Economic Development Services Committee

Tuesday 6 March 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 (for Head of Accountancy Services), Head of Economic Development Service, Head of Planning Services, Head of Property Services and Head of Transportation and Roads Service.

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

223

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 10

223

There was submitted a report dated 15 February 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2000/2001 as at Period 10 (10 January 2001).

(Councillor Blair entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Noted

224

Urban Herbicide (Roads and Hard Landscaping) 2000

224

There was submitted a report dated 19 February 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) advising of an overspend of 15% in respect of the Transportation and Roads Service’s element of the contract to treat weeds on the public road network and (2) indicating that the additional costs can be contained within the Service’s Revenue Budget.

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

Noted

225

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

225

There was submitted a report dated 15 February 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2000/2001.

Noted

226

Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Financial Position

226

There was submitted a report dated 15 February 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2000/2001.

Noted

227

European Social Fund (ESF)

227

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive on the results of the first round of applications by members of the Inverclyde European Funding Strategy Group to the European Social Fund 2000-2006 Programme highlighting the total value of the bids, the European Social Fund element and the level of contribution from the Council.

Decided:

(1) that the efforts of the Council’s Partners in assisting in bringing welcome additional funding to Inverclyde be acknowledged;

(2) that it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive together with the Head of Accountancy Services to ensure the potential to match fund both capital and revenue of the Council is maximised for the benefit of Inverclyde;  and

(3) that the potential to create a contingency fund be investigated and, where appropriate, an investment fund be established for matching to European Structural Funds.

228

Kelburn Development Area

228

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive (1) on proposals for the creation of development platforms at Kelburn, (2) advising of the financial implications and potential funding arrangements and (3) seeking approval to invite tenders for the first phase of the works required to the site.

Decided:

(1) that the current progress of the project be noted;

(2) that authority be granted for the invitation of tenders for Phase 1 of the works;  and

(3) that it be remitted to the Head of Economic Development Service to report to the Committee with detailed funding requirements and spend profiles.

229

Events 2001 Update

229

There was submitted a report dated 22 February 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) on the progress of the programme of events agreed by the Committee at its meeting on 12 September 2000 (Para 800) and (2) advising that further reports will be submitted to the May and August meetings of the Committee on the National MOD and the overall events programme respectively.

Noted

230

Telecommunications Development - Draft Legislation and Guidance

230

There was submitted a report dated 14 February 2001 by the Head of Planning Services (1) outlining the background to and the main elements of draft legislation and draft National Planning Policy Guidelines in respect of proposed changes to the permitted development arrangements for telecommunications developments, issued for consultation by the Scottish Executive, and (2) seeking endorsement of the response to the Scottish Executive.

Decided:

(1) that the draft legislation and draft National Planning Policy Guidelines be noted;  and

(2) that the Committee endorse the comments made by the Head of Planning Services on behalf of the Council in response to the consultation paper, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.

231

Arden Road and Dalmoak Road, Greenock - Flooding Problems

231

There was submitted a report dated 14 February 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on flooding problems experienced at Arden Road and Dalmoak Road, Greenock, (1) advising of engineering solutions together with the estimated costs and (2) detailing the Council’s legal position in terms of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961 and the Flood Prevention and Land Drainage (Scotland) Act 1997.

(Councillor Robertson (Y) left the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1) that, in view of the potential risks from deep excavations not being reinstated, the Council do not proceed to clear the blockages at Arden Road and Dalmoak Road, Greenock without a legal agreement regarding reinstatement costs being in place;

(2) that, in view of the Council’s current policy and in terms of the relevant Acts, the Council agree to contribute £8,000 excluding VAT towards the overall estimated cost of £25,000 (exclusive of VAT) required to restore the drainage problems at Arden Road and Dalmoak Road provided all the necessary works are completed;

(3) that it be suggested that the residents form a group and that if the agreement of at least 70% of the appropriate frontagers is received the Council serve Notice in terms of the Acts and arrange for the works to be completed;  and

(4) that, on satisfactory completion of the works, the Council proceed to adopt the section of road indicated in Appendix 1 to the report.

232

Minutes of Meetings of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority

232

There were submitted minutes of meetings of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority of 6 October and 1 December 2000.

Noted

233

Gourock-Dunoon Ferry Services

233

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive on the Minister of Transport’s provisional proposals following the Scottish Executive’s consultation on the future of Highlands and Islands ferry services, highlighting in particular the proposals for the Gourock-Dunoon service and the packaging of routes for tendering.

(Councillor Robertson (Y) returned to the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Noted

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)

DLO/DSO Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 10                     8

Annual Contracts for Signs Maintenance and Road

Markings/Road Studs                                                                      6

234

DLO/DSO Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 10

234

There was submitted a report dated 15 February 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2000/2001 as at Period 10 (10 January 2001).

Noted

235

Annual Contracts for Signs Maintenance and Road Markings/Road Studs

235

There was submitted a report dated 15 February 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on the signs maintenance and road markings/road studs contracts and seeking approval to an extension of the present contracts by a period of six months, all costs to be contained within the Transportation and Roads Service’s budgets.

Decided:  that approval be given to the extension of the present signs maintenance and road markings/road studs contracts until  30 September 2001.