Policy and Strategy Committee

Thursday 7 June 2001 at 3.00 pm

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

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, Interim Director of Finance, Head of Accountancy Services, Head of Leisure & Community Support Services, Head of Property Services and Managing Solicitor (Committees/Contracts).

Apologies:  Councillors Mitchell and Robertson (Y).

549

Glenburn, Phase 2 - Disability Resource Centre

549

There was submitted a report dated 28 June 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Social Work & Housing Committee of 22 May 2001 that approval be given to enter into a contract for the refurbishment of 10-16 Gibshill Road to provide a Disability Resource Centre (Glenburn Phase 2) with expenditure in 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 to be met from the available capital allocation for Social Work & Housing Services in 2002/2003.

Decided:  that approval be given to enter into a contract for the refurbishment of 10-16 Gibshill Road with expenditure in 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 to be met from the available capital allocation for Social Work & Housing Services in 2002/2003.

550

St Mary’s Church, Patrick Street, Greenock - Request for Financial Assistance

550

There was submitted a report dated 30 May 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Economic Development Services Committee of 29 May 2001 that following its decision to make a contribution of £2,300 from the Historic Buildings Fund towards the cost of repair work to St Mary’s Church, Greenock, the Policy & Strategy Committee consider providing £7,700, making a total Council contribution of £10,000.

Decided:  that agreement be given to provide a grant of £7,700 from the Common Good Fund towards the cost of repair work to St Mary’s Church, Greenock making a total Council contribution of £10,000.

551

Waiver of Let - Greenock Town Hall

551

There was submitted a report dated 1 June 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support Services advising that the Community & Protective Services Committee on 31 May 2001 had noted the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66 (a) to approve a waiver of let to the Rotary Club of Greenock in respect of the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra Gala Concert held in Greenock Town Hall on 12 May 2001 to raise funds for the charity “Hope in Homes for Children” and to meet the cost of the waiver of let in the sum of £1,541.73 from the Common Good Fund.  It was reported that the Leader and Depute Leader had also given their approval.  The report further advised that as the costs were met from the Common Good Fund, the Committee had referred the matter to the Policy & Strategy Committee.)

Decided:  that the report be noted and the Committee agree to the funding from the Common Good Fund for its interest.

552

Wemyss Bay Community Centre

552

There was submitted a report by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Community & Protective Services Committee of 31 May 2001 that the £59,000 set aside by building developers in the Wemyss Bay area for the provision of facilities for young people in the area be allocated to the project to extend the existing Wemyss Bay Community Centre.

Decided:  that the £59,000 set aside by building developers in the Wemyss Bay area be allocated to the project to extend the existing Wemyss Bay Community Centre.

553

National Waste Strategy - Consultation on Area Waste Plan

553

There was submitted a report dated 1 June 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Community & Protective Services Committee of 31 May 2001 that the Committee consider setting up a Waste Strategy Group.  There was also circulated to the Committee, a paper prepared by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the suggested composition and remit of the Group.

Decided:

(1)      that agreement be given to establishing a Waste Strategy Group on the basis set out in the paper by the Director of Community & Protective Services; and

(2)      that the Council be represented on the Group by Councillors Calvert, McCabe, McCormick, McGhee, Morrison (M) and 2 Members of the Liberal Democrat Group to be nominated by the Leader of the Minority Groups.

554

General Fund Revenue Summary 2001/2002

554

There was submitted a report dated May 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services on the projected position of the 2001/2002 General Fund Revenue Budget as at the end of April 2001.

Decided:

(1)      that the report be noted; and

(2)      that it be noted that the Head of Accountancy Services will report to the Finance & Audit Sub-Committee on issues arising from benefit subsidy claims and debt restructuring.

555

Capital Programme 2001/2002 - 2003/2004 - Financial Position

555

There was submitted a report dated 23 May 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services on the financial position of current and proposed projects in both the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2001/2002 - 2003/2004 and the Social Inclusion Partnership 2001/2002.

Noted

556

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2001/2002

556

There was submitted a report dated 21 May 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services on the current position of the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2001/2002.

Noted

557

Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board - Capital Programme 2001/04

557

There was submitted a report dated May 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services (1) advising that at its meeting held on 18 May 2001 Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board considered a 3 year Capital Programme and (2) requesting the Committee to agree that Inverclyde Council’s contribution be added to the 2001/04 Non-HRA Capital Programme.

Decided:  that it be agreed to add £82,000 to the 2001/04 Non-HRA Capital Programme in respect of the projects detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.

558

Development/Feasibility Studies

558

There was submitted a report dated 14 May 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking authority to commence site investigations and feasibility studies in respect of the proposed Home for the Elderly and the replacement of Port Glasgow Baths.

Decided:

(1)      that approval be given to commence the initial works for the Port Glasgow Baths project and for funding of £35,000 to be allocated to these works from the provision of £250,000 for development/feasibility studies within the Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04;

`

(2)      that approval be given to seek competitive tenders from specialist consultants for the various site investigation works for the Port Glasgow Baths project and delegated authority be granted to the Director of Legal & Support Services to accept these tenders, provided the cumulative cost does not exceed £20,000, in terms of the Council’s Standing Orders Relating to Contracts;

(3)      that approval be given to the carrying out of a feasibility study in respect of the Port Glasgow Baths project by Property Services for a fee not exceeding £15,000;

(4)      that approval be given to commence the initial works for the Home for the Elderly project and for funding of £35,000 to be allocated to these works from the provision of £250,000 for development/feasibility studies within the Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04;

(5)      that approval be given to seek competitive tenders from specialist consultants for the various site investigation works for the Home for the Elderly project and delegated auth±ority be granted to the Director of Legal & Support Services to accept these tenders provided the cumulative cost does not exceed £20,000, in terms of the Council’s Standing Orders Relating to Contracts; and

(6)      that approval be given to the carrying out of a feasibility study for the Home for the Elderly project by Property Services for a fee not exceeding £15,000.

559

CCTV in Kilmacolm - Request from Councillor Calvert

559

There was submitted a report dated 28 May 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from Councillor Calvert that the Committee consider the extension of CCTV to Kilmacolm in the current financial year.

Decided:  that agreement be given to proceed with the extension of CCTV to Kilmacolm at an estimated cost of £30,000 to be funded from the development/feasibility studies provision within the Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04.

560

Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership

560

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) on the progress of Partnership developments and (2) seeking the Committee’s approval of recommendations from the Partnership Forum held on 8 May 2001.

Decided:

(1)      that the completion of the Partnership’s interim evaluation be noted;

(2)      that an action plan incorporating the Partnership’s response to the conclusions and recommendations of the evaluation be submitted to the Committee;

(3)      that the developments of the Partnership’s Strategy Groups be noted;

(4)      that the budget proposals and implications arising from the evaluation of SIP projects as set out in Appendices 2 and 3 of the report be approved;

(5)      that it be noted that the Partnership was revising its appraisal processes for funding bids and evaluations;

(6)      that the links between the proposals for the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund and SIP boundaries be noted;

(7)      that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to submit a report on the overall costings of the national SIP Training Programme “Working Together, Learning Together” together with possible alternative uses for the funding involved; and

(8)      that it be remitted to the Chief Executive to make a presentation to Elected Members on the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund once guidelines have been clarified as far as possible.

561

Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park

561

There was submitted a report dated 18 May 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on proposed changes to the membership of the Joint Committee established to manage Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.

Decided:

(1)      that approval be given to the appointment of a representative of Scottish Natural Heritage as a non-voting Member of the Joint Committee and the future appointment of non-voting ´members;

(2)      that delegated authority be granted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to make arrangements relative to any expenses of future non-voting members nominated by Inverclyde Council; and

(3)      that the Director of Legal & Support Services be authorised to effect the necessary amendments to the Minute of Agreement among Member Authorities.

562

Best Value and Performance Review Panel

562

There was submitted minute of meeting of the Best Value and Performance Review Panel of 29 March 2001.

Approved 

563

Gibshill Regeneration

563

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) providing an update on the review of the Community Centre, Sports Barn and play areas in Gibshill and (2) seeking funding support in respect of proposals for these.

Decided: 

(1)      that the review as outlined in the report be approved;

(2)      that agreement be given to the lease of the Sports Barn to City Church provided this is for a maximum period of 3 years and does not inhibit the long-term planning for redevelopment of the estate;

(3)      that approval be given for the refurbishment of the Gibshill Community Centre and the creation of a play area adjacent to the Centre and it be remitted to the Head of Property Services to submit detailed proposals and costs for this project; and

(4)      that it be noted that the Director of Community & Protective Services was currently investigating possible sources of funding for the work and would report thereon to the Committee.

564

Grants to Voluntary Organisations 2001/02

564

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting the Committee to agree grants to voluntary organisations as recommended by the Sounding Board and outlined in Appendix 1 to the report.

Decided:  that the awards outlined in Appendix 1 to the report, totalling £4,300, be approved.

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 paragraphs 6 & 8 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

565

Gibshill Children’s Centre - Extension to Create a Parents’ Support and Education Centre

565

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting the Committee to agree  to allocate an additional £37,000 from the Area Renewal Fund of £500,000 to allow the project comprising the extension of Gibshill Children’s Centre to create a Parents’ Support and Education Centre to proceed.  The Committee agreed to the allocation and, subject to confirmation of the funding, to accept the lowest tender received for the works, all as detailed in the Appendix.