Community Committee

Thursday 7 November 2002 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, Jackson, McCabe, McGhee, 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 Environmental & Consumer Services, Head of Financial Services, Head of Grounds, Transport & Cleansing, Head of Leisure & Community Support Services and Head of Property Services.

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

905

Revenue Budget 2002/2003 - Period 6

905

There was submitted a report dated 10 October 2002 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget as at 18 September 2002 (period 6).  

(Councillors Jackson and O'Rourke entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)   that the contents of the report and the projected overspend of £87,000 be noted; and

(2)  that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to identify savings to reduce the projected overspend.

906

Capital Programme 2002/2003 to 2003/2004 - Progress

906

There was submitted a report dated 16 October 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the progress of the Capital Programme 2002/2003 to 2003/2004.

(Provost Roach entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided: 

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

(2)   that it be remitted to the Policy & Strategy Committee to consider the projected underspend of £131,000.

907

Civic Amenity Site:  Kirn Drive Depot

907

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services seeking approval to review operations at the civic amenity site at Kirn Drive, Gourock with a view to expanding operations in respect of recycling and the reuse of materials in line with waste minimisation proposals.

(Councillor Robertson (A) entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)   that the difficulties with the existing civic amenity site at Kirn Drive Depot be noted; and

(2)   that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to submit a report outlining options  to identify a suitable site for the relocation of the civic amenity site.

908

2002 Christmas Lights Switch-On

908

There was submitted a report dated 17 October 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising the Committee of the arrangements for the 2002 Christmas Lights Switch-On.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee approve the arrangements for the 2002 Christmas Lights Switch-On; and

(2)   that it be remitted to the Policy & Strategy Committee to consider the additional funding of £8500 from the Common Good Fund to fund the 2002 Christmas Lights Switch-On.

909

Summer Playschemes and Activities 2002

909

There was submitted a report dated October 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising the Committee of the various play centres, activity groups, special events and associated statistical information relative to the 2002 summer programme for playschemes and activities.

Decided:

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

(2)   that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to submit a report  recommending options for next year's Playschemes to the Committee by May 2003.

910

Connect Youth Working Agreement "The Nethybridge Treaty"

910

There was submitted a report dated October 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) seeking approval for the Council to sign up to the Connect Youth Working Agreement and (2) requesting that the lead role in taking forward this initiative be allocated to Leisure & Community Support Services.

Decided:

 (1)  that the Committee note the contents of the report  and the contribution that Inverclyde young people and staff have made to the Connect Youth Network and Scottish Youth Parliament since their inception;

(2)   that it be remitted to Officers within Leisure & Community Support Services to further develop local, regional and national initiatives in support of this network; and

(3)   that the Committee agree to the adoption of the Connect Youth "Nethybridge Treaty" in respect of supporting the participation and empowerment of young people within local, regional and national forums.

911

Mid Term Review of Literacies Action Plan

911

There was submitted a report dated October 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising the Committee on progress made in the implementation of the "Inverclyde Literacies Action Plan" as contained in the mid term review recently submitted to the Scottish Executive.

Decided:  that the Committee note the contents of the report and the progress being made towards achieving key action plan targets.

912

Adoption of "How Good is our Community Learning and Development Framework"

912

There was submitted a report dated October 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) advising the Committee of the "How Good is our Community Learning and Development Framework" and (2) seeking approval for the adoption of the framework as the monitoring and self evaluation framework for all community learning and development programmes and initiatives delivered by the Council.

Decided:

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

(2) that the Committee approve the framework on the self evaluation of all community learning and development programmes and initiatives delivered by the Council.

913

Community Safety

913

There was submitted a report dated October 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising the Committee of the continuing developments and strategic plans relating to community safety in Inverclyde.

Decided:  that the Committee note the ongoing developments as detailed in the report and homologate the action taken to date to promote community safety in Inverclyde.

914

Area Waste Plan - Final Revision/ Update on Scottish Executive Waste Management Proposals

914

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) seeking the approval of the Committee for the final revision of  the Area Waste Plan and (2) updating the Committee on implications for the Council as a result of  various Scottish Executive initiatives on waste and recycling.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee approve the Final Area Waste Plan; and

(2)   that the Committee note the developments in Waste Strategy issues.

The Convener, being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Finance was relevant, competent and urgent, moved its consideration to advise the Committee on the outcome of the lottery application for funding of the Port Glasgow Pool.   This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

915

Port Glasgow Pool - Lottery Grant Award

915

There was submitted a report dated 1 November 2002 by the Director of Finance advising the Committee of the outcome of the exercise to secure funding for the refurbishment of Port Glasgow Swimming Pool.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee welcome the success in attracting a £700,000 grant from the Lottery Fund Swimming Pool Upgrade Programme; and 

(2)   that it be noted that the Policy & Strategy Committee will consider the use for the increase in capital resources.

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)

Gourock Pool Sloping Foreshore Works:

Use of Emergency Powers Procedure                                                               6, 8 & 9

Virement Request - Employee Costs                                                                1

Garvald Street, Greenock and Robert Street Area, Port Glasgow:

Use of Housing Enforcement Powers                                                                6 & 13

Demolition Order: Shankland Road, Greenock                                               6 & 13

Revocation of Closing Order: Kempock Street, Gourock                               13

DLO/DSO Performance Reports - Period 6                                                     8

916

Gourock Pool Sloping Foreshore Works: Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

916

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive on the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to authorise acceptance of the lowest tender for the Gourock Pool Sloping Foreshore works, subject to the satisfactory conclusion of lease arrangements for the site, and this was agreed all as detailed in the Appendix.

917

Environmental and Consumer Services

Virement Request - Employee Costs

917

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community and Protective Services on a request to vire funds within  Environmental and Consumer Services.

Decided:  that the Committee approve virement of £42,903 to centralised employee costs within Environmental and Consumer Services.

918

Garvald Street, Greenock and Robert Street Area, Port Glasgow:

Use of Housing Enforcement Powers

918

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community and Protective Services recommending the use of housing enforcement powers in certain circumstances relative to properties at Garvald Street and in the Robert Street area, and this was agreed all as detailed in the Appendix.

919

Demolition Order: Property in Shankland Road, Greenock

919

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting that a demolition order be made in respect of a property in Shankland Road, Greenock and this was agreed, all as detailed in the Appendix.

920

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services requesting that the Council make the necessary order to revoke the closing order in respect of the westmost attic flat situated at 83 Kempock Street, Gourock.

920

Decided:  that the closing order in respect of the westmost attic flat situated at 83 Kempock Street, Gourock be revoked.

921

DLO/DSO Performance Reports - Period 6

921

There was submitted a report dated 10 October 2002 by the Director of Finance providing information on the performance of the DLO/DSO for the period to 18 September 2002 (period 6).

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee note the current position regarding the performance targets; and

(2)   that the Committee note that the business plan targets and key performance measures will be further developed as a result of the approval of the business plan in due course.