIL 1998                                                         530

 

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

 

   531      CORPORATE BUSINESS COMMITTEE - 28 APRIL 1998                                                                 531

 

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

 

   532      POLICY AND STRATEGY COMMITTEE - 30 APRIL 1998                                                               532

 

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

   533      PLANNING AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SUB-COMMITTEE - 6 MAY 1998                           533

 

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

 

   534      LICENSING AND REGISTRATION PANEL - 14 MAY 1998                                                             534

 

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

 

   535      CASTLEREAGH BOROUGH COUNCIL, NORTHERN IRELAND:  GULF WAR                              535

SYNDROME

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 6 May 1998 by the Director of Central Services on a request from Castlereagh Borough Council, Northern Ireland that the Council indicate support for a motion in connection with victims of Gulf War Syndrome in the following terms:-

"This Council is aware of the alarmingly high tally of disabling and life threatening medical conditions affecting veterans of the Gulf War, and the dreadful number of incidents of disorders diagnosed in the wives of veterans and abnormalities occurring to their babies; believes that more than adequate evidence exists that this correlation establishes the existence of Gulf War Syndrome; urges Her Majesty's Government to formally and officially recognise the presence of Gulf War Syndrome and accept responsibility to take every consequential measure to alleviate the impact on those who faithfully served the nation at a time of crisis."

DECIDED:  That the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Defence be advised of the Council's support for a proper and comprehensive investigation into the incidence of Gulf War Syndrome and that Dr Norman Godman MP be also advised of the Council's view.

 

   536      AGENDA 2000:  EUROPEAN UNION FUNDING - MEETING WITH MR HUGH                            536

McMAHON MEP

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 6 May 1998 by the Director of Central Services advising that Hugh McMahon MEP was anxious to meet with Members of the Council to discuss the European Union proposals for the reform of structural funds and related issues.

DECIDED:  That arrangements be made for Members of the Council to meet with Hugh McMahon MEP on Thursday 11 June 1998 at 2.00 pm within the Municipal Buildings, Greenock subject to any adjustment to avoid conflict with other Council meetings.

 

   537      RESOLUTION:  EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS                                                                    537

 

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 as amended, 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

 

   538      SOCIAL WORK AND HOUSING COMMITTEE - 7 APRIL 1998                                                      538

 

APPROVED on the motion of Councillor O'Rourke seconded by Councillor Morrison (D).

 

   539      PERSONNEL (APPEALS AND APPLIED CONDITIONS OF SERVICE)                                          539

SUB-COMMITTEE - 8 APRIL 1998

 

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

 

   540      LICENSING AND REGISTRATION PANEL - 14 APRIL 1998                                                           540

 

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

 

   541      CORPORATE BUSINESS COMMITTEE - 28 APRIL 1998                                                                 541

 

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

 

   542      POLICY AND STRATEGY COMMITTEE - 30 APRIL 1998                                                               542

 

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