Economic Development Services Committee

Tuesday 13 November  2001 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, Calvert, Campbell, Hill, McCormick, McGhee and O’Rourke.

Chair:  Councillor McGhee presided. 

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

Apologies:  Councillors Morrison (M) and Robertson (Y).

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

994

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 6

994

There was submitted a report dated 12 October 2001 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2001/2002 as at Period 6 (19 September 2001).

Noted

995

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

995

There was submitted a report dated 25 October 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on the position of the Capital Programme 2001/2002.

Noted

996

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

996

There was submitted a report dated 26 October 2001 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04.

Noted

997

Time Trek Exhibition Report

997

There was submitted a report dated 25 October 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive advising that a copy of a report on the Time Trek exhibition was available for inspection at various locations.

Noted

998

Golden Jubilee Street Party Celebration

998

There was submitted a report dated 25 October 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive (1)  proposing that the Council arrange a street party to be held on the weekend of 14-16 June 2002 at Customhouse Quay to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee, (2) suggesting a number of elements to be included as part of the event and potential partners and (3) providing indicative costs.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee approve the Golden Jubilee Street Party as the main event for 2002 and note the budget impact for other events and tourism promotion that year;  and

(2) that it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive to liaise with the relevant parties to ensure, as far as possible, that the date of the event does not conflict with any events to be held locally.

999

Review of Strategic Planning

999

There was submitted a report dated 24 October 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on the Scottish Executive Development Department review of strategic planning arrangements in Scotland (1) advising that a consultation paper had been issued and setting out and commenting on the key issues on which views had been sought through the consultation process and (2) providing specific comments on the potential implications for the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Joint Structure Plan area and Inverclyde.

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

Decided:

(1) that the report be endorsed and that it be remitted to the Head of Planning Services to formally advise the Scottish Executive Development Department accordingly;

(2) that it be noted that the outstanding issues which require clarification will be pursued through the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Joint Structure Plan Committee and that once these are resolved a further report will be submitted to the Committee;  and

(3) that it be remitted to the Head of Planning Services to apprise the Committee of the final decisions made by the Scottish Executive Development Department in response to the consultation paper.

1000

Joint Structure Plan Committee Budget

1000

There was submitted a report dated 30 October 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on the current position in respect of the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Structure Plan core team budget (1) seeking endorsement of the Joint Committee's recommendation to increase the individual local authority contributions by £2,600 to £61,600 for 2002/03 and (2) advising of a service review to be carried out prior to the preparation of the budget for 2003/04.

Decided:  that the Committee endorse the £2,600 increase in contribution for 2002/03 and note the commitment to carry out a service review.

1001

Renfrewshire Local Plan - Consultative Draft

1001

There was submitted a report dated 18 October 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the publication of the Renfrewshire Local Plan - Consultative Draft and setting out for consideration a proposed response to the Plan on issues which may affect Inverclyde.

Decided:

(1) that approval be given to the response to the Renfrewshire Local Plan - Consultative Draft as set out in the report and that the observations made in the report be endorsed;  and

(2) that it be delegated to the Head of Planning Services to liaise with Renfrewshire Council on matters of mutual interest arising from the publication of the Plan.

1002

The Flood Prevention and Land Drainage (Scotland) Act 1997

1002

There was submitted a report dated 24 October 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval to publish the Flood Prevention - Third Public Report in terms of the Flood Prevention and Land Drainage (Scotland) Act 1997.

Decided:  that the contents of the report be approved and that it be remitted to the Head of Transportation and Roads Service to publish the Flood Prevention - Third Public Report and to make it available for public inspection at suitable locations.

1003

Road Safety Unit Progress Report April 2001 to September 2001

1003

There was submitted a report dated 30 October 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on the work undertaken by the Road Safety Unit relative to schools' activities, cycling, publicity, schools' groups, liaison activities and school crossing patrols during the period April 2001 to September 2001.

Noted

1004

Active Routes to School

1004

There was submitted a report dated 30 October 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on the work undertaken by the Road Safety Unit as part of the active routes to school initiative.

Noted

1005

Street Naming

1005

There was submitted a report dated 26 October 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on the proposed naming of two streets within the housing development off Spey Road, Inverkip.

Decided:  that the names Rosemarkie Place and Kinloss Place be adopted.

1006

Minute of Meeting of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority

1006

There was submitted minute of meeting of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority of 3 August 2001.

Noted

1007

Acquisition of Premises at Ladyburn Street, Greenock

1007

It was noted that this item had been withdrawn from the Agenda.

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)

Trunk Road Response Times

Amey Highways Ltd                                                             6

East India and Victoria Harbours                                       6

Fast Ferry Service                                                               6

Management of Bus Shelter Advertising Contract            6 and 8

Acquisition of Land at Kelburn Place, Port Glasgow -

Use of Emergency Powers Procedure                                 6 and 8

DLO/DSO Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 6           8

1008

Trunk Road Response Times

Amey Highways Ltd

1008

There was submitted a report dated 2 November 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) advising that Amey Highways Ltd had declined an invitation to attend the meeting of the Committee and (2) detailing the timescales prescribed in the contract awarded to the company by the Scottish Executive and commenting thereon.

Decided:

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

(2) that it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive to continue to monitor the situation and to write to all MPs and other parties as appropriate on the operation of the trunk roads contract by the present contractor.

1009

East India and Victoria Harbours

1009

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive (1) on the outcome of a study tour of waterfront developments to assist the Council in determining its priorities and the preferred elements and uses to be incorporated within East India and Victoria Harbours, (2) detailing the progress and implications of the development proposals and (3) setting out the proposed Heads of Terms Agreement.ö

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

Following consideration, the Committee agreed (1) that the Heads of Terms Agreement be finalised within the scope and terms set out in Appendix 1 to the report; (2) that the development concept as detailed in the report and depiction plan displayed at the Committee meeting be approved; (3) that it be remitted to Officers from the Economic Development Services division to enter into development negotiations with regard to design, location and development outputs at East India and Victoria Harbours;  and

(4) that a report on the formation of a team dedicated to physical development projects, on the waterfront and elsewhere, which involved the Council in the regeneration of Inverclyde be submitted to the Committee, all as detailed in the Appendix.

1010

Fast Ferry Service

1010

There was submitted a report dated 2 November 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) on a request received from a company seeking the Council's agreement, in principle, to the temporary location of facilities associated with a fast ferry service at Customhouse Quay, Greenock and (2) outlining the potential implications for the Council.

Following consideration, the Committee agreed (1) that approval, in principle, be given to the provision of facilities associated with a fast ferry service at Customhouse Quay, Greenock and (2) that it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive to take action, all as detailed in the Appendix.

1011

Management of Bus Shelter Advertising Contract

1011

There was submitted a report dated 24 October 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on the progress of the agreement with Strathclyde Passenger Transport for the management of the bus shelter advertising contract.

Decided:

(1) that the contract management arrangement with Strathclyde Passenger Transport as detailed in the report be noted;

(2) that the payment to Strathclyde Passenger Transport in respect of  management of the bus shelter advertising contract for the next four years be linked to inflation;  and

(3) that it be remitted to the Head of Transportation and Roads Service to re-evaluate the Agency Agreement with Strathclyde Passenger Transport prior to the end of the initial five year contract review period and to report to Committee as appropriate.

1012

Acquisition of Land at Kelburn Place, Port Glasgow - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

1012

There was submitted a report 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.

Noted

1013

DLO/DSO Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 6

1013

There was submitted a report dated 12 October 2001 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2001/2002 as at Period 6 (19 September 2001).

Noted