Community Committee

Thursday 13 June 2002 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Hunter, McCabe, McGhee, Morrison (M) 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 and Consumer Services, Head of Property Services, Head of Grounds, Transport & Cleansing Services and Acting Head of Leisure & Community Support Services.

Apologies:  Provost Roach, Councillors Calvert, Jackson, O'Rourke and Robertson (A).

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

520

Capital Programme 2002/2003 - 2003/2004

520

There was submitted a report dated 21 May 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2002/2003 - 2003/2004.

Noted

521

Capital Programme 2002/2003:  Technical Progress

521

There was submitted a report dated 23 May 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the position of current projects and advising of accumulated variations in respect of the remedial works being carried out at Gourock swimming pool, all in accordance with the Financial Regulations.

Decided:  that the contents of the report be noted with regard to the current position of contracts on site and that the specific report on accumulated variations in respect of the remedial works at Gourock swimming pool be approved.

522

Adoption of Policy & Procedures:  Managing Drug Related Incidents

522

There was submitted a report dated 22 May 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the development of policy and procedures for managing drug related incidents involving young people within Community Support Services establishments and seeking approval for the implementation of such policy and procedures.

Decided:  that the contents of the report be approved and that the policy be remitted to the Policy & Strategy Committee for final approval.

523

Young Quality Scot (Citizenship Award 2003)

523

There was submitted a report dated 21 May 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting approval to host the National Awards Ceremony 2003 in Inverclyde.

Decided:  that the hosting of the event in Inverclyde on 27 - 28 February 2003 be approved and that it be remitted to the Policy & Strategy Committee to consider underwriting the event's cost to a maximum of £6,500 from the Common Good Fund if external sponsorship is not secured.   (Councillor Hunter entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

524

Registration Services

524

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of changes in legislation to Registration Services and the impact of such changes on both customers and staff.

Decided:

(1)   that the introduction of the new Marriage (Scotland) Act 2002 and the arrangements being made to implement the Act through the Licensing & Registration Panel be noted;

(2) that the Committee approve in principle staff changes to the structures within the service which may be required;

(3)  that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to liaise with other Council services, staff and unions to finalise the staffing arrangements; and

(4)  that the Director of Community & Protective Services remit the final staffing proposals to the Corporate Business Committee for approval.

525

HMI Inspection Report on Community Learning and Development in

the East Inverclyde Area

525

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the HMI Inspection Report on Community Learning and Development in the east Inverclyde area and requesting Members to adopt the main conclusions and recommendations contained within the report.

Decided:   

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

(2    that it be remitted to the Policy & Strategy Committee for discussion; and

(3)  that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to submit a further report to the Committee detailing the action plan to be delivered as a result of the inspection process.

526

Summer Playschemes and Activities 2002

526

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the programme of activities in relation to the summer playschemes to be held in 2002 and outlining proposals to increase the entry fee to 70p per session.

Decided:

(1)  that the ongoing partnership arrangements with the voluntary playschemes forum be noted and supported;

(2)  that the programme of activities organised within Leisure and Community Support Services be approved; and

(3)   that the entry fee be increased to 70p per session.

527

"Citizen You" Commonwealth Youth Summit 2002

527

There was submitted a report dated 23 May 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the Commonwealth Citizenship Youth Summit to be held in Sunderland from 1 to 7 July 2002 and seeking approval for Inverclyde Council to host a delegation of young people from St Vincent and Grenadine Caribbean islands.   Although the report stated that there would be one  delegation comprising two young people, it was proposed that two delegations be received comprising four persons.

Decided: that the contents of the report be noted and that the Authority host two delegations of four persons.

528

Gourock Highland Games

528

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the outcome of the Gourock Highland Games 2002 which was held at Gourock Park on Sunday 19 May.

Decided: 

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

(2)   that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to investigate the options for the fiftieth Gourock Highland Games in 2006 and submit a report to Committee in due course.

529

Evaluation of New Menu System in Primary Schools

529

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the success of the pilot of a new menu system within primary schools in Inverclyde.

Decided:  that the new menu system be implemented in all primary schools in Inverclyde within the current financial year, phasing in programmable cash registers if finances become available.

530

Local Environmental Audit and Management Systems

530

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the outcome of the local environment audits carried out over the last two years.

Noted

531

Environmental & Consumer Services - Demands on Service

531

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising that the current staffing levels and structure are not sufficient to meet increased duties and responsibilities resulting from the introduction of new legislation and audit requirements of government agencies and proposing that a review be carried out, the review costs being contained within existing budgets.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee approve in principle changes to the staff structure within Environmental & Consumer Services in order to meet the demands of legislative change and audit requirement on the service;

(2)  that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services in consultation with the relevant Council Services, staff and unions to finalise a revised structure; and

(3)  that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to submit the final staffing proposals to the Corporate Business Committee for 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 item on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 6 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

532

Use of Standing Order 66(A) - Dog Warden Service

532

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(A) to take over the direct management of the Dog Warden Service following Notice to Quit from the Council's contractor.

Noted