Corporate Business Committee

Thursday 20 January 2000 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, McCabe, Moody, Morrison (M), Nimmo and Robertson (Y) .

Chair:  Councillor McCabe presided. 

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

Apologies:  Councillors Jackson, Mulholland, O’Rourke and White.

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.

53

Year 2000 Status Report

53

There was submitted a report by the Director of Information Services on the Year 2000 status of all services across the Council.  The report advised that the Council had carried out all actions necessary for Year 2000 compliance in line with the Year 2000 corporate plan within the agreed timetable and that all Services were fully operational.  It was noted that the Year 2000 Steering Group would continue to monitor the situation throughout the year.

Decided:

(1)   that the report be noted;  and

(2)   that the Committee’s appreciation of the work undertaken to ensure Year 2000 compliance for all Council Services be recorded.

54

Public Holidays 2001

54

There was submitted a report dated 2 December 1999 by the Director of Legal & Support Services requesting the Committee to fix the local public holidays for 2001.

Decided:  that the local public holidays for 2001 be as follows: 

Holiday

Date

New Year

Monday 1 January 2001

Tuesday 2 January 2001

Good Friday

Friday 13 April 2001

Easter Monday

Monday 16 April 2001

Spring Holiday

Monday 23 April 2001

May Day

Monday 7 May 2001

Victoria Day

Monday 4 June 2001

Fair Saturday

Saturday 30 June 2001

Autumn Holiday

Monday 3 September 2001

Christmas

Tuesday 25 December 2001

Wednesday 26 December 2001

55

Transport Facilities for School Sessions 2000/2001, 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 for Children with Special and/or Medical Needs

55

There was submitted an amended report by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of the expiry of the current contract arrangements for the provision of special needs and medical transport for children attending Inverclyde schools and establishments and for those children placed in schools and establishments outwith Inverclyde by Inverclyde Council and (2) requesting the Committee to agree that an open tendering procedure be adopted for the contracts for the 3 school year period August 2000 to June 2003.

Decided: that it be agreed in terms of the Council’s Standing Orders Relating to Contracts that an open tendering procedure be adopted for the contracts to provide transport facilities for children with special and/or medical needs for school sessions 2000/2001 to 2002/2003.

56

Capital Programme 1999/2000 - Technical Progress

56

There was submitted a report dated 13 December 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

Noted

57

Capital Programme 1999/2000 - Financial Position

57

There was submitted a report dated 23 December 1999 by the Director of Resource Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

Noted

It was agreed in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended, that the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that the business 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)

Information Services - Revisions to Establishment

1

Social Work & Housing Services - Revisions to Staffing Structure

1

Economic Development Services - Review of Property Services Management Structure

1

Finance Services Structure

1

Property Insurance and Asset Valuations

6 & 8

Shop Premises:  Bow Road, Greenock

2, 6 & 9

Land at Renton Road/Balmore Road, Greenock:  Proposed Minute of Waiver

2, 6 & 9

Lease:  Upper Floor, Kelly Street Hall, Greenock

2, 6 & 9

58

Information Services - Revisions to Establishment

58

There was submitted a report dated 22 December 1999 by the Director of Resource Services recommending revisions to the establishment of the Information Technology Section of Information Services.  It was noted that the cost of the proposals totalling £87,000 including employers’ contributions could be met from a resource transfer from Education Services and from the existing Information Services Budget.

Following discussion, Councillor Nimmo moved that a decision be deferred until the Budget for 2000/2001 has been set.  As an amendment, Council McCabe moved that the following alterations to the establishment of the Information Technology Section of Information Services be approved:-

(1)  that the following posts be established:

Principal Officer -                      salary grade PO11 (£28,746 - £30,837)

Database Administrator -           salary grade PO5/6 (£24,789 - £27,426)

Data Centre Manager -              salary grade PO5/6 (£24,789 - £27,426)

Customer Support Assistant -    salary grade AP1/4 (£12,405 - £19,224) (4 posts)

IT Operator -                            salary grade GS1/3 (£8,652 - £12,405)

Office Manager -                       salary grade AP5 (£19,827 - £21,636)

(2) that the following posts be deleted:

Project Manager -                     salary grade PO15 (£31,557 - £33,813)

Team Leader -                           salary grade PO5/6 (£24,789 - £27,426)

Analyst/Programmer -                salary grade AP4/PO2 (£17,322 - £24,789)

Administrative Officer -              salary grade AP2 (£13,650 - £14,811);

(3)  that the new posts be filled by a process of matching existing employees and that consequential vacancies be filled in the usual way; and

(4) that the revised establishment as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

On a vote, 2 Members voted for the motion and 4 for the amendment which was declared carried.

Decided: that the following alterations to the establishment of the Information Technology Section of Information Services be approved:-

(1)  that the following posts be established:

Principal Officer -                      salary grade PO11 (£28,746 - £30,837)

Database Administrator -           salary grade PO5/6 (£24,789 - £27,426)

Data Centre Manager -              salary grade PO5/6 (£24,789 - £27,426)

Customer Support Assistant -    salary grade AP1/4 (£12,405 - £19,224) (4 posts)

IT Operator -                            salary grade GS1/3 (£8,652 - £12,405)

Office Manager -                       salary grade AP5 (£19,827 - £21,636)

(2) that the following posts be deleted:

Project Manager -                     salary grade PO15 (£31,557 - £33,813)

Team Leader -                           salary grade PO5/6 (£24,789 - £27,426)

Analyst/Programmer -                salary grade AP4/PO2 (£17,322 - £24,789)

Administrative Officer -              salary grade AP2 (£13,650 - £14,811)

(3)  that the new posts be filled by a process of matching existing employees and that consequential vacancies be filled in the usual way;  and

(4) that the revised establishment as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

59

Social Work & Housing Services Staffing Structure

59

There was submitted a report dated 21 December 1999 by the Director of Resource Services recommending revisions to the staffing structure of Social Work Services.  The report advised that the cost of the proposals was £135,109 including employers’ costs which could be met from care element and resource transfer funding in the amounts of £27,970 and £107,139 respectively.

Decided:

(1) that the following proposals, which have been agreed with the trade union, be approved:

(a) the establishment of a new post of Assistant Service Manager (Policy and Development) at salary grade PO2 (£22,662 - £24,789);

(b) the regrading and redesignation of the post of Administrative Assistant at salary grade AP1 (£12,404 - £13,305) to Administrative Officer at salary grade AP3 (£15,240 - £16,770);

(c) the establishment of a new post of Senior Social Worker at salary grade £22,662 - £24,789; and

(d) the establishment of 2 posts of Administrative Assistant at salary grade AP1 (£12,404 - £13,305) and a post of Senior Clerical Assistant (17.5 hours) at salary grade GS3 (£11,898 - £12,405); and

(2) that the remaining proposals be remitted to the Personnel (Appeals and Applied Conditions of Service) Sub-Committee to hear representations from the trade union, all as detailed in the Appendix.

60

Economic Development Services:  Review of Property Services Management Structure

60

There was submitted a report dated 11 January 2000 by the Director of Resource Services recommending a number of revisions to the Property Services staffing structure of Economic Development Services.  The report advised that as part of the savings exercise undertaken in 1999/2000, Property Services had been required to make a saving of £280,000 in employee costs although a saving of £300,000 had actually been achieved as it was recognised that a restructure of Property Services would be undertaken.  It was noted that as this additional saving had not been built into the base budget, the cost of the current proposals totalling £21,018 including employers’ contributions would require to be remitted to the Policy and Strategy Committee for funding approval.  (Councillor Blair entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1) that the following alterations to the establishment of Property Services be approved:

(a) redesignation of the post of Principal Architect (post no. 01008) to Design and Construction Manager;

(b) redesignation of the post of Principal Engineer (post no. 01025) to Engineering Manager and that this post be regraded from salary grade PO9 (£27,426 - £29,424) to PO14 (£30,837 - £33,015);

(c) redesignation of the post of Principal Quantity Surveyor (post no. 01029) to Quantity Surveying Manager and that this post be regraded from salary grade PO9 (£27,426 - £29,424) to PO14 (£30,837 - £33,015);

(d) redesignation of the post of Principal Property Development Officer (post no. 01005) to Projects Officer;

(e) redesignation of the post of Principal Estates Officer (post no. 01004) to Estates Manager and that this post be regraded from salary grade PO9 (£27,426 - £29,424) to PO14 (£30,837 - £33,015);

(f) redesignation of the post of Principal Property Maintenance Officer (post no. 01006) to Property Maintenance Manager;

(g) establishment of a post of Business Manager at salary grade PO14 (£30,837 - £33,015);

(h) establishment of a post of Property Services Manager at salary grade PO18 (£33,813 - £36,246);

(2) that approval be given to the deletion of the following posts from the establishment on the basis of the proposed matching arrangements:

(a) the post of Principal Landscape Architect (post no. 01009) at salary grade PO9 (£27,426 - £29,424);

(b) the post from which an appointment is made to the post of Business Manager;

(c) the post of Senior Property Maintenance Officer (post no. 01017) at salary grade PO5/6 (£24,789 - £27,426);

(d) a post of Senior Architect (post no. 01021) at salary grade PO1/3 (£22,083 - £25,425);

(e) the post from which an appointment is made to the post of Design and Construction Manager;

(f) the post from which an appointment is made to the post of Property Services Manager;

(3) that the revised establishment as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report be approved; and

(4) that the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to provide the additional funding required to implement the proposals totalling £21,018 including employers’ contributions.

61

(a)

Resource Services - Finance Services Structure

Finance Management Structure

61

There was submitted a report dated 10 January 2000 by the Chief Executive recommending adjustments to the Finance management structure agreed by the Policy and Strategy Committee on 15 September 1999 (para 941) to allow the retention of 2 posts of Head of Service.

Decided: that subject to the suspension of Standing Orders by the Council, the Finance management structure agreed by the Policy and Strategy Committee in September 1999 be adjusted to allow the retention of 2 posts of Head of Service.

(b)

Finance Services Structure

C

There was submitted a report dated 11 January 2000 by the Director of Resource Services recommending revisions to the structure of Finance Services and to the establishment of a number of additional posts at a total cost of £74,300 including employers’ contributions.  The Committee decided, following a vote, (1) that those proposals detailed in the report which have already been agreed with the appropriate trade union be approved and that authority be granted to approve the remaining proposals subject to the agreement of the trade union without further referral to the Committee and (2) that the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to provide funding of £74,300 in respect of the cost of implementing the proposals, all as detailed in the Appendix.

C

62

Property Insurance and Asset Valuations

62

There was submitted a report dated 6 January 2000 by the Director of Resource Services requesting the Committee to authorise negotiations with a company for the provision of an amended insurance value, asset value, site value and useful life for all properties with a current insurance valuation of between £125,000 and £1,000,000.

Decided: that the contract be subject to competitive tender and that the tender list include appropriately qualified local firms.

63

Shop Premises: 28-30 Bow Road, Greenock

63

There was submitted a report dated December 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on an application by Mr S Singh for the renunciation of his existing leases of 28 and 30 Bow Road in favour of a new 21 year lease of 28-30 Bow Road.

Decided: that approval be given to the renunciation of the current leases of 28 and 30 Bow Road, Greenock by Mr S Singh in favour of a new 21 year lease of the premises at 28-30 Bow Road for a period of 21 years at an initial rental of £8,750 per annum subject to 5 yearly rent reviews on the appropriate terms and conditions.

64

Land at Renton Road/Balmore Road, Greenock:  Proposed Minute of Waiver

64

There was submitted a report dated 23 December 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive requesting the Committee to approve a grant of time extension by minute of waiver in respect of land at Renton Road/Balmore Road, Greenock sold by the former Inverclyde District Council in 1982 for housing development, to allow the current owner to dispose of part of his land.

Decided: that a 4 year extension to the development period be granted by minute of waiver to Mr Malcolm McNeil in respect of the land at Renton Road/Balmore Road, Greenock shown hatched on the plan appended to the report at a price of £1,000 together with the Council’s reasonable legal costs and on such other terms and conditions as are considered appropriate by the Director of Legal & Support Services in consultation with the Head of Property Services.

65

Lease: Upper Floor, Kelly Street Hall, Greenock

65

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive on the current position with regard to the lease of the upper floor of the Kelly Street Hall to the Boys’ Brigade.

Decided:

(1) that it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services to conclude the lease with the Boys’ Brigade in respect of the upper floor of the Kelly Street Hall, Greenock for a period of 5 years with a landlord’s option to terminate the lease on 3 months written notice after a period of 2 years at a rental of £725 per annum; and

(2) that the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to make appropriate provision in the Grants to Voluntary Organisations Budget to enable a grant to be made to the Boys’ Brigade to cover the rental of the property for the next 5 years, if this is required.