Community & Protective Services Committee

Thursday 1 June 2000 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, Calvert, Hunter, Jackson, Morrison (M),  O'Rourke, Robertson (A), Robertson (Y) and White.

Chair:  Councillor Morrison (M) presided.

In attendance:  Director of Community & Protective Services, Miss E Di Murro (for Director of Resource Services), Chief Environmental Services Officer, Head of Property Services, Chief Consumer Protection & Trading Standards Officer, Community Support Manager, Leisure Services Manager and Support Services Manager.

Apologies:   Councillor Mulholland

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

535

Capital Programme 1999/2000:  Technical Progress

535

There was submitted a report dated 5 May 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the progress on site of current projects.

Noted

536

Capital Programme 2000/2001:  Financial Progress

536

There was submitted a report dated 15 May 2000 by the Director of Resource Services detailing the financial position in respect of the current and proposed projects included in the 2000/2001 Capital Programme.  (Councillor White entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Noted

537

Inverclyde Local Agenda 21 Strategy

537

There was submitted a report dated 10 May 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the progress made on the development of Inverclyde’s Local Agenda 21 Strategy.

Decided: 

(1) that the contents of the report be noted;

(2) that the findings of the road show event as detailed in the Local Agenda 21 Conference Report be remitted to the Community Planning Member Group to incorporate such findings in the Community Plan;

(3) that a briefing session be organised for the Member Group and other Partners in the Community Planning Process on the links between Local Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development; and

(4) that funding be sought to employ a Sustainable Community Development Officer through the New Opportunities Fund.

538

Inverclyde Action against Fly Tipping Initiative

538

There was submitted a report dated 9 May  2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services on progress made in dealing with the problems of fly tipping in Inverclyde.  (Councillor Blair entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business.)

Decided:  that the contents of the report be noted and that any actions taken to deal with the problems of fly tipping continue to be supported.

539

Budget Savings 2000/2001:  Parklea Greenhouses

539

There was submitted a report dated 17 May 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting approval to implement an alternative method of achieving previously agreed savings of £29,113 against the Greenhouse and Pets  Corner Budget.

Decided: that the alternative method of implementing savings as outlined in the report be agreed.

540

Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991

540

There was submitted a report dated 27 April 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the Trading Standards Service Enforcement Strategy in relation to the sale of tobacco products and recording the level of enforcement activity carried out during the period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000.

Decided:

(1) that the contents of the report be noted;

(2) that the Enforcement Strategy detailed in the report be endorsed; and

(3) that it be remitted to the Chief Consumer Protection & Trading Standards Officer to submit a further report on the implementation of a proof of age card scheme.

541

Proposed Development of Social Inclusion Initiative

541 

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the current services provided within local tenants halls and community wings and recommending a way forward to provide for better operation of the facilities.

Decided:

(1) that the strategy and action plan detailed in the report be approved; and

(2) that it be remitted to the Community Support Manager to submit a further report in due course highlighting the progress in setting up a Consortium of Voluntary Committees to initiate a lottery application to be submitted to obtain funds to tackle social inclusion issues.

542

Summer Play Schemes and Activities 2000

542

There was submitted a report dated 9 May  2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the play centres activities groups and special events scheduled for summer 2000.

Decided:

(1) that the proposals outlined in the report be agreed;

(2) that the partnership arrangements with the Voluntary Play Schemes Forum be supported; and

(3) that the entry fees remain at the existing level.

543

Battery Park Pavilion - Catering Provision

543

There was submitted a report dated 10 May 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the progress made in securing the catering provisions in Battery Park Pavilion during the summer season.   Councillor Blair declared an interest in this item and took no part in its decision.

Decided: 

(1) that the contents of the report be noted; and

(2) that it be remitted to  the Director of Community & Protective Services in conjunction with the Director of Resource Services and Director of Legal & Support Services to agree a franchise agreement that demonstrates best value and financial return to the Council.

544

Waterfront Leisure Complex: Update Report

544

There was submitted a report dated 10 May  2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the action taken to promote and develop the complex. 

Noted

545

Leisure Management Facilities: Statistical Information

545

There was submitted a report dated 10 May 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the number of users of facilities run under the Leisure Management Contract in respect of Leisure Services for the period from 1 April 2000 to 7 May 2000.  

Decided: that the content of the report be noted and the action taken to ensure target attendances be approved.

546

Accounts Commission Report - a Review of Council’s Refuse Collection Services

546

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the findings of the Accounts Commission following a study of refuse collection services and provided benchmarking information on Councils’ Performance.  

Noted

547

National Waste Strategy: Funding of Area Waste Plans

547

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the expenditure incurred in respect of the Waste Plan Strategy.

Decided: that the contents of the report be noted and that it be remitted to the Head of Grounds, Transport and Cleansing to control expenditure in respect of the budget for the waste strategy.

548

Garden Tidy Service

548

There was submitted a report dated 17 May 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services outlining proposals for the provision of the Garden Tidy Service for this year.

Decided:

(1) that the Scheme be implemented with charges as recommended in the report but that the application of reduced charges be extended where possible to non-Council tenants/occupiers receiving housing benefit and those in similar financial hardship;

(2) that contributions be sought from housing associations towards the cost of the Garden Tidy work carried out on association property;

(3) that a method of paying by instalments be set up; and

(4) that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to report further on these amendments to finalise the funding required for the Scheme and on the age profile of the customer base to the next meeting of the Committee.

549

Port Glasgow Baths: Progress Report

549

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the outcome of a detailed survey of the tank area at the baths and seeking Members views on the best value way forward.

Decided:

(1) that  subject to the suspension of Standing Orders, the option 1 proposal for expenditure be not pursued but that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to provide a fully detailed report on the cost of option 3 relating to a full refurbishment of the baths together with option 4 being the construction of a new pool facility; and

(2) that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to provide details on the  possibility of making use of a Leisure Trust, proposed methods of funding and the most appropriate design for a facility taking account of the future development in leisure.

550

Port Glasgow Registrars Office

550

There was submitted a report dated 24 May  2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the closure of the Registrars office and seeking views for future options.  

Decided:  that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to submit a further report on a part time service within a separate office or otherwise.

It was agreed in terms of Section 54(A) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended, that the public 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 1 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act as set opposite each item:-

Item

Paragraph(s)

Closing Order: Main Street, Inverkip

6

Waterfront Leisure Complex: Request to  Tender - Ice Rink Refrigeration Maintenance Contract

6

Waterfront Leisure Complex: Acceptance of Marketing Tender

6, 8 & 9

Leisure Management Facilities - Income information

9

Revocation of Closing Order: Murdieston Street, Greenock

6

551

Closing Order: Main Street, Inverkip

551

There was submitted a report dated 4 May 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting a Closing Order be made in respect of property at Main Street, Inverkip and this was agreed all as detailed in the Appendix.  

552

Waterfront Leisure Complex: Request to Tender - Ice Rink Refrigeration Maintenance Contract

552

There was submitted a report dated 28 April 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services seeking approval to invite tenders for the maintenance contract for the ice rink refrigeration at the Waterfront Leisure Complex. 

Decided: that the companies detailed in the report be invited to tender for the service.

553

Waterfront Leisure Complex: Acceptance of Marketing Tender

553

There was submitted a report dated 5 May 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising that tenders had been received for the marketing contract in the Waterfront Leisure Complex.

Decided: that the lowest tender for the provision of marketing services, that by Lawrence Associates be accepted for the period from June 2000 to 31 March 2002.

554

Leisure Management Facilities - Income  Information

554

There was submitted a report dated 9 May 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the income from facilities run under the Leisure Management Contract  and Leisure Services from 1 April 2000 to 7 May 2000.

Decided: that the contents of the report be noted and the action taken to ensure that achievement of target income be approved.

555

Revocation of Closing Order: Murdieston Street, Greenock

555

There was submitted a report dated 25 May 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting the Council to make the necessary orders to revoke the Closing Order in respect of the ground floor left flat at 10 Murdieston Street, Greenock.

Decided:  that the Closing Order in respect of the ground floor left flat at 10 Murdieston Street, Greenock be revoked.