SUBMITTED: Report dated 29 January 1998 by the Director of Finance on the current position of the 1997/98 Non-HRA Capital Programme.

The report again drew attention to limited progress in meeting the anticipated capital expenditure plans and to the need to maximise further expenditure to avoid a significant underspend in the current financial year.

The report also advised of requests from (a) The Social Work and Housing Committee to increase its Capital Budget by £9,000 in respect of additional fitting-out costs, re-measured quantities and provisional fees on the Lynedoch Street ATC and by the addition of a sum of £502,000.00 to the Capital Programme in respect of the roll-over from two specific projects on which starts would be made in 1998/99 namely 62/68 Kelly Street (£107,000) and 18/20 Mearns Street (£395,000) the expenditure on both projects being incurred in 1999/2000; and

(b) The Leisure and Cultural Services Committee to increase the Leisure and Recreation Capital Budget by a sum of £109,000 to meet further increases at the Waterfront Leisure Complex.

DECIDED:

(a) That the requests by the Social Work and Housing Committee that its capital provision in the current year be increased by £9,000 and also that a sum of £502,000 be added to the Capital Programme for anticipated expenditure in 1999/2000 be approved;

(b) That the request by the Leisure and Cultural Services Committee that its capital provision be increased by £109,000 be approved; and

(c) That Service Committees again take cognisance of the need to take all possible steps to ensure that existing Capital Programmes are progressed as quickly as possible in order to avoid any underspend in 1997/98.

134 1998/99 REVENUE BUDGET UPDATE 134

SUBMITTED: Report dated 22 January 1998 by the Director of Finance confirming that the Secretary of State for Scotland's Grant Aided Expenditure assessment for 1998/99 had been set at £96,514,000 an increase of 1.8% on the current year. This figure contained additional provision for specific education, Care in the Community and food hygiene purposes, although it was noted that this would be offset by reductions in other assessments including those relating to the Strathclyde mismatch and to the costs and savings of re-organisation. The Council's limit for capping purposes had been set at £103,573,000, an increase of 2.4% on the current year after allowing for the specific additional provisions detailed above.

The report summarised a number of other factors affecting the Revenue Budget 1998/99 including notification of the Council's share of Aggregate Exchequer Finance (AEF) which had been advised as £96,505,000 a decrease of 0.5% from the current year, indicated that savings of £4,377,500 would be required to avoid capping and with this in view, advised that departments had been requested to submit savings options amounting to 7% of base budgets.

There was also submitted a report dated 23 January 1998 by the Chief Executive with recommendations of the Senior Management Team on the approach to be taken on the budget taking cognisance of the Best Value Regime and the aim of policy-led budgeting.

DECIDED:

(a) That the various factors anticipated in setting the 1998/99 Revenue Budget as detailed in the report by the Director of Finance be noted;

(b) That the recommendations of the Senior Management Team on the savings proposals be categorised as follows:-

(i) Little or no impact on current service provision;

(ii) Increases in fees and charges (including new fees and charges proposed);

(iii) Reduction in current service provision but no impact on employment;

(iv) Reduction in current service provision and an impact on external employment;

(v) Reduction in current service provision and a reduction in current temporary Council employment;

(vi) Reduction in current service provision and a reduction in permanent Council employment between 1997/98 and 1998/99 (i.e. non-filling of vacancies, provision for which is included in the base budget);

(vii) Reduction in current provision and an impact on current permanent Council employment;

(d) That the Senior Management Team also consider bids for additional resources with a view to recommendations being made taking account of cost, any additional income generated and the service contribution which will be made.

135 CORPORATE STRATEGY 135

SUBMITTED: Report dated 23 January 1998 by the Chief Executive together with draft Corporate Strategy document setting out proposals as to the process to be followed in developing the necessary policies and priorities through which the Council can achieve its aims and objectives.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Council agree to adopt the draft Corporate Strategy as set out in the paper; and

(b) That it be remitted to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader, Depute Leader and the Leader of the Opposition to determine the final format of the document prior to publication and issue.

136 PRIORITY PARTNERSHIP AREA (PPA) URBAN PROGRAMME BIDS 1997/98 136

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 £48,697 (Revenue) and £92,234 (Capital) as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report and also recommended the granting of a supplementary Capital award of £24,766 to the Elderly Disabled Resource Centre (Muirshiel Centre).

The report indicated that following approval of these recommendations the revenue balance remaining amounted to £55,703 a major part of which would be required for the Partnership administration to cover property rental and transferred administration costs and, accordingly, recommended that no further bids be invited from groups and organisations.

Arising from discussion on the report, serious concern was expressed by Members as to the lack of progress on the Bow Farm Paton Street Hall Project.

DECIDED:

(a) That the awards to various organisations amounting to the total sums of £48,697 (Revenue) and £92,234 (Capital) together with a supplementary Capital award to the Elderly Disabled Resource Centre (Muirshiel Centre) of £24,766 be approved;

(b) That the Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development) submit a further report to the Committee on proposals for utilising the current revenue underspend of £55,703;

(c) That the Chief Executive submit a detailed report to the Committee on the unsatisfactory progress of the Bow Farm Paton Street Hall project; and

(d) That the Chief Executive submit a report to the Committee on methods of ensuring implementation of formal Council decisions.

137 GIBSHILL REGENERATION STEERING GROUP 137

SUBMITTED: Joint report dated 23 January 1998 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development) and the Director of Housing and Customer Services together with copy of a strategy and action plan for the regeneration of the Gibshill estate prepared by the Gibshill Regeneration Steering Group and setting out a number of options for consideration by the Committee with a view to assisting in the regeneration and improvement of the area.

After discussion, Councillor Jackson moved that the recommendations in the report be approved. As an amendment, Councillor Finnie moved that the proposals in paragraphs (c) to (g) of the recommendation be agreed in principle subject to reports being submitted on the budgets from which the proposals were to be funded. On a vote, 3 Members voted for the amendment and 8 for the motion which was declared carried.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted and that the strategy and action plan for the regeneration of Gibshill forming Appendix 1 to the report be approved;

(b) That the housing demolition strategy detailed in the report culminating in the solution proposed in Para 3.1(g) be approved and that further reports be submitted in respect of Lansbury Street and Fir Street/Cedar Crescent either in the light of further developments or in respect of the various surveys referred to in the report;

(c) That a report on new build housing be submitted at a future date taking cognisance of progress with other developments and of remaining need in the area;

(d) That a budget of £50,000 to assist with small scale demolition or development in Gibshill be approved;

(e) That a further £50,000 be provided to enable landscaping work to take place in Gibshill as part of the Intermediate Labour Market project currently operating in the Strone area;

(f) That a further £50,000 be provided to enable match funds to be levered in to assist further local economic development activity;

(g) That the provision of a new shop for Gibshill be approved dependent on other developments and subject to a further report to the Committee on this issue; and

(h) That the refurbishment of the existing Community Centre be approved at an estimated cost of £100,000.

138 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE 138

SUBMITTED: Report dated 15 January 1998 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development) intimating that the 50th Anniversary of the launch of the National Health Service is 5 July 1998, advising that the Inverclyde Royal NHS Trust had established a local Steering Group to co-ordinate celebrations in this area and requesting the participation of the Council in a number of events including the provision of a Civic Reception in recognition of the occasion to be held on Thursday 2 July 1998.

DECIDED: That the date for celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the National Health Service on 5 July 1998 be noted and that the Council's participation in events and projects as detailed in the report be approved.

139 PROVOST'S INVERCLYDE DRUGS INITIATIVE 139

SUBMITTED: Report dated 16 January 1998 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development) advising the Committee of the creation by the Provost of an Inverclyde Drugs Initiative in co-operation with a number of prominent local businesses with a view to combating the problem of drugs as it affects both families and the wider community in Inverclyde together with copy Deed of Trust establishing the Drugs Initiative on a formal basis.

The report requested the Committee to approve the provision by the Council of professional and administrative support to the Trust, that the Council appoint 2 Members to serve as its representatives on the Trust, one of whom to be the Provost and also that a contribution of £1,000 be made available to the Trust from the Common Good Fund in line with contributions from private sector Trustees.

DECIDED:

(a) That the developments associated with the Provost's Inverclyde Drugs Initiative and actions taken to date be approved;

(b) That the Council provide professional and administrative support to the Trust for 2 years;

(d) That a contribution of £1,000 be made available to the Trust from the Common Good Fund.

140 REVIEW OF GENERAL CHARGES MADE TO HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT 140

SUBMITTED: Report dated 26 January 1998 by the Director of Finance setting out recommendations of the Finance Sub-Committee that a number of the charges currently met by the Housing Revenue Account be transferred to the General Fund.

DECIDED:

(a) That the capital debt on vacant sites be transferred from the Housing Revenue Account to the General Fund subject to the Director of Finance obtaining approval from the Scottish Office;

(b) That the one-off impact on the Council Tax payer in 1998/99 of the above action be avoided by utilising an element of the anticipated 1997/98 surplus;

(c) That tenants' effects insurance commission be credited to the Housing Revenue Account, resulting in equivalent savings being required in the 1998/99 General Fund accounts;

(d) That the anticipated 1997/98 and 1998/99 Contract Services surpluses on Council housing be utilised in setting the 1998/99 rents; and

(e) That the Committee note the ongoing consideration of the treatment of open spaces maintenance charges.

141 EDUCATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: THE PRE-SCHOOL YEARS - RESPONSE TO 141

CONSULTATION

SUBMITTED: Report dated 28 January 1998 by the Director of Central Services advising that the Education Services Committee had approved a response to the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department's consultation paper: "Education in Early Childhood: The Pre-School Years" and had referred the report to the Policy and Strategy Committee in view of the implications of the consultation paper on various departments of the Council.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.