	Corporate Business Committee Thursday 5 June 2003 at 3.00 pm
	Present: Councillors Blair, Fyfe, Gallacher, Hill, Hunter, McCabe, McCormick (M), McCormick (P), Moran and Nimmo.
	Chair: Councillor Gallacher presided.
	In attendance: Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive, Mr W Wilson (for Director of Community & Protective Services), Director of Finance, Director of Legal & Support Services, Director of Social Work & Housing Services, Head of Personnel Services, Head of Property Services, Acting Head of Information Technology and Managing Solicitor (Litigation/Advice).
	Apologies: Councillor White.
	The following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Committee.
433	COSLA - Scottish Office Joint Staffing Watch - March 2003	433
	There was submitted a report dated 21 May 2003 by the Head of Personnel Services advising the Committee of the workforce profile of Inverclyde Council as at 8 March 2003.
	Noted
434	Social Work & Housing Services: Amendments to Establishment - Housing Benefit Section	434
	There was submitted a report dated April 2003 by the Head of Personnel Services recommending amendments to the establishment within the Housing Benefit Section of Social Work & Housing Services. The report advised that the cost of the proposals amounting to £148,854 including employers' costs could be met from additional funding being received by the Housing Benefit Section.
	Decided: that the Committee approve the establishment of the following posts within Social Work & Housing Services:- (a) one post of Appeals Officer on salary grade AP4 (£19,632-£21,732); (b) two posts of Clerical Assistant on salary grade GS1/2 (£9,083-£13,416); (c) one post of Admin/Finance Officer on salary grade AP1/2 (£14,211-£16,866); (d) three posts of Senior Clerical Assistant on salary grade GS3 (£13,650-£14,211); (e) one post of Administrative Officer (Fraud) on salary grade AP3 (£17,340-£19,029); (f) one post of Clerical Assistant on salary grade GS1/2 (£9,083-£13,416).
435	Establishment of a Generic Post of System Administrator - Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive	435
	There was submitted a report dated 10 April 2003 by the Head of Personnel Services advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive (1) to establish one post of System Administrator to maintain Information Technology systems across all Services within the Council and (2) to delegate authority to the Head of Personnel Services to establish posts of System Administrator for new information systems to be introduced within the Council.
	Noted
436	Social Work & Housing Services: Anti-Social Behaviour - Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive	436
	There was submitted a report dated April 2003 by the Head of Personnel Services advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to approve staffing requirements arising from a report on Anti-Social Behaviour remitted to the Committee from the January meeting of the Health Improvement Committee.
	Decided: that the Committee note the action taken under the powers delegated to the Chief Executive and confirmation that a report be submitted to the Health Improvement Committee on funding issues.
437	Birkmyre Trust, Kilmacolm - Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive	437
	There was submitted a report by the Director of Community & Protective Services advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to spend Birkmyre Trust funds on surveys on the Birkmyre Pavilion.
	Decided: (1) that the Committee note the action taken under the powers delegated to the Chief Executive; and (2) that progress of the proposals be remitted to the Member-led Working Group comprising Councillors Fyfe, Hunter and a Member of the Minority Groups to be advised with the Community Support Services Manager as Lead Officer.
438	Fixed Installation Electrical Testing - Various Properties - Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive	438
	There was submitted a report dated May 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to accept the lowest tender for fixed installation electrical testing at various properties throughout Inverclyde, that by WWW Electrical Ltd in the sum of £159,444.00.
	Noted
439	Victoria Tower Stonework Repairs - Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive	439
	There was submitted a report dated May 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to accept the lowest tender for the stonework repair works to the Victoria Tower, Greenock Municipal Buildings, that by Northern Steeplejacks Ltd in the sum of £102,508.50.
	Noted
440	Property Database - Request to Acquire Alternative Software	440
	There was submitted a report dated 15 May 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval to (1) acquire alternative software in respect of the current modernising Government Fund (NGF2) and (2) apply to the Scottish Executive to consider approving revised proposals to utilise the existing funding available to acquire IT property software to replace the existing bespoke property management information system (P.M.I.S.).
	Decided: (1) that the Committee agree to the cessation of further development of the current property management information system in favour of the acquisition of property software packages complying with modern standards; and (2) that authority be delegated to the Acting Head of Information Technology to apply to the Scottish Executive to effect the variation in the current MGF2 bid to permit acquisition of appropriate proprietary IT Software packages to meet requirements for the Property Portfolio, the Master Address System and the Planning and Building Control Service.
441	Treasury Management - Annual Report 2002/03	441
	There was submitted a report dated 13 May 2003 by the Director of Finance providing details of the Council’s Treasury Policy Statement for 2002/03 as required under Treasury Management Practice Statement 6 Sub-Section 3.
	Decided: that the Committee note the contents of the Annual Report on Treasury Management for 2002/03, encompassing information on Q4 of 2002/03.
442	Revenue Section Performance to 31 March 2003	442
	There was submitted a report dated 14 May 2003 by the Director of Finance advising the Committee of the Council Tax Non-Domestic Rates Performance for the period to 31 March 2003 and highlighting other relevant issues.
	Decided: (1) that the Committee note the continued improvement in Council Tax collection; and (2) that the successful introduction of the Small Business Rates Relief Scheme be noted.
	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)
	Group Life Assurance Tender - Use of Powers Delegated 6 & 8 to the Chief Executive
	Annual Contract for Urban Herbicide 2003 - Use of Powers 6 Delegated to the Chief Executive
	Lease of Premises at Dalrymple Street, Greenock - 6 & 9 Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive
	Property Register 2, 6 & 9
	Proposed Lease of Premises - Princes Street, Port Glasgow 9
443	Group Life Assurance Tender - Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive	443
	There was submitted a report dated 16 April 2003 by the Director of Finance advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to (1) homologate the invitation of tenders for the appointment of consultants to provide Group Life Assurance services and (2) accept the lowest tender received that by Swiss Life at an annual cost of £146,972.73.
	Noted
444	Annual Contract for Urban Herbicide 2003 - Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive	444
	There was submitted a report dated 15 May 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive for the invitation of tenders for the appointment of a specialist contractor to undertake the annual contract for urban herbicide 2003.
	Noted
445	Second Floor Offices - Dalrymple Street, Greenock - Lease of Accommodation by Inverclyde Council - Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive	445
	There was submitted a report dated May 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to obtain approval to lease the second floor office accommodation at 99 Dalrymple Street, Greenock for operational purposes.
	Noted
446	Property Register	446
	There was submitted a report dated May 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of property transactions dealt with under delegated authority.
	Noted
447	Proposed Lease of Premises - Princes Street, Port Glasgow	447
	There was submitted a report dated May 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive requesting approval to lease the ground floor retail premises at 14 Princes Street, Port Glasgow from William Distributors (Scotland) Ltd for Housing Services purposes.
	Decided: (1) that the report be not approved and that it be remitted to the appropriate Officers to investigate as quickly as possible alternative options for accommodating the Anti-Social Team within the Council's current accommodation portfolio; and (2) that authority be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to progress the matter.