25 SOCIAL WORK (NON-HRA) CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS 25

SUBMITTED: Report dated 15 December 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the technical progress of the Social Work (Non-HRA) Capital Programme 1997/98.

NOTED

26 SOCIAL WORK (NON-HRA) CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - FINANCIAL POSITION 26

SUBMITTED: Report dated 19 December 1997 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the Social Work (Non-HRA) Capital Programme 1997/98.

DECIDED:

(a) That the financial position of the Social Work (Non-HRA) Capital Programme 1997/98 be noted; and

(b) That it be remitted to the Policy and Strategy Committee to consider increasing the Social Work Capital Programme by £9,000 in order to fund the current overspend.

27 REGISTRATION : VARIATION - THE SCOTTISH ASSOCIATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH 27

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 which would involve the removal of the double room accommodation at 4 Nairn Drive, Greenock from registration and the registration of 88 Neil Street, Greenock and 19 Glen Avenue, Port Glasgow as single occupancy flats.

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 the Scottish Association for Mental Health.

28 REGISTRATION : VARIATION - JERICHO HOUSE, 14 SHANKLAND ROAD, GREENOCK: 28

THE JERICHO SOCIETY

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 the Jericho Society.

29 REGISTRATION : VARIATION - THE QUEEN'S RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME, ASHBURN 29

GATE, GOUROCK : M & D CARE HOMES LTD

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 M & D Care Homes Ltd.

30 REGISTRATION : VARIATION - QUARRIERS EPILEPSY CENTRE, QUARRIERS VILLAGE, 30 BRIDGE OF WEIR

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.

31 REVISED MAINTENANCE RATES FOR ESTABLISHMENTS OUTWITH INVERCLYDE 31

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work requesting the Committee to approve maintenance rates for persons from Inverclyde who are currently or who may in the future be resident in registered residential establishments outwith Inverclyde.

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

32 MAINTENANCE RATES FOR ESTABLISHMENTS WITHIN INVERCLYDE 32

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work requesting the Committee to approve the payment of maintenance rates for persons from Inverclyde who are currently or who may in the future be resident in registered residential establishments located within Inverclyde.

DECIDED:

(a) That the registered residential establishments within Inverclyde as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be noted; and

(b) That the recommended maintenance rates be approved and the Director of Social Work be authorised to make appropriate payments for residents' care in the event of placements being made.

33 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHILDREN (SCOTLAND) ACT 1995 33

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work advising of the progress made in respect of the implementation of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

DECIDED:

(a) That the progress made in the implementation of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and the difficulties encountered in this regard be noted;

(b) That the proposal to establish 2 new posts of Social Worker and Assistant Service Manager within the Social Work Department to assist in the implementation of the Act be remitted to the Senior Management Team for consideration; and

34 NCH ACTION FOR CHILDREN (SCOTLAND) - COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVE 34

PLACEMENT SCHEME

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work advising of his Department's intention to refer children to the Community Alternative Placement Scheme established by NCH Action for Children, which provided family placements for young people with severe difficulties who might otherwise be placed in secure accommodation or the most expensive residential school placements.

DECIDED: That the intention of the Social Work Department to make referrals to the Community Alternative Placement Scheme be noted.

35 IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICES FUNDED BY RESOURCE TRANSFER AND BRIDGING 35 FINANCE

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work on the mechanisms used for transferring Health Board funding to Local Authorities as an additional component to the current level of service and setting out the implications for new employment and the potential for economic development within Inverclyde.

DECIDED:

(a) That the contents of the report be endorsed; and

(b) That the matter be referred to the Finance Sub-Committee to consider the strategic opportunities that may be provided by the additional income and the issue of increasing the allocation of budget to increase the benefit accruing to the authority from Care Element Transfer monies on a planned basis.

36 HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS 36

SUBMITTED: Report dated 23 December 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 reductions in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations:-

Project Effect on Expenditure

Bardrainney Area, Port Glasgow - Replacement Windows

Deletion of houses purchased by the tenants since the

preparation of tender documentation £19,500 reduction;

Gilmour Street, Greenock - Replacement Windows

Deletion of houses purchased by the tenants since the

preparation of tender documentation £10,297 reduction;

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

Bardrainney Area, Port Glasgow - Replacement Windows

Anticipated Final Account 10.28% less than accepted tender £21,685 reduction

Gilmour Street, Greenock - Replacement Windows

Anticipated Final Account 10.5% less than accepted tender £15,947 reduction;

(d) That the current position of Phase 3 of the Kelburn Housing Special Project be noted;

(e) That the variation in respect of the contract for the demolition of 25/29 and 30/36 Kelburn Terrace, Port Glasgow be noted; and

(f) That it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to submit a detailed report to the next meeting of the Committee on the background to and current position of the contract to install a concierge system at the Belville Street multi-storey flats including information on the faults experienced and remedies proposed and the reasons for the delays in implementing the remedies.

37 HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - FINANCIAL POSITION 37

SUBMITTED: Report dated 18 December 1997 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the HRA Capital Programme 1997/98.

NOTED

38 PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING (NON-HRA) CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - FINANCIAL 38 POSITION

SUBMITTED: Report dated 16 December 1997 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the Private Sector Housing (Non-HRA) Capital Programme 1997/98.

NOTED

39 PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING (NON-HRA) CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - NEW 39

FUNDING

SUBMITTED: Report dated 23 December 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on a proposed apportionment of the Private Sector Housing (General Provision) funding of £1,250,000 for 1998/99 agreed by the Policy and Strategy Committee at its meeting on 11 December 1997 (Para 1386).

DECIDED:

(a) That the apportionment of the £1,250,000 new funding allocated by the Policy and Strategy Committee be as follows:-

Project Amount

Kelly Street Housing Action Area (Phase 2) £742,000

Mearns Street Housing Action Area £100,000

Disabled Improvement Grants £50,000

Major Repairs Grants

(Brown/Baxter Streets and Peat Road) £70,000

General Repairs Grants £70,000

Discretionary Improvement Grants £218,000

TOTAL £1,250,000

(b) That a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee on proposed projects to be funded from the Discretionary Improvement Grant Budget; and

(c) That it be agreed that the estimated costs of completing 62/68 Kelly Street and 18/20 Mearns Street, both Greenock of £107,000 and £395,000 respectively should be met from the 1999/2000 Non-HRA Budget and that this matter be referred to the Policy and Strategy Committee for approval.

40 BROWN STREET/BAXTER STREET, GREENOCK - REFURBISHMENT 40

SUBMITTED: Report dated 23 December 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services advising that following a detailed examination of the properties at Brown Street/Baxter Street, Greenock it had been necessary to amend the specification for the works resulting in an increase in costs from £435,000 to £508,000.

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 the refurbishment works at

36-74 Brown Street, Greenock at a revised estimated cost of £508,000;

(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 for the duration of the works, tenants be given the option of either receiving a payment of £390 to compensate them for the loss of cooking and laundry facilities or the use of basic cooking facilities together with access to Cartsdyke Court laundrette.

41 4 AND 6 BARNHILL STREET, GREENOCK 41

SUBMITTED: Report dated 23 December 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services advising that due to the low occupancy rate at 4 and 6 Barnhill Street, Greenock which was scheduled for inclusion in the current Window Replacement Programme, it was considered that the carrying out of such works at the properties could not be justified and, accordingly, the properties had been closed and arrangements made to rehouse the tenants in accordance with the procedure adopted by the Committee at its meeting on 18 November 1997 (Para 1282). It was noted that the properties would be made secure in the meantime pending a decision on the long term future of the block.

DECIDED: That the decision taken by the Director of Housing and Customer Services to close the properties at 4 and 6 Barnhill Street, Greenock and make home loss and disturbance payments as appropriate to the remaining tenants be homologated.

42 NOMINATION ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN INVERCLYDE COUNCIL AND LOCALLY 42 OPERATING HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS

SUBMITTED: Report dated 23 December 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services advising that the review of the nomination arrangement between Inverclyde Council and locally operating Housing Associations had been completed and detailing proposals for a new nomination arrangement as set out in the Appendix to the report.

DECIDED:

(a) That the proposed new nomination arrangement between Inverclyde Council and the locally operating Housing Associations as set out in the report and its Appendix be noted; and

(b) That this be adopted as policy and authority be granted to the Director of Housing and Customer Services to implement the arrangement in line with the timetabled action plan detailed in the report.

43 FUTURE USE OF THE AREA BOUNDED BY CLUNE BRAE, PORT GLASGOW ROAD, 43

WILSON STREET AND CALEDONIA STREET, PORT GLASGOW

SUBMITTED: Report dated 24 December 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services advising that it had not been possible to conclude negotiations in respect of the area bounded by Clune Brae, Port Glasgow Road, Wilson Street and Caledonia Street, Port Glasgow in accordance with the decision of the former District Council's Housing Committee of 4 April 1995. The report explained that the existing Local Plan permitted residential, leisure or light industrial use on the site and that it may be the case that a land assembly package for disposal to the private sector could make the best use of the land. It was noted that the demand for industrial units was currently being assessed by the Department of Economic Development and that once the assessment was completed, it would provide further information on which to base a decision.

DECIDED: That the future development of the site be considered as part of the report by the Director of Economic Development assessing the demand for industrial units within the area and that the matter be remitted for further consideration to the Economic Development Committee.

44 RESOLUTION: EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS 44

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)

Demolition of 2/10 Clydeview Road and Glenbrae Road/

Crescent Shops, Greenock 6 & 8

Possible Repossession of House 2

Inverclyde Local House Condition Survey 1997/98 -

Proposed Variation to Contract 6, 8 & 9

45 DEMOLITION OF 2/10 CLYDEVIEW ROAD AND GLENBRAE ROAD/CRESCENT 45 SHOPS, GREENOCK

SUBMITTED: Report dated 23 December 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on 6 tenders received for the demolition of the houses at 2/10 Clydeview Road and the shops at Glenbrae Road/Crescent, Greenock.

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

DECIDED: That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the lowest tender, that by Whiteinch Demolition Ltd in the sum of £23,595.00.

46 POSSIBLE REPOSSESSION OF HOUSE 46

There was submitted a report by the Director of Housing and Customer Services requesting the Committee's authority to seek vacant possession of a house on the basis that the tenant has been convicted of serious drugs offences in terms of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Committee agreed to seek vacant possession all as detailed in the Appendix.

47 INVERCLYDE LOCAL HOUSE CONDITION SURVEY 1997/98 - PROPOSED VARIATION 47

TO CONTRACT

SUBMITTED: Report dated 7 January 1998 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services requesting the Committee to approve, in terms of the Council's Financial Regulations, a variation to the contract for the Local House Condition Survey 1997/98 which
would involve the addition of 11 questions to the standard survey questionnaire at an additional cost of £2,935.

DECIDED: That the variation to the contract for the Local House Condition Survey 1997/98 be approved at an additional cost of £2,935.