Policy and Strategy Committee

Tuesday  19 September 2006 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Councillor Blair presided.

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

Apologies:  Councillor Roach.

616

Revenue Budget 2006/07 – Period 4

616

There was submitted a report by the Chief Financial Officer on the position of the 2006/07 Revenue Budget as at Period 4 (31 July 2006).

Decided: that the Committee note the outturn for 2005/06 and the current projected underspend of £44,000 for 2006/07 as at 31 July 2006.

617

General Fund Revenue Budget 2006/07 – Period 4

617

There was submitted a report by the Chief Financial Officer (1) on the position of the General Fund Revenue Budget 2006/07 as at Period 4 (31 July 2006) and (2) appending position statements in respect of earmarked reserves and deferred income.

Decided:

(1) that the Telecom Spend to Save Project, at an estimated cost of £505,000, be prudentially funded and added to the 2006/08 non-HRA Capital Programme; and

(2) that the report be otherwise noted.

618

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2006/08

618

There was submitted a report by the Chief Financial Officer (1) on the current position of the 2006/08 non-HRA Capital Programme and (2) bringing relevant matters to the Committee’s attention.

Noted

619

2007/08 Budget Update

619

There was submitted a report by the Chief Financial Officer (1) advising of the 2007/08 Budget progress and (2) seeking approval for a possible budget setting framework.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee note the current position of the 2007/08 General Fund Revenue Budget and Housing Revenue Account Budget; and

(2) that it be noted a further report on the 2007/08 budget process will be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

620

Council Projects – Use of Option Appraisal

620

There was submitted a report by the Chief Financial Officer (1) on a proposed framework for the implementation of an option appraisal process within the Council and (2) outlining the methodology by which the proposals set out in the report will be further refined and developed.

Decided:

(1) that approval be given to the circumstances where option appraisal requires to be carried out as set out in Section 7 of the report; and

(2) that the intention to report back to the Committee on option appraisal by April 2007 be noted and that it be remitted to the Chief Executive to incorporate any resource implications within the 2007/08 budget proposals.

621

Development of the Efficient Government Agenda within Inverclyde Council

621

There was submitted a report by the Chief Financial Officer (1) on the current position with regard to the development of a framework to address the challenges emerging from the Efficient Government Agenda and (2) setting out proposals for Elected Member involvement in the Efficient Government Agenda.

Decided:

(1) that approval be given to the proposals set out in the report for developing the involvement of Elected Members in the Efficient Government Agenda; and

(2) that the action taken by the Chief Executive and the Corporate Management Team in respect of the Efficient Government Agenda to date be noted.

622

River Clyde Homes Admission to Strathclyde Pension Fund

622

There was submitted a report by the Chief Financial Officer advising (1) that River Clyde Homes wished to join the Strathclyde Pension Fund, (2) that a guarantor was required to make good their contributions to the Pension Fund should they default on payment and (3) providing three options for the Council to follow for consideration by the Committee.

Councillors Mitchell and Robertson declared an interest in this matter as members of River Clyde Homes Board.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee agree that the Council provide a guarantee to Strathclyde Pension Fund that it will meet any pension liabilities for transferring Council employees only in the event of River Clyde Homes defaulting;

(2) that the Committee agree to the approach for splitting assets and liabilities with River Clyde Homes as detailed in Section 6.1 of the report; and

(3) that it be remitted to the appropriate officers to obtain formal assurance from River Clyde Homes that it will comply with the provisions described in Section 9.3 of the report.

(Councillors Fyfe and McCabe left the meeting following consideration of this item of business).

623

Graffiti Removal Programme

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services on the Council’s graffiti removal programme, with regard to both non-Council and Council assets, as requested by the Committee at the meeting held on 20 May 2006 (para 448).

623

(Councillors Fyfe and McCabe returned to the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Noted

624

Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003

624

There was submitted a report by the Solicitor to the Council seeking the Committee’s approval for the procedure to be adopted by the Council in dealing with requests for hearings in respect of fixed penalty notices issued under the provisions of the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                      that it be remitted to the Licensing and Registration Panel to deal with hearings requested under the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003; and

(2)                                                                                                      that authority be delegated to the Solicitor to the Council to deal with the administration of requests for hearings under the Act.

625

Housing Stock Transfer – Land, Property and Titles

625

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive (1) seeking approval to refine the policies on land transfer/retention as part of the Housing Stock Transfer process, (2) providing an update on progress being made on the title, land and property aspects of the process and (3) seeking agreement for a process for the detailed application of the policies.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                      that the Committee note the ongoing work of the Land, Property and Titles Task Group set up by the Stock Transfer Project Team; and

(2)                                                                                                      that the Committee approve the proposals set out in Section 6 of the report.

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)

Kilmacolm New Community Centre (KNCC)                                6 and 8

Release of Employees under the Council’s

Voluntary Severance Scheme                                                       1

Birkmyre Pavilion Tender Report and

Vacant Possession of the Property – Remit from

Best Value and Corporate Services Committee                         6, 8 and 12

626

Kilmacolm New Community Centre (KNCC)

626

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services advising  that the Cargill Trust had allocated £1m towards the cost of the Kilmacolm New Community Centre project and had requested the Council to increase its agreed funding package of £600,000 to match fund the £1m contribution.

Councillors Fyfe and White declared an interest in this matter as members of the Board of Directors of Kilmacolm New Community Centre Ltd.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                      that the terms of the £1m offered by the Cargill Trust towards the cost of the Kilmacolm New Community Centre project be accepted; and

(2)                                                                                                      that a further £400,000 be made available for the project from the non-HRA Capital Programme 2008/09 together with an estimated £100,000 from capital receipts arising from disposal in due course of the existing Community Centre and Branch Library, subject to the condition that a revised Business Plan be submitted by Kilmacolm New Community Centre Ltd identifying how they intend to generate the necessary funds to provide the revenue to run the proposed centre.

627

Release of Employees under the Council’s Voluntary Severance Scheme

627

There was submitted a report by Head of Personnel Services (1) advising of employees already released under the Council’s Voluntary Severance Scheme and (2) seeking approval for the release of certain other employees.

The Head of Personnel Services advised the Committee of the current Central Government review of the Council’s powers in respect of adding years of service and the potential impact on the proposals contained within the report.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                      that the Committee note the release of certain employees under the Council’s Voluntary Severance Scheme; and

(2)                                                                                                      that approval be given to the release of the other employees on the terms set out in the report and that authority be delegated to the Chief Executive to make any necessary adjustments to these terms brought about by the effects of statutory changes resulting from the Central Government review.

628

Birkmyre Pavilion Tender Report and Vacant Possession of the Property

628

Remit from Best Value and Corporate Services Committee

There was submitted a report by the Solicitor to the Council on a request from the meeting of the Best Value and Corporate Services Committee of 19 September 2006 relative to the tendering exercise for the refurbishment of the Birkmyre Pavilion that the Policy and Strategy Committee identify general fund revenue in the amount of £95,000 in 2007/08 to allow the refurbishment project to proceed, on the understanding that the net increase in cost to the general fund will not exceed £35,000.

After discussion, Councillor Snoddy moved that general fund revenue in the amount of £95,000 in 2007/08 be identified to allow the refurbishment of the Birkmyre Pavilion to proceed, on the understanding that the net increase in cost to the general fund will not exceed £35,000. As an amendment, Councillor McCabe moved that consideration of the matter be remitted back for further consideration by the Best Value and Corporate Services Committee at its next standing meeting.

On a vote, 3 Members voted for the amendment and 7 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided: that general fund revenue in the amount of £95,000 in 2007/08 be identified to allow the refurbishment of the Birkmyre Pavilion to proceed, on the understanding that the net increase in cost to the general fund will not exceed £35,000.