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THE INVERCLYDE COUNCIL

POLICY AND STRATEGY COMMITTEE

THURSDAY 7 AUGUST 1997-3 pm

Present:- Councillors Calvert, Clocherty, Morrison (M), McGhee, Robertson (Y), Muiholland, Sir Simpson Stevenson and Finnie, Councillor Muiholland, Convener, in the Chair.

In attendance:- The Chief Executive, the Depute Chief Executive, the Assistant Chief Executive (Economic Development and Urban Regeneration), the Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development), Mr G McGillivray and Mr A Barnes (for the Assistant Chief Executive Contract Services), the Director of Central Services, the Director of Legal Services, the Director of Finance, the Director of Education Services, the Director of Property and Technical Services, the Director of Leisure and Recreation, the Director of Social Work, the Director of Housing and Customer Services and the Chief Consumer Protection and Trading Standards Officer.

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors O’Rourke, Jackson and Mitchell.

861 ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEM 861

The Convener referred to a report by the Director of Central Services arising from a remit from the Economic Development Committee following its consideration of the development of environmental management systems within the Council. The Convener indicated that consideration of the item as urgent to enable progression of the matter without delay and he moved that the item be added to the Agenda. This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

862 PRESENTATION BY MR D S KENNEDY. ASSISTANT FIRE MASTER. 862
STRATHCLYDE FIRE BRIGADE

Mr Kennedy presented for consideration by the Committee, statistics prepared by Strathclyde Fire Brigade relating to various categories of fire incidents which had taken place within the District during 1996/97; during that year no fatalities had occurred although in the current year one death had resulted from a fire incident. He commented that an unacceptably high number of fire incidents were clearly caused by excessive alcohol consumption and smoking. He also expressed concern that in a survey of dwellings where smoke alarms had been installed only 16% had been found to be working.

Strathclyde Fire Brigade were currently embarking on a 5 year campaign which would emphasise the need for proper and efficient fitting and maintenance of domestic smoke alarms and would promote fire prevention as an organised campaign in primary schools. Information was also given on a proposed pilot scheme to install water sprinklers in domestic accommodation; it was hoped that this would become a standard element of future new build housing.

Mr Kennedy answered a number of questions from Members, was assured of the co-operation and assistance of the Council to the campaign being organised by Strathclyde Fire Brigade and was thanked by the Chairman for his presentation.

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863 NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY WEEK 863

SUBMITTED: Report dated 23 July 1997 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Social and

Community Development) on a request for financial assistance from Strathclyde Fire Brigade

towards the operation of their National Fire Safety Week to be held over the period

29 September -4 October 1997.

DECIDED: That a contribution of £1,000 be made from the Common Good Fund to

Strathclyde Fire Brigade in support of their National Fire Safety Week campaign.

864 FINANCE SUB-COMMITTEE 864

SUBMITTED: Report dated 24 July 1997 by the Director of Central Services advising that The Inverclyde Council at its meeting on 26 June 1997, had agreed as part of its Standing Orders and Scheme of Administration to the establishment of the Finance Sub-Committee to carry out a detailed overall review of the Council’s financial position both in relation to all Revenue Budgets and all capital expenditure and requesting the Committee to appoint Members to the Sub-Committee.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Policy and Strategy Committee give its agreement to part of its remit being discharged by the Finance Sub-Committee;

(b) That the 7 Members of the Finance Sub-Committee be on the basis of 5 Members from the Majority Group to be notified to the Director of Central Services and 2 from the Minority Groups (Councillors Finnie and Mitchell); and

(c) That where a Member is unable to attend a meeting of the Sub-Committee, that Member may nominate another Member of the Council to attend as his/her substitute with powers to act in his/her stead.

865 NON-HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 865

SUBMITTED: Report dated 25 July 1997 by the Director of Finance on the current position of the 1997/98 Non-HRA Capital Programme drawing particular attention to a request for additional funding from the Leisure and Cultural Services Committee.

Based on the latest information provided by Technical Officers and Client Departments, there was a current estimated shortfall in allocation of £2,101,000 which represented a decrease of £440,000 to that intimated to the Committee at its meeting on 10 June 1997 which was the result of increased Capital Receipts.

DECIDED:

(a) That the request by the Leisure and Cultural Services Committee for additional provision of a sum of £87,000 to meet further increases at the Waterfront Leisure Complex be approved; and

(b) That the report be otherwise noted.

866 PRIORITY PARTNERSHIP AREA: URBAN PROGRAMME BIDS 1997/98 866

SUBMITTED: Report dated 24 August 1997 by the Chief Executive requesting approval of various bids for Urban Programme funding for 1997/98 in terms of recommendations as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

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DECIDED: That approval be granted to award Urban Programme funding for 1997/98 in respect of the schemes detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

867 MEMBERS’ BASIC ALLOWANCES. RATES OF TRAVELLING AND 867

SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCES: INCREASE

SUBMITTED: Report dated 22 July 1997 by the Director of Finance together with circular from the Scottish Office advising that the Basic Allowance payable to Members had been increased by the Secretary of State for Scotland from £5,000 to £5,286 with effect from 1 August 1997 and also revised rates of Travelling and Subsistence Allowances with effect from 1 April 1997.

Councillor Sir Simpson Stevenson moved that, subject to the suspension of Standing Orders, the Council agree to apply the new rates for Members’ Basic Allowances from 1 August 1997 in line with the recommendation of the Secretary of State for Scotland and that the revised rates of Travelling and Subsistence Allowances be applicable from 1 April 1997. As an amendment, Councillor Finnie moved that the increases recommended by the Secretary of State be approved less 5% in the Basic Allowance as previously agreed by the Policy and Strategy Committee at its meeting on 6 March 1997. On a vote, 1 Member voted for the amendment and 8 for the motion which was declared carried.

DECIDED: That, subject to the suspension of Standing Orders by the Council, it be agreed to apply the new rates for Members’ Basic Allowances from 1 August 1997 in line with the recommendation of the Secretary of State for Scotland and, separately, that the revised rates of Travelling and Subsistence Allowances be applicable from 1 April 1997.

868 LOCAL GOVERNMENT (COMPENSATION FOR REDUNDANCY) (SCOTLAND) 868 REGULATIONS 1994

SUBMITTED: Report dated 7 July 1997 by the Director of Personnel Services requesting the Committee to approve the application of the terms of the Local Government (Compensation for Redundancy) (Scotland) Regulations 1994 to employees who may be released as a result of the impending closure of Balrossie Residential School.

DECIDED: That the Local Government (Compensation for Redundancy) (Scotland) Regulations 1994 be applied in respect of any employees released as a result of the closure of Balrossie Residential School.

869 “ALCO-POPS”: PROMOTION AND MARKETING 869

SUBMITTED: Report dated 16 July 1997 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development) advising that following representations by Dundee City Council, the Convention of Scottish of Local Authorities had invited views from Member Councils on a proposal that there should be a statutory scheme introduced to control the promotion/marketing/packaging and retailing of all alcoholic products with a complete ban on “Alco-Pops”.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities be informed of the support of this Council for the concerns raised by Dundee City Council; and
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(b) That where opportunity arises, the Council extend every support to any local initiatives in combating the problem of alcohol abuse.

870 PUBLIC INFORMATION TERMINALS: POSITION STATEMENT 870

SUBMITTED: Report dated 14 July 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services advising of the current position regarding the Council’s membership of the Social and Community Information Points Consortium (SCIP) established to provide information via public access information terminals situated in libraries, shops etc. in the areas of the 6 member Councils.

DECIDED:

(a) That the general success and usage of the 3 Public Information Terminals installed by the Council since April 1997 be noted; and

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Housing and Customer Services to submit a further report to the Committee detailing both the costs of continued participation in the consortium arrangement and the costs to the Council of providing an independent Inverclyde Information Service.

871 REVENUE BUDGET 1997/98: SUMMARY 871

SUBMITTED: Report dated 29 July 1997 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 1997/98 showing the projected expenditure for the full financial year. The report indicated that as at 25 June 1997, the application of savings amounting to £4,063,320 agreed by the Committee on 6 March 1997 (pam 308), implementation of final pay awards and various other adjustments had resulted in a negative contingency figure of £112,930. The report drew attention however to a number of factors which would arise during the course of the current financial year which would affect the contingency and emphasised the importance of achieving continued savings from non-filling of vacancies and of not exceeding currently agreed budgets with every effort being made to achieve further savings.

DECIDED:

(a) That the present controls on filling of vacancies continue to apply;

(b) That all Committees/Departments be instructed to operate within budgeted levels and endeavour to make savings wherever possible; and

(c) That the report be otherwise noted.

872 DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS WITHIN THE 872
COUNCIL

SUBMITTED: Report dated 31 July 1997 by the Director of Central Services advising of a remit from the Economic Development Committee together with a report by the Chief Environmental Services Officer outlining the benefits and implications of the development of environmental management systems within the Council and recommending that the Policy and Strategy Committee agree to include in the remit of the Officers’ Working Group established in March 1996 to deal with the Local Agenda 21 Strategy, the authority to produce environmental policy options and to prepare an action plan to develop environmental management systems throughout the Council.

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DECIDED:

(a) That the Council confirm its commitment to continuous its improvement of its environmental performance;

(b) That the existing Officers’ Working Group be extended to involve all Departments and that the Group produce environmental policy options for approval by the Council; and

(c) That the Officers’ Working Group prepare an action plan to develop environmental management systems throughout the Council, detailing timescales, financial and other implications, the action plan to be subject to approval by the Council

873 RESOLUTION: EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS 873

On the motion of the Convener it was agreed unanimously that, in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the undernoted item of business on the grounds that consideration of the item involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6, 8, 9 and 10 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

874 CATERING PROVISION: WATERFRONT LEISURE COMPLEX 874

There was submitted a report by the Director of Leisure and Recreation summarising offers received in respect of providing a catering service within the Waterfront Leisure Complex which was dealt with as detailed in the Appendix.