The Inverclyde Council

Thursday 15 February 2007 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Provost Rebecchi presided. 

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Corporate Director Improvement & Performance, Corporate Director Environment & Community Protection, Corporate Director Regeneration & Resources, Corporate Director Education & Social Care, Head of Finance, Head of Housing, Head of Corporate Communications & Public Affairs and Mr G Douglas (for Head of Legal & Administration).

Apologies:  Councillor Mitchell.

143

Housing Revenue Account Budget and Housing Capital Programme 2007/08

143

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance on the current position of (1) the 2007/08 Housing Revenue Account Budget and (2) the Housing Capital Programme and requesting Members to agree the rent increase to be applied with effect from 2 April 2007 and the 2007/08 HRA Capital Programme.

Councillors Moran, Nimmo, Robertson and Tucker declared an interest in this item as members of the Shadow Board of River Clyde Homes.

Decided:

(1) that no alteration be made to the house rent levels to be applied from 2 April 2007 and that the 2007/08 Housing Revenue Account Budget be as set out in appendix 1 to the minute;

(2) that the 2007/08 HRA Capital Programme for the six month period ending 30 September 2007 be as set out in appendix 3 to the report by the Head of Finance;

(3) that delegated authority be granted to the Head of Housing to set increases for non Council house rent income and other charges in order to generate sufficient income to meet the 3% allowance included in the HRA Base Budget;

(4) that the Housing Reserve Strategy outlined in section 6 of the report be approved, maintaining the reserves at £500,000 as recommended by the Head of Finance;

(5) that it be agreed to fix the date for transfer of the Maukinhill housing stock to Cloch Housing Association either (a) to coincide with the main transfer of stock to River Clyde Homes or (b) to such a date as funding is secured from Communities Scotland or elsewhere to meet the costs outlined in 5.5 of the report, whichever of the dates is the earlier;  and

(6) that it be remitted to the Corporate Director Environment & Community Protection to submit a report to the next meeting of the Environment & Regeneration Committee setting out proposals and criteria for achieving a significant Environmental Impact over the period 1 April 2007 to 30 September 2007, utilising the HRA Capital and Revenue Budgets.

144

General Fund Revenue Budget and Non-HRA Capital Budget 2007/08

144

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance providing information to allow the Council to set a balanced General Fund Revenue Budget for 2007/08, requesting the Committee to approve the Non-HRA Capital Programme for 2007/08 and thereafter approve the appropriate level of Council Tax for the financial year 2007/08.

Councillors Blair, Forbes, Hunter, Robertson and White declared an interest in this item as members of the Board of Inverclyde Leisure.

After discussion, Councillor Blair seconded by Councillor Hill moved:-

(1) that the 2007/08 General Fund Revenue Budget be agreed in terms of appendix 1 of the Administration General Fund Proposals Document 2007/08 (appendix 2 to the minute);

(2) that the proposals for the 2007/08 Non-HRA Capital Programme contained in appendix 2 of the Administration General Fund Proposals Document be approved;

(3) that the Council note the amount and purpose of the additional Capital Grant received from the Scottish Executive and remit it to the Chief Executive to submit proposals to the April 2007 meeting of the Policy & Strategy Committee as to how this can best be utilised and how it can meet the grant condition guidance laid down by the Scottish Executive;

(4) that the Efficiency Reviews listed in the appendix to the report by the Head of Finance be agreed and that approval be given to the timescales detailed for reporting back to Members;

(5) that approval be given to the level of funding in 2007/08 for Inverclyde Leisure and that it be agreed that the need for Inverclyde Leisure to participate fully in any relevant Efficiency Reviews be a condition of the funding increase;

(6) that approval be given to the proposal in respect of the use of surplus General Fund Reserves and that the prioritised list set out in appendix 3 of the Administration General Fund Proposals Document be approved;

(7) that the proposals for the Common Good Fund Budget 2007/08 as set out in appendix 4 of the Administration General Fund Proposals Document be approved;

(8) that the proposed level of fees and charges for 2007/08 required to generate the 3% increase in income included in the Base Budget be approved;

(9) that the “Band D” Council Tax be fixed at £1,198.00, a reduction of 0.65%;  and

(10) that it be remitted to the Corporate Director Environment & Community Protection to develop proposals for use of the Community Investment Fund and that a report thereon be submitted to the Policy & Strategy Committee.

As an amendment, Councillor McCabe seconded by Councillor Robertson moved:-

(1) that the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2007/08 be as set out in appendix 1 of the Minority Group General Fund Proposals Document 2007/08 (appendix 3 to the minute);

(2) that the Non-HRA Capital Programme for 2007/08 be as set out in appendix 2 of the Minority Group General Fund Proposals Document;

(3) that the Council note the amount and purpose of the additional Capital Grant received from the Scottish Executive and remit it to the Chief Executive to submit proposals to the April 2007 meeting of the Policy & Strategy Committee on how it can best be utilised and how this can meet the grant condition guidance laid down by the Scottish Executive;

(4) that the Efficiency Reviews listed in the appendix to the report by the Head of Finance be agreed and that approval be given to the timescales detailed for reporting back to Members;

(5) that approval be given to the level of funding in 2007/08 for Inverclyde Leisure and that it be agreed that the need for Inverclyde Leisure to participate fully in any relevant Efficiency Reviews be a condition of the funding increase;

(6) that the proposals in respect of the General Fund Reserve as set out in appendix 3 of the Minority Group General Fund Proposals Document be approved;

(7) that the proposals in respect of the Common Good Fund Budget as set out in appendix 4 of the Minority Group General Fund Proposals Document be approved;

(8) that approval be given to the proposed levels of fees and charges for 2007/08 required to generate the 3% increase in income included in the Base Budget;

(9) that there be no increase in the Council Tax for 2007/08;  and

(10) that the additional spending proposals set out in appendix 5 of the Minority Group General Fund Proposals Document be approved.

On a vote, 7 Members voted for the amendment and 11 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided:

(1) that the 2007/08 General Fund Revenue Budget be agreed in terms of appendix 1 of the Administration General Fund Proposals Document 2007/08 (appendix 2 to the minute);

(2) that the proposals for the 2007/08 Non-HRA Capital Programme contained in appendix 2 of the Administration General Fund Proposals Document be approved;

(3) that the Council note the amount and purpose of the additional Capital Grant received from the Scottish Executive and remit it to the Chief Executive to submit proposals to the April 2007 meeting of the Policy & Strategy Committee as to how this can best be utilised and how it can meet the grant condition guidance laid down by the Scottish Executive;

(4) that the Efficiency Reviews listed in the appendix to the report by the Head of Finance be agreed and that approval be given to the timescales detailed for reporting back to Members;

(5) that approval be given to the level of funding in 2007/08 for Inverclyde Leisure and that it be agreed that the need for Inverclyde Leisure to participate fully in any relevant Efficiency Reviews be a condition of the funding increase;

(6) that approval be given to the proposal in respect of the use of surplus General Fund Reserves and that the prioritised list set out in appendix 3 of the Administration General Fund Proposals Document be approved;

(7) that the proposals for the Common Good Fund Budget 2007/08 as set out in appendix 4 of the Administration General Fund Proposals Document be approved;

(8) that the proposed level of fees and charges for 2007/08 required to generate the 3% increase in income included in the Base Budget be approved;

(9) that the “Band D” Council Tax be fixed at £1,198.00, a reduction of 0.65%;  and

(10) that it be remitted to the Corporate Director Environment & Community Protection to develop proposals for use of the Community Investment Fund and that a report thereon be submitted to the Policy & Strategy Committee.

145

Resolution:  Council Tax 2007/08

145

Arising from the foregoing paragraph, Councillor Blair seconded by Councillor Hill moved that the Council resolve to fix the “Band D” Council Tax for 2007/08 at £1,198.00.

Decided:  that the “Band D” Council Tax for 2007/08 be fixed at £1,198.00.