Best Value & Corporate Services Committee

Thursday 25 January 2007 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Blair, Hill, McCabe, McCormick (M), McCormick (P), Mitchell, Moran, Nimmo, Snoddy and Stewart.

Chair:  Councillor Snoddy presided.

In attendance:  Corporate Director Improvement and Performance, Corporate Director Regeneration and Resources, Head of Legal and Administration, Head of Finance, Head of ICT and Systems Improvement, Head of Performance Management and Procurement, Head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Ms B McQuarrie (for Head of Operational Development and Human Resources) and Managing Solicitor (Litigation/Advice).

Apologies:  Councillor Hunter.

The following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Committee.

113

Street Sweeping and Ground Maintenance Business Plan – Remit from Community Committee

113

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Regeneration and Resources on a remit from the Community Committee of 11 January 2007 seeking approval of the Street Sweeping and Ground Maintenance Business Plan 2006-2009.

Decided: that the Street Sweeping and Ground Maintenance Business Plan 2006-2009 be approved.

114

Improvement and Performance Directorate – Performance Report

114

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Improvement and Performance (1) on the progress made by the Improvement and Performance Directorate in achieving its key objectives and (2) explaining how this has contributed to the achievement of key corporate priorities contained within the Corporate Plan.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee endorse the performance information contained in the report and note that further reports on performance will be submitted to future meetings of the Committee;

(2) that Members of the Committee be requested to identify any further performance information from the list detailed in the report for submission to the next meeting on 22 March 2007; and

(3) that the Committee commend staff within the Benefits Service for the significant improvements in performance which have been achieved.

115

Revenue Budget 2006/07 – Period 8

115

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 2006/07 as at period 8 (30 November 2006). The report advised that the current projected underspend was £1,459,000 of which £1,207,000 would be returned to reserves and earmarked to be spent in 2007/08, resulting in an underspend of £252,000, an increase of £196,000 since the last meeting of the Committee.

Noted

116

Treasury Management Monitoring Report – October/November 2006

116

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance on the Council’s treasury management position and activities during October/November 2006 as required under the terms of Treasury Management Practice 6 (“TMP6”) on “Reporting Requirements and Management Information Arrangements”.

Noted

117

ICT Service – Progress Report

117

There was submitted a report by the Head of ICT and Systems Improvement providing an update on progress in taking forward the Service Delivery Model for the new ICT Service.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee note the progress made against the Transition and Transformation Programme and the Council’s Modernising Government activities; and

(2) that it be noted that progress reports will be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

118

ICT Capital Programme – Update

118

There was submitted a report by the Head of ICT and Systems Improvement on the status of the 2005/08 ICT Capital Programme.

Noted

119

Regeneration and Resources Directorate – Performance Report

119

There was submitted a report by the Head of Legal and Administration on the Performance Management Framework update for the Regeneration and Resources  Directorate detailing performance for the year to date for both Legal and Administration and Organisational Development and Human Resources.

Noted

120

Report on Equal Opportunities Monitoring Exercise 2005-06

120

There was submitted a report by the Head of Organisational Development and Human Resources appending the Equal Opportunities Employment Monitoring Report 2005/06 which will be published to allow public access to the information as required by the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000 and the Disability Discrimination (Public Authorities) (Statutory Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2005.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee note that the Equal Opportunities Employment Monitoring Report will be published on the Council’s website, on the Council’s e-link and issued to trade unions and to public libraries;

(2) that it be noted that the results contained within the Equal Opportunities Employment Monitoring Report will be summarised and published in the Council’s next Public Performance Report as required by the Council’s Race Equality Scheme; and

(3) that the Committee note the recommendations contained within Section 6 of the Monitoring Report.

121

Statutory Performance Indicators 2005/06

121

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Improvement and Performance (1) comparing the performance of Inverclyde Council to that of other local authorities relative to the statutory Performance Indicators (SPIs) 2005/06, (2) outlining trends and performance since 2003/04 and (3) identifying areas which require further consideration with a view to improving the level of performance.

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

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                           that the report be noted;

(2) that agreement be given to the proposal to conduct an internal review into performance measures identified in Appendix 4; and

(3)                                                                                                           that the findings of the analysis be reported to the meeting of the Committee on 22 March 2007.

122

A Strategic Planning and Performance Management Framework for Inverclyde Council

122

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Improvement and Performance (1) on a proposed Strategic Planning and Performance Management Framework for Inverclyde Council and (2) providing a detailed Action Plan for the development and implementation of the Framework.

Decided:

(1) that the Strategic Planning and Performance Management Framework be approved and adopted by the Council; and

(2) that the Action Plan as set out in Appendix 2 to the report be approved and that an update report be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

123

Insurance Fund 2006 – Actuarial Report

123

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance on the outcome of the Triennial Actuarial Report on the Insurance Funds as at 30 September 2006.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee note the report and the significant financial savings which the Council will achieve over the next 3 years;

(2) that staff within Finance and other relevant Services be commended for achieving the savings detailed; and

(3) that the Committee note the Action Plan arising from the Actuarial Review and that Officers will progress delivery of the Plan within the timescales indicated.

124

Group Life Assurance Scheme

124

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance requesting approval of a number of changes to the Inverclyde Council Group Life Assurance Scheme.

Councillor Snoddy declared an interest in this item as a contributor to the Council’s Group Life Assurance Scheme, vacated the Chair and left the meeting. The Chair was assumed by Councillor Stewart.

Decided:

(1) that retired employees who wish to remain within the Inverclyde Council Group Life Assurance Scheme be required to contribute the true cost of membership from April 2007;

(2) that temporary employees be included within the Scheme from April 2007 under the same terms and conditions as permanent employees;

(3) that from April 2007, only personnel employed directly by the Council or who elect to stay in the Scheme after taking early retiral be included in the Scheme;

(4) that those employees remaining in employment beyond the age of 65 be covered by the Scheme subject to agreement with the Life Assurance provider; and

(5) that approval be given to utilise the Council’s insurance brokers to tender for the renewal of the Group Life Policy to come into force in April 2007 and that delegated powers be granted to Officers to accept the most financially advantageous tender received.

Councillor Snoddy returned to the meeting at this juncture and resumed the Chair.

125

Establishment of Post of Strategic Partnership Manager: Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive

125

There was submitted a report by the Head of Organisational Development and Human Resources advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to grant approval to establish a post of Strategic Partnership Manager within Performance Management and Procurement.

Noted

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 paragraphs 6 and 8 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

126

Housing Capacity Study – Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive

126

There was submitted a report by the Interim Head of Implementation and Development Projects Officer advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to invite a number of specialist consultants not on the Council’s Approved Contractors list to tender for the provision of a Housing Capacity Study forming part of the Housing Stock Transfer process.

Decided:

(1) that the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive be noted; and

(2) that the consultants involved be advised at the time of tender issue that the necessary financial and health and safety detail will require to be submitted with their tenders (insofar as applicable to the services to be provided) and that acceptability of their tender will be dependent on the outcome of the assessment by Finance and Personnel Services for compliance with the parameters of the List of Approved Contractors.