Social Work & Housing Committee

Tuesday 25 September 2001 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Jackson, McCabe, Morrison (D), Nimmo, Rebecchi and Robertson (A).

Chair: Councillor McCabe presided.

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

Apologies: Councillors McGraw, Mitchell and O’Rourke.

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

823

Social Work and Other Housing Services - Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 5

823

There was submitted a report dated 19 September 2001 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Social Work and Other Housing Services Revenue Budget as at Period 5 (22 August 2001).

Decided:

(1)   that the current position of the Revenue Budget be noted; and

(2)   that it be noted that the Director of Social Work & Housing Services would report to the next meeting of the Committee on proposals for addressing the projected overspend in the Social Work Services Budget.

   824

Social Work and Private Sector Housing Capital Programme 2001/2002 - 2003/2004 - Financial Position

824

There was submitted a report dated 13 September 2001 by the Director of Finance Services on the financial position of the Social Work and Private Sector Housing Capital Programme 2001/2002 - 2003/2004.

Noted

   825

Reducing the Risk Report (Improving the Response to Sex Offending)

825

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services (1) on the findings of the expert panel on sex offending, chaired by Lady Cosgrove, which were contained in the report “Reducing the Risk (Improving the Response to Sex Offending)” and (2) appending a response to the document compiled by Social Work & Housing Services as part of the consultation process.  (Provost Roach entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)  that the Committee note the importance of this issue in the context of community safety and endorse the development of a corporate strategic framework to address the issue;

(2)   that in recognition of the corporate nature of the issue,  responsibility for the development of a corporate protocol for the management of sex offenders in the community be remitted to the Corporate Management Team; and

(3)   that the response of Social Work & Housing Services to the consultation process as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report be approved.

   826

Children’s Change Fund Bid : Resources to Tackle any Misuse by (or Affecting) Children and Young People

826

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services (1) advising of funding received through the Children’s Change Fund for the development of a new service aimed at addressing the problem of drug misuse by children and young people and (2) requesting the Committee to approve the establishment of the new posts required to facilitate the development of the service.

Decided:

(1)   that the success of the bid made to the Children’s Change Fund be noted and that the continued commitment of Inverclyde Council and partner agencies to tackling the drug misuse problem within Inverclyde be acknowledged; and

(2)   that it be remitted to the Head of Personnel Services to set the appropriate grades for the posts detailed and to report thereon to the Corporate Business Committee for approval.

   827

Revised Maintenance Rates for Establishments Outwith Inverclyde

827

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services requesting the Committee to approve maintenance rates which reflect the weekly costs per person for permanent residents in registered residential establishments located outwith Inverclyde.

Decided:

(1)   that the report be noted; and

(2)  that approval be given to the recommended rates detailed in the Appendix to the report in order that the Director of Social Work & Housing Services may make appropriate payments in the event of residential placements being made.

   828

Housing Revenue Account - Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 5

828

There was submitted a report dated 13 September 2001 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Housing Revenue Account Budget as at Period 5 (22 August 2001).

Noted

   829

HRA Capital Programme 2001/2002 - Technical Progress

829

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services on the technical progress of the HRA Capital Programme 2001/2002.

Decided:

(1)   that the technical progress of the HRA Capital Programme 2001/2002 be noted; and

(2)  that the Committee approve, in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations, an expenditure decrease of £6,500 in respect of Phase 4 of the refurbishment works at Brown Street/Baxter Street, Greenock as a result of a reduction in the amount required for the testing and removal of asbestos from the roof eaves soffits.

830

HRA Capital Programme 2001/2002 - Financial Position

830

There was submitted a report dated 12 September 2001 by the Director of Finance Services on the financial position of the HRA Capital Programme 2001/2002.

Noted

  831

Rent Arrears

831

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services (1) on the actions implemented to improve rent arrears management following the report “Managing Rent Arrears” commissioned by the Accounts Commission and Scottish Homes, (2) detailing other long term actions which were being progressed and (3) advising of the work carried out in response to a second report on rent arrears “Value for Money - Managing Rent Arrears” carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Decided:

(1)   that the report be noted;

(2)  that the draft Action Plan responses set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved; and

(3)  that approval in principle be given to the Benefits Maximisation/Awareness Campaign detailed in the report.

  832

Housing Benefit Service

832

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services advising the Committee of progress made in addressing the backlog of work within the Housing Benefit Service following the industrial action taken between November 2000 and January 2001.

Noted

  833

Housing Benefit Performance 2000/2001

833

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services (1) on the performance of the Housing Benefit Service in terms of the Accounts Commission Performance Indicators for 2000/2001 and (2) linking the performance to developments in Housing Benefits for 2001/2002 and beyond.-

Noted

  834

Housing Services - Old Debtors Accounts System

834

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services (1) on the position in respect of a number of Housing Services Old Debtor systems as at 31 March 2001 and (2) requesting approval for the write-off of an unreconciled balance.

Decided:

(1)   that approval be given to the write-off of an unreconciled balance of £3666.96 in the Housing Services Old Debtors system; and

(2)  that it be noted that a further report would be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee on the write-off of balances over £500.

  835

The Home Energy Efficiency/Fuel Poverty Update

835

There was submitted a report dated 10 September 2001 by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services advising of a number of recent developments in relation to home energy efficiency and fuel poverty, in particular providing details of the Fuel Poverty amendment to the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy and giving updated information on the Council’s Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) Strategy,  HECA nationally and the Scottish Executive Central Heating Programme.

Noted

  836

Scottish Executive Central Heating Programme

836

There was submitted a report dated 7 September 2001 by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services advising that Inverclyde Council had been offered grant funding of £207,500 in the current financial year by the Scottish Executive as part of its Central Heating Initiative which it was proposed be used for the installation of electric central heating (heat with rent), insulation works and various other items within 84 houses in Finch Road, Falcon Lane, Mallard Crescent, Merlin Lane and Partridge Road, Greenock.  The report recommended that the heating installation be the subject of competitive tender and that the insulation and other works be carried out by INVEST.

Decided:

(1)  that it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services to arrange for the invitation of tenders for the heating installation works; and

(2)  that delegated authority be granted to the Director of Legal & Support Services in the usual manner to accept the lowest tender received.

  837

Housing Services Review Group - Minute of Meeting of 14 August 2001

837

There was submitted minute of meeting of the Housing Services Review Group of 14 August 2001.

Noted

  838

Shops : 19/21 Lynedoch Street, Greenock

838

It was noted that this item had been withdrawn from the agenda.

  839

Inverclyde Substance Misuse Forum

839

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services recommending that Councillor Nimmo be appointed as Vice Chair of the Inverclyde Substance Misuse Forum.

Decided:  that Councillor Nimmo be appointed as Vice Chair of the Inverclyde Substance Misuse Forum.

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)

Private Sector Housing : Prioritisation of Future

Investment                                                                                         8

Demolition of Arran, Bute and Cumbrae Courts,

Greenock - Report on Tenders                                                         6 & 8

Lift Replacement Programme                                                           6 & 8

Building Services - Revenue Monitoring Report -

Period 5                                                                                              8

  840

Private Sector Housing : Prioritisation of Future Investment

840

There was submitted a report dated 6 September 2001 by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services recommending that the Council, jointly with Scottish Homes, employ consultants in the current financial year to carry out research which would enable both organisations to prioritise investment in private/voluntary sector housing in Inverclyde.

Decided:

(1)   that it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services to arrange for the invitation of tenders for the research work outlined in the report;

(2)  that delegated authority be granted to the Director of Legal & Support Services in the usual manner to accept the most advantageous tender; and

(3)  that the project be added to the Non-HRA Capital Programme 2001/2002, facilitated by deferring £10,000 of the expenditure on the 64/66 Dempster Street project in the current financial year.

  841

Demolition of Arran, Bute and Cumbrae Courts, Greenock - Report on Tenders

841

There was submitted a report dated 5 September 2001 by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services on five tenders received for the demolition of Arran and Bute Courts, including the option to demolish Cumbrae Court which was now vacant.

Decided:  that it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services to accept the lowest tender received for the demolition of Arran, Bute and Cumbrae Courts together with the lock-up garages in Grieve Road, Greenock, that by Whiteinch Demolition Ltd in the corrected sum of £946,680.85.

  842

Lift Replacement Programme

842

There was submitted a report dated 7 September 2001 by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services (1) on the progress of the lift replacement contract 2000/2001 and (2) requesting permission to enter into negotiations for the lift renewal works at Whinhill and Royal Courts, Greenock which was agreed, all as detailed in the Appendix.

  843

Building Services - Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 5

843

There was submitted a report dated 13 September 2001 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Building Services Revenue Budget as at Period 5 (22 August 2001).

Noted