Policy and Strategy Committee

Thursday 21 November 2002 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, Calvert, Jackson, McCabe, Mitchell, Morrison (M), O'Rourke, Rebecchi and Robertson (A).

Chair:  Councillor Jackson presided.

In attendance:   Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive, Director of Community & Protective Services, Head of Financial Services, Mr G Douglas (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Mr R Murphy (for Director of Social Work & Housing Services), Head of Customer Services and Head of Property Services.

Apologies:  Councillors McGhee and Robertson (Y).

950

Aids and Adaptations - Remit from Health Improvement Committee

950

There was submitted a report dated 11 November 2002 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Health Improvement Committee at its meeting on 29 October 2002 that an allocation of £190,000 be made from the Supporting People funding for the provision of aids and adaptations in the current financial year.

Decided:  that £190,000 be made available from the Supporting People funding for the provision of aids and adaptations in the current financial year.

951

2002 Christmas Lights Switch On - Remit from Community Committee

951

There was submitted a report dated 11 November 2002 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Community Committee at its meeting on 7 November 2002 that £8,500 be provided from the Common Good Fund to fund the 2002 Christmas lights switch on.  (Councillor Rebecchi entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:  that £8,500 be provided from the Common Good Fund to fund the 2002 Christmas lights switch on.

952

Revenue Budget 2002/03 - Period 7

952

There was submitted a report dated 29 October 2002 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 2002/03 as at Period 7 (16 October 2002).

Noted

953

General Fund Revenue Budget 2002/03

953

There was submitted a report dated 4 November 2002 by the Director of Finance (1) on the General Fund Revenue Budget 2002/03 and (2) advising that the current position showed a projected deficit of £377,000.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee note with concern the projected deficit of £377,000 and that any deficit would be met from balances; and

(2)      that the Committee note with concern the additional cost pressures which may further impact on the balances.

954

Capital Programme 2002/03 to 2003/04 - Progress

954

There was submitted a report dated 22 October 2002 by the Director of Finance on the progress of the Capital Programme 2002/03 to 2003/04.

Noted

955

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2002/04

955

There was submitted a report dated 1 November 2002 by the Director of Finance (1) on the current position of the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2002/04 and (2) comparing projected expenditure against capital consent limits.  The report advised of action taken to progress 3 projects from the secondary projects list detailed in Appendix 3 to the report to reduce the projected underspend of £914,000 in 2002/03 to £564,000 and increased resources of £750,000 available for new projects.  (Councillor Robertson (A) entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee welcome the increase in resources available to the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2002/04;

(2)      that it be agreed to progress the projects in respect of (a) NGFL targets, (b) Social Work IT system and (c) health and safety/vehicles as set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report with the addition of URBAN II projects to the last named category;

(3)      that the recommendations in respect of (a) development/feasibility studies and (b) refurbishment of the Common Good shops in Port Glasgow town centre as set out in paragraph 3.3 of the report be approved; and

(4)      that authority to allocate funding to specific projects in respect of health and safety/vehicles/URBAN II be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Director of Finance.

956

Common Good Fund Budget

956

There was submitted a report dated 1 November 2002 by the Director of Finance (1) on the current position of the Common Good Fund and (2) highlighting the future implications of continuing the current level of expenditure.

Decided:

(1)      that the budget as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be adopted as the Common Good Revenue Budget 2002/03;

(2)      that the Common Good Budget 2002/04 be considered as part of the current budget process; and

(3)      that a report on the definition and use of the Common Good Fund Budget be submitted to the Committee

957

Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership

957

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services seeking approval of decisions taken at the Partnership Forum held on 25 September 2002.  (Provost Roach entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:  that the Committee note and agree:

(a)      the decisions reached by the Partnership Forum on new and supplementary applications; and

(b)      the Partnership Forum’s endorsement of the recommendations by the Director of Community & Protective Services relative to the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund.

958

Children (Scotland) Act 1995

Children’s Services Plan

958

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) on the progress of the Children’s Services Plan and seeking approval to launch the second Plan and (2) advising of an award of £483,000 from the Changing Children’s Services Fund.

Decided:

(1)      that progress with the Children’s Services Plan be noted and that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to organise a suitable launch of the Plan; and

(2)      that the success of the bid to the Changing Children’s Services Fund be noted.

959

Review of Community Councils - Draft Scheme for Community Councils

959

There was submitted a report dated 30 October 2002 by the Chief Executive (1) on representations received following public consultation on the number and boundaries of Community Councils as agreed by the Committee at the meeting on 25 April 2002 (para 409) and (2) recommending that the Draft Scheme for Community Councils appended to the report be the subject of further public consultation.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee note the outcome of the public consultation exercise on the number and boundaries of Community Councils;

(2)      that the Draft Scheme for Community Councils appended to the report be progressed and that the views of the public on the Draft Scheme be sought; and

(3)      that a further report on the Draft Scheme be submitted to the Committee following conclusion of the consultation period.

960

Revenue and Capital Budget 2003/04 to 2005/06

960

There was submitted a report dated 11 November 2002 by the Director of Finance on the progress of the 2003/04 to 2005/06 Revenue and Capital budget setting procedure.

Noted

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)

Community & Protective Services Library Service - Amendments

to Establishment - Remit from Corporate Business Committee                     1

Replacement Finance Management System                                                    6 & 8

Corporate Debt Management Services                                                            6 & 8

961

Community & Protective Services Library Service - Amendments to Establishment - Remit from Corporate Business Committee

961

There was submitted a report dated 11 November 2002 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Corporate Business Committee at its meeting on 31 October 2002 that consideration be given to the additional funding required to implement amendments to the Library Services establishment, totalling £21,000 including employers’ costs.

The Director of Community & Protective Services advised the Committee that funding for the amendments to the establishment could be met from within existing budgets for the current year.

Decided:

(1)      that it be noted that funding for the amendments to the Library Services establishment could be met from within existing budgets for the current year; and

(2)      that funding for 2003 onwards be remitted to the budget setting process.

962

Replacement Finance Management System

962

There was submitted a report dated 30 October 2002 by the Director of Finance (1) detailing the selection process for the supply of a replacement finance management system and (2) setting out the financial implications.  The Committee agreed to enter into contracts for the provision of replacement financial management and trading services systems and to meet the costs all as detailed in the Appendix.

963

Corporate Debt Management Services

963

There was submitted a report dated 31 October 2002 by the Director of Finance (1) on the progress to date regarding the establishment of a corporate debt management partnership, (2) detailing the selection process for the appointment of debt management partners and (3) outlining the financial implications.  (Provost Roach left the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)      that the appointment of Stirling Park as debt management partners for a period of 3 years be noted;

(2)      that the overall partnership approach detailed in Appendix 3 to the report be endorsed;

(3)      that it be remitted to the Head of Financial Services to arrange for Members to visit the co-location call centre once it becomes operational; and

(4)      that it be noted a Corporate Debt Policy will be presented to the next meeting of the Committee.