Policy and Strategy Committee

Thursday 11 October 2001 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, 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, Head of Housing and Building Services, Head of Accountancy Services, Head of Property Services and Managing Solicitor (Committees/Contracts).

Apologies:  Councillors Mitchell and Robertson (Y).

894

Highlander’s Academy Roofing Works

894

There was submitted a report dated 25 September 2001 by the Director of Legal and Support Services on a request from the Education Services Committee of 18 September 2001 that the Policy and Strategy Committee consider making provision of approximately £61,000 within the Education Services Revenue Budget for 2002/2003 in respect of estimated relocation costs due to the proposed roofing works at Highlander’s Academy.

Decided:  that it be agreed to consider provision of £61,000 as part of the Education Services Revenue Budget for 2002/2003 in respect of the estimated relocation costs due to the proposed roofing works at Highlander’s Academy.

895

Greenock High School/Glenburn Bridge

895

There was submitted a report dated 24 September 2001 by the Director of Legal and Support Services on a request from the Education Services Committee of 18 September 2001 that the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to provide the increased funding of £67,000 required for the project to replace the bridge at Greenock High School/Glenburn.

Decided:

(a)  that the increase in the cost estimate for the project from £225,000 to £292,000 be noted and that approval be given to provide the balance funding of £67,000 required;  and

(b)  that authority be granted to the Director of Legal and Support Services to invite tenders for the work and that the outcome of the tender exercise be reported to the Policy & Strategy Committee for acceptance or otherwise.

896

Time Trek

896

There was submitted a report by the Director of Legal and Support Services on a request from the Economic Development Services Committee of 2 October 2001 that the Policy and Strategy Committee consider making provision of £20,000 within the Economic Development Services Revenue Budget for the costs associated with the continuation of the Time Trek project.L

Decided:  that it be agreed in principle to make an additional allocation of £20,000 for the continuation of the Time Trek project and that it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive to contain funding within the existing Council budgets.

897

Knocknairshill Cemetery Development

897

There was submitted a report dated 9 October 2001 by the Director of Legal and Support Services on a request from the Community and Protective Services Committee of 4 October 2001 that the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to agree the allocation of additional funding of (a) £132,000 to allow completion of phase 4 of the works at Knocknairshill Cemetery and £5,000 to enable a feasibility study to be carried out relative to phase 5 of the development and (b) that the Revenue Budget be increased by up to £40,000 per annum to accommodate future maintenance requirements.

Decided:

(a)   that it be agreed to the allocation of £132,000 to allow completion of phase 4 of the works at Knocknairshill Cemetery and £5,000 to carry out a feasibility study relative to phase 5 of the development;

(b)  that it be remitted to the Director of Legal and Support Services to arrange for the invitation of tenders for phase 4 of the Knocknairshill Cemetery development and that the outcome of the tender exercise be reported back to the Policy & Strategy Committee for acceptance or otherwise; and

(c)  that the Revenue Budget be increased by up to £40,000 per annum to accommodate future maintenance requirements.

898

Fireworks Display

898

There was submitted a report dated 9 October 2001 by the Director of Legal and Support Services on a request from the Community and Protective Services Committee of 4 October 2001 that the Policy and Strategy Committee provide funding in the sum of £11,900 from the Common Good Fund to cover the cost of staging the fireworks display.

Decided:  that it be agreed to provide funding in the sum of £11,900 from the Common Good Fund to cover the cost of staging the fireworks display.

899

Christmas Lights Switch-on

899

There was submitted a report dated 9 October 2001 by the Director of Legal and Support Services on a request from the Community and Protective Services Committee of 4 October 2001 that the Policy and Strategy Committee provide funding in the sum of £8,500 from the Common Good Fund to cover the cost of staging the Christmas lights switch-on event.

Decided:  that it be agreed to provide funding in the sum of £8,500 from the Common Good Fund to cover the cost of staging the Christmas lights switch-on event.

900

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 5

900

There was submitted a report dated 18 September 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services on the position of the Revenue Budget as at Period 5 (22 August 2001).

Noted

901

Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04: Financial Position

901

There was submitted a report dated 21 September 2001 by the Director of Finance Services on the financial position of current and proposed projects.

Noted

The Convener being of the opinion that the undernoted item was relevant, competent and urgent moved its consideration to allow the Committee to be advised of the technical progress of the Capital Programme.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

902

Capital Programme 2001/2002: Technical Progress

902

There was submitted a report dated 11 September 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2001/2002.

Noted

903

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2001/2002

903

There was submitted a report dated 21 September 2001 by the Director of Finance Services on the current position of the 2001/2002 Non-HRA Capital Programme and the work being carried out to address the potential over commitment position.

Decided:  that the current position of the 2001/2002 Non-HRA Capital Programme be noted and the work that is being carried out to ensure the Council remains within the Capital Expenditure Consent limits be approved.

904

Amendment to Delegated Authority

904

There was submitted a report dated 20 September 2001 by the Director of Finance Services requesting that authority be delegated to her to object to applications in terms of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 from persons who persistently fail to pay local taxes.

Decided:  that consideration of this report be continued to the next meeting to allow the Director of Legal & Support Services to look into the matter fully including the issues raised by Councillor Rebecchi.

905

Lease of Land and Property to Voluntary and Charitable Organisations

905

There was submitted a report dated 19 September 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on proposals to establish a standard and accountable practice for —concessionary rentals for leasing land and property to voluntary and charitable organisations.

Decided:  that the proposals outlined in the report in respect of lease of land and property to charities and voluntary organisations be approved as the Council’s policy.

906

Demolitions as Part of Area Renewal

906

There was submitted a report dated September 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on a number of demolitions required for improvement of the area and requesting an allocation of £65,000 from the Area Renewal Fund to undertake the demolition works.

Decided:

(a)  that approval be given to declare the properties listed in the report as surplus to requirements and that demolition be undertaken;

(b)  that it be agreed to allocate £65,000 from the Area Renewal Fund to undertake the proposed works; and

(c)  that it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services in consultation with other Officers to invite tenders to carry out the required demolitions and that the outcome of the tender exercise be reported to the Policy & Strategy Committee for acceptance or otherwise.

907

Best Value and Performance Review Panel:  Minutes of Meetings held on 21 June 2001 and 13 September 2001

907

There were submitted minutes of the meetings of the Best Value and Performance Review Panel held on 21 June 2001 and 13 September 2001.

Approved

908

Waste Strategy Group: 13 August 2001

908

There was submitted a minute of the meeting of the Waste Strategy Group of 13 August 2001.

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 2, 6 & 9 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

909

Lease of Premises at Lynedoch Street, Greenock

909

There was submitted a report dated 5 October 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Corporate Business Committee of 27 September 2001 that a grant of £5,000 per annum be made to the Tenants’ Participation budget to allow the Federation of Inverclyde Tenan!ts and Residents Association to lease the premises at Units 19 and 21 Lynedoch Street, Greenock for use as an office and training facility.

Decided:  that a grant of £5,000 per annum be made to the Federation of Inverclyde Tenants and Residents Association to lease the premises at Units 19 and 21 Lynedoch Street, Greenock, and authority be delegated to relevant Officers to determine the method of allocation of funding.