Corporate Business Committee

Thursday 31 October 2002 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Councillor Robertson (Y) presided.

In attendance:  Depute Chief Executive, Director of Community & Protective Services, Mr H McNeilly (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Head of Financial Services, Head of Personnel Services, Head of Planning Services, Head of Property Services and Acting Head of Information Technology.

Apologies:  Councillors Hill and Jackson.

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

864

CoSLA - Scottish Office Joint Staffing Watch:  September 2002

864

There was submitted a report dated 9 October 2002 by the Head of Personnel Services advising the Committee of the workforce profile of Inverclyde Council as at 7 September 2002.

Noted

865

Social Work & Housing Services:  Establishment of Bail Service at Greenock Sheriff Court

865

There was submitted a report dated 7 October 2002 by the Head of Personnel Services recommending the establishment of posts within Social Work & Housing Services.  The report advised that the cost of the proposals would be £40,510, including employers' costs, to be funded from within the existing Criminal Justice budget allocation.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee approve the organisational arrangements for the introduction of Bail Services at Greenock Sheriff Court;  and

(2)   that the Committee approve the establishment of (i) one post of Criminal Justice Support Worker on salary grade AP4 (£18,878-£20,897) and (ii) one post of Community Service Supervisor on salary grade AP1 (£13,664-£14,618).

866

Personnel Services - Amendment to Establishment:  Post of Health & Safety Officer

866

There was submitted a report dated 18 October 2002 by the Head of Personnel Services recommending the establishment of a post of Health & Safety Officer within the Health & Safety Section of Personnel Services.  The report advised that the cost of the proposal would be met by transferring the budget from the post of Information Worker (Post No 80852).

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

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee approve the establishment of one post of Health & Safety Officer on salary grade AP1/PO2 (£13,664-£26,801);  and

(2)   that the post of Information Worker (Post No 80852) be deleted from the Social Work & Housing Services establishment.

867

Disclosure Scotland

Code of Practice on Handling Disclosure Information

867

There was submitted a report dated 9 October 2002 by the Head of Personnel Services recommending approval of a policy on the secure handling, use, storage and retention of disclosure information received from Disclosure Scotland.

Decided:  that the Committee approve the policy as outlined in the appendix to the report.

868

Smoking in the Workplace

868

There was submitted a report dated 14 October 2002 by the Head of Personnel Services recommending approval of a revised No Smoking Policy.

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

Decided:  that the Committee approve the revised No Smoking Policy as appended to the report.

869

Scotland's Health at Work (SHAW)

869

There was submitted a report dated 15 August 2002 by the Head of Personnel Services (1) advising the Committee of Scotland's Health at Work award scheme and (2) outlining details of the submission in respect of the bronze award and the intention to pursue in due course the silver and gold awards.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee endorse the Council's involvement in the SHAW Award Scheme; and

(2)   that it be remitted to the Head of Personnel Services to report further to the Committee, as submissions are made for the silver and gold awards.

870

Public Holidays 2004

870

There was submitted a report dated 11 September 2002 by the Director of Legal & Support Services requesting the Committee to fix the local public holidays for 2004.

Decided:  that the local public holidays for 2004 be as follows:-

Holiday

Date

New Year

Thursday 1 January 2004

Friday 2 January 2004

Good Friday

Easter Monday

Friday 9 April 2004

Monday 12 April 2004

Spring Holiday

Monday 26 April 2004

May Day

Monday 3 May 2004

Victoria Day

Monday 31 May 2004

Fair Saturday

Saturday 3 July 2004

Autumn Holiday

Monday 6 September 2004

Christmas

Monday 27 December 2004

Tuesday 28 December 2004

871

Burns Road Social Work Office

871

There was submitted a report dated October 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive advising the Committee of the circumstances surrounding the fire that occurred at the Burns Road Social Work Office and the events that took place which required the use of the Chief Executive's authority to instruct executive action in the interests of public safety.

Noted

872

Port Glasgow High School - Renewal of Pool Circulation System:  Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

872

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to accept the lowest tender submitted for the renewal of the pool circulation system at Port Glasgow High School, that by Mackintosh Brothers in the sum of £29,376.00.

Noted

873

Ardgowan Primary School - Roof Repairs:  Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

873

There was submitted a report dated August 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to accept the lowest tender submitted for the Ardgowan Primary School roof repairs, that by R F Watters in the sum of £20,307.62.

Noted

874

McLean/Watt Complex Heating System - Boiler Replacement:  Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

874

There was submitted a report dated October 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) (1) to accept the lowest tender submitted for the replacement heating boiler at the McLean/Watt complex (2) homologate the actions taken by the Head of Property Services in seeking tenders and (3) approve the seeking of competitive quotations for the heating control system.

Noted

875

Essential Large Maintenance Works - Additional Allocation Priority 2 Funded

875

There was submitted a report dated October 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking authority to extend the approvals granted by the Committee at the meeting of 11 April 2002 (para 353) in respect of the essential large maintenance works, following the decision of the Policy & Strategy Committee of 14 March 2002 (para 258) which brought forward additional projects from the Priority 2 list.

Decided:

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

Priority

Location

Description

Value

1.

Greenock Crematorium

Refurbishment of hearths

£  26,000

2.

Watt/McLean Complex

Replacement of heating boiler

£  26,000

3.

Pottery Street

Lighting

£  12,000

4.

Pottery Street

Fume extraction system

£  24,000

5.

Kirn Drive

Petrol pumps

£    7,000

6.

St Laurence's Primary School

Gas housing replacement

£  18,000

7.

Care Homes

Essential works

£  33,000

8.

Greenock Academy

Roof repairs

£  15,000

9.

Highlanders Academy

Water damage works

£  25,000

10.

Additional Balancing Allocation

£  25,000

11.

Minor Projects

(Balance to be allocated to projects at discretion of Head of Property Services)

 £  39,000

Sub-total:

£250,000

(2)   that all projects listed be subject to the approval granted for essential large maintenance works at the meeting of the Committee of 11 April 2002 (para 353);

(3)   that all projects listed be developed to tender stage as appropriate with a view to their completion throughout the financial year 2002/03, subject to a cost limit of £512,000 plus the additional allocation of £250,000;

(4)   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

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

876

Capital Programme 2002/03 to 2003/04 - Progress

876

There was submitted a report dated 4 October 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive on the progress of the Capital Programme 2002/03 to 2003/04.

Decided:

(1)   that the contents of the report be noted;

(2)   that the Committee note the projected overspend of £25,000 within the Property Services budget;  and

(3)   that the Committee note an overspend of £27,000 within the IT Services budget, which will be the subject of a further report to the next Committee.

877

Revenue Section Performance to 30 September 2002

877

There was submitted a report dated 7 October 2002 by the Director of Finance advising the Committee of the Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rates Performance for the first half of the year and highlighting other relevant issues.

Decided:  that the Committee note the contents of the report and the measures being taken to ensure that the improvement in Council Tax collection is maintained.

878

Treasury Management Monitoring Report 2002/03 Q2

878

There was submitted a report dated 30 September 2002 by the Director of Finance advising the Committee on matters relating to the Treasury Management Function.

Decided:  that the Committee note the quarterly monitoring report to 30 September 2002 on the Treasury Management Function.

879

Revenue Budget 2002/03 - Period 6

879

There was submitted a report dated 18 October 2002 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget as at Period 6 (18 September 2002).

Decided:

(1)   that the current position of the 2002/03 Revenue Budget be noted;

(2)   that the virement of £30,000 within Finance Services and £23,500 between Finance Services and Information Services be approved;

(3)   that it be noted that a report on options to address the projected shortfall in Industrial and Commercial Rent Income be presented to the next Committee;  and

(4)   that it be noted that a report on the overspend within Information Services will be submitted to next Committee.

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)

Economic Development

Property Services - Amendments to Establishment

1

Community & Protective Services

Library Service - Amendments to Establishment

1

St Francis Primary School - Retaining Wall

Acceptance of Tender

6 & 8

Proposed Extension of Lease to Parklea Association

Branching Out Ltd

2, 6 & 9

Rankin Park

6 & 9

880

Economic Development

Property Services - Amendments to Establishment

880

There was submitted a report dated 15 October 2002 by the Head of Personnel Services recommending amendments to the establishment of Property Services.  The report advised that the cost of the proposals was £8,823 including employers' costs which could be met from the Property Services Budget.

Decided:  that the salary grades for posts within Property Services as outlined in the appendix to the report be extended from salary grade PO1/3 (£23,930-£27,479) to salary grade PO1/6 (£23,930-£29,603).

881

Community and Protective Services

Library Service - Amendments to Establishment

881

There was submitted a report dated 16 October 2002 by the Head of Personnel Services recommending amendments to the establishment within the Library Service, which were approved, all as detailed in the Appendix.  ±Councillor Robertson (Y) declared an interest in this item of business and took no part in its deliberation or decision.  Councillor Robertson vacated the Chair and Councillor McCormick assumed the Chair for this item.   Councillor Robertson then resumed the Chair.

882

St Francis Primary School - Retaining Wall

Acceptance of Tender

882

There was submitted a report dated October 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive on tenders received to undertake works to repair a retaining wall at St Francis Primary School.

Decided:  that it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services to accept the lowest tender, that by R F Watters in the sum of £19,834.62.

883

Proposed Extension of Lease to Parklea Association Branching Out Ltd

883

There was submitted a report dated October 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive on a proposed extension of a lease of land at Parklea Playing Fields.

Decided:  that approval be given to extend the lease of land at Parklea Playing Fields to Parklea Branching Out Ltd from 20 to 25 years on the terms and conditions as previously agreed.

884

Rankin Park

884

There was submitted a report dated 18 October 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive on the present position of the negotiations with Buckingham Properties (Scotland) Ltd in respect of the proposed development at Rankin Park and following a vote the Committee agreed to note the present proposals submitted by Buckingham Properties (Scotland) Ltd, all as detailed in the Appendix.