item was urgent to enable the various elements in the timetable and in particular the public consultation exercise to be implemented without delay and he moved that the item be added to the Agenda. This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

165.00

REVENUE BUDGET 1996/97

165

SUBMITTED: Report dated 22 January 1997 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 1996/97 for the Chief Executive's Department as at 6 December 1996.

DECIDED:

(a) That the current position of the Revenue Budget 1996/97 be noted;

(b) That the transfer of £20,000 from the Cultural Activities Budget to the Civic Hospitality Budget be approved; and

166

REVENUE BUDGET 1996/97: SUMMARY

166

SUBMITTED: Report dated 27 January 1997 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 1996/97 showing the projected expenditure for the full financial year. The report indicated that as at 6 December 1996 after taking account of savings identified by Service Committees, there was a real variance underspend of £169,890.

Based on the most recent figures available, there would be a projected underspend as at 31 March 1997 of £269,800 on expenditure and an over-recovery of income of £128,600 arising from additional Urban Programme funds as a result of the Council achieving PPA status. In view of this, the indication was that provided close control is maintained over all budgets, no overspend would occur in 1996/97.

It was noted that the final deficit figure to be inherited from the former Strathclyde Regional Council was not yet known although it was anticipated that this would be significantly in excess of the original estimate. It was essential therefore that to minimise the impact of this, all savings agreed by the Committee at its meeting on 13 November 1996 are implemented.

DECIDED:

(a) That the overall position of the 1996/97 Revenue Budget be noted; and

(b) That the Budget continue to be closely controlled and savings effected wherever possible by all Departments both in relation to the current year and with a view to the sustaining of these savings into 1997/98.

167

GRANTS TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS

167

SUBMITTED: Report dated 15 January 1997 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development) advising of the outcome of the evaluation of various categories of local voluntary organisations funded by the Council and setting out the recommendations of the Sounding Board which, if approved, would require provision of an additional sum of £20,473 from the current Revenue Budget.

DECIDED: That the grants to various voluntary organisations as detailed in Appendices 1, 2 and 3 of the report amounting in total to £20,473 be approved and that provision for this additional sum be made in the current Revenue Budget.

168

NON-HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1996/97

168

SUBMITTED: Report dated 24 January 1997 by the Director of Finance on the current position of the 1996/97 Non-HRA Capital Programme.

It was reported that notification had been received from the Scottish Office of an additional allocation of £500,000 in 1996/97. It was noted however that the Scottish Office had also indicated that the Council's share of the former Strathclyde Regional Council's 1995/96 Capital overspend amounted to £415,000 which would require to be deducted from the 1996/97 Allocation. After taking account of this and the latest information provided by client departments and technical officers, the current year's Capital Programme would exceed the estimated Allocation by £3,133,000 although following deduction of a sum of £1,583,000 in respect of projects not yet authorised to proceed in the current year, the actual excess would amount to £1,550,000, which is expected to be contained through slippage.

The report requested the Committee to consider two additional requests for funding by the current Capital Programme.

DECIDED:

(a) That provision be made in the current Capital Programme of a sum of £11,500 to meet the Council's share of costs associated with the relocation of the Renfrewshire Joint Valuation

Board Offices;

(b) That the request by the Contract Services Committee for additional provision of £52,610 to finance the removal expenses and costs of accommodation works at the Pottery Street/East Hamilton Street Depots be approved with costs and details to be approved by the Corporate Resources Committee; and

169

NON-HRA DRAFT CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98

169

SUBMITTED: Joint report by the Director of Finance and Depute Chief Executive on proposals for the Non-HRA Draft Capital Programme 1997/98 as set out in the Non-Housing Capital Plan booklet (copies of which had been circulated separately) and requesting the Committee to determine projects in a priority programme to form the basis of the 1997/98 Non-HRA Capital Programme with estimated total planned expenditure of £6,227,000.

The report also advised that to allow the Council to adhere to the time limit for the submission of bids in terms of the Challenge Funding formula to be introduced by the Scottish Office from 1997/98, bids had been submitted in respect of:-

(a) Accommodation and Information Technology addressing the problems caused by the lack of appropriate accommodation inherited from predecessor authorities and aspirations for development of one-stop shops;and

(b) Enhancing Education provision with particular reference to the corporate property review and the identified need to rationalise property overall and the need to spend to save future revenue costs.

After discussion, Councillor Mulholland moved that a list of projects with combined expenditure of £7,597,000 as detailed in a paper circulated to the Committee, form the basis of the Council's Capital Programme for 1997/98 and also, that it be remitted to the Directors of Leisure and Recreation and Property and Technical Services to report to the April meeting of the Community Services Committee on options for the future development of Boglestone Community Centre and this was agreed.

DECIDED:

(a) That action taken by Officers in submitting bids to the Scottish Office for Challenge Funding be homologated;

(b) That it be remitted to the Directors of Leisure and Recreation and Property and Technical Services to report to the April meeting of the Community Services Committee on options for future development of Boglestone Community Centre; and

(c) That the following projects with an estimated combined total of £7,597,000 form the basis of the Council's Capital Programme for 1997/98:-

Estimated Estimated Estimated

Estimated Expenditure Expenditure Expenditure

Project Total Cost 1997/98 1998/99 1999/2000

£000 £000 £000 £000

Port Glasgow Industrial Estate 100 100 Nil Nil

Upgrading Access for Disabled

Persons 100 100 Nil Nil

Port Glasgow High School

Structural Rationalisation 2,168 1,000 1,003 165

Inverkip Primary School Extension 820 700 120 Nil

St Ninian's Primary School

Extension 171 40 121 10

St Joseph's Primary School 400 200 200 Nil

Education Enhancement Programme 3,037 1,000 1,000 1,037

(1) McPherson Centre Phase 3 541 527 14 Nil

Lynedoch Street ATC Kitchen/

Laundry Equipment 25 25 Nil Nil

(2) Transportation & Roads - General

Provision 750 750 Nil Nil

Mandatory Grants 50 50 Nil Nil

Aids and Adaptations 100 100 Nil Nil

(3) Private Sector Housing - General

Provision 750 750 Nil Nil

(4) Economic Development incl

Business Loan Scheme 75 75 Nil Nil

Development of a Visitor Attraction 500 200 300 Nil

Payment to Greater Glasgow

Tourist Board 100 100 Nil Nil

Economic Development incl

Property Improvement Grants 200 200 Nil Nil

Replacement of Cremators 300 300 Nil Nil

Pottery Street Depot 30 30 Nil Nil

(5) Accommodation Works 250 250 Nil Nil

(5) Information Technology 300 300 Nil Nil

(5) Major Repairs 800 800 Nil Nil

TOTALS 11,567 7,597 2,758 1,212

(1) McPherson Centre - Full report to be submitted on the overall service and on capital spend and running costs before a final decision is made.

(2) Priorities to be determined by Transportation and Roads Committee

(3) Priorities to be determined by Housing Committee

(4) Priorities to be determined by Economic Development and Urban Regeneration Committee

(5) Priorities to be determined by Corporate Resources Committee

170

PRIORITY PARTNERSHIP AREA: URBAN PROGRAMME

170

SUBMITTED: Report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development) setting out recommendations on proposed awards to various organisations who had submitted bids for Urban Programme funds under the Priority Partnership Area scheme amounting in total to £155,883.

DECIDED: That the awards to various organisations as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report amounting to the total sum of £155,883 be approved.

171

COMMUNITY SERVICES REVIEW

171

SUBMITTED: Report dated 20 January 1997 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development) on progress made by the Officer/Member Working Group established by the Committee at its meeting on 25 March 1996 (para 246) to carry out a review of the community services provided by the Departments of Social Work, Education Services and Leisure and Recreation. The report recommended that the review be implemented through the formation of four "Area Teams" to operate on similar geographic boundaries as the 4 Partnership Forums and utilising the three groups of staff from the service departments initially involved in the review.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted;

(b) That the continued involvement of the three sets of staff from service departments be approved on the basis that they remain based in their existing departments;

(d) That "Area Teams" submit progress reports to the Committee within a period of 3 months;

(e) That it be remitted to the "Area Teams" to carry out a review of community property and submit to the Committee a progress report on the review within 3 months and within 6 months, proposals for rationalisation of property; and

(f) That it be agreed in principle to proceed with the rationalisation plans for community property in the Gibshill area outlined in the present report with a view to a detailed report being submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

172

CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV) CHALLENGE COMPETITION 1997/98

172

SUBMITTED: Report dated 29 January 1997 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development) advising that the Working Group established by the Committee at its meeting on 10 December 1996 (para 1218) had agreed that the bid for funds being made available by the Scottish Office for CCTV systems should cover the geographical area of Cappielow Industrial Estate, Gibshill and the Weir Street and East Crawford Street areas and accordingly, a bid had been submitted by the closing date of 31 January 1997 the estimated cost of which amounted to £400,000. It was noted that if approved, 50% of the cost would be provided from the Challenge Fund with the balance provided by the Council, Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership, Scottish Homes, Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Craigend Resource Centre and from other sources who had been approached with a view to making a contribution.

DECIDED: That the current position be noted and that a further report be submitted to the Committee on progress of the bid together with any detailed proposals for implementation of the scheme if approved.

173

WATERFRONT LEISURE COMPLEX: CORPORATE IDENTITY AND LAUNCH

173

SUBMITTED: Report dated 20 January 1997 by the Director of Leisure and Recreation advising that following a presentation by various firms to the Waterfront Working Group at a meeting on 28 November 1996 for the purpose of considering the corporate identity and launch of the Waterfront Leisure Complex, the Group had indicated a preference to appoint Keywest Ltd as the marketing/design company who had submitted a cost of £77,000, the various elements of which were detailed in the Appendix to the report and for which the Policy and Strategy Committee was asked to provide the necessary funding.

DECIDED:

(a) That a sum of £77,000 be provided from within the current Capital Programme but that the Director of Finance use discretion to meet any appropriate expenditure from Revenue; and

(b) That Keywest Ltd be appointed to prepare a launch strategy for the Waterfront Leisure Complex.

174

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: BRITISH RED CROSS HOLIDAY FOR DISABLED SCHEME

174

SUBMITTED: Report dated 14 January 1997 by the Director of Central Services on a request for financial assistance received from the Glasgow and Renfrewshire Branch of the British Red Cross towards their Holiday for Disabled Scheme which provides disabled persons with a seven day holiday in Blackpool organised by the National British Red Cross organisation. It was noted that on this occasion, two local people had already applied to attend accompanied by two helpers at a cost of £130 per person.

DECIDED: That a contribution of £520 be made from the Common Good Fund to the Glasgow and Renfrewshire Branch of the British Red Cross towards their Holiday for the Disabled scheme.

175

RESOLUTION: EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

175

On the motion of the Convener it was resolved unanimously that, in terms of Section 50(A) (4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the undernoted items of business on the grounds that consideration of the items involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 9, 10 and 12 of Part 1 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

176

MEMBERS WORKING GROUP ON COMPULSORY COMPETITIVE TENDERING

176

SUBMITTED: Minute of meeting of the Members Working Group on Compulsory Competitive Tendering held on Thursday 9 January 1997.

NOTED

177

DECENTRALISATION

177

SUBMITTED: Report dated 30 January 1997 by the Chief Executive on the current position regarding the Council's scheme for decentralisation indicating the various elements in the timetable concerning the consultative exercise.

DECIDED: That, subject to the suspension of Standing Orders, the amended timetable for the Council's scheme of decentralisation as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report be approved.