The Inverclyde Council

Thursday 10 February 2005 at 4.00 pm

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

Chair:  Provost Rebecchi presided. 

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive, Director of Community Services, Director of Corporate Services, Mr A Henderson (for Director of Education Services), Head of Property Services and Managing Solicitor (Committees/Contracts).

Apologies:  Councillor McCormick (M).

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Minute of Meeting of Policy & Strategy Committee - 8 February 2005

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Approval of the minute as a correct record was moved by Councillor Blair seconded by Councillor Hill.  Councillor Blair seconded by Councillor Hill moved that the decision of the Committee as minuted be approved.  As an amendment Councillor McCabe seconded by Councillor Robertson moved:

(1)      that the Revenue Budget for 2005/06 be set on the basis of the Corporate Management Team’s recommendations adjusted for the re-opening of Hunter’s Place Public Convenience (£14,000) and the removal of £15 bulk uplift charge (£59,000);

(2)      that the Council Tax increase for 2005/06 be set at 2.0% (£470,000 to be funded from Reserves);

(3)      that the additional Quality of Life Funding of £167,000 for 2005/06 be used for one-off environmental improvements and delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Head of Property Services;

(4)      that the Chief Executive produce a detailed report for the next meeting of the Policy & Strategy Committee outlining the proposed remit of each of the service reviews listed in paragraph 4.13 of the Director of Corporate Services’ report and his proposals for utilising Reserves in support of these reviews;

(5)      that the use of Reserves for the purposes set out in paragraph 6.8 of the Director of Corporate Services’ report be agreed in principle but that the amount of funding to be allocated to each should be agreed following the submission of detailed reports from the Corporate Management Team on each of the specific proposals including an explanation of how these investments will support the Council’s strategic objectives;

(6)      that £700,000 of Reserves be utilised in support of additional expenditure on Roads and Lighting in 2005/06;

(7)      that the following investments be funded from Reserves:

          (i)         Each primary school and special needs school to receive one-off additional funding of £5,000 to be spent at the discretion of the Head Teacher in consultation with the School Board (£155,000).

          (ii)        Each secondary school to receive one-off additional funding of £10,000 to be spent at the discretion of the Head Teacher in consultation with the School Board (£80,000).

          (iii)       £100,000 one-off additional funding for the Library Supplies Budget to fund the purchase of new books and other learning materials.

          (iv)       £100,000 one-off additional funding for the upgrading of football pitches.

(8)      that the Council note the responses to the public consultation exercise and that the Chief Executive bring forward a report in early course on how future budget consultations could be improved;

(9)      that the Committee note the position regarding the draft budgets for 2006/07 and 2007/08 and the significant budget gaps identified based on the Finance Settlement from the Scottish Executive and at this stage make no indication regarding the potential Council Tax level in those years and agree to press through CoSLA for an appropriate Finance Settlement recognising the pressures already placed on Councils and the impact of increases in funding from the Executive being allocated to earmarked services and initiatives rather than allocated to Councils to consider taking account of all issues and priorities;

(10)    that the 2005/06-2007/08 Capital Programme be agreed as identified in Appendix 6 of the Director of Corporate Services’ report and that delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive to progress the secondary list as funding becomes available and the Health & Safety, Business Continuity and Regeneration Funding allocations in line with current policy;

(11)    that proposals for utilisation of the Property Capital Allocation for 2005/06 onwards be the subject of a detailed report from the Corporate Management Team prior to any final decisions being taken on how this funding should be utilised; and

(12)    that the indicative Common Good Budget for 2005/06 as set out in Appendix 8 of the Director of Corporate Services’ report be approved subject to a further report from the Chief Executive on how this Budget should be utilised in support of the Council’s strategic objectives.

Following the proposals made by the Labour Group, Councillor Blair moved that it be remitted to the Director of Community Services to submit a report on the review of the provision of football pitches and of the £15 bulk uplift charge.  This was unanimously agreed by the Council.

On a vote on the amendment insofar as it diverged from the minute 6 Members voted for the amendment and 12 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided:  that the minute as detailed be approved subject to the agreed addition of the remit to the Director of Community Services in respect of (1) the review of the football pitches and (2) the £15 bulk uplift charge.

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Council Tax 2005/06

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Arising from the foregoing paragraph, Councillor Blair seconded by Councillor Hill moved that the Council resolve to fix the “Band D” Council Tax for 2005/06 at £1,176.

Decided:  that the “Band D” Council Tax for 2005/06, be fixed at £1,176 for 2005/06.

The Provost being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Corporate Services was relevant, competent and urgent moved its consideration to allow the Council to consider a request from the City of Edinburgh Council relating to the previous decisions.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

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The City of Edinburgh Council - Local Government Finance Settlement

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There was submitted a report by the Director of Corporate Services on a request from the City of Edinburgh Council that this Council consider support for part of its decision when it came to finalise its Revenue Budget 2005/08.

Decided:  that the Council support the decision by the City of Edinburgh Council in its request to the Scottish Executive to make available additional funding to Scottish Councils in line with the funding provided to English Local Government.