Policy and Strategy Committee

Thursday 2 November 2000 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, 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, Mr J Sutherland (for Director of Education Services), Director of Information Services, Miss M McKnight (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Director of Resource Services, Director of Social Work & Housing Services, Head of Personnel Services, Head of Property Services, Partnership Co-ordinator and Support Services Manager.

Apologies:  Councillor Calvert.

979

Resource Services - Personnel Services: Professional Grading Structure for Health & Safety Officers

979

There was submitted a report dated 31 October 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Corporate Business Committee of 19 October 2000 that funding be provided to allow implementation of a revised professional grading structure for Health & Safety Officers and to create a grading structure for Assistant Health & Safety Officers.

Decided:  that it be agreed to provide funding of £8,000 in the financial year 2001/02 to implement changes to the existing professional grading structure for Health & Safety Officers and to create a grading structure for Assistant Health & Safety Officers.

980

Gourock Highland Games

980

There was submitted a report dated 27 October 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Community & Protective Services Committee of 26 October 2000 that funding of £23,395 be provided from the Common Good Fund towards the cost of holding the Gourock Highland Games in 2000.

Decided:  that it be agreed to provide funding of £23,395 from the Common Good Fund towards the cost of holding the Gourock Highland Games in 2000.

981

Chief Executive/Miscellaneous/SIP Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 6

981

There was submitted a report dated 13 October 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2000/2001 as at 20 September 2000.  (Provost Roach entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Noted

982

General Fund Revenue Summary 2000/2001

982

There was submitted a report dated 13 October 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the projected position of the General Fund Revenue Budget 2000/2001 as at 20 September 2000.  (Councillor Blair entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Noted

983

Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Financial Position

983

There was submitted a report dated 10 October 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

984

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2000/2001

984

There was submitted a report dated 10 October 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 £4,079,000,  representing a reduction of £519,000 since the last report to the Committee.

Decided:

(1) that it be noted that the Chief Executive had submitted a separate report on proposals to address the projected shortfall in the Capital Allocation for 2000/2001; and

(2) that the report be otherwise noted.

985

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2000/2001

985

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive requesting the Committee to agree proposals to manage the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2000/2001 spend whilst maximising progress on projects.

Decided:  that it be delegated to the Director of Resource Services in consultation with the Chief Executive to manage the timing of tender acceptances and the timing of payments to ensure that the limits set by the Scottish Executive are not exceeded.

986

Audit Action Plan Progress

986

It was noted that this item had been withdrawn from the Agenda.

987

Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership

987

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) providing a progress report relative to Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership developments and issues with particular reference to production of a monitoring plan for 2000/03 and an operation plan for 2000/01 and (2) seeking approval of funding proposals from the Partnership Forum.

Decided:

(1) that the production of the Partnership's monitoring and operation plans be noted;

(2) that the intention to participate in the national training programme for Social Inclusion Partnerships be noted; and

988

(3) that the funding proposals set out in paragraph 4 of the report be approved.

Mr Paul Ballantyne

Councillor Jackson advised that Mr Paul Ballantyne, the Partnership Co-ordinator would shortly be leaving the employment of Inverclyde Council to take up another post. He thanked Mr Ballantyne for his contribution to the work of the Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership and, on behalf of the Councillors and Officers, wished him every success in his future career.

988

989

Citizens Advice Bureau

989

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive (1) on the matters which required to be taken into consideration in determining whether a Citizens Advice Bureau should be established in Inverclyde and (2) recommending that the Council not pursue the proposal to establish a Citizens Advice Bureau at present.

Following discussion, Councillor Jackson moved that consideration be continued for a further detailed report incorporating information on the range of services currently provided within Inverclyde, any gaps in the existing provision and a comparison with other local authorities and for a presentation to the Committee by Citizens Advice Scotland to assist consideration of the proposal.  As an amendment, Councillor Mitchell moved that the Council not pursue the establishment of a Citizens Advice Bureau.  On a vote, 2 Members voted for the amendment and 8 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided: that consideration be continued for a further detailed report incorporating information on the range of services currently provided within Inverclyde, any gaps in the existing provision and a comparison with other local authorities and for a presentation to the Committee by Citizens Advice Scotland to assist consideration of the proposal.

990

Landscaping at Strone/Maukinhill Youth Centre

990

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services seeking funding for landscaping and fencing works adjacent to the rebuilt Strone/Maukinhill Youth Centre in Leven Road, Greenock.

Decided:  

(1)  that approval be given to funding of £15,000 for the landscaping and fencing works from the current Area Regeneration Budget; and

(2)  that, thereafter, the area be maintained on a regular basis.

991

Christmas Lights 2000

991

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services seeking funding for the provision of Christmas decorations at Cathcart Street and West Blackhall Street, Greenock.

Decided:  that £15,000 be allocated from the Common Good Fund for the provision of Christmas decorations at Cathcart Street and West Blackhall Street, Greenock.

992

Role of the District Valuer

992

There was submitted a report dated 20 October 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on the role of the District Valuer.

Noted

993

Application for Financial Assistance - Greenock Arts Guild

993

There was submitted a report dated 26 October 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request for financial assistance by way of grant from Greenock Arts Guild Ltd towards the cost of roofing works at the theatre.

Decided: 

(1)  that it be agreed to provide grant to Greenock Arts Guild Ltd for the full cost of the provision of a replacement pitched roof at Greenock Arts Guild in the sum of £13,482 to be met from the Common Good Fund; and

(2)  that it be remitted to the appropriate Officers to investigate the possibility of funding for the Arts Guild through the Scottish Executive's Social Inclusion Budget.

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)

Appendix relative to Application for Financial Assistance

by Greenock Arts Guild                                                                               6 & 9

Resource Services - Finance Services: Review of Establishment            1

994

Application for Financial Assistance - Greenock Arts Guild: Appendix

994

There was submitted appendix including preferred specification and estimate in connection with application for financial assistance by Greenock Arts Guild.

Noted

995

Resource Services - Finance Services: Review of Establishment

995

There was submitted a report dated 31 October 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Corporate Business Committee of 19 October 2000 that funding of £200,301, including employer's contributions, be provided to implement a number of revisions to the structure of Finance Services.

Decided:  that it be agreed to provide funding of £200,301 to implement proposed revisions to the structure of Finance Services.