Corporate Business Committee

Thursday 28 February 2002 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Councillor Robertson (Y) presided.

In attendance:  Depute Chief Executive, Director of Finance Services, Director of Information Services, Mr H McNeilly (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Head of Personnel Services, Head of Property Services and Network Manager (Transportation & Roads Service).

Apologies:  Councillors Hunter and White.

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

200

ICT Capital Programme 2001/2003

200

There was submitted a report by the Director of Information Services (1) advising of the progress to date of the ICT Capital Programme 2001/2002 and (2) outlining a number of projects currently under development which may require to be progressed during 2002/2003.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee note (i) the progress against the ICT Capital Programme for 2001/2002 and (ii) the anticipated slippage into 2002/2003 and that further reports on individual projects be submitted, noting all progress and costs;

(2)   that the Committee note the items continued for consideration under the Capital Plan 2002/2003 onwards;  and

(3)   that in the interim, any proposals for development be considered and progressed as appropriate by the Chief Executive in consultation with the appropriate Service Director(s) and the Director of Information Services.

201

Education Services:  Support Staff

201

There was submitted a report dated 30 January 2002 by the Head of Personnel Services recommending amendments to the Education Services establishment.  The report advised that the cost of the proposals could be met through resources provided by the Scottish Executive.

Decided:

(1)   that 16 posts of Administrative Assistant on Salary Grade AP1 (£13,164-£14,118) be established;  and

(2)   that 32 posts of Senior Clerical Assistant on Salary Grade GS3 (£12,624-£13,164) be established.

202

Investors In People Standard (IIP)

202

There was submitted a report dated 12 February 2002 by the Head of Personnel Services seeking the endorsement of the Committee to use the Investors In People Standard (IIP) within the Council.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee endorse the Council's involvement in the Investors In People Standard (IIP) in accordance with the first commitment of the Standard;  and

(2)   that it be remitted to the Head of Personnel Services to submit further reports as other phases are implemented.

203

COSLA - Scottish Office Joint Staffing Watch:  December 2001

203

There was submitted a report dated 12 December 2001 by the Head of Personnel Services advising the Committee of the workforce profile within Inverclyde Council as at 8 December 2001.

Noted

204

Major Repair Works 2001-2002

Adjustment to Priorities and Projects to be Undertaken:  Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

204

There was submitted a report dated 14 February 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to adjust the list of projects to be undertaken as part of the Major Repairs Programme and to allow these additional projects to proceed.

Noted

205

Capital Programme 2001/2002 - Technical Progress

205

There was submitted a report dated 31 January 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2001/2002.

Decided:

(1)   that the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2001/2002 be noted;

(2)   that the accumulated variations in the alterations and repairs to the Transfer Station at Pottery Street which are greater than the accepted tender amount by 50.6% (£7,086) be approved in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations;  and

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

Project                                                                                         Effect on Expenditure

Greenock Municipal Buildings, First/Second Floor Upgrading

Renewal of windows on third floor be replaced as part of

abovenoted contract                                                                         £17,080 increase

206

Capital Programme 2001/02-2003/04 - Financial Position

206

There was submitted a report dated 13 February 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2001/02-2003/04.

Noted

207

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 10

207

There was submitted a report dated 13 February 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Revenue Budget as at Period 10 (9 January 2002).

Decided:

(1)   that the current position of the 2001/2002 Revenue Budget be noted;  and

(2)   that the virement as detailed in paragraph 4.1 of the report be approved.

208

Revenues Section Performance to 31 December 2001

208

There was submitted a report dated 7 February 2002 by the Director of Finance Services (1) advising of the Council Tax non-domestic rates performance for the first nine months of 2001/2002 and (2) outlining other performance-related issues.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee welcome the continuing significant improvements in Council Tax collection being achieved by the Revenues Section and that the Committee convey its thanks and appreciation to the appropriate members of staff for the work to achieve the improved position in collection rates;  and

(2)   that the Policy & Strategy Committee be asked to consider a request to vire £20,000 from Internal Resources Interest to fund the overspend in Finance Services printing and postage costs.

209

Finance Services Virement - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

209

There was submitted a report dated 15 February 2002 by the Director of Finance Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to approve virement of £50,000 within Finance Services.

Noted

210

Social Work & Housing Services:  Review of Delivery of Homelessness Service

210

There was submitted a report dated 18 February 2002 by the Head of Personnel Services recommending the establishment of two posts within the Homelessness Service.  The report advised that the cost of the proposals was £46,470 including employers' costs which could be funded by terminating the current Management Agreement with the Salvation Army, together with an extra budget allocation from the Scottish Executive.

Decided:  that 2 posts of Assessment Officer within the Homelessness Service on Salary Grade AP3 (£16,173-£17,796) be established.

The Convener, being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Depute Chief Executive was relevant, competent and urgent, moved its consideration to advise the Committee of action taken with regard to works at Gourock Municipal Buildings.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

211

Works undertaken at Gourock Municipal Buildings through Emergency Authority

211

There was submitted a report dated February 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of action taken under Section 2 of the Financial Regulations at Gourock Municipal Buildings following the collapse of a gable wall.  The Head of Property Services advised that, with regard to paragraph 1.3 of the report, the Police Building had been disaggregated by Strathclyde Regional Council to the Police, while the Council held ownership of the Gourock Municipal Buildings.

Noted

The Convener, being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Depute Chief Executive was relevant, competent and urgent, moved its consideration to advise the Committee of action taken with regard to work at the embankment within the grounds of St Columba's High School to the north of the entrance along Burnside Road.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

212

Work undertaken at Burnside Road through Emergency Authority

212

There was submitted a report dated February 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the action taken under Section 2 of the Financial Regulations at the embankment within the grounds of St Columba's High School to the north of the entrance along Burnside Road.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee note the actions taken to date and convey its thanks and appreciation to the appropriate members of staff for their hard work and dedication in dealing with the emergency;  and

(2)   that it be remitted to the Head of Property Services to report further following completion of the emergency works.

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)

New Lease of Premises:  Dubbs Road, Port Glasgow

2, 6 & 9

Urban Herbicide (Roads and Hard Landscaping) 2002

6

Appointment of Independent Staff Adviser - New Housing Partnership Funding:  Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

6

213

New Lease of Premises:  Dubbs Road, Port Glasgow

213

There was submitted a report dated February 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking consent to permit the current shop tenant, Ladbrokes Ltd, to modernise and extend the company's licensed betting office at Dubbs Road, Port Glasgow.

Decided:  that the Committee grant consent to Ladbrokes Ltd to refurbish and extend its existing premises at 52/54 Dubbs Road, subject to Ladbrokes Ltd assuming a new 15-year lease of the enlarged premises at 48/54 Dubbs Road, at a rental of £14,750 per annum, on terms and conditions to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal & Support Services in consultation with the Head of Property Services.

214

Urban Herbicide (Roads and Hard Landscaping) 2002

214

There was submitted a report dated 21 February 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval to allow specialist contractors to be included in the tender list for the Urban Herbicide (Roads and Hard Landscaping) Contract 2002.

Decided:  that the Committee approve the issue of tenders to the contractors outlined in the report.

The Convener, being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services was relevant, competent and urgent, moved its consideration to advise the Committee of action taken under the emergency powers procedure to invite companies to tender for the contract.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

215

Appointment of Independent Staff Adviser - New Housing Partnership Funding:  Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

215

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work & Housing Services advising the Committee of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) for the invitation of tenders for the appointment of an independent staff adviser to be funded through New Housing Partnership money from the Scottish Executive.

Noted