Policy and Strategy Committee

Tuesday 20 September 2005 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Blair, Fyfe, McCabe, McCormick (M), Mitchell,  Roach,  Robertson, Snoddy and White.

Chair:  Councillor Blair presided.

In attendance: Depute Chief Executive, Director of Community Services, Director of Education Services, Chief Financial Officer, Solicitor to the Council, Head of Property Services and Managing Solicitor (Committees/Contracts).

Apologies:  Councillors Forbes and Hill.

718

Knocknairshill Cemetery - Phase 5 Development: Funding

Remit from Community Committee

718

There was submitted a report dated 31 August 2005 by the Solicitor to the Council on a request from the Community Committee of 25 August 2005 that the Policy and Strategy Committee (1) provide the £1.32m capital funding required for Phase 5 of the development of Knocknairshill Cemetery and (2) agree in principle the sum of £76,000 to meet the annual landscape maintenance costs from 2008/09 onwards.

Decided:

(1)      that £1.32m capital funding be allocated for Phase 5 of the development of Knocknairshill Cemetery; and

(2)      that agreement in principle be given to the allocation of £76,000 to meet the annual landscape maintenance costs from 2008/09 onwards.

719

Revenue Budget 2005/06 - Period 4

719

There was submitted a report dated 26 August 2005 by the Chief Financial Officer on the out-turn position of the 2004/05 Revenue Budget and the position of the 2005/06 Revenue Budget as at Period 4 (31 July 2005).

Noted

720

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

720

There was submitted a report dated 24 August 2005 by the Chief Financial Officer on the position of the Chief Executive’s Capital Programme 2005/06 to 2007/08.

Noted

721

2004/05 Budget -v- Actual Out-Turn

721

There was submitted a report dated 30 August 2005 by the Chief Financial Officer highlighting the areas where there was a significant variance between the 2004/05 budget and the actual out-turn.

Noted

722

General Fund Revenue Budget 2005/06 - Period 4

722

There was submitted a report dated 30 August 2005 by the Chief Financial Officer (1) on the position of the General Fund Revenue Budget 2005/06 as at Period 4 (31 July 2005) and (2) appending a position statement in respect of earmarked reserves.

Decided:

(1)      that the progress in respect of earmarked reserves as set out in appendix 2 to the report be noted; and

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

723

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2005/08

723

There was submitted a report dated 6 September 2005 by the Chief Financial Officer (1) on the current position of the 2005/08 Non-HRA Capital Programme and (2)  comparing projected expenditure against available resources.

Noted

724

General Services Revenue Budget 2006/07 to 2007/08

724

There was submitted a report dated 7 September 2005 by the Chief Financial Officer highlighting the actions which require 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 progress made in respect of the actions agreed on 31 May 2005 (para 503) and confirm that the Plan requires to be delivered by early December 2005;

(2)      that the proposal for a presentation by the Corporate Management Team on budget options to be held in early October 2005 be approved;

(3)      that it be confirmed that the Service/Efficiency Reviews contained in appendix 2 to the report be completed and costed in sufficient time to allow the outcomes to be factored into the 2006/08 budget process; and

(4)      that the 2006/08 budget draft timetable set out in appendix 3 to the report be approved.

725

Better Neighbourhood Services Fund - Progress Report

725

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive on the progress of the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund (BNSF) since May 2005.

Decided:

(1)      that the progress of the BNSF in Inverclyde be noted; and

(2)      that it be noted that while several of the delayed capital projects had now commenced, a number of projects were yet to start and that there was concern regarding retention of staff in the final year of the programme.

726

The Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003

726

There was submitted a report by the Solicitor to the Council (1) describing the provisions of the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003 with particular reference to the effects of the Act on requirements for Disclosure Checks on Members and (2) recommending procedures to ensure that the Council complies with the provisions of the Act.

Decided:

(1)      that it be agreed that Disclosure Checks be obtained on all persons subsequently nominated for membership of relevant Committees, Sub-Committees and Working Parties;

(2)      that once Section 11(3)(b) of the Act is in force, Disclosure Checks be sought in respect of all Members; and

(3)      that authority be delegated to the Council’s Monitoring Officer (the Solicitor to the Council) to carry out Disclosure Checks and to adopt appropriate procedures in respect of keeping information up to date and maintaining confidentiality.