THURSDAY 4 MARCH 1999 - 4.00 pm

 

Present:-  Provost Allan, Councillors Calvert, Robertson (A), Morrison (D), Clocherty, Morrison (M), O'Rourke, Jackson, Roach, McGhee, Nimmo, Robertson (Y), 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 Executive Director Community & Protective Services, the Executive Director Education Services, the Executive Director Legal, Information & Support Services, the Executive Director Resource Services, the Executive Director Social Work & Housing Services, the Director of Central Services, the Director of Information Technology, the Director of Leisure and Recreation, the Director of Personnel Services, the Director of Transportation and Roads, the Chief Consumer Protection & Trading Standards Officer, the Head of Property Services and the Head of Cleaning Services.

 

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

 

   269      MINUTE OF MEETING OF THE POLICY & STRATEGY COMMITTEE (SPECIAL) -                     269

1 MARCH 1999

 

Approval of the Minute as a correct record was moved by Councillor Jackson seconded by Councillor Robertson (Y).

Councillor Jackson seconded by Councillor Robertson (Y) moved with reference to paragraph 253 (Revenue Budget 1999/2000):-

1.      That strict budgetary control be implemented on a corporate basis as part of the corporate and strategic plans of the Council.

2.      That Committees and Services exercise strict control over their budgets and that, if agreed savings cannot be found, other savings must be achieved, subject to the approval of the appropriate spending Committee.

3.      That the Council agree in principle that a Leisure Trust be established, incorporating swimming pools and sports and recreation facilities within Inverclyde, and that a comprehensive report be submitted to Committee at the earliest possible date.

4.      That there be a review of the Common Good Fund, including:-

         (a)   the use of the Fund.

         (b)   the potential use of existing Fund balances.

                (c)  options for supplementing the Fund by transfers from existing Revenue Balances and by transferring to the Fund other commercial property.

5.      That the Council's Revenue Budget for 1999/2000 be set at the guideline of £121,907,000 supplemented by £500,000 in total from Community Charge arrears income.

6.      That the savings and adjustments, totalling £4,079,000, as detailed on the statements circulated to the Council (APPENDIX 1) be implemented as follows:-

                (a)  Employee Costs Reduction - This will be achieved by delays in filling vacancies, non-filling of vacancies, reductions in overtime payments, improvement in absence

 

management, reductions in temporary and sessional staff, reductions in related general employee costs and savings from a decrease in numbers as a result of the management review.

   269              (b)   Education CFCR Transfer to Capital - Work will be funded from capital rather than                   269

                      revenue.

                (c)  Additional Community Charge Income - Using all available measures to improve collection, including the flexible use of employees, it being anticipated that this action will improve the level of Council Tax collection.

                (d)  Capital Programme Fees Costs Removed - To link resources with fee income available, noting the further reviews already agreed.

                (e)  GAE Not Used - Social Work, IT and Environmental Health.

                (f)   Reduction in Grounds Maintenance and Greenhouses - Report to be submitted detailing options for reducing spend by £250,000, the report to address the reprioritisation of existing spend, options for reductions in maintenance and details of the impact on temporary, seasonal and permanent workers, including the need for voluntary or compulsory redundancy.

                (g)  Reduction in Leisure Services and Community Support Services - Report to be submitted detailing options for reducing spend by £500,000, the report to address a combination of reductions in opening hours of facilities, closure of facilities, reductions in temporary, sessional, part-time and permanent employees, including the need for voluntary or compulsory redundancy.

                (h)  Reduction in Teachers' Absence Cover - Based on projected level for the current year.

                (i)   Fees and Charges - As detailed on the separate statement.  (APPENDIX 1)

                (j)   General Savings - As detailed on the separate statement.  (APPENDIX 1)

7.      That a report be submitted on proposals for leasing the Hector McNeil Baths to leisure-related organisations and groups, thereby removing the need for existing security arrangements.

8.      That the level of Band D Council Tax for 1999/2000 be set at £888, an increase of 2.9% which will involve use of balances of £1,233,000.

At this juncture, it was agreed unanimously on the motion of Provost Allan seconded by Councillor Jackson that the meeting be adjourned to allow the Minority Groups to consider the proposals in the motion.  The meeting resumed at 4.20 pm.

As an amendment, Councillor Finnie seconded by Councillor Mitchell moved with reference to paragraph 253 that the Council's Revenue Budget 1999/2000 be set at £122,407,000 including Community Charge arrears income, the amendment to comprise only those areas where there were significant differences between the Majority Group's proposals (APPENDIX 1) and the proposals and savings as listed and circulated to the Council (APPENDIX 2).

On a vote, 7 Members voted for the amendment and 12 for the motion which was declared carried.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Minute be approved;  and

(b)  That the terms of the motion be approved as follows:-

1.      That strict budgetary control be implemented on a corporate basis as part of the corporate and strategic plans of the Council.

2.      That Committees and Services exercise strict control over their budgets and that, if agreed savings cannot be found, other savings must be achieved, subject to the approval of the appropriate spending Committee.

3.      That the Council agree in principle that a Leisure Trust be established, incorporating swimming pools and sports and recreation facilities within Inverclyde, and that a comprehensive report be submitted to Committee at the earliest possible date.

 

   269      4.     That there be a review of the Common Good Fund, including:-                                                          269

         (a)   the use of the Fund.

         (b)   the potential use of existing Fund balances.

                (c)  options for supplementing the Fund by transfers from existing Revenue Balances and by transferring to the Fund other commercial property.

5.      That the Council's Revenue Budget for 1999/2000 be set at the guideline of £121,907,000 supplemented by £500,000 in total from Community Charge arrears income.

6.      That the savings and adjustments, totalling £4,079,000, as detailed on the statements circulated to the Council (APPENDIX 1) be implemented as follows:-

                (a)  Employee Costs Reduction - This will be achieved by delays in filling vacancies, non-filling of vacancies, reductions in overtime payments, improvement in absence management, reductions in temporary and sessional staff, reductions in related general employee costs and savings from a decrease in numbers as a result of the management review.

                (b)  Education CFCR Transfer to Capital - Work will be funded from capital rather than revenue.

                (c)  Additional Community Charge Income - Using all available measures to improve collection, including the flexible use of employees, it being anticipated that this action will improve the level of Council Tax collection.

                (d)  Capital Programme Fees Costs Removed - To link resources with fee income available, noting the further reviews already agreed.

                (e)  GAE Not Used - Social Work, IT and Environmental Health.

                (f)   Reduction in Grounds Maintenance and Greenhouses - Report to be submitted detailing options for reducing spend by £250,000, the report to address the reprioritisation of existing spend, options for reductions in maintenance and details of the impact on temporary, seasonal and permanent workers, including the need for voluntary or compulsory redundancy.

                (g)  Reduction in Leisure Services and Community Support Services - Report to be submitted detailing options for reducing spend by £500,000, the report to address a combination of reductions in opening hours of facilities, closure of facilities, reductions in temporary, sessional, part-time and permanent employees, including the need for voluntary or compulsory redundancy.

                (h)  Reduction in Teachers' Absence Cover - Based on projected level for the current year.

                (i)   Fees and Charges - As detailed on the separate statement.  (APPENDIX 1)

                (j)   General Savings - As detailed on the separate statement.   (APPENDIX 1)

7.      That a report be submitted on proposals for leasing the Hector McNeil Baths to leisure-related organisations and groups, thereby removing the need for existing security arrangements.

8.      That the level of Band D Council Tax for 1999/2000 be set at £888, an increase of 2.9% which will involve use of balances of £1,233,000.

 

   270      COUNCIL TAX 1999/2000                                                                                                                    270

 

Arising from the foregoing paragraph, Councillor Jackson seconded by Councillor Robertson (Y) moved that the Council resolve to fix the "Band D" Council Tax at £888.

DECIDED:  That the "Band D" Council Tax be fixed at £888.