The Inverclyde Council

Thursday 9 February 2006 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Provost Rebecchi presided. 

In attendance:  Interim Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive, Director of  Community Services, Director of Education Services, Solicitor to the Council, Chief Financial Officer, Head of Housing Services, Head of Property Services, Mr H MacMaster (for Head of Transportation and Roads Service) and Managing Solicitor (Committees/Contracts).

Apologies:  Councillor Nimmo.

132

Housing Revenue Account Budget 2006/07 and 2006/07 Housing Capital Programme

132

There was submitted a report dated 30 January 2006 by the Chief Financial Officer on (1) the current position of the Housing Revenue Account Budget 2006/07, advising that the base budget figures indicated a budget deficit of £2.82m prior to the application of any savings or increase in rents and (2) the Housing Capital Programme for 2006/07.

After discussion, Councillor Fyfe seconded by Councillor Forbes moved:

(1)   that the information supplied in the report and its associated appendices be noted and that a rent increase of 4.9%, in accordance with the recommendations by Council Officers, be applied with effect from 6 April 2006;

(2)   that Members note the Housing Capital Programme to be delivered for 2006/07;

(3)   that the Council note the necessary consultation that has taken place with tenants and the issues raised by that consultation;

(4)   that the Council agree to the Head of Housing Services applying increases for non-Council house rents and other charges in order to generate sufficient income to meet the 3% allowance included in the Base Budget and that a report be presented to the next available meeting of the Environment & Regeneration Committee confirming the increases agreed;  and

(5)   that the Council note that a further report by the Depute Chief Executive on the implications for the HRA Budget were there to be a no vote for stock transfer will be presented to the meeting of the Environment & Regeneration Committee to be held in May 2006.

As an amendment to (1), Councillor McCabe seconded by Councillor Robertson moved that the savings proposal relating to the closure of the Nicolson Street Housing Office and the review of services delivered from the area office in Gourock be not accepted and that Housing Reserves be utilised to fund this saving.  On a vote, 7 Members voted for the amendment and 10 for the motion which was declared carried.

(Councillor McKenzie entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided: 

(1)   that the information supplied in the report and its associated appendices be noted and that a rent increase of 4.9%, in accordance with the recommendations by Council Officers, be applied with effect from 6 April 2006;

(2)   that Members note the Housing Capital Programme to be delivered for 2006/07;

(3)   that the Council note the necessary consultation that has taken place with tenants and the issues raised by that consultation;

(4)   that the Council agree to the Head of Housing Services applying increases for non-Council house rents and other charges in order to generate sufficient income to meet the 3% allowance included in the Base Budget and that a report be presented to the next available meeting of the Environment & Regeneration Committee confirming the increases agreed;  and

(5)   that the Council note that a further report by the Depute Chief Executive on the implications for the HRA Budget were there to be a no vote for stock transfer will be presented to the meeting of the Environment & Regeneration Committee to be held in May 2006.

133

General Fund Revenue Budget and Non-HRA Capital Budget 2006/08

133

There was submitted a report dated 31 January 2006 by the Chief Financial Officer on (1) the position of the Revenue and Capital Budgets resulting from the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2006/08 announced by the Scottish Executive on 23 November 2005, (2) making recommendations with regard to the level of the General Fund Reserve and (3) advising of matters which should be taken into account when determining the budgets and recommending Council Tax levels. 

After discussion, Councillor Blair seconded by Councillor Snoddy moved:

(1)   that the Council Tax increase for 2006/07 be set at 2.5% and that no indicative Council Tax level be set for 2007/08;

(2)   that the savings and application of reserves identified in the administration proposals forming appendix 1 to this minute be approved;

(3)   that the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2006/08 be as set out in appendix 7 to the report by the Chief Financial Officer together with (a) the addition of £1m to the Roads Capital Programme 2006/07 for lighting columns funded by prudential borrowing, (b) an increase in the Roads Capital Programme 2006/07 of a further £670,000 as a result of capitalisation and (c) earmark £300,000 per year from the business continuity budget for Riverside Inverclyde;

(4)   that the efficiency reviews set out in appendix 1 to this minute be carried out and completed within the current year;

(5)   that key performance indicators be monitored and reported by the Chief Executive to the Policy and Strategy Committee at each cycle;

(6)   that the Council approve the £3.4 million proposed capitalisation of CFCR projects set out in appendix 6 to the report;

(7)   that the Council confirm the 2006/07 Common Good Fund Budget and specifically that the European Pipe Band Championships will be funded from Common Good balances to a maximum of £66,000;  and

(8)   that the Council note that a further report on the funding proposal for Riverside Inverclyde will be presented to the Policy & Strategy Committee by the Depute Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer in early course.

As an amendment to (2), Councillor McCabe seconded by Councillor Robertson moved that the savings and application of reserves as set out in the Labour Group budget proposals 2006/07 forming appendix 2 to this minute be approved.

On a vote 7 Members voted for the amendment and 11 for the motion which was declared carried.

(Councillor Gallacher entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)   that the Council Tax increase for 2006/07 be set at 2.5% and that no indicative Council Tax level be set for 2007/08;w

(2)   that the savings and application of reserves identified in the administration proposals forming appendix 1 to this minute be approved;

(3)   that the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2006/08 be as set out in appendix 7 to the report by the Chief Financial Officer together with (a) the addition of £1m to the Roads Capital Programme 2006/07 for lighting columns funded by prudential borrowing, (b) an increase in the Roads Capital Programme 2006/07 of a further £670,000 as a result of capitalisation and (c) earmark £300,000 per year from the business continuity budget for Riverside Inverclyde;

(4)   that the efficiency reviews set out in appendix 1 to this minute be carried out and completed within the current year;  

(5)   that key performance indicators be monitored and reported by the Chief Executive to the Policy and Strategy Committee at each cycle;

(6)   that the Council approve the £3.4 million proposed capitalisation of CFCR projects set out in appendix 6 to the report;

(7)   that the Council confirm the 2006/07 Common Good Fund Budget and specifically that the European Pipe Band Championships will be funded from Common Good balances to a maximum of £66,000;  and

(8)   that the Council note that a further report on the funding proposal for Riverside Inverclyde will be presented to the Policy & Strategy Committee by the Depute Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer in early course.

134

Resolution:  Council Tax 2006/07

134

Arising from the foregoing paragraph, Councillor Blair seconded by Councillor Snoddy moved that the Council resolve to fix the “Band D” Council Tax for 2006/07 at  £1,206.

Decided:  that the “Band D” Council Tax for 2006/07 be fixed at £1,206.