The Inverclyde Council

Thursday 11 October 2007 at 4.00 pm

Present:  Provost McCormick, Councillors Ahlfeld, Blair, Brooks, Clocherty, Dorrian, Ferguson, Fyfe, Loughran, MacLeod, McCabe, McCallum, McIlwee, McKenzie, Moran, Rebecchi and Wilson.

Chair:  Provost McCormick presided.

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Corporate Director Education & Social Care, Corporate Director Environment & Community Protection, Corporate Director Improvement & Performance, Corporate Director Regeneration & Resources, Chief Financial Officer, Head of Legal & Administration, Head of Performance Management & Procurement, Head of Corporate Communications & Public Affairs and Managing Solicitor (Litigation/Advice).

Apologies:  Councillors Grieve, Osborne and White.

Mr Jimmy Boyd

Prior to the commencement of business, Provost McCormick paid tribute to former Councillor and Provost Jimmy Boyd and extended condolences to his family and friends on their recent bereavement.  Councillors Blair, Brooks, MacLeod, Ahlfeld and Rebecchi also expressed sympathy to Mr Boyd’s family and friends.  The Council then observed one minute’s silence in memory of Mr Boyd.

Minutes of Meetings of

The Inverclyde Council, Committees, Sub-Committees and Boards

629

The Inverclyde Council - 28 June 2007

629

Approved on the motion of Provost McCormick.

630

Planning Board - 1 August 2007

630

Approved on the motion of Councillor Wilson.

631

Human Resources Appeals Board - 2 August 2007

631

Approved on the motion of Councillor McCallum.

632

Human Resources Appeals Board - 3 August 2007

632

Approved on the motion of Councillor McCallum.

633

General Purposes Board - 8 August 2007

633

Approved on the motion of Councillor Ahlfeld.

634

The Inverclyde Council (Special) - 16 August 2007

634

Approved on the motion of Provost McCormick.

635

Health & Social Care Committee - 28 August 2007

635

Approved on the motion of Councillor McIlwee.

636

Safe, Sustainable Communities Committee - 30 August 2007

636

Approved on the motion of Councillor Moran.

637

The Inverclyde Council (Special) - 30 August 2007

637

Approved on the motion of Provost McCormick.

638

Education and Lifelong Learning Committee - 4 September 2007

638

Approval of the minute as a correct record was moved by Councillor McCabe seconded by Councillor Loughran.  Councillor McCabe seconded by Councillor Loughran moved with reference to Paragraph 530 (Update on the School Estate Management Plan) that the decision of the Committee as minuted be approved.  As an amendment to 4(c) (Highlanders Academy, Overton and Lady Alice Primary Schools) Councillor Blair seconded by Councillor Fyfe moved that options (iv) and (v) be deleted from the consultation process.  On a vote, three Members voted for the amendment and ten for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided that the minute be approved.

639

Planning Board - 5 September 2007

639

Approved on the motion of Councillor Fyfe.

640

Regeneration Committee - 6 September 2007

640

Approved on the motion of Councillor Clocherty.

641

Audit Committee - 11 September 2007

641

Approved on the motion of Councillor Blair.

642

Policy & Resources Committee - 25 September 2007

642

Approved on the motion of Councillor McCabe.

643

Human Resources Appeals Board - 27 September 2007

643

Approved on the motion of Councillor Brooks.

644

Policy & Resources Committee (Special) - 27 September 2007

644

Approved on the motion of Councillor McCabe.

645

Audit Committee (Special) - 27 September 2007

645

Approved on the motion of Councillor Blair.

646

Planning Board - 3 October 2007

646

Approved on the motion of Councillor Wilson.

647

General Purposes Board - 10 October 2007

647

Approved on the motion of Councillor Ahlfeld.

648

Education and Lifelong Learning Committee (Special) - 11 October 2007

648

Approved on the motion of Councillor McCabe.

649

Inverclyde Council Corporate Plan 2007-11

649

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Improvement & Performance seeking approval of the Corporate Plan 2007-11, a copy of which was appended to the report.

Decided:

(1) that, subject to the inclusion of a value reflecting the role of the Council as a good employer under the heading Our Values in the Our Vision and Values Section, approval be given to the Corporate Plan 2007-11;

(2) that agreement be given to the proposals for the launch of the Corporate Plan and communication with key internal and external stakeholders as set out in paragraph 5 of the report; and

(3) that the Council’s thanks be extended to all staff involved in the development of the Corporate Plan.

650

Principles and Priorities - The Government’s Programme for Scotland

650

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Improvement & Performance (1) informing the Council of “Principles and Priorities - The Government’s Programme for Scotland” published by the Scottish Government and (2) highlighting the proposals relevant to local government and Inverclyde Council.

Decided:

(1) that the contents of the Government’s Programme for Scotland be noted;

(2) that the appropriate Corporate Directors prepare further reports on the impact of the specific proposals within the Programme for Scotland as and when greater detail becomes available; and

(3) that the report be referred to the next meeting of the Inverclyde Alliance Board.

651

Choosing Scotland’s Future - A National Conversation

651

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Improvement & Performance on the consultation document “Choosing Scotland’s Future - A National Conversation” issued by the Scottish Government.

Decided:

(1) that the contents of the consultation document “Choosing Scotland’s Future” be noted; and

(2) that the respective political groups of the Council comment on the consultation document direct to the Scottish Government as appropriate.

652

Statutory Review of Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations

652

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Regeneration & Resources (1) on the requirement to undertake a statutory review of polling districts, polling places and polling stations and (2) advising of the action taken by the Head of Legal & Administration to progress matters.

Decided: that the Council note: -

(1) the requirement to undertake a statutory review of polling districts, polling places and polling stations;

(2) the action taken by the Head of Legal & Administration to progress matters; and

(3) that a further report on the matter will be submitted to the December meeting of the 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 for the following item on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 6 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act and the nature of the exempt information in respect of the item thereafter being that defined in the respective paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act, as detailed in the minute of the relevant Committee, Sub-Committee or Board.

653

Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive - Prison Visiting Committee

653

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Regeneration & Resources advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to appoint a member to the Greenock Prison Visiting Committee.

Noted

Appendices to Minutes

654

The Inverclyde Council - 28 June 2007

654

Approved on the motion of Provost McCormick.

655

Human Resources Appeals Board - 2 August 2007

655

Approved on the motion of Councillor McCallum.

656

Human Resources Appeals Board - 3 August 2007

656

Approved on the motion of Councillor McCallum.

657

Regeneration Committee - 6 September 2007

657

Approved on the motion of Councillor Clocherty.

658

Policy & Resources Committee - 25 September 2007

658

Approved on the motion of Councillor McCabe.

659

Human Resources Appeals Board - 27 September 2007

659

Approved on the motion of Councillor Brooks.