307

 

THE INVERCLYDE COUNCIL

 

CORPORATE BUSINESS COMMITTEE

 

TUESDAY 18 AUGUST 1998 - 3.00 pm

 

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

 

In attendance:-  The Chief Executive, Mr A S Grant (for the Director of Central Services), Mr A Barnes, Mr G Moodie and Mr G MacGillivray (Contract Services), the Director of Finance, the Director of Information Technology, the Director of Legal Services, Mr A Moore (for the Director of Personnel Services), Mr D Stoddart (for the Director of Property and Technical Services) and Mr F Williamson (for the Director of Planning).

 

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

 

   831      ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEM                                                                                                             831

 

The  Convener referred to a report by the Director of Information Technology on tenders received for the supply of hardware.  The Convener indicated that consideration of the item was urgent to allow the contract to be concluded  as soon as possible and moved that the item be added to the Agenda.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

 

   832      ST COLUMBA'S HIGH SCHOOL - DEMOLITION OF DINING BLOCK                                         832

 

Mr Grant advised of a remit from the Education Services Committee requesting the Committee to approve a financial contribution of £22,000 from the Office Accommodation Budget towards the demolition of one dining block at St Columba's High School, Gourock, the total cost of the project being £75,000.

DECIDED:  That the Committee approve a financial contribution of £22,000 to the project for the demolition of one dining block at St Columba's High School.

 

   833      COSLA - SCOTTISH OFFICE JOINT STAFFING WATCH                                                               833

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 12 May 1998 by the Director of Personnel Services advising the Committee on the workforce profile of The Inverclyde Council as at 13 June 1998.

NOTED

 

   834      DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK - RESOURCE TRANSFER:  PROPOSED                                834

ESTABLISHMENT

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 7 August 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 the posts of Assistant Service Manager (Users


 

& Carers), Resource Worker (Disability), Resource Worker (Mental Health - Elderly), Assistant Resource Worker (Small Group Day Care) and appropriate administrative support to include support for posts previously agreed by Committee earlier this year under the Resource Transfer Mechanism.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Committee approve the establishment of the following posts:-

(i)    Assistant Service Manager (Users & Carers) - Grade PO2 (£21,939-£23,997);

(ii)   Resource Worker (Disability) - Grade AP4/5-QSW (£16,770-£21,378);

(iii)  Resource Worker (Mental Health - Elderly) - Grade AP4/5-QSW (£16,770-£21,378);

(iv)  Assistant Resource Worker (Small Group Day Care) - Grade AP2/3 (£13,215-£16,233);

(vi)  Two full-time equivalent posts of Administrative/Clerical Assistant - Grade GS1/2 (£7,512-£11,313); and

(b)  That all posts be met from the Resource Transfer monies already allocated to the Council on a permanent basis.

 

   835      BASIC GRADE CLERICAL POSTS - GRADING STRUCTURE                                                          835

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 1 August 1998 by the Director of Personnel Services recommending to the Committee a revised grading structure for basic clerical posts within the Council.

DECIDED:  That the Committee agree that:-

(i)  The grade for basic clerical posts be set as GS1/2 (£7,512-£11,313);

(ii)  The grading scheme detailed in Appendix 3 of the report be implemented with effect from 1 April 1996;

(iii)  Employees holding posts graded GS1 (£7,512-£10,761) who transferred to Inverclyde Council from the former Strathclyde Regional Council and who are currently studying for or will this year commence studying for a recognised qualification "be red-circled" and upon gaining the qualification be placed according to the conditions of service that transferred with them;

(iv)  The recognised qualifications listed in Appendix 2 of the report be adopted by the Council for recognition purposes and that the list be subject to review by the Director of Personnel Services as and when required;

(v)  The bar at the top of GS1 for employees in the Library Service be removed with effect from 1 April 1998;  and

(vi)  A request for additional funding of £19,900 be remitted to the Policy and Strategy Committee for approval.

 

   836      SKILLSEEKERS AND SKILLBASE TRAINEES - TRAINING ALLOWANCE                                  836

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 3 August 1998 by the Director of Personnel Services seeking the Committee's approval to increase the Council's contribution to the training allowance paid to skillseekers and skillbase trainees.

DECIDED:  That the Committee agree that with effect from 1 July 1998 the training allowance payable to trainees in both the Skillseekers and Skillbase programmes be set at £63.99 per

week.


   837      DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT AND VICTIMISATION - POLICY AND                                837

PROCEDURES

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 31 July 1998 by the Director of Personnel Services recommending the acceptance of a document governing Policy and Procedures on Discrimination, Harassment and Victimisation in the workplace.

DECIDED:  That the Committee approve the Policy and Procedures on Discrimination, Harassment and Victimisation in the workplace as detailed in the document appended to the report.

 

   838      LEASE OF FORMER CHANGING AREAS:  HECTOR McNEIL BATHS, GREENOCK                    838

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 16 July 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the current position with respect to the lease of Hector McNeil Baths to various theatre groups for the pupose of storage and construction of scenery.

NOTED

 

   839      ACCOMMODATION WORKS 1998/99                                                                                               839

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 5 August 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66 in respect of the work required to support the installation of the new computer room and network cabling.

NOTED

 

   840      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS                                                          840

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 27 July 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1998/99.

DECIDED:

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

(b)  That the Committee approve the following expenditure increase in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations:-

 

Project                                                                                                   Effect on Expenditure

 

Strone/Maukinhill Recreation Centre                                                       £19,069 increase

Claim for loss and expense by contractor

 

   841      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - FINANCIAL POSITION                                                            841

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 29 July 1998 by the Director Finance on the current position of the Capital Programme 1998/99.

NOTED


   842      REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99                                                                                                                842

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Director of Finance advising of the current position of the 1998/99 Revenue Budget as at 24 June 1998.

NOTED

 

   843      RESOLUTION:  EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS                                                                    843

 

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 as amended, 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 1998/99:  Contract Services Division                                                 8

Contract Services Division 1998/99:  Budget Savings                                                  8

Strone/Maukinhill Recreation Centre, Greenock                                                          6 & 12

Battery Park Café                                                                                                       8

Polar Bar                                                                                                                    8

New Lease of Premises - Church Street, Port Glasgow                                               2, 6 & 9

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

Lease of Premises - William Street, Greenock                                                             2, 6 & 9

Relocation of Company from Lynedoch Industrial Estate, Greenock                             2 & 6

Ground at Rear of Kempock Street, Gourock                                                             2, 6 & 9

Balrossie Drive, Kilmacolm                                                                                         6 & 9

Rankin Park, Greenock                                                                                               2, 6 & 9

Rent Reviews                                                                                                              2, 6 & 9

Supply and Delivery of Hardware:  Report on Tenders                                                6

 

   844      REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99:  CONTRACT SERVICES DIVISION                                                   844

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 4 August 1998 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 1998/99 as at 24 June 1998 and advising of a projected shortfall in the Division's budget.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Committee note the contents of the report;  and

(b)  That appropriate action be taken by the Contract Services Division to address the projected shortfall.

 

   845      CONTRACT SERVICES DIVISION 1998/99:  BUDGET SAVINGS                                                   845

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Contract Services) detailing the current position of proposed savings as part of 1998/99 budget process.


DECIDED:  That the Committee note:-

(i)  That the year start budget includes provision of £134,470 for an unidentified surplus and that capital charges of at least £350,000 have been excluded;

(ii)  The likely outcome of the savings exercise and the current projected shortfall of £71,300 in addition to £134,470 unidentified savings;  and

(iii)  That the Contract Services Division in consultation with the Director of Finance will submit regular Monitoring Reports during 1998/99 and that the Contract Services Division in consultation with the Chief Executive will submit a further report addressing the surplus shortfall of £205,770 to the next meeting of the Committee.

 

   846      STRONE/MAUKINHILL RECREATION CENTRE, GREENOCK                                                      846

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 7 August 1998 by the Director of Legal Services advising the Committee of the final outcome of the court action and arbitration raised by A Robertson & Co (Builders & Contractors) Ltd against The Inverclyde Council, in relation to the cancellation by the former Inverclyde District Council of the contract for the construction of the Strone/Maukinhill Recreation Centre.

NOTED

 

   847      BATTERY PARK CAFE                                                                                                                         847

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Contract Services) advising the Committee on the progress of the catering operations at Battery Park and requesting the Committee to consider options for its future operation.

DECIDED:  That the provision of the Catering Service at the Battery Park be operational from April to October or such other dates as Officers consider appropriate for special events where commercially opportune.

 

   848      POLAR BAR, WATERFRONT LEISURE COMPLEX, GREENOCK                                                   848

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Contract Services) on the progress of the operations at the Polar Bar at the Waterfront leisure complex.

NOTED

 

   849      NEW LEASE OF PREMISES - 5 CHURCH STREET, PORT GLASGOW                                           849

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 3 August 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66 to grant consent to Mr Kirwan to lease premises at 5 Church Street, Port Glasgow on the basis of a two-year lease with a tenant's option to terminate the lease after six months in the first year at a rental of £3,300 per annum on the appropriate terms and conditions.

NOTED


   850      NEW LEASE OF PREMISES - 176 ROXBURGH STREET, GREENOCK                                           850

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 July 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on an application by Mr Frank Kelly and Mr John Miller for the lease of premises at 176 Roxburgh Street, Greenock.

DECIDED:  That it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to offer the lease of the premises at 176 Roxburgh Street, Greenock to Mr Frank Kelly and Mr John Miller on the basis of a monthly tenancy at a rental of £310 per month on the appropriate terms and conditions.

 

   851      LEASE OF PREMISES - 9 WILLIAM STREET, GREENOCK                                                             851

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 22 July 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services seeking the Committee's approval to grant a lease to Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership.

DECIDED:  That it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to offer the lease of the premises at 9 William Street, Greenock to Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership.  The lease shall subsist for five years from 1 February 1998 to 31 January 2003 with an option in favour of the tenant to terminate the lease on giving 28 days written notice on 1 February 2000 on the basis of a rental of £8,900 per annum exclusive of VAT on the appropriate terms and conditions.

 

   852      AMPHENOL LTD:  RELOCATION OF COMPANY FROM LYNEDOCH INDUSTRIAL                 852

ESTATE, GREENOCK

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Director of Property and Technical Services advising the Committee of the current circumstances and proposals of major industrial tenant Amphenol Ltd currently located at Lynedoch Industrial Estate, Greenock.

NOTED

 

   853      GROUND AT REAR OF 64 KEMPOCK STREET, GOUROCK                                                          853

 

It was agreed that this item be withdrawn from the Agenda.

 

   854      BALROSSIE DRIVE, KILMACOLM                                                                                                     854

 

There was submitted a report by the Director of Property and Technical Services on an offer received in respect of property in Balrossie Drive, Kilmacolm and the Committee agreed to take action, all as detailed in the Appendix.

 

   855      RANKIN PARK, GREENOCK                                                                                                              855

 

There was submitted a report by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the outcome in respect of the marekting of Rankin Park, Greenock and the Committee agreed to take action, all as detailed in the Appendix.


   856      RENT REVIEWS                                                                                                                                    856

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 30 July 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on rent reviews provisionally agreed with five tenants of premises as indicated in the Appendix to the report.

DECIDED:  That the rent reviews be approved.

 

   857      SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF HARDWARE:  REPORT ON TENDERS                                             857

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 August 1998 by the Director of Information Technology on tenders received for the provision of hardware.

DECIDED:  That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the tender submitted by CRS Computers Ltd for the supply of hardware on a call-off basis for a three year period from 1 September 1998.

 

 

\8

 

Corporate Business Committee - 18/8/98

\8