The Inverclyde Council

Thursday 12 February 2004 at 4.00 pm

Present:   Provost Rebecchi, Councillors Blair, Forbes, Fyfe, Gallacher, Hill, Hunter, McCabe, McCormick (M), McCormick (P), McKenzie, Mitchell, Moran, Nimmo, Roach, Robertson, Snoddy, Stewart, Tucker and  White.

Chair:  Provost Rebecchi presided.

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Director of Community & Protective Services, Director of Corporate Services, Director of Education Services, Director of Legal & Support Services, Director of Social Work Services, Head of Housing & Building Services, Head of Environmental & Consumer Services, Head of Personnel Services, Head of Property Services and Managing Solicitor (Committees/Contracts). 

130

Minute of Special Meeting of the Policy & Strategy Committee of 10 February 2004

130

Approval of the minute as a correct record was moved by Councillor Blair seconded by Councillor Hill subject to the following amendments:-

(1)      that paragraph 8 of the decision read as follows:

“The Committee notes that to achieve redeployment in such a short period of time it will be necessary to widen the trawl for voluntary severance to other employees and that this will be done in the context of a direct match being made to allow redeployment to take place or in the context of overall Service requirements.  Voluntary severance to employees will not be prejudiced solely on the basis of cost in accordance with current policy.

The Committee agrees that, whilst every effort will be made to achieve the required savings, if the redeployment/voluntary severance required cannot be implemented over the three-six month period then, as it is estimated that the Reserves will not be able to sustain continued employment, there will be a redundancy situation.

If the position regarding any employee affected by the agreed savings proposals has not been resolved after a maximum three month period then any such employee will be issued with a 12 week notice period of redundancy, if necessary for budgetary reasons, noting that the Committee considers that in the overall context this will be unlikely.

The Committee also agrees continuing dialogue and consultation with employees and their Trade Unions.”

(2)      that Crawfurdsburn Community Centre not close and that the continued operation of the Centre be financed by substitute savings from increased income/demand for community halls (£6,370) and support from the voluntary organisations budget (£5,000).

As an amendment, Councillor McCabe seconded by Councillor Robertson moved (1) that the budget for 2004/05 be as detailed in the paper forming an appendix to the minute hereof resulting in a Council Tax increase in 2004/05 of 7% and (2) that the indicative Council Tax increase for the following two financial years be 5%.  On a vote 6 Members voted for the amendment and 12 for the motion which was declared carried.

Councillor McCabe seconded by Councillor Robertson moved (1) that there be continuing consultations with the Trade Unions and other affected parties in respect of the implementation of the budget and (2) that a special meeting of the Policy & Strategy Committee be convened within 8 weeks to consider the progress made in implementing the agreed savings proposals and the consequent redeployment of Council employees.  This was agreed unanimously.

Decided:

(1)      that the minute as amended above be approved;

(2)      that there be continuing consultations with the Trade Unions and other affected parties in respect of the implementation of the budget;  and

(3)      that a special meeting of the Policy & Strategy Committee be convened within 8 weeks to consider the progress made in implementing the agreed savings proposals and the consequent redeployment of Council employees.

131

Council Tax 2004/05

131

Arising from the foregoing paragraph, Councillor Blair seconded by Councillor Hill moved that the Council resolve to fix the “Band D” Council Tax for 2004/05 at £1,143 and that the indicative increases for 2005/06 and 2006/07 be a maximum of 5%.

Decided:  that the Band D Council Tax be fixed at £1,143 for 2004/05 and that the indicative increases for 2005/06 and 2006/07 be a maximum of 5%.