ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

TUESDAY 26 OCTOBER 1999 - 3.00PM

 

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 Director of Legal and Support Services), Mr J Aird (for the Director of Resource Services), the Director of Central Services,  the Head of Transportation and Roads Service, Mr F Kelly (Economic Development Service), the Head of Property Services and the Head of Cleaning 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.

 

Prior to the commencement of business, Councillor Campbell moved with reference to Agenda Item 13 (Kirn Drive, Gourock - Request for Widening) that consideration and discussion thereon be held in public and that the relative report be made available to the public.  Following a brief adjournment, Councillor Campbell withdrew his motion.

 

 

1087      REVENUE BUDGET 1999/2000 - MONITORING REPORT                                                              1087

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 7 October 1999 by the Director of Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 1999/2000 as at 15 September 1999.

NOTED

 

1088      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1999/2000 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS                                                    1088

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 5 October 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000 be noted; and

(b)  That the accumulated variations in the Port Glasgow High School, Phase 4B - Internal Alterations project which are 24.36% greater than the accepted tender amount be approved in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations.

 

1089      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1999/2000 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS:  TRANSPORTATION              1089

AND ROADS

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 5 October 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

NOTED

1090      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1999/2000 - FINANCIAL POSITION                                                      1090

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 6 October 1999 by the Director of Resource Services on the current position of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

NOTED

 

1091      INVERCLYDE ENTERPRISE WORKSHOPS REFURBISHMENT                                                   1091

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Depute Chief Executive on the current status of the refurbishment of Inverclyde Enterprise Workshops and advising that confirmation of funding had been received from Renfrewshire Enterprise and the Strathclyde European Partnership.  It was noted that additional works resulting in increased costs from £290,000 to £460,000 had been identified but that these would be met by increased contributions from Renfrewshire Enterprise and the Strathclyde European Partnership and that no additional funding was required from the Council.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the revised costs for refurbishment of the Inverclyde Enterprise Workshops as set out in the report be noted; and

(b)  That approval be given to the acceptance of tenders up to the value of £460,000 in accordance with the decision of the Policy and Strategy Committee of 23 September 1999.

 

1092      CENTRAL GREENOCK - ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY                                                                1092

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval to appoint consultants to undertake a study to consider the role, performance and economic influence of the commerce, retail and industry of central Greenock to the wider economy of Inverclyde and detailing the financial implications thereof.

DECIDED:

(a)  That approval be given to the appointment of consultants to undertake a study of the economic influence of central Greenock in terms of its present and future role within the wider Inverclyde economy; and

(b)  That the Head of Economic Development Service liaise with the Director of Central Services in respect of the acceptance of tenders.

 

1093      RETI - ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN REGIONS OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY                1093

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 7 October 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive advising that Councillor McGhee had been unanimously proposed by the UK Members of RETI as leader of the UK delegation.

NOTED

 

1094      UNFORMED PUBLIC FOOTWAYS IN GREENOCK WEST END - 1999/2000                              1094

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 7 October 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking authority to proceed with footway reconstruction at Octavia Terrace and Forsyth Street, Greenock as detailed in the report at a total cost of £27,000 including fees, for which there was provision within the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

DECIDED:  That subject to the availability of funding it be agreed  to proceed with the footway reconstruction projects at Octavia Terrace and Forsyth Street, Greenock as detailed in the report.

 

1095      WINTER MAINTENANCE - PROCEDURES AND RESOURCES DOCUMENT 1999/2000           1095

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 6 October 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive requesting the Committee to approve the Winter Maintenance Procedures and Resources Document 1999/2000, a copy of which was appended to the report.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Winter Maintenance Procedures and Resources Document 1999/2000 be approved; and

(b)  That approval be given to the distribution as detailed in Appendix D of the document.

 

1096      ROAD SAFETY TRAINING UNIT PROGRESS REPORT - APRIL TO SEPTEMBER 1999             1096

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 5 October 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on the work undertaken by the Road Safety Training Officers during the period April to September 1999 relative to schools’ activities, cycling, publicity, youth organisations, liaison activities and the school crossing patrol.

DECIDED:  That the terms of the report be noted and the work of the Road Safety Training Officers acknowledged.

 

1097      MINUTE OF MEETING OF STRATHCLYDE PASSENGER TRANSPORT AUTHORITY              1097

 

SUBMITTED:  Minute of meeting of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority of 6 August 1999.

NOTED

 

1098      ROADSIDE TREES                                                                                                                              1098

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 6 October 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on proposals for roadside trees, together with the financial implications thereof, and seeking approval to carry out a comprehensive tree survey at an estimated cost of £10,000 in respect of which it was noted that there was no provision within the existing Transportation and Roads Budget.

DECIDED:

(a)  That irrespective of ultimate legal responsibility for roadside trees, approval be given to the continuation of essential maintenance by the Council;

(b)  That the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to identify additional funding for a comprehensive tree survey at an estimated cost of £10,000 inclusive of fees; and

(c)  That it be remitted to the Head of Transportation and Roads Service to submit bids in the revenue and capital budgetary process for the cost of replacing/pruning roadside trees estimated at £500,000 inclusive of fees.

 

1099      RESOLUTION:  EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS                                                                  1099

 

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)

 

Roadside Trees - Appointment of Consultants  6

Kirn Drive, Gourock - Request for Widening  9

DSO Revenue Budget 1999/2000 - Monitoring Report  8

 

1100      ROADSIDE TREES - APPOINTMENT OF CONSULTANTS                                                           1100

 

There was submitted Appendix relative to the previous Agenda Item in respect of the appointment of consultants and the Committee agreed that, subject to the approval of additional funding for a comprehensive tree survey, it be remitted to the Head of Transportation and Roads Service to take action, all as detailed in the Appendix.

 

1101      KIRN DRIVE, GOUROCK - REQUEST FOR WIDENING                                                                1101

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 7 October 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive relative to a request received from Councillor White considered by the Committee at its meeting on 10 August 1999 (para 774), advising of the traffic situation in the vicinity of Moorfoot Primary School and setting out proposals together with indicative costs.

DECIDED:  That the terms of the report be noted.

 

1102      DSO REVENUE BUDGET 1999/2000 - MONITORING REPORT                                                     1102

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 7 October 1999 by the Director of Resource Services on the position of the Roads DLO and Cleaning DSO Revenue Budget 1999/2000 as at 15 September 1999.

DECIDED:  That the terms of the report and the action taken by Officers be noted.