Economic Development Services Committee

Tuesday 23 January 2001 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, Campbell, Hunter, Jackson, McCormick, McGhee, Rebecchi and Robertson (Y).

Chair:  Councillor McGhee presided. 

In attendance:  Depute Chief Executive, Miss M McKnight (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Mr J Aird (Technical Manager, Resource Services), Head of Planning Services, Head of Property Services and Head of Transportation and Roads Service.

Apologies:  Councillor O’Rourke.

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

  84

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 8

84

There was submitted a report dated 5 January 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2000/2001 as at period 8 (15 November 2000).

(Provost Roach entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Noted

  85

Virement Request

85

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval to vire £5,000 from the Economic Development Service physical development - infrastructure budget to the furniture and fittings budget to accommodate the purchase of computer hardware, software and associated equipment for new appointments within the Economic Development Service.

Decided:  that approval be given to the virement of £5,000 between the physical development - infrastructure budget and the furniture and fittings budget.

  86

Road Maintenance - Additional Revenue Funds

86

There was submitted a report dated 5 January 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) detailing the impact of budget reductions on lighting and roads maintenance and the effect on the level of service provided and (2) advising how any additional funding could be utilised.

Noted

  87

Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Technical Progress

87

There was submitted a report dated 19 December 2000 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2000/2001.

Decided:

(1)  that the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2000/2001 be noted; and

(2)  that the Committee approve the following expenditure decreases in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations:-

Project                                                            Effect on Expenditure

75-81 Cathcart Street, Greenock

Provisional sum for supply of furniture

not fully utilised                                                  £34,990 reduction

Omit Prime Cost of Dayworks                           £  5,184 reduction

  88

Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Technical Progress : Transportation & Roads

88

There was submitted a report dated 10 January 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2000/2001.

Noted

  89

Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Financial Position

89

There was submitted a report dated 5 January 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2000/2001.

Noted

  90

A Strategy for Inverclyde’s Town Centres

90

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive (1) on the outcome of a study by EDAW consultants on behalf of Inverclyde Council, Scottish Enterprise Renfrewshire, Greenock Town Centre Initiative and Greenock Chamber of Commerce to develop a strategy for Greenock, Port Glasgow and Gourock town centres, (2) appending details of the study’s findings and (3) advising of the financial implications for the Council.

Decided:

(1)  that the Committee endorse the broad findings and thrust of the programmes and projects within the Strategy for Inverclyde’s Town Centres; and

(2)  that it be remitted to the client steering group to refine and cost the strategy and action plan developed by EDAW taking account of Council and other relevant policies, including those within participating bodies, to develop a framework for action and to report thereon to the Committee.

  91

Inverclyde Enterprise Zone - Final Evaluation

91

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive (1) on the background to the designation of Inverclyde Enterprise Zone, (2) highlighting the major elements of the Final Evaluation Report of the Inverclyde Enterprise Zone carried out by Cambridge Policy Consultants and (3) seeking endorsement of the consultants’ report prior to its submission to the Scottish Executive.Í

Decided:  that the Committee endorse the final evaluation of the Inverclyde Enterprise Zone for submission to the Scottish Executive subject to the Depute Chief Executive writing to the Scottish Executive on the views expressed by the Committee in respect of the comments in the Final Evaluation on skills and local labour quality issues.

  92

Gourock Transport Interchange : Funding Bid

92

There was submitted a report dated 16 January 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive advising that, following representations by the Council, the Scottish Executive had confirmed that the Council had secured an award of £3 million from the Public Transport Fund payable over the financial years 2001/02, 2002/03 and 2003/04 for an integrated transport interchange in central Gourock.

Decided: that the Committee note the terms of the report and remit it to the Depute Chief Executive to take further action as required.

  93

Scottish Executive Trunk Road Contract

93

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive on the tendering process relative to the operation and management of trunk roads and advising of legal action taken on behalf of the Clyde Solway Consortium, of which Inverclyde Council is a member, prior to the award of the contract by the Scottish Executive to prevent award on the basis that the tendering process did not comply with EC Regulations.

The Head of Transportation and Roads Service orally advised the Committee that a decision on the award of the contract had been suspended until 5 February 2001. 

There was then circulated a supplementary report dated 9 January 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive detailing relative financial, staff and operational implications.

Decided:  that the contents of the report be noted and that consideration of the supplementary report be continued pending the exclusion of the public and press from the meeting as the supplementary report contained exempt information in terms of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended.

It was agreed in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended, that the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that the business 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)

Scottish Executive Trunk Road Contract                                       1

Small Business Assistance - Bad Debts                                         4 and 6

Acquisition of Land in Greenock                                                   6, 8 and 9

DLO/DSO Revenue Monitoring Report -

Period 8                                                                                       8

  94

Scottish Executive Trunk Road Contract

94

There was submitted a supplementary report dated 9 January 2001 relative to the previous item on the trunk road contract detailing relative financial, staff and operational implications.

Decided:

(1)  that the contents of the report be noted;

(2)  that it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive and the Head of Transportation and Roads Service to progress the matter with the Clyde Solway Consortium; and

(3)  that, should the Consortium fail to win the contract, the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to approve additional funding to replace income lost by the Transportation and Roads Service.

  95

Small Business Assistance - Bad Debts

95

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval to write-off unpaid debts in respect of small business assistance loans as detailed in the report.

Decided:  that approval be given to write-off the unpaid debts as detailed in the report, without prejudice to the future recovery of the debts should that prove possible.

  96

Acquisition of Land in Greenock

96

There was submitted a report dated 11 January 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive advising the Committee of the use of the emergency powers procedure as set out under Standing Order 66(a) to approve the acquisition of land in Greenock.

Noted

  97

DLO/DSO Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 8

97

There was submitted a report dated 8 January 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2000/2001 as at period 8 (15 November 2000).

Noted