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THE INVERCLYDE COUNCIL

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND URBAN REGENERATION COMMITTEE

THURSDAY 10 APRIL. 1997 - 3.00pm

Present:- Councillors Calvert, Morrison (lvi), O’Rourke, McGhee, Mitchell and Jackson Councillor McGhee, Convener, in the Chair.

In attendance:- The Assistant Chief Executive (Economic Development and Urban Regeneration), the Director of Central Services, the Director of Economic Development, Mr J Aird (for the Director of Finance), Mr H McNeilly (for the Director of Legal Services), the Director of Planning, Mr M A Ferguson (for the Director of Property and Technical Services)

and the Chief Environmental Services Officer.

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Provost Allan, Councillors Mulholland, Sir Simpson Stevenson and Finnie.

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

421 PLANNING APPLICATION SUBMITTED FOR CONTINUED CONSIDERATION 421

SUBMITTED: Report dated 3 April 1997 by the Director of Planning regarding an application by Scottish Power plc for the erection of an electricity sub-station at Inverkip Road, Greenock (IC/96/390), consideration of which had been continued from the meeting on 27 February 1997 for a site visit and to afford the local Community Council a further opportunity to arrange with the applicants the holding of a public meeting to provide information on the application for those residing within the vicinity of the application site. The report recommended that planning permission be granted subject to a number of conditions.

Councillor Rebecchi was present and with consent as Ward Councillor spoke on the matter.

DECIDED: That planning permission be refused as the proposals would be detrimental to the amenity of the residents of the adjacent area as a result of (a) potential adverse effects on health by virtue of electro magnetic radiation and (b) the scale of the proposed building in the development.

422 PLANNING APPLICATIONS 422

SUBMITTED: Reports by the Director of Planning on the following applications which were submitted, together with letters of objection and support where submitted, and dealt with as follows:

(a) Change of Use of Class 2 (Office to Class 3 (Hot Food Take-Away:

42 Princes Street. Port Glasgow (IC/97/43)

DECIDED: That planning permission be granted.
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422 422
(b) Change of Use of Territorial Army Quarters to (1) Workshops/Storage with Ancillary
Showroom (Trade Only) and (2) Business Use:
William Street/Highholm Street/Jean Street. Port Glasgow (IC/96/416)

DECIDED: That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

(1) That prior to the uses hereby approved commencing the 17 car parking spaces as indicated on drawing number D96/D 1/1/lA shall be formed to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning;

(2) That vehicular access to the site shall be via footway crossovers to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning, conditions (1) and (2) being imposed in the interests of public safety;

(3) That the showrooms indicated on drawing number D96/0l/l/4 shall be incidental to the main use of the premises as workshop/storage facilities and shall be used for “trade only”, in the interests of residential amenity;

(4) That the proposed business use shall be limited to those uses which fall within Class 4 of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Scotland) Order 1989, to accord with Policy Hn of the Inverclyde Local Plan;

(5) That a scheme of soft landscaping shall be submitted to and approved by the Director of Planning in writing prior to the commencement of the development;

(6) That the landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding season following completion of the development and any shrubs which within a period of 5 years from the completion of development die, are removed or become diseased shall be replaced within the next planting and seeding season with another of similar size and species, unless the Director of Planning gives prior written consent to any variation, conditions (5) and (6) being imposed in the interests of visual amenity;

(7) That the hours of operation of the premises shall be restricted to 8 am to 6 pm Mondays to Fridays and 8 am to 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, in the interests of residential amenity; and

(8) That there shall be no external storage of building materials, in the interests of visual amenity.

(c) Change of Use of Territorial Army Quarters to Church and Community Facilities:

William Street/Highholm Street/Jean Street. Port Glasgow (IC/97/l 8)

The report recommended that planning permission be refused as the proposed level of off-street car parking fails to meet the level of 15 spaces as required by the Roads Development Guide.

DECIDED: That consideration of the application be continued to allow the applicant the opportunity to amend the application for the provision of additional car parking.

(d) Retail Development comprising Food. Non-Food and Fast Food Developments together with Associated Roadworks. Landscaping and Pedestrian Footbridge (In Outline:

East Glen Yard. Port Glasgow (IC/97/13)

The report recommended that planning permission be refused for a number of reasons.

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422 DECIDED: That consideration of the application be continued to allow the application to be 422 considered at the same time as the planning application by Clydeport Properties Ltd and Stannifer Developments Ltd for a large site which includes the East Glen Yard site.

(e) Demolition of Open-Type Quayside Structures and Construction of New Sheet Piled Walls and Rock Bunds:

East India Harbour. Greenock (IC/97/5 3’)

DECIDED: That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

(1) That all infilling be carried out using inert material, in the interests of amenity;

(2) That a full detailed record of the existing harbour structures, the terms of reference of which shall be agreed by the Director of Planning in consultation with the West of Scotland Archaeological Service, shall be made prior to the commencement of development; and (3) That the developer shall afford access at all reasonable times to any archaeological organisation acceptable to the Director of Planning and shall allow them the opportunity to observe work in progress and record items of interest and finds. Notification of the commencement date of operations, information as to whom the West of Scotland Archaeological Service should contact on site and the name of the archaeological organisation retained by the developer shall be submitted to the Director of Planning in writing not less than 14 days before the commencement of development, conditions (2) and (3) being imposed in the interests of heritage.

(f) Alterations to Canopy. Installation of Decorative Shutters and Security Light and Display of Illuminated Signs and External Painting (In Retrospect’):

32 Inverkip Street. Greenock (IC/96/401 & CA/96/42’)

The Director of Planning orally advised the Committee that a letter had been received from the applicant’s agents intimating withdrawal of the advertisement application.

DECIDED:

(a) That planning permission be granted subject to the condition that details of the proposed baffles to the security light be submitted to the Director of Planning within one month of the date of the planning consent and installed within one month of the Director of Planning approving such details, in the interests of residential amenity; and

(b) That the withdrawal of the advertisement application be noted.

(g) Extension and Alterations to Club Premises:

Esplanade. Greenock (IC/97/4’)

DECIDED: That planning permission be granted subject to the condition that samples of all materials to be used on external surfaces be submitted to and approved by the Director of Planning in writing prior to the commencement of development, in the interests of visual amenity.
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(h) Erection of Garden Shed:
5 Stevens Place. Gourock (IC/97/28’)

DECIDED: That planning permission be granted subject to the condition that the garden shed shall be used only for purposes incidental to the enjoyment of the residents at 5 Stevens Place, Gourock, in the interests of residential amenity.

(i) Provision of External Cold Store:
89-9 1 Kempock Street. Gourock (IC/96/32 1’)

DECIDED: That planning permission be granted.

423 PLANNING APPEAL: 15 TIREE AVENUE. PORT GLASGOW 423

SUBMITTED: Report dated 21 March 1997 by the Director of Planning advising that following the decision of the Inverclyde Council at the meeting held on 9 January 1997 to refuse an application by Mr W McConnachie for the erection of a garage at 15 Tiree Avenue, Port Glasgow (IC/96/197), notice had been received that the applicant had appealed to the Secretary of State against that refusal.

NOTED

424 PLANNING APPEALS : 207 OLD INVERKIP ROAD. GREENOCK 424

SUBMITTED: Report dated 18 March 1997 by the Director of Planning advising that following the decision of the former Inverclyde District Council’s Planning and Building Control Sub-Committee at its meeting held on 12 March 1996 to refuse an application for the erection of 34 flats and a pavilion at 207 Old Inverkip Road, Greenock (IC/95/3 89) and the decision of the Committee at the meeting held on 10 October 1996 to refuse an application for the erection of 34 flats and a pavilion at 207 Old Inverkip Road, Greenock (IC/96/260), and the subsequent appeals by the applicants to the Secretary of State against the refusals, the Reporter appointed by the Secretary of State had issued his decision which was to dismiss the appeals.

NOTED

425 REVENUE BUDGET 1996/97 425

SUBMITTED: Report dated 24 March 1997 by the Director of Finance on the position of the

Revenue Budget as at 28 February 1997.

NOTED

426 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1996/97 - FINANCIAL POSITION 426

SUBMITTED: Report dated 24 March 1997 by the Director of Finance on the current position of the Capital Programme 1996/97.

NOTED

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427 PROPOSED ROAD CLOSURE - CONTAINER WAY. CUSTOMHOUSE QUAY. 427
GREENOCK

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Planning recommending the instigation of a road closure order at Container Way, Customhouse Quay, Greenock to facilitate implementation of the planning permission for a leisure unit (bingo) together with associated parking and service facilities granted by the Committee at the meeting on 10 October 1996 (Para 906(f)).

DECIDED: That, in order to facilitate implementation of the planning permission and subject to the applicant agreeing to meet the Council’s expenses, the Council be recommended to make the Stopping-Up of Road (Container Way, Customhouse Quay, Greenock) Order 1997 in terms of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972 and that the Director of Legal Services be authorised to take all necessary action in connection with the Order.

428 THE NEW STRUCTURE PLAN FOR GLASGOW AND THE CLYDE VALLEY 428

SUBMITTED: Report dated 21 March 1997 by the Director of Planning on the proposed content, guiding principles, key objectives and general process for the preparation of a programme for the production of the new Structure Plan, as agreed by the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Joint Structure Plan Committee.

DECIDED: That the Committee endorse the decisions taken by the Structure Plan Joint Committee and agree (i) that decisions taken by the Joint Committee be reflected in the development of Inverclyde Council’s local policies and programmes and (ii) that the papers on the “New Plan for Glasgow and the Clyde Valley - An Agenda for Action and Partnership” be disseminated to Members and Officers of Inverclyde Council in order to inform them of developments in connection with the preparation of the “Structure Plan for Glasgow and the Clyde Valley, to 2020”.

429 SCOTTISH OFFICE DISCUSSION PAPER ON NATURAL HERITAGE DESIGNATIONS 429

SUBMITTED: Report dated 21 March 1997 by the Director of Planning summarising and commenting on the discussion paper relative to natural heritage designations issued by the Scottish Office.

DECIDED: That it be remitted to the Director of Planning to advise the Scottish Office of the comments contained within the report.

430 GREATER GLASGOW AND CLYDE VALLEY AREA TOURIST BOARD - FINANCIAL 430
CONTRIBUTION 1997/98

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Economic Development on a request for a financial contribution for 1997/98 from Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley Area Tourist Board and reviewing performance during 1996/97 based on the Service Agreement with the Tourist Board. The report indicated that during 1997/98 the Tourist Board proposed to continue existing activities and to undertake specific initiatives relative to Inverclyde.

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DECIDED:

(a) That approval be given to a contribution of £100,000 to Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Valley Area Tourist Board from the Capital Programme 1997/98, inclusive of the additional

cost of £12,000 for the operation of the Tourist Information Service on a full year basis;

(b) That applications for funding from the Economic Development Department’s Tourism

Project Budget be considered on their individual merits;

(c) That financial support from the Council be subject to the completion of a satisfactory

Service Agreement with the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley Area Tourist Board; and

(d) That it be remitted to the Director of Economic Development to monitor closely the

Tourist Board’s overall performance throughout 1997/98.

431 INVERCLYDE ENTERPRISE ZONE : DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1997-1999 - INITIAL 431
PROGRAMME

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Economic Development outlining the main priorities for action and the main elements of the initial development plan for the final 2 years of the Inverclyde Enterprise Zone. The report advised of progress made in establishing a monitoring system for sites and enquiries, identifying priority sites and stimulating development, devising a marketing and promotion strategy and quantifying and securing financial support. In order to progress the implementation plan at a total cost of £50,000, the Council had been requested to make a contribution of £10,000 which could be contained within the Economic Development Department’s Revenue Budget 1997/98.

DECIDED:

(a) That the terms of the report and the progress made in respect of the initial programme be noted; and

(b) That the Director of Economic Development submit further monitoring reports during the remaining period of the Enterprise Zone.

432 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 1997/98 432

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Economic Development on proposals for the Business Development Programme 1997/98 detailing the aims and objectives of the various Schemes together with the financial implications relative thereto and reviewing the performance of the Schemes transferred from the former Strathclyde Regional Council which operated during 1996/97.

DECIDED:

(a) That £225,270 be allocated to the Business Development Programme 1997/98 from the Economic Development Department’s Business Development Budget;

(b) That the various programmes be operated under current guidelines and eligibility criteria, with particular attention to sectoral priorities; and

(c) That it be remitted to the Director of Economic Development to arrange for the ongoing monitoring and appraisal of the programme.

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433 TRAINING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 1997/98 433

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Economic Development on proposals for the Training Development Programme 1997/98 outlining the proposed training activities together with the financial implications relative thereto and reviewing the performance of the training activities undertaken during 1996/97.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Training Development Programme 1997/98 be approved;

(b) That £112,746 be allocated to the Training Development Programme 1997/98 from the Economic Development Department Training Budget, and

(c) That it be remitted to the Director of Economic Development to arrange for the ongoing monitoring and appraisal of the programme.

434 LOCAL AIR QUALITY 434

SUBMITTED: Report dated 21 March 1997 by the Chief Environmental Services Officer advising that as from 1 April 1997 Local Authorities will be required to review existing and likely air quality standards within their area. The report indicated that, on the basis of existing nitrogen dioxide monitoring, the air quality in Inverclyde is very good.

DECIDED:

(a) That the existing monitoring sites be reviewed and extended to assist in identifying the areas worst affected by traffic pollution in Inverclyde;

(b) That the number of pollutants monitored be extended in order to establish their levels within Inverclyde, the associated costs to be met from existing Budgets;

(c) That the Chief Environmental Services Officer report on the implications for Inverclyde when further guidance is made available by the Government;

(d) That the Chief Environmental Services Officer report on the state of air quality in Inverclyde at least on an annual basis; and

(e) That it be noted good air quality is a major objective of the Council’s future Local Agenda 21 Strategy.

435 PENNINGTON EXPERT GROUP ON E-COLI 0157: INTERIM REPORT 435
CONSULTATION

SUBMITTED: Report dated 24 March 1997 by the Chief Environmental Services Officer on Professor Pennington’s Interim Report on E-Coli 0157 in respect of which interested parties have been asked to comment on the recommendations for selective licensing, physical separation of raw and cooked meats within premises, arrangements for the control of food poisoning outbreaks and the review of the “health risk condition” contained in the Food Safety Act 1990. The report advised of action taken locally following publication of the Interim Report and further action proposed. There was also submitted letter dated 25 March 1997 from the Director of Public Health Argyll and Clyde Health Board relative to cases of E-Coli 0157 in Greenock.

DECIDED:

(a) That the terms of the report and the letter from Argyll and Clyde Health Board be noted;

(b) That the Chief Environmental Services Officer be authorised to provide any support requested by neighbouring authorities in response to food poisoning outbreaks, with reciprocal arrangements being made with the Council; and

(c) That the outbreak control plan for controlling an outbreak of food or waterborne (or other communicable) disease in the community appended to the report be adopted pending publication of a revised plan following Professor Pennington’s final report.

436 REVOCATION OF CLOSING ORDERS 436

SUBMITTED: Report dated 19 March 1997 by the Chief Environmental Services Officer on the condition of a number of houses which are presently the subject of Closing Orders. The report advised that the dwellinghouses had been improved to a satisfactory condition and now met the tolerable standard and accordingly it was recommended that the Closing Orders be revoked.

DECIDED: That the Closing Orders in respect of the properties detailed in the appendix to the report be revoked and that the Director of Central Services be authorised to serve the appropriate Notices.

437 RESOLUTION: EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS 437

On the motion of the Convener it was agreed unanimously that in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the undernoted items of business on the grounds that consideration of the items involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 8 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

438 SUPPLY OF PLASTIC REFUSE SACKS 438

SUBMITTED: Report dated 2 April 1997 by the Chief Environmental Services Qfficer on tender received for the supply of plastic sacks for the period from 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998.

The Chief Environmental Services Officer reported orally that it had come to light that it may be beneficial to consider a revised sack specification of equal quality to the existing specification.

DECIDED: That in the first instance, authority be delegated to the Chief Environmental Services Officer in consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to consider a new specification for plastic refuse sacks, of equal quality to the existing specification, and thereafter that it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to invite tenders on the basis of the new specification and that delegated authority be granted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers and after consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to accept the lowest tender based on the new specification; but, if the new specification is not equal in quality to the existing specification, that delegated authority be granted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers and after consultation with the Convener,

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Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to accept the tender recommended in the report of 2 April 1997 by the Chief Environmental Services Officer.

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439 PORT GLASGOW INDUSTRIAL ESTATE - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT 439 PROGRAMME

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Economic Development on progress in respect of the environmental improvement programme at Port Glasgow Industrial Estate, a joint initiative involving private sector owners and tenants, Renfrewshire Enterprise and Inverclyde Council and outlining the main aspects of the development plan for 1997/98. It was reported that the estimated cost of the works including fees was £440,000 which left a balance of £46,600 from the available funding for contingencies and any additional work which may be identified. The report advised that tenders had been sought for the main environmental improvement programme and set out for consideration the tenders received for these works.

DECIDED:

(a) That the progress to date be noted;

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the tender submitted by Land Engineering (Scotland) Ltd for environmental improvement works at Port Glasgow Industrial Estate in the sum of £334,394.19; and

(c) That the Director of Economic Development report further on any elements of work which require to be undertaken within the Estate which may utilise the balance of funds available for the project.

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