Policy and Strategy Committee

Thursday 8 June 2000 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Councillor Jackson presided.

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

564

Report by the Controller of Audit:  Inverclyde Council Audit of Accounts 1997/98

564

There was submitted a report dated 22 May 2000 by the Chief Executive advising of the attendance at the meeting of representatives of the Council's external auditors, Messrs Pricewaterhouse Coopers.  (Provost Roach and Councillor Blair entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Mr Gordon Jack, Partner, and Ms Shona Malcolm, Senior Manager, were present and answered questions which had been raised by Members in advance and copies of which were circulated at the meeting.  The representatives also answered a number of supplementary questions from Members.

Thereafter Mr Jack and Ms Malcolm were thanked for their attendance and departed from the meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 3.40 pm and reconvened at 3.45 pm.

Decided:  that it be remitted to the Director of Resource Services to submit to the next meeting of the Committee a report on the Project Plan to implement the required improvements in financial controls as agreed with the external auditors.

565

Implementation of Computerised Library Management System

565

There was submitted a report dated 1 June 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Corporate Business Committee of 25 May 2000 that funding be provided towards the costs of implementation of a computerised library management system.

Decided: 

(1) that a supplementary revenue allocation of £37,000 be provided in the financial year 2000/2001; and

(2) that the implications for financial year 2001/2002 be noted.

566

General Fund Revenue Summary 2000/2001

566

There was submitted a report dated 23 May 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the projected position of the 2000/01 General Fund Revenue Budget as at 3 May 2000.  The report advised that, taking account of a number of budgetary issues which were outlined in the report but excluding any requests for supplementary revenue estimates from Service Committees, there was currently a projected deficit of £277,430 in 2000/01.

Decided:

(1) that it be agreed to increase the 2000/01 surplus target for the DLO/DSOs by £116,750 to take account of the projected reduction in Internal Resources Interest recharge;

(2) that agreement in principle be given to provide supplementary funding of £18,460 to the Garden Tidy Scheme subject to submission of a further detailed report; and

(3) that the position of the 2000/01 General Fund Revenue Budget be otherwise noted.

567

Capital Programme 1999/2000:  Technical Progress

567

There was submitted a report dated 12 May 2000 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

Noted

568

Capital Programme 2000/2001:  Financial Position

568

There was submitted a report dated 18 May 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the financial position of current and proposed projects in both the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2000/01 and the Social Inclusion Partnership 2000/01.

Noted

569

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2000/2001

569

There was submitted a report dated 18 May 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on (1) the financial position of the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2000/2001 and (2) the estimated 1999/2000 out-turn position.  The report advised that the 1999/2000 estimated out-turn position was break even but that this figure did not include £1,370,000 of the £2,400,000 revenue balances contribution originally agreed for 1999/2000 which had been carried forward to 2000/01.

Decided:

(1) that the estimated out-turn of the 1999/2000 Non-HRA Capital Programme be noted; and

(2) that the position of the 2000/2001 Non-HRA Capital Programme be noted.

570

Community Planning

570

There was submitted a report dated 16 May 2000 by the Chief Executive (1) on the present position with regard to Community Planning and (2) recommending the issue of the draft Community Plan appended to the report for consultation.

Decided: that the draft Community Plan appended to the report be issued for consultation.

571

Children's Services Plan - First Annual Review

571

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) on progress relative to implementation of the Children's Services Plan and (2) seeking approval for publication of the first formal review of the Plan as set out in the Appendix to the report.

Decided: 

(1) that the progress made with regard to implementation of the Children's Services Plan be noted; and

(2) that approval be given to publication of the first formal review of the Plan as set out in the Appendix to the report with the participation of the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups.

572

Best Value and Performance Review Panel

572

There was submitted minute of meeting of the Best Value and Performance Review Panel of Tuesday 25 April 2000.

Approved

573

Overview Report on the 1998/99 Audits of Local Authorities

573

There was submitted a report dated 22 May 2000 by the Chief Executive on the publication of the overview report on the 1998/99 Audits of Local Authorities by the Controller of Audit, a copy of which was appended to the report.

Noted

574

Chief Executive's Office

574

There was submitted a report dated 31 May 2000 by the Chief Executive requesting the Committee to consider revisals to the present structure of the Chief Executive's Office.

Following discussion, Councillor Jackson moved:-

(1) that a post of Senior Clerical Assistant at salary grade GS3 (£11,898 - £12,405) be established; and

(2) that the redesignation of the former posts of Media Relations Officer and Corporate Research Officer to Corporate Communications Officer and Policy Planning/Research Officer respectively be noted.

As an amendment to (2) above, Councillor Blair moved that the redesignation of the post of Corporate Research Officer to Policy Planning/Research Officer be noted but that the Council should not proceed to appoint a Corporate Communications Officer and that it be remitted to the Chief Executive to examine other ways of ensuring that corporate communications are effectively achieved.  On a vote, 4 Members voted for the amendment and 8 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided:

(1) that a post of Senior Clerical Assistant at salary grade GS3 (£11,898 - £12,405) be established; and

(2) that the redesignation of the former posts of Media Relations Officer and Corporate Research Officer to Corporate Communications Officer and Policy Planning/Research Officer respectively be noted.

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)

Hector McNeil Baths and Balrossie School - Insurance Status

and Security Arrangements                                                                         8

Gourock Primary School, Binnie Street, Gourock                                     8

Glasgow Scientific Services                                                                         6 & 12

Chief Executive's Office - Appendix                                                           1

575

Hector McNeil Baths and Balrossie School - Insurance Status and Security Arrangements

575

There was submitted a report dated 1 June 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request received from the Corporate Business Committee of 25 May 2000 that, subject to further discussions with the Insurers, funding be provided for additional security works at Hector McNeil Baths and Balrossie School to meet insurance requirements at the properties.

Decided: that it be agreed to provide up to £91,000 for the additional works subject to the requirement for the funding being examined in detail by the appropriate Officers against the criterion of the Council's actual requirements.

576

Gourock Primary School, Binnie Street, Gourock

576

There was submitted a report dated 1 June 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request received from the Corporate Business Committee of 25 May 2000 that an additional allocation of £94,000 be provided for works to satisfy the requirements of the Council's Insurers on the closure of Gourock Primary School and the subsequent vacation of the property during August 2000.

Decided: that it be agreed to provide up to £94,000 for the works subject to the requirement for the funding being examined in detail by the appropriate Officers against the criterion of the Council's actual requirements.

577

Glasgow Scientific Services

577

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure to authorise action in respect of services provided by the Glasgow Scientific Services.

Decided:

(1) that the report be noted; and

(2) that it be noted that any further developments in this area will be reported to the Committee.

578

Chief Executive's Office - Appendix

578

There was submitted Appendix providing details of the current and proposed structure of the Chief Executive's Office.

Noted