1SOCIAL WORK COMMITTEE

 

THURSDAY 23 JANUARY 1997 - 3.00 pm

 

Present:-  Provost Allan, Councillors Morrison (M), O'Rourke, McGhee, Rebecchi, Mitchell and Jackson, Councillor O'Rourke, Convener, in the Chair.

 

In attendance:-  The Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development), the Director of Central Services, Mr A Puckrin (for the Director of Finance), Mr H McNeilly (for the Director of Legal Services), Mr D Stoddart (for the Director of Property and Technical Services) and the Director of Social Work.

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Mulholland and Finnie.

 

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

 

114

REVENUE BUDGET 1996/97

114

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 8 January 1997 by the Director of Finance on the current position of the 1996/97 Revenue Budget as at 6 December 1996.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the current position of the Revenue Budget 1996/97 be noted;  and

(b)  That the Department endeavour to make savings wherever possible.

 

115

CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1996/97 - FINANCIAL PROGRESS

115

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 6 January 1997 by the Director of Finance on the current position of the Capital Programme 1996/97.

NOTED

 

116

CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1996/97 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS

116

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 24 December 1996 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1996/97.

NOTED

 

117

SOCIAL WORK CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1996/97

117

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 30 November 1996 by the Director of Property and Technical Services seeking the Committee's approval to reduce the allowance for loose furniture at Lynedoch Street ATC to £93,500 to contain the overspend of £6,500 in the heating and ventilation sub-contract at Lynedoch Street ATC.

DECIDED:  That the Committee approve the reduction of the allowance for the expenditure of loose furniture at Lynedoch Street ATC to £93,500.

118

LYNEDOCH STREET ATC - APPROVAL OF TENDER FOR ELECTRICAL SUB-CONTRACT

118

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 6 January 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services advising of approval given to accept the tender for the nomination of the electrical sub-contract at the Lynedoch Street ATC resulting in an additional cost of £25,042.39.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Committee note the action taken to proceed with the electrical sub-contract at an additional cost of £25,042.39, the additional expenditure to be balanced by the omission of a prime cost sum for kitchen and laundry equipment in the sum of £25,000;

(b)  That the provision of kitchen and laundry equipment at Lynedoch Street ATC be included in the 1997/98 Social Work Capital Programme;  and

(c)  That savings be sought by obtaining suitable equipment owned by the authority but surplus to requirements.

 

119

SOCIAL WORK CAPITAL PROGRAMME:  McPHERSON CENTRE, GOUROCK - PHASE 2

119

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 19 December 1996 by the Director of Property and Technical Services advising of the approval given to accept the tender for the nomination of the Mechanical Services and Electrical Work sub-contracts at the McPherson Centre resulting in an additional cost of £47,892.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Committee note the action taken to proceed with the Mechanical Services and Electrical Work sub-contracts at an additional cost of £47,892, the additional expenditure to be off-set by the transfer of works to the third phase in the sum of £50,534;

(b)  That the Committee note that the cost of the third phase works will be increased in the 1997/98 Social Work Capital Programme for the works transferred from the second phase;  and

(c)  That in view of significantly increased expenditure and the acknowledged necessity to spend substantial sums on the original building it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to submit a further report as a matter of urgency detailing the anticipated costs and works required to complete the McPherson Centre to ascertain the extent of the authority's commitment to the project.

 

120

REGISTRATION:  APPLICATION - COTTAGE 1, QUARRIER'S VILLAGE, BRIDGE OF WEIR

120

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 24 December 1996 by the Director of Social Work seeking the Committee's approval to register Cottage 1 at Quarrier's Village, Bridge of Weir in terms of Section 62 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.

DECIDED: 

(a)  That the Committee note the contents of the report and approve the registration of premises at Cottage 1, Quarrier's Village, Bridge of Weir;  and

(b)  That the Director of Central Services issue a Certificate of Registration to Quarrier's Homes.

121

REGISTRATION:  APPLICATION - THE RICHMOND FELLOWSHIP SCOTLAND, GREENOCK

121

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 30 December 1996 by the Director of Social Work seeking the Committee's approval to register The Richmond Fellowship Scotland, 7 Lyle Street, Greenock in terms of Section 62 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Committee note the contents of the report and approve the registration of premises at The Richmond Fellowship Scotland, 7 Lyle Street, Greenock;  and

(b)  That the Director of Central Services issue a Certificate of Registration to The Richmond Fellowship Scotland.

 

122

REGISTRATION:  VARIATION - SIR GABRIEL WOOD'S MARINERS' HOME, GREENOCK

122

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 30 December 1996 by the Director of Social Work seeking the Committee's approval of changes in the registration information under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 Section 62 for the Sir Gabriel Wood's Mariners' Home, 67 Newark Street, Greenock.

DECIDED: 

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted and that the Committee approve the variation; and

(b)  That the Director of Central Services issue a new Certificate of Registration to the Sir Gabriel Wood's Mariners' Home.

 

123

PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES FOR ADAPTATIONS WITHIN PUBLIC SECTOR HOUSING

123

 

SUBMITTED:  Joint report by the Directors of Housing and Customer Services and Social Work proposing procedural guidelines to be followed in respect of the provision of aids and adaptations within public sector housing.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the respective roles of the Departments of Social Work and Housing and Customer Services relative to the adaptations within public sector housing be noted;  and

(b)  That it be agreed that:-

(i)  The Housing and Customer Services Department carry out all adaptations within public sector housing;

(ii)  The Social Work Department make a contribution of £30,000 towards these costs and that this figure be reviewed annually;

(iii)  Link Officers within each Department be identified to monitor these changes and co-ordinate the work;  and

(iv) In-service training be arranged to ensure that Officers within each Department are aware of the range of adaptations and their respective responsibilities.

 

124

MAINTENANCE RATES FOR ESTABLISHMENTS OUTWITH INVERCLYDE

124

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 15 April 1996 with the schedule dated 6 January 1997 by the Director of Social Work seeking the Committee's approval for the payment of maintenance
rates for persons from Inverclyde who may be resident in establishments located outwith Inverclyde.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Committee note the residential establishments outwith Inverclyde which might be utilised by the Council;  and

(b)  That the Committee approve the recommended rates in order that the Director of Social Work may make appropriate payments for residents' care in the event of placements being made.

 

125

COMMUNITY CARE (DIRECT PAYMENTS) ACT 1996

125

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 23 December 1996 by the Director of Social Work advising the Committee on draft guidance issued by the Scottish Office on the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996 and outlining the implications for the Inverclyde Council.

DECIDED: 

(a)  That the Committee note the publication of draft guidance on the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996;  and

(b)  That it be remitted to the Director of Social Work to submit a report to the Committee on the publication of the final guidance by the Scottish Office.

 

126

CHILDREN (SCOTLAND) ACT 1995 - TRAINING PLAN

126

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 23 December 1996 by the Director of Social Work advising the Committee of the Training Plan proposed by the Director of Social Work to meet the training requirements arising from the implementation of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

DECIDED:  That the Committee approve the proposed Training Plan for the implementation of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, to be funded from within existing budgets.

 

127

BARNARDOS INVERCLYDE PROJECT - CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

127

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 23 December 1996 by the Director of Social Work advising the Committee of the establishment of a joint project between Inverclyde Council and Barnardos to provide support for children with special needs and their families.

DECIDED:  That the Committee approve the establishment of a joint project between Inverclyde Council and Barnardos to provide support for children with special needs and their families at a cost to the Council of £41,920 by way of assistance in kind and £74,953 by way of grant as provided in the current Budget.

 

128

DIVERSION FROM PROSECUTION SCHEME

128

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 23 December 1996 by the Director of Social Work advising the Committee of a pilot Diversion from Prosecution scheme which has been approved by the Scottish Office and seeking approval for the implementation of a pilot Diversion from Prosecution scheme based within Inverclyde, which would be fully funded by the Criminal Justice Service of the Scottish Office.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Committee approve the implementation of a pilot Diversion from Prosecution scheme within Inverclyde;  and

(b)  That it be remitted to the Personnel Committee to consider the appointment of a Social Worker to implement the scheme.