Social Work & Housing Committee

Tuesday 18 January 2000 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors McCabe, Mitchell, Moody, Morrison (D), Nimmo, Rebecchi and Robertson (Y).

Chair:  Councillor Morrison (D) presided.

In attendance:  Mr H McNeilly (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Mr A Puckrin (for Director of Resource Services), Director of Social Work and Housing Services, Director of Social Work, and Mr A Gerrard (for Head of Property Services).

Apologies:  Councillors Jackson and O’Rourke.

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

34

Social Work Capital Programme 1999/2000 - Technical Progress

34

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services on the technical progress of the Social Work Capital Programme 1999/2000.

Noted

35

Social Work and Private Sector Housing Capital Programme 1999/2000 - Financial Position

35

There was submitted a report dated 6 January 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the financial position of the Social Work and Private Sector Housing Capital Programme 1999/2000.

Noted

36

Revised Maintenance Rates for Establishments Outwith Inverclyde

36

There was submitted a report by the Director of 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.

37

Revised Maintenance Rates for Establishments Within Inverclyde

37

There was submitted a report by the Director of 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 residçent in registered residential establishments located within Inverclyde.

Decided: that the recommended maintenance rates be approved and the Director of Social Work and Housing Services be authorised to make appropriate payments for residents’ care in the event of placements being made.

38

Review of Arrangements for Criminal Justice Social Work Services

38

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services on the latest developments in terms of the national review of Criminal Justice Social Work Services following the publication of the report “Community Sentencing: The Tough Option”.  (Provost Roach and Councillors Robertson (Y) entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Noted

39

Authorised Providers List for Social Care Services

39

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services requesting the Committee to approve amendments to the list of Authorised Providers for Social Care Services in terms of the Standing Orders relating to Contracts.

Decided: that the Authorised Providers List appended to the report be approved.

40

HRA Capital Programme 1999/2000 - Technical Progress

40

There was submitted a report dated 22 December 1999 by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services on the technical progress of the HRA Capital Programme 1999/2000.

Decided:

(1) that the technical progress of the HRA Capital Programme 1999/2000 be noted;

(2) that the Committee approve, in terms of the relevant financial regulations, an expenditure reduction of £9,300 in the Pleasantside Avenue window replacement project in respect of the deletion of unused provisional sums and the deletion of windows previously replaced by Building Services; and

(3) that the accumulated variations in the Pleasantside Avenue window replacement project which are 10.8% (£12,300) less than the accepted tender amount be approved in terms of the relevant financial regulations.

41

HRA Capital Programme 1999/2000 - Financial Position

41

There was submitted a report dated 6 January 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the financial position of the HRA Capital Programme 1999/2000.

Noted

42

A New Single Social Housing Tenancy for Scotland - Rights, Obligations and Opportunities

42

There was submitted a report dated 22 December 1999 by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services (1) summarising the main elements of the advisory paper “A New Single Social Housing Tenancy for Scotland: Rights, Obligations and Opportunities” issued by the Scottish Executive and (2) outlining the implications for local authorities.

Noted

43

Housing and Anti-Social Behaviour - The Way Ahead

43

There was submitted a report dated 23 December 1999 by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services on the main contents of the document “Housing and Anti-Social Behaviour: The Way Ahead” recently issued by the Scottish Executive in respect of which responses were invited by 31 January 2000.  (Councillor Robertson (Y) left the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1) that agreement be given to a response being sent to the Scottish Executive in support of the measures outlined in the document “Housing and Anti-Social Behaviour: The Way Ahead”;

(2) that discussions take place with the Scottish Executive to clarify some of the more complex issues including Sociable Neighbourhood Initiatives and Housing Tribunals; and

(3) that the Council’s response detailed in the report which indicates a willingness to participate in future pilot programmes such as the fast-tracking approach to drugs cases be approved.

44

New Housing Partnership

44

There was submitted a report dated 5 January 2000 by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services providing an update on developments relative to the New Housing Partnership process.  (Councillor Robertson (Y) returned to the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Noted

45

Laying the Foundations for Scotland’s Housing

45

There was submitted a report dated 5 January 2000 by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services on (1) recent statements made by the Scottish Executive Communities Minister concerning proposals for the future of Scotland’s housing and (2) the response from COSLA to the ministerial statement of 9 December 1999 outlining a number of concerns and requesting Councils’ views on the statement and in particular how local government should lobby the Scottish Executive over the coming months prior to the Housing Bill being drafted.

Decided: That the Council respond to COSLA on the basis outlined in the report, in particular highlighting its concerns regarding the centralisation of decision-making and the proposed role of Scottish Homes.

46

Heat Leasing Programme - Inclusion of Additional Addresses

46

There was submitted a report dated 16 December 1999 by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services recommending the inclusion of an additional twelve houses in Gourock within Group 6 of the Heat Leasing Programme.

Decided: that the houses at 1 and 4 Cumbrae Place, 9 and 19 Divert Road and 1, 14 and 18 Iona Walk, Gourock be included in Group 6 of the Heat Leasing Programme.

47

Major Repairs : Renewal of Roof - 46-52 Shankland Road, Greenock

47

There was submitted a report dated 21 December 1999 by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services on proposals for renewal of the pitched roof covering at 46-52 Shankland Road, Greenock.

Decided: that authority be granted to the Director of Legal and Support Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers to arrange for the invitation of tenders for the renewal of the pitched roof covering at 46-52 Shankland Road, Greenock.

48

Re-wiring Programme 1999/2000 - Phase 3

48

There was submitted a report dated 20 December 1999 by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services on proposals for Phase 3 of the re-wiring programme 1999/2000 comprising 84 flats/maisonettes in Davidson Drive and Tower Drive, Gourock.  (Councillor Robertson (Y) left the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1) that authority be granted to the Director of Legal & Support Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers to arrange for the invitation of tenders for Phase 3 of the electrical re-wiring programme 1999/2000; and

(2) that it be remitted to the Director of Social Work & Housing Services to report on the feasibility and costs of installing carbon monoxide detectors as part of re-wiring projects.

49

Housing Benefit and Social Work Computerisation

49

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services requesting the Committee to approve virement within the Social Work Housing Revenue and Housing Benefit accounts to finance a necessary information technology upgrade which will improve the performance of the Housing Benefit and Social Work information systems.

Decided: that approval be given to virement of £39,000 (£20,000 from the Social Work Budget (additional income-Child Care), £15,000 from the Housing Revenue Budget (Repairs and Renewals Fund) and £4,000 from the Housing Benefit Budget (Verification Framework funding) ) to finance the upgrade of the server which houses the Housing Benefits and Social Work information systems.

It was agreed in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended, that the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that the business 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)

Cartsburn Estate Trustees - Ground near Hawick Court,

Greenock                                                                                          8 & 9

Door Entry Systems, Phase 2 - Report on Tenders                       6, 8 & 9

50

Cartsburn Estate Trustees - Ground Near Hawick Court, Greenock

50

There was submitted a report dated 22 December 1999 by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services (1) advising that following the decision of the Committee at its meeting on 24 November 1998 (Para 1256), no response had been received from Cartsburn Estate Trustees in respect of the purchase by the Council of a portion of ground in the vicinity of Hawick Court, Belville Street, Greenock, and (2) requesting that in the circumstances, authorisation be given to acquire the land compulsorily.

Decided: that The Inverclyde Council be recommended to make a Compulsory Purchase Order under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 in order to secure the acquisition of the portion of the former solum of Belville Street, Greenock extending to approximately 1829m² forming part of the parking and common service area to the northwest of the multi-storey block at Hawick Court, Greenock.

51

Door Entry Systems , Phase 2 - Report on Tenders

There was submitted a report dated 24 December 1999 by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services on six tenders received for Phase 2 of the door entry system programme.

Decided:

(1) that it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services to accept the lowest tender, that by Clark Contracts Ltd, in the corrected sum of £224,042.08;

(2) that the decision to include provision within the tender document for the renewal of the stair lighting installation at five addresses be homologated; and

(3) that the stair lighting renewal be carried out for the sum of £3,850.00.

51