Community Committee

Thursday 30 January 2003 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Calvert, Hunter, McCabe, O'Rourke, Robertson (A) and White.

In the absence of the Convener and the Vice-Convener, it was agreed unanimously  that Councillor O'Rourke assume the Chair.

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.

Apologies:  Councillors Jackson, McGhee and Morrison (M).

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

107

Revenue Budget 2002/03 - Period 9

107

There was submitted a report dated 20 December 2002 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 2002/03 as at 11 December 2002 (Period 9).

Decided:  that the Committee note the improvement in the current monitoring position.

108

Virement, Period 9 Monitoring

108

There was submitted a report dated 7 January 2003 by the Director of Community & Protective Services seeking approval to vire funding between the Burial Grounds and the Grounds Maintenance employee costs budget lines.

Decided:  that the Committee approve virement of £15,000 from the Burial Grounds DSO employee costs budget to the Ground Maintenance DSO employee costs budget.

109

Capital Programme 2002/03 to 2003/04 - Progress 

109

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the progress of the Capital Programme 2002/03 to 2003/04.

Noted

110

Better Neighbourhood Services Fund - Resourcing and Supporting Community Involvement

110

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) on the key role of Leisure & Community Support Services staff in implementing the neighbourhood services theme of the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund and (2) advising of progress and the future involvement of staff in the initiative.

Decided:  that the contents of the report and the progress being made by Leisure & Community Support Services staff in implementing the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund be noted.

111

Young Quality Scot Awards

111

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the arrangements for the holding of the Young Quality Scot Awards at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Gourock on 27 and 28 February 2003.

Councillor White declared an interest in this matter and took no part in its consideration or decision.

Decided:  that the ongoing preparations for the Young Quality Scot Awards to be held at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Gourock on 27 and 28 February 2003 be noted and approved.

112

Local Authority Health Improvement Modules

112

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) on the local authority health improvement training modules developed in partnership by the Health Improvement Team at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Health Education Board for Scotland and (2) advising that Inverclyde Council was one of four local authorities in Scotland piloting the second phase of the health improvement training pack.

Decided:  that the contents of the report and the action taken to pilot health improvement training modules be noted.

113

Health Protection - A Consultation Paper (Scottish Executive)

113

There was submitted a report dated 10 January 2003 by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) on the Scottish Executive consultation paper on options for the establishment of a Health Protection Agency in Scotland and (2) recommending a response to the specific questions on the role of the local authority in health protection and the role of environmental health officers as set out in the report.

Decided: 

(1)  that it be remitted to the Head of Environmental & Consumer Services to respond to the technical and professional issues raised in the Scottish Executive consultation paper on the establishment of a Health Protection Agency in Scotland; and

(2)  that the response to the specific questions on the role of the local authority in health protection and the role of environmental health officers to the effect that the Council considers that there is sufficient focus now provided on the public health improvement and protection agendas at local level and that it is important to retain the role of environmental health officers as a local authority function, all as more fully detailed in the report, be approved.

114

HELA Annual Report 2002

114

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) on the Health and Safety Executive/Local Authority Enforcement Liaison Committee (HELA) Annual Report 2002 and (2) providing details of workplace injuries, with particular reference to Inverclyde.

Decided:  that the results of the HELA Annual Report 2002 and the relative position in Inverclyde be noted.

115

Registrars, 40 West Stewart Street, Greenock

115

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on secondment arrangements to help overcome current staffing difficulties at the Registrar's Office at 40 West Stewart Street, Greenock.

Noted

116

Play Areas Development - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

116

There was submitted a report dated 14 November 2002 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to homologate action taken to progress improvement and upgrading works at seven play areas as detailed in the report.

Noted

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 during 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

DLO/DSO Performance Reports - Period 9                                            8

117

Gourock Pool Sloping Foreshore Works - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

117

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive (1) on the position regarding works to the sloping foreshore at Gourock Pool and (2) advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to authorise acceptance of a tender for the works, which was noted all as detailed in the Appendix.

118

DLO/DSO Performance Reports - Period 9

118

There was submitted a report dated 20 December 2002 by the Director of Finance on the performance of the DLO/DSO for the period to 11 December 2002 (Period 9).

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 plans in due course.