Corporate Business Committee

Thursday 2 March 2000 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, Jackson, McCabe, Moody, Nimmo, O'Rourke and Robertson (Y).

Chair:  Councillor McCabe presided. 

In attendance:  Depute Chief Executive, Mr H McNeilly (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Director of Resource Services, Head of Leisure and Community Support Services, Head of Personnel Services and Head of Property Services.

Apologies:  Councillors Morrison (M) and Mulholland.

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.

194

COSLA - Scottish Office Joint Staffing Watch (December 1999)

194

There was submitted a report dated 8 February 2000 by the Director of Resource Services advising the Committee of the workforce profile of Inverclyde Council as at 11 December 1999.  (Provost Roach entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business.)

Noted

195

Single Status and Job Evaluation

195

There was submitted a report dated 14 February 2000 by the Director of Resource Services (1) on the implementation of the Single Status agreement and (2) seeking approval for staffing to prepare for and implement the Job Evaluation Scheme. 

Decided:

(1)   that the staffing proposals contained in section 3.1 of the report be approved;

(2)   that a project team of 6 Members be appointed to implement the scheme within Inverclyde Council and that the support costs contained in section 3.4 of the report be approved;  and

(3)   that the Policy & Strategy Committee be requested to provide the funding required to implement the proposals totalling £106,375 including employers' contributions.

196

Accommodation Requirements - Factory Premises, 10-16 Gibshill Road, Greenock

196

There was submitted a report dated January 2000 by the Depute Chief Executive requesting that the property at 10-16 Gibshill Road, Greenock be retained within the Council's operational property portfolio for Social Work purposes.

Councillor Moody declared an interest in this item and took no part in its consideration or decision.  (Councillor Blair entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business.)

Decided:

(1)   that approval be given to the re-designation of the premises at 10-16 Gibshill Road, Greenock such that it be placed within the Council's operational property portfolio for Social Work purposes;  and

(2)   that it be remitted to the Head of Property Services to undertake the necessary design and costing for the adaptation of the property.

197

Shop Premises:  75/81 Cathcart Street, Greenock

197

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive seeking formal consent for the retention of the property at 75/81 Cathcart Street, Greenock  within the Council’s operational property  portfolio.

Decided:

(1)   that the contents of the report be noted;  and

(2)   that approval be given to the re-designation of the property at 75/81 Cathcart Street, Greenock such that it be placed within the Council’s operational property portfolio.

198

Capital Programme 1999/2000 - Technical Progress

198

There was submitted a report dated 4 February 2000 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

Noted

199

Capital Programme 1999/2000 - Financial Position

199

There was submitted a report dated 11 February 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

Noted

200

Former Hector McNeil Baths, Greenock

200

There was submitted a report dated February 2000 by the Depute Chief Executive outlining options for the future of the former Hector McNeil Baths building and site.  Following discussion, Councillor Blair moved (1) that the Committee consider the options for the use of the Hector McNeil Baths and (2) that potential options be explored with regard to the use of the land for public/leisure/cultural use and that thereafter the findings be reported to Committee and that only in the event of investigations being fruitless, a brief for housing development be prepared.  As an amendment, Councillor McCabe moved that a development brief be prepared for the Committee's consideration and that it include options for the redevelopment of the Hector McNeil site for housing, including sheltered housing, with possibilities for public open space and leisure or community purposes.  On a vote, 3 Members voted for the motion and 5 for the amendment which was declared carried.  Those Members who had voted in favour of the motion then requested in terms of the relevant Standing Order that the matter be referred to The Inverclyde Council for decision in terms of the motion.…

C

Decided:  that a development brief be prepared for the Committee's consideration and that it include options for the redevelopment of the Hector McNeil site for housing, including sheltered housing, with the possibilities for public open space and leisure or community purposes.

C

The Convener, being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Resource Services was relevant, competent and urgent, moved its consideration to allow the Committee to be advised of the action taken under Standing Order 66(a) to approve virement within Finance Services.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

201

Finance Services Virement

201

There was submitted a report dated 1 March 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to approve virement within Finance Services to accommodate the revised structure.  (Councillor Robertson (Y) left the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

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)

Social Work & Housing Services Staffing Structure

1

Economic Development Services - Review of Posts within Transportation & Roads

1

Economic Development Services - Review of Post within Transportation & Roads

1

Resource Services - Review of Post

1

Integrated Business Centre, Cathcart Street, Greenock

6

Hector McNeil Baths/Balrossie School - Security

8

Birkmyre Pavilion and Adjacent Children's Playground

2, 6 & 9

Contractual Matters:  Assignation of Contracts - Use of

Emergency Powers Procedure

6 & 8

202

Social Work & Housing Services Staffing Structure

202

There was submitted a report dated 11 February 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request from the Personnel (Appeals and Applied Conditions of Service) Sub-Committee of 8 February 2000 that the Committee defer consideration of the grading of the Children & Families Manager and the Community Care Manager within Social Work Services pending a review of the grades including that of Service Managers and that interim arrangements be put in place by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services to fulfil the Council's statutory obligations under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.

Decided:  that the Committee approve the action recommended.

203

Economic Development Services (Transportation and Roads):  Review of Posts of Clerk of Works/Inspector

203

There was submitted a report dated 15 February 2000 by the Director of Resource Services recommending revised gradings for the 4 posts of Clerk of Works/Inspector within Economic Development Services (Transportation and Roads).  The report advised that the cost of the proposals was £5,050, including employers' costs, and could be met from the existing budget.

Decided:  that the 4 posts of Clerk of Works/Inspector within Economic Development Services (Transportation and Roads) be regraded from Technical Grade 3 (£14,811- £16,770) to AP3/4 (£15,240-£19,224).

204

Economic Development Services (Roads):  Review of Post of Road Safety Training Officer

204

There was submitted a report dated 18 February 2000 by the Director of Resource Services recommending a revised grade for the post of Road Safety Training Officer.  The report advised that the cost of the proposal was £1,073, including employers' costs, and could be met from the existing budget.

Decided:  that the post of Road Safety Training Officer be regraded from AP2 (£13,650- £14,811) to AP3 (£15,240-£16,770).

205

Resource Services (Finance):  Review of Post of Loans Administration Assistant

205

There was submitted a report dated 16 February 2000 by the Director of Resource Services recommending a revised grade and redesignation of the post of Loans Administration Assistant.  The report advised that the cost of the proposal was £2,225, including employers' costs, and could be met from the existing budget.

Decided:

(1)   that the post of Loans Administration Assistant be regraded from AP1/2 (£12,405-£14,811) to AP3/4 (£15,240-£19,224), to be contained within the current budget;  and

(2)   that the post of Loans Administration Assistant be redesignated Treasury Officer.

206

Integrated Business Centre, 75/81 Cathcart Street, Greenock

206

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to invite four specialist contractors outwith the Council's Approved Contractors List to tender for works at the Integrated Business Centre, 75/81 Cathcart Street, Greenock.

Noted

207

Hector McNeil Baths/Balrossie School - Security

207

There was submitted a report dated January 2000 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) on the current position with regard to the security at Hector McNeil Baths and Balrossie School and (2) outlining the likely final costs of the project and proposed new security arrangements.

Councillor Calvert was present and with consent spoke on the matter.

Decided:

(1)   that the contents of the report be noted;  and

(2)   that the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to consider the additional funding of £32,300 for the new security arrangements at Hector McNeil Baths/Balrossie School.

208

Birkmyre Pavilion and Adjacent Children's Playground

208

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) advising of the ongoing developments with the project to consider options to upgrade the Birkmyre Pavilion facility and adjacent children's playground and (2) making rcommendations on how to proceed with the project.

Councillor Calvert was present and with consent spoke on the matter.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee, on behalf of the Birkmyre Trust, give its approval in principle for the upgrading of the Birkmyre Pavilion and adjacent children's playground and that a lottery application be completed at this stage and that any surplus funds realised by the sale of land be allocated to the Project, subject to funding and operating arrangements being finalised;  and

(2)   that it be remitted to the Director of Community & Protective Services to submit a report in due course once the funding and operating procedures have been finalised.

The Convener, being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Depute Chief Executive was relevant, competent and urgent, moved its consideration to allow the Committee of action taken under Standing Order 66(a) to assign three contracts.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

209

Contractual Matters:  Assignation of Contracts

209

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to proceed with the assignation of three contracts following a request to the Council by DB Contracts Ltd that the three contracts outstanding be assigned to the contractor R J McLeod to effect completion.

Noted