Corporate Business Committee

Thursday 24 May 2001 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Jackson, McCormick, Morrison (M), O'Rourke, Robertson (Y) and White.

Chair:  Councillor Robertson (Y) presided.

In attendance:  Mr H McNeilly (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Head of Accountancy Services, Mr A Moore (for Head of Personnel Services), Head of Property Services and Interim Director of Finance.

Apologies:  Councillors Hunter and Nimmo.

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

486

Social Work Services

486

There was submitted a report dated 30 March 2001 by the Head of Personnel Services on a remit from the Social Work & Housing Committee of 10 April 2001 (para 318) recommending the establishment of posts.  The report advised that the cost of the proposals was £200,540, including employers' costs, of which £119,243 would be met from the Community Care Revenue Support Grant, £36,685 from Resource Transfer Funding, £22,306 from Youth Crime money and £22,306 from SPS.

Decided:

(1)  that the following posts within Community Occupational Therapy and the Community Rehabilitation Services be approved:-

(i)  Community Occupational Therapy

(a)   the establishment of one post of Community Occupational Therapist at Grade OT (£18,378-£23,430);

(b)   the establishment of one post of part-time Occupational Therapist Assistant (17.5 hours) at Grade OTA (£14,484-£17,796) pro rata;

(c)   the establishment of one post of Technician/Storesperson at Grade GS2 (£11,796- £12,399);

(d)   the establishment of one post of Clerical Assistant (8 hours) at Grade GS1/2 (£8,234- £12,399);  and

(ii)   Community Rehabilitation Service

(a)   the establishment of one post of Community Occupational Therapist at Grade OT (£18,378-£23,430);

(b)   the establishment of one post of Rehabilitation Assistant at Grade AP2-3 (£14,484- £17,796);

(2)   that the establishment of one post of Project Officer at Grade PO5 (£26,301-£28,404) be approved;

(3)   that the establishment of one post of Service Manager (Learning & Disability) at Grade PO11 (£30,504-£32,724) be approved;  and

(4)   that the establishment of two posts of Social Worker at Grade QSW (£18,378- £23,340) be approved.

487

Legal & Support Services - Establishment of Post of Clerical Assistant

487

There was submitted a report dated 24 April 2001 by the Head of Personnel Services recommending the establishment of a post of Clerical Assistant within Legal & Support Services.  The report advised that the cost of the proposal was £11,960, including employers' costs, which could be met from within Legal & Support Services budget.

Decided:  that the Committee agree to the establishment of a post of Clerical Assistant at Grade GS1/2 (£9,180-£12,399) within Legal & Support Services budget.

488

Social Work & Housing Services - Housing Benefit & Rent Accounting Services Establishment

488

There was submitted a report dated 21 May 2001 by the Head of Personnel Services on a remit from the May meeting of the Social Work & Housing Committee recommending the establishment of posts within Housing Benefit & Rent Accounting.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee approve the establishment and redesignation of the following posts within Housing Benefit & Rent Accounting:-

(i)    the establishment of one post of Housing Benefit Manager (Processing) at Grade PO6 (£26,979-£29,103) and the redesignation of the Benefit & Rent Accounting Officer (Post No 30026) to Housing Benefits Manager (Systems Finance);

(ii)   the establishment of one post of Assistant Housing Benefit Manager at Grade AP5 (£21,036-£22,959);

(iii)   the establishment of one post of Administrative Officer at Grade AP3 (£16,173- £17,796);

(iv)  the establishment of one post of Senior Clerical Officer at Grade GS3 (£12,624- £13,164);

(v)   the establishment of two posts of Senior Clerical Officer at Grade GS3 (£12,624- £13,164);  and

(2)   that it be remitted to the Head of Personnel Services to submit a report on the reasons for reviewing certain posts in relation to the forthcoming job evaluation exercise.

489

Establishment of a Training Unit for Housing & Building Services

489

There was submitted a report dated May 2001 by the Head of Personnel Services advising that at the April meeting of the Social Work & Housing Committee (para 330) it was agreed that funds be allocated to establish a Training Unit for Housing & Building Services and recommending the establishment of posts.  The report advised that the cost of the proposals was £40,290 and could be met from within the Housing & Building Services budget.

Decided:

(1)   that the establishment of one post of Training Officer at Grade AP5/PO2 (£21,036- £26,301) be approved;  and

(2)   that the establishment of one post of Senior Clerical Assistant at Grade GS3 (£12,624- £13,164) be approved.

490

Facilities Management - Municipal Buildings and Other Council Offices

490

It was noted that this item had been withdrawn from the agenda.

491

Capital Programme 2000/2001 & 2001/2002 - Technical Progress

491

There was submitted a report dated 30 April 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2000/2001 and 2001/2002.

Noted

492

Capital Programme 2001/2002-2003/2004 - Financial Position

492

There was submitted a report dated 10 May 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2001/2002-2003/2004.

Noted

493

Council Tax Collection - Summary Position at 31 March 2001

493

There was submitted a report dated May 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services providing an overview of the Council Tax debt position as at 31 March 2001 and highlighting action to be taken during 2001/2002 to improve both overall and in year collection rates.

Noted

494

Central Purchasing Section - Annual Report 2000/2001

494

There was submitted a report dated 2 May 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services on the progress of the Central Purchasing Section's activities for 2000/2001 and outlining a future Action Plan for the section.

Decided:  that the Committee note the contents of the report and the progress made by the Central Purchasing Section during its first full year of operation.

495

Request for Financial Assistance:  Inverclyde Community Councils' Forum

495

There was submitted a report dated 9 May 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on an application by Inverclyde Community Councils' Forum seeking financial assistance towards the cost of attendance of two delegates at the Conference and AGM of the Association of Scottish Community Councils.

Decided:  that financial assistance in the sum of £161.76 be approved for Inverclyde Community Councils' Forum.

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)

Former Hector McNeil Baths, Inverkip Road/Brachelston Street, Greenock

2, 6 & 9

Site of Aerial/Repeater Station:  Lease to Greenock Health Centre Practitioners

2, 6 & 9

Lease of Ground at Muirdykes Avenue, Port Glasgow

2, 6 & 9

Proposed Disposal of Ground at Kinross Avenue/Ardmore Road, Port Glasgow

2, 6 & 9

Lease of Muirshiel Centre, Port Glasgow - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

2, 6 & 9

Greenock Crematorium, Chapel Roof Remedial Works - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

6 & 8

Annual Contract for Urban Herbicide - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

6

496

Former Hector McNeil Baths, Inverkip Road/Brachelston Street, Greenock

496

There was submitted a report dated May 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive advising on offers received following the remarketing of the former Hector McNeil Baths for sale principally as a residential redevelopment opportunity.

Decided:  that acceptance of the offers submitted be deferred to allow the Member/Officer Group to fully consider the site along with others as a prospect for the Future Home for the Elderly.

497

Site of Aerial/Repeater Station:  Lease to Greenock Health Centre Practitioners

497

There was submitted a report dated 4 May 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on an application by Greenock Health Centre Practitioners to formalise the lease of the site of a small aerial/repeater station installed on the roof of Glencoe Court, Greenock.

Councillor Morrison (M) declared an interest in this matter and took no part in its consideration or decision.

Decided:  that the Committee grant a lease of the site at Glencoe Court, Greenock for a small aerial/repeater station for a period of five years effective from April 1997 at a nominal rent in view of the circumstances of the community nature of the lease use.

498

Lease of Ground at Muirdykes Avenue, Port Glasgow

498

There was submitted a report dated 4 May 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on an application by Devol Residents Association for the lease of ground at Muirdykes Avenue, Port Glasgow.

Decided:  that consent be granted to Devol Residents Association to renounce its existing annual tenancy of the ground at Muirdykes Avenue, Port Glasgow in favour of a new ground lease for a period of 15 years at an initial nominal rental, subject to five-year rent reviews and on other terms and conditions satisfactory to the Director of Legal & Support Services.

499

Proposed Disposal of Ground at Kinross Avenue/Ardmore Road, Port Glasgow

499

There was submitted a report dated 3 May 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on the disposal of an area of ground at Kinross Avenue/Ardmore Road and the Committee agreed to the disposal, all as detailed in the Appendix.

500

Lease of Muirshiel Centre, Port Glasgow - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

500

There was submitted a report dated 18 April 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to lease Port Glasgow Elderly & Disabled Resource Centre (Muirshiel Centre) to the Management Committee of the facility.

Noted

501

Greenock Crematorium, Chapel Roof Remedial Works - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

501

There was submitted a report dated April 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to accept the lowest tender for the Greenock Crematorium Chapel Roof Remedial Works, that by A Robertson & Co Ltd in the sum of £22,613.74.

Noted

502

Annual Contract for Urban Herbicide - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

502

There was submitted a report dated 30 April 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) for the appointment of specialist contractors for the annual contract for urban herbicide.

Noted