(b) That the report be otherwise noted.

716 COMMUNITY CARE SERVICE CONTRACT: APPROVAL TO BLOCK FUND - 716

MUIRSHIEL CENTRE, PORT GLASGOW

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work requesting the Committee to approve the block funding of the Port Glasgow Elderly and Disabled Resource Centre (also known as the Muirshiel Centre) in accordance with the conditions of the community care service contract. The report advised that the net cost of funding the Centre was £123,170 per annum consisting of urban funding of £79,260 per annum and care element transfer funding of £43,910 per annum and that there were therefore no cost implications for the Council.

DECIDED: That approval be given to the block funding of the Muirshiel Centre, Port Glasgow in accordance with the conditions of the community care service contract and that the funding arrangements be reviewed on an annual basis.

717 COMMUNITY CARE SERVICE CONTRACT: APPROVAL TO BLOCK FUND - 717

INVERCLYDE DEMENTIA CARE PROJECT

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work requesting the Committee to approve the block funding of the Inverclyde Dementia Care Project, Westburn Centre, Greenock, in accordance with the conditions of the community care service contract. The report advised that the net cost of funding the project was £133,680 per annum consisting of care element transfer funding of £34,100 per annum and mental illness specific grant of £99,580 per annum and that there were therefore no cost implications for the Council.

DECIDED: That approval be given to the block funding of the Inverclyde Dementia Care Project in accordance with the conditions of the community care service contract and that the funding arrangements be reviewed on an annual basis.

718 RESOURCE TRANSFER - ESTABLISHMENT OF POSTS 718

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work proposing the establishment of four posts within his Department to be funded from resource transfer monies agreed by the Health Board as a permanent allocation. It was noted that there were no financial implications for the Council resulting from the establishment of the posts.

DECIDED:

(a) That authority be given to the establishment of the following posts within the Department of Social Work at an estimated total cost of £114,400 per annum, to be funded from the resource transfer provision agreed with Argyll & Clyde Health Board:-

(i) Assistant Service Manager - Users and Carers;

(ii) Resource Worker - Disability;

(iii) Resource Worker - Mental Health - Elderly;

(iv) Assistant Resource Worker - Small Group Day Care; and

(b) That the establishment of the posts be remitted to the Director of Personnel Services for approval through the Council's established procedures.

719 RESOURCE TRANSFER: ADDITIONAL FUNDING 719

SERVICES FOR OLDER PEOPLE

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work on the outcome of negotiations on resource transfer relating to 1998/99 and 1999/2000.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee note the additional permanent contribution of £282,740 per annum commencing in 1999/2000, together with the new funding of £150,000 in 1998/99 only;

(b) That it be noted that revenue resources transferred from the Health Board to the Council are currently estimated to total £1.5 million; and

(c) That it be noted that the number of persons assessed as requiring nursing home or residential care but for whom no funding would be available on completion of the transfer of the additional resources was approximately 50.

720 PROPOSAL TO PART-FUND YOUNG PERSONS' WORKER POST 720

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work requesting the Committee to agree to participate with neighbouring local authorities in the joint funding of a Young Persons' Worker Post which will be managed by Who Cares? Scotland, an independent voluntary organisation which provides advice, advocacy and information to young people who are or who have been accommodated by local authorities.

DECIDED: That agreement be given to the joint funding with neighbouring authorities of a Young Persons' Worker Post to be managed by Who Cares? Scotland at a cost to the Council of £3,500 per annum which will be provided from the Supplementation Budget.

721 PROFESSIONAL FOSTERING SCHEME 721

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work providing detailed information on the operation of the professional fostering scheme approved in principle by the Social Work and Housing Committee at its meeting on 19 May 1998 (Para 550) and setting out further proposals in relation to the scheme.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee approve the proposals for a professional fostering scheme as set out in the report; and

(b) That it be noted that the development of the new scheme was outlined in the Council's Children's Services Plan.

722 SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT: REPORT ON COMPLAINTS RECEIVED IN 1997 722

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work analysing the complaints received from Social Work clients in 1997.

NOTED

723 SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT: ANNUAL REPORT 1997/98 723

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work appending his Department's annual report on the provision of social work services in Inverclyde during 1997/98.

NOTED

724 REVISED MAINTENANCE RATES FOR ESTABLISHMENTS OUTWITH INVERCLYDE 724

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.

725 REGISTRATION: VARIATION - LANGHOUSE RESIDENTIAL HOME, 725

LANGHOUSE ROAD, INVERKIP

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 R & T Campbell.

726 REGISTRATION: VARIATION - WOODSIDE RETIREMENT HOME, 726

QUARRIER'S VILLAGE, BRIDGE OF WEIR

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 Woodside Retirement Home, Quarrier's Village, 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 Mill Training Ltd.

727 REGISTRATION: COTTAGE 30, QUARRIER'S VILLAGE, BRIDGE OF WEIR 727

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work advising of the voluntary closure of Cottage 30, Quarrier's Village, Bridge of Weir.

DECIDED:

(a) That the voluntary closure of Cottage 30, Quarrier's Village, Bridge of Weir be noted; and

(b) That agreement be given to the termination of the registration of Cottage 30 as a Children's Establishment.

728 REGISTRATION: COTTAGE 43, QUARRIER'S VILLAGE, BRIDGE OF WEIR 728

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Social Work advising of the voluntary closure of Cottage 43, Quarrier's Village, Bridge of Weir.

DECIDED:

(a) That the voluntary closure of Cottage 43, Quarrier's Village, Bridge of Weir be noted; and

(b) That agreement be given to the termination of the registration of Cottage 43 as a Children's Establishment.

729 HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT MONITORING STATEMENT 1998/99 729

SUBMITTED: Report dated 10 July 1998 by the Director of Finance on the current position of the Housing Revenue Account Budget 1998/99 as at 24 June 1998 together with the 1997/98 final out-turn position.

NOTED

730 HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS 730

SUBMITTED: Report dated 9 July 1998 by the Director of Property & Technical Services on the technical progress of the HRA Capital Programme 1998/99.

DECIDED:

(a) That the technical progress of the HRA Capital Programme 1998/99 be noted;

(b) 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:-

Project Effect on Expenditure

Belville Avenue Area, Greenock - Replacement Windows

Anticipated final account 16.09% less than accepted tender £25,350 reduction

62-64 Grieve Road, Greenock - Underpinning

and General Repair Works

Anticipated final account 16.62% greater than accepted tender £4,289 increase

1-95 Woodstock Road, Greenock - Demolition

Anticipated final account 17.2% less than accepted tender £17,031 reduction; and

(c) That the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66 to authorise additional expenditure in respect of Phase 1 of the Brown Street/Baxter Street works and the underpinning and general repair works at Grieve Road, Greenock, in the approximate sums of £11,900 and £4,260 respectively be noted.

731 HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - FINANCIAL POSITION 731

SUBMITTED: Report dated 9 July 1998 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the HRA Capital Programme 1998/99 together with the 1997/98 final out-turn position.

The Director of Housing & Customer Services orally advised that a grant of £60,000 had been made available by the Scottish Office to improve energy efficiency within the Council's housing stock in 1998/99 and that this had been accepted.

DECIDED:

(a) That the current position of the HRA Capital Programme 1998/99 and the 1997/98 final out-turn position be noted; and

(b) That it be noted that a grant of £60,000 had been made available by the Scottish Office to improve energy efficiency within the Council's own housing stock in 1998/99.

732 PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING (NON-HRA) CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - 732

FINANCIAL POSITION

SUBMITTED: Report dated 8 July 1998 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the Private Sector Housing (Non-HRA) Capital Programme 1998/99.

NOTED

733 WINDOW REPLACEMENT PROGRAMME 1998/99 - FURTHER ADDRESSES 733

SUBMITTED: Report dated 8 July 1998 by the Director of Housing & Customer Services recommending the inclusion of further houses within the window replacement programme 1998/99 with a view to utilising the balance of the allocation, currently estimated at £157,000.

DECIDED:

(a) That the houses at Brightside and Heggies Avenues, Port Glasgow, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, be added to the window replacement programme 1998/99;

(b) 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; and

(c) 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(s) received.

734 LIFT RENEWAL - OCTAVIA COURT, GREENOCK 734

SUBMITTED: Report dated 9 July 1998 by the Director of Housing & Customer Services advising that the sum of £100,000 had been allocated within the Capital Programme 1998/99 for lift refurbishment works and requesting the Committee to agree to the invitation of competitive tenders for essential replacement works to the lifts at Octavia Court, 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 the renewal of the gearboxes and associated works to the lifts at Octavia Court, Greenock; 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.

735 HOUSING ALLOCATION POLICY 735

SUBMITTED: Report dated 10 July 1998 by the Director of Housing & Customer Services requesting the Committee to agree a suitable date for the holding of a special meeting to discuss his proposals to revise the Housing Allocation Policy.

DECIDED: That it be agreed to hold a special meeting of the Committee on Tuesday 25 August 1998 at 3.00pm.

736 TRANSFER OF SCOTTISH HOMES HOUSING STOCK 736

SUBMITTED: Report dated June 1998 by the Director of Housing & Customer Services on the position with regard to the future ownership and management of Scottish Homes houses in Port Glasgow and seeking the Committee's views on the approach the Council would wish to take on the matter.

DECIDED:

(a) That the preferred option be the establishment of a local housing company for the purpose of managing transferred Scottish Homes housing stock in Port Glasgow and attracting funding for improvement works; and

(b) That as this is a matter of new policy, it be remitted to the Policy and Strategy Committee for consideration.

737 THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CUSTOMER/TENANT INVOLVEMENT STRATEGY 737

SUBMITTED: Report dated 10 July 1998 by the Director of Housing & Customer Services on proposals for the development of a tenant involvement strategy and recommending that tenders be invited from specialist consultants based on the brief appended to the report.

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 from consultants specialising in the development of tenant involvement strategies based on the brief appended to the report; and

738 GIBSHILL REGENERATION STRATEGY 738

SUBMITTED: Report dated 9 July 1998 by the Director of Housing & Customer Services on a proposed demolition strategy for the tenemental properties in Gibshill.

DECIDED:

(a) That the tenemental properties at Whitelees Road, Mitchell Street, Laburnum Street, Thomas Muir Street and Keir Hardie Street, Greenock be designated for demolition, thus entitling affected tenants who wish to move to alternative accommodation to a £1,500 home loss payment and £196 displacement allowance, such payments to be funded from the allocation within the 1998/99 Capital Programme for regeneration works in Gibshill;

(b) That in the first instance, the remaining tenants in Mitchell Street and Whitelees Road be individually consulted as to their future housing options; and

(c) That a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee identifying those properties which it is recommended should form the first phase of the demolition works, together with the costs and timescales relative thereto.

739 RESOLUTION: EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS 739

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 as amended, 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)

King Street Library, Port Glasgow - Report on Tenders 6 & 8

Kelburn, Phase 3 - Contractor's Claim for Direct Loss and/or Expense 6, 8 & 9

Improvement Works at 3/5/7 Hope Street, Greenock 4 & 6

740 KING STREET LIBRARY, PORT GLASGOW - REPORT ON TENDERS 740

There was submitted a report by the Director of Housing & Customer Services on tenders received for the conversion of the former library at King Street, Port Glasgow to a flat suitable for a wheelchair user. The Committee agreed not to accept a tender at the present time but to remit it to the Director of Housing & Customer Services to take other action, all as detailed in the Appendix.

741 KELBURN, 3 - CONTRACTOR'S CLAIM FOR DIRECT LOSS AND/OR EXPENSE 741

There was submitted a report by the Director of Property & Technical Services advising of the settlement of the outstanding balance of the claim for direct loss and/or expense submitted by the contractor engaged to undertake Phase 3 of the Kelburn Housing Special Project and the Committee agreed to note the settlement of the claim, all as detailed in the Appendix.

742 IMPROVEMENT WORKS AT 3/5/7 HOPE STREET, GREENOCK 742

There was submitted a report by the Director of Housing & Customer Services advising of a request from Victoria Housing Association Ltd that improvement grant assistance be made available to an owner-occupier within the properties at 3/5/7 Hope Street, Greenock to enable the owner-occupier's participation in the proposed rehabilitation scheme and the Committee agreed to the request, all as detailed in the Appendix.