The Inverclyde Council

Thursday 13 February 2003 at 4.00 pm

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

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, Head of Property Services and Managing Solicitor (Committees/Contracts).

Apologies:  Councillors Jackson and White.

    174

Policy & Strategy Committee (Special) - 11 February 2003

174

Supplementary to the minute, there was circulated a report by the Director of Finance dated 12 February 2003 providing relevant information contained within her previous report to the meeting of the Policy & Strategy Committee on 11 February 2003 amended in line with the budget proposals made by the Committee.

Approval of the minute as a correct record was moved by Councillor O'Rourke seconded by Councillor Robertson (Y).  Councillor O'Rourke seconded by Councillor Robertson (Y) moved that the decision of the Committee as minuted be approved.  As an amendment, Councillor Mitchell seconded by Councillor Blair moved:

(1) that the following alterations be made to paragraph (1) of the decision under the 3 Year Revenue and Capital Budgets 2003/04 - 2005/06:-

Additional Costs                                                                                                    £000

1.    Sportspersons/Gardens                                                                                    10

2.    Ground Maintenance                                                                                       100

3.    Voluntary Bodies                                                                                                40

4.    Leisure Trust Fees                                                                                            64

5.    Community Education/Sessional Staff                                                               8

                                                                                                                              £222

Additional Savings

1.    Limit Chief Officers' Salary to 3% p.a.                                                              65

2.    Wind up Corporate Communications                                                             100

3.    Rationalise Customer Services, Information and Advice,

       Consumer Affairs and Business Store                                                             50

4.    Surestart                                                                                                            80

5.    Teachers for Deprivation                                                                                 400

6.    Reorganise Leisure and Support Service Department                                     60

7.    Non-payment of PPP Consultants                                                                  293

8.    Use of Balances                                                                                             614

                                                                                                                           £1,662

Net Savings                                                                                                       £1,440;       and

(2) that there be no increase in the Council Tax for 2003/04 (fixing the "Band D" Council Tax at £1,062).

As a further amendment, Councillor Calvert moved that the following alterations be made to paragraph (1) of the decision:

Savings Accepted          £000

(a)      Efficiency Savings - Other

          Inverclyde Leisure          48

(c)      Realignment of Resources

          Capitalise Economic Development Funding          80

          Property Services -

          Public Convenience, Kilblain Street          10.5;  and

(2)   that the Council Tax for 2003/04 be increased by 2%, taking account of additional savings proposed and adjustment of reserves.

There being no seconder for Councillor Calvert's amendment, this then fell, although it was agreed unanimously to suspend Standing Orders to allow the terms of the amendment to be minuted.

On a vote, 8 Members voted for the amendment by Councillor Mitchell seconded by Councillor Blair and 9 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided:

(1)   that the minute be approved;  and

(2)   that the information contained in the report by the Director of Finance be noted.

The Provost, being of the opinion that the undernoted item was relevant, competent and urgent, moved its consideration to allow the Council to fulfil the statutory requirement for the fixing of the Council Tax for 2003/04.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

    175

Council Tax 2003/04

175

Arising from the foregoing paragraph, Councillor O'Rourke seconded by Councillor Robertson (Y) moved that the Council resolve to fix the "Band D" Council Tax for 2003/04 at £1,089 and that the indicative increases for 2004/05 and 2005/06 be 5%.

Decided:  that the "Band D" Council Tax be fixed at £1,089 for 2003/04 and that the indicative increases for 2004/05 and 2005/06 be 5%.