Policy and Strategy Committee

Tuesday 11 February 2003 at 4.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Calvert, McCabe, McGhee, Mitchell, O'Rourke, Robertson (A) and Robertson (Y).

Chair:  Councillor O’Rourke presided.

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

Apologies:  Councillors Jackson, Morrison (M) and Rebecchi.

151

3 Year Revenue and Capital Budgets 2003/04 - 2005/06

151

There was submitted a report dated 30 January 2003 by the Director of Finance (1) on the 3 year Revenue and Capital Budget position resulting from the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2003/04 - 2005/06 issued by the Scottish Executive on 4 December 2002, (2) making recommendations with regard to the level of General Services Revenue Reserves and (3) advising of matters which should be taken into account when determining the Budgets and recommending Council Tax levels.

Decided:

(1)      that the recommendations detailed in Appendices 2 and 3 of the report be agreed subject to the undernoted amendments:

Budget Increases Adjusted

£000

£000

Surestart (phased improvement)

40cr

Teachers for Deprivation (phased improvement)

300cr

Corporate Communications

50cr

390cr

Less:  Savings Not Accepted

(a)  Efficiency Savings - Other

       Inverclyde Leisure

48

(c)  Realignment of Resources

       Capitalise Economic Development Funding

80

(d)  One Year Savings (by reference to separate list of individual savings)

       Grants to Voluntary Organisations

21

Libraries, Museums and the Arts

17

Leisure and Community Support -

          Community Centres Income

          Halls Income

          Community Education Sessional Staff

          Promotions

3

2

8

10

Grounds, Transport and Cleansing -

          Protective Clothing

          Equipment

          Materials

          Street Cleansing Bins

          Street Cleaning Variations

          Refuse Collection Increased Fees & Charges

          Waste Disposal Increased Income

          Ground Maintenance Variations

          Burial Grounds Variations

19

26

36

5

8

48

8

100

6

Property Services -

          Public Convenience, Kilblain Street

          Central Repairs

11

24

Transportation and Roads -

          Contractors

40

520

(2)      that the indicative Budgets for 2004/05 and  2005/06 be agreed subject to amendments resulting from the revised proposals;

(3)      that it be recommended to The Inverclyde Council that the Council Tax for 2003/04 be increased by 2.5% (fixing the Band D Council Tax at £1089);

(4)      that it be recommended to The Inverclyde Council that the indicative Council Tax increases for 2004/05 and 2005/06 be 5%;

(5)      that the further review of policy and resource allocation as outlined in section 5 of the report be endorsed;

(6)      that the Quality of Life projects identified in appendix 5 be agreed;

(7)      that the Capital Programme for 2003/04 set out in appendix 7 be approved but that a report for future years to address potential additional funding for the National Grid for Learning be submitted and that delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Director of Finance to progress the secondary list as funding becomes available;

(8)      that delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Director of Finance to approve the Spend to Save Schemes referred to in the report;

(9)      that the Committee note the recommendation of the Director of Finance that the revenue reserve level be maintained at its present balance as a minimum, but that the Committee agree to utilise reserves of up to £850,000 to meet the revised proposals; and

(10)    that it be agreed that the proposals in respect of the 2004/05 and 2005/06 Capital Programme be submitted to the meeting of the Policy & Strategy Committee on 3 April 2003.

152

Common Good Budget 2003/04 - 2005/06

152

There was submitted a report date 30 January 2003 by the Director of Finance making recommendations with regard to the Common Good Budget 2003/04 - 2005/06.

Decided: 

(1)      that agreement be given to the budget framework as set out in the report which contains expenditure within income; and

(2)      that the annual events set out in the report and the recommended levels of funding for each of the 3 years 2003/04 - 2005/06 be approved.