Social Work & Housing Committee

Tuesday, 26 February 2002 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Jackson, McCabe, Morrison (D), Nimmo, O’Rourke and Rebecchi.

Chair: Councillor McCabe presided.

In Attendance: Ms L Brabender (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Messrs R Murphy, D Robin and C Struthers (for Director of Social Work & Housing Services), Head of Financial Services, Mr A Wilson (for Head of Personnel Services) and Mr A Gerrard (for Head of Property Services).

Apologies: Councillors McGraw, Mitchell and Robertson (A).

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

182

Presentation - Joint Futures

182

The Committee heard a presentation by Mr Stephen Gallacher of the Joint Futures Unit, Scottish Executive, on the establishment of the Joint Futures Group and in particular the arrangements for joint resourcing and joint management.  (Councillor Morrison (D) entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Following the presentation, Members asked Mr Gallacher a number of questions which were answered by him following which he left the meeting.

The Committee was then adjourned from 3.55 pm to 4.00 pm.

183

Social Work and Other Housing Services - Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 10

183

There was submitted a report dated 29 January 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Social Work and other Housing Services Revenue Budget as at Period 10 (9 January 2002).

The Head of Financial Services advised the Committee that subsequent to the writing of the report, there had been a further projected increase of £60,000 in the flexible care packages under Social Work Services. 

Noted

184

Social Work and Private Sector Housing Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04

184

There was submitted a report dated 5 February 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the financial position of the Social Work & Private Sector Housing Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04.

Noted

185

Single Shared Assessment

185

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services advising of the progress made by Social Work Services and Partner Agencies in relation to the implementation of the Single Shared Assessment as determined by the Joint Futures Group for people using community care services, including those requiring housing support. 

(Provost Roach returned to the meeting at this point following the adjournment).

Decided:  that the Committee support and endorse the progress made in the implementation of the Single Shared Assessment as detailed in the report.

186

Revised Maintenance Rates for Establishments Within and Outwith Inverclyde

186

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 residential establishments located both within and 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.

187

Housing Revenue Account - Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 10

187

There was submitted a report dated 5 February 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Housing Revenue Account Budget as at Period 10 (9 January 2002) which projected an overspend of £170,000, a decrease of £237,000 since the last report to the Committee.

Decided:  that the decrease in the projected overspend in the Housing Revenue Account Budget be noted.

188

HRA Capital Programme 2001/2002 - Technical Progress

188

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services on the technical progress of the HRA Capital Programme 2001/2002.  There was also circulated to the Committee, a paper requesting approval of an Architect’s Instruction amounting to approximately £27,000 in respect of works required as part of Phase 1 of the refurbishment of the Gibshill timber houses.

Decided: 

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

(2)   that the Committee approve, in terms of the relevant financial regulations, an expenditure decrease of £11,418 in the Regent Court window replacement works due to the deletion of a number of windows from the contract;

(3)   that the Committee approve, in terms of the relevant financial regulations, accumulated variations in the contract for the replacement of the new heating and hot water systems at µGlebe Court, Kilmacolm which are 19.5% (£44,800) greater than the accepted tender amount; and

(4)   that the Committee approve, in terms of the relevant financial regulations, an expenditure increase of approximately £27,000 in Phase 1 of the refurbishment of the Gibshill timber houses due to the requirement to remove all plasterboard linings from internal partitions, treat the timbers and fit new plasterboard linings within the 10 houses.

189

HRA Capital Programme 2001/2002 - Financial Position

189

There was submitted a report dated 14 February 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the financial position of the HRA Capital Programme 2001/2002. 

Noted

190

Housing Benefit Service - Progress Report

190

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services on the current position in respect of the work carried out by the Housing Benefit Service and in particular advising of progress in addressing the backlog of work following the 8 week strike which ended in mid-January 2001.

The Head of Finance and Administration advised the Committee that the total percentage decrease in respect of new claims, registered claims and registered reviews was 79% and not 58% as contained in the report.

Noted

191

Housing Services Review Group - Minute of Meeting of 15 January 2002

191

There was submitted minute of meeting of the Housing Services Review Group of 15 January 2002.

Noted

192

Transfer of Scottish Homes Housing Stock in Port Glasgow

192

There was submitted a report dated 6 February 2002 by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services (1) advising of the establishment, with effect from 28 March 2002, of Port Glasgow Housing Association which would acquire and manage the Scottish Homes housing stock in Port Glasgow and (2) seeking approval to retain transferring tenants on the Council’s house waiting list for a transitional period of 12 months. 

Decided: 

(1)   that the establishment of Port Glasgow Housing Association with effect from 28 March 2002 be noted and agreement be given to the transitional arrangements set out in Section 4 of the report; and

(2)   that the financial impact of the transfer on the Housing Revenue Account and the General Fund Account estimated at £21,800 per annum be noted.

The Convener being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services was relevant, competent and urgent, moved its consideration to allow the Committee, if in agreement, to approve the Action Plan for submission to the Scottish Executive at the earliest opportunity.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

193

Health and Homelessness

193

There was submitted a report dated 20 February 2002 by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services appending the draft Health and Homelessness Action Plan prepared jointly by Argyll & Clyde Health Board and Inverclyde Council.

Decided:  that the draft Action Plan appended to the report be approved and submitted to the Scottish Executive.

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 of business 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)

Children (Scotland) Act 1995,

Section 41 - Panel of Safeguarders                                      6

Demolition of Hector McNeil Baths -

Use of Emergency Powers Procedure                                  6, 8 & 9

Maintenance of Gas Appliances -

Quality Control : Appointment of

Specialist Consultants                                                           6 & 8

Gas Maintenance Contract -

Proposed Extension                                                               6 & 9

DLO Performance Report -

Building Services                                                                   8

Children’s Hearings (Legal Representatives)

(Scotland) Rules 2001 - Panel of Legal Representatives   6

194

Children (Scotland) Act 1995, Section 41 - Panel of Safeguarders

194

There was submitted a report dated 8 February 2002 by the Director of Legal & Support Services seeking approval for the re-appointment of individuals previously appointed by the Council as ¿Safeguarders for the purposes of Children’s Hearings and proceedings in the Sheriff Court in terms of Section 41 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

Decided:

(1)   that approval be granted for the re-appointment of the Safeguarders listed in the Appendix to the report for the period 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2005 subject to no subsequent adverse comments being received by the Director of Legal & Support Services; and

(2)   that authority be granted to the Director of Legal & Support Services to approve any further appointments of Safeguarders for 2002-2005.

195

Demolition of Hector McNeil Baths - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

195

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to homologate action taken to negotiate with two contractors for the demolition of the Hector McNeil Baths and to authorise acceptance of the lower offer, that by Central Demolition Ltd in the sum of £156,200 to be accepted in two phases.

Noted

196

Maintenance of Gas Appliances - Quality Control : Appointment of Specialist Consultants

196

There was submitted a report dated 14 February 2002 by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services on offers received from four specialist consultants to undertake an appraisal of procedures with regard to the maintenance of gas installations within the Council’s housing stock.

Decided:  that it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services to accept the lowest offer received, that by Henderson Warnock in the sum of £25,000.

197

Gas Maintenance Contract - Proposed Extension

197

There was submitted a report dated 15 February 2002 by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services requesting the Committee to agree to an extension of the gas maintenance contract for a further period of 12 months. 

Decided:

(1)  that agreement be given to the extension of the current gas maintenance contract with Trolhurst plc for a further period of 12 months until March 2003, in accordance with the DETR labour indices; and

(2)  that it be remitted to the Director of Social Work & Housing Services to report to the next meeting on the progress of the small pilot project involving the installation of gas cut off switches in ten houses in Inverclyde, as agreed by the Committee in August 2001 (Para 656).

198

DLO Performance Report - Building Services

198

There was submitted a report dated 3 February 2002 by the Director of Finance Services providing information on the performance of the Social Work & Housing Services DLO for the period to 9 January 2002.

Decided:

(1)  that the current position with regard to the performance targets be noted; and

(2)  that it be noted that the business plan targets and key performance measures would be developed further as a result of the approval of the business plans in due course.

The Convener, being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Legal & Support Services was relevant, competent and urgent, moved its consideration to allow the Committee to be advised at the earliest opportunity of the use of the emergency powers procedure in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 66(a).  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

199

Children’s Hearings (Legal Representatives) (Scotland) Rules 2001 - Panel of Legal Representatives

199

There was submitted a report dated 22 February 2002 by the Director of Legal & Support Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to establish a Panel of Legal Representatives to provide services required by Children’s Hearings.

Decided:

(1)   that the use of the emergency powers procedure to establish a Panel of Legal Representatives to take up appointments as required for the period 23 February 2002 to 31 March 2005 be noted; and

(2)  that authority be granted to the Director of Legal & Support Services to approve any further appointments for 2002-2005 as necessary.