Community & Protective Services Committee

Thursday 4 October 2001 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, Calvert, Hunter, Jackson, McCabe and Robertson (A).

Chair:  In the absence of the Convener and Vice Convener, it was agreed unanimously that Councillor Robertson (A) assume the Chair.

In attendance:  Director of Community & Protective Services, Miss M McKnight (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Head of Accountancy Services, Head of Environmental & Consumer Services, Head of Property Services, Head of Grounds, Transport & Cleansing Services and Head of Leisure & Community Support Services.

Apologies:  Councillors McGhee, Morrison (M) and O'Rourke.

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

874

Capital Programme 2001/2002 - 2003/2004 - Financial Position

874

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

Noted

875

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 5

875

There was submitted a report dated 12 September 2001 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Community & Protective Services Revenue Budget as at Period 5 (22 August 2001).

Noted

876

Knocknairshill Cemetery Development

876

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) on the current position with regard to the Knocknairshill Cemetery development, (2) advising that due to additional requirements the estimated cost of Phase 4 was £280,000, £132,000 more than the budget provision of £148,000, and (3) recommending that a feasibility study be commissioned for Phase 5 of the works.

Decided:  

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

(2)  that the Policy & Strategy Committee be requested to agree the allocation of additional funding of (a) £132,000 to allow completion of Phase 4 of the works and (b) £5,000 to enable a feasibility study relative to Phase 5 of the development to be carried out;

(3)  that the report on Phase 5 of the works include projections of the future requirement for cemetery lairso and crematoria facilities;

(4)  that subject to funding approval by the Policy & Strategy Committee, the revenue budget for this service be increased by £40,000 per annum to accommodate future maintenance requirements; and

(5)  that subject to funding approval by the Policy & Strategy Committee, it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services to arrange for the invitation of tenders for Phase 4 of the Knocknairshill Cemetery development and that delegated authority be granted to the Director of Legal & Support Services in the usual manner to accept the lowest tender received.

877

Environmental Care in the Community (Garden Tidy Scheme)

877

There was submitted a report dated 12 September 2001 by the Director of Community & Protective Services, together with a paper incorporating amended recommendations, on a proposal received from Greenlight Environmental Ltd, the Council's recycling partner, for an Environmental Care in the Community Scheme incorporating a Garden Tidy Scheme. The report advised that although the major part of the funding for the project would be provided through New Deal and European Structural Funding, contributions of £100,000 per annum were sought from both Inverclyde Council and Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership as the trainees would be drawn from the Social Inclusion Partnership areas.     

Decided: 

(1)  that agreement in principle be given to the proposal outlined in the report;

(2) that the report be referred to the Social Work & Housing Committee to confirm its support for £100,000 of funding from the Housing Revenue Account towards the cost of the proposal; and

(3)  that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to submit a further detailed report to the Committee at the earliest opportunity on the proposal following consultation with the Trade Unions.

878

Provision of Skateboard Facility at Battery Park, Greenock

878

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) on the consultations which had been carried out with the local community through the relevant Community Councils relative to the proposal to create a skateboard facility at Battery Park, Greenock, (2) advising of the comments received from Planning Services and (3) recommending that a visit be made to Stirling to view the skateboard facilities which are provided there.

Decided: 

(1) that consideration of the matter be continued  (a) to allow Members the opportunity to visit the skateboard facility in Stirling (b) for further consultation with Cardwell Bay Community Council to address their concerns regarding the question of cycling within the Battery Park and the specific location of the facility and (c) for the views of Planning Services on the particular location selected for initial consideration and any alternative sites which may be available within the Park; and

(2)  that a report be submitted to the Committee at the earliest opportunity.

879

Summer Playschemes and Activities 2001

879

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the various play centres, activity groups and special events carried out as part of the summer playscheme programme 2001 together with associated statistical information.

Decided: 

(1)  that the contents of the report and the action taken by Leisure and Community Support Services to ensure a wide ranging summer playscheme programme be noted; and

(2)  that a report be submitted by May 2002 on options for the summer playscheme programme for 2002.

880

Christmas Lights: Switch-On

880

There was submitted a report dated 10 September 2001 by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) on the arrangements which are being made for the switch-on of Christmas lights at various locations throughout Inverclyde and (2) recommending that the Policy & Strategy Committee be requested to provide funding of £8,500 from the Common Good Fund to cover  the cost of staging the switch-on events.

Decided: 

(1)  that the arrangements outlined in the report be approved; and

(2)  that the Policy & Strategy Committee be requested to provide funding in the sum of £8,500 from the Common Good Fund to cover  the cost of staging the Christmas lights switch-on events.

881

Fireworks Display

881

There was submitted a report dated 10 September 2001 by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) on the arrangements which are being made for the public fireworks display to be held on Saturday 3 November 2001 at the Battery Park, Greenock and (2) recommending that the Policy & Strategy Committee be requested to provide funding of £11,900 from the Common Good Fund to cover the cost of staging the event.

Decided:

(1)  that the arrangements outlined in the report be approved; and

(2)  that the Policy & Strategy Committee be requested to provide funding in the sum of £11,900 from the Common Good Fund to cover the cost of staging the public fireworks display on 3 November 2001.

882

Port Glasgow Registration Office

882

There was submitted a report dated 13 September 2001 by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) on the operation of the registration service since the closure of the Port Glasgow Registration Office on 19 May 2000 and (2) making proposals for the permanent closure of the office.

Decided: 

(1)  that Port Glasgow Registration Office continue to be used as a booking office;

(2) that Social Work & Housing Services be provided with access to the Marriage Room for use as a training area as and when required;

(3)  that the use of the premises as a Registration Office be terminated on a permanent basis;

(4)  that the amended opening hours of the West Stewart Street Office detailed in Paragraph 4.2 of the report be made permanent; and

(5)  that a full review of the staffing structure of Registration Services be carried out and a report submitted in due course.

883

Waterfront Leisure Complex - Update

883

There was submitted a report dated 11 September 2001 by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the current position with regard to the Waterfront Leisure Complex.

Decided:  that the contents of the report and the action taken to promote and develop the Complex be noted.

884

Leisure Management Facilities - Statistical Information

884

There was submitted a report dated 12 September 2001 by the Director of Community &

Protective Services (1) advising of the number of users of facilities included in the leisure management contracts operated by Leisure Services on behalf of the Council for the period 30 July 2001 to 9 September 2001 and (2) providing comparisons with the corresponding period in previous years.

Decided:

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

(2) that the action taken to ensure that target attendances are achieved be approved.

885

Revocation of Closing Order: First Floor Westmost Flat, 60 Albert Road, Gourock

There was submitted a report dated 11 September 2001 by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting that the Council make the necessary order to revoke the Closing Order in respect of the first floor westmost flat at 60 Albert Road, Gourock.

885

Decided:  that the Closing Order in respect of the first floor westmost flat at 60 Albert Road, Gourock be revoked.

886

Options for Swimming Pool Facilities Within Port Glasgow

886

There was submitted a report dated September 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) detailing a number of options which had been examined in order to meet the objective of providing swimming facilities within Port Glasgow together with the financial implications thereof and (2) advising that the options had been considered by the Corporate Management Team whose recommendation was that there should be utilisation and enhancement of the swimming facilities at Port Glasgow High School. 

The Director of Community & Protective Services informed the Committee that subsequent to the writing of the report and the Corporate Management Team's consideration of the matter, notification had been received from Sportscotland that lottery funding would be available for swimming pool upgrading works through its Sports Facilities Programme totalling £10,000,000 over three years, the maximum individual award being £700,000.

Following discussion, Councillor Jackson moved:-

(1)  that the scheme of remedial and refurbishment works to the existing Port Glasgow swimming pool be progressed and that tenders for the work be issued as quickly as possible; 

(2)  that operational and physical linkages with Port Glasgow Health Centre be addressed;

(3)  that the Director of Community & Protective Services liaise with Inverclyde Leisure regarding the development and future operation of Port Glasgow swimming pool;

(4)  that the Director of Finance Services review all options and report on the most advantageous manner of securing the development; and

(5)  that the use of swimming pools, other leisure facilities and community type facilities within schools be reviewed with a view to offering greater access to the wider community.

As an amendment, Councillor Blair moved:-

(1)  that a new build swimming pool facility be provided at the site adjacent to Boglestone Community Centre as shown in the Appendix to the report; and

(2) that the relevant Officers be instructed to proceed with the necessary design works for the development.

On a vote, 2 Members voted for the amendment and 5 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided:

(1)  that the scheme of remedial and refurbishment works to the existing Port Glasgow swimming pool be progressed and that tenders for the work be issued as quickly as possible;

(2)  that operational and physical linkages with Port Glasgow Health Centre be addressed;

(3)  that the Director of Community & Protective Services liaise with Inverclyde Leisure regarding the development and future operation of Port Glasgow swimming pool; 

(4)  that the Director of Finance Services review all options and report on the most advantageous manner of securing the development; and

(5)  that the use of swimming pools, other leisure facilities and community type facilities within schools be reviewed with a view to offering greater access to the wider community.

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)

Closing Order - Property in Port Glasgow                                                     6 & 13                                                                                                                        

Scrap Metal - Effect of Market Price on Existing

Recycling Arrangements                                                                                6

Leisure Management Facilities: Income Information                                  8

DSO Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 5                                                8

887

Closing Order - Property in Port Glasgow

887

There was submitted a report dated 10 September 2001 by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting that a Closing Order be made in respect of a property in Bruce Street, Port Glasgow and this was agreed, all as detailed in the Appendix.      

888

Scrap Metal - Effect of Market Price on Existing Recycling Arrangements

888

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) advising that the continuing low market value of scrap metal had affected the current arrangements for the provision and collection of scrap metal skips and (2) setting out a number of alternative methods of providing a service together with the financial implications thereof.   The Committee agreed (1) to negotiate with a contractor for the provision of the service until the end of the current financial year and (2) to remit it to the Director of Community & Protective Services to report with recommendations for the management of scrap metal waste at the end of that period, all as detailed in the Appendix.

889

Leisure Management Facilities: Income Information

889

There was submitted a report dated 12 September 2001 by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) advising of the income from facilities which are included in the leisure management contracts operated by Leisure Services for the period 30 July 2001 to 9 September 2001 and (2) providing comparisons with the corresponding period in previous years.

Decided: 

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

(2) that the action taken to ensure that target income is achieved be approved.

890

DSO Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 5

890

There was submitted a report dated 12 September 2001 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the DLO/DSO Revenue Budget as at Period 5 (22 August 2001).

Noted