Corporate Business Committee

Thursday 11 April 2002 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Hill, Hunter, McCormick, Morrison (M), Nimmo, Robertson (Y) and White.

Also present:  Councillor Calvert.

Chair:  Councillor Robertson (Y) presided.

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Director of Community & Protective Services, Director of Finance Services, Miss M McKnight (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Head of Personnel Services and Head of Property Services.

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

349

Managing Attendance Absence Statistics

1 October to 31 December 2001 (4th Period)

1 January to 31 December 2001 (Annual Summary)

349

There was submitted a report dated 25 March 2002 by the Head of Personnel Services advising the Committee of the Council's absence statistics for (1) the period 1 October 2001 to 31 December 2001 and (2) the year 2001.  (Provost Roach entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Noted

350

Personnel Services - Amendments to Establishment

350

There was submitted a report dated 26 March 2002 by the Head of Personnel Services recommending revisions to the Personnel Services establishment.  The Head of Personnel Services advised that the post of 1.2 FTE Personnel Officer should read 1.4 FTE Personnel Officer.  The report advised that the proposals could be met from within the existing Personnel Services budget.

Decided:

(1)   that the following proposals be approved:

(a)   the deletion of posts of:-

(i)    Senior Personnel Officer on salary grade PO8 (£28,904-£31,004),

(ii)   Administrative Officer on salary grade AP3 (£16,637-£18,296) and

(iii)   Administrative Assistant (27.5 hours) on salary grade AP1 (£13,664-£14,618);

(b)   the establishment of 1.4 FTE Personnel Officer post on salary grade AP5/PO2 (£21,536-£26,801);

(c) the establishment of one post of Clerical Assistant on salary grade GS1/2 (£8,734-£12,899);  and

(2)   that the Committee agree to virement of £19,000 from employee costs to fund the establishment of an Occupational Health Service.

351

Social Work & Housing Services - Crisis Care Service

351

There was submitted a report dated 25 February 2002 by the Head of Personnel Services recommending that a temporary post of Crisis Care Coordinator be formalised and that a post of Crisis Care Coordinator on salary grade AP4/5 (£18,878-£23,459) be established.  The report advised that the cost of the proposals was £25,458 including employer's costs to be 50% funded by resource transfer and 50% from within the existing Social Work budget.

Decided:  that the Committee approve the establishment of one post of Crisis Care Coordinator on salary grade AP4/5 (£18,878-£23,459).

352

Capital Programme 2001/2002 - Technical Progress

352

There was submitted a report dated 14 March 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2001/2002.

Noted

353

Essential Large Maintenance Works 2002-2003

353

There was submitted a report dated March 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive detailing essential large maintenance works to address health and safety matters to be carried out and listing the projects in order of priority with estimated costs.

353

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee approve the list of essential large maintenance works in the order of priority as follows:-

Priority

Location

Description

Value

1.

Minor Repairs

(At discretion of Head of Property Services)

£100,000

Projects currently under consideration for this Minor Repairs allocation.

a.     St Francis Primary School

Retaining wall repair £14,000

b.    Port Glasgow High School

Replace pool filters £18,000

and pumps

c.     Greenock High School

Remedial works to £  6,000

avenue lighting

d.    Ardgowan Primary School

Completion works £17,000

e.     St Mungo's Primary School

Roof temporary repair £12,000

f.     Springfield Primary School

Retaining wall repairs £20,000

2.

Reservoirs

General maintenance

£  50,000

3.

Reservoirs

Stability monitoring

(This project is specifically identified within the Capital Programme and has been included here for convenience)

£  12,000

4.

Various Properties

Safety escape signage

£  20,000

5.

Various Properties

Electrical installation testing

£100,000

6.

Greenock Municipal Buildings

Window repairs/replacement

£  50,000

7.

Various Properties

Gas pipework installation testing

£  35,000

8.

Gourock Municipal Buildings

Electrical rewire

£  65,000

9.

Various Properties

Water quality management

£  55,000

10.*

Greenock Municipal Buildings

Masonry restoration and recording

£  20,000

Sub-total:

£507,000

* Extent of available funding

(2)   that all projects listed be developed to tender stage as appropriate with a view to their completion throughout the financial year 2002/2003, subject to a cost limit of £512,000;

(3)   that authority be granted to the Director of Legal & Support Services in the usual manner to accept the lowest tender received in each case, in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Standing Orders Relating to Contracts;  and

(4)   that authority be delegated to the Head of Property Services to adjust the priority of those individual projects in the list by maintaining a continuous assessment of the said priorities in pursuance of the requirements of the Council and Best Value.

353

354

John Wood Street Shops, Port Glasgow - Request from Councillor Hill

354

There was submitted a report dated 21 March 2002 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a request received from Councillor Hill that the Committee consider ways of addressing the number of vacant shop premises at John Wood Street, Port Glasgow.

Decided:  that it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive in consultation with the Head of Property Services to submit a report to the next meeting on the current position with regard to the redevelopment and regeneration issues affecting Port Glasgow, to include the rental issues affecting John Wood Street shops, Port Glasgow.

355

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

355

There was submitted a report dated 26 March 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2001/02-2003/04.

Noted

356

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 12

356

There was submitted a report dated 26 March 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Revenue Budget as at Period 12 (6 March 2002).

Noted

357

Development of Learning Centres and Libraries

357

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising the Committee of the progress of the proposal to develop Learning Centres and Learning Access Points within Libraries.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee note the success of the additional funding streams secured by the bids to the New Opportunities Fund for £254,892 and to the Gates Foundation for £50,000;

(2)   that implementation of the People's Network throughout Inverclyde libraries be approved;  and

(3)   that the Committee agree that the temporary team set up for the roll out of the project be retained until a restructure of library staff takes place.

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)

Disposal of Ground - Hastie Street, Greenock

2, 6 & 9

Proposed Disposal of Land - High Carnegie Road, Port Glasgow

2, 6 & 9

Disposal of Premises - The Former Gourock Primary School

2, 6 & 9

The Birkmyre Trust

6

358

Disposal of Ground - Hastie Street, Greenock

358

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive advising of a variation in the disposal price of an area of ground at Hastie Street, Greenock and the Committee agreed to the variation, all as detailed in the Appendix.

359

Proposed Disposal of Land - High Carnegie Road, Port Glasgow

359

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive on the disposal of an area of ground at High Carnegie Road, Port Glasgow on revised terms reflecting change of use in association with the construction of a dwellinghouse, and the Committee agreed to take action, all as detailed in the Appendix.

360

Disposal of Premises - The Former Gourock Primary School, Binnie Street, Gourock

360

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive advising of a material change to the previously accepted development proposal for the former Gourock Primary School and the Committee agreed to take action, all as detailed in the Appendix.

The Convener, being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Community & Protective Services was relevant, competent and urgent, moved its consideration to allow the project to be taken forward as soon as possible if approved.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

361

The Birkmyre Trust

361

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services (1) updating the Committee on recent work undertaken in relation to the Birkmyre Trust and specifically the Birkmyre Park, Kilmacolm and (2) recommending proposals for taking the project forward.  Councillor Calvert was present and with consent spoke on the matter.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee note the draft business plan attached in Appendix A to the report;

(2)   that the Committee agree to the establishment of a Member-led working group comprising Councillors Morrison (M), Calvert and Hill to progress all matters set out in the report and draft business plan;  and

(3)   that a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee by the working group, detailing how the project has progressed.