Policy and Strategy Committee

Thursday 3 February 2000 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, Calvert, Mitchell, Morrison (M), McGhee, Robertson (A) and Robertson (Y).

Chair:  Councillor Robertson (Y) presided.

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive, Director of Community & Protective Services, Director of Education Services, Mr G Douglas & Mr H McNeilly (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Director of Resource Services, Director of Social Work & Housing Services, Director of Information Services, Director of Leisure Services and Mr A Gerrard (for Head of Property Services).

Apologies:  Councillors Jackson, Mulholland, O’Rourke and Rebecchi.

103

Lease:  Upper Floor, Kelly Street Hall, Greenock - Boys’ Brigade

103

There was submitted a report dated 27 January 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Corporate Business Committee that appropriate provision be made within the Grants to Voluntary Organisations Budget to enable a grant to be made to the Boys’ Brigade to cover the rental of the upper floor of the Kelly Street Hall, Greenock for the next 5 years if this is required.

Councillor Robertson (A) declared an interest in this matter and took no part in its consideration or decision.

Decided:  that appropriate provision be made in the Grants to Voluntary Organisations Budget to enable a grant to be made to the Boys’ Brigade to cover the rental of the upper floor of the Kelly Street Hall, Greenock for the next 5 years if this is required.

104

Contract for the Supply of Coated and Uncoated Stone and Other Services

104

There was submitted a report dated 28 January 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Economic Development Services Committee (1) to exempt as an interim measure current and future contracts for the supply of coated and uncoated stone, the provision of plant hire and planing services from Standing Orders Relating to Contracts in view of the special circumstances outlined  in the original report to permit acceptance of the 3 lowest tenders and (2) that it be remitted to the Head of Transportation & Roads Service in consultation with the Directors of Legal & Support Services and Resource Services to agree appropriate procedures in respect of ordering the materials and services to ensure that the lowest available tender is utilised on all occasions.

Decided: 

(1) that it be agreed, in terms of Clause 2.3 of Standing Orders Relating to Contacts, to exempt as an interim measure current and future contracts for the supply of coated and uncoated stone, the provision of plant hire and planing services from Standing Orders Relating to Contracts in view of the special circumstances outlined to secure the supply of the materials and services;€

(2) that it be remitted to the Head of Transportation & Roads Service in consultation with the Directors of Legal & Support Services and Resource Services to agree appropriate procedures in respect of ordering the materials and services to ensure that the lowest available tender is utilised on all occasions; and

(3) that subject to (1) and (2) above, delegated authority be granted to the Director of Legal & Support Services in the usual manner to accept the 3 lowest tenders for the above materials and services.

105

Millennium Events Programme

105

There was submitted a report dated 28 January 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Community & Protective Services Committee relative to current arrangements to provide a programme of events in Inverclyde throughout the Millennium.  (Provost Roach and Councillor Blair entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:  that the Committee support in principle the proposal to provide a programme of events in Inverclyde throughout the Millennium and that it be remitted to the Community & Protective Services Committee to consider a report detailing specific events and costings as soon as possible.

106

Revenue Monitoring Reports

106

There was submitted a report dated 2 February 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Finance Sub-Committee that all revenue monitoring reports be submitted to the Finance Sub-Committee until the end of the current financial year.

Decided:  that it be agreed that all revenue monitoring reports be submitted to the Finance Sub-Committee until the end of the current financial year.

107

Revenue Budget 1999/2000 - Summary

107

There was submitted a report dated 20 January 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 1999/2000 as at 8 December 1999.

Noted

108

2000/01 Revenue Budget Progress

108

There was submitted a report dated 19 January 2000 by the Director of Resource Services advising of progress to date against the 2000/01 Revenue Budget Draft Timetable.

The Director of Resource Services orally updated the Committee on the settlement figures for Inverclyde Council.

Noted

109

Capital Programme 1999/2000:  Technical Progress

109

There was submitted a report dated 10 January 2000 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

Noted

110

Capital Programme 1999/2000:  Financial Position

110

There was submitted a report dated 12 January 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the financial position of current and proposed projects in both the Non-HRA Capital Programme 1999/2000 and the Social Inclusion Partnership 1999/2000.

Noted

111

Non-HRA Capital Programme 1999/2000

111

There was submitted a report dated 20 January 2000 by the Director of Resource Services (1) on the financial position of the Non-HRA Capital Programme 1999/2000, and (2) advising that the latest estimated shortfall in the Capital Allocation for 1999/2000 was £874,000 representing a decrease of £1,222,000 since the last report to Committee in respect of which the largest contributory factor was the £1,000,000 Capital Allocation swap with City of Edinburgh Council.

Noted

112

Scottish Executive Consultation - Ethical Standards in Public Life

112

There was submitted a report dated 13 January 2000 by the Chief Executive (1) summarising and commenting on the main proposals of the Ethical Standards in Public Life, Etc (Scotland) Bill and (2) appending for approval comments submitted on behalf of the Council following consultation with Councillors Jackson, Mitchell and Calvert to comply with the consultation timescale of 14 January 2000.

Decided:

(1) that the response made on behalf of the Council in order to comply with the timetable for consultation appended to the report be approved; and

(2) that it be agreed to work with COSLA during the process of the preparation of a first draft of the Code of Conduct.

(Councillor McGhee left the meeting following consideration of this item of business).

113

Review of Community Council Scheme

113

There was submitted a report dated 14 January 2000 together with a supplementary report dated 1 February 2000 by the Chief Executive (1) advising of meetings held between representatives of the Community Councils in Inverclyde and the Council as agreed by the Committee at the meeting held on 17 December 1998 (para 1367), (2) presenting options for a new Community Council Scheme (3) appending representations on the principal report from Old Gourock, Cardwell Bay, Cowdenknowes and Kilmacolm Community Councils and Inverclyde Community Councils’ Forum and (4) recommending that the Committee determine a new scheme for Community Councils.  (Councillor McGhee entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).¢

Mr Douglas for the Director of Legal & Support Services advised the Committee of the views of Upper Gourock Community Council which were to retain the existing number of Community Councils.

Decided:  that no action be taken in respect of a new Community Council scheme meantime and that options for a new scheme be considered together with the Council’s proposals on decentralisation and new political management structures in response to the McIntosh Report.

114

The Establishment of a Care and Repair Service in Inverclyde

114

There was submitted a report dated 19 January 2000 by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services (1) on the background to care and repair services which operate in 24 of the 32 local authority areas in Scotland, (2) recommending the establishment of such a service in Inverclyde in partnership with Scottish Homes and Cloch Housing Association, (3) outlining the main elements of the proposed scheme and (4) seeking revenue and capital contributions to allow the scheme to be implemented.

Decided: 

(1) that the Committee agree to the establishment of a care and repair scheme in Inverclyde in line with the proposals detailed in the report;

(2) that in order to allow the scheme to be implemented revenue contributions of £25,213 in year 1, £24,890 in year 2 and £25,952 in year 3 be made, the input to be matched by similar investment by Scottish Homes and with input of £5,000 per annum from Argyll & Clyde Health Board; and

(3) that £50,000 per annum be made available within the Non-HRA Capital Programme for the proposed care and repair scheme in order to enable targeted grant assistance to those in greatest need.

115

Clune Park Community Association

115

There was submitted a report dated 13 January 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request received from Councillor Moody relative to works at Clune Park Primary School.

Councillor Moody was present and with consent spoke on the matter.

Decided:  that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services, following consultation with Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership, to report to the Committee on the history and current position in respect of the project at Clune Park Primary School.

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 items on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the respective paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act as are set opposite each item.

Item                                                                                                                      Paragraph(s)

Economic Development Services: Review of Property                            

Services Management Structure                                                                1

Resource Services - Finance Services Structure                                       1

Ravenscraig Pitches:  Environmental Study                                              6, 8 & 9

116

Economic Development Services:  Review of Property Services Management Structure

116

There was submitted a report dated 27 January 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Corporate Business Committee that the Policy & Strategy Committee provide additional funding totalling £21,018 including employers’ contributions to implement proposed revisions to the Property Services staffing structure of Economic Development Services.

Decided:  that it be agreed to provide additional funding of £21,018 to implement the proposed revisions to the Property Services staffing structure of Economic Development Services.

117

Resource Services - Finance Services Structure

117

There was submitted a report dated 27 January 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Corporate Business Committee that the Policy & Strategy Committee provide funding of £74,300 including employers’ contributions to implement proposed revisions to the structure of Finance Services and the establishment of a number of additional posts.

Decided:  that it be agreed to provide funding of £74,300 to implement the proposed revisions to the structure of Finance Services and the establishment of a number of additional posts.

118

Ravenscraig Pitches:  Environmental Study

118

There was submitted a report dated 3 February 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Community & Protective Services Committee that funding of £12,260 be made available from the current Non-HRA Capital Programme for the appointment of a consultant to carry out an updated environmental study at the Ravenscraig Pitches.

Decided: that funding of £12,260 be made available from the current Non-HRA Capital Programme for the appointment of a consultant to carry out an updated environmental study at the Ravenscraig Pitches.