Economic Regeneration Committee

Tuesday 18 March 2003 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors 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), Head of Economic Development Service, Head of Planning Services, Head of Property Services and Mr E McCarron (for Head of Transportation and Roads Service).

Apologies:  Councillors Blair and Robertson (Y).

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

280

Revenue Budget 2002/03 - Period 11

280

There was submitted a report dated 21 February 2003 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 2002/03 as at Period 11 (5 February 2003).

Noted

281

Capital Programme 2002/03 - 2003/04 - Progress

281

There was submitted a report dated 6 March 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive on the progress of the Capital Programme 2002/03 to 2003/04.

Noted

282

Minute of Meeting of Clyde Urban Waterfront Regeneration Zone Working Group

282

There was submitted minute of meeting of the Clyde Urban Waterfront Regeneration Zone Working Group held on 6 March 2003.

Decided:

(1)      that the minute be noted;  and

(2)      that authority be delegated to the Chief Executive or the Depute Chief Executive to authorise payments from the URBAN II development fund for projects approved by the URBAN II Development Group.

283

European Funding

283

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive advising of current developments in the European Structural Funds which affect organisations in Inverclyde.

Decided:

(1)      that ongoing activities to develop and submit project applications to the European Structural Funds be supported;  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.

284

Business Store Inverclyde - Performance Outputs

284

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive providing information on the performance outputs from the Business Store Inverclyde during its second year of operation.

Decided:

(1)      that the contents of the report be noted, particularly the positive outcomes being achieved at the Business Store Inverclyde and the positive effects of integration, and that approval be given to the Council's continued support of the Business Store as a business unit;  and

(2)      that approval be given to the continued development of new products and services to be delivered from the Business Store Inverclyde and the establishment of joint programmes of work designed to increase the additionality achieved through the partnership arrangements at the Business Store.

285

Proposed Alteration to the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Joint Structure Plan

285

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive advising of a proposed alteration to the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Joint Structure Plan in respect of a new town centre at Ravenscraig, North Lanarkshire and recommending a response.

Decided:  that no adverse comments on the proposed alteration be offered as it is unlikely that there would be any adverse impact on Inverclyde's town centres as a result of the proposed new town centre at Ravenscraig, North Lanarkshire.

286

Inverclyde Local Plan:  First Review, Final Draft 2002 - Representations and Objections Received on the Plan

286

There was submitted a report dated March 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) detailing the representations and objections received on the Inverclyde Local Plan:  First Review, Final Draft 2002 and (2) advising of the anticipated timetable to adoption.

Decided:

(1)      that the scale, nature and content of the representations and objections received on the Final Draft Local Plan be noted;

(2)      that the work in progress in preparation for proposing any required modifications to the Plan and preparation for the forthcoming Public Local Inquiry be endorsed;   and

(3)      that it be noted a further report, addressing (i) the proposed modifications to the Local Plan, arising from the representations and objections received on the Plan, which have been either accepted or have arisen through the process of negotiation and (ii) an outline of the issues likely to be the subject of debate at the forthcoming Public Local Inquiry and any other relevant matters concerning the Council's participation and the case it would wish to present at the Inquiry, will be submitted to the meeting of the Committee to be held in June for endorsement.

287

Review of Tree Preservation Orders

287

There was submitted a report dated 3 March 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive advising that following the decision of the Committee at the meeting on 22 January 2002 (para 86) a number of provisional Tree Preservation Orders had been made and that no representations had been received.

Decided:  that The Inverclyde Council be recommended to confirm Tree Preservation Orders at Castlehill Road/Broomknowe Road, Kilmacolm;  Pritchard Wood, Gourock;  Ravenscraig Hospital, Greenock;  Cloch Plantation, Gourock;  and Wemyss Plantation, Wemyss Bay.

288

Street Naming - Swallow Brae Development, Inverkip

288

There was submitted a report dated 27 February 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive on the proposed naming of streets within the residential development at Swallow Brae, Inverkip.

Decided:  that the names Redwing Drive, Teal Drive, Lapwing Grove, Dunlin Grove, Woodlark Grove and Dunnock Grove be adopted.

289

Transportation & Roads Service Capital Programme 2003/04

289

There was submitted a report dated 6 March 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking authority to proceed with a programme of projects funded from the Transportation & Roads Capital Programme 2003/04.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee approve the projects listed in Appendix 1 of the report in respect of the Capital Programme 2003/04 based on the previously agreed three year Capital Programme;  and

(2)      that it be remitted to the Head of Transportation & Roads Service to proceed to tender, or issue to the Council's contractor, in respect of the projects listed in Appendix 1 of the report and that approval to accept tenders be granted in terms of the Standing Orders relating to Contracts and the Financial Regulations.

290

Additional Funding for Local Roads

290

There was submitted a report dated 6 March 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) advising of an award of additional revenue funding of £145,061 from the Scottish Executive to reduce the backlog of repairs and improvement work on local roads and (2) seeking approval for a programme of projects to be undertaken in 2003/04.

Decided:

(1)      that the programme of projects listed in paragraph 4 of the report be approved;  and

(2)      that it be remitted to the Head of Transportation & Roads Service to proceed to tender, or in the terms of the best value regime to issue to the Council's contractor, in respect of the projects listed in paragraph 4 of the report and that approval to accept tenders be granted in terms of the Standing Orders relating to Contracts and the Financial Regulations.

291

Weather Forecast Partnership

291

There was submitted a report dated 6 March 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval to enter into a four year contract in partnership with 11 other Councils for the provision of a weather forecast service for the West of Scotland following expiry of the current contract arrangements.

Decided:  that it be remitted to the Head of Transportation & Roads Service to enter into a partnership with the 11 other West of Scotland Councils for the provision of a weather forecast service from 16 May 2004 to 15 May 2008.

292

Road Adoptions

292

There was submitted a report dated 6 March 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of additions to Inverclyde's list of public roads in accordance with the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.

Noted

293

Minute of Meeting of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority

293

There was submitted minute of meeting of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority of 4 October 2002.

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)

Proprietary Treatment for Carriageways - 2003/04                    6 and 8

Alderwood Road, Port Glasgow - Drainage Works:

Use of Emergency Powers Procedure                                        6 and 8

DLO/DSO Performance Reports - Roads & Cleaning               8

294

Proprietary Treatment for Carriageways - 2003/04

294

There was submitted a report dated 6 March 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking authority to carry out a small programme of specialised proprietary surface treatments to carriageways.

Decided:  that it be remitted to the Head of Transportation & Roads Service to evaluate and recommend acceptance of negotiated tenders from the specialist contractors detailed in the report for a small programme of specialised proprietary surface treatments to carriageways to a total value of £100,000.

295

Alderwood Road, Port Glasgow - Drainage Works:  Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

295

There was submitted a report dated 6 March 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) on tenders received for drainage works at Alderwood Road, Port Glasgow and (2) advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure for approval to accept the lowest quotation received, that by DCS Ltd in the sum of £12,850.

Noted

296

DLO/DSO Performance Reports  - Roads & Cleaning

296

There was submitted a report dated 21 February 2003 by the Director of Finance providing information on the performance of the Roads DLO and Cleaning DSO for the period to 5 February 2003.

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.