Corporate Business Committee

Thursday 22 January 2004 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Blair, Fyfe, Hill, Hunter, McCabe, Moran, Nimmo and White.

Chair:  Councillor White presided. 

In attendance:  Director of Finance, Mr H McNeilly (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Head of Personnel Services, Head of Property Services, Head of Financial Services, Mr J Cowie (Interim IT Manager) and Mr I Robinson (Interim Operations Manager IT).

Apologies:  Councillors Gallacher, McCormick (M) and McCormick (P)

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

55

Birkmyre Trust, Kilmacolm - Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive

55

There was submitted a report dated 27 November 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services advising the Committee of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to authorise further expenditure from the Birkmyre Trust Funds, firstly, to progress preparation work in the form of detailed design plans for the refurbishment of the Birkmyre Pavilion and secondly, to progress preparation and submission of a Petition to the Court of Session for a Cy-pres Scheme to extend the Council’s powers as Trustees in connection with the refurbishment of the Birkmyre Pavilion.

Noted

56

Managing Attendance - Absence Statistics 1 July to 30 September 2003 (Period 3)

56

There was submitted a report dated 15 December 2003 by the Head of Personnel Services advising of the Council’s absence statistics for the period 1 July to 30 September 2003 (Period 3).

Decided:

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

(2)      that it be remitted to the Head of Personnel Services to submit a report clarifying a number of matters relating to managing attendance.

57

Revised Grievance Procedures

57

There was submitted a report dated 5 December 2003 by the Head of Personnel Services recommending revisions to the current grievance procedure for all employees with the exception of teachers, for whom there is a separate procedure.

Decided: that the Committee approve the revised grievance procedure, as appended to the report.

58

Alteration to Pay Cycles - Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive

58

There was submitted a report dated 6 January 2004 by the Head of Personnel Services advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to approve the implementation of arrangements to assist the transfer of employees from the two weekly pay cycle to the four weekly pay cycle.

Noted

59

Overpayment of Wages - Policy and Procedure

59

There was submitted a report dated 13 January 2004 by the Head of Personnel Services recommending the adoption of a formal policy and procedure in relation to the recovery of overpayment of wages.

Decided: that the Committee approve the policy and procedure on overpayment of wages, as detailed in the Appendix to the report.

60

Review of Registration Service

60

It was noted that this item had been withdrawn from the Agenda.

61

Social Work Services - Criminal Justice Throughcare Team - Staffing Implications

61

There was submitted a report dated 5 December 2003 by the Head of Personnel Services recommending the establishment of posts in the Criminal Justice Throughcare Team, within Social Work Services.  The report advised that the cost of the proposals was £102,542, including employers’ costs which could be met from additional funding being received from the Scottish Executive.

Decided:  that the Committee approve the establishment of the following posts within Social Work Services:-

(1)      One post of Criminal Justice Throughcare Co-ordinator on salary grade PO5 (£27,873 - £30,060);

(2)      Two posts of Criminal Justice Social Worker (Throughcare) on salary grade QSW (£19,632 - £24,888); and

(3)      One post of Senior Clerical Officer on salary grade GS3 (£13,650 - £14,211)

62

Revenue Section Performance to 31 December 2003

62

There was submitted a report dated 8 January 2004 by the Director of Finance (1) on the Council Tax Non Domestic Rates performance for the period from 1 April 2003 to 31 December 2003 and (2) highlighting other relevant issues.

Decided:  that the contents of the report be noted.

63

Treasury Management Monitoring Report 2003/04 - Q3

63

There was submitted a report dated 9 January 2004, by the Director or Finance on the Treasury Management function for the period from 1 October to 31 December 2003.

Decided:  that the quarterly monitoring report on the Treasury Management function for the period to 31 December 2003 be noted.

64

Revenue Budget 2003/04 - Period 9

64

There was submitted a report dated 5 January 2004 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 2003/04 as at Period 9 (3 December 2003).

Noted

65

Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2005/06 - Progress

65

There was submitted a report dated 6 January 2004 by the Director of Finance on the progress of the Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2005/06.

Decided: 

(1)      that the progress of the specific project detailed in Appendix 1 of the report be noted; and

(2)      that it be noted that an underspend of £1000 is projected in the original budget agreed for 2003/04.

66

Actuarial Review of the Insurance Fund

66

There was submitted a report dated 6 January 2004 by the Director of Finance on the outcome of the three yearly Actuarial Review of the Insurance Fund following the remit from the Committee meeting on 4 September 2003 (para 632).

Decided:  that the Committee note the outcome of the actuarial review of the Insurance Fund and that the increase in Fund contributions be remitted to the Corporate Management Team as part of the budget process.

67

Extension of Contract for the Provision of a Corporate Business Travel Service - Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive

67

There was submitted a report dated 9 January 2004 by the Director of Finance advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to (1) extend the Contract for the Provision of a Corporate Business Travel Service and (2) to accept the only tender received that by Barrhead Travel.

Noted

68

Finance Management System

68

There was submitted a report dated 9 January 2004 by the Director of Finance advising of the current position of the Finance Management System following the system “going live” on 15 December 2003.

Decided:  that the Committee note:-

(1)      that the Finance Management System went live on 15 December 2003; and

(2)      the action taken to continue the development of the functionality of the system.

69

ICT Service Framework

69

There was submitted a report dated 12 January 2004 by the Director of Finance advising the Committee on progress made in the development and implementation of an appropriate ICT Framework for Inverclyde Council.

Decided:  That the Committee note:-

(1)      the significant challenges facing ICT staff in ensuring that ICT Services are realigned to support the aims and objectives of the Services of the Council;

(2)      the flexibility with which the staff will be requested to operate in the short term in order to meet these challenges; and

(3)      the submission of further reports to Committee as appropriate during this time of Service change.

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 item on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 6 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

70

Asbestos Surveys in Schools - Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive

70

There was submitted a report dated December 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive advising the Committee of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to invite tenders from specialist consultants to undertake asbestos surveys within Education properties, in accordance with the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.

Noted