1078 SOCIAL WORK (NON-HRA) CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - FINANCIAL POSITION 1078

SUBMITTED: Report dated 24 September 1997 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the Social Work (Non-HRA) Capital Programme 1997/98.

DECIDED: That the position be noted and that the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to approve an additional capital allocation of £12,000 to meet the projected £12,000 overspend in the Committee's Capital Programme for Social Work.

1079 REGISTRATION - NEW APPLICATION : 156 FINNART STREET, GREENOCK 1079

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work seeking the Committee's approval for registration of the premises at 156 Finnart Street, Greenock under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, Section 62.

DECIDED:

(a) That the registration be approved; and

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to issue a Certificate of Registration to Mr G Lee and Ms E Stewart incorporating the information detailed in the report.

1080 REGISTRATION - VARIATION : LANGHOUSE RESIDENTIAL HOME, INVERKIP - 1080

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, 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.

1081 COMMUNITY CARE IMPLEMENTATION UNIT VISIT 1081

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work advising of a visit by the Scottish Office Community Care Implementation Unit to Inverclyde Council on 21 and 22 October 1997 to examine the implementation of the Government's Community Care policies in Scotland.

DECIDED: That the visit by the Community Care Implementation Unit be noted.

1082 SOCIAL WORK SERVICES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM - ANNUAL PLANNING 1082 STATEMENT 1998/99

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work seeking the Committee's approval of the 1998/99 Criminal Justice Planning Statement which is required to be submitted to the Scottish Office.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee approve the 1998/99 Criminal Justice Services Annual Planning Statement which is now due to be forwarded to the Scottish Office; and

(b) That it be noted that approval will require to be sought in Spring 1998 for a 3 year strategic plan required to be presented to the Scottish Office for the planning period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2002.

1083 COMMUNITY DRUGS TEAM - ANNUAL REPORT 1083

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work on the work of the Community Drugs Team and highlighting a number of matters identified in the Annual Report 1996/97.

DECIDED:

(a) That the terms of the report be noted; and

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Social Work to develop further the Social Work Department's Drugs Strategy with a view to consideration in due course by the Inverclyde Substance Misuse Forum.

1084 ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON INSPECTION 1084

SUBMITTED: Report dated 18 September 1997 by the Director of Central Services on the establishment of an Advisory Committee on Inspection as recommended by the Scottish Office.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee recommend to The Inverclyde Council the establishment of an Advisory Committee on inspection with its membership and terms of remit as set out in the report;

(b) That the Committee recommend to the Council that Councillors O'Rourke, Morrison (D) and Nimmo serve on the Advisory Committee, with provision for substitute Members; and

(c) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services, following consultation with the Director of Social Work, to issue invitations for nominated representatives of the interest groups detailed in the report to serve on the Advisory Committee and, once the membership of the Committee has been sufficiently established, to call the first meeting of the Advisory Committee.

1085 HRA REVENUE BUDGET 1997/98 1085

SUBMITTED: Report dated 19 September 1997 by the Director of Finance on the position of the HRA Revenue Budget 1997/98 as at 20 August 1997.

NOTED

1086 REPAIRS BUDGET 1086

SUBMITTED: Report dated 23 September 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services advising of a projected overspend of £280,590 on jobbing repairs to Council houses and proposing action to limit the overspend on the Revenue Budget 1997/98.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be remitted to the Director of Housing and Customer Services to undertake a review of the day-to-day jobbing repairs responsibilities which accrue to the Council and to define an Empty House Standard;

(b) That the number of roughcast jobs in major repairs be reduced, giving a potential saving of £80,000, it being noted that essential repairs to properties to prevent water ingress will not be affected; and

(c) That the Committee defers consideration of the position relative to the conversion work at the former King Street Library until the cost of the work has been ascertained from the Council's Contract Services Division.

1087 HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS 1087

SUBMITTED: Report dated 19 September 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the technical progress of the HRA Capital Programme 1997/98.

NOTED

1088 HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - FINANCIAL POSITION 1088

SUBMITTED: Report dated 24 September 1997 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the HRA Capital Programme 1997/98.

NOTED

1089 PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING (NON-HRA) CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - 1089

FINANCIAL POSITION

SUBMITTED: Report dated 24 September 1997 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the Private Sector Housing (Non-HRA) Capital Programme 1997/98.

NOTED

1090 REFURBISHMENT OF PROPERTIES IN BROWN STREET/BAXTER STREET, GREENOCK 1090

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on proposals for the refurbishment of properties at Brown Street and Baxter Street, Greenock.

DECIDED:

(a) 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 Phase I of the works, the refurbishment of 20 units at 36-74 Brown Street, at an estimated cost of £435,000;

(b) That delegated authority be granted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers and after consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to accept the lowest tender received for the works; and

(c) That, subject to the inclusion of the sum of £35,000 in the 1998/99 Non-HRA Capital Programme, it be remitted to the Director of Housing and Customer Services to seek the Secretary of State's consent to increase the maximum approved expense limit to the necessary level and thereafter to issue formal approval of repairs grant applications for participating owner occupiers.

1091 RIVERSIDE GARDENS, GOUROCK - RENEWAL OF HEATING SYSTEM 1091

SUBMITTED: Report dated 19 September 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on revised proposals for the phased renewal of the heating system at the Sheltered Housing Complex at Riverside Gardens, Gourock in respect of which the Committee at the meeting on 27 May 1997 (Para 645) had agreed to set aside the sum of £100,000, inclusive of fees.

DECIDED:

(a) That the proposals for the phased renewal of the heating system at Riverside Gardens, Gourock be noted and approved;

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers and after consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to accept the lowest tender received for Phase I of the works, provided that the tender price does not exceed 10% of the estimated cost of £44,000, inclusive of fees;

(c) That, on completion of Phase I, the Director of Property and Technical Services prepares the necessary tender documents for Phase II, and that it be remitted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers to arrange for the invitation of competitive tenders and that delegated authority be granted to the Director of Central Services in the usual manner for acceptance of the lowest tender received for Phase II of the project, provided that the tender price does not exceed 10% of the estimated cost of £35,000, exclusive of fees; and

(d) That, on completion of Phase II of the works, the Director of Housing and Customer Services prepare a further report on the Phase III works.

1092 TENANTS' INFORMATION LEAFLET - REPAIR RESPONSIBILITIES 1092

SUBMITTED: Report dated 19 September 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services advising of current policy with regard to responsibility for repairs and seeking approval for a draft leaflet providing a guide as to which repairs are the responsibility of tenants and which are the responsibility of the Council.

DECIDED: That consideration of the matter be continued for consultation with tenants and other Local Authorities in respect of the proposals contained in the draft leaflet.

1093 INVERCLYDE COUNCIL TENANTS' HANDBOOK 1093

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Housing and Customer Services recommending that an updated version of the tenants' handbook be produced, suggesting information for inclusion within the handbook and detailing the financial implications thereof.

DECIDED:

(a) That approval be given to the improvement of customer information through an updated tenants' handbook; and

(b) That a sum of £45,000 be included within the Revenue Budget for 1998/99 for the production of a tenants' handbook.

1094 FORMER SCOTTISH HOMES HOUSES - WAITING LIST IMPLICATIONS 1094

SUBMITTED: Report dated 11 October 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on issues raised by the transfer of Scottish Homes housing stock to Housing Associations and advising of the position of transferred tenants with regard to the Council's waiting list. The report advised of interim arrangements for Scottish Homes tenants who transferred to Housing Associations and whose names were on the waiting list at the point of transfer. The report outlined the implications of any change to the Council's Allocation Policy should further concessions be made to certain Housing Association tenants.

Councillor Sir Simpson Stevenson was present and with consent spoke on the matter.

DECIDED: That consideration of the matter be continued to allow the Convener, Vice-Convener and affected Ward Members together with the Director of Housing and Customer Services to hold discussions with the Housing Associations.

1095 HOME ENERGY CONSERVATION ACT (HECA) - ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGY 1095

UPDATE

SUBMITTED: Report dated 23 September 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services advising that the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA) requires Inverclyde Council as an "Energy Conservation Authority" to devise a strategy to improve home energy efficiency over the next 10 years, reporting on progress and proposing a timetabled action plan for the medium term implementation of the strategy.

DECIDED: That the terms of the report be noted and that the proposals set out in the report, which will lead to the implementation of the Inverclyde Council HECA Strategy or INVEST (Inverclyde Energy Savings Team) be approved, including the appointment of the Convener as Chairperson of the Management Team, and that approval be given to the items detailed on the action plan.

1096 INVERCLYDE SHELTERED HOUSING REVIEW 1096

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Housing and Customer Services recommending a review of sheltered housing provision in Inverclyde in consultation with relevant Departments and staff and users of the service.

DECIDED: That it be remitted to the Director of Housing and Customer Services to carry out a review of sheltered housing provision in Inverclyde in consultation with the relevant Departments and staff and users of the service, including full consultation with the Director of Social Work, a report thereon including recommendations based on the findings of the review to be submitted to the Social Work and Housing Committee to be held in January 1998.

1097 29 MEARNS STREET, GREENOCK - DEMOLITION 1097

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Housing and Customer Services seeking approval to demolish the property at 29 Mearns Street, Greenock at an estimated cost of £55,278, inclusive of fees.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers to invite competitive tenders for the demolition of the property at 29 Mearns Street, Greenock at an estimated cost of £55,278, inclusive of fees to be funded by a reallocation of monies set aside for Disabled Improvement Grants and Mandatory Grants; and

(b) That all alternative redevelopment possibilities for the future use of the cleared site be explored.

1098 ROUGH SLEEPERS INITIATIVE 1098

SUBMITTED: Report dated 7 October 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services advising that confirmation had been received from the Scottish Office that the Council's bid for challenge funding under the pilot Scottish Rough Sleepers Initiative had been successful.

DECIDED:

(a) That the successful outcome of the bid be noted; and

(b) That the Working Group set up for this purpose continue to meet in order to develop the management and monitoring arrangements of the outreach/resettlement project in conjunction with Inverclyde Council on Alcohol.

1099 NATIONAL HOME IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL AWARDS 1997 - KELBURN PHASE 3 1099

SUBMITTED: Report dated 7 October 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services advising that notification had been received that the Kelburn Phase 3 Project had reached the final three in the National Home Improvement Council Awards 1997, in the category of Local Authority Modernisations 1997. It was indicated that the final judging was to take place at the National Home Improvement Council Annual Awards Luncheon in London on 19 November 1997 and that Council representation had been requested at the Luncheon.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Council's success in reaching the final three in the National Home Improvement Council Awards 1997 be noted; and

(b) That the Council be represented by the Convener and the Director of Housing and Customer Services at the Annual Awards Luncheon in London on 19 November 1997.

1100 RESOLUTION : EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS 1100

On the motion of the 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)

Ivybank Crescent, Port Glasgow - Improvement/

Conversion Works 4 & 6

Lead Pipe Replacement - Report on Tenders 6 & 8

Capital Programme - McPherson Centre, Phase III 6 & 8

1101 IVYBANK CRESCENT, PORT GLASGOW - IMPROVEMENT/CONVERSION WORKS 1101

There was submitted a report by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on the current position regarding an improvement/conversion project at Ivybank Crescent, Port Glasgow and the Committee agreed to take action in terms of providing financial assistance, all as detailed in the Appendix.

1102 LEAD PIPE REPLACEMENT - REPORT ON TENDERS 1102

SUBMITTED: Report dated 12 September 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services setting out for consideration tenders received for replacement of lead water pipes in the Council's housing stock.

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

1103 CAPITAL PROGRAMME - McPHERSON CENTRE, PHASE III 1103

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work setting out for consideration tenders received for Phase III of the refurbishment works at the McPherson Centre and advising of an increase in costs attributable to a number of factors.

DECIDED:

(a) That the terms of the report be noted;

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Social Work in consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to prepare a report for submission to the Policy and Strategy Committee defining which of the additional works now identified are to be considered essential for the project and seeking additional funding to cover the increased costs detailed in the report; and

(c) That, subject to the Policy and Strategy Committee approving the necessary expenditure, it be remitted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers to accept the lowest tender received for the works.