ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

TUESDAY, 15 JUNE 1999 - 3.00 pm

 

Present:- Provost Roach, Councillors McGhee, Robertson (Y), Mulholland, McCormick, Rebecchi, Hunter and Campbell, Councillor McGhee, Convener, in the Chair.

 

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

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Morrison (M) and Blair.

 

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

 

565        CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1999/2000 - FINANCIAL POSITION                                                        565

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 27 May 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the current position of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

NOTED

 

566        TRANSPORTATION AND ROADS CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1999/2000                                        566

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 4 June 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive requesting the Committee to determine spending priorities in respect of the Capital Programme 1999/2000, in accordance with the decision of the Policy and Strategy Committee at the meeting held on 27 April 1999 (para 462 refers).

DECIDED:

(a)  That approval be given to an allocation of £20,000 from the Economic Development Services General Capital Programme 1999/2000 to allow the Transportation and Roads Service to carry out the lighting of the waterfront area on an agency basis, as detailed in the report, the work to be carried out prior to the Tall Ships Event to ensure public safety;

(b)  That the projects as detailed in priority order in the report be included in the Capital Programme 1999/2000;

(c)  That the reserve projects as detailed in priority order in the report be included in the Capital Programme 1999/2000 should funding become available from savings in the Service’s recommended Capital Programme for 1999/2000; 

(d)  That it be noted that approval for the specified projects at Victoria Road, Gourock and North/South Roads, Port Glasgow - Phase 1, as detailed in the report, has already been granted;

(e)  That the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to approve the projects detailed in Sections 2 and 3 of the report proceeding to tender, or issue to the Council’s contractor, and to approve acceptance in terms of the Financial Regulations and Standing Orders Relating to Contracts, it being noted that approval has already been granted in respect of the engagement

of consultants to design remedial works to repair the damaged section of Ashton Promenade seawall and private bridge assessments/signage;

(f)  That the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to approve acceptance of the lowest tender/issue to Council contractor/design in house for the projects detailed in Section 5 of the report which are estimated to cost £20,000 or less individually in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Standing Orders Relating to Contracts; and

(g)  That the Depute Chief Executive submit the remainder of the projects detailed in Section 5 of the report to the Policy and Strategy Committee to seek approval for tender acceptance/issue to Council contractor/design in house in terms of the Financial Regulations and Standing Orders Relating to Contracts.

 

567        ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICE PLANS 1999/2000                                                             567

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Depute Chief Executive relative to the activities to be undertaken by the Economic Development Service during 1999/2000, together with detailed service plans prepared in terms of the strategic objectives within the Council’s Economic Strategy.  The service plans outlined the proposals for each activity, the financial implications and the financial arrangements being pursued.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the service plans 1999/2000, with funding from the Economic Development Services budget as indicated in the report, be approved; and

(b)  That approval be given to the operation of the programme in terms of current guidelines and eligibility criteria with particular attention to sectoral priorities.

 

568        NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY GUIDELINE 17 AND PLANNING ADVICE NOTE                   568

57 - TRANSPORT AND PLANNING

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 May 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on National Planning Policy Guideline 17 and Planning Advice Note 57 relating to transport and planning and outlining the implications for Inverclyde.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the contents of National Planning Policy Guideline 17 and Planning Advice Note 57 on transport and planning be noted; and

(b)  That it be noted these documents will have a major influence on the form and content of the Council’s Local Transport Strategy, the new Structure Plan and the Inverclyde Local Plan:  First Review, including the Council’s Transport priorities, the way development sites are allocated and the way planning applications are considered.

 

569        NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY GUIDELINE 18 - PLANNING AND THE HISTORIC                 569

ENVIRONMENT

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 28 May 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on National Planning Policy Guideline 18 relating to planning and the historic environment and outlining the implications for Inverclyde.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the contents of National Planning Policy Guideline 18 on planning and the historic environment be noted; and

(b)  That it be remitted to the Chief Planning Officer to take account of National Planning Policy Guideline 18 in the preparation of the Inverclyde Final Draft Local Plan and in the assessment of planning applications.

 

570        CIRCULAR 10/1999 AND PLANNING ADVICE NOTE 56 - PLANNING AND NOISE                  570

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 27 May 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on Government Circular 10/1999 and Planning Advice Note 56 relating to planning and noise and outlining the implications for the Inverclyde Local Plan, First Review and development control.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the contents of Circular 10/1999 and Planning Advice Note 56 on planning and noise be noted; and

(b)  That it be remitted to the Chief Planning Officer to take account of the Circular and Planning Advice Note in the preparation of the Inverclyde Final Draft Local Plan and in the assessment of planning applications.

 

571        PLANNING AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SUB-COMMITTEE                                                    571

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 18 May 1999 by the Executive Director Legal Information and Support Services requesting the Committee to appoint Members to the Planning and Traffic Management Sub-Committee.

DECIDED:  That the following Members be appointed to the Planning and Traffic Management Sub-Committee:-

 

(1)  Councillor Morrison (M)   (5)  Councillor Blair

(2)  Councillor McGhee (Convener) (6) Councillor Hunter

(3)  Councillor Mulholland   (7) Councillor Campbell

(4)  Councillor McCormick (Vice-Convener)

 

572        CENTRAL GOUROCK REDEVELOPMENT WORKING GROUP                                                     572

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 24 May 1999 by the Executive Director Legal, Information and Support Services requesting the Committee to appoint Members to the Central Gourock Redevelopment Working Group.

Following discussion, Councillor McGhee moved that membership of the Working Group be set at three Members from the Majority Group and two from the Minority Groups.  As an amendment, Councillor Rebecchi moved that membership be set at three Members from the Majority Group and three from the Minority Groups.  On a vote, three Members voted for the amendment and five for the motion which was declared carried.

DECIDED:  That membership of the Working Group be set at three Members from the Majority Group and two from the Minority Groups, the Members appointed to the Working Group to be notified to the Director of Central Services.

 

573        WEST OF SCOTLAND ROAD SAFETY FORUM                                                                               573

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 25 May 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive requesting the Committee to approve continued representation on the West of Scotland Road Safety Forum.

DECIDED:

(a)  That approval be given to continued representation on the West of Scotland Road Safety Forum, the Council to be represented by the Convener of the Economic Development Services Committee; and

(b)  That in the absence of the Convener, the Vice-Convener deputise on the Forum.

 

574        IMPLEMENTATION OF EUROPEAN PARKING CARD FOR DISABLED PEOPLE                        574

(BLUE BADGE)

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 27 May 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on the introduction of the Blue European Parking Card, to replace the existing Orange Badge Scheme, over a period of three years from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2002.

NOTED

 

575        CHANNELISED JUNCTION - LARKFIELD ROAD/CARDWELL ROAD, GOUROCK                    575

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 27 May 1999 by the Executive Director Legal, Information and Support Services on a request received from Councillor White relative to the channelised junction at Larkfield Road/Cardwell Road, Gourock.

DECIDED:  That it be noted the channelised junction at Larkfield Road/Cardwell Road, Gourock has been incorporated within the development brief for the Central Gourock Development Strategy, and accordingly that it be agreed to take no action meantime.

 

576        MINUTE OF MEETING OF THE STRATHCLYDE PASSENGER TRANSPORT AUTHORITY        576

 

No minute was available for consideration by the Committee.

 

577        RESOLUTION:  EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS                                                                    577

 

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 item of business on the grounds that consideration of the item involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 8 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

 

578        USE OF EMERGENCY POWERS PROCEDURE - SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS                          578

AT EAST INDIA HARBOUR, GREENOCK

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 4 June 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the Emergency Powers Procedure as set out in Standing Order 66(a) for continuation of the existing security arrangements at East India Harbour, Greenock at a cost of approximately £21,000, to be contained within existing budgets.

NOTED