Corporate Business Committee

Thursday 19 October 2000 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Councillor Robertson (Y) presided.

In attendance:  Depute Chief Executive, Director of Information Services, Director of Legal & Support Services, Director of Resource Services, Head of Personnel Services and Head of Property Services.

Apologies:  Councillor McCormick.

With the exception of the decisions marked "C" which are open for confirmation or otherwise, the following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Committee.

927

Implementation of Computerised Library Management System

927

There was submitted a report by the Director of Information Services advising of the progress of the implementation of the computerised library management system.

(Councillors Jackson, McCabe and O'Rourke entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee note that the implementation of the Library Management System within the Central Library, Greenock is on target with a planned "go live" date of Wednesday 25 October 2000;

(2)   that the Committee support the proposal for a public launch and publicity event at the beginning of November 2000;  and

(3)   that the Committee agree to a fines amnesty of one month from Wednesday 25 October 2000 to Saturday 25 November 2000, in accordance with Inverclyde Council's Financial Regulations.

928

Integrated Service Delivery Incorporating a Review of Library Services

928

There was submitted a report by the Director of Information Services advising that at the March meeting of the Policy & Strategy Committee (para 210) it was remitted to the Director of Information Services to undertake a review of branch libraries and to report back on the findings to the Committee.

(Provost Roach entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business.)

Decided:

(1)   that the development strategy for the Library, Arts & Museums Services be supported;  and

(2)   that it be remitted to the Corporate Management Team to progress the associated need for increased capital and revenue funding as part of the budgetary process.

929

Request for Loan of Item from Permanent Collection

929

There was submitted a report by the Director of Information Services advising the Committee that there had been a request for the loan of a painting from the Caird Collection at the McLean Museum & Art Gallery.

Decided:  that the Committee approve the request for loan of the painting "The Stable Boy" by Alex M Galt, R.G.I.

930

Managing Attendance:  Absence Statistics 3 April to 2 July 2000

930

There was submitted a report dated 4 October 2000 by the Director of Resource Services advising the Committee of the Council's absence statistics for the period 3 April to 2 July 2000.

Noted

931

Resource Services - Personnel Services: Professional Grading Structure for Health & Safety Officers

931

C

There was submitted a report dated 25 September 2000 by the Director of Resource Services seeking approval to amend the existing professional grading structure for Health & Safety Officers and to create a grading structure for Assistant Health & Safety Officers.  The report advised that the cost of implementing the proposals was £2,000 in the current financial year and £8,000 in the financial year 2001/2002, including employer's costs, which could not be met from the current budget.  Following discussion, Councillor Robertson (Y) moved that the revised professional grading structure for Health & Safety Officers incorporating Assistant Health & Safety Officers be approved and that the matter be remitted to the Policy & Strategy Committee to consider the financial implications.  As an amendment, Councillor Nimmo moved that no decision be taken to revise the professional grading structure for Health & Safety Officers or the Assistant Health & Safety Officers, until the completion of the job evaluation exercise.  On a vote, 4 Members voted for the amendment and 5 for the motion which was declared carried.  Those Members who had voted in favour of the amendment then requested in terms of the relevant Standing Order that the matter be referred to The Inverclyde Council for decision in terms of the amendment.

Decided:

(1)   that the revised professional grading structure for Health & Safety Officers incorporating Assistant Health & Safety Officers as outlined in Appendix 2 of the report be approved; and

(2)   that the matter be referred to the Policy & Strategy Committee for consideration of the financial implications.

C

932

Major Repairs Budget 2000/2001 - Request to Undertake an Additional Project

932

There was submitted a report dated September 2000 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval to undertake an additional project as part of the Major Repairs Budget 2000/2001.

(Councillor White entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee approve the undertaking of the additional project as outlined in paragraph 3.1 of the report and its addition to the prioritised list;

(2)   that the Committee approve the removal of item 16 (Wellpark Boundary Wall Repairs Phase 1 - £25,000) from the prioritised list;

(3)   that it be remitted to the Head of Property Services to adjust the overall programme of Major Repairs to ensure that allocation is not exceeded;  and

(4)   that approval be given for the additional project to be dealt with as part of the Major Repairs Budget and progressed with regard to development to tender stage and that it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers to invite tenders for the project; and

(5)   that delegated authority be granted to the Director of Legal & Support Services in the usual manner to accept the lowest tender for the project in accordance with the provisions of the Standing Orders Relating to Contracts and the Financial Regulations.

933

Accommodation Works Projects 1999/2000 & 2000/2001:  Request for Committee Approvals

933

There was submitted a report dated September 2000 by the Depute Chief Executive requesting the reallocation of monies to various minor repairs projects under the heading of Accommodation Works.

Decided:

(1)   that adjustments to the provisional list of projects detailed at paragraph 2.2 of the report be approved;

(2)   that it be remitted to the Head of Property Services to adjust the overall programme of Accommodation Works to ensure the allocation of £200,000 is not exceeded;  and

(3)   that all other necessary approvals be granted in accordance with the Committee's decision in May 2000 para (507).

934

Resource Services Virement

934

There was submitted a report dated 12 September 2000 by the Director of Resource Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to approve virement amounting to £55,000 within the Resource Services budgets in order to progress the appointment of temporary staff and consultants to assist in achieving Audit Action Plan targets.

Noted

935

Capital Programme 1999/2000 & 2000/2001 - Technical Progress

935

There was submitted a report dated 22 September 2000 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000 and 2000/2001.

Decided:

(1)   that the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 be noted;

(2)   that the Committee approve the following expenditure increase in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations:-

Project                                                                                                            Effect on

                                                                                                                       Expenditure

Refurbishment (Third Floor Southwest Wing) - Greenock Municipal

Buildings

Replacement of doors with new ironmongery on third floor to allow

the finishing works to be completed in accordance with the corporate

image                                                                                                               £  1,938 increase;

and

(3)  that the following accumulated variation which is outwith the accepted tender amount by more than 10% be approved in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations:-

Refurbishment (Third Floor Southwest Wing) - Greenock Municipal

Buildings

The anticipated final account is 42.56% above the accepted tender                   £12,116 increase

936

Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Financial Position

936

There was submitted a report dated 27 September 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2000/2001.

Noted

937

Revenue Monitoring Report 2000/2001 - Period 6

937

There was submitted a report dated 6 October 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2000/2001 as at Period 6 (20 September 2000).

Decided:  that the Committee note the current position of the Revenue Budget and the position regarding the janitors report.

938

Education Services - Posts of Classroom Assistants

938

There was submitted a report dated 10 October 2000 by the Director of Resource Services recommending the establishment of posts of Classroom Assistants within Education Services.  The report advised that the cost of the proposal could be met from the Council's allocation of the Excellence Fund.

Decided:  that authority be delegated to the Head of Personnel Services to approve the establishment of Classroom Assistant posts at salary grade GS1/2 (£8,652-£11,685) subject to funding being available through the Excellence Fund.

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)

Resource Services - Finance Services:  Review of Establishment

1

Review of Standing Restricted List

6

Former Tenant Arrears:  Consent to Write Off

2, 6 & 9

Contract - Ettrick Place, Greenock:  Balcony Waterproofing

6 & 8

Shop Premises at Cathcart Street, Greenock - Application by Sitting Tenants to Purchase

2, 6 & 9

939

Resource Services - Finance Services:  Review of Establishment

939

C

There was submitted a report dated 10 October 2000 by the Director of Resource Services recommending a number of revisions to the structure of Finance Services at a total cost of £200,301 including employer's contributions and administrative overheads.  The Committee decided, following a vote, that (1) those proposals detailed in the report be approved, subject to consultation with the trade unions; and (2) that the Policy & Strategy Committee be requested to consider providing funding of £200,301 in respect of the cost of implementing the proposals, all as detailed in the Appendix.

C

      940

Review of Standing Restricted List

940

There was submitted a report dated 11 October 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services (1) advising the Committee of progress to date in compiling an updated and Standing Restricted List for construction works, (2) seeking approval to place those undertakings who have satisfactorily completed a review process on the said new list; and (3) seeking delegated authority to place further undertakings on the new list as and when they satisfactorily complete the review process.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee note the position inherited by the Council from its predecessors;

(2)   that the list set out in the Appendix to the report be adopted  as the Council's Standing Restricted List in terms of Standing Order No 5 of the Council's Standing Orders Relating to Contracts;

(3)   that the Committee confirm that the said list will replace various lists inherited from predecessor authorities, subject to exceptions referred to in paragraphs 3.4 and 3.5 of the report;  and

(4)   that authority be delegated to the Director of Legal & Support Services in consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to add to the list those undertakings whose applications (i) have completed the review process and (ii) are deemed to be suitable for inclusion on the Standing Restricted List and that it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services to report to the Committee in due course on an update of successful applications.

      941

Former Tenant Arrears:  Consent to Write Off

941

There was submitted a report dated 2 October 2000 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval to write off arrears of rent as detailed in the report.

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

      942

Contract - Ettrick Place, Greenock:  Balcony Waterproofing

942

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive recommending the direct appointment of the contractor R J McLeod under the terms of a contract novation to undertake the balcony waterproofing works at Ettrick Place, Greenock.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee note the current position with regard to DB Contract Services Ltd; and

(2)   that the Committee approve the contract novation of the balcony waterproofing contract at Ettrick Place, Greenock in accordance with the recommendations of the Director of Legal & Support Services, at no additional cost to the Council.

      943

Shop Premises at Cathcart Street, Greenock - Application by Sitting Tenants to Purchase

943

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive seeking authority to dispose of two shop premises located in Cathcart Street, Greenock to the sitting tenants and the Committee agreed to take action, all as detailed in the Appendix.