The Inverclyde Council

Thursday 10 October 2002 at 4.00 pm

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

Chair:  Provost Roach presided.

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive, Director of Community & Protective Services, Director of Education Services, Director of Finance, Director of Legal & Support Services, Director of Social Work & Housing Services, Head of Personnel Services, Mr A Gerrard (for Head of Property Services) and Managing Solicitor (Committees/Contracts).

Apologies:  Councillor Mitchell.

Minutes of Meetings of

The Inverclyde Council, Committees and Sub-Committees

    788

The Inverclyde Council - 27 June 2002

788

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

    789

The Inverclyde Council (Special) - 18 July 2002

789

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

    790

Planning & Traffic Management Sub-Committee - 7 August 2002

790

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

    791

Education & Lifelong Learning Committee - 27 August 2002

791

Approved on the motion of Councillor Robertson (A) seconded by Councillor O'Rourke.

    792

Licensing & Registration Panel - 29 August 2002

792

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

    793

Health Improvement Committee - 3 September 2002

793

Approved on the motion of Councillor McCabe seconded by Councillor Jackson.

    794

Planning & Traffic Management Sub-Committee - 4 September 2002

794

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

    795

Corporate Business Committee - 5 September 2002

795

Approved on the motion of Councillor Robertson (Y) seconded by Councillor McCormick.

    796

Economic Regeneration Committee - 10 September 2002

796

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

    797

Community Committee - 12 September 2002

797

Approved on the motion of Councillor Morrison (M) seconded by Councillor O'Rourke.

    798

Licensing & Registration Panel (Special) - 19 September 2002

798

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

    799

Personnel (Appeals & Applied Conditions of Service) Sub-Committee -

23 September 2002

799

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

    800

Best Value & Performance Review Committee - 24 September 2002

800

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

    801

Audit Committee - 24 September 2002

801

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

    802

Policy & Strategy Committee - 26 September 2002

802

Approval of the minute as a correct record was moved by Councillor Jackson seconded by Councillor Morrison (M).  Councillor Jackson seconded by Councillor Morrison (M) moved with reference to paragraph 778 (Implications of the ASB Consultation on FRS17 on the Council's Decision Regarding the Ex-IDC Scheme) that the decision of the Committee as minuted be approved.  It was agreed unanimously that, notwithstanding the terms of Standing Order 21(c) under which a motion inconsistent with a previous Council decision should not be entertained within six months of that decision, the amendment prepared by Councillor Rebecchi to change the Council decision made on 25 April 2002 (Min Ref 25/4/02 Para 413) and confirmed on 9 May 2002 be considered without prejudice to the requirement that it need be carried by two-thirds of those present to be implemented.  As an amendment, therefore, Councillor )Rebecchi seconded by Councillor White moved, subject to the suspension of Standing Orders:-

(1)   that the Ex-Inverclyde District Council Early Retiral Scheme cease as at 31 March 2005;

(2)   that the Scheme now end for employees aged under 50 on 30 September 2002;  and

(3)   that any affected employees who had made application for early retiral after 1 July 2002 be given the opportunity to change that decision if they so wished.

Councillors Robertson (A), McCabe and McGhee requested in terms of the relevant Standing Order that the vote be taken as a roll-call vote and this was agreed.

On a vote, Councillors Campbell, Hill, Hunter, McGraw, Nimmo, Rebecchi and White voted for the amendment and Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, Calvert, Jackson, McCabe, McCormick, McGhee, Morrison (D), Morrison (M), O'Rourke, Robertson (A) and Robertson (Y) voted for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided:  that the minute be approved.

    803

Planning & Traffic Management Sub-Committee - 2 October 2002

803

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

The Provost, being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Legal & Support Services was relevant, competent and urgent, moved its consideration to allow the Council to consider the making of the Draft Resolution at the earliest possible date.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

    804

Resolution:  Proposed Housing Action Area for Demolition:  6, 8, 10 and 12 Garvald Street, Greenock

804

There was submitted a report dated 30 September 2002 by the Director of Legal & Support Services (1) on a recommendation from the Health Improvement Committee on 3 September 2002 (para 662) that the Council make a Draft Resolution proposing that the houses at 6, 8, 10 and 12 Garvald Street, Greenock be a Housing Action Area for Demolition and (2) providing details of the financial implications thereof.

Decided:

(1)   that the Corporate Management Team consider the necessary re-prioritising of non-HRA Capital Projects resulting from the proposals;  and

(2)   that it be resolved on the motion of Councillor Jackson seconded by Councillor O'Rourke that "THE INVERCLYDE COUNCIL as local authority for the purposes of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, RESOLVE TO MAKE as they HEREBY MAKE a Draft Resolution in terms of Section 89 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 entitled "The 6, 8, 10 and 12 Garvald Street, Greenock Housing Action Area for Demolition Draft Resolution" relative to the demolition of all the buildings in the area shown edged in yellow and coloured brown on the map referred to in The 6, 8, 10 and 12 Garvald Street, Greenock Housing Action Area for Demolition Draft Resolution 2002 and comprising the land (including buildings and appurtenances) at 6, 8, 10 and 12 Garvald Street, Greenock" all as detailed in a copy of the Draft Resolution forming a supplement to the principal minute hereof and that the Director of Legal & Support Services be authorised to take all necessary action in connection therewith.ð

    805

Resolution:  Financial Regulations

805

There was submitted a report dated 30 September 2002 by the Director of Legal & Support Services recommending that the Council adopt the Financial Regulations considered by the Policy & Strategy Committee at its meeting on 26 September 2002.

Resolved on the motion of Councillor Jackson seconded by Councillor O'Rourke 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 Financial Regulations, a copy of which forms an appendix to the principal minute hereof and that with effect from the date of this Resolution, videlicet 10 October 2002."

    806

Gateshead Council - Licensing of Air Weapons

806

There was submitted a report dated 13 August 2002 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request received from Gateshead Council that the Council consider its support for the introduction of a formal licensing scheme to ensure that only responsible adults are able to purchase air guns and air rifles and to increase the age limit for the use of such weapons from the current 14 years to 18 years.

Decided:  that the Council support the campaign for control on the sale and use of air guns and air rifles initiated by Gateshead Council.

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 item 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

    807

The Inverclyde Council - 27 June 2002

807

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

    808

Health Improvement Committee - 3 September 2002

808

Approved on the motion of Councillor McCabe seconded by Councillor Jackson.

    809

Corporate Business Committee - 5 September 2002

809

Approval of the appendix to the minute as a correct record was moved by Councillor Robertson (Y) seconded by Councillor McCormick.  Councillor Robertson (Y) seconded by Councillor McCormick moved with reference to paragraph 704 (Rankin Park, Greenock) that the decision as minuted in the appendix be approved.  As an amendment, Councillor Nimmo seconded by Councillor Rebecchi moved that the Rankin Park site be withdrawn from sale and that it be remitted back to the appropriate Officers to reappraise the future of the Rankin Park.  On a vote, 7 Members voted for the amendment and 10 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided:  that the minute be approved.

    810

Personnel (Appeals & Applied Conditions of Service) Sub-Committee -

23 September 2002

810

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

    811

Audit Committee - 24 September 2002

811

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

    812

Policy & Strategy Committee - 26 September 2002

812

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