Economic Regeneration Committee

Tuesday 10 June 2003 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Blair, Forbes, Fyfe, Hill, McCormick (P), McKenzie, Mitchell, Roach, Snoddy and Stewart.

Chair:  Councillor Fyfe presided. 

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

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

448

Regional Policy and European Funding

448

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive (1) on European Structural Funds after 2006 and (2) appending for consideration a draft response to the Department of Trade and Industry and Scottish Executive consultation document "A Modern Regional Policy for the United Kingdom" produced in the context of the future reform of the Structural Fund Programmes post European Union enlargement.

Decided:

(1)   that the draft response to the consultation paper "A Modern Regional Policy for the United Kingdom" appended to the report be approved;  and

(2)   that ongoing dialogue between Council Officers and external organisations such as the West of Scotland European Consortium, Scottish Local Authorities Economic Development Group and the Alliance for Regional Aid to formulate a broader local authority response be supported.

449

Economic Development Strategy 2003 - 2007

449

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval of the Economic Development Strategy 2003 - 2007, copies of which had been circulated.

Decided:

(1)   that, subject to adjustment of the unemployment statistics to reflect similar timescales, the strategic direction set out in the Economic Strategy 2003 - 2007 be approved;

(2)   that approval be given to the Economic Development Service to develop service plan activity around the key priorities of competitive location, business development, skills and learning and inclusion;

(3)   that the Head of Economic Development Service report the outputs from activities identified in the action plan to the Committee on a six monthly basis;  and

(4)   that the Depute Chief Executive pursue resource allocations through the Council's Capital Programme, partnership contributions and European Structural Funds for the delivery of projects developed in support of the Strategy.

450

Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice on Housing

450

There was submitted a report dated 29 May 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive on the publication of Scottish Planning Policy 3:  Planning for Housing and the accompanying documents A Regulatory Impact Assessment for Scottish Planning Policy 3, Planning Advice Note 38:  Housing Land and Planning Advice Note 67:  Housing Quality.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee welcome the publication of Scottish Planning Policy 3:  Planning for Housing and the accompanying documents  A Regulatory Impact Assessment for Scottish Planning Policy 3, Planning Advice Note 38:  Housing Land and Planning Advice Note 67:  Housing Quality;  and

(2)   that the Committee note the key issues raised, which will form material considerations in making future planning decisions, which are adequately incorporated in the Inverclyde Local Plan:  First Review, Final Draft (2002).

451

Scottish Planning Policy 7:  Planning and Flooding (Consultation Draft)

451

There was submitted a report dated June 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive on the consultation draft of Scottish Planning Policy 7:  Planning and Flooding.

Decided:  that the comments on the consultation draft of Scottish Planning Policy 7:  Planning and Flooding contained in Section 4 of the report be endorsed and that it be remitted to the Head of Planning Services to forward these to the Scottish Executive.

452

Draft Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC)

452

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive (1) on the publication of the draft Scottish Outdoor Access Code consultation document and (2) outlining new duties and powers placed on local authorities in terms of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

Decided:  that the Council advise Scottish Natural Heritage of its support for the Draft Scottish Outdoor Access Code and the aims and objectives contained therein.

453

Inverclyde Local Plan:  First Review, Final Draft 2002 - Update on Progress and the Local Plan Inquiry

453

There was submitted a report dated 30 May 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) on the anticipated timetable for the Inverclyde Local Plan:  First Review through to the Public Inquiry stage and (2) advising of the requirement to appoint a Programme Officer to administer the process, together with the financial implications of the appointment and the Local Plan Inquiry.

Decided:

(1)   that the anticipated revised timetable for publicising the Proposed Modifications to the Local Plan be noted;

(2)   that the indicative date of March 2004 from the Scottish Executive's Inquiry Reporter's Unit for the Inverclyde Local Plan Public Inquiry be noted;

(3)   that the appointment of a Programme Officer, for the reasons outlined in the report, be endorsed and that it be noted that efforts will be made to contain the associated costs within the overall Committee budget;  and

(4)   that the indicative costs of holding the Public Local Inquiry be noted, with fuller details being the subject of a further report to the Committee.

454

Street Naming - Housing Development at Weir Street/Leitch Street, Greenock

454

There was submitted a report dated 21 May 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive on the proposed naming of streets within the housing development at Weir Street/Leitch Street, Greenock.

Decided:  that the names suggested in the report be not adopted and that, subject to approval by the Convener and the Ward Councillor, the four streets be  named in accordance with the four most recently built ships by The Clan Line whose names do not conflict with existing street names in the area.

455

Central Gourock Redevelopment Working Group

455

There was submitted a report dated 13 May 2003 by the Director of Legal and Support Services requesting the Committee to appoint Members to the Central Gourock Redevelopment Working Group.

Decided:  that Councillors Roach, McCormick (P), White, Hunter and Forbes be appointed to the Central Gourock Redevelopment Working Group, with the Leader and Depute Leader of the Council being invited to meetings for their information.

456

Clyde Urban Waterfront Regeneration Zone Working Group

456

There was submitted a report dated 13 May 2003 by the Director of Legal and Support Services requesting the Committee to appoint Members to the Clyde Urban Waterfront Regeneration Zone Working Group.

Decided:  that the four Councillors representing Port Glasgow and Councillor Fyfe, Convener of the Committee, be appointed to the Clyde Urban Waterfront Regeneration Zone Working Group, with Councillor Hill (Depute Leader) as Chair.

457

Road Safety Unit Progress Report October 2002 to March 2003

457

There was submitted a report dated 23 May 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive on the work undertaken by the Road Safety Unit relative to schools' activities, cycling, publicity, schools' working group, liaison activities, the West of Scotland Road Safety Forum, school crossing patrols and kerbcraft training during the period October 2002 to March 2003.

Noted

458

Road Safety Awareness Day

458

There was submitted a report dated 23 May 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the road safety awareness day to be held on 17 August 2003 in the Comet Car Park, Port Glasgow.

Noted

459

Minute of Meeting of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority

459

There was submitted minute of meeting of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority of 7 February 2003.

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 for the following item on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 13 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

460

Proposed Provisional Tree Preservation Order

460

There was submitted a report dated 22 March 2003 by the Depute Chief Executive on proposals relative to the making of a provisional Tree Preservation Order and the Committee agreed to recommend to The Inverclyde Council the making of a provisional Tree Preservation Order at the area detailed in the report, all as detailed in the Appendix.