354 SOCIAL WORK AND PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - 354

FINANCIAL POSITION

SUBMITTED: Report dated 19 March 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the financial position of the Social Work and Private Sector Housing Capital Programme 1998/99.

NOTED

355 "CARING ABOUT CARERS" - A NATIONAL POLICY FOR CARERS 355

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services on the publication by the Government of the report "Caring for Carers" which identifies measures required to meet the needs of carers, outlining the strategic objectives of the report and the funding to be allocated for carers in future years.

DECIDED:

(a) That the publication by the Government of the report "Caring for Carers" be noted; and

(b) That it be noted that further reports will be submitted to the Committee on the specific proposals as these are formulated by the United Kingdom and Scottish Parliaments.

356 INVERCLYDE JOINT MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGY 356

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services requesting the Committee to endorse the principles of the Inverclyde Joint Mental Health Strategy and the recommendations appended to the report.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee endorse the principles of the Inverclyde Joint Mental Health Strategy and the recommendations set out in the Appendix to the report; and

(b) That the Committee acknowledge the work undertaken by the statutory and non-statutory agencies with users and carers in developing the Strategy.

357 "WITH RESPECT TO OLD AGE" - A REPORT BY THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON LONG 357

TERM CARE

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services advising of the publication of the report "With Respect to Old Age" prepared by the Royal Commission on Long Term Care and summarising the principal findings of the report which were currently being considered by the Government.

DECIDED:

(a) That the publication of the report "With Respect to Old Age" be noted and that it be noted that further reports will be submitted to the Committee on the Government's response to the Royal Commission's recommendations; and

(b) That representations be made to the Scottish Office Minister for Health and the Arts opposing the principle of charging those in long-term hospital care for a contribution towards their housing and living costs and also the current system of charging those in residential and nursing home care.

358 PROVISION OF STAFFING RESOURCES TO ASSIST THE RESETTLEMENT OF PEOPLE 358

WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES FROM HOSPITAL INTO THE COMMUNITY

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services requesting the Committee to approve the establishment of two posts within Social Work Services to assist people with learning disabilities who are currently resident in hospital to re-settle into the community. The report advised that the establishment of the two posts with administrative support, estimated at £55,500, would be funded through use of uncommitted resource transfer monies from Argyll and Clyde Health Board.

DECIDED:

(a) That the arrangements for the discharge from Scottish hospitals of people with learning disabilities who have Inverclyde origins be noted;

(b) That the Committee approve in principle the establishment of two additional posts within Social Work Services and that 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 posts will be funded through resource transfer monies and will have no additional financial implications for the Council.

359 CRIMINAL JUSTICE STRATEGIC PLAN 1999-2002 359

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services on the contents of Inverclyde Council's Criminal Justice Strategic Plan for the period 1999-2002.

DECIDED:

(a) That the contents of the Criminal Justice Strategic Plan 1999-2002 be noted;

(b) That it be noted that development bids will be submitted to the Scottish Office in terms of the Plan; and

(c) That further reports be submitted to the Committee on the outcome of the negotiations with the Scottish Office in respect of the grant allocation and service development bids.

360 REVISED MAINTENANCE RATES FOR ESTABLISHMENTS WITHIN INVERCLYDE 360

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work and 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.

361 REVISED MAINTENANCE RATES FOR ESTABLISHMENTS OUTWITH INVERCLYDE 361

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work and 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.

362 FOSTERING ALLOWANCES 1999/2000 362

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services requesting the Committee to approve an increase in the rates of fostering allowances for 1999/2000 as recommended by COSLA.

DECIDED: That the Committee approve the new rates of fostering allowances for 1999/2000 as recommended by COSLA.

363 HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT MONITORING STATEMENT 1998/99 363

SUBMITTED: Report dated 23 March 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the current position of the Housing Revenue Account Budget 1998/99 as at 3 March 1999.

NOTED

364 HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS 364

SUBMITTED: Report dated 18 March 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services on the technical progress of the HRA Capital Programme 1998/99. The report also advised of the progress of the heat leasing project at Eastern View, Gourock and Royal Court, Greenock.

DECIDED:

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

(b) That the Committee approve, in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations, an expenditure increase of £17,500 in the window replacement project at Mid-Auchinleck, Port Glasgow in respect of the inclusion of a number of houses where the tenants had now withdrawn their applications to purchase; and

(c) That the accumulated variations in the Gas Central Heating (Leasing) Project which are 30.48% (£52,190) greater than the accepted tender amount be approved in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations.

365 HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - FINANCIAL POSITION 365

SUBMITTED: Report dated 18 March 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the financial position of the HRA Capital Programme 1998/99.

NOTED

366 HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT - REQUEST FOR VIREMENT 366

SUBMITTED: Report dated 25 March 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services advising of an overspend of £27,300 against the budget line within the Housing Revenue Account for the purchase of computer hardware and requesting the Committee to approve virement of this sum from the Major Repairs Budget to fund the overspend.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee note the overspend against the Housing Revenue Account budget line monitoring the purchase of computer hardware; and

(b) That the overspend of £27,300 be funded by transfer of this sum from the Major Repairs Budget.

367 ANTI-FRAUD UPDATE 367

SUBMITTED: Report dated 18 March 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services providing management information and analysis of a number of key performance indicators within Housing Services' anti-fraud section, identifying the key issues which require to be addressed to ensure that the anti-fraud section improves on current performance levels and complies with the standards outlined by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate.

DECIDED:

(a) That the proactive steps taken to detect and prevent Housing and Council Tax Benefit fraud be endorsed; and

(b) That reports be submitted to the Committee on a quarterly basis on the progress made by the anti-fraud section of Housing Services.

368 ANTI-FRAUD STRATEGY 368

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services seeking approval of a proposed anti-fraud strategy in respect of Housing and Council Tax Benefit fraud.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted; and

(b) That the anti-fraud strategy set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

369 PROSECUTION POLICY 369

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services seeking approval of a proposed prosecution policy in respect of Housing and Council Tax Benefit fraud.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted; and

(b) That the prosecution policy set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

370 1-9 KILMUN ROAD, GREENOCK 370

SUBMITTED: Report dated 25 March 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services on the results of recent surveys of the tenants of 1-9 Kilmun Road, Greenock on their housing options and making recommendations for the future of the area.

DECIDED:

(a) That the properties at 1-9 Kilmun Road, Greenock be declared surplus to the Council's requirements and designated for demolition and that qualifying tenants receive Home Loss and Disturbance Payments;

(b) That it be noted that the remaining tenants will be fully apprised of their rehousing options; and

funded from the HRA Capital Programme 1999/2000.

371 NEW HOUSING PARTNERSHIPS - THE NEXT PHASE 371

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services advising that following the decision of the Committee at its meeting on 13 October 1998 (Para 1074) to authorise submission of a bid to the Scottish Office for New Housing Partnership monies, confirmation had been received from the Scottish Office that resources totalling £129,500 had been provisionally earmarked to enable the Council to undertake an Options Appraisal Study of its housing stock, and providing details of the Scottish Office's response.

The Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services advised the Committee that although the Scottish Office had originally indicated that the resources would take the form of an additional Capital Allocation, a further Circular had been received which indicated that the possibility of the funding being in the form of a revenue grant was being considered.

DECIDED:

(a) That the information received from the Scottish Office be noted; and

(b) That it be remitted to a Working Group comprising senior members of Housing staff and representatives from Inverclyde Housing Association Forum, Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership, Scottish Homes and Planning Services to produce a detailed brief for the Options Appraisal Study and that it be remitted to the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services in consultation with the Working Group to arrange for the appointment of external consultants to undertake the study.

372 RESPONSE TO GREEN PAPER - "INVESTING IN MODERNISATION - AN AGENDA FOR 372

SCOTLAND'S HOUSING"

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services seeking approval of a proposed response to the Green Paper "Investing in Modernisation - An Agenda for Scotland's Housing".

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted and the comments appended to the report be approved as the Council's interim response; and

(b) That it be remitted to the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services to arrange a presentation for all Members of the Council on the contents of the Green Paper to ascertain whether any further response is required.

373 THE SCOTTISH ROUGH SLEEPERS INITIATIVE: A REVIEW BY THE 373

ROUGH SLEEPERS INITIATIVE ADVISORY GROUP

SUBMITTED: Report dated 19 March 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services seeking approval of a proposed response to the Review by the Rough Sleepers Initiative Advisory Group.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted; and

(b) That the Council's response to the Rough Sleepers Initiative Advisory Group's Review as set out in the Appendix to the report be approved for submission to the Scottish Office.

374 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CARE AND REPAIR SERVICE IN INVERCLYDE 374

SUBMITTED: Report dated 19 March 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services on the outcome of the negotiations with Scottish Homes and Argyll & Clyde Health Board regarding the revenue funding arrangements for the proposed care and repair service in Inverclyde.

DECIDED: That consideration be continued pending the outcome of the decision of the Policy and Strategy Committee relative to the Non-HRA Capital Programme 1999/2000.

375 CHILD CARE SUB-COMMITTEE 375

SUBMITTED: Report dated 6 April 1999 by the Executive Director Legal, Information & Support Services advising that The Inverclyde Council at its meeting on 1 April 1999 had agreed that membership of the Child Care Sub-Committee be set at seven, with four members forming a quorum, and had remitted it to the Social Work and Housing Committee to determine membership and to appoint a Convener and Vice-Convener.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Social Work and Housing Committee give its agreement to part of its remit being discharged by the Child Care Sub-Committee with delegated powers;

(b) That the following Members be appointed to the Child Care Sub-Committee:-

1. Councillor Morrison (D) (Vice-Convener) 5. Councillor Nimmo

2. Councillor O'Rourke (Convener) 6. Councillor Rebecchi

3. Councillor Jackson 7. Councillor Welch

4. Councillor McGhee

(c) That where a Member is unable to attend a meeting of the Sub-Committee, that Member may nominate another Member of the Council to attend as his/her substitute with powers to act in his/her stead.

376 ESTATE MANAGEMENT/CARETAKING - WOODHALL, PORT GLASGOW 376

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services on the condition of the Woodhall estate, Port Glasgow, advising of the present housing management arrangements and setting out options for the introduction of an estate management/caretaking service.

Councillor Robertson (A) was present and with consent spoke on the matter.

DECIDED:

(a) That a Working Party comprising the local Member, the Convener of the Social Work and Housing Committee, representatives of Woodhall Tenants' Association and Housing Officers be established to discuss the various options for an estate management/caretaking service and how best to introduce such a service in the Woodhall area and that thereafter, consultations take place with the residents of the properties to explain the options available; and

(b) That a further report be submitted to the Committee in due course on the outcome of the consultations with the residents of Woodhall, setting out their views and the cost implications for the Housing Service and also outlining any contributions which can be made by other Council services and participating residents.

377 CHILDREN'S SERVICES DEVELOPMENT FUND 377

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services appending an outline plan for submission to the Scottish Office on the proposed use of the £191,000 provided to the Council from the Children's Services Development Fund.

DECIDED: That the Children's Services Development Fund Implementation Plan 1999/2000 appended to the report be approved for submission to the Scottish Office.

378 RESOLUTION: EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS 378

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)

Building Services Revenue Budget 1998/99 8

Belville Street Roofing Programme, Phase 4 6 & 8

Belville Street Multi-Storey Flats Concierge System 6 & 8

Peat Road Upgrading Programme, Phase 2 - Report on Tenders 6 & 8

Gibshill Demolitions, Phase 1 - Report on Tenders 6 & 8

379 BUILDING SERVICES REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99 379

SUBMITTED: Report dated 25 March 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the position of the Building Services Revenue Budget 1998/99 as at 3 March 1999.

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

380 BELVILLE STREET ROOFING PROGRAMME - PHASE 4 380

SUBMITTED: Report dated 15 March 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services on proposals for the renewal of the roof at Selkirk Court, Greenock which forms Phase 4 of the Belville Street multi-storey flats roofing programme.

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 roof at Selkirk 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 for the works.

381 BELVILLE STREET MULTI-STOREY FLATS - CONCIERGE SYSTEM 381

SUBMITTED: Report dated 19 March 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services requesting authority to purchase a bank of spare parts for various items of equipment to be used for the Belville Street concierge system.

DECIDED:

(a) That authority be granted to the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services to purchase a bank of spare parts for the Belville Street concierge system as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report; and

(b) That the cost of the spare parts be charged to the Major Repairs Budget.

382 PEAT ROAD UPGRADING PROGRAMME, PHASE 2 - REPORT ON TENDERS 382

SUBMITTED: Report dated 16 March 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services on five tenders received for Phase 2 of the Peat Road Upgrading Programme.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the lowest tender, that by Elim Construction Ltd in the corrected sum of £371,678.57; and

(b) That it be recommended to the Policy and Strategy Committee that the cost of funding repairs grants to the affected owner-occupiers, estimated at £7,000, be met from the Non-HRA Capital Programme 1999/2000.

383 GIBSHILL DEMOLITIONS, PHASE 1 - REPORT ON TENDERS 383

SUBMITTED: Report dated 23 March 1999 by the Executive Director Social Work and Housing Services on six tenders received for Phase 1 of the Gibshill demolition works.

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 £164,093.60.