Policy and Strategy Committee

Thursday 21 September 2000 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Blair, Calvert, Jackson, McCabe, McGhee, Mitchell, Morrison (M), O'Rourke, Rebecchi, Robertson (A) 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 Legal & Support Services, Director of Resource Services, Director of Social Work & Housing Services, Director of Information Services, Mr J Higgins (for Head of Leisure & Community Support Services), Head of Property Services and Support Services Manager.

Apologies:  Provost Roach.

839

Social Work & Housing Services:  Supporting People Programme - Staffing Implications

839

There was submitted a report dated 14 September 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Corporate Business Committee of 7 September 2000 relative to the financial implications of the establishment of the post of Lead Officer (Supporting People Programme) in respect of which funding from the Scottish Executive was anticipated but not confirmed.

Decided:  that agreement be given to the request for funding of the post of Lead Officer (Supporting People Programme) on Grade AP5 (£19,827-£21,636) pending confirmation of funding from the Scottish Executive.

840

Fireworks Display

840

There was submitted a report dated 15 September 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Community & Protective Services Committee of 14 September 2000 that a contribution of £14,800 be made from the Common Good Fund in respect of the fireworks display on Saturday 4 November 2000.

The Director of Community & Protective Services orally advised the Committee that the cost of the display had now been reduced to £10,400. (Councillor Blair entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:  that a grant of £10,400 be made from the Common Good Fund in respect of the fireworks display.

841

Christmas Lights - Switch-on

841

There was submitted a report dated 15 September 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Community & Protective Services Committee of 14¨ September 2000 that a contribution of £8,000 be made from the Common Good Fund in respect of this year's switch-on of Christmas lights.

Decided:

(1) that a grant of £8,000 be made from the Common Good Fund in respect of this year's switch-on of Christmas lights; and

(2) that authority be delegated to the Director of Community & Protective Services in consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to agree changes in funding arising from any revised provision.

842

Chief Executive/Miscellaneous/SIP Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 4

842

There was submitted a report dated 5 September 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2000/2001 as at 26 July 2000.

Noted

843

General Fund Revenue Summary 2000/2001

843

There was submitted a report dated 6 September 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the projected position of the 2000/2001 General Fund Revenue Budget as at 26 July 2000.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee note the knock-on impact of various issues which will require to be reflected in the 2001/2002 budget exercise;

(2) that the Committee note the estimated position in respect of the General Fund Balance as at 31 March 2001;

(3) that otherwise the Committee note the position of the 2000/2001 General Fund Revenue Budget; and

(4) that it be remitted to Officers to submit any requests for supplementary revenue estimates to the Corporate Management Team for consideration prior to submitting reports to Service Committees.

844

Capital Programme 2000/2001 Financial Position

844

There was submitted a report dated 31 August 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the financial position of current and proposed projects in both the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2000/2001 and the Social Inclusion Partnership 2000/2001.

Noted

845

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2000/2001

845

There was submitted a report dated 5 September 2000 by the Director of Resource Services (1) on the financial position of the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2000/2001 and (2) advising that the latest estimated shortfall in the Capital Allocation for 2000/2001 was £4,598,000 representing an increase of £1,211,000 since the last report to Committee as the result of removing the revenue contribution to this year's programme due to the reduction in revenue balances as at 1Ö April 2000.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee confirm that no contribution from the General Fund Balance be made, at this stage, to the 2000/2001 Capital Programme;

(2) that agreement be given to the requests from the Social Work & Housing Committee of 5 September 2000 for expenditure of £91,000 in 2001/2002 in respect of a Voluntary Improvement Scheme at Grey Place, Greenock and virement of £37,000 from savings in the Brown Street/Baxter Street project to Aids and Adaptations; and

(3) that it be noted the Chief Executive will present a report to the next Committee recommending how to deal with the projected shortfall in Capital Allocation in 2000/2001.

846

Audit Action Plan Progress

846

There was submitted a report dated 5 September 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the progress of the Action Plan relating to the issues raised in respect of the 1997/98 Audit of Accounts exercise.

Decided:

(1) that progress against the Action Plan be noted; and

(2) that future progress reports on the Audit Action Plan be submitted to the Finance and Audit Sub-Committee for consideration and that it be remitted to the Chief Executive to invite the External Auditors to attend.

847

Megawatt Festival and Review of Events Support

847

There was submitted a report dated 21 August 2000 by the Depute Chief Executive and the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) requesting the Committee to consider, in principle, the future and form of the Council's involvement in the Megawatt Festival, (2) outlining the relationship between the Council and other festival and event organisations and (3) suggesting that the Council may wish to ensure that, with co-operation, such events are themed to reflect specific objectives, that the Council's contributions are targeted effectively and the benefits measured.  The report indicated that preliminary discussions had commenced with Megawatt.

Decided: that it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive and the Director of Community & Protective Services to report further to the Committee after due consultation with the appropriate local organisations on the future for events support within Inverclyde.

848

Human Rights Act 1998

848

There was submitted a report dated 28 August 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services (1) on the key principles and requirements of the Human Rights Act 1998, which comes into force on 2 October 2000, and the human rights aspects of the European Convention on Human Rights, (2) advising of preparatory work carried out and (3) recommending suitable training for Members and Officers.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee note that the Human Rights Act 1998 will come into effect on 2 October 2000 and the steps taken so far to prepare for its commencement;

(2) that authority be delegated to the Chief Executive and the Director of Legal & Support Services to organise appropriate training for Members and Officers; and

(3) that it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services to submit progress reports on the Action Plan to the Committee.

849

Managing Change in the Water Industry - A Consultation Paper - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

849

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the use of the Emergency Powers Procedure under Standing Order 66 (b) to submit a response on behalf of the Council to the Scottish Executive Consultation Paper "Managing Change in the Water Industry".

Noted

850

Facilities for Swimming in Inverclyde

850

There was submitted a report dated 7 September 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) on the current condition of the 3 public swimming pools at Port Glasgow, the Waterfront Leisure Complex and Gourock, (2) outlining works required at each pool together with the financial implications and possible phasing of expenditure, (3) advising of the progress of the Working Group established by the Committee at the meeting held on 24 June 1999 (para 634) to examine methods of delivering leisure services in Inverclyde and (4) commenting on current usage of the pools at St Columba's, Greenock and Port Glasgow High Schools and potential community use in the future.

Decided: 

(1) that the current condition of the Council's 3 main swimming facilities and the works carried out over the years be noted;

(2) that it be remitted to the Chief Executive to investigate the possibility of negotiations with the Port Glasgow Waterfront developers for the provision of a new swimming pool and other appropriate leisure provision;

(3) that the funding requirements and timescales for the works at Gourock Pool as detailed in paragraph 4.2.9 of the report be agreed;

(4) that the funding requirements and timescales for the works at the Waterfront Leisure Complex as detailed in paragraph 4.3 of the report, being £649,500 for priority remedial works and a further £400,000 to resolve the entrance area problem, be agreed; and

(5) that it be remitted to the Head of Leisure & Community Support Services to submit further detailed reports relating to (a) a swimming development strategy for Inverclyde and (b) community leisure development of school based facilities.

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 item on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 12 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

851

Facilities for Swimming in Inverclyde - Waterfront Leisure Complex

851

There was submitted Appendix 1 relative to the previous agenda item detailing works required at the Waterfront Leisure Complex and the associated costs.

Noted