Community Committee

Thursday 25 August 2005 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Councillor White presided.

In attendance:  Director of Community Services,  Mr H McNeilly (for Solicitor to the Council), Mr M Thomson (for Chief Financial Officer), Head of Environmental & Consumer Services, Head of Grounds, Transport and Cleansing Services, Community Support Services Manager, Libraries Manager, Co-ordinator, Cleaner, Greener Inverclyde and Community Learning & Development Strategy Group Co-ordinator.

Apologies:  Councillor Fyfe.

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

590

Recycling Performance - Quarterly Waste Arising

590

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services on recycling performance for the period April to June 2005 which had been considered by the Waste Strategy Sub-Committee prior to the Committee meeting.   The report advised that when comparing figures for quarter 1 2005/06 against the same period in 2004/05 (1) the overall waste arising  had increased by 8%, (2) the levels of waste disposed of had decreased by 4.5% and (3) the overall percentage of material recycled had increased from 6.2% to 17%.  The report further advised that while it was not uncommon for overall levels of waste arising to increase during the introduction of new recycling services, continuation of this trend would impact on the Refuse Transfer Station Budget, leading to an overspend of £120,000.

(Councillors Robertson & Blair entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:  that the Committee note the levels of waste arising and the potential financial implications.

591

Revenue Budget 2005/06 - Period 3

591

There was submitted a report dated 5 August 2005 by the Chief Financial Officer on (1) the 2004/05 Revenue Budget out-turn position and (2) the 2005/06 Revenue Budget position as at Period 3 (30 June 2005).   The report advised that the total budget for 2005/06 was £13,987,480, prior to the addition of carry forward earmarked reserves, and that the latest projection was £160,000 over budget.

Noted

592

Capital Programme 2005/06 to 2007/08 - Progress

592

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services on the current position of the Capital Programme 2005/06 to 2007/08.

Noted

593

Motion by Councillors Stewart and White - Planned Tree Maintenance

593

There was submitted a report dated 20 July 2005 by the Solicitor to the Council on a motion from Councillors Stewart and White recommending reinstatement and funding of a planned tree maintenance programme.

Decided:  that the proposal for a planned tree maintenance programme be incorporated in the progress report on the Cleaner, Greener Budget by the Director of Community Services to be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

594

BNSF Year 4 Projects - Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive

594

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to obtain approval to progress with capital projects associated with funds allocated under Year 4 of the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund.

Noted

595

Revised Voluntary Sector Compact

595

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services requesting the Committee to approve a revised version of the Voluntary Sector Compact between CVS Inverclyde and Inverclyde Council which had been approved by the Inverclyde Alliance Board at its meeting in June 2005.

Decided:

(1)      that the revised Voluntary Sector Compact be approved;

(2)      that the Compact be promoted and implemented within each public sector agency;

(3)      that the Director of Community Services and CVS Inverclyde be remitted joint responsibility for the monitoring and implementation of the Compact on behalf of Inverclyde Alliance; and

(4)      that Inverclyde Council, through the Director of Community Services, lead the launch of the Compact on behalf of the Alliance and produce an implementation plan including proposals for roll out throughout the Council’s services.

596

HMIe Inspection of Community Learning and Development in Inverclyde

596

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services (1) providing details of the HMIe Inspection of Community Learning and Development in the east and central Greenock area and (2) setting out proposals to address the main points for action contained within the HMIe report.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee note and accept the  terms of the report by HM Inspectors;

(2)      that the draft action plan appended to the report by the Director of Community Services be approved and submitted to HMIe; and

(3)      that a report be submitted to every second meeting of the Committee detailing progress made in terms of the action plan.

597

Performance Management Information to March 2005

597

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services providing performance management information on all aspects of Community Services to March 2005.¥

Decided:

(1)      that the report be noted; and

(2)      that performance management information be submitted to the Committee on a six monthly basis.

598

Same Sex Partnerships

598

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services advising of the introduction of same sex civil partnerships under the Civil Partnership Act 2004.

Decided:

(1)      that approval be given to the provision of a registration only service for same sex couples within the Registration Office;

(2)      that approval be given to the provision of a ceremony followed by registration at the Registration Office and at approved venues; and 

(3)      that the marriage suite at the Registration Office, where all ceremonies are held, be renamed “The Stewart Suite”.

599

Promotion of the Arts in Inverclyde and Implementation of the Arts Strategy and Action Plan

599

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services providing an update on the work of InverclydeARTS and Arts Development in addressing the objectives of the Inverclyde Arts Strategy and Action Plan.

Decided:  that the Committee note the progress made by InverclydeARTS and Arts Development in achieving the objectives of the Arts Strategy and Action Plan, as detailed in the Annual Report 2004-2005.

600

Impact of Increased Landfill Tax on Trade Waste Service and other Disposal Services

600

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services (1) advising that Landfill Tax for the year 2005/06 had increased for municipal waste from £15 per tonne to £18 per tonne and (2) seeking a review of the charges for trade waste which are currently increased only in line with the budget setting exercise within the Council.

Decided:  that the increase in Landfill Tax for municipal waste be noted and that the cost be passed on to the relevant customers.

601

Knocknairshill Cemetery - Phase 5 Development

601

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services (1) seeking approval for the next phase of development of Knocknairshill Cemetery and (2) recommending that the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to make provision for the associated funding.   The Director of Community Services advised the Committee that the references in paragraph 4.1 of the report to “excluding site furniture” should be deleted.

In response to a question, the Director of Community Services confirmed that he would provide all Members with a note of the cost of purchase of a lair within the cemetery and the amount of revenue generated together with his recommendation as to whether this cost should be reviewed.

Decided:

(1)      that the proposals to develop Phase 5 of Knocknairshill Cemetery as outlined in the report be approved;

(2)      that the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to provide the £1.32m capital funding for the development;

(3)      that the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to agree in principle the sum of £76,000 to meet the annual landscape maintenance costs from 2008/09 onwards;

(4)      that subject to approval of the funding, it be remitted to the Solicitor to the Council to arrange for the invitation of tenders for the project and that delegated authority be granted in the usual manner to accept the lowest tender received in accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations and Standing Orders relating to Contracts; and

(5)      that it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive and the Director of Community Services to explore options for burial capacity within Inverclyde, including the possible use of woodland sites, and to report thereon in early 2006.

602

McLean Museum and Watt Library Collection Development

602

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services (1) advising the Committee, as Trustees acting under the Cy-pres Scheme relative to the Watt Library and the McLean Museum, of the need to improve access to the local collections of the Watt Library and McLean Museum and (2) seeking approval to use income accrued from the Cy-pres Scheme capital fund to finance the project.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee, as Trustees of the Cy-pres Scheme, agree to fund fees of £2,000 for a consultant/subject specialist to audit and evaluate the Watt Library collection from income accrued from capital in the Watt Trust Cy-pres Scheme; and

(2)      that the Committee, as Trustees of the Cy-pres Scheme, agree to fund £2,000 for “Past Perfect” cataloguing software from income accrued from capital in the Watt Trust Cy-pres Scheme.

603

Registration Performance

603

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services on the contents of the 2004 Annual Report following the visit by the Examiner from the Register General’s Office for Scotland which showed a clear improvement in service delivery and accuracy rates. 

Decided:

(1)      that the report be noted; and

(2)      that the contents of the 2004 Annual Report by the Examiner from the Register General’s Office be approved.

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 Paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

604

Registration Performance - Appendix

604

There was submitted appendix relative to Item 14 (Registration Performance) providing detailed information.

Noted