Policy and Strategy Committee

Tuesday 15 November 2005 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Councillor Blair presided.

In attendance:  Interim Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive, Director of Community Services, Director of Education Services, Chief Financial Officer, Mr G Douglas (for Solicitor to the Council) and Head of Property Services.

Apologies:  Councillor Hill.

899

Demolition of Surplus Houses Within School Grounds

Remit from Education & Lifelong Learning Committee

899

There was submitted a report dated 4 November 2005 by the Solicitor to the Council on a request from the Education & Lifelong Learning Committee of 18 October 2005 that the Policy & Strategy Committee approve the use of capital receipts for the demolition of surplus houses within school grounds in the amount of £128,000.

Decided:  that approval be given to the use of capital receipts for the demolition of surplus houses within school grounds in the amount of £128,000 subject to the further decision by the Education & Lifelong Learning Committee on the future of the property within Gourock High School grounds.

900

Revenue Budget 2005/06 - Period 6

900

There was submitted a report dated 18 October 2005 by the Chief Financial Officer on the position of the 2005/06 Revenue Budget as at Period 6 (30 September 2005).

Noted

901

General Fund Revenue Budget 2005/06 - Period 6

901

There was submitted a report dated 25 October 2005 by the Chief Financial Officer (1) on the position of the General Fund Revenue Budget 2005/06 as at Period 6 (30 September 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.

902

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

902

There was submitted a report dated 17 October 2005 by the Chief Financial Officer on the position of the Chief Executive's Capital Programme 2005/06 to 2007/08.

Decided:

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

(2)      that the Committee otherwise note the report.

903

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2005/08

903

There was submitted a report dated 26 October 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

904

General Services Revenue Budget 2006/07 to 2007/08

904

There was submitted a report dated 26 October 2005 by the Chief Financial Officer on the progress made to ensure that the Council can 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;  and

(2)      that the progress of the service/efficiency reviews contained in appendix 2 to the report be noted.

905

Capital Expenditure Policy/Guide for the Council

905

There was submitted a report dated 27 October 2005 by the Chief Financial Officer seeking approval of a policy for the definition of capital expenditure throughout the Council in line with the requirements of the statement of recommended practice approved by the Scottish Executive, LASAAC and CIPFA, a copy of which was appended to the report.

Decided:

(1)      that the capital expenditure policy and guidance appended to the report be approved;

(2)      that the action detailed in section 3 of the report be noted;  and

(3)      that the Committee note that a review of capital and revenue expenditure will be completed for 2005/06 onwards and that the impact will be reported to the next meeting of the Policy & Strategy Committee.

906

Progress Report - Better Neighbourhood Services Fund

906

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

Decided:

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

(2)      that the Committee note the progress of the capital projects and the impact of staff retention both of which are being closely monitored.

(Councillor Mitchell left the meeting following consideration of this item of business).

907

Regeneration Outcome Agreement

907

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive (1) advising that the Scottish Executive had approved Inverclyde's Regeneration Outcome Agreement for 2005-08 and related Community Regeneration Fund expenditure of £14.634m over the same period and (2) providing details of the interim arrangements for 2005/06 and administrative and financial monitoring.n

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee note approval of the Regeneration Outcome Agreement and extend congratulations to the Council Officers involved in its preparation;  and

(2)      that it be noted regular monitoring reports will be submitted to the Committee by the Depute Chief Executive.

908

Riverside Inverclyde

908

It was agreed that consideration of this item be continued to a special meeting of the Committee to be held on Tuesday 22 November 2005 at 3 pm within the Municipal Buildings, Greenock.

909

Audit of Best Value and Community Planning

Establishing of Officer/Member Groups

909

It was agreed that consideration of this item be continued to the next ordinary meeting of the Committee.

910

Cleaner, Greener and Safer Inverclyde Policy

910

There was submitted a report dated 27 October 2005 by the Director of Community Services seeking approval of a draft Cleaner, Greener and Safer Inverclyde policy, a copy of which was appended to the report.

Decided:

(1)      that the draft policy appended to the report be approved;

(2)      that it be remitted to the Director of Community Services to arrange a joint conference with Officers and community representatives to allow consultation on the policy;  and

(3)      that it be remitted to the Director of Community Services to finalise the policy following the consultation exercise and to arrange distribution as appropriate.

911

Children's Services Plan 2005-2008

911

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services seeking approval of the Children's Services Plan 2005-2008 prepared by the Council, NHS Argyll & Clyde, Strathclyde Police, CVS Inverclyde and Women's Aid.

Decided:

(1)      that (a) a full copy of the Children's Services Plan be circulated to all Elected Members as soon as possible to allow a further opportunity for any Member to raise any significant issue and (b) subject to the foregoing it be recommended to the Council that the draft Children's Services Plan 2005-2008 be approved;

(2)      that it be remitted to the Director of Community Services to arrange a seminar on the contents of the Plan for Elected Members, representatives of NHS Argyll & Clyde and the voluntary sector;  and

(3)      that a report on the governance issues, highlighted in section 3 of the report, be presented to the Alliance Board at its meeting in December 2005.

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 item on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 9 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

912

Pottery Street Redevelopment Area - Financial Model

Remit from Environment & Regeneration Committee

912

There was submitted a report dated 2 November 2005 by the Solicitor to the Council on a request from the Environment & Regeneration Committee of 1 November 2005 that the Policy & Strategy Committee approve reinvestment of the capital receipts from the sale of sites estimated to be valued at £810,000 within the project.

Decided:  that approval be given to reinvestment of the capital receipts from the sale of sites estimated to be valued at £810,000 within the project.