Community & Protective Services Committee

Thursday 10 August 2000 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, Calvert, Hunter, Morrison (M) and O’Rourke.

Also Present:  Councillors McCormick and Rebecchi.

Chair:  Councillor Morrison (M) presided.

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

Apologies: Councillors Jackson, McGhee and Robertson (A).

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

687

Departure of Mr Duncan Smith

687

The Convener intimated that this would be the last meeting of the Community & Protective Services Committee at which Mr Duncan Smith, Head of Trading Standards, would be present and she took the opportunity of extending the Committee’s best wishes for his future.

688

Capital Programme 2000/2001:  Technical Progress

688

There was submitted a report dated 18 July 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the progress on site of current projects. 

Noted

689

Capital Programme 2000/2001:  Financial Progress

689

There was submitted a report dated 17 July 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.

Noted

690

Revenue Monitoring Report 2000/2001

690

There was submitted a report dated 24 July 2000 by the Director of Resource Services  advising that the current overall projected position of the Community & Protective Services Revenue budget is an overspend of £160,990.

Noted

691     

Virement, Period & Monitoring

691

There was submitted a report dated 20 July 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services seeking approval of virement in respect of the Burial Grounds DSO Budget and the Crematorium Budget.  

Decided:  that the request be agreed.

692

Environment Act 1995:  Second Stage Repair and Assessment of Local Air Quality

692

There was submitted a report dated 4 July 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the Local Air Quality Review and assessment process in Inverclyde.

Decided:

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

(2) that the nitrogen dioxide passive diffusion tube monitoring continue at 15 sites in Inverclyde;

(3) that the benzene passive diffusion tube monitoring continue at 5 sites in  Inverclyde until it is reviewed at the end of 2000;

(4) that an annual report on local air quality be submitted to Committee  advising on local air quality, changes to National objectives and a review on the level of air quality monitoring in Inverclyde; and

(5) that any proposed residential development close to the A8 corridor be considered in terms of the National Air Quality objectives being exceeded at the proposed development.  

693

Lady Octavia Recreation Centre

693

There was submitted a report dated 4 July 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting that tenders be invited for the replacement of the astroturf surface at Lady Octavia Recreation Centre at an estimated cost of £26,000, the cost to be met jointly from Property Services and Leisure Services.

Decided:

(1)  that the contents of the report be noted and that it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services in consultation with other Officers to arrange for the invitation of competitive tenders for the replacement of the astroturf surface within Lady Octavia Recreation Centre;

(2) that it be remitted to the Proper Officer to accept the lowest tender in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Standing Orders relating to Contracts; and

(3) that approval be given for the virement of £13,000 from the repairs and maintenance budget within Leisure Services.

694

Waterfront Leisure Complex: Update

694

There was submitted a report dated 20 July 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the action taken to promote and develop the complex.

Noted

695

Leisure Management Facilities: Statistical Information

695

There was submitted a report dated 18 July 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 8 May 2000 to 16 July 2000.

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

696

Port Glasgow Baths

696

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the views of the Corporate Management Team in relation to the two options available for the future of Port Glasgow Baths.

Decided:

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

(2) that a full report on facilities for swimming within Inverclyde be submitted as soon as possible to the Policy & Strategy Committee of the Council; and

(3) that the users of the facilities continue to be kept informed of the progress.

697

Garden Tidy Service

697

There was submitted a report dated 20 July 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the up to date position with regard to the garden tidy scheme and requesting the Committee to seek approval from the Policy & Strategy Committee for supplementary funding for this scheme.

Decided:    

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

(2) that the Policy & Strategy Committee be requested to approve supplementary funding of £58,400 to cover the balance of funding as detailed in the report;

(3) that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to report back to the Committee meeting in October with proposals for the future funding of the scheme; and

(4) that it be agreed to discontinue the scheme in its present form as soon as practicable.

698

Price Structure Within Council Leisure Facilities: Request from Councillor Rebecchi

698

A letter had been received from Councillor Rebecchi requesting that the Committee consider the pricing structure within the Leisure Facilities.  With the consent of the Committee, Councillor Rebecchi spoke to this item and pointed out various anomalies in the Council’s charging policy.

Decided:  that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to submit a report on the operations of the Council’s policy with respect to charges and concessionary discount schemes for use of leisure facilities.

699

Skill Seeker Scheme Within Leisure Services

699

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the current financial position of the Skill Seeker Scheme and recommending a course of action to deal with the deficit accumulated by the Scheme and advising that a further deficit is anticipated for 2000/2001.

Decided:

(1)  that a budget of approximately £32,480 be established for the Scheme to operate and that the Scheme be managed in the Leisure Services in the meantime pending the outcome of the Best Value Review of placement schemes;

(2) that the action already taken to monitor the Scheme within the Leisure Services budget as part of the overall budget be noted;

(3) that the financial implications of the Scheme be brought to the attention of the Policy & Strategy Committee;  and  

(4) that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to submit a further report as part of the 2001/2002 budget exercise. 

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)

Waterfront Leisure Complex: Electricity Consumption                            6, 8 & 9

Refuse Transfer Station: Pottery Street, Greenock                                  8

Hiring of Commercial Waste Containers                                                    6, 8 & 9

Leisure Management Facilities: Income Information                               9

DSO Revenue Monitoring  Report 2000/2001                                           8

700

Waterfront Leisure Complex: Electricity Consumption

700

There was submitted a report dated 15 June 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of an electrical metering fault within the Waterfront Leisure Complex resulting in an underbilling by Scottish Power since the handover of the building in August 1997 amounting to approximately £150,000.

Decided: 

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

(2) that it be remitted to the Policy & Strategy Committee to consider the financial implications and that the Committee request an additional supplementary estimate of £71,000.

701

Refuse Transfer Station: Pottery Street, Greenock

701

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of a number of changes brought about or required at the Refuse Transfer Station as a result of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 as amended and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agenc$By’s requirement for more detailed and robust site working plans.

Decided:

(1) that the contract for Bird Control be awarded to the Clyde Valley Hawks at a cost of £3,120 plus VAT and that a regular bird control programme be established;

(2) that the contingency arrangements be noted and that it be remitted to the Head of Grounds, Transport & Cleansing to report on any occasion where these contingencies are put in place and their financial obligations; and

(3)  that it be remitted to the Head of Grounds, Transport & Cleansing to submit further detailed reports in respect of (a) the programme and associated costs of bird control including opportunities to work in partnership with neighbouring companies; (b) the result of technical appraisals and cost implications relating to property maintenance; and (c) an assessment of effectiveness of security arrangements and the outcome of discussions with Housing DLO on parking at Pottery Street.

702

Hiring of Commercial Waste Containers

702

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the result of a customer survey carried out as part of the Refuse Collection Service Best Value Review exercise and requesting the Committee to consider making a waste container hiring service available to customers as opposed to a one off charge for purchasing the containers.

Decided:

(1) that a waste container hiring scheme for commercial refuse collection be implemented;

(2) that the costs and income projection in respect of the sale of containers be maintained within the existing budget; and

(3) that it be remitted to the Head of Grounds, Transport & Cleansing to report to Committee in the event of a shortfall in income due to the hiring of the commercial refuse containers.

703

Leisure Management Facilities: Income Information

703

There was submitted a report dated 18 July 2000 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the income from facilities run under the Leisure Management Contract in  Leisure Services from 8 May 2000 to 16 July 2000.

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

704

DSO Revenue Monitoring Report 2000/2001

704

There was submitted a report dated 25 July 2000 by the Director of Resource Services setting out the position of the DSO Revenue Budget as at 28 June 2000 and advising that the current overall position is a surplus of £797,600.        

Noted