ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

THURSDAY, 11 MARCH 1999 - 3.00 pm

 

Present:- Provost Allan, Councillors Calvert, Morrison (M), Jackson, 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), Mr A S Grant (for the Director of Central Services), Mr F Kelly (Economic Development Services), Mr F McLeod (for the Chief Planning Officer), the Director of Transportation & Roads, the Head of Property Services and the Head of Cleaning Services.

 

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

 

   283      REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99 - MONITORING REPORT                                                                    283

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 18 February 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 1998/99 as at 6 January 1999.

NOTED

 

   284      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS:                                                         284

TRANSPORTATION AND ROADS

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 23 February 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1998/99.

NOTED

 

   285      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - FINANCIAL POSITION                                                            285

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 18 February 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the current position of the Capital Programme 1998/99.

NOTED

 

   286      PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED BUSINESS CENTRE                                     286

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Depute Chief Executive on the current position in respect of the proposed development of an integrated business centre and advising of a draft interim report, appraising the strategic and operational priorities of the agencies involved in economic development in Inverclyde, submitted by the consultants appointed by the Council and Renfrewshire Enterprise.  The consultant’s report confirmed that there was a market failure in terms of the provision of existing business development services, set out the rationale, role and remit of an integrated business centre and provided a proposed implementation schedule.  In addition, it was noted that negotiations for suitable centrally located premises for the siting of the integrated business centre were in progress.

 DECIDED:

(a)  That the acting Head of Economic Development Services be authorised to instruct detailed costings in respect of the fitting out of the premises identified and to enter into consultations with Renfrewshire Enterprise on the apportionment of fitting out costs;

(b)  That the acting Head of Economic Development Services prepare a detailed submission in respect of the capital and revenue resource allocation required from the Council and that this be submitted to the Policy and Strategy Committee for approval; and

(c)  That the acting Head of Economic Development Services be authorised to adopt the strategic and operating plans for the integrated business centre as agreed at the submission of the final consultant’s report.

 

   287      NEW DEAL PLACEMENTS AT CLYDE MUIRSHIEL REGIONAL PARK                                        287

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval to enter into an agreement for the Council to act as the sub-contractor for the delivery of new deal placements at Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park and outlining the general arrangements to be covered by such an agreement.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the acting Head of Economic Development Services be authorised to enter into an agreement to sub-contract with the Renfrewshire Joint Committee to deliver new deal environmental task force placements at Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park; and

(b)  That the Executive Director Legal, Information & Support Services take such action as may be necessary, by way of Minute of Agreement between member authorities, to indemnify Inverclyde Council against any potential liabilities arising from the adoption of a sub-contract position.

 

   288      ALTERATION TO THE STRATHCLYDE STRUCTURE PLAN 1995:  LARGE                                  288

SINGLE-USER HIGH AMENITY SITES - SECRETARY OF STATE’S FORMAL

NOTICE OF APPROVAL

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 16 February 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive commenting on the Secretary of State’s letter of 22 January 1999 formally approving Alteration to the Strathclyde Structure Plan 1995 in respect of Large Single-User High Amenity Sites and advising of the inclusion of the former Scott Lithgow (part) location as a potential Strategic Industrial Location within the wider Waterfront - Inverclyde location.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the decision of the Secretary of State to approve the Alteration to the Strathclyde Structure Plan 1995:  Large Single-User High Amenity Sites be noted and that the inclusion of the Scott Lithgow (part) location in Schedules 6A and 8 as a potential Strategic Industrial Location within the wider Waterfront - Inverclyde designation, identified as a Priority for Early Action to secure its redevelopment, be particularly welcomed; and

(b)  That the Chief Planning Officer be authorised to proceed with the preparation of that part of the draft Finalised Local Plan relating to the Waterfront - Inverclyde and, in particular, the former Scott Lithgow Shipyards location in accordance with the Alteration to the Structure Plan 1995.

 

   289      NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY GUIDELINE 14:  NATURAL HERITAGE                                    289

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 February 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on National Planning Policy Guideline 14 relating to natural heritage and outlining the implications for Inverclyde in terms of the Structure Plan, the Local Plan and development control, together with officer comments submitted to the Scottish Office by the Structure Plan Manager on behalf of the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Structure Plan Joint Committee on the draft National Planning Policy Guideline on planning and the historic environment.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the contents of National Planning Policy Guideline 14 on Natural Heritage be noted; and

(b)   That the Chief Planning Officer be authorised to take account of the new National Planning Policy Guideline on Natural Heritage, related comments from Scottish Natural Heritage and the latest draft planning guidance on the historic environment in the preparation of the Final Draft Local Plan.

 

   290      STREET NAMING                                                                                                                                 290

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 16 February 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on the proposed naming of the housing development at Brueacre Road/Mount Stuart Drive, Wemyss Bay.

DECIDED:  That the names Mount Stuart Drive, Brueacre Drive and Brueacre Place be adopted as shown on the plan appended to the report.

 

   291      GUIDELINES ON ASSESSING WALKING ROUTES TO SCHOOL                                                  291

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 23 February 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive requesting the Committee to agree to the adoption of Guidelines on Assessing Walking Routes to School, as summarised in the Appendix to the report, which had been approved for a trial period of 1 year from January 1999 by the West of Scotland Road Safety Officers’ Group. 

DECIDED:  That the Committee agree to adopt the Guidelines on Assessing Walking Routes to School.

 

   292      WEST OF SCOTLAND ROAD SAFETY FORUM - 1999/2000 CONTRIBUTION                            292

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 23 February 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on the activities undertaken by the West of Scotland Road Safety Forum and requesting the Committee to approve a contribution of £2000 to the Forum for 1999/2000 from the Revenue Budget 1999/2000.

DECIDED:  That approval be given to a contribution of £2000 to the West of Scotland Road Safety Forum for 1999/2000.

   293      WEST OF SCOTLAND TRANSPORT PARTNERSHIP - MEMBERSHIP                                          293

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 23 February 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on the recently formed West of Scotland Transport Partnership, detailing the objectives and remit of the Partnership and requesting the Committee to consider representation thereon.

DECIDED: 

(a)  That the Council’s membership of the West of Scotland Transport Partnership be approved; and

(b)  That the Convener of the Economic Development Services Committee represent the Council at meetings.

 

   294      THE SECURITY OF PRIVATE ROAD WORKS (SCOTLAND) AMENDMENT                                294

REGULATIONS 1998

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 23 February 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of certain amendments to the Security of Private Road Works (Scotland) Regulations 1985, which came into effect on 28 December 1998.

NOTED

 

   295      INSPECTION CHARGES FOR ROADS IN NEW DEVELOPMENTS                                                295

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 23 February 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on a proposal from the Roads Working Group, comprising the Heads of Roads and Transportation Services of authorities in the former Strathclyde Regional Council area, to introduce from 1 April 1999 a scale of charges as detailed in the report for the inspection and monitoring of new roads constructed in accordance with construction consents.  It was proposed that  the charges would be based upon the total estimated cost of construction and reviewed on an annual basis.

NOTED

 

   296      MINUTE OF MEETING OF STRATHCLYDE PASSENGER TRANSPORT AUTHORITY                296

 

SUBMITTED:  Minute of meeting of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority of 4 December 1998.

NOTED

 

   297      RESOLUTION:  EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS                                                                    297

 

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)

 

Private Bridges - Possible Options                                                                              12

Revenue Budget 1998/99 - Roads DLO and Cleaning DSO                           8

Pottery Street Development                                                                                        6

Damaged Sea Wall at Ashton Promenade                                                                   6

 

   298      PRIVATE BRIDGES - POSSIBLE OPTIONS                                                                                        298

 

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive on the outcome of an application to Senior Legal Counsel seeking clarification of the Council’s position in terms of potential liability for private bridges, advising of options identified by Counsel and making a number of recommendations in respect of strategic and non-strategic bridges together with the financial implications relative thereto.  Following consideration, the Committee agreed to the recommendations, all as detailed in the Appendix.

 

   299      REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99 - ROADS DLO AND CLEANING DSO                                               299

 

SUBMITTED:   Report dated 22 February 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the position of the Roads DLO and Cleaning DSO Revenue Budget 1998/99 as at 6 January 1999.

NOTED

 

   300      POTTERY STREET DEVELOPMENT                                                                                                   300

 

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive on the current position in respect of proposals for development at Pottery Street, Greenock and recommending the conclusion of missives for the acquisition of ground and buildings which was agreed, all as detailed in the Appendix.

 

   301      DAMAGED SEA WALL AT ASHTON PROMENADE                                                                        301

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 5 March 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on the current position regarding the damaged sea wall at Ashton Promenade and the action required to ensure completion of the remedial works and the installation of West of Scotland Water Authority’s new sewer prior to the Tall Ships Race in July/August. The report advised of the use of the emergency powers procedure as set out in Standing Order 66(a) to commission Messrs Bullen Consultants, to undertake the design of the required scheme of works and the preparation of tender documents for issue to contractors, and also to authorise an increased allocation of £20,000 from the non-HRA Capital Programme 1999/2000 for the associated cost.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the position regarding the damaged sea wall at Ashton Promenade as detailed in the report be noted;

(b)  That the action taken under Standing Order 66(a) and the Council’s Financial Regulations relative to the appointment of Messrs Bullen Consultants be noted; and

(c)  That the terms of the report relating to the action taken under Standing Order 66(a) and the Council’s Financial Regulations to provide funding for the cost of the appointment of Messrs Bullen Consultants be noted, the action to be the subject of a report to the full Council.