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POLICY AND STRATEGY COMMITTEE - 6 APRIL 2004

 

 

Policy and Strategy Committee

 

Tuesday 6 April  2004 at 3.00 pm

 

 

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

 

 

Chair:  Councillor Blair presided.

 

 

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive, Director of Community Services, Director of Corporate Services, Director of Education Services, Director of Social Work Services, Head of Personnel Services, Head of Property Services, Head of Transportation and Roads Service and Managing Solicitor (Committees/Contracts).

 

 

Apologies:  Provost Rebecchi and Councillor Robertson.

 

259

Remits from Committees

259

 

It was noted that there were no remits from Committees.

 

260

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2004/05 - 2006/07

260

 

There was submitted a report dated 26 March 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services on the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2004/05 to 2006/07 appending the detailed programme of projects against the infrastructure capital budgets for Property (General), ICT and Roads.

 

 

Decided:

 

 

(1)      that the Committee note the confirmation of the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2004/05 to 2006/07 as approved;

 

 

(2)

(a) that with regard to the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2004-2005 (Appendix 2) the Committee:

(i)       approve the Non-HRA Capital Programme in the priorities detailed;

(ii)      agree that all projects listed be developed to tender stage as appropriate and that the works be programmed and tendered for completion throughout the financial year 2004/2005;

(iii)      approve the issue of tenders for all projects detailed and that acceptance be in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Section 12 of the Standing Orders relating to Contracts and, where Committee approval is required for the acceptance of tenders in accordance with Standing Orders, delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive for such acceptance subject to the total allocation for capital works not being exceeded;

(iv)     confirm that the number of projects put out to tender and subsequently accepted be subject to the cost limit of £1,000,000 (that cost limit must not be exceeded), in accordance with the Financial Regulations;

(v)      delegate to the Chief Executive authority to adjust the priorities detailed in the report by maintaining a continuous assessment of the said priorities in pursuance of the requirements of the Council and best value;

(vi)     agree that the provision of leisure and community facilities be reviewed and that a report thereon be submitted to the Committee as soon as possible and that the Birkmyre Project and Kilmacolm Village Centre Development Project be progressed as detailed in paragraph 4.2 of the report forming Appendix 2;

 

 

(b) that with regard to Essential Large Maintenance works the Committee note the recommendations set out in Appendix 3;

 

 

(c) that with regard to the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2004/05 to 2006/07 - ICT (Appendix 4) the Committee:

 

 

(i)       note the Capital Programme for ICT as attached as an appendix to the report forming Appendix 4;

(ii)      note that insufficient funding has been allocated to meet the budgeted costs and that should additional capital funding be identified to the Council the secondary list, which includes the ICT funding gap, will be progressed;  and

(iii)      that all efforts be made to reduce further expenditure through the procurement process;

 

 

(d) that with regard to the Transportation and Roads Service Capital Programme 2004/05 the Committee note the proposals contained within the appendix to the report forming Appendix 5;

 

 

(3)      that the Committee await a further report regarding vehicle and plant replacement;  and

 

 

(4)      that the Council’s requirement to comply with the Prudential Code be noted.

 

261

Treasury Management - Strategy 2004/05

261

 

There was submitted a report dated 19 March 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services (1) requesting the Committee to approve the Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators as required in terms of the Treasury Management Practice 6 - Reporting Requirements and Management Information Arrangements and (2) advising of the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities to be implemented from 1 April 2004.

 

 

Decided:  that the Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators be approved.

 

262

General Fund - Earmarked Resources

262

 

There was submitted a report dated 19 March 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services requesting the Committee to agree that certain unspent sums from 2003/04 be earmarked within the General Fund Revenue Reserve and spent during 2004/05.

 

 

Decided:  that any unspent balance as at 31 March 2004 in respect of the budgets detailed in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2, together with any other projects or budgets that are underspent which meet the relevant criteria, be carried forward to 2004/05.

 

263

Transfer of Land to General Fund from HRA

263

 

There was submitted a report dated 11 February 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services seeking approval of the proposed methodology for transferring land to the General Fund from the HRA as outlined in the report.

 

 

Decided:  that approval be given to the proposed methodology for transferring land to the General Fund from the HRA as outlined in the report.

 

 

264

 Megawatt

 

264

 

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services on a request for funding from the Common Good Fund to support the Megastars Competition 2004.

 

 

Councillors Forbes and Roach declared an interest in this matter and took no part in its consideration or decision.

 

 

Decided:  that the Committee confirm funding of £16,000 from the Common Good Fund to support the Megastars Competition 2004 and note the fresh information contained in the report.

 

265

Community Safety Partnership Award Programme

265

 

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services seeking approval of the report on the Community Safety Award Programme which forms the basis of the application for continued Scottish Executive funding.

 

 

Decided:

 

 

(1)      that the Community Safety Award Programme report for continued Scottish Executive funding be approved;

 

 

(2)      that decisions relating to expenditure be remitted to the Community Safety Partnership Sub-Committee;  and

 

 

(3)      that further reports be submitted to the Committee as appropriate to advise on the progress of the application.

 

266

Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership

266

 

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services (1) on the business conducted at meetings of the Partnership Forum held on 26 November 2003 and 3 February 2004 and (2) seeking approval of decisions taken at these meetings.

 

 

Decided:   that all the business conducted at the meetings of the Partnership Forum held on 26 November 2003 and 3 February 2004 be noted and that the funding decisions taken at these meetings be approved.

 

267

Revenue Budget 2003/04 - Period 11

267

 

There was submitted a report dated 22 March 2003 by the Director of Corporate Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2003/04 as at Period 11 (29 February 2004).

Noted

 

268

General Fund Revenue Budget 2003/04

268

 

There was submitted a report dated 24 March 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services (1) on the General Fund Revenue Budget 2003/04 as at 29 February 2004 and (2) advising of a projected underspend of £205,000, representing an increase of £135,000 since the last meeting.

 

 

Decided:  that the projected underspend of £205,000 be noted.

 

 

269

Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2004/05 - Progress

 

269

 

There was submitted a report dated 22 March 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services on the progress of the Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2004/05.

Noted

 

270

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2003/05

270

 

There was submitted a report dated 24 March 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services on the current position of the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2003/05.

 

 

Decided:  that the Committee note the current position of the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2003/05 and that the format of reports will be reviewed prior to the next Committee cycle.

 

271

Redeployment Exercise

271

 

There was submitted a report dated 30 March 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services updating the Committee on the position with the redeployment exercise arising from the savings exercise approved by the Committee at the meeting held on 12 February 2004, together with a note of the latest position circulated at the meeting.

Noted

 

 

Councillor McCabe left the meeting at this juncture.

 

272

Non-Domestic Rates Relief for Community Amateur Sports Clubs

272

 

There was submitted a report dated 23 March 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services requesting the Committee (1) to consider whether Community Amateur Sports Clubs registered with the Inland Revenue should be granted a minimum of 80% rate relief and (2) to reconsider the policy for granting relief to licensed sports clubs agreed by the Committee at its meeting on 25 April 2002.

 

 

Decided:

 

 

(1)      that the Committee agree to continue to award 80% relief to all registered Community Amateur Sports Clubs;

 

 

(2)      that it be agreed to continue to top this up to 100% for unlicensed registered clubs;

 

 

(3)      that the current discretionary relief policy for unlicensed sports clubs who do not register with the Inland Revenue be continued;  and

 

 

(4)      that the existing formula for calculating relief for licensed sports clubs with a minimum of 80% awarded to all registered clubs and any award above 80% in line with the formula be agreed.

 

 

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)

 

Non-Domestic Rates Relief for Community Amateur Sports

Clubs - Appendix                                                                                        6

 

Robert Street Home Zone - Environmental Improvement/

Community Art Project                                                                               6 and 8

 

 

273

Non-Domestic Rates Relief for Community Amateur Sports Club - Appendix

273

 

There was submitted Appendix relative to the above setting out all known clubs in Inverclyde assessed for rates.

Noted

 

274

Robert Street Homezone - Environmental Improvement/Community Art Project

274

 

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive (1) seeking approval to make an appointment for the design of the sculpture garden component of the Robert Street Homezone project and (2) recommending action in respect of land ownership issues.

 

 

Decided:

 

 

(1)      that Nina Saunders be appointed to design the sculpture garden component of the Robert Street Homezone project to a maximum value of £60,000;

 

 

(2)      that the Director of Legal and Support Services on behalf of the Council record a non domino Disposition over the subjects;  and

 

 

(3)      that the Director of Legal and Support Services investigate the necessity of obtaining title indemnity cover and, if required, obtain such cover.

 

 

 

POL-6Apr04/0