Policy and Strategy Committee

Thursday 27 April 2000 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, Calvert, Jackson, McGhee, Mitchell, Morrison (M), O'Rourke, Rebecchi and Robertson (Y).

Chair:  Councillor Jackson presided.

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive, Director of Community & Protective Services, Director of Education Services, Director of Resource Services, Director of Social Work & Housing Services, Mr A Gerrard (for Head of Property Services) and Support Services Manager.

Apologies:  Councillors Mulholland and Robertson (A).

400

Transportation & Roads Service Capital Programme 2000/2001

400

There was submitted a report dated 19 April 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Economic Development Services Committee of 18 April 2000 that (1) approval be given to the projects detailed in paragraph 2 of the report proceeding to tender, (2) the projects be issued to the Council's contractor or design in-house and (3) that the tenders be accepted in accordance with the Council's Financial Regulations and Standing Orders Relating to Contracts.

Decided:  that the request be agreed.

(Councillor Blair entered the meeting at this point).

401

Economic Development Service and Planning Services Capital Programme 2000/2001

401

There was submitted a report dated 19 April 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Economic Development Services Committee of 18 April 2000 requesting that approval be given to the projects identified in paragraph 4 of the report proceeding to implementation in accordance with the procedures for tender, design and appointments in the Council's Financial Regulations and Scheme of Delegation.  (Provost Roach entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:  that the request be agreed.

402

Play Areas Development

402

There was submitted a report dated 27 April 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Community & Protective Services Committee of 20 April 2000 to consider approving additional funding for the provision of play equipment.

Decided:  that consideration of the report be continued to allow the Director of Community & Protective Services to submit a full report on the results of the audit of play equipment, the statistics relating to vandalism and accidents at play areas and the exact costings involved to carry out essential improvements to play areas where necessary.

403

Revenue Budget 1999/2000 - Summary

403

There was submitted a report dated 11 April 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 1999/2000 as at 1 March 2000.

Noted

404

Capital Programme 1999/2000:  Technical Progress

404

There was submitted a report dated 31 March 2000 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

Decided:

(1)  that the contents of the report be noted; and

(2)  that the Committee approve the following decrease in expenditure in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations.

Project

Effect on Expenditure

Demolition of Bay Hotel, Post Office and Yellow Kettle Information Kiosk, Gourock

£27,023 decrease

405

Capital Programme 1999/2000:  Financial Position

405

There was submitted a report dated 6 April 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

406

General Fund Revenue Budget 2000/2001

406

There was submitted a report dated 3 April 2000 by the Director of Resource Services advising of the size of the 2000/2001 General Fund Revenue Budget for contingency following the issue of the 2000/2001 budget booklets on 28 March 2000.

Noted

407

Non-HRA Capital Programme 1999/2000

407

There was submitted a report dated 5 April 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the current position of the 1999/2000 Non-HRA Capital Programme and advising that the latest estimated underspend in the Capital Allocation is £1,035,000 due largely to slippage.  It was noted that a significant part of the £2,400,000 of revenue balances were not required in 1999/2000 and the unspent element of the revenue balances will be required to be carried forward to 2000/2001 to màeet commitments arising from slippage in the current Non-HRA Capital Programme.

Noted

408

Grants to Voluntary Organisations 2000/2001

408

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the current position with regard to the level of grants issued to voluntary organisations.

Decided:

(1)  that the recommendations set out in Appendix 1 to the report be agreed and that the use of emergency powers in terms of Standing Order 66 in relation to the organisations identified in Appendix 2 of the report be noted;

(2)  that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to identify alternative sources of funding for the larger projects which receive their grant in two tranches (April and September) with a view to freeing up money for allocation to other groups; and

(3)  that the ongoing work to appoint a Grants Officer be noted.

409

Community Learning Strategy

409

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting the Committee to consider the content of the proposed Community Learning Strategy document.

Decided:  that the Community Learning Strategy document be approved and that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to advise the Scottish Executive that all Council services are involved in the strategy.

410

Inverclyde Megawatt Festival 2000

410

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting the Committee to consider whether Inverclyde Council will support the Inverclyde Megawatt Festival 2000 event in cash and in kind up to a maximum of £30,000.

Decided:  that the Council support the Inverclyde Megawatt Festival 2000 in the form of financial assistance and through in kind services up to a level of £30,000 as detailed in the report, the funding being utilised from the Common Good Fund.