Policy and Strategy Committee

Tuesday 31 May 2005 at 3.00 pm

Present:  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 Services, Director of Corporate Services, Director of Education Services, Head of Finance Services, Mr G Douglas (for Head of Legal Services) and Head of Property Services.

Apologies:  Councillor Nimmo.

498

Birkmyre Trust - Pavilion Upgrade:  Costings Update

Remit from Best Value and Corporate Services Committee

498

There was submitted a report dated 25 May 2005 by the Director of Corporate Services on a request from the Best Value and Corporate Services Committee of 19 May 2005 that the Policy and Strategy Committee consider allocating £400,000 from the Capital Programme to allow either of the two schemes detailed in the report to the Best Value and Corporate Services Committee to progress.

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

Following discussion, Councillor Fyfe moved that the Committee allocate £400,000 from the Capital Programme to allow either of the two schemes detailed in the report to the Best Value and Corporate Services Committee to progress.  As an amendment, Councillor McCabe moved (1) that the new costs for the project as detailed in paragraph 3.1 of the report to the Best Value and Corporate Services Committee be noted and accepted; (2) that Inverclyde Leisure be asked to submit, for approval by the Council, a robust Business Plan, following consultation with Finance Services, detailing how it will fund the new Prudential Borrowing cost of £995,000; (3) that the Policy and Strategy Committee allocate £400,000 from the Capital Programme to allow the refurbishment of the pavilion to proceed or, alternatively, £265,000 to allow the refurbishment of the pavilion together with an extension and gymnasium to progress;  and (4) that officers enter into discussion with Duchal Nursery to ascertain whether the Nursery could, in the event of the refurbishment only option proceeding, contribute any funding to the scheme.  It was noted that there was no opposition to part (4) of Councillor McCabe’s amendment.

On a vote, 4 Members voted for the amendment and 6 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided:  that the Committee allocate £400,000 from the Capital Programme to allow either of the two schemes detailed in the report to the Best Value and Corporate Services Committee to progress.

499

Home Care Service Modernisation

Remit from Health and Social Care Committee

499

There was submitted a report dated May 2005 by the Chief Executive on a request from the Health and Social Care Committee that the Policy and Strategy Committee approve proposals for the modernisation of home care services.

Decided:  that the Committee approve the modernisation of home care services as outlined in the report and that the ongoing revenue costs of £718,000 be funded from increased social care resources provided by the Scottish Executive from 2006/07 onwards.

500

General Fund Revenue Budget 2005/06 - Period 1

500

There was submitted a report dated 12 May 2005 by the Director of Corporate Services on the position of the General Fund Revenue Budget 2005/06 as at Period 1 (30 April 2005).

Decided:

(1)      that approval be given to the addition of the Supporting People capital projects to the earmarked reserves list;  and

(2)      that the position of the General Fund Revenue Budget 2005/06 be noted.

501

Chief Executive’s Capital Programme 2005/06 to 2007/08

501

There was submitted a report dated 21 April 2005 by the Director of Corporate Services on the position of the Chief Executive’s Capital Programme 2005/06 to 2007/08.

Decided:

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

(2)      that the Committee otherwise note the report.

502

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2005/08

502

There was submitted a report dated 17 May 2005 by the Director of Corporate Services (1) on the current position of the 2005/08 Non-HRA Capital Programme and (2) comparing projected expenditure against available resources.

Noted

503

General Services Revenue Budget 2006/07 to 2007/08

503

There was submitted a report dated 18 May 2005 by the Director of Corporate Services on the actions which need to be progressed in order to ensure that the Council is in a position to set a legally balanced budget for 2006/07 and 2007/08 within an appropriately managed framework.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee note the significant challenge in preparing to set a legally balanced budget for  2006/07 and 2007/08 within the constraints of the 2004 spending review, coupled with the projected out-turn for Building Services and the aspirations regarding Service developments, in particular Riverside Inverclyde;  and

(2)      that approval be given to the progress and actions required as identified within paragraphs 3.1 to 3.9 of the report.

504

Impact of FRS17 on Trading Operations

504

There was submitted a report dated 28 April 2005 by the Director of Corporate Services (1) highlighting the impact on the Council’s Trading Operations of changes made to the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) in 2004/05 and (2) recommending a course of action in order to ensure that the Trading Operations position is protected.

Decided:  that approval be given to an increase in income for all Trading Operations to offset the increase in notional pension liabilities arising from the change of accounting practice introduced in 2004/05.ˆ

505

Progress Report - Better Neighbourhood Services Fund

505

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive providing a brief update on the progress of the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund since March 2005.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee note the progress of the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund in Inverclyde;

(2)      that it be noted that the Year 4 programme commenced, as planned, in new financial year 2005/06;  and

(3)      that it be noted that several of the delayed capital projects have now commenced but that some projects are yet to commence and that there is concern about the retention of staff in the final year of the programme.

506

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

506

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services (1) informing the Committee of the work of the newly appointed Children’s Rights and Information Officer and (2) identifying ways in which the Council might fully take on board the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee note the contents of the report and recognise the importance of children’s rights by formally adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child;

(2)      that the Council commit to continuing to improve services to ensure that it consistently works within the parameters of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and ensures that policies, strategies and practice reflect this;  and

(3)      that the Council take the lead in encouraging all agencies providing a service to children and young people to uphold children’s rights, primarily through the use of the Children’s Rights Checklist.

507

Proposed Policy to Deal with Graffiti in the Inverclyde Area

507

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive and the Director of Community Services (1) outlining the scale of graffiti in Inverclyde and the existing approaches by the Council and other agencies to deal with the problem, (2) on the feasibility of extending the existing Council service and (3) setting out proposals for a policy to deal with graffiti, together with the financial implications.

Decided:

(1)      that the outcome of the survey and consultation with the non-Council asset and property owners be noted;

(2)      that the Council adopt as a pilot scheme the policy set out in the report; and

(3)      that a formal review of the pilot scheme be undertaken and the outcome reported to the Community Committee in September 2005, in order to inform the 2006/07 budget process.

508

Best Value

508

There was submitted a report dated 26 May 2005 by the Chief Executive setting out proposals to increase capacity to meet the requirements of the Statutory Duty of Best Value, to improve corporate management and reporting arrangements and to improve corporate governance arrangements.

Decided:

(1)      that agreement be given to the establishment and immediate advertisement of the posts of Corporate Policy Officer at salary grade PO8 (£31,860 - £34,173) and Corporate Performance Management Officer at salary grade PO8 (£31,860 - £34,173) as outlined in appendices 1 and 2 of the report;

(2)      that agreement be given to a large scale residents’ survey being undertaken on a biennial basis;

(3)      that funding for the baseline data gathering, external reviews and training and development be approved;  and

(4)      that the costs in 2005/06 be met from the retitled Corporate Development and Continuous Improvement Budget and that the ongoing costs, estimated at around £125,000, be included in the 2006/07 budget onwards.

The Convener being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Education Services was relevant, competent and urgent moved its consideration to allow the Committee, if in agreement, to approve proposals to satisfy the requirements of Sportscotland and allow the planning application for a new secondary school at Ravenscraig Pitches to proceed.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

509

Greenock High School - Future Development of Sports Pitches

509

There was submitted a report dated May 2005 by the Director of Education Services setting out proposals to satisfy the requirements of Sportscotland to allow the planning application for the new secondary school at Ravenscraig Pitches, to be considered by the Planning and Traffic Management Committee at the meeting on 1 June 2005, to proceed.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee agree in principle that sports facilities be retained at the Greenock High School site and that as a minimum the two blaes pitches be upgraded to at least the standard of the existing Ravenscraig Pitches, the grass pitch has its drainage upgraded and the existing gym block be retained as changing accommodation;  and

(2)      that the Committee note that following the publication of a Sports Strategy for Inverclyde and consultations with Sportscotland and the Head of Planning Services firm proposals with costs will be drawn up and brought back to the Committee for approval, which will require consideration of funding requirements.

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 during consideration of 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)

McPherson Centre Phase 3, Gourock                                                    

Final Account                                                                                               6 and 8

Loan to Inverclyde Leisure - Waterfront Leisure Centre

Changing Accommodation                                                                         6

510

McPherson Centre Phase 3, Gourock

Final Account

510

There was submitted a report dated May 2005 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking authority to finalise the account with the contractor for the construction of the McPherson Centre Phase 3, Gourock and the Committee agreed to the action recommended, all as detailed in the appendix.

511

Loan to Inverclyde Leisure - Waterfront Leisure Centre Changing Accommodation

511

There was submitted a report dated 10 May 2005 by the Director of Corporate Services making recommendations with regard to a previously approved loan to Inverclyde Leisure for the purpose of upgrading the changing accommodation within the Waterfront Leisure Centre.

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

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee agree to increase the maximum value of the loan to Inverclyde Leisure to £210,000 to allow Inverclyde Leisure to amend the internal changing accommodation within the Waterfront Leisure Complex;  and

(2)      that it be remitted to officers to conclude the details of the loan with Inverclyde Leisure.