CORPORATE BUSINESS COMMITTEE

 

TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER 1998 - 3.00 pm

 

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

 

In attendance:-  The Chief Executive, the Executive Director Community & Protective Services, the Executive Director Legal, Information & Support Services, the Executive Director Resource Services, Mr A S Grant (for the Director of Central Services), the Director of Information Technology, the Director of Personnel Services, the Director of Transportation and Roads, the Head of Property Services, Mr A Barnes, Head of Operations (Outdoor Services) and Mr G Moodie, Head of Operations (Buildings and Works).

 

An apology for absence was intimated on behalf of Councillor Mulholland.

 

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

 

1331      SOCIAL WORK SERVICES - ADDITIONAL POSTS OF WELFARE RIGHTS OFFICERS            1331

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 8 December 1998 by the Director of Personnel Services advising that the Social Work & Housing Committee at its meeting on 24 November 1998 had approved in principle the establishment of additional Welfare Rights Officers posts within the Welfare Rights Development Unit of Social Work Services and recommending the establishment of two posts to meet the staffing requirements.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Committee approve the establishment of two posts of Welfare Rights Officer at salary grade AP4 (£16,281-£18,066) within the Welfare Rights Development Unit of Social Work Services;  and

(b)  That the cost of establishing the proposed posts be met from the current departmental budget through use of Care Element Transfer funding.

 

1332      COSLA - SCOTTISH OFFICE JOINT STAFFING WATCH                                                             1332

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 30 November 1998 by the Director of Personnel Services advising the Committee of the workforce profile of Inverclyde Council as at 12 September 1998.

NOTED

 

1333      SOCIAL WORK SERVICES - ESTABLISHMENT OF POST OF INFORMATION                         1333

WORKER

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 November 1998 by the Director of Personnel Services on the outcome of a review of services provided by Information Workers within Social Work Services and recommending changes to the current establishment.

DECIDED:  That subject to the satisfactory outcome of negotiations with the appropriate Trade Unions, the Committee approve:-

(i)  The establishment of three posts of Information Worker at salary grade AP2/3 (£13,215-£16,233) within Social Work Services;

(ii)  The filling of the three posts of Information Worker by the transfer of three Community Work Assistants;  and

(iii)  The deletion of three posts of Community Work Assistant (Post Nos 80118, 80121 and 80116) from the Social Work Services establishment.

 

1334      APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL PROJECT GRANT - OLD GOUROCK COMMUNITY                 1334

COUNCIL

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 24 November 1998 by the Director of Central Services on an application for a Special Project Grant from Old Gourock Community Council on behalf of Gourock Football Club for the purchase of 16 football strips and tracksuits and advising of quotations received from two companies to provide the goods requested.  It was noted that, should the application be approved, expenditure on Special Project Grants in the current financial year would total approximately £1,100, leaving a balance of £3,900 available for further projects for the remainder of the current year.

DECIDED:  That a grant of £669.98 be made to Old Gourock Community Council on behalf of the Gourock Football Club for the purchase of 16 football strips and tracksuits.

 

1335      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS                                                        1335

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 23 November 1998 by the Head of Technical Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1998/99.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1998/99 be noted;  and

(b)  That the accumulated variations in Phase 4 of the works at St Columba's High School, Gourock (Window and Fascia Replacement) which are 12.9% (£17,708) less than the accepted tender amount be approved in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations.

 

1336      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - FINANCIAL POSITION                                                          1336

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 27 November 1998 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the current position of the Capital Programme 1998/99.

NOTED

 

1337      FINANCIAL SERVICES - PROJECTED OVERSPEND 1998/99                                                       1337

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 November 1998 by the Executive Director Resource Services advising that the projected overspend within Financial Services now stood at £61,580, £37,710 of which related to a reduction in the level of fees paid to the Council for the billing and collection of water and sewerage charges and that negotiations were ongoing with West of Scotland Water Authority with a view to obtaining an improved offer.  The report detailed proposed savings of £10,000 to reduce the remaining projected overspend of £23,870 and recommended that the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to provide a supplementary revenue estimate to fund the resultant shortfall of £13,870.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the report be noted;

(b)  That the savings proposals detailed in the report totalling £10,000 be approved;  and

(c)  That the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to provide a supplementary revenue estimate in respect of the remaining projected shortfall of £13,870.

 

1338      REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99 - MONITORING REPORT                                                                  1338

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 2 December 1998 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 1998/99 as at 14 October 1998.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the action taken by the Executive Director Resource Services to reduce the projected overspend in Financial Services as detailed in the foregoing item be noted;

(b)  That it be remitted to the Head of Property Services to report to the next meeting of the Committee on the outcome of the investigations into the overspend on janitorial wages;

(c)  That approval be given to funding the projected overspend of £5,500 in Personnel Services in respect of a payment to COSLA for the Job Evaluation Consortium by virement of a similar amount from the Contribution to the Employment Agency budget;  and

(d)  That the report be otherwise noted.

 

1339      PAYROLL SYSTEM:  CONTINGENCY ARRANGEMENTS                                                            1339

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 7 December 1998 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the use of the emergency powers procedure as set out in Standing Order 66 to secure contingency payroll arrangements which are considered desirable for the changeover period to the new Year 2000 compliant payroll system in March/April 1999.  The report advised that Cyborg had indicated that they were prepared to extend the existing maintenance agreement until 30 June 1999 at a cost of £15,000, which was in excess of the normal annual charge of £9,750, and that the additional sum would require to be incorporated in the Financial Services Revenue Budget for 1999/2000.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the use of the emergency powers procedure as set out in Standing Order 66 to secure contingency payroll arrangements be noted;  and

(b)  That the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to note the increase in contract costs for 1999/2000 as a result of action taken to ensure that the arrangements for payment of employees are maintained should any unforeseen problems arise in the transfer to the new payroll system.

 

1340      RESOLUTION:  EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS                                                                  1340

 

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)

 

Resource Services - Review of Accounting and Budgeting Section                              1

 

Economic Development Services - Review of Post                                                     1

 

Registration Service - Review of Staffing Establishment                                               1

 

Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership - Review of Post                                                 1

 

Revenue Budget 1998/99:  Contract Services                                                             8

 

Progress on Priority Programme for Information Technology

Development 1998/99                                                                                                6 & 8

 

Lease:  Unit 2, Lynedoch Industrial Estate, Greenock                                                  2, 6 & 9

 

Lease:  Advertising Site at Dalrymple/Cross Shore Streets, Greenock                         2, 6 & 9

 

Lease:  Site at Baker/Ingleston Streets, Greenock                                                       2, 6 & 9

 

Rough Grazing Land at Pennyfern, Greenock - Disposal to Sitting Tenant                    2, 6 & 9

 

Site at Victoria Road, Gourock                                                                                  2, 6 & 9

 

Provision of Post Office Services, Larkfield -

Lease:  Angus Road, Greenock                                                                                  2, 6 & 9

 

Lease:  2 Broomhill Way, Greenock                                                                           2, 6 & 9

 

Lease:  35 Cathcart Street, Greenock                                                                         2, 6 & 9

 

Craigend Resource Centre, Greenock                                                                        2 & 9

 

Former Tenant Arrears:  Consent to Write Off                                                            2, 6 & 9

 

Rent Reviews                                                                                                             2, 6 & 9

 

1341      RESOURCE SERVICES - REVIEW OF ACCOUNTING AND BUDGETING SECTION                 1341

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 23 November 1998 by the Director of Personnel Services recommending revisions to the existing structure of the Accounting and Budgeting Section of Resource Services and implementation of a grading scheme for posts within the Section.

DECIDED:  That consideration be continued to a special meeting of the Committee to be held at 2.00 pm on Thursday 7 January 1999.

1342      ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES - REVIEW OF POST                                                     1342

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 20 November 1998 by the Director of Personnel Services recommending the regrading of a post within Economic Development Services.

DECIDED:  That consideration be continued to the special meeting of the Committee to be held on Thursday 7 January 1999.

 

1343      REGISTRATION SERVICE - REVIEW OF STAFFING ESTABLISHMENT                                     1343

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 19 November 1998 by the Director of Personnel Services on a proposed review of the staffing requirements of the Port Glasgow Registration Service.

DECIDED:  That consideration be continued to the special meeting of the Committee to be held on Thursday 7 January 1999.

 

1344      INVERCLYDE REGENERATION PARTNERSHIP - REVIEW OF POST                                         1344

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 1 December 1998 by the Director of Personnel Services recommending the regrading of a post within Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership.

DECIDED:  That consideration be continued to the special meeting of the Committee to be held on Thursday 7 January 1999.

 

1345      REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99:  CONTRACT SERVICES                                                                   1345

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 27 November 1998 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the financial position of the Contract Services Revenue Budget 1998/99 as at 14 October 1998.

NOTED

 

1346      PRIORITY PROGRAMME FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT                    1346

1998/99 - PROGRESS REPORT

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 November 1998 by the Director of Information Technology Services on the progress of current projects within the 1998/99 Priority Programme for Information Technology Development, detailing the proposed projects for the remainder of the current financial year and the implications for next year's Capital Programme.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the revised Priority Programme for Information Technology Development 1998/99 detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report be approved;

(b)  That the revised Non-HRA Capital Plan 1999/2002 detailed in Appendix 3 to the report be approved;

(c)  That subject to the Executive Director Resource Services agreeing the specification and the Executive Director Legal, Information & Support Services approving the contract terms, delegated authority be granted to the Director of Central Services following consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to accept the quotation received from KV Computer Services Ltd for the supply of a payroll system provided that this is no more than 10% greater than the estimate of £50,000 (core system £30,000 as previously agreed and a further £20,000 for Bespoke Development);

(d)  That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the lowest tender received for making Progress Systems Year 2000 compliant, that by Dataspeed Ltd in the sum of £12,500;  and

(e)  That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to arrange for the invitation of competitive tenders for a replacement Social Work Information System.

 

1347      LEASE:  UNIT 2, LYNEDOCH INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, GREENOCK                                              1347

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 1 December 1998 by the Head of Property Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure as set out in Standing Order 66 to offer the lease of Unit 2, Lynedoch Industrial Estate, Greenock to Site Watch Properties Ltd for a period of twenty years at an initial rental of £5,900 per annum subject to rent reviews at five-yearly intervals, on the appropriate terms and conditions.

NOTED

 

1348      LEASE OF ADVERTISING SITE AT DALRYMPLE/CROSS SHORE STREETS,                             1348

GREENOCK

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Head of Property Services on an application by More Group UK Ltd for a new lease of the advertising site at Dalrymple/Cross Shore Streets, Greenock.

DECIDED:  That it be remitted to the Head of Property Services to offer the lease of the advertising site at Dalrymple/Cross Shore Streets, Greenock to More Group UK Ltd for a period of five years at a rental of £2,750 per annum on the appropriate terms and conditions and that, thereafter, it be remitted to the Executive Director Legal, Information & Support Services to conclude the transaction on behalf of the Council.

 

1349      LEASE:  SITE AT BAKER/INGLESTON STREETS, GREENOCK                                                    1349

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 27 November 1998 by the Head of Property Services on an application by Maiden Outdoor Advertising Ltd for the lease of a site at Baker Street/Ingleston Street, Greenock for the erection of four advertising hoardings.

DECIDED:  That it be remitted to the Head of Property Services to offer the lease of the site at Baker Street/Ingleston Street, Greenock to Maiden Outdoor Advertising Ltd for a period of five years at a total rental of £6,000 per annum, on the appropriate terms and conditions.

 

1350      ROUGH GRAZING LAND:  PENNYFERN, GREENOCK - DISPOSAL TO SITTING                     1350

TENANT

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 27 November 1998 by the Head of Property Services on provisional sale terms agreed with the sitting tenant, Mr Neil Caskie, in respect of the rough grazing land at Pennyfern, Greenock.

DECIDED:  That agreement be given to the disposal of the rough grazing land at Pennyfern, Greenock to Mr Neil Caskie for the sum of £1,000 subject to the condition that he renews the field drainage within six months of the date of entry and on such other terms and conditions to be determined in consultation with the Executive Director Legal, Information & Support Services.

1351      SITE AT VICTORIA ROAD, GOUROCK                                                                                           1351

 

There was submitted a report by the Head of Property Services on an application to purchase ground at Victoria Road, Gourock and the Committee agreed to sell the ground, all as detailed in the Appendix.

 

1352      PROVISION OF POST OFFICE SERVICES IN LARKFIELD                                                           1352

LEASE OF PREMISES:  ANGUS ROAD, GREENOCK

 

There was submitted a report by the Head of Property Services requesting the Committee to consider the provision of temporary alternative accommodation for the Larkfield Sub-Post Office service currently located at Angus Road, Greenock and the Committee agreed to the temporary let of alternative premises, all as detailed in the Appendix.

 

1353      LEASE:  2 BROOMHILL WAY, GREENOCK                                                                                    1353

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 24 November 1998 by the Head of Property Services on an application by Mr A McShane for the lease of the shop premises at 2 Broomhill Way, Greenock.

DECIDED:  That it be remitted to the Head of Property Services to offer the lease of the shop premises at 2 Broomhill Way, Greenock to Mr A McShane for a period of five years at a rental of £4,500 per annum, on the appropriate terms and conditions.

 

1354      LEASE:  35 CATHCART STREET, GREENOCK                                                                                1354

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 25 November 1998 by the Head of Property Services on an application by Tote Bookmakers Ltd for the lease of the shop premises at 35 Cathcart Street, Greenock.

DECIDED:  That it be remitted to the Head of Property Services to offer the lease of the shop premises at 35 Cathcart Street, Greenock to Tote Bookmakers Ltd for a period of five years at a rental of £5,800 per annum, on the appropriate terms and conditions.

 

1355      CRAIGEND RESOURCE CENTRE, GREENOCK                                                                              1355

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Head of Property Services requesting the Committee to approve the extension of the existing lease between Inverclyde Council and Craigend Resource Centre, a company which is a charity incorporated under the Companies Acts and having its registered office at McLeod Street, Greenock.

DECIDED:  That approval be given to the extension of the existing lease between Inverclyde Council and Craigend Resource Centre from 1 February 1999 to 31 January 2002, on the same terms and conditions as existing.

1356      FORMER TENANT ARREARS:  CONSENT TO WRITE OFF - ASHTON BOAT                           1356

STATION, ALBERT ROAD, GOUROCK

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 November 1998 by the Head of Property Services seeking approval to write off the arrears of rent of the former tenant of Ashton Boat Station, Albert Road, Gourock.

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

 

1357      RENT REVIEWS                                                                                                                                  1357

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 23 November 1998 by the Head of Property Services on rent reviews provisionally agreed with ten tenants of premises detailed in the Appendix to the report.

DECIDED:  That the rent reviews be approved.