CORPORATE BUSINESS COMMITTEE

THURSDAY 22 APRIL 1999 - 3.00 pm

Present:- Provost Allan, Councillors Clocherty, O’Rourke, Jackson, Nimmo, Rebecchi, Welch and Hunter, Councillor Clocherty, Vice-Convener, in the Chair.

In attendance:- The Chief Executive, the Depute Chief Executive, Mr H McNeilly (for the Executive Director Legal, Information & Support Services), the Executive Director Resource Services, the Executive Director Social Work & Housing Services, the Director of Central Services, the Director of Personnel Services and the Head of Property Services.

An apology for absence was intimated on behalf of Councillor Sir Simpson Stevenson.

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

444 ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEM 444

The Convener referred to a report by the Executive Director Legal, Information & Support Services seeking approval to add a company in its new form to the Approved Contractors List. The Convener indicated that consideration of the item was urgent as this was the only opportunity which the Committee would have to consider the request before its next meeting to be held after the forthcoming Council elections and moved that the item be added to the agenda. This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

445 MANAGING ATTENDANCE 445

SUBMITTED: Report dated 1 March 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services recommending approval of the document 'Managing Attendance' which contains the Policy and Procedures in relation to the management of absence for all employee groups within the Council.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee approve the document 'Managing Attendance'; and

(b) That the Committee agree that a summary of absence statistics be submitted to the Committee on a quarterly basis.

446 SOCIAL WORK SERVICES: CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT FUND - STAFFING 446

IMPLICATIONS

SUBMITTED: Report dated 15 April 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services recommending staffing requirements within Social Work Services arising from the Council's participation in the Children's Services Development Fund, it being noted that the proposals will cost £193,068, to be met by the Council's allocation from the Children's Services Development Fund.

DECIDED: That the Committee approve the staffing establishment for the Children's Development Fund as follows:-

(a) Youth Support

(i) That the post of Intermediate Treatment Assistant grade AP2/3 (£13,215-£16,233) be regraded to Intermediate Treatment Worker grade QSW (£16,770-£21,378); and

(ii) That the post of Intermediate Treatment Assistant AP2/3 (£13,215-£16,233) be regraded and redesignated Senior Social Worker grade SSW (£21,939-£23,997).

(b) Accommodated Child Reviews

(i) That a post of Independent Review Officer grade PO5 (£23,997-£25,914) be established; and

(ii) That a post of Senior Clerical Assistant grade GS3 (£11,517-£12,009) be established.

(i) That a post of Qualified Social Worker grade QSW (£16,770-£21,378) be established; and

(ii) That a post of Clerical Assistant grade GS1/2 (£8,376-£11,313) be established.

(d) Children and Families Service

(i) That a post of Assistant Service Manager grade PO2 (£21,939-£23,997) be established.

(e) Supporting Families - Early Intervention and Prevention

(i) That a post of Qualified Social Worker (Family Support) grade QSW (£16,770-£21,378) be established;

(ii) That 1.5 posts of Clerical Assistant grade GS1/2 (£8,376-£11,313) be established;

(iii) That a post of Family Support Organiser grade QSW (£16,770-£21,378) be established; and

(iv) That two posts of Contact/Escort Worker grade GS1/2 (£8,376-£11,313) be established.

447 ACCOMMODATION WORKS 1998/99: REQUEST TO ALTER SCOPE OF WORKS 447

SUBMITTED: Report dated 1 April 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive advising the Committee of the need to alter the scope of a project previously approved by the Committee (para 994) and requesting approval to proceed with the alterations.

DECIDED: That the Committee approve the alteration to the scope of the project for relocation of the Drugs Team to Nicolson Street, Greenock and the other consequential relocations to be carried out as part of the 1998/99 Accommodation Works Programme.

448 ACCOMMODATION WORKS 1998/99: REQUEST TO UNDERTAKE ADDITIONAL 448

PROJECT

SUBMITTED: Report dated 1 April 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive requesting the Committee's approval to undertake the relocation of a portacabin owned by the Council to the Pottery Street Depot, Greenock at an estimated cost of £8,000.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee approve the additional project for relocation of a portacabin from East Hamilton Street to Pottery Street, Greenock to be carried out as part of the 1998/99 Accommodation Works Programme; and

(b) That the Head of Property Services be authorised to control the overall expenditure on Accommodation Works so as to stay within in the overall allocation.

449 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS 449

SUBMITTED: Report dated 25 March 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1998/99.

DECIDED:

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

(b) That the accumulated variation in respect of the minor repair works to Port Glasgow Town Hall which is 140.67% above the completed tender amount be approved in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations.

450 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - FINANCIAL POSITION 450

SUBMITTED: Report dated 1 April 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the current position of the Capital Programme 1998/99.

NOTED

451 REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99 451

SUBMITTED: Report dated 8 April 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 1998/99 as at 3 March 1999.

NOTED

452 RESOLUTION: EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS 452

On the motion of the Vice-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)

Legal Services: Alterations to Establishment 1

Housing Services: Report by Benefit Fraud Inspectorate - Staffing

Implications 1

Proposed Disposal: Lock-up Garages, Former Glenpark Nursing Home,

Port Glasgow 2, 6 & 9

Approved Contractors List: Thermashield Insulation Ltd 6

453 LEGAL SERVICES - ALTERATIONS TO ESTABLISHMENT 453

SUBMITTED: Report dated 8 April 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services requesting that the Committee approve alterations to the Legal Services establishment.

DECIDED: That the Committee agree:-

(i) That the post of Solicitor grade PO1-3 (£21,378-£24,612) be regraded and redesignated Senior Solicitor grade PO9 (£26,550-£28,485);

(ii) That the existing vacant post of Solicitor grade PO1-3 (£21,378-£24,612) be filled with a trainee;

(iii) That the posts of Administrative Assistant be redesignated to align them with designations used elsewhere in the Council; and

(iv) That the Committee approve the revised establishment for Legal Services as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

454 HOUSING SERVICES - REPORT BY BENEFIT FRAUD INSPECTORATE - STAFFING 454

IMPLICATIONS

SUBMITTED: Report dated 8 April 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services recommending revised staffing arrangements within Housing Services arising from recommendations made by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee approve the proposals contained in the report subject to Trades Union consultation;

(b) That the Committee note that the costs of the proposals can be met on the basis detailed in the report; and

(c) That the report be remitted to the Policy & Strategy Committee to consider the financing of the verification framework costs of £17,181 for 2000/2001 being the additional full year costs.

455 PROPOSED DISPOSAL: LOCK-UP GARAGES, FORMER GLENPARK NURSING HOME, 455

GLENPARK DRIVE, PORT GLASGOW

SUBMITTED: Report dated 1 April 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive advising the Committee of an offer received in respect of six dilapidated lock-up garages and an associated servitude right of access at the former Glenpark Nursing Home, Port Glasgow.

DECIDED: That the Committee confirm the six lock-up garages as surplus and approve the disposal of the premises and associated right of access to the Clyde Building Group plc for the sum of £30,000, subject to the purchaser meeting all the Council's reasonable legal costs and the surveyor's fee of £475 in respect of the transaction.

456 APPROVED CONTRACTORS LIST: THERMASHIELD INSULATION LTD 456

SUBMITTED: Report dated 9 April 1999 by the Executive Director Legal, Information & Support Services seeking the Committee's approval for Thermashield Insulation Ltd to be added to the current Approved Contractors List.

DECIDED: That the Committee agree to approve Thermashield Insulation Ltd in its new form as an addition to the Approved Contractors List on the terms as outlined in the report.