CORPORATE BUSINESS COMMITTEE

 

TUESDAY 17 MARCH 1998 - 3.00 pm

 

Present:-  Provost Allan, Councillors Clocherty, Jackson, Nimmo, Mulholland, Sir Simpson Stevenson, Rebecchi, Welch and Hunter, Councillor Sir Simpson Stevenson, Convener, in the Chair.

 

In attendance:-  The Chief Executive, the Assistant Chief Executive (Contract Services), Mr A S Grant (for the Director of Central Services), the Director of Finance, Mr D Robin (for the Director of Housing and Customer Services), the Director of Information Technology, the Director of Legal Services, the Director of Personnel Services and the Director of Property and Technical Services.

 

With the exception of the decision marked "C" which is open for confirmation or otherwise, the following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Committee.

 

   275      ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS                                                                                                           275

 

The Convener referred to reports by (i) the Director of Central Services with regard to a remit from the Economic Development Committee on the proposed marketing of the site at the former cleansing depot and public conveniences at Port Glasgow Road, Kilmacolm and (ii) the Director of Property and Technical Services regarding lease of premises at Lynedoch Industrial Estate, Greenock.  The Convener indicated that consideration of both items was urgent since in respect of item (i), marketing of the site might proceed as soon as possible and (ii), approval of the lease would allow the tenants to take up occupancy of the premises and he moved that the items be added to the Agenda.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

 

   276      PRIORITY PROGRAMME FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT                      276

1997/98:  PROGRESS REPORT

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 February 1998 by the Director of Information Technology advising of the progress of current projects within the 1997/98 Priority Programme for IT Development.

DECIDED:

(a)  That  approval be given to the carry forward into the 1998/99 Capital Programme unspent expenditure in respect of the Council Tax project, the Housing Benefits project and the Communications Infrastructure project;  and

(b)  That the report be otherwise noted.

 

   277      CASH RECEIPTING SYSTEM                                                                                                              277

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 27 February 1998 by the Director of Information Technology advising of the progress of the development and implementation of a cash receipting system within the Department of Housing and Customer Services.

NOTED

   278      EXIT FROM CAIRD SERVICES                                                                                                           278

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 February 1998 by the Director of Information Technology advising the Committee on the current status of withdrawal from Caird Services and outlining the plans for replacing Caird Services and the associated financial implications.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted;  and

(b)  That the Committee approve the proposals for replacing Caird Services on the basis that associated costs be met from within the IT Services Revenue Budget.

 

   279      CONSULTATION ON PROPOSED MILLENNIUM BANK HOLIDAY                                             279

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 16 February 1998 by the Director of Central Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66 to respond to COSLA expressing the Council's view that the proposal by the Government to fix a holiday on Friday 31 December 1999 to celebrate the coming of the Millennium be on the basis of an additional leave day and not an additional Bank Holiday.

NOTED

 

   280      APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL PROJECT GRANT:  INVERKIP COMMUNITY COUNCIL            280

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 13 March 1998 by the Director of Central Services on an application for a Special Project Grant from Inverkip Community Council in the sum of £1,500 towards the cost of reinstating a walkway through Daff Glen, Inverkip.

DECIDED:  That authority be delegated to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener, a Member of the Minority Groups, the Chief Executive, the Director of Finance and other appropriate Officers to determine the application.

 

   281      APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL PROJECT GRANT:  PORT GLASGOW LOWER EAST                   281

COMMUNITY COUNCIL

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 13 March 1998 by the Director of Central Services on an application for a Special Project Grant from Port Glasgow Lower East Community Council in the sum of £1,500 towards the cost of equipment for the new Clune Park Community Association facility to be located at the rear of Clune Park Primary School.

DECIDED:  That authority be delegated to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener, a Member of the Minority Groups, the Chief Executive, the Director of Finance and other appropriate Officers to determine the application.

 

   282      DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK - POST OF RESOURCE WORKER:                                        282

DOMICILIARY AND HOME CARE SERVICES

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 25 February 1998 by the Director of Personnel Services on a recommendation from the Social Work and Housing Committee seeking approval in principle for the establishment of a post of Resource Worker (Domiciliary and Home Care Services) under the Resource Transfer Mechanism.

DECIDED:  That the Committee approve the establishment of a post of Resource Worker on salary grade AP4-5/QSW (£16,281-£20,337) within the Domiciliary and Home Care Services Section of the Department of Social Work to be met from the Resource Transfer Funding allocated to the Council.

 

   283      DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK - REVIEW OF GRADINGS OF COMMUNITY                      283

WORKER POSTS

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 February 1998 by the Director of Personnel Services seeking approval of proposals for revised grades for posts of Senior Community Workers, Community Workers and Community Work Assistants within the Community Work Section of the Department of Social Work.

DECIDED:  That the requests for regradings be refused.

 

   284      PERSONNEL SERVICES DEPARTMENT:  ALTERATIONS TO ESTABLISHMENT                        284

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 25 February 1998 by the Director of Personnel Services setting out recommendations for consideration by the Committee on a number of alterations to the existing staffing arrangements within the Personnel Services Department.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the post of Head of Operations be deleted;

(b)  That the post of Senior Personnel Officer (post number 64006) be regraded from PO5 (£23,298-£25,158) to PO8 (£25,158-£27,018);

(c)  That the post of Senior Personnel Officer (post number 64009) be regraded from PO5 (£23,298-£25,158) to PO8 (£25,158-£27,018);

(d)  That the post of Personnel Officer be confirmed at grade AP5/PO1/PO2 (£18,636-£23,298);

(e)  That a substantive post of Personnel Assistant (post number 64031) be established at grade AP3 (£14,325-£15,759);  and

(f)  That the alterations to the establishment be met from the existing departmental budget.

 

   285      NEW HEATING BOILER - GREENOCK CREMATORIUM                                                                285

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated March 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services seeking approval to invite tenders for a replacement heating boiler to be installed in the Crematorium and requesting delegated authority to accept the lowest tender.

DECIDED:  That the Committee approve (i) the replacement of the boiler at an estimated cost of £15,000 and that it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to invite tenders for the project; (ii) that the cost of the project be included in the Minor Repairs associated with the 1998/99 Major Repairs allocation;  and (iii) that where the tender return is no more than 10% greater than the estimate, authority be delegated to the Director of Central Services, in consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups, together with the Chief Executive, to accept the lowest tender.

 

   286      DISABLED ACCESS                                                                                                                              286

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 12 March 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services explaining the method of technical instructions issued for the provision of a disabled access facility at Greenock Town Hall, consideration of which had been continued from the February meeting of the Committee (Para 111).

DECIDED:  That the contents of the report be noted and that it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services in close consultation with the Director of Finance to submit a detailed report to the next meeting of the Committee.

 

   287      ACCOMMODATION WORKS                                                                                                             287

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 12 March 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services providing further information on the costings of projects outlined in the 1997/98 budget and requesting approval from the Committee for the costs of projects approved in principle, consideration of which had been continued from the February meeting of the Committee (Para 113).

DECIDED:  That the contents of the report be noted and that it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services in close consultation with the Director of Finance to submit a detailed report to the next meeting of the Committee.

 

   288      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS                                                          288

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 23 February 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1997/98.

NOTED

 

   289      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - FINANCIAL POSITION                                                            289

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 5 March 1998 by the Director of Finance on the current position of the Capital Programme 1997/98.

NOTED

 

   290      REVENUE BUDGET 1997/98                                                                                                                290

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 9 March 1998 by the Director of Finance advising of the current position of the 1997/98 Revenue Budget as at 7 January 1998.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Committee note the current position of the Revenue Budget 1997/98;  and

(b)  That the Committee note the projected overspend of £38,870 within the Corporate Resources Division.

 

   291      AUTHORITIES BUYING CONSORTIUM - RENEWAL OF MEMBERSHIP AND                            291

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 5 March 1998 by the Director of Central Services recommending to the Committee (i) the terms upon which the Council should renew its membership of the Authorities Buying Consortium and (ii) providing information on the Consortium's activities for future developments.

      C      DECIDED:  That the Council renew its membership of the Authorities Buying Consortium                             C

subject to appropriate revision of the Minute of Agreement as recommended by the Consortium's Joint Committee as set out in the report.

   292      FORMER CLEANSING DEPOT AND PUBLIC CONVENIENCES, PORT GLASGOW                   292

ROAD, KILMACOLM

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 13 March 1998 by the Director of Central Services on a recommendation from the Economic Development Committee that the Committee approve the marketing of the site of the former cleansing depot and public conveniences at Port Glasgow Road, Kilmacolm which had been declared surplus to requirements.

DECIDED:  That the marketing of the site of the former cleansing depot and public conveniences at Port Glasgow Road, Kilmacolm be approved and that it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to make the appropriate arrangements.

 

   293      RESOLUTION:  EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS                                                                    293

 

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)

 

Revenue Budget 1997/98:  Contract Services Division                                                 8

 

Response to Invitation to Tender for Debt Recovery System                                        6 & 8

 

Lease of Factory Premises - Drumfrochar Industrial Estate, Greenock                         2, 6 & 9

 

New Lease of Shop Premises - Lynedoch Street, Greenock                                        2, 6 & 9

 

New Lease - Whinhill Court, Greenock                                                                       2, 6 & 9

 

New Lease - Strathclyde Business Centre, Greenock                                                  2, 6 & 9

 

Renewal of Lease of Shop Premises - Inverkip Street, Greenock                                 2, 6 & 9

 

Former Garage Buildings at Former Glenpark Nursing Home, Glenpark

Drive, Port Glasgow                                                                                                   6

 

Ground at Newark Place, Port Glasgow                                                                      2, 6 & 9

 

Former Tenant Arrears:  Consent to Write Off - Gibshill Road, Greenock                    2, 6 & 9

 

Former Tenant Arrears:  Consent to Write Off - Lynedoch Industrial Estate,

Greenock                                                                                                                   2, 6 & 9

 

Rent Reviews                                                                                                              2, 6 & 9

Park Farm Community Hall                                                                                         6, 8 & 12

 

Asset Utilisation                                                                                                          8 & 9

 

New Lease of Factory Premises - Lynedoch Industrial Estate, Greenock                     2, 6 & 9

 

   294      REVENUE BUDGET 1997/98:  CONTRACT SERVICES DIVISION                                                   294

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 11 March 1998 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 1997/98 as at 7 January 1998.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted;

(b)  That it be remitted to the Chief Executive to investigate and submit a detailed report on the position within the Contract Services Division;  and

(c)  That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to seek such additional assistance to expedite matters as may be deemed appropriate.

 

   295      RESPONSE TO INVITATION TO TENDER FOR DEBT RECOVERY SYSTEM                               295

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 27 February 1998 by the Director of Information Technology advising of a response to a recent invitation to tender for the provision of a debt recovery system.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Committee agree the purchase of a debt recovery system from McDonald Douglas Information Systems in the sum of £39,460 together with a sum of £4,400 in respect of annual maintenance costs;

(b)  That the additional funding of £5,200 be approved;  and

(c)  That the Committee agree the annual revenue requirement of £4,400 in respect of annual maintenance costs.

 

   296      LEASE OF FACTORY PREMISES:  1-4 DRUMFROCHAR INDUSTRIAL ESTATE,                        296

GREENOCK

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 5 March 1998 by the Director of Central Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66 to grant consent to Clairemont Electronics to renounce its lease of factory premises at 1-4 Drumfrochar Industrial Estate subject to conclusion of missives with Renfrewshire Electronics for lease of the property for 30 months or thereby at a rent of £32,000 per annum on the appropriate terms and conditions.

NOTED

 

   297      NEW LEASE OF SHOP PREMISES - 25 LYNEDOCH STREET, GREENOCK                                 297

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 February 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on an application by Mr D McLean for the lease of the premises at 25 Lynedoch Street, Greenock.

DECIDED:  That it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to offer the lease of the premises at 25 Lynedoch Street, Greenock to Mr McLean on the basis of a rental of £2,700 per annum for a period of 15 years on the appropriate terms and conditions.

 

   298      NEW LEASE:  ROOF OF WHINHILL COURT, GREENOCK - TELECOMMUNICATIONS           298

BASE STATION

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 February 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on an application from Telecom Securicor Cellular Radio Ltd to lease part of the roof surface of Whinhill Court, Greenock for the purpose of opening a telecommunications base station.

DECIDED:  That it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to offer the lease of part of the roof of Whinhill Court, Greenock to Telecom Securicor Cellular Radio Ltd to establish a telecommunications base station comprising a stub mast with up to six cellular radio antennae and associated equipment cabinets at a rental of £4,000 per annum for a period of ten years, with a rent review after five years on the appropriate terms and conditions.

 

   299      NEW LEASE:  UNIT 23 STRATHCLYDE BUSINESS CENTRE, GREENOCK                                  299

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 27 February 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on an application by Solution Works for a lease of the premises at Unit 23 Strathclyde Business Centre, Greenock.

DECIDED:  That it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to offer the lease of the premises at Unit 23 Strathclyde Business Centre, Greenock to Solution Works on the basis of a rental of £1,530 per annum for a period of one year on the appropriate terms and conditions.

 

   300      RENEWAL OF LEASE OF SHOP PREMISES:  13 INVERKIP STREET, GREENOCK                     300

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 February 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on a request from the existing tenant, Miss K O'Hagen, to extend the current lease of the premises at 13 Inverkip Street, Greenock.

DECIDED:  That it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to offer the lease of the premises at 13 Inverkip Street, Greenock to Miss Karen O'Hagen on the basis of a rental of £6,900 per annum, to be reviewed after five years, subject to existing terms and conditions.

 

   301      FORMER GARAGE BUILDING AT FORMER GLENPARK NURSING HOME,                               301

GLENPARK DRIVE, PORT GLASGOW

 

There was submitted a report by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the position regarding the site at the former Glenpark Nursing Home and the Committee agreed to dispose of its interest, all as detailed in the Appendix.

   302      GROUND AT NEWARK PLACE, PORT GLASGOW                                                                          302

 

There was submitted a report by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the proposed sale of the above land and the Committee agreed to dispose of its interest, all as detailed in the Appendix.

 

   303      FORMER TENANT ARREARS:  CONSENT TO WRITE OFF - GIBSHILL ROAD,                           303

GREENOCK

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 2 March 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services seeking approval to write off the arrears of rent of the former tenant who occupied the factory premises at 10-16 Gibshill Road, Greenock.

DECIDED:  That approval be given to the writing off of the rent arrears detailed in the report, without prejudice to the future recovery of the debt should that prove possible.

 

   304      FORMER TENANT ARREARS - CONSENT TO WRITE OFF - LYNEDOCH INDUSTRIAL           304

ESTATE, GREENOCK

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 February 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services seeking approval to write off the arrears of rent of the former tenant who occupied the factory premises at Unit 32 Lynedoch Industrial Estate, Greenock.

DECIDED:  That approval be given to the writing off of the rent arrears detailed in the report, without prejudice to the future recovery of the debt should that prove possible.

 

   305      RENT REVIEWS                                                                                                                                    305

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 24 February 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on rent reviews provisionally agreed with seven tenants of premises as indicated in the Appendix to the report.

DECIDED:  That the rent reviews be approved.

 

   306      PARK FARM COMMUNITY HALL                                                                                                     306

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 February 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the use of emergency powers under Standing Order 66 in respect of settling a claim by a contractor for works undertaken at Park Farm Community Hall.  The Committee was advised by the Director of Legal Services that the action had been settled at a cost of £25,000 plus expenses.

NOTED

 

   307      ASSET UTILISATION                                                                                                                           307

 

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive on the current position regarding the redevelopment of a site in Greenock and the Committee agreed to take action, all as detailed in the Appendix.

   308      UNITS 21 AND 22 LYNEDOCH INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, GREENOCK                                            308

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 6 March 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on an application by Amphenol Ltd for a lease of the premises at Units 21 and 22 Lynedoch Industrial Estate, Greenock.

DECIDED:  That it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to offer the lease of the premises at Units 21 and 22 Lynedoch Industrial Estate, Greenock to Amphenol Ltd on the basis of a rental of £970 per month for a period of six months, subject to the appropriate terms and conditions.