Policy and Strategy Committee

Thursday 20 November  2003 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Rebecchi, Councillors Blair, Forbes, Fyfe, Hill, McCabe, McCormick (M), Mitchell, Roach,  Robertson and Snoddy.

Chair:  Councillor Blair 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 Economic Development Service, Head of Property Services and Managing Solicitor (Committees/Contracts).

851

Remit from Education and Lifelong Learning Committee - Glenburn Bridge Project - Overspend

851

There was submitted a report dated 29 October 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee at its meeting on 21 October 2003 that the Policy and Strategy Committee consider a request for additional funding for £21,000 towards the Glenburn Bridge project which was overspent due to the relocation of the pedestrian bridge and additional costs for relocation  of services and that the additional costs could not be contained within the current capital allocation.

Decided: that funding of £21,000 be made available towards the Glenburn Bridge project in relation to the overspend.

852

Remit from Health Improvement Committee - Aids and Adaptations

852

There was submitted a report dated 7 November 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Health Improvement Committee at its meeting on 28 October 2003 that the Policy and Strategy Committee provide additional funding to enable the medium priority cases outlined in the report to be completed in the current financial year.

Decided:  that the request from the Health Improvement Committee for additional funding be continued to the next ordinary meeting of the Policy and Strategy Committee in January.

853

Remit from Economic Regeneration Committee - Glasgow and Clyde Valley Structure Plan Joint Committee - Contribution by Inverclyde Council 2004/07

853

Councillor Robertson entered at this item of business.

There was submitted a report dated 6 November 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Economic Regeneration Committee at its meeting on 4 November 2003 that the Policy and Strategy Committee consider making an additional allocation of £6,900 available in respect of an increase in the contribution to the Glasgow & Clyde Valley Structure Plan Joint Committee for 2004/05.

Decided: that consideration of the remit from the Economic Regeneration Committee be continued Zto be dealt with as part of the Council Budget process.

854

Revenue Budget 2003/04 - Period 7

854

There was submitted a report dated 5 November 2003 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 2003/04 as at Period 7 (15 October 2003).

Noted

855

General Fund Revenue Budget 2003/04

855

There was submitted a report dated 5 November 2003 by the Director of Finance in respect of the General Fund Revenue Budget as at Period 7 (15 October 2003). 

It was noted that the projected underspend was £115,000 and not £135,000 as identified in the report.

Noted

856

Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2004/05 - Progress

856

There was submitted a report dated 31 October 2003 by the Director of Finance on the progress of the Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2004/05.

Noted

857

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2003/05

857

Provost Rebecchi left the meeting at this point in business.

There was submitted a report dated 5 November 2003 by the Director of Finance on the position of the 2003/05 Non-HRA Capital Programme and comparing projected expenditure against capital consent limits.

Decided:

(1) that the request from the Health Improvement Committee on Aids and Adaptations be continued to the next ordinary meeting of the Policy and Strategy Committee in January;

(2) that the Health and Safety and Area Renewal Allocations be merged and retitled to Health and Safety, Business Continuity, Area Renewal and Regeneration (including match funding) and that it be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Director of Finance to progress the allocations as appropriate; and

(3) that the current position of the Non-HRA Capital Programme be otherwise noted.

858

Revenue and Capital Budget 2004/05 to 2005/06 - Update

858

There was submitted a report dated 17 November 2003 by the Director of Finance on the progress of the preparation of the Revenue and Capital Budgets for 2004/05 to 2005/06 for General Services and Housing Services and recommending that the Committee provide the policy framework in order to address the revenue budgetary gap.

Decided:

(1) that the policy commitment regarding the environment within the policy statement of 22 May 2003 be added to the Corporate Strategy policy framework;  and

(2) that the Policy Review Group meet as soon as possible to discuss the matter further.

859

Trading Accounts

859

Councillor Mitchell left at this item of business.

There was submitted a report dated 6 November 2003 by the Director of Finance advising of new financial reporting requirements  resulting from the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 and requesting the Committee to agree to the proposed list of Trading Operations.

Decided:

(1) that the activity listed in Appendix 1 to the report become formal Trading Operations in terms of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003;

(2) that the reporting proposals set out in paragraph 6 of the report be agreed; and

(3) that it be remitted to the Director of Finance to review the approved Trading Operations every twelve months and report any proposed changes to the Committee.

860

Property Assistance Capital Budget

860

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval for the use of a capital underspend on business loans to create a property assistance support capital budget of £48,000 to fund contributions towards the cost of property improvement works undertaken by small and medium sized enterprises.

Decided: that the Committee approve the sum of £48,000 from the business loans capital underspend to create a property assistance support capital budget within the Economic Development Service Capital Programme - Committed Expenditure for 2003/2004.

861

Port Glasgow Town Buildings - Upper Floor

861

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval for the refurbishment of the upper floor of the Port Glasgow Town Buildings to form office accommodation and conference facilities and open spaces suitable for a display area and conference suite.

Decided:

(1) that the Depute Chief Executive be authorised to enter into discussions with Historic Scotland to allow the project to move forward;

(2) that the Head of Economic Development Service be authorised to progress with the development proposals for Port Glasgow Town Buildings and be authorised to establish management arrangements for the operation of the building;

(3) that the Council’s contribution of £300,000 be drawn from the additional funds allocated by the Scottish Executive for the A8 Corridor proposal and from the Economic Development Service Property Budget; and

(4) that the Depute Chief Executive be authorised to procure consultants and all contract works in line with the Council’s Standing Orders relating to Contracts and the Council’s Financial Regulations.

862

Changing Children’s Services Fund

862

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community and Protective Services advising of the Changing Children’s Services Fund and seeking approval for its use during the current financial year.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee note and approve the deployment of the Changing Children’s Services Fund for the Inverclyde area; and

(2) that the Director of Community and Protective Services submit a further report to a future Committee on the progress of developments and proposals for deployment of the fund for 2004/05.

863

Meetings of Inverclyde Partnership Forum: 27 February, 30 April, 25 June and 24 September 2003

863

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community and Protective Services advising of the business discussed and decisions made at the Partnership Forum meetings of 27 February, 30 April, 25 June and 24 September 2003.

Decided:

(1) that the business conducted at the meetings be noted;

(2) that funding decisions be approved; and

(3) that it be remitted to the Director of Community and Protective Services to submit a report on the way forward for SIP funded projects, in particular exit strategies to cope with the merging of the SIP Partnership with the Inverclyde Alliance.

864

Local Government in Scotland Act 2003

864

There was submitted a report dated 6 November 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services advising of the terms of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 and the progress of guidance issued by the Scottish Executive relating to the terms of the Act.

As part of the consideration of the establishment in statute of Best Value the Chief Executive advised that Inverclyde Council would be in the first tranche of Councils to be audited in terms of Best Value and this could take approximately twenty weeks during 2004.  He advised he would submit a report on the matter as soon as possible.

Noted

865

Corporate Strategy

865

There was submitted a report dated 9 November 2003 by the Chief Executive requesting the Committee to approve the Corporate Strategy which was revised to take account of policy changes and other factors.

Decided: that the revised Corporate Strategy, to incorporate also a specific commitment on the environment drawn from the policy statement of May 2003, be agreed.

The Chairman being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Legal and Support Services was relevant, competent and urgent moved its consideration to allow the Committee to consider the request by Councillor Blair.  This was agreed unanimously in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

866

Committee Structure/Management Structure - Letter by Councillor Blair

866

There was submitted a report dated 17 November 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a letter received from Councillor Blair requesting that the Committee consider certain issues relating to the Committee and Management Structure of the Council.

Decided: that the Chief Executive submit a comprehensive report on the Committee and Management Structure of the Council to a special meeting of the Committee on Tuesday 2 December 2003 at 3.00 pm.

The Chairman being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Legal & Support Services was relevant, competent and urgent moved its consideration to allow the Committee to consider the changes to the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park agreement at the earliest opportunity.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

867

Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park

867

There was submitted a report dated 17 November 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services advising of proposed changes to the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park agreement.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee agree to the Park Consultative Committee being renamed the Consultative Forum with a membership as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report;

(2) that the Technical Support Group provide a mechanism for consultation and for conveying views direct to the Joint Committee; and

(3) that the Director of Legal & Support Services be authorised to effect the necessary changes to the Minute of Agreement among the Member Authorities.

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 paragraph 6 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

868

Inverclyde Leisure - Annual Review of Operations

868

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the performance of Inverclyde Leisure during the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2003 following the second annual general meeting of the Board of Directors which was held on 6 October 2003.

Decided:  that the satisfactory performance of Inverclyde Leisure during the financial year 2002/03 be noted.