1187 ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEM 1187

The Chairman referred to a report by the Executive Director Community Services on Urban Programme projects requesting the Committee to homologate action taken to issue tender documents and seeking delegated authority to accept the lowest acceptable tender in each case. He indicated that consideration of the item was urgent to allow the projects to be progressed at the earliest date and moved that the item be added to the Agenda. This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

1188 REVENUE BUDGET 1998/1999 - MONITORING REPORT: CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S 1188

OFFICE

SUBMITTED: Report dated 16 October 1998 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 1998/99 for the Chief Executive's Office as at 16 September 1998.

NOTED

1189 NON-HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - FINANCIAL POSITION 1189

SUBMITTED: Report dated 14 October 1998 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the financial position of current and proposed projects in both the Non-HRA Capital Programme 1998/99 and the Urban Programme 1998/99.

NOTED

1190 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS 1190

SUBMITTED: Report dated 9 October 1998 by the Head of Technical Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1998/99.

NOTED

1191 GRANTS TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS 1998/99 1191

SUBMITTED: Report dated 16 October 1998 by the Executive Director Community Services setting out the recommendations of the Sounding Board on requests from voluntary organisations for grant aid during 1998/99.

DECIDED: That the grants to various voluntary organisations as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report and the Addition to Appendix 1 totalling £13,300 be approved.

1192 INTERNATIONAL DAY TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN: 1192

CHARTER FOR ZERO TOLERANCE

SUBMITTED: Report dated 7 October 1998 by the Executive Director Community Services seeking the Committee's support for the establishment of an Inter-Agency Working Group, involving the co-signatories of the Charter for Zero Tolerance of All Violence Against Women and Children, chaired by a Member of the Council.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee approve the establishment of an Inter-Agency Working Group;

(b) That Councillor Jackson be appointed as chair of the Working Group; and

1193 SWITCH-ON OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTS 1193

SUBMITTED: Report dated 27 October 1998 by the Director of Central Services advising of a request received from the Leisure and Cultural Services Committee that a grant of £7,000 be made from the Common Good Fund in respect of the 1998 Switch-on of Christmas Lights.

DECIDED: That a grant of £7,000 be made from the Common Good Fund in respect of the 1998 Switch-on of Christmas Lights.

1194 FIREWORKS DISPLAY: SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER 1998 1194

SUBMITTED: Report dated 26 October 1998 by the Director of Leisure and Recreation advising of a request received from the Leisure and Cultural Services Committee that a grant of £12,000 be made from the Common Good Fund towards the cost of a proposed fireworks display on Saturday 7 November 1998 within the Battery Park, Greenock. The report advised that, in view of the short timescale, approval for the allocation had been obtained by the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66.

NOTED

1195 EDUCATION CAPITAL BUILDING PROGRAMME 1999/2000 AND BEYOND 1195

SUBMITTED: Report dated 28 October 1998 by the Director of Central Services on a remit from the Education Services Committee recommending that the Committee consider the provision of funding for the Education Capital Building Programme 1999/2000 and beyond.

DECIDED: That the matter be continued for consideration as part of the Council's overall Capital Plan.

1196 THE NATIONAL LOTTERY AND THE COUNCIL'S CAPITAL PLANNING PROCEDURES 1196

SUBMITTED: Report dated 23 October 1998 by the Executive Director Community Services highlighting the difficulties of capital planning encountered as a result of speculative bids to the National Lottery and other external funding bodies which require an advance capital commitment from the Council.

DECIDED: That it be agreed that consideration of all capital projects should take account of Council priorities as part of the policy-led approach to budgets.

1197 NON-HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 1197

SUBMITTED: Report dated 16 October 1998 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the financial position of the Non-HRA Capital Programme 1998/99. The report advised that the latest estimated shortfall in the Capital Allocation in 1998/99 was £5,040,000, a decrease of £702,000 since the last report to the Committee, and outlined approaches made to the Scottish Office to allow the current programme to proceed. The report also advised of increased costs associated with the Greenock Waterfront Leisure Complex and remits from (i) the Social Work and Housing Committee that a further £45,000 increase in the cost of the McPherson Centre be added to the Capital Programme; and (ii) the Education Services Committee for an increase in the Education Services Capital Budget by a sum of £75,000 to meet a projected overspend in respect of a number of projects.

DECIDED:

(a) That the increase of £55,000 in respect of costs associated with the Greenock Waterfront Leisure Complex be approved;

(b) That the request by the Social Work and Housing Committee that its capital provision be increased by £45,000 be approved;

(c) That the request by the Education Services Committee that its capital provision be increased by £75,000 be approved; and

(d) That the report be otherwise noted.

1198 REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99: SUMMARY 1198

SUBMITTED: Report dated 23 October 1998 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 1998/99 as at 16 September 1998. The report advised the current projection showed an overall overspend of £170,790, a decrease of £762,900 since the last report to the Committee on 24 September 1998 (para 1017). The report also advised of requests received from the Leisure and Cultural Services Committee and the Economic Development Committee for supplementary revenue estimates.

DECIDED:

(a) That the request made by the Leisure and Cultural Services Committee at its meeting on 15 October 1998 for a supplementary revenue estimate in respect of an under provision of staff, travel and subsistence be approved up to a maximum sum of £15,280;

(b) That the request made by the Economic Development Committee at its meeting on 29 October 1998 for a supplementary revenue estimate in respect of a portion of the projected overspend of £51,260 in the Transportation and Roads Budget be approved up to a maximum sum of £21,000; and

1199 APPROACH TO THE REVENUE BUDGET 1999/2000 AND ONWARDS 1199

SUBMITTED: Report dated 21 October 1998 by the Chief Executive recommending the development of a 3 year policy-led approach to the Revenue Budget process which would result in service priorities being clearly identified and matched with available resources. It was noted that this approach was an integral part of the Best Value Regime.

DECIDED: That approval be given to the development of a 3 year policy-led approach to the Revenue Budget as follows:

(i) the Executive Director Resource Services will confirm the base budget for 1999/2000, taking account of all known adjustments, new burdens and the revenue implications of agreed capital projects as agreed by the Finance Sub-Committee;

(ii) the base budget will be split into a services and facilities analysis which will be used for initial discussions on savings priorities;

(iii) information on outputs and usage statistics linked to services and facilities will be provided;

(iv) the services and facilities analysis will be used for the first assessment of prioritisation of services;

(v) percentage savings acceptable within the services and facilities analysis groupings will then be agreed (from 1% to 100% or a stated sum);

(vi) total acceptable savings arising from (v) will be matched with savings required with further reviews taking place as necessary;

(vii) employee costs will continue to be tackled as an overall Council issue in tandem with the reviews of staff requirements following the restructuring and taking account of the services and facilities priorities determined by the Council;

(viii) determine wherever possible core budgets which will be established for the initial three years of the process, noting that operational savings will be generated wherever possible without impacting on the level and standard of service agreed by the Council; and

(ix) commence the consultation process with the trade unions, representative community groups, the business community and the public as soon as possible, outlining the projected base expenditure, indicative government limits and potential savings required, and requesting views on service priorities and savings proposals.

1200 COUNCIL MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE 1200

SUBMITTED: Report dated 26 October 1998 by the Chief Executive recommending revisals to the service, committee and management structures agreed by the Committee at its meeting on 1 July 1998 (para 687) arising from the vacancy in respect of the post of Executive Director Protective Services.

DECIDED: That, subject to the suspension of Standing Orders by the Council, the service, committee and management structures detailed in Appendices 3 & 4 to the report be approved.

1201 URBAN PROGRAMME PROJECTS 1201

SUBMITTED: Report dated 2 November 1998 by the Executive Director Community Services requesting that the Committee homologate the action taken to issue tender documents in respect of projects for the Gibshill multi play area, at an estimated cost of £58,000 including fees, and the Robert Street community facility (Clune Park Primary School Community Wing), at an estimated cost of £47,000 including fees, in respect of which there is provision within the Urban Programme 1998/99. The report requested that delegated powers be granted in the usual manner to accept the lowest acceptable tender in each case provided that these are no more than 10% greater than the budget estimates.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee homologate the action taken to issue tender documents in respect of the Gibshill multi play area and Robert Street community facility projects; and

(b) That delegated authority be granted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers and after consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to accept the lowest acceptable tender received for each project provided that these are no more than 10% greater than the budgets estimates.

1202 RESOLUTION: EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS 1202

On the motion of the Chairman 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 8 & 12 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

1203 WATERFRONT LEISURE COMPLEX - APPOINTMENT OF CONSULTANTS 1203

SUBMITTED: Report dated 13 October 1998 by the Executive Director Legal, Information and Support Services advising of the decision of the Special Waterfront Working Group at its meeting on 8 October 1998 relative to (i) the appointment of consultants to ensure adequate independent advice will be available in connection with any future arbitration proceedings and any proceedings required to recover additional costs and (ii) extension of the appointments of the existing members of the Design Team to secure adequate provision of advice and assistance in relation to any future arbitration proceedings. It was noted, however, that there was no provision in the Capital Programme for the additional costs estimated at £100,000.

DECIDED: That approval be given to the provision of £100,000 from the Capital Programme 1998/99 for (i) the appointment of any necessary external consultants in relation to future arbitration and other proceedings and (ii) the extension of the remit of the existing Design Team to secure the provision of necessary advice and assistance in relation to future arbitration proceedings.