DECIDED: That it be recommended to the Policy & Strategy Committee that the projected overspend of £25,000 in the Social Work and Private Sector Housing Capital Programme 1998/99 be funded from the projected underspend in the Social Work and other Housing Services Revenue Budget 1998/99.

216 WINTER MONIES - INVERCLYDE COUNCIL BID 216

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work & Housing Services advising that £1,917,000 had been made available by the Scottish Office to Argyll & Clyde Health Board up to 31 March 1999 to support the additional workload of the NHS over the winter period and advising that a bid totalling £50,000 had been made to the Health Board for the pre-purchase of a pool of occupational therapy aids and equipment and for the installation of adaptations and aids packages to specifically identified people.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee endorse the bid to Argyll & Clyde Health Board in the total sum of £50,000 to be spent by 31 March 1999 and note that this has been successful;

(b) That it be noted that the Director of Social Work will account to the Health Board for the expenditure of these monies; and

(c) That it be noted that the bid will increase the ability of Social Work Services to support persons being discharged from hospital and to assist their carers.

217 MENTAL HEALTH DEVELOPMENT FUND BID 217

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work & Housing Services advising that a bid totalling £44,000 had been submitted to Argyll & Clyde Health Board for Scottish Office Mental Health Development Grant to allow the establishment for a period of approximately one year of a Research and Information Officer post with administrative support within Social Work Services to assist in the development of joint services in the field of mental health.

The Director of Social Work advised the Committee that the bid had now been endorsed by Argyll & Clyde Health Board and submitted to the Scottish Office for approval.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee endorse the submission of the bid totalling £44,000 to Argyll & Clyde Health Board;

(b) That the proposal to establish a Research and Information Officer post with administrative support (15 hours) for a period of approximately one year be agreed in principle subject to approval by the Scottish Office, in which case it be remitted to the Director of Personnel Services to determine the appropriate grades for the posts; and

(c) That it be noted that the establishment of the project, if approved, will have no financial implications for the Council but will permit a sound basis for joint planning to be established in the development of mental health services across the partner agencies within Inverclyde.

218 REVISED MAINTENANCE RATES FOR ESTABLISHMENTS WITHIN INVERCLYDE 218

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work & Housing Services 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: 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.

219 REVISED MAINTENANCE RATES FOR ESTABLISHMENTS OUTWITH INVERCLYDE 219

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work & Housing Services 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.

220 REVISED MAINTENANCE RATES - INDEPENDENT SECTOR PROVISION 220

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work & Housing Services advising that Central Government had agreed an increased scale of charges for payments by local authorities to independent sector providers and requesting the Committee to approve the revised rates as set out in the Appendix to the report.

DECIDED:

(a) That the increased scale of charges set by Central Government in respect of independent sector provision be noted; and

(b) That the maintenance rates as set out in the Appendix to the report be approved and implemented from 19 April 1999.

221 HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT MONITORING STATEMENT 1998/99 221

SUBMITTED: Report dated 10 February 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the current position of the Housing Revenue Account Budget 1998/99 as at 6 January 1999.

NOTED

222 HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS 222

SUBMITTED: Report dated 5 February 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work & Housing 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; and

(b) That the settlement of the contractual claim in respect of Phase 1 of the refurbishment works at Brown Street/Baxter Street be noted.

223 HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - FINANCIAL POSITION 223

SUBMITTED: Report dated 5 February 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the financial position of the HRA Capital Programme 1998/99.

NOTED

224 WINDOW REPLACEMENT PROGRAMME 1999/2000 224

SUBMITTED: Report dated 27 January 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work & Housing Services advising that the sum of £2,000,000 had been allocated within the HRA Capital Programme 1999/2000 for window replacement works and setting out proposals for the window replacement programme 1999/2000 which would comprise three elements, viz (i) the continuation of the replacement of timber windows in chronological order (ii) the replacement of metal windows in order of priority and (iii) continuation of the replacement of windows within the Council's stock of designated elderly persons accommodation, in chronological order.

DECIDED:

(a) That the proposals for the window replacement programme 1999/2000 as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report be approved;

(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 projects listed in Appendix 3; and

(c) That delegated authority be granted to the Director of Central Services in the usual manner to accept the lowest tenders in cases where the value exceeds £100,000.

225 CARTSDYKE COURT - CAPITAL PLAN 225

SUBMITTED: Report dated 27 January 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work & Housing Services recommending that the installation of an insulation render system at Cartsdyke Court, Greenock at an estimated cost of £350,000 inclusive of fees be added to the Capital Plan and advising the Committee that investigations were ongoing into water penetration problems at a number of pre-cast panel (bison) multi-storey blocks within Inverclyde and that it may be necessary to include provision within the Capital Plan at a future date in respect of the necessary remedial works.

DECIDED:

(a) That the insulation render project at Cartsdyke Court at an estimated cost of £350,000 including fees be added to the Capital Plan; and

(b) That it be noted that investigations are ongoing into water penetration problems at a number of pre-cast panel (bison) multi-storey blocks and that it may be necessary to include provision in the Capital Plan at a future date in respect of the necessary remedial works.

226 DEMOLITION OF 29 MEARNS STREET, GREENOCK - USE OF EMERGENCY 226

POWERS PROCEDURE

SUBMITTED: Report dated 1 February 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work & Housing Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure in terms of Standing Order 66(a) to authorise the acceptance of the lowest tender received for the demolition of 29 Mearns Street, Greenock in the sum of £60,532.30 including fees and service disconnection charges.

NOTED

227 THE CRIME AND DISORDER ACT 1998 - IMPLICATIONS FOR SERVICE DELIVERY 227

SUBMITTED: Report dated 4 February 1999 by the Executive Directors Social Work & Housing Services and Legal, Information & Support Services outlining the main provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, with particular reference to the Anti-Social Behaviour Order and the "extended grounds for eviction" and advising of the implications in terms of service delivery.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted; and

(b) That it be noted that the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 will be monitored and that the Committee will be kept fully informed of the development of the service.

228 NEW HOUSING PARTNERSHIPS 228

It was agreed that this item be withdrawn.

229 LEASED HEATING PROJECT - ROYAL COURT AND EASTERN VIEW - USE OF 229

EMERGENCY POWERS PROCEDURE

SUBMITTED: Report dated 23 February 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work & Housing Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure in terms of Standing Order 66(a) to authorise the removal of asbestos associated with the leased heating project at Royal Court and Eastern View and to provide tenants with the option of having an electric towel rail installed in the existing drying cupboard within the kitchens of the properties at a total cost of £236,670 inclusive of professional fees. The report advised that the revised leasable element of the contract was estimated at £146,400, increasing the leasing charge to approximately £20,300 per annum, and that provision for this sum had been made in the Revenue Budget 1999/2000. It was noted that the overall non-leasable cost was estimated at £90,270 which will be funded from the £510,000 provision for heating installations contained in the Revenue Budget 1999/2000.

NOTED

230 RESOLUTION: EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS 230

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)

Children (Scotland) Act 1995 - Re-appointment of Safeguarders 6

Kempock House and Hillend House Call Systems - Report on Tenders 6 & 8

Neil Street Children's Home - Replacement Heating Systems - Report

on Tenders 6 & 8

Building Services Revenue Budget 1998/99 8

Building Services - Performance Related Issues 8

Outstanding Improvement Grant Applications 4

231 CHILDREN (SCOTLAND) ACT 1995 - RE-APPOINTMENT OF SAFEGUARDERS 231

SUBMITTED: Report dated 12 February 1999 by the Executive Director Legal, Information & Support Services seeking approval for the re-appointment of individuals previously appointed by the Council as Safeguarders for the purposes of children's hearings and proceedings in the Sheriff Court, in terms of Section 41 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

DECIDED: That approval be granted to the re-appointment of the Safeguarders listed in the Appendix to the report for the year 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 subject to no subsequent adverse comments being received by the Director of Central Services.

232 KEMPOCK HOUSE AND HILLEND HOUSE CALL SYSTEMS - REPORT ON TENDERS 232

SUBMITTED: Report dated 2 February 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work & Housing Services on four tenders received for the replacement of call systems at Kempock House and Hillend House.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the lowest tender, that by Weir & McQuilston (Scotland) Ltd in the corrected sum of £77,173.07; and

(b) That it be noted that due to the position of the Non HRA Capital Programme 1998/99, it will be necessary for the Kempock House Toilet Upgrading project to be deferred.

233 NEIL STREET CHILDREN'S HOME - REPLACEMENT HEATING SYSTEMS - 233

REPORT ON TENDERS

SUBMITTED: Report dated 2 February 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work & Housing Services on five tenders received for the replacement of the heating systems at the Neil Street Children's Home.

DECIDED: That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the lowest tender, that by Mackintosh Bros in the sum of £26,285.41.

234 BUILDING SERVICES REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99 234

SUBMITTED: Report dated 10 January 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the position of the Building Services Revenue Budget 1998/99 as at 6 January 1999.

DECIDED: That the improved position of the Building Services Revenue Budget 1998/99 be noted.

235 BUILDING SERVICES - PERFORMANCE RELATED ISSUES 235

SUBMITTED: Report dated 8 February 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work & Housing Services on the present position of the Building Services Action Plan.

DECIDED: That the report be noted and that further detailed reports be submitted to the Committee in due course.

236 OUTSTANDING IMPROVEMENT GRANT APPLICATIONS 236

SUBMITTED: Report dated 3 February 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work & Housing Services on the priority rating system for outstanding grant applications agreed by the former Inverclyde District Council in November 1995, proposing additional criteria to be taken into consideration when prioritising applications for grant and re-appraising the 32 major voluntary rehabilitation projects currently held, using these additional criteria.

Councillor Welch declared an interest in this item and took no part in its consideration or decision.

DECIDED:

(a) That the additional criteria outlined in Section 5 of the report be taken into account in determining whether applications in respect of voluntary improvement schemes should be approved;

(b) That the projects listed in Appendix 3 to the report be refused for the reasons detailed;

(c) That the remaining 23 projects be divided into Category A and Category B projects and that those projects in Category A be considered as priorities for future voluntary improvement grant funding; and

(d) That the Policy & Strategy Committee be requested to establish an allocation on an annual recurring basis to allow a programme to improve the Category A projects to be produced.