1

 

THE INVERCLYDE COUNCIL

 

SOCIAL WORK AND HOUSING COMMITTEE

 

TUESDAY, 22 JULY 1997 - 3.00 pm

 

Present:- Provost Allan, Councillors Morrison (D), Clocherty, McGhee, Nimmo, Mulholland, Rebecchi and Welch, Councillor Morrison (D), Vice-Convener, in the Chair.

 

In attendance:- The Depute Chief Executive, the Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development), the Director of Central Services, Mr A Puckrin (for the Director of Finance), the Director of Housing and Customer Services, Mr C Clelland (for the Director of Legal Services), the Director of Personnel Services, the Director of Property and Technical Services and the Director of Social Work.

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors O'Rourke, Jackson and Mitchell.

 

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

 

   770      ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEM                                                                                                            770

 

The Director of Central Services referred to a report by the Director of Social Work on tender bids received for the provision of a central control system for the community alarm services in Inverclyde.  The Vice-Convener indicated that consideration of the item was urgent to allow arrangements for a new system to be agreed and established without delay and he moved that the item be added to the Agenda.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

 

   771      SOCIAL WORK (NON-HRA) CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS      771

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 4 July 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the technical progress of the Social Work (Non-HRA) Capital Programme 1997/98.

NOTED

 

   772      SOCIAL WORK (NON-HRA) CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - FINANCIAL POSITION          772

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 4 July 1997 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the Social Work (Non-HRA) Capital Programme 1997/98.

NOTED

 

   773     EXPANDED COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH TEAM                                                                    773

           

              SUBMITTED:  Report by the Director of Social Work advising that following the completion of negotiations with Argyll and Clyde Health Board and Renfrewshire Healthcare Trust with regard to the reprovisioning programme for Ravenscraig Hospital, a sum of £257,500 per annum had been agreed for the purpose of development work, which would be subject to


 agreed uplifts on an annual basis and would be paid in perpetuity, and recommending an expansion of the Community Mental Health Team to fulfil the requirements placed on the Council as a result of the resource transfer.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the resource transfer amount of £257,500 be accepted;

(b)  That the staffing of the expanded Community Mental Health Team as outlined in the report be agreed and remitted to the Corporate Business Committee for detailed consideration and approval; and

(c)  That the process of implementation be initiated in order that the full resource transfer sum for the current financial year may be secured.

 

   774      REGISTRATION : VARIATION - BANK STREET HOSTEL, 14-16 BANK STREET,                       774

              GREENOCK -  QUARRIERS                                                                                                                        

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Director of Social Work seeking the Committee's approval of changes in the registration information under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, Section 62, in respect of the Bank Street Hostel, 14-16 Bank Street, Greenock.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the report be noted and the variation approved; and

(b)  That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to issue a new Certificate of Registration to Quarriers.

 

   775      REGISTRATION : VARIATION - MACLEHOSE COURT, 1 ELDON STREET, GREENOCK -        775

              MARGARET BLACKWOOD HOUSING ASSOCIATION LTD                                                               

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Director of Social Work seeking the Committee's approval of changes in the registration information under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, Section 62,  in respect of Maclehose Court, 1 Eldon Street, Greenock.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the report be noted and the variation approved; and

(b)  That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to issue a new Certificate of Registration to Margaret Blackwood Housing Association Ltd.

 

   776      REGISTRATION : VARIATION - THE QUEEN'S RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME, ASHBURN          776

              GATE, GOUROCK - M & D CARE HOMES LTD                                                                                     

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Director of Social Work seeking the Committee's approval of changes in the registration information under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, Section 62,  in respect of the Queen's Residential Care Home, Ashburn Gate, Gourock.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the report be noted and the variation approved; and

(b)  That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to issue a new Certificate of Registration to Mr Allan White on behalf of M & D Care Homes Ltd.

 


 

   777      REGISTRATION : VARIATION - LANGHOUSE RESIDENTIAL HOME, LANGHOUSE                777

              ROAD, INVERKIP - R & T CAMPBELL                                                                                                   

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Director of Social Work seeking the Committee's approval of changes in the registration information under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, Section 62,  in respect of Langhouse Residential Home, Langhouse Road, Inverkip.  

DECIDED:

(a)  That the report be noted and the variation approved; and

(b)  That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to issue a new Certificate of Registration to Roslyn and Thomas Campbell.

 

   778      REVISED MAINTENANCE RATES FOR ESTABLISHMENTS OUTWITH INVERCLYDE             778

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Director of Social Work requesting the Committee to approve  maintenance rates for persons from Inverclyde who are permanent residents in registered residential establishments outwith Inverclyde.

DECIDED:  That the Committee approve the recommended rates applying to residents in establishments outwith Inverclyde, who are funded by Inverclyde Council.

 

   779      HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS                                                779

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 4 July 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the technical progress of the HRA Capital Programme 1997/98.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the technical progress of the HRA Capital Programme 1997/98 be noted;

(b)  That the Committee approve the following expenditure reduction and increase in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations:-

 

Project                                                                           Effect on Expenditure

 

Broadfield External Rendering/Insulation,

Phase 2

 

Deletion of houses at 53 and 55 Northfield Avenue          £23,000 reduction

 

Kelburn Terrace, Phase 3

 

Cost of supplying and laying carpets                                £20,421 increase; and

 

(c) That in respect of Phase I of the Strone Farm Project (Gabriel Street, Greenock), approval be given only for those sums authorised and approved under the contract and that it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to submit a further detailed report in early course on the additional expenditure incurred which is currently estimated at £150,000.

 

   780      HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - FINANCIAL POSITION                                                  780

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 11 July 1997 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the HRA Capital Programme 1997/98.

NOTED

 

   781      PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING (NON-HRA) CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - FINANCIAL      781

              POSITION                                                                                                                                                   

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 4 July 1997 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the Private Sector Housing (Non-HRA) Capital Programme 1997/98.

NOTED

 

   782      WINDOW REPLACEMENT PROGRAMME : BIRKMYRE TRUST HOUSES, KILMACOLM         782

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 June 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on proposals for the replacement of the timber windows in the five remaining Birkmyre Trust houses in Kilmacolm, which are owned by the Council.

DECIDED:  That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers to arrange for the invitation of competitive tenders for the works.

 

   783      SOUTH CRAIGIEKNOWES - FAIRRIE STREET/GILMOUR STREET AREA, GREENOCK           783

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 4 July 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on the results of the consultation exercise which had taken place with the tenants of 15-19 Gilmour Street and 6-14 Fairrie Street, Greenock regarding the proposal to dispose of the properties to the private sector

DECIDED:

(a)  That it be remitted to the Director of Housing and Customer Services to commence discussions with the private sector in relation to the proposed disposal of 15-19 Gilmour Street and 6-14 Fairrie Street;

(b)  That the tenants be rehoused on the basis outlined in the report; and

(c)  That qualifying tenants receive home loss payments and displacement allowances totalling £27,136, to be funded from the 1997/98 Capital Programme.

 

   784      KILBLAIN COURT - CAR PARKING CONTROL                                                                             784

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 June 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on amended proposals for car parking control measures at Kilblain Court, Greenock.

DECIDED: 

(a)  That the car parking control measures at Kilblain Court comprise:-

             ( i) the installation of a rising kerb in the existing position;

             ( ii) the creation of 2 disabled car parking spaces;

             (iii) the creation of 24 secure car parking spaces (with the possible allocation of 4 disabled car parking spaces within this provision to be investigated); and

             (iv) the operation of the rising kerb between the hours of 4 pm and 10 am on a daily basis; and

(b)  That any additional costs be met from the Housing Revenue Account.

 

   785      CHANGE TO CHARGING POLICY - THE INVERCLYDE CENTRE                                                785

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 2 July 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services seeking approval for a change to the charging policy for residents within the Inverclyde Centre which would require the Department of Housing and Customer Services to assume liability for the heating costs for the Centre with residents being responsible for the rent element and for domestic and non-heating energy costs only.

DECIDED:  That as from rent week commencing 24 July 1997, residents of the Inverclyde Centre, excluding the Salvation Army, be charged for rent and domestic and non-heating energy costs only.

 

   786      REVERSAL OF PROPOSAL TO EXTEND SINGLE ROOM RENTS                                                 786

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 2 July 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services advising that the Secretary of State for Social Security had announced on 18 June 1997 that the proposal of the previous Government to restrict the Housing Benefit for single people between the ages of 25 and 59 to the average rent for a single non self-contained room would be revoked and that local authorities had been advised that regulations would be introduced as soon as possible to effect this change. 

NOTED

 

   787      RECONCILIATION OF FINANCE AND HOUSING SYSTEMS                                                       787

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 3 July 1997 by the Director of Housing  and Customer Services advising of an accounting transaction required to reconcile the financial ledger and housing rents systems.

DECIDED:  That approval be given to the accounting transaction in the sum of £10,280.50 required to reconcile the financial ledger and housing rents systems.

 

   788      RESOLUTION: EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS                                                                    788

 

On the motion of the Vice-Convener, it was agreed unanimously that, in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the undernoted items of business on the grounds that consideration of the items 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)

 

6/8 Mansion Avenue, Port Glasgow - Proposed

Demolition - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure                     12

 

House Condition Survey  - Report on Tenders                            6 & 8

 

John Street Painting Contract - Increased Costs                          6, 8 & 9

Item                                                                                           Paragraph(s)

 

Request to Write-Off Debt                                                         6

 

Organisational Arrangements for the Introduction

of Supervised Attendance Orders at Greenock

Sheriff and Inverclyde District Courts                                          1

 

John Street Painting Contract - Use of Emergency

Powers Procedure                                                                     6 & 8

 

Lynedoch Court, Greenock - Controlled Door Entry

System and CCTV Installation - Report on Tenders                    6 & 8

 

Kelburn, Port Glasgow - Housing Special Project -

Demolition of 25-36 Kelburn Terrace - Report on

Tenders                                                                                     6 & 8

 

Measured Term Contract for Maintenance of Stair/

Close/Courtyard Lighting 1997/98 - Report on Tenders  6 & 8

 

Repossession of House                                                              2

 

Ground at Trafalgar Street and Regent Street, Greenock  4 & 6

 

11 Torrance Road, Greenock - Request for Landlord's

Consent to form Driveway                                                          2

 

Community Alarm Unit - Central Control System-

Report on Tenders                                                                     6 & 8

 

   789      6/8 MANSION AVENUE, PORT GLASGOW - PROPOSED DEMOLITION - USE OF                    789 EMERGENCY POWERS PROCEDURE                                                                                                                   

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 18 July 1997 by the Director of Central Services advising of the use of  the emergency powers procedure set out in Standing Order 66 to authorise the demolition of the property at 6/8 Mansion Avenue, Port Glasgow and to negotiate a settlement with the Council's Insurers.

NOTED

 

   790      HOUSE CONDITION SURVEY - REPORT ON TENDERS                                                               790

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 July 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on four tenders received to carry out the Inverclyde Local House Condition Survey.

DECIDED:  That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the tender submitted by Adamsons Chartered Surveyors in accordance with the recommendations set out in the report.

 

   791      JOHN STREET PAINTING CONTRACT - INCREASED COSTS                                                      791

        

There was submitted a report by the Director of Property and Technical Services explaining the circumstances which had given rise to increased costs in respect of the John Street painting contract.  The Committee agreed to note the reasons for the increased costs together with the remedial action proposed to ensure that such a situation does not occur again, all as detailed in the Appendix.

 

   792      REQUEST TO WRITE-OFF DEBT                                                                                                       792

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Director of Social Work requesting the Committee's approval to write-off the debt owed to the Council by the relative of an elderly person previously in residential care.

DECIDED:  That the sum of £691.30 owed to the Council be written off without prejudice to any future recovery of the debt, should that prove possible.

 

   793      ORGANISATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF SUPERVISED               793 ATTENDANCE ORDERS AT GREENOCK SHERIFF AND INVERCLYDE DISTRICT COURTS                       

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Director of Social Work on proposals for the establishment of an integrated Supervised Attendance and Community Service Order Team to ensure that Supervised Attendance Orders, which are to be introduced at Greenock Sheriff and Inverclyde District Courts, will be integrated with other criminal justice services delivered by the Department.

DECIDED:

(a)  That approval be given to the establishment of an integrated Supervised Attendance and Community Service Order Team;

(b)  That the existing post of Community Service Organiser be re-designated to Assistant Service Manager (Criminal Justice Service Provision);

(c)  That agreement be given to the establishment of the additional posts as outlined in the report; and

(d)  That the report be referred to the Corporate Business Committee for consideration of the staffing requirements.

 

   794      JOHN STREET PAINTING CONTRACT - USE OF EMERGENCY POWERS PROCEDURE          794

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 11 July 1997 by the Director of Central Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure set out in Standing Order 66 to homologate action taken in instructing the erection of scaffolding to carry out the John Street painting contract and authorising the additional expenditure incurred.

NOTED

 

   795      LYNEDOCH COURT, GREENOCK - CONTROLLED DOOR ENTRY SYSTEM AND CCTV        795 INSTALLATION - REPORT ON TENDERS                                                                                                            

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 10 July 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on five tenders received for the installation of a controlled door entry system and CCTV equipment at Lynedoch Court, Greenock.

DECIDED: 

(a)  That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the lowest tender, that by

G D Chalmers Ltd in the corrected sum of £58,195.75; and

(b)  That additional professional and Clerk of Works supervision be approved at a total cost of £11,419.57.

 

   796      KELBURN, PORT GLASGOW - HOUSING SPECIAL PROJECT - DEMOLITION OF 25-36         796 KELBURN TERRACE - REPORT ON TENDERS                                                                                                    

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 4 July 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on five tenders received for the demolition of the properties at 25-36 Kelburn Terrace, Port Glasgow.

DECIDED:  That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the lowest tender, that by Burnthills Demolition Ltd in the sum of £113,437.50.

 

   797      MEASURED TERM CONTRACT FOR MAINTENANCE OF STAIR/CLOSE/COURTYARD          797 LIGHTING 1997/98 - REPORT ON TENDERS                                                                                                        

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 4 July 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on five tenders received for the maintenance of stair, close and courtyard lighting in 1997/98.

DECIDED:  That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the lowest tender, that by the Contract Services Division, Inverclyde Council.

 

   798      POSSIBLE REPOSSESSION OF HOUSE                                                                                            798

        

There was submitted a report by the Director of Legal Services requesting the Committee's authority to initiate proceedings for the ejection of an occupier of a house, which was agreed, all as detailed in the Appendix.

 

   799      GROUND AT  TRAFALGAR STREET AND REGENT STREET, GREENOCK                                  799

 

There was submitted a report by the Director of Legal Services requesting the Committee's approval to write-off outstanding loans granted by Inverclyde District Council over properties at Trafalgar Street and Regent Street, Greenock on which payments had ceased around 1981/83.  The Committee agreed to write-off the loans and authorise other action, all as detailed in the Appendix.

 

 

   800      11 TORRANCE ROAD, GREENOCK - REQUEST FOR LANDLORD'S CONSENT TO FORM      800 DRIVEWAY                                                                                                                                                               

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 3 July 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on a request received from the tenant of 11 Torrance Road, Greenock for landlord's consent to form a driveway adjacent to his house to allow disabled access to the house.

DECIDED:  That landlord's consent be granted subject to such conditions as are considered appropriate by the Director of Housing and Customer Services.

 

   801      COMMUNITY ALARM UNIT - CENTRAL CONTROL SYSTEM - REPORT ON TENDERS         801

 

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work on tender bids received for the provision of an alternative central control system for the community alarm services within Inverclyde and the Committee agreed to accept a tender, all as detailed in the Appendix.

SW&H-22JUL97\12

9

 

Social Work and Housing Committee - 22/7/97

 

SW&H-22JUL97\12