The Inverclyde Council

Thursday 31 August 2006 at 4.00 pm

Present:  Provost Rebecchi, Councillors Blair, Forbes, Fyfe, Gallacher, Hill, Hunter, McCabe, McCormick (M), McCormick (P), McKenzie, Mitchell, Moran, Nimmo, Roach, Robertson, Stewart, Tucker and White.

Chair:  Provost Rebecchi presided. 

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Director of  Community Services, Mr G Douglas (for Solicitor to the Council), Chief Financial Officer and Head of Housing Services.

Present also:  Ms K Neary (Chief Executive, River Clyde Homes) and Mr R Blackburn (PBSA Ltd).

Apologies:  Councillor Snoddy.

561

River Clyde Homes Business Plan, Tenant Consultation and Ballot

561

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive seeking (1) approval of River Clyde Homes Business Plan and (2) agreement to request in principle approval from the Scottish Ministers to proceed to formal tenant consultation and ballot in respect of housing stock transfer to River Clyde Homes.

Councillors Mitchell, Moran, Nimmo, Robertson and Tucker intimated an interest in this item as Members of the Board of River Clyde Homes.

Councillor Fyfe seconded by Councillor Mitchell moved (1) that the report be amended as follows:  (a) paragraph 4.1, bullet point 4, be amended to read "that the Council will reach appropriate Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to assist the seamless transfer to River Clyde Homes" and (b) that paragraph 9.5 be strengthened to read "that agreement be sought with River Clyde Homes and that a Value for Money Audit be undertaken at the request of the Council in the event that River Clyde Homes wishes to increase rents above the Retail Price Index (RPI)" and (2) that it be further recommended that a seminar be organised to explore future joint working related to the Council's role in housing strategy, with a view to establishing clarity of the respective roles of Inverclyde Council and River Clyde Homes.  This was agreed unanimously.

Decided:

(1)   that River Clyde Homes Business Plan be approved and that it be acknowledged that further refinements will be developed and agreed prior to transfer;

(2)   that the appropriate Officers be instructed to submit the request for in principle approval to Ministers;

(3)   that delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive to progress the Stage 1 Notice;

(4)   that delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive to approve and issue the Stage 2 Notice;

(5)   that approval be given to the appointment of the Electoral Reform Society to conduct a ballot;  and

(6)   that the report be approved subject to the amendments detailed above and that a seminar be organised to explore future joint working related to the Council's role in housing strategy, with a view to establishing clarity of the respective roles of Inverclyde Council and River Clyde Homes.

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 paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the  Act.

562

Appendices 1 and 2 Relative to Agenda Item 1

562

There were submitted appendices 1 and 2 relative to agenda item 1 providing (1) summary of consultant's assessment of River Clyde Homes Business Plan and key findings and (2) LSVT retention model initial findings.

Noted