CORPORATE BUSINESS COMMITTEE

 

THURSDAY 2 DECEMBER 1999 - 3.00 pm

 

Present:-  Provost Roach, Councillors Moody, Morrison (M), McCabe, O’Rourke, Jackson, Nimmo, Blair and White, Councillor McCabe, Vice-Convener, in the Chair.

 

In attendance:-  The Depute Chief Executive, the Director of Resource Services, Mr C Clelland (for the Director of Legal & Support Services), Miss S Lang (for the Director of Central Services), the Head of Personnel Services and the Head of Property Services.

 

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.

 

1196      COSLA - SCOTTISH OFFICE JOINT STAFFING WATCH (SEPTEMBER 1999)                           1196

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 11 November 1999 by the Director of Resource Services advising the Committee of the workforce profile of Inverclyde Council as at 12 September 1999.

NOTED

 

1197      MANAGING ATTENDANCE:  ABSENCE STATISTICS 5 JULY - 3 OCTOBER 1999                    1197

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 10 November 1999 by the Director of Resource Services advising the Committee of the Council's absence statistics for the period 5 July to 3 October 1999.

NOTED

 

1198      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1999/2000 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS                                                    1198

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 8 November 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

The Head of Property Services reported orally that during the course of the concrete repair project at Oakfield Primary School, the extent of deterioration of the window lintels of the first six windows examined was such that it would be necessary for these to be replaced rather than repaired and it was proposed that the repairs to the balance of the window lintels be deleted from the contract and that the replacement works be undertaken as part of a separate contract during 2000/2001.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000 be noted;  and

(b)  That the Commitee approve the following expenditure increase in terms of the relevant financial regulations:-

Project                                                                                                                  Effect on

                                                                                                                             Expenditure

Oakfield Primary School - Concrete Repairs

Inclusion in contract of replacement of six window lintels instead of                         £5,000 increase

repair and deletion of repairs to the balance of the window lintels

 

1199      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1999/2000 - FINANCIAL POSITION                                                      1199

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 11 November 1999 by the Director of Resource Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

NOTED

 

1200      REVENUE BUDGET 1999/2000                                                                                                          1200

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 18 November 1999 by the Director of Resource Services on the current position of the Revenue Budget 1999/2000 as at 13 October 1999.

NOTED

 

1201      PUBLIC HOLIDAYS FOR 2000                                                                                                          1201

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 November 1999 by the Director of Resource Services on proposals for public holidays for 2000 following consultations with the appropriate trades unions.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the following dates be set as public holidays for APT&C employees:-

 

Monday 3 January 2000

Tuesday 4 January 2000

 

Tuesday 22 February 2000  (APT&C staff in schools only)

 

Monday 10 April 2000

 

Friday 21 April 2000

Monday 24 April 2000

 

Monday 1 May 2000

 

Monday 29 May 2000

 

Saturday 1 July 2000  (to be taken as a floating day)

 

Friday 1 September 2000  (except APT&C staff in schools)

Monday 4 September 2000

 

Monday 25 December 2000

Tuesday 26 December 2000;

(b)  That holidays for manual workers and craft operatives be set at Service level by negotiation between management and the appropriate trades union representatives;  and

(c)  That the setting of public holidays be delegated to the Head of Personnel Services in future years, except where there may be changes to the normal arrangements, in which case a report be submitted to the Committee.

 

1202      RESOLUTION:  EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS                                                                  1202

 

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)

 

Gas Maintenance Contract:  Inclusion of Contractors on Approved List:                      6 & 8

Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

 

Enterprise Workshops Refurbishment - Use of Emergency Powers                             8

Procedure

 

Economic Development Service:  Review of Structure                                                 1

 

Site at Cove Road, Gourock - Cardwell Bay Sailing Club                                           6 & 9

 

Education Services - Central Technician Service - Review of Grading                         1

 

Education Services - Special Needs Auxiliary:  Review of Grading                              1

 

Property Register                                                                                                       2, 6 & 9

 

1203      GAS MAINTENANCE CONTRACT:  INCLUSION OF CONTRACTORS ON                               1203

APPROVED LIST:  USE OF EMERGENCY POWERS PROCEDURE

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 22 November 1999 by the Director of Social Work and Housing Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to authorise the inclusion in the tender list for the gas maintenance contract of three contractors who are not on the Council's List of Approved Contractors.

NOTED

 

1204      ENTERPRISE WORKSHOPS REFURBISHMENT - USE OF EMERGENCY POWERS                  1204

PROCEDURE

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 25 November 1999 by the Director of Resource Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to approve action being undertaken in respect of VAT issues relating to the refurbishment of the Enterprise Workshops in East Blackhall Street, Greenock.

NOTED

 

1205      ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICE:  REVIEW OF STRUCTURE                                           1205

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 15 November 1999 by the Director of Resource Services recommending a number of revisions to the staffing structure of the Economic Development Service.

The meeting was adjourned at 4.00 pm and reconvened at 4.27 pm.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the following proposals be approved:-

(i)  That the temporary posts of European Officer at salary grade PO6 (£25,425-£27,426) and Tourism Development Officer at salary grade PO1/3 (£22,083-£25,425) be substantiated;

(ii)  That the temporary post of Development Officer (Training and Human Resources) be substantiated and, to take account of an expanded role in respect of research and information, regraded from salary grade AP5 (£19,827-£21,636) to AP5/PO1 (£19,827-£24,009);

(iii)  That two posts of Economic Development Officer at salary grade PO1/3 (£22,083-£25,425) be created to undertake specific responsibilities in the areas of organisational relationships, development of joint ventures and corporate venturing, economic and social inclusion, labour market intervention and third sector consultation;

(iv)  That the vacant post of Research and Information Officer at salary grade PO9 (£27,426-£29,424) be deleted;

(v)  That the appointments of those employees who are currently engaged on a temporary basis be substantiated;  and

(vi)  That the post of Administrative Assistant be substantiated and, to take account of increased administrative duties, regraded from salary grade AP1 (£12,405-£13,305) to salary grade AP3 (£15,240-£16,770);

(b)  That the revised establishment for the Economic Development Service as set out in Appendix 2 to the report be approved;  and

(c)  That the report be submitted to the Policy and Strategy Committee for consideration of the financial implications of implementing the proposals which it was noted total £21,774 including employers' contributions.

 

1206      SITE AT COVE ROAD, GOUROCK                                                                                                   1206

 

There was submitted a report by the Director of Legal and Support Services relative to the ownership of an area of land at Cove Road, Gourock and the Committee agreed to note the position meantime, all as detailed in the Appendix.

 

1207      EDUCATION SERVICES - CENTRAL TECHNICIAN SERVICE:  REVIEW OF GRADING           1207

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 10 November 1999 by the Director of Resource Services recommending a revised grading for a post of Technician within the Central Technician Service.

DECIDED:  That the post of Technician within the Central Technician Service be regraded from salary grade Tech2 (£12,951-£14,433) to Tech3 (£14,811-£16,770).

 

1208      EDUCATION SERVICES - SPECIAL NEEDS AUXILIARY:  REVIEW OF GRADING                   1208

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 15 November 1999 by the Director of Resource Services recommending a revised grading for the posts of Special Educational Needs (SEN) Auxiliary within Education Services.

DECIDED:  That the posts of SEN Auxiliary be regraded from salary grade GS1 (£7,760-£10,581) to GS1/2 (£7,760-£11,685).

 

1209      PROPERTY REGISTER                                                                                                                        1209

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 11 November 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the various property transactions dealt with under delegated authority.

NOTED