Policy and Strategy Committee

Tuesday 16 November 2004 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Councillor Blair presided.

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

Apologies:  Councillors Roach and Snoddy.

841

Remits from Committees

841

It was noted that there were no remits from Committees.

842

Revenue Budget 2004/05 - Period 6

842

There was submitted a report dated 2 November 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2004/05 as at period 6 (30 September 2004).

Noted

843

General Fund Revenue Budget 2004/05 - Period 6

843

There was submitted a report dated 4 November 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services on the position of the General Fund Revenue Budget 2004/05 as at period 6 (30 September 2004).

Noted

844

Chief Executive’s Capital Programme 2004/05 - 2006/07

844

There was submitted a report dated 2 November 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services on the position of the Chief Executive’s Capital Programme 2004/05 to 2006/07.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee note the progress on the specific projects detailed in the appendix to the report; and

(2)      that the Committee otherwise note the report.

845

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2004/07

845

There was submitted a report dated 3 November 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services (1) on the current position of the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2004/07 and (2) comparing projected expenditure against available resources.

Decided:  that the Committee note the current position of the 2004/07 Non-HRA Capital Programme and agree that no secondary projects be progressed at this point in time pending a review of the policy of selling shops in Cathcart Street.

846

General Services Revenue Budget 2005/06 Onwards

846

There was submitted a report dated 8 November 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services (1) providing an update on progress made in the preparation of the General Services Revenue Budget for 2005/06 onwards and (2) advising of the initial outcome of the 2004 spending review.

After discussion, Councillor Blair moved (1) that the contents of the report regarding the current position be noted; (2) that the recommendations of the Corporate Management Team regarding the Reserves as set out in the report be agreed; and (3) that a further more detailed report be awaited, the report to be presented to the timetabled special meeting of the Committee on 14 December 2004.

As an amendment to (2), Councillor McCabe moved that the recommendations of the Corporate Management Team regarding the Reserves be noted pending submission of the further more detailed report to the Committee.

On a vote, 3 Members voted for the amendment and 6 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided:

(1) that the contents of the report regarding the current position be noted;

(2) that the recommendations of the Corporate Management Team regarding the Reserves as set out in the report be agreed; and

(3) that a further more detailed report be awaited, the report to be presented to the timetabled special meeting of the Committee on 14 December 2004.

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)

Chief Officers Review                                                                                     1

Waterfront Leisure Centre - Proposal by Inverclyde Leisure                    6

847

Chief Officers Review

847

There was submitted a report dated 12 November 2004 by the Chief Executive (1) requesting the Committee to finalise the grading of 3 Chief Officer posts and (2) to agree that the position regarding the proposed structure of Community Services be dealt with as part of the final determination of the Chief Officers structure.

Following a vote, it was agreed that consideration of the matter be continued to a special meeting of the Committee to be held on a date to be arranged prior to the meeting of The Inverclyde Council on 2 December 2004, all as detailed in the appendix.

848

Waterfront Leisure Centre - Proposal by Inverclyde Leisure

848

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services seeking the Committee’s support for a proposal by Inverclyde Leisure to change the internal layout of the Waterfront Leisure Centre and recommending that the Committee support the proposal.

Councillors Blair, Forbes and Fyfe declared an interest in this matter as Directors of Inverclyde Leisure Trust.

Following a vote, the Committee agreed to support the proposal by Inverclyde Leisure to change the internal layout of the Waterfront Leisure Centre and that the work be funded through the Prudential Framework, all as detailed in the appendix.