COMMUNITY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

THURSDAY 8 APRIL 1999 - 3.00pm

 

Present:-  Councillors Calvert, Robertson (A), Morrison (M), Roach, Robertson (Y) and Hunter, Councillor Morrison (M), Convener, in the Chair.

 

In attendance:-  The Executive Director Community and Protective Services, Mr A Puckrin (for the Executive Director Resource Services), Mr C Clelland (for the Executive Director Legal, Information and Support Services), the Director of Central Services, the Director of Leisure Services, the Chief Environmental Services Officer, the Head of Property Services, the Head of Parks, Transport and Cleansing Services, the Head of Community Support Services, the Head of Trading Standards Services and Mr N McLaren (for the Chief Planning Officer).

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Sir Simpson Stevenson and Finnie.

 

The following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Committee.

 

   388      ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEM                                                                                                             388

 

The Convener referred to a report by the Executive Director Community and Protective Services on the provision of additional play facilities in Inverkip.  She indicated that consideration of the item was urgent to allow the development of the play areas to proceed and moved that the item be added to the Agenda.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

 

   389      REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99                                                                                                                389

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 24 March 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the current position of the Revenue Budget as at 3 March 1999 and advising of a projected net underspend of £47,150.

NOTED

 

   390      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99:  FINANCIAL POSITION                                                             390

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 23 March 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services detailing the financial position in respect of current and proposed projects included in the 1998/99 Capital Programme.

NOTED

   391      SCALE OF FEES CHARGEABLE FROM 1 APRIL 1999 BY THE TRADING STANDARDS            391

              SERVICE                                                                                                                                                     

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 8 March 1999 by the Executive Director Community and Protective Services requesting approval of the scale of fees chargeable from 1 April 1999 by the Trading Standards Service for services rendered under statutes enforced by its Officers.

DECIDED:  That the Committee adopt the recommended scale of fees and charges as detailed in the report.

 

   392      EUROPEAN COMMISSION CONSUMER COMPLAINT FORM                                                      392

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 11 March 1999 by the Executive Director Community and Protective Services advising the Committee of a pilot project involving the Trading Standards Service and their use of the European Commission’s cross border consumer complaint form and seeking approval for an implementation strategy within Inverclyde.

DECIDED:  That the Committee recommend the participation of the Trading Standards Service in the European Commission project and that it be remitted to the Executive Director Community and Protective Services to submit a further report to the Committee at the end of the trial period of the project.

 

   393      THE FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY BILL AND LEVY SCHEME                                                     393

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 25 March 1999 by the Executive Director Community and Protective Services advising the Committee of the response by the Chief Environmental Services Officer to the consultation exercise on the Food Standards Agency Bill and Levy Scheme .

DECIDED:  That the Committee note the response made as part of the consultation on the Food Standards Bill.

 

   394      GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS IN FOOD:  CATERING PROVISION IN                       394

              INVERCLYDE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW LABELLING REGULATIONS                             

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 25 March 1999 by the Executive Director Community and Protective Services advising the Committee of new information received from the Council’s suppliers in relation to genetically modified organisms in food and on the introduction of the Food Labelling (Amendment) Regulations 1999.

DECIDED:  That the Committee note the effect of the new regulations and that it be agreed as a policy that the Council exclude the use of products stated to contain Genetically Modified Organisms in response to consumer concern and that it be remitted to the Chief Environmental Services Officer to review the position, in the light of future developments.

 

   395      WATERFRONT LEISURE COMPLEX: UPDATE                                                                                 395

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 March 1999 by the Executive Director Community and Protective Services advising of the action taken to promote and develop the Complex.

NOTED

 

   396      LEISURE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES STATISTICAL INFORMATION                                        396

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 March 1999 by the Executive Director Community and Protective Services advising of the number of users of facilities run under the Leisure Management Contract in respect of Leisure Services for the period from 1 February 1999 to 14 March 1999.

DECIDED:  That the contents of the report be noted and that the action taken to ensure target attendances be approved.

 

   397      PLAY AREAS WITHIN INVERKIP                                                                                                      397

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 March 1999 by the Executive Director Community and Protective Services advising the Committee of two projects within Inverkip which had potential to provide additional play facilities for the area and seeking approval to proceed with the proposals.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the existing policy in respect of commuted sums being required from developers in respect of play areas and open space be rescinded and that new projects be individually appraised in respect of service exigencies and cost benefit analysis;

(b)  That the Committee approve the proposals in respect of the two play areas at Swallow Brae and Hill Farm, Inverkip; and

(c)  That it be remitted to the Director of Leisure Services in consultation with the Executive Director Resource Services and the Head of Parks, Transport and Cleansing Services to identify appropriate revenue funding by re-prioritising existing budgets.

 

   398      RESOLUTION:  EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS                                                                    398

 

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 paragraph 9 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

 

   399      REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99 - LEISURE MANAGEMENT DSO                                                       399

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 8 February 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services setting out the position of the DSO Revenue Budget as at 3 March 1999.

DECIDED: 

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

(b)  That the Committee note that the previously anticipated improvement in position of the Leisure DSO will not be achieved.

 

   400      LEISURE MANAGEMENT - FACILITIES INCOME INFORMATION                                              400

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 18 March 1999 by the Executive Director Community and Protective Services advising of the income from facilities run under the Leisure Management Contract in Leisure Services for the period from 1 February 1999 to 14 March 1999.

DECIDED:  That the contents of the report be noted and that the action taken to ensure the achievement of target income be approved.

 

   401      REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99:  PARKS, TRANSPORT, CLEANSING AND CATERING                  401

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 24 March 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services setting out the position of the Parks, Transport, Cleansing and Catering Services Revenue Budget as at 3 March 1999.

NOTED