The Inverclyde Council

Thursday 15 February 2001 at 4.00 pm

Present:   Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, Calvert, Campbell, Hunter, Jackson, McCabe, McCormick, McGhee, McGraw, Mitchell, Morrison (D), Morrison (M), Nimmo, O'Rourke, Rebecchi, Robertson (A) and White.

Chair:  Provost Roach presided.

In attendance:    Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive, Director of Community & Protective Services, Director of Education Services, Director of Information Services, Director of Legal & Support Services, Director of Social Work & Housing Services, Head of Accountancy Services, Head of Economic Development Service, Head of Environmental & Consumer Services, Head of Personnel Services, Head of Planning Services, Head of Property Services, Head of Transportation & Roads Service and Managing Solicitor (Committees/Contracts).

Apologies:  Councillor Robertson (Y).

139

Councillor Helen Calvert:  Welcome

139

On behalf of the Council, the Provost expressed a warm welcome to Councillor Helen Calvert who had been elected to serve as Member for Ward 1 following the by-election held on 8 February 2001.

The Provost being of the opinion that the undernoted item was relevant, competent and urgent moved its consideration to allow the Council to fill the vacancies on Committees, Sub-Committees and Outside Bodies.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

140

Ward 1:  Election of Councillor - Appointments to Committees, Sub-Committees and Outside Bodies

140

There was submitted a report dated 12 February 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on the filling of vacancies on Committees, Sub-Committees and Outside Bodies.

Decided on the motion of Councillor Jackson seconded by Councillor O'Rourke:-

(1)   that Councillor Calvert be appointed to fill the vacancies on the Policy and Strategy Committee, Education Services Committee, Community and Protective Services Committee, Licensing and Registration Panel, Finance and Audit Sub-Committee, Education Services (Appeals) Sub-Committee, Inverclyde Licensing Board and Education (School Pupil Records) Sub-Committee;  and

(2)   that Councillor Calvert be appointed to serve as the Council's representative on the Clyde Muirshiel Park Joint Committee (as substitute Member), James Campbell Buchanan Trust and Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board.

Minutes of Meetings of

The Inverclyde Council, Committees and Sub-Committees

141

The Inverclyde Council - 21 December 2000

141

Approved on the motion of Provost Roach seconded by Councillor Jackson.

142

Education Services Committee - 9 January 2001

142

Approved on the motion of Councillor Robertson (A) seconded by Councillor Jackson.

143

Planning and Traffic Management Sub-Committee - 10 January 2001

143

Approved on the motion of Councillor McGhee seconded by Councillor McCormick.

144

Licensing and Registration Panel - 11 January 2001

144

Approved on the motion of Councillor Morrison (D) seconded by Councillor Morrison (M).

145

Social Work and Housing Committee - 16 January 2001

145

Approved on the motion of Councillor McCabe seconded by Councillor Morrison (D).

146

Corporate Business Committee - 18 January 2001

146

Approved on the motion of Councillor McCormick seconded by Councillor Jackson subject to the suspension of Standing Order 9.1 of the Standing Orders relating to Contracts to allow implementation of the decision at paragraph 83 (Social Work Information Systems:  Tenders).

147

Economic Development Services Committee - 23 January 2001

147

Approved on the motion of Councillor McGhee seconded by Councillor McCormick.

148

Social Work and Housing Committee (Special) - 24 January 2001

148

It was noted that this minute had been approved at the special meeting of The Inverclyde Council on 24 January 2001.

149

The Inverclyde Council (Special) - 24 January 2001

149

Approved on the motion of Provost Roach seconded by Councillor Jackson.

150

Community and Protective Services Committee - 25 January 2001

150

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

151

Finance and Audit Sub-Committee - 30 January 2001

151

Approved on the motion of Councillor Jackson seconded by Councillor O'Rourke.

152

Social Work and Housing Committee (Special) - 31 January 2001

152

Approval of the minute as a correct record was moved by Councillor McCabe seconded by Councillor Morrison (D) subject to the suspension of Standing Orders to allow the funding of the Housing Information Technology System (£80,000) to be met from the Capital Programme 2001/2002 instead of the Repairs & Renewals Fund as agreed by the Committee on 16 January 2001 (paragraph 47).

Councillor McCabe seconded by Councillor Morrison (D) moved that the decision of the Committee as minuted at paragraph 120 (HRA Capital Programme 2001/2002) be approved.  As an amendment, Councillor Nimmo seconded by Councillor McGraw moved that the Council proceed at the present time with Phase 3 of the refurbishment works at Peat Road, Greenock.  On a vote, 8 Members voted for the amendment and 9 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided:

(1)   that Standing Orders be suspended to allow the funding of the Housing Information Technology System to be met from the Capital Programme 2001/2002;  and

(2)   that the minute be otherwise approved.

153

Policy and Strategy Committee - 1 February 2001

153

Approved on the motion of Councillor Jackson seconded by Councillor O'Rourke.

154

Planning and Traffic Management Sub-Committee - 7 February 2001

154

Approval of the minute was moved by Councillor McGhee seconded by Councillor Robertson (A) subject to the suspension of Standing Orders to remit the application at paragraph 133(h) (Change of Use from Retail to Hot Food Takeaway and Erection of Flue: 2 Grosvenor Road, Greenock (IC/00/308)) for consideration de novo by the Sub-Committee.

Decided:

(1)   that Standing Orders be suspended to allow the application detailed at paragraph 133(h) to be considered de novo by the Planning and Traffic Management Sub-Committee;  and

(2)   that the minute be otherwise approved.

155

Policy and Strategy Committee (Special) - 13 February 2001

155

Approval of the minute as a correct record was moved by Councillor Jackson seconded by Councillor McGhee.  Councillor Jackson seconded by Councillor McGhee moved that the decision of the Committee as minuted at paragraph 138 (Revenue and Capital Budgets 2001/2002 Onwards) be approved.  As an amendment, Councillor Mitchell seconded by Councillor Blair moved:-

(1)  Capital Expenditure

That in addition to the proposals in respect of the provision of elderly person residential accommodation, a swimming pool in Port Glasgow and the waterfront development at Gourock, a new games hall at Greenock Academy be added to the Capital Programme for 2001/2004;

(2)  Revenue Expenditure 2001/2002

That the level of "Band D" Council Tax for 2001/2002 be increased by 6.3% to £991, the reduced increase comprising the following adjustments:-

(a)  Additional expenditure of £360,000 instead of £100,000 (see Appendix 1);

(b)  Staff turnover to be fixed at 5% instead of 4%, resulting in a saving of £300,000;  and

(c)  A scheme for readjustment of school provision be made producing savings of £2m in a full year and £500,000 in 2001/2002;

(3)  Council Tax 2002/2003 and 2003/2004

That the Council Tax levels for 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 be fixed at an indicative level of no more than the previous year plus inflation;  and

(4)  Debt Recovery

That the proposals in respect of debt recovery as detailed in the minute be approved.

Following a vote on the proposals in relation to Capital Expenditure, 8 Members voted for the amendment and 9 for the motion as minuted.  Following a vote on the proposals in relation to Revenue Expenditure, 8 Members voted for the amendment and 9 for the motion as minuted.

Decided:  that the minute be approved.

156

Council Tax 2001/2002

156

Arising from the foregoing paragraph, Councillor Jackson seconded by Councillor O'Rourke moved that the Council resolve to fix the "Band D" Council Tax at £1,012 and that the indicative increases for 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 be 5% in each year.

Decided:  that the "Band D" Council Tax be fixed at £1,012 for 2001/2002 and that the indicative increases for 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 be 5% in each year.

157

Certified Annual Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 1999

157

There was submitted a report dated 12 January 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services on the certified annual accounts for the year ended 31 March 1999 in terms of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Decided:  that the certified annual accounts for the year ended 31 March 1999 be noted and signed.

158

Road Lighting Maintenance - Additional Revenue Funds - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

158

There was submitted a report dated 30 December 2000 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(b) to approve additional expenditure of £40,000 in the current financial year for road lighting maintenance works.

Noted

It was agreed in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended that the public and press be excluded from the meeting on the grounds that consideration of the following 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 detailed in the Minute of the relevant Committee or Sub-Committee.

Appendices to Minutes

159

Social Work and Housing Committee - 16 January 2001

159

Approved on the motion of Councillor McCabe seconded by Councillor Morrison (D).

160

Corporate Business Committee - 18 January 2001

160

Approval of the appendix to the minute as a correct record was moved by Councillor McCormick seconded by Councillor Jackson.

Councillor McCormick seconded by Councillor Jackson moved with reference to paragraph 66 (Former Gourock Primary School, Binnie Street, Gourock) that the decision of the Committee as minuted be approved.  As an amendment, Councillor White seconded by Councillor Hunter moved (1) that the east side of the playground be retained for future leisure use and (2) that prior to finalising the sale, it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive to agree with the developer conditions concerning environmental issues and landscaping and that the matter be referred back to the Committee for consideration in due course.  On a vote, 8 Members voted for the amendment and 9 for the motion which was declared carried.

Councillor McCormick seconded by Councillor Jackson moved with reference to paragraph 68 (Land Assembly, Central Port Glasgow - Proposed Land Disposal) that the decision of the Committee as minuted be approved.

As an amendment, Councillor Blair seconded by Councillor Nimmo moved that the sale be approved in principle but that finalisation be deferred for clarification of the masterplan proposals as they relate to the ground required for a new swimming pool and for a 4-week period of consultation with the public of Port Glasgow.  On a vote, 8 Members voted for the amendment and 9 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided:  that the minute be approved.

161

Community and Protective Services Committee - 25 January 2001

161

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