CORPORATE BUSINESS COMMITTEE

TUESDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 1997 - 3.00 pm

Present:- Councillors Clocherty, O'Rourke, Jackson, Nimmo, Sir Simpson Stevenson, Welch and Hunter, Councillor Sir Simpson Stevenson, Convener, in the Chair.

In attendance:- The Assistant Chief Executive (Contract Services), the Assistant Chief Executive (Economic Development and Urban Regeneration), Mr A S Grant (for the Director of Central Services), the Director of Finance, the Director of Information Technology, Mr C Clelland (for the Director of Legal Services), the Director of Personnel Services and the Director of Property and Technical Services.

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Provost Allan and Councillor Rebecchi.

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

1019 ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS 1019

The Convener referred to reports by (a) the Director of Finance on (i) the Revenue Budget 1997/98, (ii) the Revenue Budget 1997/98: Contract Services Division and (iii) a preliminary application for special grant funding to assist in a Council Tax Collection Scheme and (b) a report by the Director of Central Services on a request to purchase a disused public convenience at the Esplanade, Greenock. The Convener indicated that consideration of the items was urgent since in respect of items (i) to (iii) that the Committee be advised of the position with regard to each report as soon as possible and in respect of item (b) to allow negotiations to proceed without delay and moved that the items be added to the Agenda. This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

1020 REVENUE BUDGET 1997/98 1020

SUBMITTED: Report dated 3 September 1997 by the Director of Finance advising of the current position of the 1997/98 Revenue Budget as at 23 July 1997.

NOTED

1021 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS 1021

SUBMITTED: Report dated 22 August 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1997/98.

NOTED

1022 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - FINANCIAL POSITION 1022

SUBMITTED: Report dated 28 August 1997 by the Director of Finance on the current position of the Capital Programme 1997/98.

NOTED

1023 VEHICLE REPLACEMENT PROGRAMME: PROPOSED TENDERING PROCESS 1023

SUBMITTED: Report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Contract Services) seeking the Committee's approval to the use of nominated suppliers for the provision of certain vehicles as detailed in the report submitted to the August meeting of the Committee (para 840 refers).

DECIDED:

(a) That the Assistant Chief Executive (Contract Services) be authorised to negotiate prices for the replacement of vehicles as detailed in the report, all subject to the satisfaction of the Directors of Finance and Legal Services; and

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to invite tenders for non-HGV vehicles and HGV trucks.

1024 YEAR 2000 ISSUE 1024

SUBMITTED: Report dated 26 August 1997 by the Director of Information Technology advising the Committee of the need to address a number of technical problems which would result from the "Year 2000" issue and outlining certain measures which had been taken by IT Services by way of advance preparation.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee note the contents of the report and the actions taken on the "Year 2000" issue; and

(b) That it be noted that the Director of Information Technology is currently preparing a briefing paper on the possible impact of the "Year 2000" issue as it affects the whole operations of the Council for the Chief Executive.

1025 HECTOR McNEIL BATHS 1025

SUBMITTED: Report dated 4 September 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services setting out anticipated costs for the mothballing of the Hector McNeil Baths following closure of the building after the opening of the new Waterfront Leisure Complex until such time as the future use of the premises has been decided and seeking approval to proceed on this basis.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Hector McNeil Baths building be mothballed at an anticipated cost of £20,000;

(b) That a revenue cost of £2,000 per month be made available to provide security surveillance, and revenue funds of approximately £9,000 in 1997/98 and £37,000 in 1998/99 be provided for non-domestic rate charges; and

1026 COUNCIL TAX COLLECTION SCHEME 1026

SUBMITTED: Report dated 12 September 1997 by the Director of Finance advising the Committee of a preliminary application to the Scottish Office for special grant funding for the current financial year of £49,050 and £27,250 in 1998/99 to assist in improving the collection of outstanding Community Charges and Council Tax.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee note the action taken in applying for the special grant; and

(b) That it be recommended to the Policy and Strategy Committee that the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Directors of Personnel Services and Information Technology as appropriate, be authorised to progress with the expenditure covered by the special grant as detailed above.

1027 RESOLUTION: EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS 1027

On the motion of the Convener it was agreed unanimously that, in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the undernoted items of business on the grounds that consideration of the items 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)

Social Work Department: Administrative Support for Mearns Centre 1

Replacement Council Tax System 8

Replacement Housing Benefits System 8

Progress Report on the Priority Programme for IT Developments 1997/98 8

Lease of Ground at Whinhill, Greenock 2, 6 & 9

Lease of Ground at Greenock Academy, Newark Street, Greenock 2, 6 & 9

Lease of Premises: 24 Moss Road, Port Glasgow 2, 6 & 9

Lease of Premises: Unit 12, Drumfrochar Industrial Estate, Greenock 2, 6 & 9

Application to Purchase: Site at 71/75 Victoria Road, Gourock 2, 6 & 9

Rent Reviews 2, 6 & 9

Revenue Budget 1997/98: Contract Services Division 8

Request to Purchase Disused Public Convenience, Esplanade, Greenock 2

1028 SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT: ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR MEARNS CENTRE 1028

SUBMITTED: Report dated 1 September 1997 by the Director of Personnel Services seeking the Committee's approval to revise the administrative establishment and regrade a post of Clerical Assistant within the Social Work Department's Mearns Centre.

DECIDED:

(a) That the post of Clerical Assistant be regraded from GS1 (£6,912-£10,449) to Senior Clerical Assistant GS3 (£11,181-£11,658); and

(b) That the post be filled by one of the existing Clerical Assistants graded GS1 (£6,912-£10,449).

1029 REPLACEMENT COUNCIL TAX SYSTEM 1029

SUBMITTED: Report dated 26 August 1997 by the Director of Information Technology seeking the approval of the Committee to purchase a replacement Council Tax and Council Tax Benefits system and summarising the outcome of tenders received on the basis of best functional fit, best value and installation time.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee note the requirement to replace the existing Council Tax/Council Tax Benefits system for the new financial year; and

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the tender, that by First Software, for the purchase of a replacement Council Tax/Council Tax Benefits system in the sum of £149,975, it being noted that the tender cost is 5% higher than the estimated cost in the Capital Programme and that the ongoing annual revenue cost of £11,100 would require to be met from within the IT Services Revenue Budget.

1030 REPLACEMENT HOUSING BENEFITS SYSTEM 1030

SUBMITTED: Report dated 26 August 1997 by the Director of Information Technology seeking the approval of the Committee to purchase a replacement Housing Benefits system to complement the replacement Council Tax system as detailed in the foregoing item and summarising the outcome of tenders received on the basis of best functional fit, best value and installation time.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee agree the requirement to replace the existing Housing Benefits system on the basis of the cost/benefit case presented and in light of the proposed replacement of the Council Tax/Council Tax Benefits system;

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the tender, that by First Software for the purchase of a replacement Housing Benefits system, in the sum of £53,750, it being noted that the annual revenue costs of £5,500 be met from the non-housing Revenue Budget; and

(c) That the Committee agree the additional spend to be met from the existing 1997/98 IT Capital Programme and note that a further report on the associated adjustments within the IT priority programme be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee.

1031 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE PRIORITY PROGRAMME FOR IT DEVELOPMENT 1031

1997/98

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Information Technology on the progress of the priority programme for IT development 1997/98.

NOTED

1032 GROUND AT WHINHILL, GREENOCK: PROPOSED LEASE TO AERIAL SITES PLC 1032

SUBMITTED: Report dated 27 August 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on an application by Aerial Sites plc for a lease of the ground at Whinhill, Greenock.

DECIDED: That it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to offer the lease of the ground extending to 440 square metres or thereby at Whinhill, Greenock to Aerial Sites plc on the basis of an initial base rent of £3,800 per annum for a period of 21 years, subject to planning and other statutory consents, as required, being obtained by the applicant.

1033 LEASE OF GROUND AT GREENOCK ACADEMY, NEWARK STREET, GREENOCK 1033

SUBMITTED: Report dated 25 August 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on an application by British Gas plc who wish to regularise their occupation of ground at Greenock Academy, Newark Street, Greenock with a formal lease.

DECIDED: That it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to offer the lease of the ground at Greenock Academy, Newark Street, Greenock extending to 33.14 square metres or thereby for the purpose of erecting a gas governor on the basis of the rental being capitalised to £600 for a period of 60 years on the terms and conditions as outlined in the report.

1034 24 MOSS ROAD, PORT GLASGOW: LEASE OF PREMISES 1034

SUBMITTED: Report dated 27 August 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on an application by Consol Properties UK Ltd for a lease of the premises at 24 Moss Road, Port Glasgow.

DECIDED: That it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to offer the lease of the premises at 24 Moss Road, Port Glasgow to Consol Properties UK Ltd on the basis of a rental of £2,100 per annum for a period of ten years with a tenant's option to terminate after five years on three months' prior written notice on the terms and conditions as outlined in the report.

1035 UNIT 12, DRUMFROCHAR INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, GREENOCK: NEW LEASE OF 1035

PREMISES

SUBMITTED: Report dated 27 August 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on an application from Mr A McKenzie and Mr G Boyle for a lease of the premises at Unit 12, Drumfrochar Industrial Estate, Greenock.

DECIDED: That it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to offer the lease of the premises at Unit 12, Drumfrochar Industrial Estate, Greenock to Mr A McKenzie and Mr G Boyle on the basis of a rental of £3,500 per annum for a period of five years with a tenant's option to terminate after two years on three months' prior written notice, on the terms and conditions as outlined in the report and subject to satisfactory financial references being received.

1036 SITE AT 71/75 VICTORIA ROAD, GOUROCK: APPLICATION TO PURCHASE 1036

SUBMITTED: Report dated 27 August 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on an application received from Mr Patrick Bryceland to purchase the ground at 71/75 Victoria Road, Gourock.

DECIDED: That the ground extending to 800 square metres or thereby at 71/75 Victoria Road, Gourock be sold to Mr P Bryceland for the sum of £45,000 for residential development comprising five flatted bedroom dwellinghouses with off-street car parking, it being noted that the purchaser is to apply for all necessary consents for the development, including planning permission and a building warrant, subject to the terms and conditions as outlined in the report.

1037 RENT REVIEWS 1037

SUBMITTED: Report dated 29 August 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on rent reviews provisionally agreed with 15 tenants of premises as indicated in the Appendix to the report.

DECIDED: That the rent reviews be approved.

1038 REVENUE BUDGET 1997/98: CONTRACT SERVICES DIVISION 1038

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 1997/98 as at 23 July 1997.

NOTED

1039 REQUEST TO PURCHASE PUBLIC CONVENIENCE - ESPLANADE, GREENOCK 1039

SUBMITTED: Report dated 12 September 1997 by the Director of Central Services on a remit from the Economic Development Committee at its meeting on 11 September 1997 to consider a request from the Royal West of Scotland Amateur Boat Club to purchase the disused public convenience located at the west end of the Esplanade, Greenock and that the Director of Property and Technical Services be instructed to negotiate the terms of the sale of the public convenience.

DECIDED: That it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to negotiate the terms of the sale of the disused public convenience located at the west end of the Esplanade, Greenock to the Royal West of Scotland Amateur Boat Club