Community Committee

Thursday 19 October 2006 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Councillor White presided.

In attendance:  Corporate Director Environment & Community Protection, Head of Grounds, Transport & Cleansing, Mr H McNeilly (for Head of Legal & Administration), Mr M Thomson (for Head of Finance), Head of Property Services, Community Support Services Manager, Libraries Manager and Mr D Hall, Principal Environmental Health Officer.

Apologies:  Councillors Robertson and Tucker.

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

  722

Revenue Budget 2006/07 – Period 5

722

There was submitted a report by the Chief Financial Officer on the position of the Revenue Budget 2006/07 as at period 5 (31 August 2006) which showed a projected overspend of £40,000.

Decided:

(1)  that the current overspend of £40,000 for 2006/07 as at Period 5 be noted; and

(2) that it be remitted to the Corporate Director Environment & Community Protection to report to the next meeting of the Committee showing that the projected expenditure has been brought back on budget or identifying proposals to bring the projections to within budget.

  723

Capital Programme 2006/07 to 2007/08 – Progress

723

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services on the current position of the Capital Programme 2006/07 to 2007/08.

(Councillor Roach entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)       that the progress of the specific projects detailed in the appendices to the report be approved; and

(2)       that the report be otherwise noted.

  724

Performance Management Information for the Period 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006

724

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services providing performance management information in respect of (1) Grounds, Transport & Cleansing Services, (2) Libraries, (3) Community Support Services and (4) Environmental Services for the period 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006.

Noted

  725

Waste Tonnages

725

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services providing an update on the amount of municipal waste generated within Inverclyde.   The report advised that the level of waste predicted for 2006 to 2007 was in excess of the budget allocation which would give rise to a deficit of approximately £94,000 for the current financial year.

(Councillor Blair entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)   that the report be noted; and

(2)   that it be remitted to the Corporate Director Environment & Community Protection to submit proposals as to how the projected overspend can be contained within the Community Services budget.

  726

Transport Business Plan

726

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services seeking approval of the Transport Business Plan for 2006 to 2009, a copy of which was appended to the report.

Decided:  that the Transport Business Plan 2006 to 2009 be approved and referred to the Best Value & Corporate Services Committee for consideration.

  727

Summer Play Schemes and Activities 2006

727

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services on the various play centres, activity groups, special events and associated statistical information relative to the 2006 programme.

Decided:

(1)  that the report and action taken by Community Support Services to ensure a wide ranging summer play scheme programme be noted; and

(2)  that it be noted that a report on options for next year’s programme will be submitted to the Committee by May 2007.

  728

Community Awards Event

728

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services (1) on the progress made in organising a Community Awards Event for Inverclyde and (2) outlining proposals for the event which will recognise the contribution made to Inverclyde by people in various spheres of voluntary activity.  

Decided:  that the action taken to implement the first Inverclyde Community Awards Event be approved.

  729

Christmas Lights Switch-On Events

729

There was submitted a report  by the Director of Community Services seeking approval to hold various Christmas Lights Switch-On Events in a number of locations throughout Inverclyde.

Decided:  that approval be given to the dates, times and locations for the Christmas Lights Switch-On Events 2006, as detailed in the report.

  730

Building Community Capacity through Community Learning and Development

Learning Connections Development Plan 2006-07

730

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services (1) advising of the content and background to the Learning Connections Development Plan 2006-07 and (2) making recommendations on responses to the Development Plan to meet the needs of Inverclyde as a community.

Decided:  that the proposed actions as detailed in Section 4.7 of the report be approved.

  731

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

731

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:

(1)      that the progress made by inverclydeARTS and Arts Development in achieving the objectives set out in the Arts Strategy and Action Plan, as detailed in the inverclydeARTS Annual Report 2005-2006, be noted;

(2)  that it be noted that there will be a considerable funding gap when the inverclydeARTS  project funding ends and that agreement be given to a further report being submitted to the Committee as early as possible detailing the costs of mainstreaming or extending the project; and

(3)   (3) that the Committee note the proposal from the Inverclyde Arts Board for an Inverclyde arts festival and that a further report will be submitted to the Committee as early as possible providing detailed costings and funding options.

  732

The Building (Scotland) Act 2003 – Delegation of Specific Powers

732

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Services seeking approval for the delegation of specific powers under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 to allow suitably authorised officers of Environmental & Consumer Services to deal with “small scale” disrepair in property which is the subject of a complaint to the Council.

Decided:  that delegated powers be granted to the Head of Environmental & Consumer Services to authorise suitably qualified officers within the Service to implement and enforce Sections 28, 37, 39, 40, 44, 48 and 49 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003.

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 and 8 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

  733

Extension to Invervision – Six Camera Installation 2006/2007

733

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive (1) providing an update on the current position in relation to the extension to the Invervision Project 2006/2007 and (2) seeking approval for its procurement and progress through direct orders to contractors.

The Committee decided (1) to authorise negotiations for the installation work, (2) to issue instructions for the power and transmission aspects of the project, (3) to agree funding arrangements and (4) to remit it to the Head of Property Services to obtain statistical information from Strathclyde Police to measure the effectiveness of the project locally and to report thereon to the next meeting, all as detailed in the appendix.

The Convener being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Corporate Director Environment & Community Protection, was relevant, competent and urgent, moved its consideration to allow the Committee to consider contract arrangements at the earliest opportunity.   This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

  734

Invernet Van – Approval to Single Source a Specialist Company to Purchase Technical Equipment

734

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Environment & Community Protection seeking approval to appoint a single specialist company to install information technology into a Council vehicle to provide an Invernet van for young people for a twelve month period.   The Committee agreed to the proposed arrangements, all as detailed in the appendix.