Community & Protective Services Committee

Thursday 24 January 2002 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, Calvert, Hunter, Jackson, McCabe,

Morrison (M), O'Rourke, Robertson (A) and White.

Chair:  Councillor Morrison (M) presided.

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

Apologies:   Councillor McGhee.

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

88

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 8

88

There was submitted a report dated 3 January 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Community & Protective Services Revenue Budget as at Period 8 (14 November 2001).

Noted

89

Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04 

89

There was submitted a report dated 8 January 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04.

Noted

90

Adult Literacy & Numeracy Action Plan for Inverclyde

90

There was submitted a report dated 3 January 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising on the progress being made in producing Inverclyde's first adult literacy action plan.

Decided:

(1)  that the work carried out to date in the production of the draft action plan for Inverclyde be approved;

(2)  that the appointment of a co-ordinator in principle be approved and that this decision be remitted to the Corporate Business Committee once the funding is approved through the budget setting process; and

(3) that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to submit a further report once the action plan has been approved by the Scottish Executive.

91

Community Learning Plan for Port Glasgow

91

There was submitted a report dated 3 January 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services seeking approval for the first Community Learning Plan for Port Glasgow.

Decided:  that the Community Learning Plan for Port Glasgow - "Learning's  No Sore!" be approved.

92

Community Development Seminar

92

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the success of the Community Development Seminar held on 20 September 2001 and advising that a mapping exercise of community development resources across the various services and agencies in Inverclyde is being undertaken as part of an ongoing process of Best Value Service reviews.

Decided:

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

(2)  that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to submit a report on the seminar for distribution to Members for their information;

(3)  that it be remitted to the Head of Leisure & Community Support Services to develop an Inverclyde Community Development network; and

(4) that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to provide Members with an audit of community development resources in Inverclyde.

93

Amendment to Delegated Powers

93

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on an amendment to the current delegated powers granted to the enforcement officers of the Trading Standards Section.

Decided: 

(1) that the Head of Environmental & Consumer Services be authorised to appoint and authorise by instrument in writing, suitably qualified and experienced officers to carry out the duties of Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures and such other Inspectors of Weights and Measures as may be necessary to discharge the functions conferred by or under the Weights and Measures Act 1985 in terms of Section 72 of the Act; and

(2) that the Head of Environmental & Consumer Services be authorised to appoint and authorise by instrument in writing, suitably qualified inspectors to carry into effect the relevant provisions of the legislation contained in the Appendix to the report, including powers of entry, inspection, sampling, service of notices, seizure or purchase of goods and the gathering of information.

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)

Kelburn Park Public Toilets                                                                        6

Waste Disposal Contract Review                                                               6

Demolition Order                                                                                         6 & 13

DSO Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 8                                             8

Refuse Collection DSO                                                                               8

94

Kelburn Park Public Toilets

94

There was submitted a report dated 8 January 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting the Committee to approve the demolition of the fire damaged public toilets within Kelburn Park, Port Glasgow.   The report advised of the vandalism carried out to the toilet facilities.   The report highlighted options available to the Council in terms of the reinstatement costs and demolition costs.

Decided: 

(1)  that it be remittted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to discuss with the insurance company the possibility of reinstating the toilet facilities at another location and report back to the Committee as soon as possible; and

(2)  that if the facilities become an imminent danger to the public emergency authority be obtained for their demolition.

95

Waste Disposal Contract Review

95

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the review of the Waste Disposal Contract which was carried out on 18 December 2001.

Decided:  that it be remitted to the Head of Grounds, Transport & Cleansing to continue discussions with Barr Environmental Ltd on the various options identified in the report subject to full consultation with the appropriate Trade Unions and Council Staff and that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to submit a further report to the Committee on the developments of the negotiations.

96

Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 - Demolition Order - Property in Wemyss Bay

96

There was submitted a report dated 23 November 2001 by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting that a Demolition Order be made in respect of a property in Wemyss Bay and this was agreed, all as detailed in the Appendix.

97

DSO Revenue Monitoring Report  - Period 8

97

There was submitted a report dated 3 January 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the DSO Revenue Budget as at Period 8 (14 November 2001).

Noted

98

Refuse Collection DSO

98

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on a remit following the meeting of the Committee held on 15 November 2001 (para 1027) with regard to the financial performance of the Community & Protective Services DSOs and in particular the projected shortfall identified in achieving the statutory rate of return for Refuse Collection DSO in the financial year.   The report advised of the action taken to remedy the deficit to ensure the DSO meets its statutory rate of return.

Decided:

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

(2) that the action taken by the Head of Grounds, Transport & Cleansing and Finance Services be noted; and

(3)  that it be remitted to the Finance & Audit Sub-Committee to further consider the performance of the Refuse Collection DSO.