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Tribute:
Nicolson Institute Senior Boys Football Team
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The Chairman referred to the Nicolson
Institute Senior Boys Football Team and, on behalf of the Committee, congratulated
them not only on their success in reaching the Scottish Under 18s Final and
playing at Hampden on Tuesday 20 April 2004, but also on giving such a great
performance only losing on penalties by the narrowest possible margin.
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Tribute:
Nicolson Institute Senior Girls Football Team
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The Chairman referred to the Nicolson
Institute Senior Girls Football Team who recently beat Inverness Royal Academy 11-0 in the semi-final of the North of Scotland Cup and would be travelling to
Dingwall on Friday 30 April 2004 to play in the final against another
Inverness team, Millburn Academy. The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee,
congratulated them and wished the Nicolson Institute Senior Girls Football
Team every success in the final.
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Tribute:
Nicolson Institute S2 Girls Football Team
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The Chairman referred to the Nicolson
Institute S2 Girls Football Team who were playing at Hampden that day in the
semi final of the Coca Cola seven a side competition against opponents from Aberdeen. The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, wished the Nicolson Institute S2
Girls Football Team every success and congratulated the Nicolson Institute
for producing three successful and talented teams in one year.
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MINUTES
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Minute of
Meeting of 12 February 2004 at 9.30am
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1
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The Minute of
Meeting of 12 February 2004 at 9.30am was approved.
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Minute of
Meeting of 12 February 2004 at 2.00pm
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2
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The Minute of
Meeting of 12 February 2004 at 2.00pm was approved.
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Minute of
Meeting of Human Resources Sub-Committee of 26 March 2004
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3
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(a)
The Minute of Meeting of the Human Resources
Sub-Committee of 26 March 2004 was approved.
(b)
This item was withdrawn.
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Minute of
Meeting of ICT Sub-Committee of 22 April 2004
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4
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The Minute of
Meeting of the ICT Sub-Committee of 22 April was approved, subject to the
recommendation at item 3 of the Minute regarding e-mail free Fridays being
referred to the Local Government Employee Joint Consultative Committee to
enable consultation with staff and trade unions to take place and that a
further Report be presented to the Sub-Committee when that matter had been
considered by the Local Government Employee Joint Consultative Committee.
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Minute of
Meeting of Local Government Employee Joint Consultative Committee of 27 April
2004
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5
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It was agreed to withdraw this item.
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Minute of
Meeting of Housing Stock Transfer Sub-Committee of 28 April 2004
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6
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The Minute of
Meeting of the Housing Stock Transfer Sub-Committee of 28 April 2004 was approved.
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CONSTITUTION
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Human
Resources Sub-Committee: Appointment to Vacancy
PR01.02
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7
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The Director of Corporate Services submitted
a Report requesting that the Committee appoint to the vacancy created on the
Human Resources Sub-Committee by the resignation of Mr Archie K Campbell.
The Report stated that the appointment could be made from the membership of
the Comhairle.
The Chairman called for nominations for the
vacancy on the Human Resources Sub-Committee and the following members were
duly moved and seconded:
Mr Keith Dodson
Mr Peter Carlin
The Committee proceeded to vote by ballot,
the results of which were as follows:
Mr Keith Dodson 5 votes
Mr Peter Carlin 7 votes
It was agreed to recommend that Peter
Carlin be appointed to fill the vacancy on the Human Resources Sub-Committee.
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Mrs Morag
Munro declared an interest in the following item and left the meeting during
consideration of the matter.
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Scheme of
Delegation: WICAS
DS61.19
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8
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The Director of Corporate Services submitted
a Report seeking homologation of the actions of the Acting Director of
Corporate Services in agreeing to a change of hours of the Lewis Citizen’s
Advice Bureau and proposing a temporary amendment to the Scheme of Delegation
to allow expeditious decision making on minor matters.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1)
the action
taken by the Acting Director of Corporate Services in agreeing to the change
of opening hours of the Lewis Citizen’s Advice Bureau as detailed in Appendix
1 to the Report, be homologated; and
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(2)
the delegation granted by the Comhairle
to the Director for Sustainable Communities in relation to WICAS be
transferred to the Director of Corporate Services while the wife of the
Director for Sustainable Communities remained an office bearer of Lewis
Citizen’s Advice Bureau.
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FINANCE
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Recommendations
for Write-Offs of Certain Council Tax Debts
PR100.07
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9
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The Director
of Finance submitted a Report itemising and recommending that certain debts
in excess of £1,000 be written off in the financial year 2003/04. It was
indicated in the Report that the Scheme of Delegation permitted the Director
of Finance to write off sums outstanding to the Comhairle up to £1,000 but
sums in excess of £1,000 required to be approved by the Committee. Details
of proposed Council Tax write-offs greater than £1000 were appended to the
Report.
It was
agreed to recommend that the debts itemised in Appendix A to the Report be
written off.
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Consultation
on Collection of Domestic Water and Sewerage Charges
PR100.03.01
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10
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The Director of Finance submitted a Report
concerning the Scottish Executive’s proposal to continue the arrangements
whereby local authorities collect domestic water and sewerage charges on
behalf of Scottish Water and seeking approval of the Comhairle’s response to
the consultation. Questions raised by the consultation and the recommended
responses were outlined in the Appendix to the Report.
It was agreed to recommend approval of
the draft response to the consultation as set out in the Appendix to the
Report as the Comhairle's response to the consultation and that a copy of the
response be sent to CoSLA.
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Mr Norman A
Macdonald declared an interest in the following item and left the meeting
during consideration of the matter.
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Budgetary
Control of Exceptional Complex Home Care Packages PR100.01
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11
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The Director
of Finance submitted a Report proposing new arrangements for the financial
management of exceptional complex home care packages. Details of the
existing packages and the resources these packages currently require in the
2004/05 budget were appended to the Report.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1)
the definition of exceptional complex
home care packages as being in excess of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar care
home charge for single occupancy, which is proposed to be £686 in 2004/05, be
approved;
(2)
the current budget for exceptional
complex home care packages as detailed in Appendix A to the Report be
transferred from the Social Work budget and be held centrally;
(3)
future exceptional complex home care
packages be recommended by the Joint Future Committee to both partner organisations;
(4)
it be delegated to the Chief Executive
and the Director of Finance to consider the recommendations of the Joint
Future Committee;
(5)
the Comhairle share of the costs of new
cases and the Comhairle’s share of additional costs to existing packages be
funded from a central resource;
(6)
the Comhairle share of any saving due
to a reduction in costs be to the benefit of central resources;
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(7)
consideration be given to a revised
charging policy for the exceptional complex home care packages, as agreed by
the Comhairle on 12 February 2004; and
(8)
the Joint Future Leadership Group be
redesignated as the Joint Future Executive Group.
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Further
Development of the Opportunities Afforded by the Prudential Regime
PR110.01
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12
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The Director of Finance submitted a Report
addressing outstanding issues concerning the Capital Programme and issues
relating to the management of the Programme. It was reported that additional
capital expenditure could be considered on a spend to save basis.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1)
any receipts not identified as integral
to a specific project on the scored APER would be used centrally to close the
£6m funding gap between projects to a value of £30m approved to move to the
PER stage and the £24m the Comhairle can afford;
(2)
in determining the order of approved
capital projects Members’ priorities would be followed unless there were
practical or service reasons to depart from them;
(3)
the ability of the local economy to
cope with the workload required to be taken into account in deriving the
Capital Programme;
(4)
the start date of every project
required to be approved by the Director of Finance;
(5)
the loan charges arising from
overspends would be funded by virements from Committee’s revenue budgets to
the central budget for loan charges on the basis of a recommendation from the
relevant Committee to Policy and Resources Committee and Comhairle;
(6)
operational revenue consequences of
capital expenditure be assumed to be funded from Committees’ existing budgets
on the basis of a recommendation from the relevant Committee to Policy and
Resources Committee and Comhairle unless additional funding were to be agreed
on the said basis when the Project Evaluation Report was approved; and
(7)
additions to the programme would be
considered if the loan charges would be funded from ongoing revenue savings
on the basis of the recommendation from the relevant Committee to Policy and
Resources Committee and Comhairle.
Arising out
of consideration of this item it was agreed that a Seminar for Members in
relation to the Prudential Regime be arranged during the June series of
meetings.
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Child
Protection Case: Update on Costs
SW02.17
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13
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With reference to item 15 of the Minute of
Meeting of 12 February 2004 the Director of Corporate Services submitted a
Report providing the Comhairle with an update on additional expenditure in
relation to child protection matters.
It was
agreed to recommend that:
(1) the Report be noted; and
(2) the Convener
write to the Scottish Executive in relation to commitments made by the First
Minister in this regard.
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ACE
Option and ACE Challenge Grant Schemes – New Programme
CH01.01
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14
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The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning the continued
development of the ACE Option and ACE Challenge Grant Schemes. It was
intimated in the Report that it would be appropriate to give consideration to
amending the Schemes of Administration so as to allow the extension of the
ACE Grant Scheme to allow applications from Stornoway Community Council
Area. The Report emphasised that ACE Grants had helped fund a wide range of
projects including Village Entrance/Gateway Schemes, Play Areas, Amenity
Planting Schemes, Community Gardens and the Development of Community
Information Points and that the excellent response from community groups
indicated that the ACE Option and ACE Challenge Grants Schemes continued to
enable communities to develop projects that would provide long-term
environmental and amenity improvements. In particular the Report gave
background information on the level of ACE funding available in the Stornoway
Community Council Area. It was further intimated that it was proposed that
future ACE Challenge Grant Funding could be used to assist roadside footpaths
as this would assist Community Safety.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1)
proposed changes in the ACE Grants
Scheme of administration as set out in Appendices 1 and 2 to the Report be
approved;
(2)
the extension of the ACE Grant Scheme
to include roadside footpaths where there were no revenue cost implications,
a clear community safety outcome and an environmental improvement be
approved;
(3)
delegated authority be granted to the
Director for Sustainable Communities to negotiate with project sponsors to
allow a project to proceed provided that the amount of grant did not
increase;
(4)
the ACE Challenge Grant Applications as
detailed in para 7.2 of the Report be approved;
(5)
the inclusion of the ACE project
funding in the Capital Programme 2004 - 08, as set out in the project
evaluation report at Appendix 4 to the Report, be approved; and
(6)
a Report by the Director for
Sustainable Communities, Director of Corporate Services and the Director of
Finance be presented to the next meeting of the Committee in June 2004
detailing the relationship between ACE grants available from the Comhairle,
other grants and Ward Priority Fund and their use in relation to community
projects.
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Treatment
of Trading Surpluses
CB011
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15
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With reference to item 2 of the Minute of
Meeting of the Commercial Operations Board of 9 February 2004 the Director of
Finance submitted a Report stating that Significant Trading Organisations
(STO’s) were required to break even over a three year rolling period.
The Report
intimated that in terms of the CIPFA Guidance Note entitled “A Best Value
Approach to Trading Accounts” material surpluses or deficits should be
returned or reapportioned to the ‘internal client’. It was further intimated
that there was no express statutory power for an STO to maintain a reserve.
It was
recommended in the Report that:
(a)
any surpluses or deficits at the end of each
financial year be returned to the Comhairle General Fund as the ’internal
client’; and
(b) each year the
Director of Finance should bring forward a Report following the closure of
accounts on how any material surpluses could be used.
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It was agreed to recommend, insofar as
the Committee's interest was concerned, that:
(1) any surpluses or deficits at the
end of each financial year be returned to the Comhairle’s General Fund as the
internal client; and
(2) each year the
Director of Finance, Director of Corporate Services and other Directors
running significant trading organisations be authorised to bring forward a
Report following the closure of accounts on how any material surpluses may be
used and such reports, in the first instance, be presented to the Commercial
Operations Board for its interest.
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It was agreed
that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during
consideration of the following item on the grounds that exempt information as
defined in Paragraphs 8 and 9 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government
(Scotland) Act 1973 would be disclosed, namely information relating to the
amount of any expenditure proposed to be incurred by the Comhairle under any
particular contract for the acquisition of property or the supply of goods or
services and any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the Comhairle in
the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of
property or the supply of goods or services.
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Public
Private Partnership Bid: Current Position
E01.04.38
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16*
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With reference
to item 30 of the Minute of Meeting of 4 December 2003 the Director of
Education submitted a Report concerning the current position regarding the
Public Private Partnership for Schools bid for funding from the Scottish
Executive. A letter from Bayble School Board dated 24 March 2004 regarding
the refurbishment of Bayble School was appended to the Report.
It was
agreed to recommend that:
(1)
the current position be noted; and
(2)
the formation by the Chief Executive of
a PPP Steering Group be homologated.
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It was agreed
that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during
consideration of the following item on the grounds that exempt information as
defined in Paragraphs 6, 8 and 9 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government
(Scotland) Act 1973 would be disclosed, namely information relating to the
financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the
Comhairle), information relating to the amount of any expenditure proposed to
be incurred by the Comhairle under any particular contract for the
acquisition of property or the supply of goods or services and any terms
proposed or to be proposed by or to the Comhairle in the course of
negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or
the supply of goods or services.
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Mr Angus
McCormack, who was not a Member of the Committee, declared an interest in the
following matter.
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Factoring
Arrangements for An Lanntair
AL05.02.29
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17*
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The Director
of Finance submitted a Report seeking approval for factoring the new Arts
Centre in Stornoway. Details of the proposal were outlined in the Report.
It was recommended in the Report that the Director of Finance be authorised
to enter into a factoring arrangement with An Lanntair on terms to be agreed
by the Director of Corporate Services.
Mr Angus
Nicolson, seconded by, Mr Donald Manford moved rejection of the
recommendation and that the Director of Finance be not authorised to enter
into a factoring arrangement with An Lanntair on terms to be agreed by the
Director of Corporate Services.
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The Chairman,
seconded by the Vice-Chairman moved as an amendment that it be delegated to
the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and
Vice-Chairman of the Committee, Director of Finance and Director of Corporate
Services to take this matter forward on the basis of minimising any potential
risk to the Comhairle.
On the matter
being put to the vote the motion received 3 votes and the amendment received
7 votes. The amendment therefore became the finding of the meeting.
It was
agreed to recommend that it be delegated to the Chief Executive, in
consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and Vice-Chairman of the
Committee, Director of Finance and Director of Corporate Services to take
this matter forward on the basis of minimising any potential risk to the
Comhairle.
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It was agreed that the public, including the
press, be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following
item on the grounds that exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of
Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 would be disclosed,
namely information relating to a particular employee, former employee or
applicant to become an employee of, or a particular office holder or former
office holder, or applicant to become an office holder under the Comhairle.
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Resourcing
of Internal Audit
SS05
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18*
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The Director
of Finance submitted a Report detailing the current situation in relation to
the resourcing of Internal Audit.
It was agreed to recommend
that the Report be noted.
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Mr Norman A Macdonald declared an interest
in the following item and left the meeting during consideration of the
matter.
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Review of
the Home Care Service
SW04
|
19
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With reference
to item 9 of the Minute of Meeting of the Social Work Committee of 5 February
2004 the Director of Social Work submitted a Report which set out the
framework for conducting the externally supported review of the Home Care
Service approved by the Comhairle in February 2004. The Report stated that
this review was being conducted to address issues of financial stability,
good practice within nationally agreed standards, and the preparation for
registration and inspection by the Care Commission. It was proposed in the
Report that a Member/Officer Reference Group be established for the duration
of the review of the Home Care Service.
It was
agreed to recommend:
(1) the establishment of a Member/Officer
Reference Group, comprising two Members of the Social Work Committee and Mr
Norman M Macleod and Mr Donald Maclean from the Policy and Resources
Committee, for the duration of the Home Care Review, and such officers as the
Chief Executive shall determine, including a Trade Union Representative; and
(2) that the £28k needed for the Review be
reserved centrally, on the understanding that should savings occur in the
Social Work Budget 2004/2005 then the review would be funded from these
savings, and in the event that this were not to be possible, then the £28k be
included in any carried forward overspend into 2005/06 to be recovered from
any savings in that year.
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Integrated
Management Arrangements for Community Care Service – Phase 1
SW10.05
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20
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With reference
to item 11 of the Minute of Meeting of the Social Work Committee of 5
February 2004 the Joint Future Development Manager submitted a Report seeking
approval to proceed with the implementation of phase 1 of the integrated
management arrangements for community health and social care services and the
development of the relevant locality framework. Progress to date and the
next steps in the development of a joint management framework for community
health and social care services were outlined in the Report. Outcome
measures, governance issues and the roll out of a pilot joint management
arrangement with an initial focus on Barra and Vatersay were also detailed in
the Report.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle:
(1)
approve the recommendations contained
in Section 5 of the Report for the development and implementation of joint
management arrangements for community health and social care services;
(2)
approve joint funding of £25,000 in the
financial year 2004/05 to facilitate the establishment of a pilot joint
management arrangement with the initial focus being on Barra and Vatersay;
and
(3) that the
Comhairle's share of £12.5k be reserved centrally, on the understanding that
should savings occur in the Social Work Budget in 2004/2005 then the
Comhairle's share would be funded from these savings and in the event that
this were not to be possible, then the £12.5k be included in any carried
forward overspend into 2005/2006 to be recovered from any savings in that
year.
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CAPITAL
PROGRAMME 2004 – 2008
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Council
Chamber Disabled Access
LB35.04.03
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21
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The Director of Corporate Services submitted
a Report outlining proposals for making the Council Chamber accessible for
users with disabilities. It was indicated in the Report that the Council
Chamber did not, presently, allow people with mobility impairments to reach all
areas of the Chamber. A preliminary feasibility report by the Technical
Services Department outlined the need for access to all areas of the Council
Chamber, if the Chamber was to meet the legal requirements of the Disability
Discrimination Act 1995 as a venue for public meetings. It was indicated in
the Report that any work to the Council Chamber would be carried out during
the summer recess in 2004 and details of two minimum cost options were
outlined in the Report.
It was agreed to recommend approval of
Option 2 as detailed in the Report for the conversion of the Council Chamber.
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Enhancing
Parks and Open Spaces: New Grants Scheme
AL06.02
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22
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The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning the composite
programme for enhancing parks and open spaces, currently on the conditional
list of agreed projects, for consideration for inclusion in the Capital
Programme. The Project Evaluation Report for Enhancing Parks and Open Spaces
was appended to the Report.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1)
the proposed Grant Scheme for voluntary
sector play areas as outlined in 2.2 and 1.3 of the Report be approved;
(2)
the extension of the Grants Scheme to
include village parks as outline in 2.4 of the Report be approved; and
(3) delegated authority be granted to
the Director for Sustainable Communities to allow the development of small
scale enhancements of Comhairle owned open spaces.
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Stornoway Town Hall – External Fabric Repairs
AL01.11
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23
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With reference
to item 2 of the Minute of Meeting of 28 January 2002 the Director for
Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning the shortfall in
funding for the current contract for repairing Stornoway Town Hall and identifying a possible source of funding to complete the works. The Project
Evaluation Report for Town Hall External Fabric Repairs was appended to the
Report. It was indicated in the Report that it would not be possible to
proceed with any repairs to the Town Hall until final details have received
approval from Historic Scotland.
It was
agreed to recommend that:
(1)
the Project Evaluation Report for Town
Hall External Fabric Repairs at Appendix 1 to the Report be approved; and
(2) additional
expenditure of £30k from within the PER referred to at (1) above be brought
forward to 2004/05 to complete the current contract for repairs to the
building be approved.
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Stornoway Town Scheme and Ports of Entry
Enhancement Scheme of Administration and Project Evaluation Report
CH01.01
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24
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The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report appending:
(1)
A Draft Scheme of Administration for Ports of
Entry and Enhancement; and
(2) Project Evaluation Report for Stornoway Town Scheme and Ports of Entry Enhancement.
The Report
stated that a Scheme of Administration was already in place for the Stornoway
Town Scheme, which identified "eligible works" which were funded to
50% of their cost. It was further stated that applications for grant
assistance in excess of £5,000 were referred to Historic Scotland and the
Comhairle, with grant applications of up to £5,000 being determined by the
Director for Sustainable Communities.
It was agreed to recommend:
(1)
continuation of the Stornoway Town Scheme;
(2)
that the draft Scheme of Administration
for Enhancement of ports of Entry be approved;
(3)
an amendment to the Scheme of
Delegation to allow the Director for Sustainable Communities to approve Ports
of Entry Enhancement grant applications of up to £10,000 be approved; and
(4) the project “Stornoway Town Scheme & Ports of Entry Enhancement” be included in the Capital Programme
2004 – 2008 in line with the Project Evaluation Report at Appendix 2 to the
Report.
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Improving
Disabled Access for the Community Scheme of Administration and Project
Evaluation Report
CH01.01
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25
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The Director for Sustainable Communities submitted
a Report seeking approval for the Scheme of Administration and associated
Project Evaluation Report regarding use of the capital programme to fund
Improving Disabled Access for the Community. It was stated in the Report
that the Scheme was designed to maximise the spread of grant aid across the
Western Isles by limiting maximum Grants to £500 for commercial
organisations, such as shops and restaurants and to £750 for non-commercial
organisations, such as community halls or churches. The Report stated that
the relevant local Access Panel would vet applications and their support
would be required for all applications approved under delegation, which it
was proposed to grant to the Director for Sustainable Communities to approve
applications of up to £500 from commercial organisations and up to £750 from
non-commercial organisations. It was further intimated that if an Access
Panel opposed an application it would be refused, with applicants having a
right of appeal to the Comhairle, on the basis that any appeal would be
referred to the Environmental Services Committee.
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It was agreed to recommend that:
(1)
the Scheme of Administration outlined
in paragraphs 2.1 and 2.2 of the Report and at Appendix 1 to the Report be
approved;
(2)
the Scheme of Delegation be amended to
allow the Director for Sustainable Communities to approve grant applications
of up to £500 for commercial organisations and to £750 for non-commercial
organisations; and
(3) the project
“Improving Disabled Access for the Community” be included in the Capital
Programme for 2004 – 2008, in line with the Project Evaluation Report at
Appendix 2 of the Report.
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Education
and Children’s Services Committee: Capital Expenditure Programme 2004 – 2008
PR110.01
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26
|
The Director
of Education submitted a Report seeking approval for Education and Children’s
Services projects within the context of the Comhairle’s Capital Expenditure
Programme 2004 – 2008, which will permit work to be undertaken in schools
during the summer months. The relevant Project Evaluation Report and the
allocation for each project was detailed in the Appendix to the Report.
It was
agreed to recommend approval of the items in the Project Section of the
Report, subject to the adjustment outlined at the meeting, namely, that R-ED9
be re-titled Schools Capital Renovations Programme to reflect the combination
of the Capital Renovations Programme for Rural Secondaries with the remaining
£916k of Scottish Executive Schools Fund to form a consolidated grouping for
prioritisation within the Schools Asset Management framework.
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CORPORATE
STRATEGY
|
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Corporate
Strategy 2001-03: Outstanding Key Tasks
PR11.40
|
27
|
The Chief
Executive submitted a Report seeking approval of the recommendations relating
to the outstanding key tasks included in the Corporate Strategy 2001-3.
Recommendations for further action and recommendations for outstanding key
aims were appended to the Report.
It was agreed to recommend that the
appendices containing recommendations on the future of these outstanding Key
Aims be approved in so far as the Committee’s interests were concerned.
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Departmental
Business Plans 2004-07
PR33.01.04
|
28
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The Chief Executive submitted a Report
concerning the Departmental Business Plans for 2004-07. The Report indicated
that a seminar for members had been held on 25 March 2004 at which Members
had been given an opportunity to consider draft Business Plans. The Report
further stated that amended Departmental Business Plans for all Comhairle
Departments had been separately circulated for final amendments and approval.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Departmental Business Plans, which had been
circulated to Members, be approved.
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HOUSING
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Housing
Revenue Account Interim Capital Programme 2004/05
PR110.01
|
29
|
The Assistant Director of Housing submitted
a Report detailing the proposed interim Housing Revenue Account Capital
Programme for 2004/2005. It was intimated in the Report that the Programme
was based on the current best estimate of funding available and also
reflected the investment strategy as outlined in Year 3 of the Housing
Revenue Account Financial Plan. The interim programme also detailed the
proposed method of procurement for each project within the programme.
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It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) the interim Housing Revenue Account
Capital Programme for 2004/05, as set out at Appendix 1 to the Report, be
approved, with the finalised programme coming before Housing Committee and
Policy and Resources Committee in June 2004 for consideration; and
(2) the method of procurement for each
project detailed in the Report be approved, on the basis that the proposed
method of procurement represented Value for Money.
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Housing –
Capital Borrowing and Receipts
H05.01.01
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30
|
The Director of Finance and the Assistant
Director of Housing submitted a Report concerning the treatment of Housing
Capital receipts. The Report gave background information in relation to the
current treatment of Housing Capital receipts and intimated that the
restrictions required 75% of the receipts from the sale of Council houses to
be used to repay debt that ended on 5 February 2004 and that it was now open
to the Council to use receipts as it be determined. The Report further
stated that it was considered appropriate to continue the current practice of
using 75% of the receipts from house sales to repay debt to be continued
until Stock Transfer may take place and concluded that such a policy would be
in the interests of:
(a)
prudence; and
(b) possible impact on valuation
within the Stock Transfer process.
It was
agreed to recommend:
(1) that the Report be noted; and
(2) continuation of the current practice
of applying 75% of Housing capital receipts from house sales to repay debt.
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Housing
Revenue Account: Capital Programme 2003/04: Progress Report
PR110.01
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31
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The Director of Housing submitted a Report
regarding the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme 2003/2004.
The Report
detailed the expenditure on the programme and intimated that the current
expenditure profile, as detailed in the Report, indicated that projected
expenditure was within the 5% tolerance of the capital consent for the year
2003/2004.
It was further
intimated that the final outturn figures for the Housing Revenue Account
Capital Programme 2003/2004 would be submitted to the Committee at its June
meeting.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) the Housing Capital Programme for 2003/04 be revised as
detailed at Appendix 1 of the Report, to take account of project variations;
and
(2) the expenditure profile shown at Appendices 2 and 3 of
the Report be noted.
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Local
Housing Strategy Objectives and Action Plan
H01.01
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32
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The Assistant Director of Housing submitted
a Report concerning the range of objectives and action plans to be included
within the Local Housing Strategy. The Report referred to the detailed
guidance and the preparation and assessment of the Housing Strategy which had
been issued to the Comhairle by Communities Scotland and further referred to
the seminars on the development of the Local Housing Strategy which had been
held in September 2003 and March 2004.
The Report
referred to the use of specialist Consultancy firms in relation to
preparation of information which informed the content of the Local Housing
Strategy. Appended to the Report was a set of 14 objectives, which had
evolved from discussions with members and representatives of other outside
organisations, and intimated that these 14 objectives would direct Housing
policy and investment during the next five years. The Report emphasised that
the Local Housing Strategy had to be submitted to the Scottish Executive
(Community Scotland) in April 2004 and that it was proposed that the Strategy
would be circulated to Members prior to the Scottish Executive’s initial
response.
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It was
agreed to recommend that:
(1)
the objectives for the Local Housing
Strategy as detailed in the supplementary papers to the Report be approved,
subject to the following amendment:
delete “Objective 14 as detailed in the Report”; and insert as
Objective 14 the following:
“As a matter of priority the Comhairle secure access to land for
additional housing”;
(2)
the words “including offering
incentives to people to move to rental housing which meets their
accommodation needs” be incorporated at the end of Objective 1, Action Point
(3); and
(3) the objectives for the Local
Housing Strategy, as amended at (1) and (2) above be submitted to Communities
Scotland, by the Director of Housing, by 30 April 2004.
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BUILDINGS
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Capital
Works: Programme and Progress
PR33.01.12
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33
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With reference to item 16 of the Minute of
Meeting of 9 October 2003 the Director of Technical Services submitted a
Report concerning programme and progress of properties held on the Policy and
Resources account.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Report be noted.
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It was agreed
that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during
consideration of the following item on the grounds that exempt information as
defined in Paragraphs 6, 8 and 9 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government
(Scotland) Act 1973 would be disclosed, namely information relating to the
financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the
Comhairle), information relating to the amount of any expenditure proposed to
be incurred by the Comhairle under any particular contract for the
acquisition of property or the supply of goods or services and any terms
proposed or to be proposed by or to the Comhairle in the course of
negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or
the supply of goods or services.
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Ionad
Spòrs Leòdhais: Progress Report
AL02.01
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34*
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With reference to the Minute of Meeting of
the Arts and Leisure Committee of 4 February 2003 the Director of Technical
Services submitted a Report giving details of progress on Ionad Spòrs
Leòdhais Project. Physical progress on site and details of the financial
position were outlined in the Report. It was indicated in the Report that
the project was running 10 – 12 weeks behind programme and that completion of
the Project was not now expected until 30 September 2004, excluding
demolition of the existing sports centre and squash court.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.
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It was agreed that the public, including the
press, be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following
item on the grounds that exempt information as defined in Paragraph 6 of
Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 would be disclosed,
namely information relating to the financial or business affairs of any
particular person (other than the Comhairle).
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Mr Norman A
Macdonald declared an interest in the following item and left the meeting
during consideration of the matter.
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Corporate
Storage – Premises for Conversion
LB06.01
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35*
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The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report in relation to the possibility
of the Comhairle purchasing two commercial premises owned by the Scottish
Co-op in Stornoway and Castlebay in order to meet corporate storage needs and
to provide an opportunity to acquire additional letting premises in Barra to
promote economic development.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Director for
Sustainable Communities, should enter into negotiations with the Scottish
Co-op to purchase the vacant part of the former wholesale store at Seaforth
Road, Stornoway with a view to conversion of the premises to address the
Comhairle's long term storage needs, prior to a project Evaluation Report
being prepared for detailed approval in that regard.
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Nicolson Lewis
Sports Centre – Site Use
AL02.01
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36
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The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report concerning the site use of the campus surrounding the
existing Nicolson Lewis Sports Centre. It was recommended in the Report that
a short life Member/Officer Working Group be established to carry out an
in-depth study in relation to the future use of the whole site and that this
study give consideration to all relevant and previously expressed interests.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) a short life Member/Officer Working
Group be established to make recommendations on the future use of the
Nicolson Lewis Sports Centre site and the surrounding campus and that the
Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee and the
Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Arts and Leisure Committee be appointed to
the Working Group; and
(2) the Departments of Education,
Technical Services, Corporate Services and Sustainable Communities be
represented on the said Member/Officer Working Group.
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POLICY
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Mr Archie K. Campbell declared an interest
in the following item and left the meeting during consideration of the
matter.
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Policy on
Early Retirement
M06.10
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37
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With reference to item 25 of the Minute of
Meeting of 4 December 2003 the Director of Corporate Services submitted a
Report reporting back on the outcome of consultation with trade unions in
relation to the draft Policy on Early Retirement. The Report indicated that
some comments had been taken into account in the Policy submitted for approval
and detailed the comments which had not been taken into account and the
reasons therefor.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) the Policy on Early Retirement,
attached as Appendix 1 to the Report, be approved, subject to a presumption
against added years being incorporated into the Policy and that any
exceptional cases be referred to the Comhairle for consideration;
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(2) the Policy Statement in relation
to the Local Government Scheme be approved; and
(3) a further
Report be submitted to the Committee in relation to the Comhairle’s treatment
of applicants for posts by persons who have taken early retirement on the
grounds of ill health.
Arising out of consideration of this
item it was agreed to recommend that the Director of Corporate Services determine
whether the Comhairle was entitled to appoint a Trustee to the Highland Superannuation Fund and if so to appoint the Vice-Convener. In the event that no
such vacancy exists it was agreed that the Director of Corporate Services
submit a Report in relation to this matter to the next meeting of the
Committee.
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POLICY
PLANNING
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Community
Safety Action Plan 2004 – 2005
PR11.42
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38
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The Director for Sustainable Communities
submitted a Report seeking homologation of the action of the Chief Executive
in submitting the Community Safety Action Plan 2004/05 to the Scottish
Executive. It was indicated in the Report that responsibility for Community
Safety had changed from the Chief Executive’s Office to the Department for
Sustainable Communities. The Report detailed that the action plan had been
made up of bids from a variety of bodies and organisations and a sub-group of
the Community Wellbeing Forum, within the Community Planning Partnership, had
been responsible for selecting appropriate bids. A selection matrix had been
developed for this purpose. The Community Safety Action Plan 2004/2005 was
appended to the Report.
It was agreed to recommend that the
action taken by the Chief Executive in submitting the Community Safety Action
Plan for 2004/2005 be homologated and the award of £48, 288.96 to facilitate
the implementation of the plan be noted.
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