Community Committee

Thursday 11 September 2003 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Blair, Fyfe, Hill,  Hunter, Moran, Roach, Robertson and Stewart.

Chair:  Councillor Hunter 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 Grounds, Transport & Cleansing Services, Head of Property Services and Community Support Services Manager.

Apologies:  Councillor White.

With the exception of the decision marked 'C' which is open for confirmation or otherwise the following paragraphs are submitted for information only having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Committee.

657

Capital Programme 2003/04 - 2004/05

657

There was submitted a report dated September 2003 by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the up to date position in respect of the Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2004/05.

Decided:  that the report be noted and that the projected overspend of £38,000 be remitted to the Policy & Strategy Committee for consideration.

658

Revenue Budget 2003/04 - Period 4

658

There was submitted a report dated 25 August 2003 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget as at Period 4 (23 July 2003).

Decided: 

(1)   that the Committee note the projected overspend in the current budget monitoring position with concern; and

(2)   that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to report to the next Committee meeting identifying action taken to bring the expenditure/income back in line with the budget.

659

Marriage (Scotland) Act 2002

659

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the introduction of the licensing procedure and fee structure to allow civil marriages to be conducted at approved venues or locations outwith registration offices by Registrars.

Decided: 

(1)   that the licensing procedure for civil marriages being conducted outwith registration offices be approved;

(2)   that consideration, approval and revocation of applications be delegated to the Registration Manager;

(3)   that the fees detailed in 4.1, 4.2 and the Appendix of the Report be approved; and

(4)   that the level of fees be reviewed annually.

660

Implementation of "Hungry for Success" and the Scottish Nutrient Standards for Schools

660

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the promotion by the Scottish Executive to improve the nutrient standards of school meals and to use the vehicle of school catering as a means for encouraging pupils to make healthy dietary choices.

Decided:

(1)   that the progress made to date on the implementation of the "Hungry for Success" recommendations be noted; and

(2)   that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services in consultation with the Head of Personnel Services to establish a temporary post of Monitoring Officer financed through the additional funding provided by the Scottish Executive to fully implement, monitor and provide liaison with schools and parents on the introduction of the Scottish Nutrient Standards and the changes in service which will be required to implement the recommendations in "Hungry for Success".

661

Best Kept Garden Competition and Prizegiving Evening 2003

661

There was submitted a report dated 21 August 2003 by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the progress being made for the best kept garden competition and the subsequent prizegiving evening to be held in Greenock Town Hall on Thursday 2 October 2003.   It was noted that the cost of the event, £6,200, would be contained within the existing budget.

Decided:  that the progress being made for holding the event be noted.

662

Switch On Christmas Lights 2003

662

There was submitted a report dated 3 September 2003 by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the proposals for the 2003 Christmas Lights Switch On events and requesting that funding be made available from the Common Good Fund to host the events.   It was noted that £8,500 has been set aside for the events but should the switch on take place two weeks earlier than usual, a request for an additional £6,300 would be required.   Following discussion Councillor Hunter moved that the event be brought forward by two weeks to take place on 14 and 15 November and that a request be made to the Policy & Strategy Committee for additional funding of £6,300 from the Common Good Fund to stage the 2003 Christmas Lights Switch On events.   As an amendment Councillor Stewart moved that the event take place on the last Thursday and Friday in November in the usual way at no additional costs.   On a vote 4 Members voted for the amendment and 4 for the motion.   There being equality in voting, the Chairman exercised his casting vote in favour of the motion.   Those Members who had voted in favour of the amendment then requested in terms of the Relevant Standing Order that the matter be referred to The Inverclyde Council for decision in terms of the amendment.

C

Decided:  that the Christmas Lights Switch On events 2003 take place on 14 and 15 November as outlined in Paragraph 3 of the Report and that a request be made to the Policy & Strategy Committee for additional funding of £6,300 from the Common Good Fund to stage the events.

C

663

The New Kilmacolm Community Centre

663

There was submitted a report dated September 2003 by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the progress being made on the work being carried out to secure a new community facility for Kilmacolm and to request that the Committee add the project to the non HRA Capital Plan.

Decided:

(1)   that the progress being made by the Kilmacolm Community Co-ordinating Group be noted; and

(2)   that the details outlined in the project appraisal form at Appendix A of the report be approved and that the form be remitted to the Corporate Management Team for consideration for inclusion in the Capital Programme in the future.

664

Federation of Community Learning Centres

664

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services recommending a way to consider the future funding of the Federation of Community Learning Centres Project and requesting that 2 Elected Members be nominated to represent Inverclyde Council on the Board of Management of the project.

Decided:

(1)   that a meeting be sought with the appropriate Scottish Executive Minister to discuss the future funding of the project; and

(2)   that Councillors Hunter and Moran be nominated to represent Inverclyde Council on the Board of Management of the project.

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)

Fireworks Display - 1 November 2003                                                     6

Formation of Not for Profit Limited Company to Carry out                  

Recycling in Inverclyde                                                                             6

DLO/DSO Performance Reports                                                              8

665

Fireworks Display - 1 November 2003

665

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the arrangements being made for the public fireworks display to take place on 1 November 2003.   It was noted that the sum of £10,400 from the Common Good Fund had been agreed to stage the event.  Following discussion Councillor Hunter moved that the Council's public fireworks display be aligned to a Hallowe'en fireworks display rather than Guy Fawkes night.   As an amendment Councillor Roach moved that the contents of the report be noted and that the status quo be maintained.   On a vote 1 Member voted for the motion and 6 for the amendment which was declared carried.

Decided: 

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

(2)   that the fireworks display take place on 1 November 2003 in the usual way.

666

666

Formation of Not for Profit Limited Company to Carry out Recycling in Inverclyde

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services on the establishment of a Materials Recovery Facility operated by a not for profit limited company.  The report indicated that this would afford the opportunity of formalising the partnership with Greenlight Environmental Ltd in operating the Materials Recovery Facility and providing a collection and reprocessing service for Municipal Waste collected by the Council.

Decided:  that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services and the Director of Legal & Support Services to draw up the appropriate Minutes and Articles of Association for the formation of a not for profit limited company to provide recycling services in Inverclyde and which incorporates Greenlight Environmental Ltd as a full partner in the company.

667

DLO/DSO Performance Reports

667

There was submitted a report dated 25 August 2003 by the Director of Finance on the Community DLO/DSO's performance for the period to 23 July 2003 (Period 4).

Decided:

(1)   that the current position regarding the cash shortfall against performance targets be noted;

(2)   that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to report to the next Committee demonstrating how costs will be kept within budget; and

(3)   that it be noted that the format of trading account financial performance will be amended by the next Committee.