Community & Protective Services Committee

Thursday 18 April 2002 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, Calvert, Hunter, Jackson, McCabe,  McGhee, Morrison (M), O'Rourke 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, Head of Grounds, Transport & Cleansing Services, Interim Chief Executive Inverclyde Leisure 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.

375

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 12

375

There was submitted a report dated 26 March 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Community & Protective Services Revenue Budget as at Period 12 (6 March 2002).   (Provost Roach and Councillor Blair entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Noted

376

Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04

376

There was submitted a report dated 27 March 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04.

Noted

377

Capital Programme 2001/02:  Technical Progress

377

There was submitted a report dated 25 March 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the position of current projects.   (Councillor McCabe entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Noted

378

Federation of Community Learning Centres in Inverclyde

378

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the ongoing development involving Community Support Services and the Federation of Community Learning Centres in Inverclyde.    (Councillor Calvert entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).   Mr Wilson advised the Committee of an amendment to the report at paragraph 2.2 that VLarkfield Community Wing should be amended to read Larkfield Youth Cafe.

Decided:

(1)   that the efforts made by the members of the Federation and staff in Community Support Services in establishing the Project be noted;

(2)   that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to advise of the elected Members to serve on the Project’s Board of Directors in due course;

(3)   that additional staff be employed on a 3 year fixed term contract as outlined in paragraph 3.3 of the report; and

(4)   that a Service Level Agreement between the Federation and Inverclyde Council be established and that all relevant Council Directors be consulted in this matter.

379

Amendment to Delegated Powers

379

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting approval of delegated powers to the Head of Grounds, Transport  & Cleansing Services to appoint and authorise by instrument in writing suitably competent Officers to carry out duties as may be necessary to discharge the functions by or under the following Acts with any revisions thereof:-

Environmental Protection Act 1990, Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978, Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, Town & Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, Criminal Damage Act 1971, Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 and any other legislation which may be relevant to investigations relating to illegal dumping, littering, fly-posting, graffiti, dog-fouling and abandoned vehicles.  It was noted that the delegated powers, if granted to the Head of Grounds, Transport & Cleansing Services would extend only to the functions within the remit of Grounds, Transport & Cleansing Services and which were not delegated to any other Officer of the Council in terms of the existing Scheme of Delegation.

Decided:  that the request be agreed.

380

Port Glasgow Swimming Pool

380

There was submitted a report dated 3 March 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the progress made with regard to the refurbishment of Port Glasgow swimming pool.

Decided:

(1)   that the work being progressed by the Port Glasgow Pool Project Team be noted;

(2)   that the design which has been finalised in line with the points made in paragraph 3.7 of the report be endorsed in order to maximise the possibility of obtaining lottery funding; and

(3)   that the proposals outlined in paragraphs 4.2 and 4.3 of the report be agreed in order to allow the public and user groups to be made aware of the progress and ensuring the successful reopening of Port Glasgow Pool.

381

Food Standards Agency

381

There was submitted a report dated 4 April 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the successful audit of the performance of Environmental & Consumer Services against the Framework Agreement on Local Authority Food Law Enforcement carried out by the Food Standards Agency.

Decided: 

(1)   that the contents of the report and the Food Standards Agency’s conclusions be noted;

(2)   that a further report be submitted on the resource implications of fully implementing the internal monitoring system required by the Agency; and

(3)   that Environmental & Consumer Services be congratulated on the good level of food law enforcement as recognised by the Food Standards Agency.

382

Gourock Highland Games

382

There was submitted a report dated 5 April 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting the Committee to consider increasing the admission fee for this year’s Gourock Highland Games which will be held at Gourock Park on Sunday 12 May 2002.

Decided:  that the entry fee be increased to £2.50 per adult and £1.00 per child and that a family fee of £6.00 be established (based on a maximum of 2 adults and 2 children).

383

Voluntary Managed Community Halls

383

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the present position of voluntary managed halls in general and the difficulties faced by Upper Bow Community Hall and Kelburn Community Hall.

Decided:

(1)   that the valuable contribution that community halls make to community life in general be recognised as well as the positive impact they make to community inclusion;

(2)   that the current difficulties being faced by community halls in general be noted together with the particular issues associated with the Upper Bow and Kelburn Community Halls;

(3)   that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to pursue funding opportunities for community halls through the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund, the Urban II Project, lottery funding and through other external agencies; and

(4)   that the provision of community halls in the future be supported.

The Convener being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Community & Protective Services was relevant, competent and urgent moved its consideration to allow the Committee to consider the financing of the Gourock Highland Games and this was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

384

Gourock Highland Games

384

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting the Committee to approve in principle a financial contribution of £24,000 from the Common Good Fund towards the costs of the Gourock Highland Games.

Decided: 

(1)   that the allocation of £24,000 from the Common Good Fund be approved in principle to support the Gourock Highland Games 2002; and

(2)   that the request be remitted to the Policy & Strategy Committee for final approval.

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)

Treatment and Disposal of Fridges                                                             6 & 8

DLO/DSO Performance Reports                                                                8

Closing Order - Flat in Kempock Street, Gourock                                    6

385

Treatment and Disposal of Fridges

385

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the up to date position with regard to the treatment and disposal of fridges.

Decided: 

(1)   that the steps taken to address the current situation with regard to fridges be approved;

(2)   that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to pursue a joint tender with other local authorities within the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Waste Strategy Area; and

(3)   that in the event of protracted tender negotiations, exemption be granted under the Council’s Standing Orders 3.3 Relating to Contracts in order to allow a short-term contract for the treatment and disposal of fridges.

386

DLO/DSO Performance Reports - Period Ending 6 March 2002

386

There was submitted a report dated 26 March 2002 by the Director of Finance Services updating the Committee on the DLO/DSO Performance Reports for the period to 6 March 2002.

Noted

387

Closing Order - Flat in Kempock Street, Gourock

387

There was submitted a report dated 5 March 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting that a Closing Order be made in respect of a property in Kempock Street, Gourock and this was agreed all as detailed in the Appendix.