Best Value & Corporate Services Committee

Thursday 22 March 2007 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Councillor Snoddy presided.

In attendance:  Head of Finance, Head of Performance Management and Procurement, Head of ICT and Systems Improvement, Head of Organisational Development and Human Resources, Head of Support and Development, Head of Property Resources and Facilities Management, Head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Mr G Douglas (for Head of Legal & Administration) and Libraries Manager.

Apologies:  Councillor Mitchell.

Prior to the commencement of business, Councillor Snoddy thanked the other Members of the Committee for the courtesy shown to him during his period as Convener, and also the various Council Officials for their assistance and support throughout that time.

With the exception of the decision marked ‘C’ which is open for confirmation or otherwise, the following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Committee.

296

Social Work Services Business Plan 2007/08 – Remit from Health and Social Care Committee

296

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Regeneration and Resources on a remit from the Health and Social Care Committee of 13 March 2007 seeking approval of the Social Work Services Business Plan 2007/08.

Decided: that the Social Work Services Business Plan 2007/08 be approved.

297

Revenue Budget 2006/07 – Period 10

297

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 2006/07 as at Period 10 (31 January 2007). The report advised that the current projected underspend was £1,488,000 of which £1,207,000 would be returned to reserves and earmarked to be spent in 2007/08, resulting in an underspend of £281,000, an increase of £29,000 since the last meeting of the Committee.

Noted

298

Revenues Section Performance – Quarter Ending 31 December 2006

298

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Improvement and Performance (1) on the performance of the Revenues Section for the quarter ending 31 December 2006 and (2) highlighting a number of other relevant issues.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee note the continued year on year improvements in Council Tax collection and Direct Debit uptake; and

(2) that the Committee note the operational change proposals in respect of the Debt Recovery Partnership as detailed in the report.

299

Benefits Service Performance – Quarter Ending 31 December 2006

299

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Improvement and Performance (1) on the processing performance of the Benefits Service for the quarter ending 31 December 2006 and (2) highlighting a number of other developments within the Benefits Service.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee note the Benefits Service’s continuing improved performance throughout the third quarter  of 2006/07; and

(2) that the Committee note the steps being taken to improve the quality of the Benefits Service on a continuous basis.

300

Improvement and Performance Directorate – Performance Report

300

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 key objectives and (2) explaining how this had contributed to the achievement of key corporate priorities.

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; and

(2) that Members be requested to identify any further performance information from the list detailed in the report for submission to the next meeting of the Committee on 14 June 2007.

301

Regeneration and Resources Directorate – Performance Report

301

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

302

Review of Statutory Performance Indicators

302

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Improvement and Performance on the findings of a review of 27 performance measures, identifying whether performance for each indicator was expected to improve over either the short or long term and providing a reasoned justification in circumstances where no improvement was anticipated.

Decided:

(1) that the report be noted;

(2) that it be remitted to each Corporate Director to ensure that Services reflect improvement actions within their service plans and report on a regular basis through the directorate performance reports; and

(3) that a further report be submitted to the meeting of the Committee in October 2007.

303

ICT Capital Programme Update

303

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

Noted

304

ICT Service – Progress Report

304

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.

305

Managing Attendance Strategy – Update Report

305

There was submitted a report by the Head of Organisational Development and Human Resources on the progress being made in the Managing Attendance Strategy.

Decided:

(1) that the outcome of the Managing Attendance Strategy to date be noted;

(2) that a further report on the outcome of the strategy for Roads, Catering and Community Support be submitted to the Committee on completion of the work within these Services;

(3) that the Absence Management Team carry out further work within Social Work Services and continue to support Cleaning Services for the reasons detailed in the report; and

(4) that work continue to be carried out in respect of the Council’s Occupational Health requirements and that it be remitted to the Head of Organisational Development and Human Resources to report to a future meeting on the progress of this review.

306

Developing a Strategic Planning and Performance Management Framework – Progress Report

306

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Improvement and Performance outlining progress to date in developing and implementing the Council’s approved Strategic Planning and Performance Management Framework.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee endorse the progress made to date in developing and implementing the Strategic Planning and Performance Management Framework; and

(2) that  a further progress report be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

307

Corporate Plan 2007-2011

307

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Improvement and Performance outlining a methodology and also key stages and a timetable for the development of a new Corporate Plan for Inverclyde Council covering the period 2007 – 2011.

Decided:

(1) that the proposed methodology and timescales for developing the Corporate Plan 2007 – 2011 as detailed in the report be approved; and

(2) that it be agreed that further update reports be submitted to future meetings of the Committee.

308

Legal and Administration – Establishment of Post of Member Services Manager

308

There was submitted a report by the Head of Organisational Development and Human Resources recommending the establishment of a permanent post of Member Services Manager within Legal and Administration.

Decided: that approval be given to the establishment of a post of Member Services Manager at salary grade PO6 (£31,044 - £33,447).

309

Corporate Communications and Public Affairs – Establishment of Two Communications Officer Posts

309

There was submitted a report by the Head of Organisational Development and Human Resources recommending the establishment of two permanent Communications Officer posts within Corporate Communications and Public Affairs.

Following discussion, Councillor McCabe moved that the posts be not filled at this time. As an amendment, Councillor Snoddy moved that agreement be given to the establishment of the two posts at salary grade PO1/2 (£27,039 - £30,279). On a vote, 4 Members voted for the amendment and 4 for the motion. There being equality in voting, the Convener exercised his casting vote in favour of the amendment which was declared carried. Those Members who had voted in favour of the motion then requested in terms of the relevant Standing Order that the matter be referred to The Inverclyde Council for decision in terms of the motion.

C

Decided: that approval be given to the establishment of two posts of Communications Officer at salary grade PO1/2 (£27,039 - £30,279).

C

310

Council Response to the Accounts Commission’s Review of the Best Value/Community Planning Audit

310

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Improvement and Performance (1) advising the Committee of the Accounts Commission’s Review of the Audit of Best Value and Community Planning and (2) setting out a proposed response on behalf of the Council.

Decided:

(1) that the report be noted; and

(2) that approval be given to the Council’s response to the Review of the Audit of Best Value and Community Planning as set out in Appendix B to the report.

311

Education and Social Care – Establishment of Quality Improvement Manager’s Post

311

There was submitted a report by the Head of Organisational Development and Human Resources recommending the establishment of a post of Quality Improvement Manager within the Education and Social Care Directorate.

Decided: that approval be given to the establishment of the post of Quality Improvement Manager graded at Point 1 (£53,337) on the Quality Improvement Officers and Education Support Officers scale.

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.

312

Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive

312

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Regeneration and Resources advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive since the last ordinary meeting of the Committee (1) to approve the purchase by the Council of the Anite District Courts Administration System (DCAS), (2) to approve the award of the contract for the provision of professional services to implement Microsoft Exchange throughout the Council’s corporate estate to Computacenter UK Ltd and (3) to approve the appointment of consultants, not on the Council’s Approved List, for (a) architectural services, (b) conservation architectural services, (c) landscape architectural services and (d) landscape planning architectural services.

Noted