Joint Meeting of Economic Development Services and Social Work & Housing Committees

Tuesday 19 September 2000 at 4.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Campbell,  Hunter, Jackson, McCabe, McCormick, McGhee,  Mitchell, Morrison (D), Nimmo, O'Rourke, Rebecchi and Robertson (A).

Present Also:  Councillor Calvert.

Chair:  Councillor McCabe presided.

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive, Director of Community & Protective Services, Director of Education Services, Mrs C McGillivray (for Director of Information Services), Director of Legal & Support Services, Director of Resource Services, Mr D Robin (for Director of Social Work & Housing Services), Head of Economic Development Service, Head of Environmental & Consumer Services, Head of Planning Services, Head of Property Services, Mr E McCarron (for Head of Transportation & Roads Service) and Managing Solicitor (Licensing/Litigation).

Apologies:  Councillors Moody, Morrison (M) and Robertson (Y).

The following paragraph is submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Committees.

838

Response to the Llewelyn-Davies Research Study on: "Housing Market, Local Economy and Depopulation of Inverclyde"

838

There was submitted a report dated 8 September 2000 by the Depute Chief Executive and the Director of Social Work & Housing Services on the Llewelyn-Davies Research Study "Housing Market, Local Economy and Depopulation of Inverclyde" ("the Study"), together with Executive Summary of the Study, jointly funded by Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership, Scottish Homes (South & West Region), Scottish Enterprise Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Council to explore the reasons why people and families were continuing to leave Inverclyde in the face of improvements in the local economy and to examine the links between housing conditions, the local economy and job prospects, the determining factors in people's decisions to move out of the area and why those who worked in Inverclyde were choosing not to live in Inverclyde.  The report (1) sought endorsement, in principle, of the Study to allow it to be used for developing a broad framework with the Council's partners, (2) commented on the key elements of the Study, (3) detailed the implications of endorsing the Study, including partnership and funding aspects and (4) recommended the development of an Action Plan, building upon the Community Planning framework, to implement an integrated strategy for the sustainable regeneration of Inverclyde.

(Councillor McGhee entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1) that the Committees endorse the broad findings and key elements of the Vision and Integrated Strategy proposed by the Study;

(2) that the Committees note where the Study's proposals do not apparently accord with the current Corporate Strategy and Service Plans;

(3) that it be remitted to the Chief Executive and Corporate Management Team to consult further with Scottish Homes and Scottish Enterprise Renfrewshire, and to bring forward a series of proposals in the form of an Action Plan, having regard to:

the development and promotion of those parts of the Vision and Integrated Strategy which have consensus among the Partners;

the promotion of community and business involvement and participation (at strategic and operational levels);

the engagement of national politicians (MSPs and MPs) to argue for the special circumstances facing Inverclyde and to assist in making a robust case for additional Scottish Executive support and resources;

advocacy at regional and strategic level for policy changes advantageous to Inverclyde;

In relation to Implementation, having regard to:

the devising of effective structures for delivery of an Action Plan; and

the identification of key private sector partners (for industrial and business, and housing development, for schools, leisure and community facilities) and the forging of new arrangements to deliver on the agreed Vision and Integrated Strategy; and

(4) that the Chief Executive report thereon to the Council.