Policy and Strategy Committee

Thursday 12 February 2004 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Councillor Blair presided.

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Director of Community & Protective Services, Director of Corporate Services, Director of Education Services, Mr G Douglas (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Director of Social Work Services and Head of Property Services.

118

Remit from Economic Regeneration Committee - Inverclyde Local Plan: First Review, Final Draft 2002 - Legal Representation

118

There was submitted a report dated 28 January 2004 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Economic Regeneration Committee of 27 January 2004 that the Committee identify the necessary funding of £40,000-£60,000 for the appointment of external legal representation for the Local Plan Inquiry.

Decided:  that funding of £40,000-£60,000 be provided for the appointment of external legal representation for the Local Plan Inquiry.

119

Remit from Community Committee - Inverclyde Voluntary Sector Compact

119

There was submitted a report dated 2 February 2004 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Community Committee of 29 January 2004 that approval be given to the Inverclyde Voluntary Sector Compact.

Decided:  that the Inverclyde Voluntary Sector Compact appended to the report be approved.

120

ICT and e-Government Strategies

120

There was submitted a report dated 26 January 2004 by the Director of Finance seeking approval of the Council ICT and e-Government Strategies.

Mr J Lambert of PricewaterhouseCoopers was present and answered a number of questions in relation to the report.

(Provost Rebecchi left the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided: 

(1)      that it be remitted to the Director of Corporate Services to arrange a short workshop session for Members on the ICT and e-Government Strategies to be held at the conclusion of the Best Value &  Corporate Business Committee on 11 March 2004;

(2)      that the Committee approve the ICT and e-Government Strategies as detailed and in particular the recommendations identified at 3.4 and 4.3 of the report; and

(3)      that the Committee note the recommendations of the Corporate Management Team to ensure appropriate investment in ICT with an anticipated payback through the release of back office resources.

121

Revenue Budget 2003/04 - Period 9

121

There was submitted a report dated 21 January 2004 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 2003/04 as at period 9 (3 December 2003).

Noted

122

General Fund Revenue Budget 2003/04

122

There was submitted a report dated 22 January 2004 by the Director of Finance (1) on the General Fund Revenue Budget 2003/04 as at Period 9 (5 December 2003) and (2) advising of a projected underspend of £70,000.

Decided:

(1)      that the projected underspend of £70,000 be noted; and

(2)      that it be noted that the action proposed to address the Committee overspend in 2004/05 would be incorporated within the budget papers.

123

Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2004/05 - Progress

123

There was submitted a report dated 21 January 2004 by the Director of Finance on the progress of the Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2004/05.

Noted

124

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2003/05

124

There was submitted a report dated 22 January 2004 by the Director of Finance on the current position of the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2003/05.

Noted

125

Education Asset Management Strategy - Financial Implications Update

125

There was submitted a report dated 28 January 2004 by the Director of Finance providing an update on the financial implications of the Education Asset Management Strategy following the decisions made by the Education & Lifelong Learning Committee on 21 January 2004.

Decided:

(1)      that the current revised financial model resulting from the decisions made by the Education & Lifelong Learning Committee on 21 January 2004 be noted;

(2)      that it be noted that the financial model would be finalised and submitted to the Committee for consideration following the recommendations of the Cross Party Review Group on Secondary Education;

(3)      that it be noted that the Council would require to continue to make annual revenue provision for the excess capacity within the schools estate until such time as schools were closed; and

(4)      that it be noted that the funding position would require to be addressed as part of the Revenue Budget 2004/05 onwards. 

126

Standing Orders and Scheme of Administration and Cycle of Meetings

126

There was submitted a report dated 3 February 2004 by the Director of Legal & Support Services recommending adoption of the revised Standing Orders and Scheme of Administration agreed by the Standing Orders Working Group following the decisions of the Committee at its meetings on 2 and 18 December 2003.2

Decided: 

(1)      that The Inverclyde Council be recommended to adopt the revised Standing Orders and Scheme of Administration appended to the report; and

(2)      that it be recommended to the Council that the proposed cycle of meetings set out in Appendix 3 to the report be adopted and implemented immediately for the next two cycles of meetings.

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)

Remit from Economic Regeneration Committee - Planning

Appeal:  Proposed Residential Development of 4 Detached

Dwellinghouses at Hydro House, West Glen Road, Kilmacolm              6 & 9

Chief Officers Review and Management Structure                                        1

Special Waterfront Working Group                                                          6, 8 & 12

127

Remit from Economic Regeneration Committee - Planning Appeal:  Proposed Residential Development of 4 Detached Dwellinghouses at Hydro House, West Glen Road, Kilmacolm

127

There was submitted a report dated 28 January 2004 by the Director of Legal & Support Services requesting the Committee to homologate the action taken by Officers to allow payment of the expenses of the appellant in respect of the planning appeal relative to the proposed residential development of 4 detached dwellinghouses at Hydro House, West Glen Road, Kilmacolm.

Decided:  that the action taken be homologated.

128

Chief Officers Review and Management Structure

128

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive on the position regarding the appointment of the Director of Corporate Services and the review of the posts of Director of Finance Services and Director of Legal & Support Services.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee note the position regarding the appointment of the Director of Corporate Services and confirm that the post be titled “Director of Corporate Services”;

(2)      that the salary revisions in respect of the posts of Director of Finance Services and Director of Legal & Support Services with effect from 1 April 2003 be noted; and

(3)      that the Committee extend its congratulations to Mrs Carolyn Williamson on her appointment to the post of Director of Corporate Services.

129

Special Waterfront Working Group:  Minutes of Meetings of 27 October 2003 and 2 February 2004

129

There were submitted (1) minute of the meeting of the Special Waterfront Working Group of 27 October 2003 and (2) minute of the meeting of the Special Waterfront Working Group of 2 February 2004.

Decided:

(1)      that the minute of the Special Waterfront Working Group of 27 October 2003 be noted; and

(2)      that the decisions set out in the minute of the meeting of 2 February 2004 be approved.