Environment and Regeneration Committee

Tuesday 25 May 2004 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Rebecchi, Councillors Forbes, Fyfe, Gallacher, Hunter, McCormick (P), Mitchell, Roach and Snoddy.

Chair:  Councillor Fyfe presided. 

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

Apologies:  Councillors Blair, Hill and McCabe.

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

410

Area Renewal:  Implementation of “First Steps”

410

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive (1) providing an update on the progress of the “Riverside” Initiative, (2) proposing a draft Action Plan for area renewal within housing areas, (3) explaining the linkages between the Community Ownership Programme and the Regeneration Fund, (4) seeking delegated authority to progress matters as detailed, (5) advising of the resultant staffing implications and (6) making specific recommendations on the disposal of key sites.  (Provost Rebecchi left the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Councillor Mitchell moved with reference to recommendation 8.1.2 of the report that approval be given to the disposal of the sites as described in paragraph 6.1, subject to the deletion of the site of the former Arran, Bute and Cumbrae Courts, and that the principle of ongoing site disposal be endorsed to ensure the progress of area renewal.  As an amendment, Councillor Roach moved that approval be given to the disposal of the sites as described in paragraph 6.1, subject to the deletion of the site of the former Arran, Bute and Cumbrae Courts, that the principle of ongoing site disposal be endorsed to ensure the progress of area renewal and that a report be submitted to a special meeting of the Environment & Regeneration Committee to be held at 2 pm on 17 June 2004 on the outcome of the discussions with Communities Scotland concerning the implications of the deletion of the site of the ABC flats.  On a vote, 3 Members voted for the motion and 4 for the amendment which was declared carried.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee note the progress made in the marketing and development of the “Riverside” sites;

2(a)    that approval be given to the disposal of the sites as described in paragraph 6.1 of the report, subject to the deletion of the site of the former Arran, Bute and Cumbrae Courts, that the principle of ongoing site disposal be endorsed to ensure the progress of area renewal and that a report be submitted to a special meeting of the Environment & Regeneration Committee to be held at 2 pm on 17 June 2004 on the outcome of the discussions with Communities Scotland concerning the implications of the deletion of the site of the ABC flats;

2(b)    that the development of the remaining sites, viz: Wren Road, Clydeview Road and Garvald Street, Gibshill and the Holy Family Primary School site be subject to appropriate environmental/open space provision;

(3)      that delegated authority be granted to the Depute Chief Executive on the basis described in paragraph 6.1 of the report to progress the clearance and demolition of low demand Council housing;

(4)      that approval be given to the small scale transfer of the Council housing stock in Maukinhill to  Cloch Housing Association, subject to a positive tenants’ ballot;

(5)      that the proposals for the development of the Masterplans relative to the ABC flats site, if approved by the Committee at its special meeting on 17 June 2004, which will incorporate the Wren Road site, Peat Road and Woodhall be noted, that a Masterplan also be developed relative to the Gilmour Street site and that reports providing an update on the progress of the Masterplans, which require to be developed in accordance with appropriate environmental/open space provision, be submitted to the Committee on a regular basis;

(6)      that the Committee confirm that the report by the Depute Chief Executive  form the basis of the Council’s bid for regeneration funding, subject to the decision of the Committee at its meeting on 17 June 2004, and that a progress report be submitted to the next scheduled meeting of the Committee;

(7)      that a report be submitted to the next scheduled meeting of the Committee on the following areas: 

Antigua Court, Glasgow Road, Moray Road, Park Farm/Oronsay, Ettrick and Dunns Places and Belville Street High Flats; and

(8)      that a further report be submitted to the Committee on the areas at Upper Bow, 57 Wren Road and Craigieknowes Street/East Crawford Street which are potentially available to meet the future strategic needs of the Council, together with any other sites considered appropriate for this purpose.

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 consideration of the following item on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

411

Housing Services - Restructure

411

There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive proposing a revised structure for the Housing Division of Economic Development Services.

The Depute Chief Executive advised the Committee that the Head of Housing & Building Services would be appointed rather than seconded to lead the Council’s Implementation Team.

Decided:

(1)      that approval be given to the restructure of Housing Services and the associated changes as outlined in the report; and

(2)      that the grading of the post of Admin/Finance Officer be referred to the Best Value & Corporate Services Committee for decision and, in terms of the Council’s Standing Orders and Scheme of Administration, that the changes outlined in the report be referred to the Best Value & Corporate Services Committee for approval.