DECIDED:

(a) That the current position of the McPherson Centre site works contract, which is financed through the Corporate Business Retentions Budget, be noted; and

(b) That the following accumulated variation which is outwith the accepted tender amount by more than 10% be approved in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations:-

Project Effect on Expenditure

McPherson Centre, Gourock Site Works

Agreed final account

10.45% less than accepted tender £12,621 reduction

1260 SOCIAL WORK (NON-HRA) CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - FINANCIAL POSITION 1260

SUBMITTED: Report dated 31 October 1997 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the Social Work (Non-HRA) Capital Programme 1997/98.

NOTED

1261 REGISTRATION : VARIATION - FEWSTER HOUSE, 10 TERRACE ROAD, GREENOCK: 1261

THE SALVATION ARMY

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 Fewster House, 10 Terrace Road, Greenock.

DECIDED:

(a) That 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 the Salvation Army.

1262 REGISTRABLE STANDARDS FOR ADULT DAY-CARE ESTABLISHMENTS 1262

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work requesting the Committee to approve the implementation of the Council's Registrable Standards for Day-Care Establishments for Adults, comprising a package of 3 documents, viz (i) an Introduction to Inverclyde Council's Registrable Standards for Day-Care which will provide information and guidance on registrable standards for existing and potential providers of day-care services; (ii) Standards for Day-Care consisting of performance indicators to which day-care services will be monitored and inspected by registration inspection and contract compliance procedures; and (iii) Self Evaluation Standards for Day-Care to be completed by day-care establishments to enable staff and service users to evaluate their current service and practice within Registrable Standards.

DECIDED: That approval be given to the implementation of the Council's Registration Standards for Day-Care Establishments for Adults.

1263 REVISED MAINTENANCE RATES FOR ESTABLISHMENTS OUTWITH INVERCLYDE 1263

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

DECIDED: That approval be given to the recommended rates applying to residents in establishments outwith Inverclyde funded by Inverclyde Council.

1264 RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION - FESTIVE ALLOWANCES 1264

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work recommending that the Social Work Department festive allowances for the purchase of gifts for clients living within Departmental residential establishments and last set by the former Strathclyde Regional Council in 1994 be increased in line with inflation.

DECIDED:

(a) That approval be given to the revised festive allowances within residential accommodation as follows:-

Residential Accommodation - Elderly £13.00

Residential Accommodation - Learning Disability £13.00

Residential Accommodation - Children Age 0-4 £44.00

Age 5-11 £63.00

Age 12-18 £74.00; and

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Social Work to submit a detailed report to the Committee with a view to reviewing the position in 1998.

1265 PAYMENTS TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS - INFLATION INCREASE 1265

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work recommending (i) the application of increases to take account of inflation in respect of the Payments to Voluntary Organisations provision within the Social Work Budget and in respect of Resource Transfer funded services; and (ii) the use of virement of funds to the Residential/Nursing Home turnover budget.

DECIDED:

(a) That approval be given to inflation increases for Voluntary Organisations as follows:-

(i) Payments to Voluntary Organisations - 1.5% at a cost of £3,580;

(ii) Resource Transfer funded services - 0.6% at a cost of £1,650; and

(b) That approval be given to virement of £9,090 to the Residential/Nursing Home turnover budget.

1266 WELFARE RIGHTS REPRESENTATION UNIT 1266

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work on the work undertaken by the Welfare Rights Section within his Department over the last 12 month period and recommending that, to allow the maintenance of the current level of service provision within the Unit, additional posts of Welfare Rights Officer and Clerical Officer be established. The report also requested the Committee to consider whether it would wish to redesignate the Welfare Rights Unit as recommended by the Social Work Committee at its meeting on 17 October 1996 (Para 976).

Mr D Flood, Welfare Rights District Officer, was present and answered questions from Members in relation to the operation of the Welfare Rights Unit.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted;

(b) That the Welfare Rights Unit retain its current name; and

(c) That it be remitted to the Senior Management Team to consider the request for additional staffing as set out in the report.

1267 SECURITY MEASURES - LYNEDOCH STREET ATC 1267

SUBMITTED: Report dated 6 November 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services requesting the Committee to agree to the invitation of competitive tenders for the proposed security measures at the Lynedoch Street ATC and to grant delegated authority in the usual manner to accept the lowest tender received provided that this is within the pre-tender estimate of £35,000.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to arrange for the invitation of competitive tenders for the proposed security measures at the Lynedoch Street ATC; and

(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 provided that it is within the approved estimate of £35,000.

1268 APPEAL AGAINST DECISION TO REFUSE CHILDMINDING APPLICATION 1268

SUBMITTED: Report dated 31 October 1997 by the Director of Education Services advising that following the decision of the Social Work Committee at its meeting held on 17 April 1997 (Para 502) to refuse an application by Mrs Heather Hogg to register as a childminder following an objection by the Director of Education Services and the subsequent Appeal by the applicant to the Sheriff against that refusal, the Sheriff had issued his decision which was to uphold the Appeal.

DECIDED:

(a) That the decision of the Sheriff to uphold the Appeal by Mrs Heather Hogg against the Council's refusal to register her as a childminder be noted and accepted; and

(b) That it be noted that the Director of Education Services will now proceed with the applicant's registration as a childminder within 2 months of the date of the ruling (8 October 1997) as specified by the Sheriff but subject to a condition that the presence of firearms and ammunition on the premises to be used for childminding be specified on the Registration Certificate which is on display to inform parents.

1269 HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS 1269

SUBMITTED: Report dated 31 October 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; and

(b) That the following accumulated variation which is outwith the accepted tender amount by more than 10% be approved in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations:-

Project Effect on Expenditure

Gourock Area - Replacement Windows

Anticipated Final Account 10.15% less than

accepted tender £7,191 reduction

1270 HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - FINANCIAL POSITION 1270

SUBMITTED: Report dated 31 October 1997 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the HRA Capital Programme 1997/98.

NOTED

1271 DRAFT HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 1271

SUBMITTED: Report dated 31 October 1997 by the Directors of Finance and Housing and Customer Services on the proposed 1998/99 Draft Housing Capital Programme. The report advised that the Scottish Office had now provided two supplementary capital allocations in respect of Partnership Projects (£241,000) and Energy Efficiency Schemes (£60,000). It was anticipated that additional capital allocations would be available in 1998/99 for these purposes and it was noted that the Director of Housing and Customer Services would be submitting a bid for a proportion of that funding.

DECIDED:

(a) That approval be given to continue the projects included within the Capital Programme 1997/98 provided that these are within expenditure guidelines;

(b) That a report be submitted to the meeting of the Committee in January 1998 with recommendations for new projects to be undertaken once the capital allocation for 1998/99 has been notified by the Scottish Office; and

(c) That it be noted that the Director of Housing and Customer Services will be submitting a bid to the Scottish Office for additional funding in 1998/99 for Partnership Projects and Energy Efficiency Schemes.

1272 PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING (NON-HRA) CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - 1272

FINANCIAL POSITION

SUBMITTED: Report dated 5 November 1997 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the Private Sector Housing (Non-HRA) Capital Programme 1997/98.

NOTED

1273 HOUSING AND CUSTOMER SERVICES DEPARTMENT - PERFORMANCE 1273

INDICATORS - 1997/98

SUBMITTED: Report dated 31 October 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services providing statistical information on the performance of his Department in undertaking various functions for the period 1 April to 30 September 1997.

NOTED

1274 ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW HOUSING 1274 PARTNERSHIPS

SUBMITTED: Report dated 29 October 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services advising that the Scottish Office had made available an additional capital allocation of £241,000 to be used prior to 31 March 1998 for the development of new housing partnerships in the area and proposing that the additional capital allocation be used to fund the demolition of the long block at Woodstock Road, Greenock. The report advised that additional funds would be available in 1998/99 to support the development of new housing partnerships and it was recommended that discussions be held with Scottish Homes regarding projects which could utilise this source of funding and that any bid, which must be made in conjunction with Scottish Homes, should concentrate on demolition works at Strone Farm and potentially Gibshill, Greenock.

DECIDED:

C (a) That the additional capital allocation of £241,000 in 1997/98 be used to fund the demolition of the long block at Woodstock Road, Greenock; and

(b) That it be agreed to meet with Scottish Homes prior to 1 December 1997 to prepare a bid for a share of the additional capital resources which will become available in 1998/99 for the development of new housing partnerships.

1275 THE HOME ENERGY CONSERVATION ACT (HECA) - INVERCLYDE ENERGY 1275

EFFICIENCY STRATEGY - ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL CAPITAL ALLOCATION

SUBMITTED: Report dated 29 October 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services advising that an additional capital allocation of £60,000 had been made available by the Scottish Office to improve energy efficiency within the Council's own housing stock in 1997/98. The report recommended that the sum be used to assist implementation of the Council's existing HECA strategy which would allow some of the works to be paid for by way of the Council's investment in the strategy over the next 10 years and previously scheduled to commence on 1 April 1998, now to be undertaken between 1 January 1998 and 31 March 1998.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report giving details of the allocation of additional Scottish Office resources to improve energy efficiency within Local Authority housing in 1997/98 and 1998/99 and highlighting the similarities between the Scottish Office's anticipated use of the additional resources and Inverclyde's HECA strategy be noted;

C (b) That it be agreed that the additional capital allocation of £60,000 in 1997/98 be utilised to assist the implementation of the existing HECA strategy;

(c) That it be noted that it is anticipated that the Council will meet the conditions for qualification for additional resources in 1998/99; and

(d) That a report be submitted to the Committee once further details are known.

1276 GIBSHILL NEW BUILD HOUSING - AMENDMENT TO SPECIFICATION OF ROAD 1276

KERBS - USE OF EMERGENCY POWERS PROCEDURE

SUBMITTED: Report dated 20 October 1997 by the Director of Central Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure set out in Standing Order 66 to authorise expenditure of £9,500 in respect of an amendment to the specification of the road kerbs associated with the Gibshill new build housing contract.

NOTED

1277 STAIR AND BACK COURT LIGHTING 1277

SUBMITTED: Report dated 30 October 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services providing information relative to the stair and back court lighting service following the introduction of a charging system in April 1997. In particular, the report advised of the number of properties where owners had applied for the service in 1997/98 and the income received by the Council to 30 September 1997, the number of properties where owners had not applied for the service and the action taken by the Council in response to this, the estimated reduction in electricity and repair costs following the introduction of the charge and the estimated contribution from the HRA account for the stair lighting service in 1997/98.

Councillor Nimmo declared an interest in this item and took no part in its deliberation or decision.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted; and

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Housing and Customer Services to prepare a detailed note for circulation to all Councillors on those addresses which are not covered by the Council maintenance arrangements.

1278 CHANGES TO BENEFIT ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES 1278

SUBMITTED: Report dated 29 October 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on changes in legislation governing the way in which Councils have to deal with the detection of housing and Council Tax benefit fraud, outlining the proposed changes to the procedures followed when Local Authorities and DSS staff administer applications from claimants for housing and Council Tax, advising of the new inspectorate established by the Government to oversee how Councils deal with benefit administration and benefit fraud detection and identifying the staffing implications for Inverclyde Council following these changes and the proposed Government finding of the new measures.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be approved; and

(b) That the staffing implications be remitted to the Senior Management Team for consideration.

1279 CODE OF GUIDANCE ON HOMELESSNESS 1279

SUBMITTED: Report dated 29 October 1997 by the Directors of Housing and Customer Services and Social Work advising of the introduction of a new Code of Guidance on Homelessness on 1 December 1997, outlining the main provisions of the Code and analysing the issues to be addressed.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee welcome the contents of the reviewed Code of Guidance on Homelessness;

(b) That agreement be given to the development of a draft Homelessness Policy Manual to be prepared and submitted to the Committee at its meeting on 24 February 1998; and

1280 CAMPAIGN FOR THE WARM HOMES BILL 1280

SUBMITTED: Report dated 4 November 1997 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development) advising that the Council had been requested by the Campaign for Warm Homes to add its support in principle to the Campaign for the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation (15 Year Programme) Bill.

DECIDED: That the Committee agree in principle to support the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation (15 Year Programme) Bill and to seek the support of the local Members of Parliament for the Bill.

1281 RESOLUTION : EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS 1281

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)

10/12 Mansion Avenue, Port Glasgow -

Proposed Demolition 2 & 8

Closure of Balrossie Residential Unit 1, 8 & 9

Evaluation of Contractual Agreement -

Bank Street Hostel, Greenock 9

Social Work Duty Service - Update 1

Ad-Hoc Heating Replacement Budget 6 & 8

Octavia Court, Greenock - Upgrading

of Door Entry System - Report on

Tenders 6 & 8

Provision of Housing Maintenance Repair Services -

Areas 2 & 15 6 & 8

Kelburn, Phase 3 - Claim for Loss and

Expense 6, 8 & 9

Struthers Memorial Church - Lothian Road,

Greenock and Arran Avenue, Port Glasgow 9

1282 10/12 MANSION AVENUE, PORT GLASGOW - PROPOSED DEMOLITION 1282

SUBMITTED: Report dated 10 November 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on the present position regarding the property at 10/12 Mansion Avenue, Port Glasgow which has been extensively vandalised and recommending the rehousing of the remaining tenant and the demolition of the building.

DECIDED:

(a) That agreement be given to the permanent rehousing of the last remaining tenant at 10/12 Mansion Avenue, Port Glasgow in accordance with the policy adopted by the former Inverclyde District Council's Housing Committee in March 1990;

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to negotiate a price with the contractor who has submitted the lowest tender for the demolition of 6/8 Mansion Avenue with a view to the demolition of 10/12 Mansion Avenue being undertaken as part of the same project;

(c) That if no satisfactory agreement is reached, it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to arrange for the invitation of competitive tenders for the demolition of 10/12 Mansion Avenue;

(d) That delegated authority be granted to the Director of Housing and Customer Services to arrange for the permanent rehousing of the remaining tenants within any type of communal property where the occupation level has dropped below 50% and where there would be little likelihood of letting the vacant houses within a relatively short period of time and that in all cases, a report on the outcome of the rehousing process be submitted to the Committee for noting; and

C (e) That the cost of the demolition of 10/12 Mansion Avenue be met from the HRA Capital

Programme 1997/98.

1283 CLOSURE OF BALROSSIE RESIDENTIAL UNIT 1283

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work on the present position in respect of the proposed closure of Balrossie Residential Unit, advising of the termination of the Joint User Agreement on 31 October 1997 and detailing the financial implications of the closure of the Unit.

DECIDED:

(a) That the termination of the Joint User Agreement for Balrossie Residential Unit on 31 October 1997 be noted;

(b) That the effect of the resultant redeployment exercise on service delivery within the Social Work Department be noted; and

(c) That the additional cost resulting from the closure of the Unit totalling approximately £143,000 be referred to the Policy and Strategy Committee with a recommendation that this be met from the Contingency Fund.

1284 CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT - BANK STREET HOSTEL, GREENOCK 1284

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work providing an evaluation of the contractual agreement between the former Strathclyde Regional Council and Quarriers Homes in respect of the Bank Street Hostel, Greenock and requesting the Committee to approve the renegotiation of a contracted service between Inverclyde Council and Quarriers Homes.

DECIDED: That authority be granted to the Director of Social Work in consultation with the appropriate Officers to negotiate a contracted service between Inverclyde Council and Quarriers Homes in respect of the Bank Street Hostel, Greenock.

1285 SOCIAL WORK DUTY SERVICE - UPDATE 1285

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work on developments within the Social Work Duty Service which provides an initial intake, advice and general welfare service to the public and recommending that the provision of the duty system be enhanced by the establishment of one Co-ordinator post and two Information Worker posts.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted; and

(b) That the staffing implications be remitted to the Senior Management Team for consideration.

1286 AD-HOC HEATING REPLACEMENT BUDGET 1286

SUBMITTED: Report dated 7 November 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on the position of the Ad-Hoc Heating Replacement Budget in the current year and advising of the financial implications for the Budget as a result of the decision to condemn gas fires with painted fire casings.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted;

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to arrange for the invitation of competitive tenders for the replacement of gas heating systems on an ad-hoc basis and that the increased costs be met from the HRA Capital Programme; and

1287 OCTAVIA COURT, GREENOCK - UPGRADING OF DOOR ENTRY SYSTEM - REPORT 1287

ON TENDERS

SUBMITTED: Report dated 30 October 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on 6 tenders received for the upgrading of the door entry system at Octavia Court, Greenock.

DECIDED: That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the lowest tender, that by G D Chalmers Ltd in the sum of £63,835.44.

1288 PROVISION OF HOUSING MAINTENANCE REPAIR SERVICES - AREAS 2 & 15 1288

SUBMITTED: Report dated 29 October 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on the outcome of the tender process in respect of the provision of housing maintenance repair services in Areas 2 and 15.

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

1289 KELBURN, PHASE 3 - CLAIM FOR LOSS AND EXPENSE 1289

There was submitted a report by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on a claim for loss and expense submitted in respect of Phase 3 of the works at Kelburn, Port Glasgow and the Committee agreed to make an interim payment to the contractor without prejudice to the final settlement of the claim and to remit the matter to the Finance Sub-Committee, all as detailed in the Appendix.

1290 STRUTHERS MEMORIAL CHURCH - LOTHIAN ROAD, GREENOCK AND ARRAN 1290

AVENUE, PORT GLASGOW

There was submitted a report by the Director of Legal Services relative to the sale of sites in Lothian Road, Greenock and Arran Avenue, Port Glasgow to Struthers Memorial Church and the Committee agreed to sell the sites subject to conditions, all as detailed in the Appendix.