Policy and Strategy Committee

Thursday 14 March 2002 at 3.00 pm

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

Also Present:  Councillor Campbell.

Chair:  Councillor Jackson presided.

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive, Director of Community & Protective Services, Director of Education Services, Director of Finance Services, Director of Legal & Support Services, Director of Social Work & Housing Services, Head of Personnel Services, Mr K Watson (for Head of Property Services) and Managing Solicitor (Committees/Contracts).

Apologies:  Councillor Blair.

252

Revenue Section Performance to 31 December 2001 - Remit from Corporate Business Committee

252

There was submitted a report dated 12 March 2002 by the Director of Legal & Support Services requesting the Policy & Strategy Committee to consider the request to vire £20,000 from internal resources interest to fund overspend in Finance Services printing and postage costs.

Decided:  that the request be agreed.

253

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 10

253

There was submitted a report dated 20 February 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2001/02 as at period 10 (9 January 2002).

Noted

254

General Fund Revenue Budget 2001/2002

254

There was submitted a report dated 28 February 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the 2001/2002 General Fund Revenue Budget as at 9 January 2002.

Noted

255

Capital Programme 2001/2002:  Technical Progress

255

There was submitted a report dated 19 February 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive on the Technical Progress of the Capital Programme 2001/2002.

Noted

256

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

256

There was submitted a report dated 20 February 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the financial position of current and proposed projects in the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04.

Noted

257

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2001/2002

257

There was submitted a report dated 22 February 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the current position of the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2001/2002.

Noted

258

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2002/2003 Onwards

258

There was submitted a report dated 8 March 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the projected levels of Non-HRA Capital Funding available for 2002/03 and 2003/04 and advising of the recommendations of the Corporate Management Team with regard to the two year Capital Programme.

Decided: 

(1)      that the recommendations of the Corporate Management Team in respect of the Capital Programme 2002/03 and 2003/04 as outlined in Section 4 and Appendix 1 of the report be agreed;

(2)      that it be agreed that any additional project added to the Capital Programme will require identification of additional funding and/or agree projects to be dropped from the programme;

(3)      that it be agreed that all the projects be progressed to tender stage to provide maximum flexibility regarding the spending programme;

(4)      that the owners at 64/66 Dempster Street be advised that the project will proceed as soon as possible; and

(5)      that it be agreed that projects on the secondary project list be brought forward at the discretion of the Chief Executive in consultation with the Director of Finance Services.

259

Revised Treasury Policy

259

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance Services requesting approval of the Revised Treasury Policy Statement which is required as a result of the issue of a Revised CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management in Public Services and requesting that the amendments to the Financial Regulations be approved.  The Director of Finance Services’s oral amendment to page 45 of the report was noted.

Decided:  that the changes to the Financial Regulations be approved and the new version of the CIPFA Treasury Management Code of Practice 2001 be adopted.

260

Treasury Management Borrowing Strategy 2002/2003

260

There was submitted a report dated 25 February 2002 by the Director of Finance Services requesting the Committee to approve the Borrowing Strategy for 2002/2003 as required in terms of the Treasury Management Practice 6 and the Revised Treasury Policy Statement on Treasury Management Practices.

Decided: 

(1)      that the Borrowing Strategy for 2002/2003 be approved; and

(2)      that the following limits identified in the Treasury Management Practices 1 “Risk Financing” be agreed to be extended for the year 2002/2003 in line with the Borrowing Strategy:-

          (i)      maximum proportion of debt restructured in year - 50%; and

          (ii)     maximum proportion of portfolio repayable in any one year - 35%

261

Megawatt

261

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on a request for £18,601.73 from the Common Good Fund to support a Megastars Competition for 2002.

Decided:  that the request be agreed.

262

Grants to Voluntary Organisations 2002/2003

262

There was submitted a report dated 8 March 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the recommendations made for the first round of Grants to Voluntary Organisations for 2002/2003.

Decided:  that the list of awards recommended by the Sounding Board in Appendix 1 of the report be agreed.

263

Local Health Plan

263

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services on the NHS Argyll & Clyde Draft Local Health Plan and the implications for Inverclyde Council.

Decided:  that the approach to the Local Health Plan be agreed.

264

Postal Services Commission (Postcomm): Proposals for Promoting Effective Competition in UK Postal Services

264

There was submitted a report dated 28 February 2002 by the Director of Legal & Support Services advising that comments have been invited from Postcomm on proposals for the introduction of competition in the UK postal services market and requesting that the Council express a view on the proposals outlined in the report.

Decided:  that it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services to express the Council’s concerns as to the approach adopted by Postcomm and its proposals and the Council’s view that any competition should be phased in, as is common with other countries in the European Union.Ž

265

Review of Community Councils

265

There was submitted a report dated February 2002 by the Chief Executive requesting the Committee’s agreement to include revised Community Council boundaries and a new Scheme for Community Councils, revised arrangements for funding Community Councils and a commitment to provide an office space and other resources.  Following the agreement of the Committee, Councillor Campbell expressed the views of the Community Councils within his Ward.

After discussion Councillor Jackson moved that the report be continued to the next meeting to allow time for responses from Community Councils and Councillors to be submitted to the Chief Executive for incorporation in his report.  As an amendment Councillor Mitchell moved that the recommendations set out in the report be agreed.  On a vote 2 Members voted for the amendment and 5 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided:  that it be agreed to continue consideration of proposals to the next meeting to allow time for the responses from Community Councils and Councillors to be submitted to the Chief Executive for incorporation in his report.

266

Best Value and Performance Review Panel - Minute of Meeting of 14 February 2002

266

There was submitted the minute of the meeting of the Best Value and Performance Review Panel of 14 February 2002.

Approved

267

Waste Strategy Group - Minute of Meeting of 25 October 2001

267

There was submitted the minute of the meeting of the Waste Strategy Group of 25 October 2001.

Approved

268

Waste Strategy Group - Minute of Meeting of 11 February 2002

268

It was noted that the minute of the meeting of the Waste Strategy Group of 11 February 2002 was not yet available and the item was withdrawn.

The Convener being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Community & Protective Services was relevant, competent and urgent moved its consideration to allow the Committee, if in agreement, to consider the request from the Joint Committee of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park Authority for funding towards meeting the projected deficit for the financial year due to losses arising from the foot and mouth outbreak.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

269

Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park - Projected Deficit

269

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting the Committee to consider a request from the Joint Committee of the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park Authority for funding in the sum of £11,101 to meet the projected deficit of the park budget due to the foot and mouth outbreak.  The Director of Community & Protective Services advised the Committee that the funding may not be required as Renfrewshire Council had intimated they would write to the Scottish Ministers to request funding to cover the projected deficit of £48,970 for the financial year 2001/2002.

Decided:  that a supplementary revenue estimate to the Community & Protective Services Committee in 2001/02 be agreed in the sum of £11,101 as Inverclyde Council’s contribution towards meeting the total deficit, should the appropriate funding not be forthcoming from the Scottish Executive.

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)

Pension Fund - Financial Impact of FRS17                                                 1 & 12

Waste Strategy Group - Minute of Meeting of 10 December 2001         8

Miscellaneous Demolitions                                                                         6 & 8

270

Pension Fund - Financial Impact of FRS17

270

There was submitted a report dated 12 March 2002 by the Director of Finance Services advising the Committee of the potential financial impact of FRS17 to the Council and recommending that the ex Inverclyde District Council Scheme for Voluntary Early Retiral cease with effect from 30 September 2002.

Following discussion Councillor Jackson moved that the Committee agree option 1 outlined in the report which would terminate the enhancement entitlement on 30 September 2002 to limit the financial implications of FRS17 on the Council whilst providing a period of notice which was as reasonable as possible given the financial constraints the Council faced, resulting in all employees having equitable rights under the Local Government Pension Scheme in line with all other Scottish Local Authorities.  As an amendment Councillor Rebecchi moved that consideration of the report be continued to the next meeting for further consultation with the 105 employees identified in the report.  On a vote 1 Member voted for the amendment and 6 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided:  that the Council agree to terminate the enhancement entitlement under the Ex-IDC Early Retiral Scheme on 30 September 2002.

271

Waste Strategy Group - Minute of Meeting of 10 December 2001

271

There was submitted a minute of the meeting of the Waste Strategy Group of 10 December 2001.

Approved

272

Miscellaneous Demolitions

272

There was submitted a report dated February 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the outcome of the tender process relating to undertaking a series of demolitions as part of the area renewal programme.  The report also requested that the old bothy within Battery Park be demolished.

Decided:  that the contents of the report be noted and the old bothy within Battery Park be demolished as part of the Miscellaneous Demolitions Project.