Economic Development Services Committee

Tuesday 22 January 2002 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, Calvert, Campbell, Hill, Jackson, McCormick and McGhee.

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 O'Rourke and Robertson (Y).

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

67

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 8

67

There was submitted a report dated 3 January 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2001/2002 as at Period 8 (14 November 2001).

Noted

68

Capital Programme 2001/2002 - Technical Progress

68

There was submitted a report dated 17 December 2001 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2001/2002.

Decided:

(1)   that the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2001/2002 be noted;  and

(2) that the Committee approve, in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations, accumulated variations in (i) the St Stephen's High School, Port Glasgow window replacement, phase 2, project which are £9,146 (11.46%) less than the accepted tender amount and (ii) the St Columba's High School, Gourock re-roofing business studies block project which are £4,912 (14.35%) less than the accepted tender amount.

69

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

69

There was submitted a report dated 4 January 2002 by the  Depute Chief Executive on the position of the Capital Programme 2001/2002.

Noted

70

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

70

There was submitted a report dated 8 January 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04.

Noted

71

Transportation and Roads Service

Capital Programme 2002/03 - Initial Report

71

There was submitted a report dated 11 January 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking authority to proceed with project preparation for carriageway, footway and lighting projects funded from the Transportation & Roads Capital Programme 2002/03.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee approve the projects listed in paragraph 3 of the report in respect of the Capital Programme 2002/03, based on the previously agreed three year Capital Programme, subject to the Policy and Strategy Committee confirming the Capital Programme 2002/03;  and

(2)   that it be remitted to the Head of Transportation and Roads Service to proceed to tender, or issue to the Council's contractor, in respect of the projects listed in paragraph 3 of the report and that authority to accept the tenders be granted in terms of the Standing Orders relating to Contracts and the Financial Regulations.

72

Outdoor Markets in Inverclyde

72

There was submitted a report dated 3 January 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) advising of approaches by two market operators interested in holding a monthly farmers' market and a weekly general retail market in Inverclyde and (2) seeking approval to carry out further investigation.

Decided: that it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive in consultation with other appropriate Officers to identify possible locations in Inverclyde for either a farmers' market or a general retail market and to have discussions with the two market operators and liaise with local traders accordingly, with a report on proposals to be submitted to the Committee for approval in due course.

73

Clyde Urban Waterfront Regeneration Zone Programme in Port Glasgow

73

There was submitted a report, together with a supplementary paper, by the Depute Chief Executive on the progress of the Urban II Programme in Port Glasgow (1) indicating that the Community Initiative Programme had been approved by the European Commission on 13 November 2001 and (2) advising of proposals for the operation of the Programme including the establishment of a Programme Monitoring Committee, an Advisory Group, a Programme Development Group and also a cross party Members' Working Group to ensure a co-ordinated joint approach to planning and delivering the Urban II Community Initiative Programme and to consider reports in conjunction with the Programme Development Group.

Decided:

(1)   that the progress of the Urban II Programme in Port Glasgow be noted;  and

(2)   that the proposals for the operation of the Programme be noted and that approval be given to the establishment of a Members' Working Group comprising the four Councillors representing Port Glasgow together with the Depute Leader, Councillor O'Rourke (Chair).

74

Paths to Regeneration - Inverclyde Access Strategy

74

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive (1) on the establishment of an Inverclyde-wide access strategy to enable the Council to set in place mechanisms to carry out the duties imposed by the Land Reform Bill and (2) recommending approval and adoption of the document "Paths to Regeneration - Inverclyde Access Strategy", copies of which had been circulated to Members.

Decided:  that the document "Paths to Regeneration - Inverclyde Access Strategy" be approved and adopted by the Council as the method by which the duties relating to access imposed by the Land Reform Bill are met.

75

Finalised Draft of Argyll & Bute Structure Plan

75

There was submitted a report dated 12 December 2001 by the Head of Planning Services advising of the publication of the Argyll & Bute Finalised Structure Plan in September 2001 and recommending a response to matters raised under the Plan which  may affect Inverclyde.

Decided:

(1)   that the response to the Argyll & Bute Structure Plan Finalised Draft 2001 appended to the report be approved and that the observations made in the report be endorsed;

(2)   that authority be delegated to the Head of Planning Services to respond directly to the Scottish Executive on the following matters:-

(i)    the inclusion of a diagram illustrating the four geographic areas in the plan;

(ii)   expressing support for Argyll & Bute Council engaging in feasibility studies into trans-Clyde rapid transit and ferry options;

(iii)   making clear that no justification had been provided for the housing provision methodology used and suggesting that the supporting technical work and a more thorough reasoned justification should be provided;

(iv)  indicating that the increase in provision of industrial and business land could have an adverse impact on Inverclyde and that little account appeared to have been taken of the scale and nature of the industrial business allocation in the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Joint Structure Plan;  and

(v)   expressing concern in relation to the effect of the projected decline in population in Bute as reported in the Finalised Plan;  and

(3)   that it be delegated to the Head of Planning Services to provide Argyll & Bute Council with a copy of the report, as approved by the Committee, and a copy of Inverclyde Council's representations on the Finalised Argyll & Bute Structure Plan as submitted to the Secretary, Scottish Executive Development Department.

76

Street Naming - Kip Marina, Inverkip - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

76

There was submitted a report dated 7 January 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) for approval to  name the main spinal road serving the residential development at Kip Marina "Harbourside".

Noted

77

National Concessionary Travel Scheme

77

There was submitted a report dated 9 January 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive on the progress of the introduction of the proposed National Concessionary Travel Scheme and detailing the financial implications.

Noted

78

Legislative Changes to School Crossing Patrol Duties

78

There was submitted a report dated 7 January 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive on amendments to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 which impact on the school crossing patrol service.

Decided:

(1)   that approval be given to the continued provision of patrollers by the Transportation and Roads Service, on the basis of the present Council criteria, and that the school crossing patrol service continue to be provided at the same times as at present;  and

(2)   that approval be given to patrollers stopping traffic for any member of the public who wishes to cross the road at the existing school crossing points during the operation of the school crossing patrol service.

79

Pedestrian Links Between the Waterfront Development and Greenock Town Centre

79

There was submitted a report dated 10 January 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive requesting the Committee to approve the release of funds lodged with the Council during the redevelopment of the waterfront at Greenock for the purpose of carrying out works to improve the pedestrian links between the waterfront development and Greenock town centre, at an estimated cost of £60,000 including fees.

Decided:

(1)   that the release of all the funds lodged with the Council to allow works to improve the pedestrian links between the waterfront development and Greenock town centre to be carried out be approved;  and

(2)   that it be remitted to the Head of Transportation and Roads Service in consultation with the Head of Planning Services to implement the works during the current financial year.

80

20 mph Speed Limits and the Development of Home Zones

80

There was submitted a report dated 10 January 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive on (1) the outcome of the 20 mph speed limit trial scheme (Twenty's Plenty) undertaken by the Scottish Executive and further guidance issued by the Scottish Executive and setting out proposed criteria to be used in the establishment of 20 mph speed limits and (2) the development of home zones, to give pedestrians priority over motorists, and advising of a proposed response to the Scottish Executive consultation document on the Home Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2002.

Decided:

(1)   that with regard to 20 mph speed limits (i) the outcome of the trial scheme be noted, (ii) the criteria detailed in Appendix 1 to the report for the promotion of 20 mph speed restrictions be agreed and (iii) it be remitted to the Head of Transportation and Roads Service to discuss the introduction of 20 mph speed limits with the Police;  and

(2)   that with regard to the development of home zones (i)  the development of home zones be noted, (ii) the response to the Scottish Executive consultation document on the Home Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2002 as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report be approved and (iii) it be noted further reports will be submitted to the Committee.

81

Minute of Meeting of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority

81

There was submitted minute of meeting of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority of 5 October 2001.

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 during 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)

2001/2002 Budget Adjustments and Virements                             8

DLO/DSO Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 8                       8

Street Lighting Maintenance Contract 2001-2005(6)

Review of Contractor Performance                                                6

Dunlop Street/A78 Inverkip Road Roundabout Contract -

Use of Emergency Powers Procedure                                             6 and 8

Review of Tree Preservation Orders                                              13

82

2001/2002 Budget Adjustments and Virements

82

There was submitted a report dated 3 January 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval for adjustments and virements to the Transportation and Roads client and DLO budgets.

Decided:

(1)   that permanent virement of £41,000 from the employee budget line to the materials budget line be approved;

(2)   that approval be given to the use of the £35,000 additional trunk road contract income to fund projects to be carried out by the Roads DLO; 

(3)   that the re-profiling of the client expenditure in order to match the change in the spend profile resulting from the loss of the trunk roads contract be approved;  and

(4)   that it be noted that the separate report on pedestrian links between the waterfront development and Greenock town centre which required to be approved had been so approved.

83

DLO/DSO Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 8

83

There was submitted a report dated 7 January 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2001/2002 as at Period 8 (14 November 2001).

Noted

84

Street Lighting Maintenance Contract 2001-2005(6)

Review of Contractor Performance

84

There was submitted a report dated 4 January 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive reviewing the performance of the contractor appointed to carry out the street lighting maintenance contract.

Noted

85

Dunlop Street/A78 Inverkip Road Roundabout Contract -

Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

85

There was submitted a report dated 10 January 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) for approval relative to an overspend on the Dunlop Street/A78 Inverkip Road roundabout contract.

Noted

86

Review of Tree Preservation Orders

86

There was submitted a report dated 8 January 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive on the outcome of the review of Tree Preservation Orders undertaken as part of the preparation for the Final Draft of the Inverclyde Local Plan:  First Review.

Decided:  that the proposals outlined in section 4 of the report and summarised in annex 2 be endorsed and, in particular, that authority be given to the making of provisional Tree Preservation Orders as appropriate, in respect of the aforesaid proposals.