Corporate Business Committee

Thursday 30 May 2002 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Councillor Robertson (Y) presided.

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

Apologies:  Councillor O'Rourke.

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

491

Occupational Health Service

Use of Standing Order 66

491

There was submitted a report dated 9 May 2002 by the Head of Personnel Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) for approval in terms of Order 15.2 of the Standing Orders Relating to Contracts to allow the Head of Personnel Services to enter into an agreement with Blyth Partners for the supply of an occupational health service for a period of 18 months.

(Provost Roach and Councillors Hill and Nimmo entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Noted

492

Managing Attendance:

1.  Absence Statistics 1 January to 31 March 2002 (1st Period)

2.  Audit Scotland - Absence Statistics 2000/2001

492

There was submitted a report dated 9 May 2002 by the Head of Personnel Services (1) advising the Committee of the Council's absence statistics for the period 1 January to 31 March 2002 and (2) providing comparative statistics for Inverclyde and all Scotland as detailed in Audit Scotland's Benefits, Finance and Corporate Issues report 2000/2001.

(Councillors White and Hunter entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Noted

493

Social Work & Housing Services

Review of Delivery of Homelessness Service

493

There was submitted a report dated 29 April 2002 by the Head of Personnel Services recommending amendments to the Social Work & Housing Services establishment.  The report advised that the cost of the proposals could be met by terminating the existing management agreement with the Salvation Army and an extra budget allocation from the Scottish Executive.

Decided:

(1)   that the post of Assistant Homelessness Manager (Assessment) on salary grade PO1 (£23,930-£25,976) be established;

(2)   that two posts of Resettlement and Support Officer on salary grade AP4 (£18,878-£20,897) be established;  and

(3)   that two posts of Furnished Accommodation Officer on salary grade AP2 (£14,984- £16,217) be established and be used to match-in employees transferring from the Salvation Army.

494

Social Work Services:  Establishment of Posts within Support Services Section

494

There was submitted a report dated April 2002 by the Head of Personnel Services recommending amendments to the Social Work Services establishment.  The report advised that the cost of the proposals could be met from the Social Work Services budget.

Decided:

(1)   that a post of Senior Administrative Officer on salary grade AP5 (£21,536-£23,459) be established;

(2)   that a post of Administrative Assistant on salary grade AP1 (£13,664-£14,618) be established;  and

(3)   that two posts of Senior Clerical Assistant on salary grade GS3 (£13,124-£13,664) be established.

495

Capital Programme 2002/2003 - Technical Progress

495

There was submitted an amended report dated 13 May 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2002/2003.

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

Decided:

(1)   that the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2002/2003 be noted;

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

Project                                                                                                    Effect on Expenditure

Highlanders Academy Re-roofing

Omission of new steel structure forming pitched roof to

existing flat roof steelwork                                                                               £21,200 decrease;

(3)   that it be remitted to the Head of Property Services to negotiate a price for alternative proposals for this section of roof at Highlanders Academy with the contractor currently on site in terms of Order 15.3 of Standing Orders Relating to Contracts;  and

(4)   that the accumulated variations in the Highlanders Academy re-roofing project which are less than the accepted tender amount by 15.3% (£22,965) be approved in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations.

496

Capital Programme 2002/03-2003/04 - Financial Position

496

There was submitted a report dated 16 May 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2002/03-2003/04.

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

Noted

497

Tendering Procedure for Replacement Financial Management System - Use of Standing Order 66(a)

497

There was submitted a report dated 15 May 2002 by the Director of Finance Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to homologate the appointment of a consultant for the replacement of the Financial Management System.

Noted

498

Revenue Section Performance to 31 March 2002

498

There was submitted a report dated 9 May 2002 by the Director of Finance Services advising the Committee of the Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rates collection performance 2001/02.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee welcome the continuing improvement in Council Tax collection and the initiatives being undertaken to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the collection process;

(2)   that the Committee note the impact of the computer failure over the New Year period on non-domestic rates collection rates and further note that all records have been fully restored;  and

(3)   that the Committee note the initial success of the strategy to object to licence applications where the applicant has accumulated arrears of rates.

499

Central Purchasing Section - Annual Report 2001/2002

499

There was submitted a report dated 8 May 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the progress of the Central Purchasing Section's activities for 2001/2002 and the steps taken to meet the criteria contained within the action plan for the Section.

Decided:  that the contents of the report, the progress made during the last 12 months and the activities planned for the next 12 months which meet the criteria of the Central Purchasing Section's action plan be noted.

500

Debtors' System Reconciliation - Request for Write-Off

500

There was submitted a report dated 15 May 2002 by the Director of Finance Services seeking approval to write-off an unreconciled difference of £17,030 between the ledger and debtors' system against the bad debt provision.

Decided:  that approval be given to the write-off of an unreconciled difference of £17,030 between the ledger and debtors' system against the bad debt provision.

501

Treasury Management Monitoring Report

501

There was submitted a report, together with amended page, by the Director of Finance Services on matters relating to the Treasury Management Function for the quarter 1 January to 31 March 2002.

Noted

502

Council Shops:  Central Port Glasgow - Current Status and Future Prospect

502

There was submitted a report dated May 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive on the retail premises in Port Glasgow town centre owned and managed by the Council, together with details of redevelopment and regeneration issues affecting Port Glasgow.

After discussion, Councillor Robertson moved:-

(1)   that the Committee note the current position with regard to the redevelopment and regeneration issues affecting Port Glasgow, particularly with respect to Council shops within the central area, including the rental issues affecting John Wood Street and Bay Street at the location;

(2)   that it be remitted to appropriate Officers of the Council to ensure that every opportunity is pursued to maintain and revitalise the centre of Port Glasgow as a vibrant shopping location;

(3)   that it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive to submit a further report with recommendations on any action that could be taken to effect repairs and improvements to the shops and shop frontages to make them more attractive as letting prospects;  and

(4)   that it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive to submit a further report outlining the steps taken to ensure fairness in the establishment of affordable rents within the fragile economy of the existing shops in central Port Glasgow while adhering to the principles of Best Value.

As an amendment, Councillor Hill moved that the rent levels in respect of the Council premises in Port Glasgow town centre be frozen for a period of three years.

On a vote, 4 Members voted for the amendment and 5 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee note the current position with regard to the redevelopment and regeneration issues affecting Port Glasgow, particularly with respect to Council shops within the central area, including the rental issues affecting John Wood Street and Bay Street at the location;

(2)   that it be remitted to appropriate Officers of the Council to ensure that every opportunity is pursued to maintain and revitalise the centre of Port Glasgow as a vibrant shopping location;

(3)   that it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive to submit a further report with recommendations on any action that could be taken to effect repairs and improvements to the shops and shop frontages to make them more attractive as letting prospects;  and

(4)   that it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive to submit a further report outlining the steps taken to ensure fairness in the establishment of affordable rents within the fragile economy of the existing shops in central Port Glasgow while adhering to the principles of Best Value.

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)

Appendix relative to Item 13(a) giving details of retail portfolio of Port Glasgow Town Centre

2, 6 & 9

Kelly Street, Greenock - Housing Advance Write-off

4 & 6

503

Appendix relative to Item 13(a) giving details of retail portfolio of Port Glasgow Town Centre

503

There was submitted an Appendix relative to Agenda Item 13(a) providing details of the Council's retail portfolio of Port Glasgow Town Centre.

Noted

504

Kelly Street, Greenock - Housing Advance Write-off

504

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance Services seeking authority to write-off outstanding Housing Advance balances in respect of premises in Kelly Street, Greenock.

Decided:  that approval be given to write-off outstanding Housing Advance balances in respect of premises in Kelly Street, Greenock amounting to £28,870.47 without prejudice to future prospects of recovery.