Policy and Strategy Committee

Tuesday 14 November 2006 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Councillor Blair presided.

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Corporate Director Improvement and Performance, Head of Finance, Mr G Douglas (for Head of Legal and Administration), Acting Head of Service – Educational Development, Head of Support and Development, Head of Property Services, Head of Economic Development Service and Head of Personnel Services.

810

External Audit Progress Report – Capital Strategy: Remit from Audit Committee

810

There was submitted a report by the Head of Legal and Administration on a remit from the Audit Committee of 26 October 2006 requesting the Committee to consider the Capital Strategy which had been included in the progress report by the Council’s external auditors.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                    that the report be noted; and

(2)                                                                                                    that a report on progress in addressing the issues raised in the Capital Strategy report be submitted to the meeting of the Committee on 3 April 2007.

811

External Audit Progress Report – Efficient Government Position Statement: Remit from Audit Committee

811

There was submitted a report by the Head of Legal and Administration on a remit from the Audit Committee of 26 October 2006 requesting the Committee to consider the Efficient Government Position Statement which had been included in the progress report by the Council’s external auditors.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                    that the report be noted; and

(2)                                                                                                    that a report on progress in addressing the issues raised in the Efficient Government Position Statement be submitted to the meeting of the Committee on 3 April 2007.

812

Disability Discrimination Act Compliance – Remit from Audit Committee

812

There was submitted a report by the Head of Legal and Administration on a remit from the Audit Committee of 26 October 2006 requesting the Committee to consider the issues arising from the report by the Depute Chief Executive on the progress which the Council is making in achieving compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and proposals for further actions to meet the requirements of the Act.

During the course of the discussion, the Chief Executive undertook to provide all Members with information on the comparative performance of other local authorities in respect of DDA compliance.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                    that the report be noted; and

(2)                                                                                                    that the action being taken in connection with the strategy for property asset compliance and to complete and implement the Disability Equality Scheme be approved.

813

Revenue Budget 2006/07 – Period 6

813

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance on the position of the 2006/07 Revenue Budget as at Period 6 (30 September 2006) which showed a  projected underspend of £373,000.

Noted

814

General Fund Revenue Budget 2006/07 – Period 6

814

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance (1) on the position of the General Fund Revenue Budget 2006/07 as at Period 6 and (2) appending position statements in respect of earmarked reserves and deferred income projects.

Noted

815

Non-HRA Capital Programme 2006/08

815

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

Noted

816

2007/08 Budget Process

816

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance (1) outlining the proposed budget setting process for 2007/08 and (2) seeking approval for the outline timetable and related process.

Decided:  that the process and timescales relative to the 2007/08 budget process as detailed in the appendix to the report be approved.

817

2006/07 – Approved Reviews

817

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Improvement and Performance providing an update on each of the 16 approved reviews agreed by the Council on 9 February 2006.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                    that the progress of the 2006/07 approved reviews be noted; and

(2)                                                                                                    that it be noted that a framework for the 2007/08 reviews will be developed as part of the ongoing budget process.

818

Community Benefits in Training and Employment

818

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval to engage with Council services, public sector organisations, partners and the private sector in order that an audit of existing training and employment interventions can take place, with a view to developing a strategic framework/model to maximise training interventions leading to employment in Inverclyde.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                    that delegated authority be granted to the Head of Economic Development Service to carry out a benchmarking exercise for local training and employment opportunities in conjunction with other relevant Heads of Service and partners; and

(2)                                                                                                    that it be remitted to the Chief Executive to carry out an options appraisal for training delivery options and that this be the subject of a separate report to the Committee.

819

Christmas Lunches and Christmas Parcels

819

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive recommending revised arrangements in respect of the provision of Christmas lunches and Christmas parcels to older people in need.

Following discussion, Councillor Blair moved (1) that agreement be given to replace the Christmas parcel with a Christmas gift voucher; (2) that the value of the Christmas lunch subsidy and Christmas gift voucher be set at £12 each; and (3) that it be remitted to Social Work Services to carry out a survey to ascertain the acceptability of the new gift voucher provision, in comparison with the parcel delivery, and that this be the subject of a further report to the Committee.

As an amendment, Provost Rebecchi moved (1) that the provision of Christmas parcels remain in place for 2006; (2) that the value of the Christmas parcel and the Christmas lunch subsidy be set at £12 each; (3) that negotiations be undertaken with a view to reducing the current delivery costs; and (4) that a comprehensive review be carried out to allow the Committee to determine the appropriate arrangements for future years.

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

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                    that agreement be given to replace the Christmas parcel to older people in need with a Christmas gift voucher;

(2)                                                                                                    that the value of the Christmas lunch subsidy and Christmas gift voucher be set at £12 each; and

(3)                                                                                                    that it be remitted to Social Work Services to carry out a survey to ascertain the acceptability of the new gift voucher provision in comparison with the parcel delivery and that this be the subject of a further report to the Committee.

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)

Port Glasgow Town Buildings – Amended Scheme                6, 8 & 9

Release of Employee under the Council’s Voluntary              1

Severance Scheme

820

Port Glasgow Town Buildings – Amended Scheme

820

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval to amend the scheme for the refurbishment of the upper floor of Port Glasgow Town Buildings approved by the Committee on 20 November 2003 (para 861) by deleting the conference facility and replacing it with office accommodation. The Committee agreed to the action proposed to allow the works to proceed, all as detailed in the appendix.

821

Release of Employee under the Council’s Voluntary Severance Scheme

821

There was submitted a report by the Head of Personnel Services seeking approval to release an employee under the Council’s voluntary severance scheme, which was agreed, all as detailed in the appendix.