Economic Regeneration Committee

Tuesday 28 January 2003 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Blair, Calvert, Campbell, Hill, McCormick, McGhee, Morrison (M), O'Rourke 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 Director of Finance), Head of Planning Services, Head of Property Services and Head of Transportation and Roads Service.

Apologies:  Councillor Jackson.

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

86

Revenue Budget 2002/03 - Period 9

86

There was submitted a report dated 20 December 2002 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 2002/03 as at Period 9 (11 December 2002).

Noted

Councillor Morrison (M) entered the meeting at this juncture.

87

Capital Programme 2002/03 - 2003/04 - Progress

87

There was submitted a report dated 10 January 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive on the progress of the Capital Programme 2002/03 to 2003/04.

Noted

88

Property Services - Service Plan 2002/03

88

There was submitted a report dated January 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval for the Property Services Service Plan 2002/03, a copy of which was appended to the report.

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

Decided:  that the Property Services Service Plan 2002/03 be approved.

89

Inverclyde Farmers' Market - Continuation of the Market and Market Research Results

89

There was submitted a report dated 15 January 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) for approval to hold Farmers' Markets on the third Saturday in each month until May 2003 with the exception of January and (2) appending headline results of the market research carried out by MacLeod Research Associates to assess the success and economic impact of the Farmers' Markets.

Decided:  that the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) and the results of the market research be noted.

90

Port Glasgow Farmers' Market

90

There was submitted a report dated 21 January 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to homologate action taken to make arrangements for the holding of a Farmers' Market in Port Glasgow on 1 February 2003.

Noted

91

Minute of Meeting of Clyde Urban Waterfront Regeneration Zone Working Group

91

There was submitted minute of meeting of the Clyde Urban Waterfront Regeneration Zone Working Group held on 7 November 2002.

Noted

92

European Funding

92

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive providing details of applications to the European Structural Funds from the Inverclyde area for the period September to December 2002.

Decided:

(1)      that the efforts of partner organisations in Inverclyde in bringing additional resources to the area be acknowledged;  and

(2)      that the need to continue to work in partnership to identify projects and potential match funding to maximise the benefits of European funding for Inverclyde be recognised.

93

Fire and Water Festival - June 2003

93

There was submitted a report dated 10 January 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive on proposals for a fire and water festival to be held 6 - 8 June 2003 inclusive, the costs to be contained within the events allocation to the Economic Development Service.

Decided:  that the contents of the report be noted and that the Committee approve the arrangements for the fire and water festival to be held 6 - 8 June 2003 inclusive.

94

Property Services - Consultants' Fees

94

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval to vire £46,000 from the Property Services salaries budget to the consultants' budget and the overtime budget.

Decided:  that approval be given to vire £46,000 from the Property Services salaries budget to the consultants' budget (£36,000) and the overtime budget (£10,000).

95

Street Naming at Kip Marina Development

95

There was submitted a report dated 23 December 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive together with letter dated 23 January 2003 from the developer's architects on the proposed naming of streets within the residential development at Kip Marina.

Decided:  that the names Harbour Square and Malin Grove, Hebrides Grove, Bailey Grove and Cromarty Grove as shown on the plan appended to the report be adopted.

The meeting adjourned at 3.58 pm to allow a meeting of the Inverclyde Council to take place and thereafter reconvened at 4.20 pm.

Provost Roach did not return to the meeting following the adjournment.

96

Scottish Planning Policy Series

96

There was submitted a report dated 9 January 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) advising of the publication of the new Scottish Planning Policy series of documents to replace the National Planning Policy Guidelines and (2) on the publication of Scottish Planning Policy 1:  The Planning System and Scottish Planning Policy 2:  Economic Development.

Decided:  that the Council welcome the publication of Scottish Planning Policy 1:  The Planning System and Scottish Planning Policy 2:  Economic Development and note the key issues raised which will form material considerations in making future planning decisions.

97

Environmental Improvements - Gourock Pool, Battery Park, Well Park and Cliff Terrace Road, Wemyss Bay - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

97

There was submitted a report dated January 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) for approval to accept the lowest tender received for environmental improvements at Gourock Pool, Battery Park, Well Park and Cliff Terrace Road, Wemyss Bay that by Elim Construction Ltd in the sum of £117,770.23.

Noted

98

Transportation & Roads Service Capital Programme 2003/04 - Initial Report

98

There was submitted a report dated 10 January 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking authority to proceed with project preparation for a programme of carriageway, footway and lighting projects as set out in the report to be funded from the Transportation & Roads Capital Programme 2003/04.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee approve the projects set out in paragraph 3 of the report in respect of the Capital Programme 2003/04 based on the previously agreed 3 year Capital Programme, subject to the Policy & Strategy Committee confirming the allocation of funding for the Capital Programme 2003/04 and subject to the incorporation of any carry forward of incomplete 2002/03 projects;  and

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

99

Traffic Flows on the A8 and A78 Trunk Roads

99

There was submitted a report dated 13 January 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive on traffic flows on the A8 and A78 trunk roads in and out of Inverclyde, as requested by the Committee at the meeting held on 5 November 2002 (para 898).

Noted

100

Home Zones

100

There was submitted a report dated 9 January 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) updating the Committee on legislation and guidance issued relative to home zones in Scotland and (2) advising that the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund Sub-Committee had authorised the Transportation & Roads Service to undertake outline design and detailed costings for a proposed home zone project in Robert Street, Port Glasgow.

Noted

101

Crash Reduction Measures

Strathclyde Safety Camera Partnership

101

There was submitted a report dated 15 January 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive recommending that the Committee approve membership of the Strathclyde Safety Camera Partnership established to reduce crashes, casualties and speeds on the road within the partnership geographical area through additional speed and red light camera enforcement.  The report indicated that there would be no financial implications for the Council.

Decided:

(1)      that approval be given to membership of the Strathclyde Safety Camera Partnership;  and

(2)      that it be remitted to the Head of Transportation & Roads Service, together with the Director of Legal & Support Services and the Director of Finance, to conclude membership arrangements.

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)

Nittingshill Bridge, Quarrier's Village

Purchase of Bailey Bridge                                                            6 and 8

DLO/DSO Performance Reports - Roads and Cleaning           8

102

Nittingshill Bridge, Quarrier's Village

Purchase of Bailey Bridge

102

There was submitted a report dated 16 January 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking permission to negotiate with a sole contractor for the purchase of a Bailey Bridge.

Decided:  that it be remitted to the Head of Transportation & Roads Service in consultation with the Director of Finance to purchase a Bailey Bridge from the firm and for the sum detailed in the report.

103

DLO/DSO Performance Reports - Roads and Cleaning

103

There was submitted a report dated 20 December 2002 by the Director of Finance providing information on the performance of the Roads DLO and Cleaning DSO for the period to 11 December 2002.

Decided:

(1)      that the current position with regard to the performance targets be noted;  and

(2)      that it be noted that the business plan targets and key performance measures will be further developed as a result of the approval of the business plans in due course.