	Policy and Strategy Committee Thursday 25 September 2003 at 3.00 pm
	Present: Provost Rebecchi, Councillors Blair, Forbes, Hill, McCabe, McCormick (M), Mitchell, Nimmo, Robertson and Snoddy.
	Chair: Councillor Blair presided.
	In attendance: Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive, Director of Education Services, Director of Finance, Director of Legal & Support Services, Director of Social Work & Housing Services, Mr A Gerrard (for Head of Property Services) and Managing Solicitor (Committees/Contracts).
674	Remits from Education & Lifelong Learning Committee and Corporate Business Committee - Expansion of Support for Families With Very Young Children Through Sure Start Funding	674
	There was submitted a report dated 9 September 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Education & Lifelong Learning Committee at its meeting on 26 August 2003 that the Policy & Strategy Committee consider the funding implications of the Sure Start allocation for 2004/05 onwards and a request from the Corporate Business Committee at its meeting on 4 September 2003 that the Policy & Strategy Committee approve the budgetary requirements in respect of the establishment of the required posts.
	Decided: (1) that approval be given to funding from the relative budgets to meet the Sure Start allocations for 2004/05 onwards; and (2) that funding be made available for the establishment of the required posts.
675	Remit from Corporate Business Committee - Treasury Policy	675
	There was submitted a report dated 10 September 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Corporate Business Committee at its meeting on 4 September 2003 that the Policy & Strategy Committee approve the relaxation of limits approved within the Treasury Policy.
	Decided: that the following limits approved within the Treasury Policy be relaxed for the financial year to the following limits:-
	Variable Rate Exposure 65% Restructuring Exposure 55% Repayable Exposure Limit 45%
676	Remit from Community Committee - Christmas Lights 2003 - Switch On	676
	There was submitted a report dated 12 September 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Community Committee at its meeting on 11 September 2003 that £6,300 be provided from the Common Good Fund to allow the Christmas lights switch on event to be brought forward by two weeks.
	Decided: that in response to the request from the Community Committee it be agreed to provide £6,300 from the Common Good Fund to allow the Christmas lights switch on event to be brought forward by two weeks subject to approval of the Community Committee's decision requiring the additional funding by The Inverclyde Council.
677	Revenue Budget 2003/04 - Period 4	677
	There was submitted a report dated 11 September 2003 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 2003/04 as at Period 4 (23 July 2003). Noted
678	General Fund Revenue Budget 2003/04	678
	There was submitted a report dated 8 September 2003 by the Director of Finance (1) on the General Fund Revenue Budget 2003/04 and (2) advising of a projected overspend of £235,000.
	Decided: that the Committee note the projected deficit of £235,000 and that the deficit will be met from balances and that it be remitted to the Service Committees to maintain efforts to stay within budget.
679	Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2004/05 - Progress	679
	There was submitted a report dated 11 September 2003 by the Director of Finance (1) on the progress of the Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2004/05 and (2) advising of a projected overspend of £996,000 as a result of an interim payment of £1m to Mowlem in respect of the Waterfront.
	Decided: that approval be given to an increase of £996,000 in respect of an interim payment relating to the ongoing Waterfront arbitration.
680	Non-HRA Capital Programme 2003/05	680
	There was submitted a report dated 12 September 2003 by the Director of Finance (1) on the current position of the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2003/05, (2) highlighting a projected under utilisation of allocation of £6.715m and matters which will affect this and (3) advising of requests for reallocation of budget and increased budgetary allocations.
	Decided:
	(1) that approval be given to reallocation of the unused element of the Capital budget arising from the decision to terminate the Care Home for the Elderly contract from the Health Improvement Committee to the Policy & Strategy Committee, note the increase of £305,000 in the Economic Regeneration budget to progress the Gourock transport interchange project and approve an increase of £38,000 in the Knocknairshill Cemetery and Port Glasgow pool projects; and (2) that, otherwise, the current position of the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2003/05 be noted and it be agreed that the Private Sector Housing Grant will be reported to the Health Improvement Committee in future.
681	Revenue and Capital Budget 2004/05 to 2005/06 - Update	681
	There was submitted a report dated 9 September 2003 by the Director of Finance (1) on the progress of the preparation of the capital and revenue budgets 2004/05 and 2005/06 and (2) requesting the Committee to agree a budget setting timetable.ô
	Decided:
	(1) that it be noted that Prudential Borrowing will be submitted to the Scottish Executive at the indicative levels set out in paragraph 3.6 of the report; (2) that the need to conclude the option appraisal exercises regarding housing assets and education assets in order to recommend appropriate strategies to the Committee to provide clarity of the financial implications to the Council be emphasised; (3) that the need to agree a clear timescale for presentation of requested reports be emphasised to the Policy Review Group to allow for consideration and decision making by the Group to allow recommendations to be made to the Policy & Strategy Committee; (4) that the Committee note the pressures being identified within Services at maintaining their expenditure levels within the challenging budgets set for the current year and reaffirm that budgets must not be exceeded; (5) that the Committee confirm that the timescale which exists for developing capital and revenue budget proposals which are financially balanced must be met; and (6) that the budget setting strategy and timetable outlined in the report and appendix culminating in a Special Policy & Strategy Committee meeting on 10 February and a Special Council meeting on 12 February 2004 be approved for the Committee's interest.
682	New Opportunities Fund PE and Sport	682
	There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the progress being made in relation to the £912,000 New Opportunities Fund PE and Sport award made to the Council in April 2003.
	(Provost Rebecchi entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).
	Decided: that the Committee note the progress being made in relation to the developments proposed in terms of the New Opportunities Fund PE and Sport award made to the Council and agree to the submission of Stage 2 applications.
683	Review of Early Retirement Policy	683
	There was submitted a report dated August 2003 by the Head of Personnel Services (1) reviewing the Council's current early retiral and redundancy policy with regard to the Audit Scotland publication "Bye Now, Pay Later?" and (2) seeking approval of the Policy and Procedures on Early Retirement appended to the report.
	Decided:
	(1) that the Policy and Procedures on Early Retirement appended to the report be approved; (2) that an annual report on all aspects of early retirement be submitted to the Policy & Strategy Committee by the Head of Personnel Services; (3) that the Council maintain its current practice of maximising the available discretions but that the exercise of discretions be the subject of review in the context of the Head of Personnel Services' annual report on early retirement referred to in clause 9.1 of the Policy and Procedures on Early Retirement; (4) that all available discretions contained in the Policy and Procedures on Early Retirement, other than those in clauses 5.4, 5.5 and 5.6, be exercised by the Chief Executive following consultation with the Director of Finance, the appropriate Service Director and the Head of Personnel Services; and (5) that the discretions referred to in clauses 5.4, 5.5 and 5.6 of the Procedures document be exercised by the Director of Finance and the Head of Personnel Services.
684	Early Retirals 2002-2003	684
	There was submitted a report dated 3 September 2003 by the Head of Personnel Services on the number of early retirals which took place in 2002-2003. Noted
685	Burnside Road, Embankment Stability and Reservoir Drainage	685
	There was submitted a report dated September 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) on outstanding works required to Burnside Road and the adjacent St Columba's secondary school embankment, together with the associated costs and (2) seeking approval for the works detailed in the report to be included within the Capital Plan for consideration of funding in the year 2004/2005.
	Decided:
	(1) that the Committee note the works required to complete the repairs and reinstatement in Burnside Road and in the grounds of St Columba's secondary school following the emergency works carried out in 2002; and (2) that the project be included within the Capital Plan for consideration of funding in the year 2004/2005.
686	Corporate Strategy and the Community Plan	686
	There was submitted a report dated 19 September 2003 by the Chief Executive (1) recommending a review of the Corporate Strategy to take account of policy changes and other factors and (2) updating the Committee on the establishment of the Inverclyde Alliance and the finalisation of the Community Plan.
	Decided:
	(1) that it be noted that the amended Corporate Strategy will include an explicit commitment to meeting the agreed Corporate Governance Framework; and (2) that it be remitted to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Convener and Councillor McCabe to make suitable arrangements for Members to participate in the review of the Corporate Strategy.
	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) The Greenock Cut 6 and 9 Application for Relief of Rates on Grounds of Hardship 6 Special Waterfront Working Group: Minute of Meeting of 4 July 2003 6 and 12
687	The Greenock Cut	687
	There was submitted a report dated 22 September 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) on the present position with regard to the proposals for the restoration and conservation of the Greenock Cut and (2) advising of proposals for the acquisition of ownership interests. The Committee agreed to take action, all as detailed in the Appendix.
688	Application for Relief of Rates on Grounds of Hardship	688
	There was submitted a report dated 9 September 2003 by the Director of Finance on a request received from a local company for relief of non-domestic rates on grounds of hardship. The Committee decided to refuse the application and to remit it to officers to provide any appropriate support and assistance to the company, all as detailed in the Appendix.
689	Special Waterfront Working Group: Minute of Meeting of 4 July 2003	689
	There was submitted minute of meeting of the Special Waterfront Working Group of 4 July 2003.
	The Chief Executive provided an update on progress since the meeting of the Working Group.
	Decided:
	(1) that the minute of the meeting of the Special Waterfront Working Group held on 4 July 2003 be approved; and (2) that all Members of the Council be invited to attend a meeting of the Special Waterfront Working Group to be convened in early course.