Economic Development Services Committee

Tuesday 21 August  2001 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, Calvert, Campbell, Jackson, McCormick, McGhee, O’Rourke and Robertson (Y).

Chair:  Councillor McGhee presided. 

In attendance:  Depute Chief Executive, Miss M McKnight (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Mr M Thomson (for Head of Accountancy Services), Head of Economic Development Service, Head of Planning Services and Head of Transportation and Roads Service.

Apologies:  Councillor Morrison (M).

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

700

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 3

700

There was submitted a report dated 3 August 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2001/2002 as at Period 3 (27 June 2001).

Noted

701

Capital Programme 2001/2002 - Technical Progress: Transportation and Roads

701

There was submitted a report dated 9 August 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on the position of the Capital Programme 2001/2002.

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

Noted

702

Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04 - Financial Position

702

There was submitted a report dated 2 August 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04.

Noted

703

Greenspace for Communities

703

There was submitted a report dated 7 August 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on changes proposed by Scottish Natural Heritage to the Countryside Around Towns projects (1) outlining the structure and funding arrangements for the new Greenspace for Communities initiative and (2) detailing the implications for Inverclyde.

Decided:

(1) that it be confirmed to Scottish Natural Heritage that the Council wishes to participate in the establishment of the proposed Glasgow and Clyde Valley Greenspace Trust, that funding is available for the half year from 1 October 2001 and that subject to finalisation of the Council’s Revenue Budgets for 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 funding is likely to be available for the two financial years thereafter;

(2) that it be recommended to the Policy and Strategy Committee as a bid through the budget process for 2002/2003 that an additional £5,000 be made available to meet the costs of the Greenspace for Communities initiative;

(3) that it be agreed to nominate representatives to participate in the new Area Partnership;

(4) that the Head of Planning Services be nominated to the Steering Group of the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Greenspace Trust for the period to 1 October 2001;  and

(5) that the existing Project Manager be transferred to the post of Area Team Leader and that the  Area Team Leader be line managed by the Head of Planning Services in consultation with the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Greenspace Trust Manager.

704

M74 Completion

704

There was submitted a report dated 1 August 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on a request for financial assistance from Renfrewshire Council on behalf of Glasgow City Council, South Lanarkshire Council and Renfrewshire Council for financial assistance towards the M74 completion project.

Decided:  that the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to approve a contribution of £700,000 to the M74 completion project led by Glasgow City Council, South Lanarkshire Council and Renfrewshire Council and that the contribution be made in two equal portions from the Capital Programmes 2005/06 and 2006/07.

705

Public Transport Fund Projects Commencing 2001-2002

Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets Allocation

705

There was submitted a report dated 8 August 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive recommending a programme of works to be undertaken in 2001-2002 using funding from the Public Transport Fund Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets fund in respect of which Inverclyde Council had been allocated £51,000 additional capital borrowing consent for 2001-2002.

Decided:  that approval be given to the projects listed in the report for inclusion in the Capital Programme 2001/2002.

706

Public Transport Fund Projects Commencing 2002-2003

Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets Allocation

706

There was submitted a report dated 8 August 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive recommending a programme of works to be undertaken in 2002-2003 using funding from the Public Transport Fund Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets fund in respect of which Inverclyde Council had been allocated £65,000 for projects commencing in 2002-2003.

Decided:  that approval be given to the projects listed in the report for inclusion in the Capital Programme 2002/2003.

707

Provision of School Crossing Patrols Update

707

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval to a variation in the application of the Council’s procedure for assessing school crossing patrol sites as a result of a review of the guidelines for the provision of school crossing patrol sites being carried out by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Local Authority Road Safety Officers Association.

Decided:

(1) that it be agreed to suspend the removal of any of the present sites until such time as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents review is complete; and

(2) that it be agreed to retain the present criteria as a basis for the assessment of any future requests for school crossing patrol sites until such time as the RoSPA review is complete.

708

Greenock Town Centre Parking Strategy

Suitable Car Parks and Possible On-Road Locations

708

There was submitted a report dated 3 August 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval for the introduction of charges in suitable off-road car parks and advising of possible areas for on-road charging within Greenock Town Centre.

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

Decided:

(1) that approval be given to the introduction of charged off-road parking in the following car parks:-

       Cathcart Street

       Rear of Post Office

       Central Station (Station Avenue East and Station Avenue West)

       Bullring

       West Stewart Street

       George Square

       Hastie Street;

(2) that approval be given to the introduction of charged on-road parking within Cathcart Street and associated side roads as required;  and

(3) that it be remitted to the Head of Transportation and Roads Service to set up a working/consultation group to consider the effects of the recommendations of Phase 1 of the charged parking strategy within the areas detailed in (1) and (2) above.

709

Minutes of Meetings of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority

709

There were submitted minutes of meetings of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority of 6 April and 1 June 2001.

Noted

The Convener, being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Legal and Support Services was relevant, competent and urgent, moved its consideration to allow the Committee to be informed of the present position at the earliest opportunity.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

710

Trunk Roads Contract

710

There was submitted a report dated 16 August 2001 by the Director of Legal and Support Services on a request received from Councillor McGhee that the Committee consider the terms of his letter to Ms Sarah Boyack, MSP, Minister for Transport and Planning, raising concerns on the present trunk roads contract and the performance relative to certain items.

Decided:

(1) that the terms of Councillor McGhee’s letter, to which a response was awaited, be noted;

(2) that the concerns expressed by the Committee relative to the operation of the trunk roads contract by the present contractor be noted;

(3) that it be noted Provost Roach will be writing to the Scottish Executive on the West Station Bridge enquiring whether construction would be completed by the end of the current financial year;  and

(4) that it be remitted to the Head of Transportation and Roads Service to provide all Councillors with contact details for Amey Highways Ltd.

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)

Award of the Contract for Dunlop Street/A78 Inverkip

Road Roundabout - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure     6 and 8

Acquisition of Land at Kelburn Place, Port Glasgow -

Use of Emergency Powers Procedure                                       6 and 8

Acquisition of Premises - Ladyburn Street, Greenock            2, 6 and 9

DLO/DSO Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 3                 8

711

Award of the Contract for Dunlop Street/A78 Inverkip Road Roundabout -

Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

711

There was submitted a report dated 1 August 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to accept the lowest tender received for the Dunlop Street/A78 Inverkip Road roundabout project that by R J McLeod (Contracts) Ltd in the sum of  £385,300.

Noted

712

Acquisition of Land at Kelburn Place, Port Glasgow -

Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

712

There was submitted a report dated 30 July 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) for approval to purchase an area of land at Kelburn Place, Port Glasgow for a sum as detailed in the Appendix and this was noted by the Committee.

The Convener, being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Depute Chief Executive was relevant, competent and urgent, moved its consideration to enable action to be taken at the earliest opportunity, if agreed by the Committee.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

713

Acquisition of Premises - Ladyburn Street, Greenock

713

There was submitted a report dated 15 August 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) seeking approval to acquire premises at Ladyburn Street, Greenock and relocate the current owner to premises in Council ownership and (2) outlining the financial implications.

Decided: that subject to the necessary approval of the Corporate Business Committee in respect of the sale of 17 Anderson Street, Port Glasgow:-

(i)    approval be granted to purchase the premises at 3 Ladyburn Street, Greenock;

(ii)   approval be granted to sell 17 Anderson Street, Port Glasgow in part exchange for the premises at 3 Ladyburn Street;  and

(iii)   authority be granted for the invitation and acceptance of tenders for the demolition of 3 Ladyburn Street, Greenock.

714

DLO/DSO Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 3

714

There was submitted a report dated 3 August 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2001/2002 as at Period 3 (27 June 2001).

Noted