Social Work & Housing Committee

 Tuesday 5 September 2000 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Jackson, McCabe, Moody, Morrison (D), Nimmo, O’Rourke, Rebecchi and Robertson (A).

Chair:  Councillor McCabe presided.

In Attendance:  Mr H McNeilly (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Mr D Robin, Mrs B Billings, Mr C Struthers and Mr R Murphy (for Director of Social Work & Housing Services), Head of Accountancy Services and Mr A Gerrard (for Head of Property Services).

Apologies:  Provost Roach.

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

763

Social Work and Other Housing Services - Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 4

763

There was submitted a report dated 22 August 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the position of the Social Work and Other Housing Services Revenue Budget as at Period 4 (26 July 2000).

Noted.

764

Social Work Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Technical Progress

764

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services on the technical progress of the Social Work Capital Programme 2000/2001.

Noted.

765

Social Work and Private Sector Housing Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Financial Position

765

There was submitted a report dated 23 August 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the financial position of the Social Work and Private Sector Housing Capital Programme 2000/2001.

Noted.

766

Revised Maintenance Rates for Establishments Outwith Inverclyde

766

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 located outwith Inverclyde.

Decided: that approval be given to the recommended rates applying to residents in establishments outwith Inverclyde funded by Inverclyde Council.

767

Youth Crime Review

767

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services on proposals to develop and extend services to reduce and stop youth crime within Inverclyde following the Scottish Executive’s endorsement of the recommendations made by the Advisory Group on Youth Crime.  The report advised that the Scottish Executive had identified £73,000 additional funding through the Children’s Services Development Fund for this specific purpose.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee approve the enhancement of the partnership working arrangements between Inverclyde Council and National Children’s Homes to meet the proposed service developments;

(2) that it be remitted to the Head of Personnel Services to refer the proposed establishment of a Social Worker post to the Corporate Business Committee for approval;

(3) that it be noted that the objectives of the project are in accordance with the principles of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and that the new service contributes to the implementation of Inverclyde Council’s Children’s Plan and Inverclyde Youth Strategy; and

(4) that it be noted that detailed assessment and evaluation of the project will be undertaken and that a further report on the results of this evaluation exercise will be submitted to the Committee.

768

Appointment of Addiction Worker - Criminal Justice

768

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services on proposals for the establishment of a post of Social Worker (Addiction) to provide a direct service to those individuals within the criminal justice system who have a drug or alcohol problem.  It was noted that the cost, estimated at £30,000, would be met from the non-core component of the Council’s criminal justice grant allocation.

Decided:

(1) that the proposals set out in the report for the establishment of a specific addiction service in relation to the criminal justice system be noted; and

(2) that it be remitted to the Head of Personnel Services to refer the proposed establishment of a post of Social Worker (Addiction) to the Corporate Business Committee for approval.

769

Housing Revenue Account - Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 4

769

There was submitted a report dated 18 August 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the position of the Housing Revenue Account Budget as at Period 4 (26 July 2000).

Noted.

770

HRA Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Technical Progress

770

There was submitted a report dated 17 August 2000 by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services on the technical progress of the HRA Capital Programme 2000/2001.

Decided:

(1) that the technical progress of the HRA Capital Programme 2000/2001 be noted; and

(2) that the Committee approve an expenditure decrease of £5,900 in respect of Phase 3 of the Brown Street/Baxter Street refurbishment works as a result of the deletion of the internal works at 7 Brown Street.

771

HRA Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Financial Position

771

There was submitted a report dated 17 August 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the financial position of the HRA Capital Programme 2000/2001.

Noted.

772

Implementation of the Supporting People Programme

772

There was submitted a report dated 17 August 2000 by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services advising of the proposed implementation in April 2003 of the Supporting People programme which was a key element of the Scottish Executive’s policy of social inclusion and was concerned with the provision of high quality and effective support to vulnerable people to enable them to live independently and avoid the need for unnecessary residential care.  The report detailed the preparations which required to be in place prior to the programme’s implementation and the possible implications for the Council, including those for staffing.

Decided:

(1) that the implications for the Council of the Supporting People programme be noted;

(2) that it be remitted to the Head of Personnel Services to refer the proposed establishment and grading of the post of Supporting People Implementation Manager to the Corporate Business Committee for approval; and

(3) that approval be sought from the Policy and Strategy Committee for the necessary funding for the post if this is not forthcoming from the Scottish Executive.

773

“Managing Rent Arrears” - A Study by the Accounts Commission and Scottish Homes

773

There was submitted a report dated 14 August 2000 by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services (1) advising that the Accounts Commission and Scottish Homes had published the results of their joint study “Managing Rent Arrears” and (2) identifying the implications for Inverclyde Council’s management of rent arrears.E

Decided:

(1) that the short-term improvements to the management of rent arrears be noted;

(2) that it be noted that further reports on progress will be reported to the Committee; and

(3) that a report be submitted to the Committee in early course on the cost effectiveness of commissioning a new IT system for the management of rent arrears.

774

Response to “Better Homes for Scotland’s Communities”

774

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services (1) on the Scottish Executive’s proposals for the Housing Bill as set out in the consultation document “Better Homes for Scotland’s Communities” and (2) seeking approval of a draft response to the proposals.

Decided:

(1) that the proposals for the Housing Bill as contained in the consultation document “Better Homes for Scotland’s Communities” and outlined in Appendix A to the report be noted; and

(2) that the contents of the draft response set out at Appendix B be approved for submission to the Scottish Executive by 29 September 2000.

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)

Building Services - Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 4                      8

Social Work Capital Programme - Report on Tenders                              6 & 8

Non-HRA (Private Sector Housing) Capital Programme

2000/2001: Progress Report                                                                        4

775

Building Services - Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 4

775

There was submitted a report dated 24 August 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the position of the Building Services Revenue Budget as at period 4 (26 July 2000).

Noted.

776

Social Work Capital Programme - Report on Tenders

776

There was submitted a report dated August 2000 by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services on tenders received for two projects to be funded from the Minor Adaptations Budget.

Arising from the discussion, the Committee requested that a report be submitted on any factors influencing the pricing of tenders for demolition works.

Decided:

(1) that it be remitted to the Director of Legal and Support Services to accept the lowest tender received for the toilet refurbishment at Kempock House, Gourock, that by W H Kirkwood Limited in the corrected sum of £37,098.13;

(2) that it be remitted to the Director of Legal and Support Services to accept the lowest tender received for the adaptations at Finnart House, Greenock, that by Elim Construction Limited in the corrected sum of £43,736.18;

(3) that it be noted that the alterations to the car park at Redholm Children’s Home will be deleted from this year’s programme but will be considered for inclusion in 2001/2002; and

(4) that a report be submitted to the Committee on any factors influencing the pricing of tenders for demolition works.

777

Non-HRA (Private Sector Housing) Capital Programme 2000/2001: Progress Report

777

There was submitted a report dated 22 August 2000 by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services on the progress of the Private Sector Housing Capital Programme 2000/2001 and making a number of recommendations in this regard.

Decided:

(1) that it be agreed that an additional £77,500 be allocated to the public sector aids and adaptations budget in the current financial year and that this comprise £40,000 from the £179,000 non-recurring revenue allocated to the Council from the Scottish Executive to alleviate delayed hospital discharge and £37,500 reallocated from the Brown Street/Baxter Street Phase 3 project, subject to the approval of the Policy and Strategy Committee;

(2) that as a consequence of (1) above, it be agreed that the appropriate Officers approve, as a matter of course, both high and medium priority referrals for aids and adaptations from the Council’s occupational therapy service in respect of public sector households;

(3) that the suggested course of action set out at paragraph 2.3.9 of the report for the proposed voluntary scheme programme for 2000/2003 be approved;

(4) that the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to approve expenditure of £91,000 in the financial year 2001/2002 to complete the proposed project at 19 Grey Place, Greenock;

(5) that in respect of applications for grant assistance for lead pipe replacement works within common properties, it be agreed (a) that where at least 50% of the households served by the main qualify under the existing criteria, all householders be offered grant and (b) where fewer than 50% of householders served by the main qualify under the existing criteria, only those householders who qualify be offered grant; and

(6) that it be noted that a report will be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee in

conjunction with Environmental Services on the issue of lead drinking supply pipes.