ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

THURSDAY, 28 JANUARY 1999 - 3.00 pm

 

Present:- Councillors Calvert, Morrison (M), Roach, McGhee, Robertson (Y), Mulholland, Finnie and Campbell, Councillor McGhee, Convener, in the Chair.

 

In attendance:- The Depute Chief Executive, Mr C Clelland (for the Executive Director Legal, Information & Support Services), Mr J Aird (for the Executive Director Resource Services), the Director of Central Services, Mr F Kelly (Economic Development Services), Mr F Williamson (for the Director of Planning), Mr E McCarron (for the Director of Transportation & Roads), the Head of Property Services and the Head of Operations (Indoor Services).

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Provost Allan and Councillor Jackson.

 

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

 

111        ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEM                                                                                                             111

 

The Convener referred to a report by the Depute Chief Executive recommending conclusion of the legal agreement for the Council's acquisition of the East India Harbour area from Renfrewshire Enterprise and indicated that consideration of the item was urgent in order that the agreement may be concluded at the earliest date.  He moved that the item be added to the Agenda and this was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

 

112        REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99 - MONITORING REPORT                                                                    112

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 7 January 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget as at 9 December 1998.

NOTED

 

113        CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS:                                                         113

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 12 January 1999 by the Executive Director Economic Development Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1998/99.

NOTED

 

114        CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS:                                                         114

TRANSPORTATION AND ROADS

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 7 January 1999 by the Executive Director Economic Development Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1998/99.

              NOTED

115       CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - FINANCIAL POSITION                                                            115

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 14 January 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the current position of the Capital Programme 1998/99.

NOTED

 

116        DEVELOPMENT STUDY FOR VISITOR CENTRE AT EAST INDIA/                                                116

VICTORIA HARBOURS - USE OF EMERGENCY POWERS PROCEDURE

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 7 January 1999 by the Executive Director Legal, Information & Support Services advising of the use of the Emergency Powers Procedure as set out in Standing Order 66 to authorise the acceptance of the lowest tender received for a development study for a combined visitor/arts facility at East India/Victoria Harbours, Greenock, that by  R G A Consultants in the sum of £15,000, including expenses and VAT.

NOTED

 

117        UPDATE ON CONSULTATION ON ECONOMIC STRATEGY 1999-2001                                      117

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 11 January 1999 by the Executive Director Economic Development Services outlining the results of consultation with the business community and other key agencies on the draft Economic Strategy 1999-2001 and advising that it was intended to continue the consultation process through a series of Business Focus Groups.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee agree to adopt formally the draft Economic Strategy 1999-2001; and

(b) That the Committee be kept informed of progress as required but that, as a minimum, the following reports be presented to the Committee:-

(i) a comprehensive review and evaluation of the Strategy in 2002;

(ii) an annual review of the Strategy progress against targets;

(iii) a monitoring statement to be prepared for the May and October 1999 Committee cycles;

(iv) Service Plans to be agreed annually;

(v) an annual update of the Economic Profile; and

(vi) Inverclyde Facts and Figures to be kept current through regular monthly amendments.

 

118        INVERCLYDE LOCAL PLAN: FIRST REVIEW - PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM                       118

CONSULTATION ON THE CONSULTATIVE DRAFT AND ISSUES ARISING

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 5 January 1999 by the Executive Director Economic Development Services summarising the responses from private individuals, Council Members and Services, statutory consultees and business and development interests in Inverclyde on the consultative draft of the Inverclyde Local Plan: First Review and commenting on the matters raised.  In addition to a number of site/location specific or single policy/proposal matters, the fundamental issue arising from the consultation exercise related to the preferred development strategy (chapter 4) and, in particular, the brownfield land development strategy.  The report detailed the background to the brownfield development strategy, the consequences of brownfield neglect and the importance of deficit funding for such sites.

In the course of discussion, Members expressed their concerns that the report did not address specifically the issue of the forecast decline in the population of Inverclyde and the associated need to examine ways in which the area might be made more attractive to industry and new residents by the provision of sites for high quality housing.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee agree:-

(i) that the profile of the preferred development strategy be raised corporately with a view to publicising its significance for the Council's Corporate Strategy, particularly in view of Renfrewshire Enterprise's intention to reduce strategically its major financial commitment in Inverclyde over the short term;

(ii) that the Director of Planning, together with the Executive Director Economic Development Services, be authorised to pursue the issues raised in the report with Renfrewshire Enterprise, building on the liaison arrangements already in place and further to the recent presentation of Renfrewshire Enterprise's property and environment strategy review;

(iii) that the nature, range and content of the responses received on the Consultative Draft Local Plan be noted and the scale of the exercise undertaken acknowledged; and

(iv) that it be noted the Director of Planning will report to a future meeting of the Committee with the statutory "Report on Publicity and Consultation on the Local Plan Review", which will include in detail a summary of all the comments and representations submitted through the consultation exercise, together with the appropriate Council response;

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Planning to take account of the Committee's wish to have the issue of population decline and the need for high quality housing considered and to make the necessary adjustments to the Draft Finalised Plan; and

(c) That the Director of Planning be authorised to proceed with the preparation of a Draft Finalised Plan and report thereon to a meeting of the Committee later in the year.

 

119        THE SCOTTISH ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN - FOOLSPEED CAMPAIGN                                    119

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 8 January 1999 by the Executive Director Economic Development Services requesting the Committee to support the Foolspeed Campaign launched by the Scottish Road Safety Campaign in November 1998.  It was anticipated that any costs associated with supporting the campaign could be contained within the current Revenue Budgets.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee agree to support the Foolspeed Campaign; and

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Transportation & Roads to discuss with the Chief Executive and other Directors the level of involvement for the Council.

 

120        ROAD SAFETY TRAINING UNIT - PROGRESS REPORT DECEMBER 1998                                  120

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 26 November 1998 by the Executive Director Economic Development Services on the work undertaken by the Road Safety Training Officers during the period May-December 1998 relative to schools' activities, cycling, publicity, youth organisations, liaison activities and the school crossing patrol.

NOTED

 

 

121        GUIDELINES ON ASSESSING WALKING ROUTES TO SCHOOL                                                  121

 

It was agreed that this item be withdrawn from the Agenda.

 

122        PRIVATE BRIDGES - POSSIBLE OPTIONS                                                                                        122

 

It was agreed that this item be withdrawn from the Agenda.

 

123        RESOLUTION: EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS                                                                     123

 

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 as amended, 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 the respective paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act as are set opposite each item:-

 

Item                                                                                         Paragraph(s)

 

Revenue Budget 1998/99 - Roads DLO and

Cleaning DSO                                                                          8

East India Harbour: Greenock Waterfront                                 6 & 9

 

124        REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99 - ROADS DLO AND CLEANING DSO                                               124

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 6 January 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the position of the Roads DLO and Cleaning DSO Revenue Budget 1998/99 as at 9 December 1998.

NOTED

 

125        EAST INDIA HARBOUR: GREENOCK WATERFRONT                                                                    125

 

There was submitted report by the Depute Chief Executive recommending conclusion of the legal agreement for the Council's acquisition of the East India Harbour area from Renfrewshire Enterprise.  The Depute Chief Executive reported orally on the position relative to road improvement works which had been carried out within that area.

Councillor Campbell declared an interest in this matter and took no part in its consideration or decision.

Following consideration, the Committee agreed (a) to purchase the Harbour area at a price determined by the District Valuer and on other appropriate terms and conditions as approved by the District Valuer and as negotiated by the Chief Executive; and (b) to make a contribution to the roadworks, all as detailed in the Appendix.