Community & Protective Services Committee

Thursday 7 March 2002 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, Calvert, Hunter, Jackson, McCabe,  McGhee, Morrison (M) and O'Rourke.

Chair:  Councillor Morrison (M) presided.

In attendance:  Director of Community & Protective Services, Mr H McNeilly (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Head of Financial Services, Head of Environmental & Consumer Services, Head of Property Services, Head of Grounds, Transport & Cleansing Services and acting Head of Leisure & Community Support Services.

Apologies:  Councillor Robertson (A)

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

236

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 10

236

There was submitted a report dated 4 February 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Community & Protective Services Revenue Budget as at Period 10 (9 January 2002).

Noted

237

Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04

237

There was submitted a report dated 15 February 2002  by the Director of Finance Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04.

Noted

238

Skateboarding Facilities

238

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the proposal to create a skateboarding facility in Inverclyde.   The report advised that a further site had been identified in Battery Park as a possible location for the facility and advised that £80,000 had been set aside by the Council for this purpose.   Following discussion Councillor Morrison (M) moved that a skateboard facility be developed at the third area identified within Battery Park as indicated in Appendix 1 to the report.   As an amendment Councillor Blair moved that a site visit be arranged to look at the proposed site at Battery Park and also at the Waterfront Leisure Complex and that a decision not be taken until arrangements are in place for landscaping, noise control, insurance and supervision.   On a vote 2 Members voted for the amendment and 7 for the motion which was declared.    

Decided:  that a skateboard facility be developed at the third site identified within the Battery Park as indicated in Appendix 1 to the report.

239

Kelburn Park Toilets

239

There was submitted a report dated 19 February 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the future toilet provision within the Kelburn Park area and advising of the estimated costs of each option.

Decided:  that the existing toilets be demolished and rebuilt within Parklea Playing Fields at an estimated cost of £56,000, as indicated in Option D of the report.

240

Annual Air Quality Review 2000 - 2001

240

There was submitted a report dated  13 February 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the Annual Air Quality Review 2000 - 2001 advising that the Inverclyde Council was required to complete the next full review and assessment by the end of 2003.

Decided:

(1)   that the mobile air quality monitor be moved to Dellingburn Street to accurately monitor levels of nitrogen dioxide;

(2)   that the level of nitrogen dioxide at the fifteen diffusion tube sites continue to be monitored;

(3)   that the benzene monitoring at the roadside sites be discontinued as recent trends showed decreasing levels; and

(4)   that Inverclyde Council continue to produce an annual report on local air quality monitoring to be referenced to National Air Quality Objectives.

241

Mobile Telephone Base Station Monitoring

241

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising that seventeen of the twenty one mobile phone base station masts have been monitored in Inverclyde and the remaining four will be monitored in the near future.   It was noted from the study that the omissions from the mobile phone base stations surveyed do not have any impact on the health of the public in Inverclyde.

Decided:

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

(2)   that the measurement of mobile phone base stations be continued on an annual basis whilst resources permit.

242

Area Draft Waste Plan - Consultation Document

242

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on (1) the Draft Area Waste Plan Revision 3, (2)  the proposed duty to prepare integrated waste management plans and (3) the Draft Guidance on the operation of the Strategic Waste Fund.

Decided: 

(1)   that the Draft Area Waste Plan as submitted by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency be approved;

(2)   that the response made to the consultation by the Scottish Executive on the proposal to establish duty on local authorities to prepare integrated waste plans be noted; and

(3)   that the consultation letter on the Strategic Waste Fund Guidance be noted and that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to  reply on the Council's behalf.

243

Licensing of Food Premises

243

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising that correspondence had been received from the Consumers Association requesting support for the campaign for the introduction of licensing of food premises.   The report explained the reason for the request.  

Decided:

(1)   that support be given for the Consumers Association Campaign for the licensing of food premises subject to a full examination on the impact of licensing schemes on standards of food safety performance and on the condition the resource implications for local authorities are fully explored and addressed;

(2)   that in view of North Lanarkshire Council's request to COSLA to support the campaign, a copy of the report be passed to COSLA; and

(3)   that in view of the direct approach to the Scottish Parliament by the Consumer Association on this subject a copy of the report be forwarded to the MSPs representing Inverclyde in order that they are made aware of the Council's position.

244

Sale and Use of Fireworks

244

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on issues relating to the sale of fireworks outwith the usual period for the sale of fireworks.

Decided:

(1)   that the concerns raised in the report be noted;

(2)   that the establishment of a Fireworks Task Group by COSLA be supported with the following remits:-

(a) to identify the changes needed to the legislative framework governing the sale and use of fireworks;

(b)  to consider and recommend means by which these changes can be secured;

(c) to consider and recommend complementary alternative means by which local authorities may address public concern over the sale and use of fireworks; and

(3)   that a further report be brought to the Committee detailing the Task Group's recommendations for consideration by the Committee.

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)

Storage and Collection of Fridges                                                               6 & 8

DLO/DSO Performance Reports                                                                8

Waste Disposal Contract Review                                                               6

245

Storage and Collection of Fridges

245

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the legislation in respect of the storage and collection of fridges and the financial implications for local authorities.

Decided:  that the contents of the report be noted and that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to submit a further report in due course identifying available funding.

246

DLO/DSO Monitoring Report - Period Ending 9 January 2002

246

There was submitted a report dated 7 February 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the DSO Revenue Budget for the period to 9 January 2002.

Noted

247

Waste Disposal Contract Review

247

There was submitted a report dated 18 February 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the review of the Waste Disposal Contract and on the developments of the negotiations.

Decided:  that Option 1 as set out in the report be accepted, granting an extension of 2 years as indicated within the terms of the original tender.