Community Committee

Thursday 10 March 2005 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Blair, Fyfe, Hill, Hunter, McCormick (M), Moran, Roach,  Robertson, Stewart, Tucker and White.

Chair:  Councillor Hunter presided.

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Director of Community Services, Mr H McNeilly (for Director of Corporate Services), Head of Environmental & Consumer Services, Community Support Services Manager, Libraries Manager, Mr M Thomson (for Director of Corporate Services) and Head of Grounds, Transport & Cleansing.

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

233

Revenue Budget 2004/05

233

There was submitted a report dated 22 February 2005 by the Director of Corporate Services on the position of the Revenue Budget at Period 10 to 31 January 2005.

Noted

234

Capital Programme 2004/05 - 2006/07

234

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services on the up to date position of the Capital Programme 2004/05 - 2006/07 and highlighting the overall financial position.

Decided:

(1)  that the progress on the specific projects detailed in the appendices be approved; and

(2)  that the report be otherwise noted.

235

Estimated Budget Shortfall

235

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services advising that the Community Support Services “Get Ready for Work” Skillseekers Training Scheme had an estimated budget shortfall of £30,000 in the current financial year.

Decided: 

(1)      that the importance of the scheme be noted;

(2)      that the indication that the scheme may require a degree of financial support to maintain its liability in the future be noted; and

(3)      that it be remitted to the Director of Community Services to explore all available options to improve the financial viability of the scheme and to report to the Committee in six months with his recommendations.

236

Proposals for the Introduction of a Community Awards Event for Inverclyde

236

It was noted that this report was withdrawn.

237

HM Inspectorate of Education - Inspection of Community Learning and

Development in Inverclyde

237

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services advising of the visit to Inverclyde of the HM Inspectorate of Education to review the provision of Community Learning & Development in Inverclyde.

Decided:

(1)      that the forthcoming inspection be noted;

(2)      that the self evaluation profile results be noted; and

(3)      that it be remitted to the Director of Community Services to submit a further report in due course detailing the findings of the inspection and follow up inspection.

238

Summer Playschemes and Activities 2005

238

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services on the various play centres and special events scheduled for 2005.

Decided: 

(1)      that the programme of activities being organised within Community Support Services be approved;

(2)      that the entry fee remain at 80p per session; and

(3)      that it be remitted to the Director of Community Services to look at the implications of issuing a family ticket and submit a report to the next meeting of the Committee.

239

Prospective Exhibition of Works by Stanley Spencer

239

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services on the current progress towards borrowing the war time paintings of the Port Glasgow Shipyards by Stanley Spencer for exhibition in Inverclyde.

Decided: 

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

(2)  that it be remitted to the Director of Community Services to submit a further report to the next meeting on the financial implications of holding such an event.

The Convener being of the opinion that the following four items were relevant, competent and urgent moved their consideration in order to deal with the business outlined in the reports at the earliest opportunity.   This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order. 

240

Motion from Councillor Moran

240

There was submitted a report dated February 2005 by the Director of Corporate Services advising of a motion submitted by Councillor Moran requesting the Committee to consider reintroducing the free uplift of household waste and removing the current fee of £15.00. Following discussion Councillor Moran moved the terms of this motion.   As an amendment Councillor Blair moved that Councillor Moran’s motion be noted.  On a vote 4 Members voted for the motion and 7 for the amendment which was declared carried.

Decided:  that Councillor Moran’s motion be noted.

241

Cleaner, Greener, Safer Inverclyde - a Proposed Action Plan

241

There was submitted a report dated 7 March 2005 by the Director of Community Services seeking Members’ support for a number of proposals designed to promote “a cleaner, greener and safer Inverclyde”.  

Following discussion Councillor Blair moved that (a) paragraphs 4.11, 4.12, 4.14, 4.15, 4.17 and 4.18 be agreed and acted upon as soon as possible and (b) that it be remitted to the Director of Community Services to submit a further report to the next Committee on the proposals.  As an amendment Councillor Robertson moved that in addition to the points made in the paragraphs outlined by Councillor Blair paragraph 4.13 also be included as a priority.   On a vote 4 Members voted for the amendment and 7 for the motion which was declared carried. '

Decided:  that paragraphs 4.11, 4.12, 4.14, 4.15, 4.17, and 4.18 be dealt with as a priority and that it be remitted to the Director of Community Services to submit a further report to the next meeting on the remaining proposals.

242

Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) - Operating Company Invergreen Ltd

242

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services advising of the approval under the Chief Executive’s powers between Committees for the operation and financing of the new partnership MRF Operating Company.

Noted

243

Proposals for Establishment of Waste Strategy Sub-Committee

243

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services seeking approval for the establishment of a Sub-Committee of the Community Committee to deal with the waste strategy issues with a particular reference to the introduction of recycling on a large scale and to the waste collection system.   

Decided:  that a Sub-Committee of the Community Committee be established with full delegated powers on waste strategy issues and comprising 5 Elected Members, 3 from the Majority Group and 2 from the Minority Group from the Parent Committee, the Vice-Convener of the Community Committee to be the Convener of the Sub-Committee.  It was noted that Councillor Moran and Councillor McCormick (M) would represent the Minority Group.  

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 consideration of the following items on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6, 8 and 9 of Part l of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.          

244

Strategic Waste Fund - Approval to Appoint a Specialist Contractor

244

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services advising that preformed concrete blocks were necessary for the building of bays within the Materials Recycling Facility at an estimated cost of £22,625.   The report advised that the matter had been dealt with by way of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to authorise the approval to use a specialist contractor in view of the short timescale for the building of the Materials Recycling Facility.

Noted

245

BNSF - Acceptance of Tender - Branchton Play Area

245

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services advising of the tenders received in respect of Branchton Play Area as part of the work under the Neighbourhood Services Theme of the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund.

Decided:

(1)      that the amount of £40,534 be transferred from the BNSF Branchton Environmental Improvements Budget to the BNSF Branchton Play Area Budget; and

(2)      that the tender submitted by Land Engineering Scotland Ltd in the sum of £257,357.82 be accepted.

246

BNSF - Acceptance of Tender - Environmental Works at

Robert Street, Port Glasgow

246

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services requesting the Committee to accept the tender in relation to the Woodlands Environmental Improvement in the Robert Street BNSF area.

Decided:

(1)      that £16,389.76 be transferred from the Individual Change Account Budget of the BNSF Employability Theme to the Neighbourhood Services Theme to allow the tender to be accepted; and 

(2)      that the new tender for £182,009.24 (£203,270 inclusive of fees) from Stewart Landscapes (Contracts Ltd) to carry out Woodland Environmental Improvements in the Robert Street area be accepted.

The Convener being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Community Services was relevant, competent and urgent moved its consideration to allow the Committee to consider the tender in respect of Neighbourhood Centre Improvements in the Robert Street BNSF area.   This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

247

BNSF - Acceptance of Tender - Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive

247

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services on tenders received for the Neighbourhood Centre Improvements in the Robert Street BNSF area.   The report advised that the timescale for the acceptance of the tenders in respect of the Environmental Project and the Neighbourhood Centre had expired and both contractors had resubmitted a new price in the sum of £203,270 and £165,534 inclusive of fees respectively.   The report advised that (i) the matter had been dealt with by way of powers delegated to the Chief Executive to accept the tender in relation to the Neighbourhood Centre Improvements in the Robert Street BNSF area and; (ii) the report requested that the Committee note the position regarding the Environmental Improvements Project and that the Director of Community Services submit a further report with recommendations to progress the project, all of which was dealt with in the previous item.

Noted.