Environment and Regeneration Committee

Tuesday 4 April 2006 at 2.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Blair, Forbes, Fyfe, McCabe, Mitchell, Roach, Stewart and White.

Chair:  Councillor Fyfe presided. 

In attendance:  Depute Chief Executive, Mr G Douglas (for Solicitor to the Council), Mr J Aird (for Chief Financial Officer), Head of Housing Services, Head of Property Services and Head of Transportation and Roads Service.

Apologies:  Councillor McCormick (P).

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

274

Transportation and Roads Service’s Trading Account - Business Plan 2006/09

274

There was submitted a report dated 15 March 2006 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval of the Transportation and Roads Service’s Trading Account Business Plan 2006/09, a copy of which was appended to the report, consideration of which had been continued from the meeting of the Committee held on 21 March 2006.

(Councillors McCabe and Roach entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:  that the Committee approve the Transportation and Roads Service’s Trading Account Business Plan 2006/09 and refer it to the Best Value and Corporate Services Committee for consideration.

(Councillor Mitchell entered the meeting following consideration of this item of business).

275

Building Services - Business Plan 2006/09

275

There was submitted a report dated 2 March 2006 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval of the Building Services Business Plan 2006/09, a copy of which was appended to the report, consideration of which had been continued from the meeting of the Committee held on 21 March 2006.

(Councillor Blair entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:  that the Committee approve the Building Services Business Plan 2006/09 and refer it to the Best Value and Corporate Services Committee for consideration.

276

Cleaning Services - Business Plan 2006/09

276

There was submitted a report dated March 2006 by the Depute Chief Executive seeking approval of the Cleaning Services Business Plan 2006/09, a copy of which was appended to the report, consideration of which had been continued from the meeting of the Committee held on 21 March 2006.

Decided:  that the Committee approve the Cleaning Services Business Plan 2006/09 and refer it to the Best Value and Corporate Services Committee for approval.

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 13 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

277

Private Sector Housing Grant 2004-2006 and 2006-2008

277

There was submitted a report dated 16 March 2006 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) on the background to the Private Sector Housing Grant 2004-2006, (2) seeking approval for a strategic direction acknowledging the recently enacted Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, (3) proposing the continuation of a number of projects for 2006/08 and (4) setting out proposals for new projects for 2006/08, consideration of which had been deferred from the meeting of the Committee held on 21 March 2006.

(Councillor Blair left the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)      that approval be given to the strategic direction of the improvement of private sector housing by increasing the proportion of grant committed to BTS to focus on substantially reducing the level of BTS housing and reducing the level of housing in disrepair;

(2)      that the criteria for identifying Housing Renewal Areas as set out in the report be agreed;

(3)      that the Committee note the position with regard to the current year’s Private Sector Housing Grant and continue to fund the services outlined in sections 5.2 to 5.9 of the report as follows:-

Adaptations through Inverclyde Care & Repair

2006/07              2007/08

£430,000        £400,000;

Repair grants through Inverclyde Care & Repair

£  70,000         £  70,000;

Small Repairs Service through Care & Repair

£  38,000         £  40,000;

Repairs Grants committed from 2005/06

£200,000         £           0;

Tenemental Inspection Service

£  45,000         £  48,000;

Energy Efficiency Grants

£  30,000         £  30,000;

Central Heating Grants

£  15,000         £  10,000;

Private Landlords Forum

£  10,000         £    8,000;

Lead Pipe Replacement Grants

£    7,000       £    7,000;

(4)      that approval be given to the projects outlined in sections 6.0 to 6.6 of the report based on a maximum means tested grant level of £12,600 for each owner involved as follows:

Gibshill Phase IV;

BISF Phase II;

Oak Tree HA - Steel Houses;

Larkfield HA - Steel Houses;

2/4 John Street, Greenock;

(5)      that the Committee confirm its commitment in principle to future phases of works to BISF housing at Bardrainney and South Maukinhill subject to the availability of funding;

(6)      that it be agreed to provide funding for mandatory grants to assist in tackling disrepair;

(7)      that representation be made to Communities Scotland and the Scottish Executive outlining the position of private sector housing in Inverclyde and the requirements of additional funding necessary to tackle the issues of disrepair in the private sector within Inverclyde against the current funding levels;

(8)      that a report on the out-turn position for 2005-06 be submitted after the year end figures are known;  and

(9)      that the report on the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee include a review of the Council’s existing policy on providing grant assistance to owner-occupiers within estates where houses are to undergo comprehensive treatment, incorporating legal advice on the Council’s policy.