Community Committee

Thursday 5 May 2005 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Councillor Hunter presided.

In attendance:  Director of Community Services, Mr H McNeilly (for Director of Corporate Services), Head of Environmental & Consumer Services, Community Support Services Manager, Libraries Manager, Mr J Aird (for Director of Corporate Services), Mr W Rennie and Mr J O’Neill (Community Services).

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

413

Capital Programme 2004/05 to 2006/07 - Progress

413

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

414

Bulk Uplift Service

414

There was submitted a report dated 15 April 2005 by the Director of Community Services advising of the impact of introducing a charge for the collection and disposal of bulk uplifts and requesting consideration of the Council’s policy to charge for this service.

Decided:  that a special meeting be held in four weeks to discuss this item.

415

Clean up Squads - Cleaner/Greener/Safer Inverclyde

415

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services advising of the proposal to establish two clean up squads to deal with fly tipping and other matters policed by community wardens, police and the public.

Decided:  that two clean up squads as outlined in the report be created for a period of six months and that it be remitted to the Director of Community Services to submit a further report in six months.

416

Summer Playschemes 2005 - Provision of Discounted Prices

416

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services on the feasibility of introducing discounted prices as part of the summer playschemes 2005.

Decided:  that the current system be maintained and that it be noted that the current charge offers excellent value for money to the parents and children who participate.

416(a)

Summer Playschemes (Special Needs) 2005

 416(a)

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services on proposals for the operation of a special needs playscheme for 2005.

Decided: 

(1)  that the provision of a special needs playscheme be agreed subject to final approval by the Care Commission; and

(2)  that the charge for this playscheme should be the same as all the other playschemes.

417

Proposals for the Introduction of Community Awards Event for Inverclyde

417

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services on proposals for a Community Awards Event to recognise those who make a positive difference to the lives of Inverclyde residents.

Decided:  that it be remitted to the Director of Community Services to implement Inverclyde’s first Community Awards Event as detailed in the report.

418

Port Glasgow Community Information Project

418

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services highlighting the findings of an evaluation report on the Port Glasgow Community Information Project.

Noted

419

Cultural Provision

419

Councillor White left the meeting at this point in business.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services advising of the progress being made across Council services in supporting the National Cultural Agenda in Scotland.  

Decided:

(1)      that the contributions being made to enrich Inverclyde’s cultural life be noted;

(2)      that the value in supporting these activities and improving the cultural environment and the quality of life for residents and visitors be recognised; and

(3)      that it be approved in principle the idea of an arts festival for Inverclyde on the understanding that a further report be presented to Committee with detailed proposals from the Inverclyde Arts Board.

420

Community History Strategy

420

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services advising of the progress to date producing a Community History Strategy for Inverclyde Council and seeking approval for adopting and implementing the strategy.

Decided:

(1)      that the draft Community History Strategy for Inverclyde Council be approved; and

(2)      that it be approved in principle that Inverclyde Council bids for a heritage lottery grant on the understanding that a further report will be presented to Committee prior to the submission of the bid.

421

Request for Loan of Item, New Ireland Helmet, from the Permanent Collections

421

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services advising that there had been a request for the loan of a ~helmet from New Ireland in the ethnographical collection of the McLean Museum and Art Gallery.

Decided:  that the Committee agree that the loan of the New Ireland Helmet be made to  the St Louis Art Museum and the Musee du Quai Branly for a major international art exhibition, all costs of transport and insurance for the loan to be borne by the borrower.

422

Enforcement Policy for the Commercial Section of Environmental & Consumer Services

422

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services seeking approval for a revised Enforcement Policy.  

Decided:  that the contents of the revised Enforcement Policy for the commercial section of Environmental & Consumer Services be agreed.

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 item on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6, 8 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

423

Environmental Protection Act 1990

Appointment of Consultant for Assessment of Potentially Contaminated Land Sites

423

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services advising of the use of the Council’s emergency powers procedure to secure a specialist consultant to inspect land that Environmental & Consumer Services has assessed as requiring an intrusive inspection.   The report advised that the matter had been dealt with by way of power delegated to the Chief Executive to enable the appointing of Envirocentre Ltd ahead of being put on the Council’s approved consultants list and to accept the tender in the sum of £39,180 from Envirocentre Ltd.

Noted