Policy and Strategy Committee

Tuesday 30 May 2006 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Councillor Blair presided.

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

437

Remits from Committees

437

It was noted that there were no remits from Committees.

438

General Fund Revenue Budget 2006/07

438

There was submitted a report dated 11 May 2006 by the Chief Financial Officer on the current position of the 2006/07 Revenue Budget and Earmarked Reserves/Deferred Income.

Noted

439

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2006/08

439

There was submitted a report dated 15 May 2006 by the Chief Financial Officer on the current position of the 2006/08 Non-HRA Capital Programme.

Noted

440

Financial Strategy Update

440

There was submitted a report dated 8 May 2006 by the Chief Financial Officer (1) on the amended timescales for the production of the Financial Strategy and (2) advising of the proposal to progress the area of Option Appraisal as a separate exercise in advance of the overall Strategy.

Decided:

(1)   that the new timescales for the finalisation of the Council’s Financial Strategy be noted;  and

(2)   that it be noted that a report on the Option Appraisal process would be submitted to the first meeting of the Committee following the summer recess.

441

Progress Report - Better Neighbourhood Services Fund

441

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive on the progress of the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund (BNSF) up to the end of the programme on 31 March 2006.

Decided:  that the Committee note the final estimate of spend for Inverclyde’s BNSF programme and the intention to submit the final Annual Report no later than the first week in June 2006.

442

Progress Report - Community Regeneration Fund

442

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive on (1) the final position of the 2005/06 Community Regeneration Fund and (2) the progress of the Programme in 2006/07.

Noted

443

Appointment Processes

443

There was submitted a report dated 18 April 2006 by the Chief Executive on new policies for the appointment of Chief Officers comprising (1) the membership of appointment panels and (2) the selection procedure to be followed by the panels.

Decided:

(1)   that the composition of appointment panels for Director and Head of Service posts be as set out in the report, the political balance of Elected Members in the present Council being 4 Members of the Majority Group and 2 Members of the Minority Group for Director posts and 2 Members of the Majority Group and 1 Member of the Minority Group for Head of Service posts;

(2)   that the appointments follow a secret ballot process, conducted in successive rounds, until a two thirds majority of those present and voting is secured;

(3)   that agreement be given to a general policy of obtaining feedback from peer appraisal (through presentation and question and answer sessions) and of having short presentations to the interview panel with some set questions supplemented by specific questions to each candidate; and

(4)   that agreement be given to the use of occupational personality questionnaires for Director level appointments.

444

Proposals for Revised Committee Reports Format and Processes

444

There was submitted a report dated 30 May 2006 by the Chief Executive recommending the introduction of a consistent and improved professional format for the preparation and submission of high standard reports to Council Committees.

Decided:

(1)   that the revised process for increased collegiate working and earlier Elected Member involvement in the development of revised or new Council Policies as described in the report be implemented;

(2)   that a formal process for the timely operation of Pre-Agenda meetings be introduced and rigorously applied, as described in the report;  and

(3)   that a revised format and style of reports be introduced and consistently adopted throughout the Council, as described in the report.

445

Management of Change Programme:   (a) Members’ Support and (b) Officer-Member Relations

445

There was submitted a report dated 30 May 2006 by the Chief Executive proposing, as part of the Council’s Management of Change Programme devised following the Audit of Best Value and Community Planning report published in May 2005, (1) the adoption of a Professional Development Programme for Members and (2) the adoption of recommendations in respect of Officer-Member relations.

Decided:

(1)   that approval be given to the Professional Development Programme as outlined in appendix 1 to the report;

(2)   that agreement be given to the elements highlighted in paragraph 5.4, namely that (a) Induction Seminars for new Members, (b) The Councillors’ Code of Conduct and Standards, (c) Data Protection and Freedom of Information, (d) Audit Functions, (e) Training for Members who serve on Committees that exercise quasi-judicial functions, (f) Best Value and Scrutiny Role (including Performance Management) and (g) Corporate Governance are compulsory for all Members;

(3)   that it be agreed that all Members be required to complete a minimum of 10 hours professional development per year;

(4)   that it be agreed that the Member/Officer Working Group referred to in paragraph 2.4 be established only following a review of overall progress on the Management of Change Programme;

(5)   that it be agreed that the externally facilitated seminar referred to in the Management of Change Programme be arranged to take place in August/September 2006;  and

(6)   that it be agreed that a financial provision for the delivery of the Professional Development Programme be incorporated within the 2007/08 draft budget proposals.

446

Residents’ Magazine

446

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive on the readers’ feedback from the first issue of InView, the residents’ magazine distributed to every household in January and February 2006.

Following discussion, Councillor Blair moved (1) that the responses received to the survey form which was issued with the residents’ magazine distributed earlier in 2006 be noted; (2) (a) that agreement be given to the production of a residents’ magazine on a quarterly basis in each financial year, except in local government election years in which case only three editions be published, and (b) that in financial year 2006/07, only two editions be produced with no magazine being published between 1 January and 3 May 2007, the date of the local government election;  and (3) that the costs be contained within the Chief Executive’s budget.

As an amendment, Councillor McCabe moved that no decision be taken in relation to a residents’ magazine pending consideration of a report by the Chief Executive on a proposed corporate communications strategy.  On a vote, 4 Members voted for the amendment and 6 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided: 

(1)   that the responses received to the survey form which was issued with the residents’ magazine distributed earlier in 2006 be noted; 

(2)   (a) that agreement be given to the production of a residents’ magazine on a quarterly basis in each financial year except in local government election years in which case only three editions be published, and (b) that in financial year 2006/07 only two editions be produced with no magazine being published between 1 January and 3 May 2007, the date of the local government election;  and

(3)   that the costs be contained within the Chief Executive’s budget.

447

Draft Corporate Plan 2006/07

447

Corporate Plan 2007/11 - Development Proposals

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services seeking approval of (1) the Draft Corporate Plan 2006/07 as set out in appendix 1 to the report and (2) proposals for the development of the new Corporate Plan for 2007/11 including monitoring arrangements.

There was circulated to the Committee, amended paper relative to aims 1 to 4 under Priority 1 (Promoting Economic Development).

The meeting was adjourned at 4 pm to allow The Inverclyde Council to meet and was reconvened at 4.15 pm.

Decided:

(1)   that agreement be given to the Corporate Plan 2006/07 and the additional paper circulated subject to the revision of details within the document as intimated to the Director of Community Services; and

(2)   that approval be given to the development proposals for the production of the Corporate Plan 2007/11 (and beyond) incorporating a longer and wider consultation exercise along with in-built monitoring arrangements.

448

Cleaner, Greener, Safer and Stronger Inverclyde - Policy and Procedures Statement

448

There was submitted a report dated 12 May 2006 by the Director of Community Services presenting an updated version of the Cleaner, Greener, Safer Inverclyde Policy.

Decided:

(1)   that approval be given to the Cleaner, Greener, Safer and Stronger Inverclyde Policy and Procedures Statement subject to strengthening of the wording in respect of (a) the Eco Schools Programme and (b) Anti-Social Behaviour to emphasise that Anti-Social Behaviour Orders will be used by the Council in appropriate circumstances;

(2)   that it be remitted to the Director of Community Services to consult with community representatives on the document;

(3)   that it be remitted to the Director of Community Services thereafter to arrange distribution and promotion of the Policy and Procedures Statement as appropriate;  and

(4)   that it be remitted to the Director of Community Services to report to the next meeting of the Committee on the operation of the graffiti removal programme including information on the use of resources, the effectiveness of the programme and proposed response times for removal of graffiti which is not deemed to be offensive, racist or sectarian.

449

Paddle Steamer Waverley

449

There was submitted a report dated 25 April 2006 by the Depute Chief Executive on a request made by the PS Waverley for financial support of £10,000 from Inverclyde Council.

Decided:

(1)   that the Council confirm as a policy to provide support to the PS Waverley;

(2)   that discussions take place with other relevant local authorities with a view to examining options for providing support;

(3)   that in any event, it be remitted to the appropriate Officers to determine ways in which Inverclyde Council, as an individual authority, can give assistance to the PS Waverley;

(4)   that to facilitate these proposals, discussions take place with officials of the companies operating the PS Waverley Ltd and VisitScotland;  and

(5)   that the operating companies be requested to submit a copy of the Business Plan for the PS Waverley’s activities and its accounts.

450

Royal Navy:  HMS Clyde

450

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive (1) on a proposal from the Royal Navy to affiliate to  HMS Clyde for the purpose of developing and maintaining relationships between the ship and the community of Inverclyde and (2) recommending acceptance of the proposal.

Decided:

(1)   that the Council support and develop an affiliation with HMS Clyde and remit it to the Depute Chief Executive to develop a partnership proposal for joint approval by the Council and the Royal Navy;  and

(2)   that reports be submitted to future meetings of the Committee on any affiliation projects which are developed prior to entering into any legal commitments.