ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER 1999 - 3.00PM

 

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

 

In attendance:- The Depute Chief Executive, Mr H McNeilly (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, the Head of Economic Development Service, the Head of Planning Services, the Head of Property Services and the Head of Cleaning Services.

 

An apology for absence was intimated on behalf of Councillor Mulholland.

 

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

 

1237      REVENUE BUDGET 1999/2000 - MONITORING REPORT                                                              1237

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 23 November 1999 by the Director of Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 1999/2000 as at 13 October 1999.

NOTED

 

1238      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1999/2000 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS:  TRANSPORTATION              1238

AND ROADS

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 18 November 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

NOTED

 

1239      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1999/2000 - FINANCIAL POSITION                                                      1239

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 24 November 1999 by the Director of Resource Services on the current position of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the current position of the Capital Programme 1999/2000 be noted; and

(b)  That it be remitted to the Head of Transportation and Roads Service to submit a report to the next meeting of the Committee on the current position in respect of flooding at Earnhill Road, Greenock.

 

1240      COMBINED ARTS AND VISITOR CENTRE                                                                                     1240

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Head of Economic Development Service on the findings of the study into proposals for a combined arts and visitor centre carried out by RGA.  The consultant’s report provided indicative capital and revenue costs and advised that, as a result of a change in Scottish Arts Council priorities, it was unlikely the project would attract the

 lottery funding required.  It was noted that RGA’s report recommended that a combined arts and visitor centre not be pursued.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Committee endorse the recommendations in the report by RGA;

(b)  That the Committee approve the recommendation to pursue a year round visitor centre independent of an arts facility; and

(c)  That it be remitted to the Head of Economic Development Service to report to the Committee on the detailed capital costs of implementing an independent visitor attraction.

 

1241      WEST OF SCOTLAND LOAN FUND LTD                                                                                        1241

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval for the appointment of the Head of Economic Development Service as a Director of the West of Scotland Loan Fund Ltd.

DECIDED:  That approval be given to the appointment of the Head of Economic Development Service as a Director of the West of Scotland Loan Fund Ltd.

 

1242      THE REPLACEMENT GLASGOW AND CLYDE VALLEY JOINT STRUCTURE PLAN:               1242

CONSULTATIVE DRAFT 1999

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 18 November 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Consultative Draft Structure Plan, “A Community Based Long Term Strategy for the West of Scotland Metropolitan Area”, published on 1 October 1999 and  the implications in terms of the Inverclyde Local Plan, particularly with regard to the issue of stabilising Inverclyde’s population and the role of housing.  The report outlined the key aspects of the Draft Structure Plan and set out in detail a recommended response to the Consultative Draft.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the terms of the report be approved as the Council’s formal response to the Replacement Glasgow and Clyde Valley Joint Structure Plan:  Consultative Draft, 1999; and

(b)  That encouragement and support be provided to Glasgow City Council and South Lanarkshire Council to ensure that the important strategic link of the M74 extension (north) is implemented, in the light of the announcement by the Scottish Executive on the “Strategic Roads Review” to exclude it from its national funding priorities.

 

1243      (NOTIFIED) INNER CLYDE SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST (SSSI)                          1243

(PROPOSED) INNER CLYDE SPECIAL PROTECTION AREA (SPA)

(PROPOSED) INNER CLYDE RAMSAR SITE (RAM)

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 15 November 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on proposed Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area and Ramsar designations for the Inner Clyde, the three designations having the same boundaries.  The report advised that since the report to the meeting of the Committee held on 14 September 1999 (para 925), Scottish Natural Heritage had clarified that only the intertidal mudflats and sandflats exposed at low tide within the delineated boundaries would be covered by the designations.

DECIDED:  That the Committee accept the proposed Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area and Ramsar designations and agree to withdraw the holding objection submitted to Scottish Natural Heritage on the clear understanding that shore line developments would not be adversely affected by the designations.

 

1244      ROAD NAMING - ALDERWOOD CRESCENT, PORT GLASGOW                                                1244

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 10 November 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on the proposed naming of the housing development off Alderwood Road, Port Glasgow.

DECIDED:  That the name Alderwood Crescent be adopted as shown on the plan appended to the report.

 

1245      ROAD NAMING - AUCHENBOTHIE ROAD, KILMACOLM                                                          1245

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 15 November 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive advising that following the decision of the Committee at the meeting held on 10 August 1999 (para 773), no representations had been received following advertisement of the proposal that a section of roadway from the junction at Pennytersal Arch to the A761 (Kilmacolm to Port Glasgow Road) currently signposted as Auchentiber Road be renamed Auchenbothie Road.

DECIDED:  That approval be given to the renaming in accordance with Section 97 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

 

1246      STRATEGIC ROADS REVIEW                                                                                                           1246

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 18 November 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on the outcome of the strategic roads review “Travel Choices for Scotland” published by the Scottish Executive and advising of the implications for Inverclyde.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the position in respect of the M8 Ballieston - Newhouse and the M80 Stepps - Haggs projects be noted;

(b)  That the Committee reaffirm support for the M74 northern extension as an important strategic link;

(c)  That the Depute Chief Executive be instructed to convene a meeting with Renfrewshire Council, East Renfrewshire Council, Renfrewshire Enterprise and other appropriate bodies to establish the likely effects for Renfrew/Inverclyde and to respond to Glasgow and South Lanarkshire Councils; and

(d)  That the M74 northern extension proposal be remitted to the Corporate Management Team for consideration.

 

1247      ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR TRAFFIC CALMING/                                                                     1247

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEMES

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 19 November 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of increased demand for the introduction of traffic calming schemes in roads where there is perceived to be a road safety problem and seeking approval for criteria to be utilised by the Transportation and Roads Service in prioritising such requests.

DECIDED:  That the criteria utilised by the Transportation and Roads Service in prioritising the promotion of traffic calming/traffic management schemes as set out in the report be approved.

 

1248      ROAD LIGHTING MAINTENANCE - COMPUTER SOFTWARE                                                    1248

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 November 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on proposals to develop the Hilight road lighting maintenance software currently used by the Transportation and Roads Service Lighting Section.  In addition, the report advised of the preparation of a specification for tendering for a new computer system in respect of which the Council, as a member of the Hilight user group, would require to make a formal commitment to indemnify the lead authority, East Ayrshire Council.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the current and proposed development of the Hilight lighting maintenance software be noted; and

(b)  That the Head of Transportation and Roads Service in consultation with the Director of Legal and Support Services be authorised to ratify the letter of indemnity which will be issued by East Ayrshire Council.

 

1249      RESOLUTION:  EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS                                                                  1249

 

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 paragraph 8 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

 

1250      DSO REVENUE BUDGET 1999/2000 - MONITORING REPORT                                                     1250

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 24 November 1999 by the Director of Resource Services on the position of the Roads DLO and Cleaning DSO Revenue Budget 1999/2000 as at 14 October 1999.

NOTED