Safe, Sustainable Communities Committee

Thursday 14 June 2007 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Dorrian, Ferguson, Grieve, McCabe, McCallum, McIlwee, Moran, Rebecchi, Wilson and White.

Chair:  Councillor Moran presided.

In attendance:  Corporate Director Environment and Community Protection, Head of Environmental Services, Head of Finance, Head of Housing, Mr H McNeilly (for Head of Legal and Administration) and Mr K Moore (for Head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs).

Apologies:  Councillor MacLeod.

The following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Committee.

416

Housing - Performance Indicators, Quarter 4 (Week 52) 2006/07

416

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Environment and Community Protection on the position with regard to the performance indicators for rent arrears and void houses as at week 52.

(Councillor Ferguson entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Noted

417

Area Renewal Update

417

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Environment and Community Protection updating the Committee with regard to the progress of the Area Renewal Strategy.

Decided:

(1) that the financial and technical progress being made on the various projects be noted;

(2) that approval be given to the expenditure increase of £18,883 for variations in the contract for regeneration works footpaths and drainage;

(3) that approval be given to the demolition of 57-63 Corlic Street, Greenock;

(4) that it be noted the site at Bawhirley Road, as part of the Housing Revenue Account, will transfer to River Clyde Homes;

(5) that in principle approval be given to the clearance and demolition of Lynedoch Court, Greenock;  and

(6) that it be remitted to the Head of Legal and Administration to accept the lowest tender submitted for the resurfacing of footways and car parks that by the Network Operations Unit, Transportation and Roads Service in the corrected sum of £102,783.55.

418

Private Sector Housing Grant (PSHG) 2006/07 Update and 2007/08 Position

418

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Environment and Community Protection (1) providing updated information on the outputs and outturns of the 2006/07 Private Sector Housing Grant (PSHG) budgets, (2) advising of the progress of the 2007/08 PSHG funded projects and (3) setting out proposals for 2007/08.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee note the year end position of the 2006/07 Private Sector Housing Grant budget, services, grants and projects;

(2) that the 2007/08 draft budget, services, grants and projects as set out in the report be approved;

(3) that it be noted that a further report will be prepared once uptake for private owners in John Street and BISF Phase III has been assessed;  and

(4) that reports on the operation of the Property Inspection Service and Inverclyde Care and Repair be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

419

Robert Street Area - Regeneration Strategy Steering Group Update

419

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Environment and Community Protection updating the Committee on the work of the Robert Street Area Regeneration Strategy Steering Group together with action plan developed by the Steering Group identifying and prioritising the measures and tasks required to deliver a sustainable neighbourhood.

Decided:

(1) that the progression of the work of the Robert Street Area Regeneration Strategy Steering Group be noted;  and

(2) that a further report be submitted to the meeting of the Committee to be held in August/September 2007.

420

Electrical Rewiring, Lower Bow and Drumfrochar Road

420

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Environment and Community Protection seeking authority to invite tenders for electrical rewiring at addresses in Lower Bow and Drumfrochar Road, at an estimated cost of £250,000 including preliminary works to be carried out by Scottish Power.

Decided:  that the Committee note the addresses in Lower Bow and Drumfrochar Road to be rewired, that it be remitted to the Head of Legal and Administration to arrange for the invitation of tenders for the works and that authority be delegated to the Head of Legal and Administration in consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and two Members of the Minority Groups to accept the lowest tender where costs can be contained within the approved budget.

421

Charges for Provision of Permits, Orders and Professional Services, etc

421

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Environment and Community Protection on the implementation of charges for the provision of permits, orders and professional services, etc as agreed in the budget setting process in February 2007.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee note the implementation of the charges for the provision of permits, orders and professional services, etc as detailed in the report;  and

(2) that authority be delegated to the Head of Environmental Services to introduce further charges as may be appropriate in order to comply with the requirements of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005.

422

Proposed Traffic Regulation Order - On-Street Parking Places (Without Charges) Order No. 2 2006

422

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Regeneration and Resources recommending the making of a Traffic Regulation Order to restrict parking within designated parking places at various locations within Port Glasgow, Greenock and Gourock to disabled persons displaying a badge under the appropriate Regulations only.

Decided:  that The Inverclyde Council be recommended to make a Resolution under the Road Traffic Regulation (Scotland) Act 1984 in relation to a Traffic Regulation Order to restrict parking within designated parking places at various locations within Port Glasgow, Greenock and Gourock to disabled persons displaying a badge under the appropriate Regulations only and thereafter that it be remitted to the Head of Planning and Transportation and the Head of Legal and Administration to arrange for implementation of the Order.

423

Proposed Traffic Regulation Order - Pennyfern Area (One Way) Order 2006

423

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Regeneration and Resources on the making of a Traffic Regulation Order to introduce one way driving in an anti-clockwise direction in Maple Road, Pennyfern Road and Pennyfern Drive, Greenock advising that, in view of a maintained objection, it would be necessary to hold a hearing in terms of the Local Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1999.

Decided:  that the Committee note the requirement to hold a hearing in relation to the proposed Traffic Regulation Order - Pennyfern Area, Greenock (One Way) Order 2006 and that it be remitted to the Head of Planning and Transportation and the Head of Legal and Administration to make the necessary arrangements.

424

Local Licensing Forum

424

There was submitted a report by the Head of Legal and Administration (1) on the requirement for the Council to establish a Local Licensing Forum for Inverclyde and (2) seeking authority to invite applications for membership of the Forum.

Decided:

(1) that the requirement for the Council to establish a Local Licensing Forum be noted;

(2) that the Head of Legal and Administration be authorised to invite applications for membership of Inverclyde Local Licensing Forum;  and

(3) that it be remitted to the Head of Legal and Administration to submit a further report to the Committee when applications have been received.

425

Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive

425

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Regeneration and Resources advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to approve (1) a Footpath Diversion Order at Smithy Brae/Elphinstone Mews, Kilmacolm, (2) the use of compulsory purchase powers in Maukinhill as a position of last resort and the transfer of ground at Garvald Street to Cloch Housing Association as part of the Maukinhill Stock Transfer and (3) the advertisement for and appointment of consultants for evaluation of heat with rent schemes.

Decided:

(1) that the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive be noted;  and

(2) that it be agreed to negotiate with and accept a tender from the consultant detailed in appendix 3 to the report should the firm’s tender be the most favourable tender as determined by a joint evaluation panel.

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 paragraphs 6  & 8 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

426

Appendix 3 relative to Agenda Item 10 (Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive)

426

There was submitted appendix 3 relative to Agenda Item 10 (Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive) providing details of the advertisement for and appointment of a consultant for the evaluation of heat with rent schemes.

Noted

427

Appendix 2 relative to Agenda Item 2 (Area Renewal Update)

427

There was submitted appendix 2 relative to Agenda Item 2 (Area Renewal Update) setting out tenders received for the resurfacing of footways and car parks.

Noted

428

Approval of Tender for the Demolition of Lynedoch Court

428

It was noted that this item had been withdrawn from the agenda.

429

External Doors Replacement - Phases 3/4A and 3/4B

429

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Environment and Community Protection on tenders received for contracts for phases 3/4A and 3/4B of the external doors replacement project.

Decided:  that it be remitted to the Head of Legal and Administration to accept the lowest acceptable tenders submitted for phases 3/4A and 3/4B of the external doors replacement projects, those by Laidlaw Scott Ltd in the sum of £107,671.36 and Building Services in the sum of £103,440.41 respectively.

430

Kitchen and Bathroom Replacements Project - Phases 4A and 4B

430

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Environment and Community Protection on tenders received for phases 4A and 4B of the kitchen and bathroom replacements project.

Decided:  that it be remitted to the Head of Legal and Administration to accept the lowest acceptable tenders for phases 4A and 4B of the kitchen and bathroom replacements project, those by Laidlaw Scott Ltd in the sum of £97,744.67 and Building Services in the corrected sum of £103,719.35 respectively.