Best Value & Corporate Services Committee

Thursday 2 November 2006 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Blair, Hill, Hunter, McCabe, McCormick (M), McCormick (P), Mitchell, Moran, Nimmo, Snoddy and Stewart.

Chair:  Councillor Snoddy presided.

In attendance:- Corporate Director Improvement & Performance, Head of Finance, Revenues & Benefits Manager, Head of Legal & Administration, Managing Solicitor (Litigation/Advice), Head of ICT Services, Head of Personnel Services and Head of Property Services.

With the exception of the decision marked ‘C’ which is open for confirmation or otherwise, the following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Committee.

  792

Transport Business Plan – Remit from Community Committee

792

There was submitted a report by the Head of Legal & Administration on a remit from the Community Committee of 19 October 2006 seeking approval of the Transport Business Plan 2006/09.

Decided:  that the Transport Business Plan 2006/09 be approved. 

  793

Social Work Services Business Plan 2006/07 – Remit from Health and Social Care Committee

793

There was submitted a report by the Head of Legal & Administration on a remit from the Health & Social Care Committee of 24 October 2006 seeking approval of the Social Work Services Business Plan 2006/07.

Decided:  that the Social Work Services Business Plan 2006/07 be approved.

  794

External Audit Progress Report – ICT Service Review – Remit from Audit Committee

794

There was submitted a report by the Head of Legal & Administration on a remit from the Audit Committee of 26 October 2006 requesting the Committee to consider the ICT Service Review which had been included in the progress report by the Council’s external auditors.

(Councillors Nimmo, McCabe and Blair entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)   that the ICT Service Review be noted; and

(2)   that it be remitted to the Head of ICT Services to make a presentation on the ICT Transformation Programme to a future meeting of the Committee.

  795

External Audit Progress Report – Corporate Governance – Review of Sundry Debtors and Benefit Systems – Remit from Audit Committee

795

There was submitted a report by the Head of Legal & Administration on a remit from the Audit Committee of 26 October 2006 requesting the Committee to consider the Corporate Governance - Review of Sundry Debtors and Benefit Systems which had been included in the progress report by the Council’s external auditors.

Decided:  that the Corporate Governance - Review of Sundry Debtors and Benefit Systems be noted.

  796

Revenue Budget 2006/07 – Period 5

796

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 2006/07 as at Period 5 (31 August 2006) which showed a current projected underspend of £56,000.

Noted

  797

Treasury  Management Monitoring Report – Second Quarter 2006/07

797

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance on the Council’s treasury management position and activities during the second quarter 2006/07, as required under the terms of Treasury Management Practice 6 (“TMP6”) on “Reporting Requirements and Management Information Arrangements”.

Noted

  798

Revenues Section Performance – Quarter ending 30 September 2006

798

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance (1) on the Revenues Section performance for the quarter ending 30 September 2006 and (2) highlighting a number of other relevant issues.

Noted

  799

Benefits Service Performance – Quarter ending 30 September 2006

799

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance (1) on the processing performance of the Benefits Service for the quarter ending 30 September 2006 and (2) highlighting a number of other relevant developments within the Benefits Service.

Decided:  

(1)   that the Committee note the Benefits Service’s continuing improved performance throughout the second  quarter of 2006/07;

(2)   that the steps being taken to improve the quality of the Benefits Service on a continuous basis be noted; and 

(3)   that the Committee note the work which has been carried out to achieve the current level of performance, which is the best to date, and extend its congratulations to the staff involved.

  800

Insurance Fund Performance to 30 September 2006

800

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance (1) on the performance of the Council’s Insurance Fund for the year ending 30 September 2006 and (2) highlighting a number of other relevant issues.

Decided:  that the Committee note the contents of the report and the significant financial benefits which the Council is achieving from the current insurance strategy.

  801

ICT Service – Progress Report

801

There was submitted a report by the Head of ICT Services providing an update on progress in taking forward the Service Delivery Model for the new ICT Service.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee note the progress made against the Transition and Transformation Programme and the Council’s Modernising Government activities; and

(2)   that it be noted that further progress reports will be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

  802

ICT Capital Programme - Update

802

There was submitted a report by the Head of ICT Services on the status of the 2005/08 ICT Capital Programme.

Noted

  803

Performance Management Framework

803

There was submitted a report by the Head of Legal & Administration appending a Performance Management Framework Update for Corporate Services, detailing performance for the year to date.

Noted

  804

Policy on Payment by Credit/Debit Card - Clarification

804

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance seeking approval of a policy on the use of credit cards for the recovery of Council debts following the decision of the Committee at its meeting on 7 September 2006 (para 592).

Following discussion, Councillor Snoddy moved (1) that the Committee approve the use of  credit cards as an acceptable option for the payment of all Council debts; and (2) that the proposals as set out in Section 7 of the report be approved.   As an amendment, Councillor McCabe moved that the use of credit cards be not permitted for the payment of Council house rents and Council tax.   On a vote, 4 Members voted for the amendment and 7 for the motion which was declared carried.   Those Members who had voted in favour of the amendment then requested in terms of the relevant Standing Order that the matter be referred to The Inverclyde Council for decision in terms of the amendment.

C

Decided:

C

(1)   that the Committee approve the use of credit cards as an acceptable option for the payment of all Council debts; and

(2)   that the proposals as set out in Section 7 of the report be approved.  

  805

Ground Floor – Old Library Buildings, Wallace Place, Greenock

805

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance seeking approval to invite tenders for the creation of a DDA  compliant, integrated Revenue/Benefits Cash Collection and Housing Enquiry Service on the ground floor of the old library buildings in Wallace Place, Greenock.

Decided:

(1)   that approval be given to the proposals contained in the report for the use of the ground floor of  Wallace Place, Greenock;

(2)   that it be remitted to the Head of Legal & Administration to arrange for the invitation of tenders for the work at an estimated total capital cost of £230,000; and

(3)   that delegated authority be granted to the Head of Legal & Administration in consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Group to accept the lowest tender received.

  806

Realignment of ICT Services Establishment

806

There was submitted a report by the Head of Personnel Services recommending an amendment to the ICT establishment to accommodate a post of Project Manager.

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

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee accept the rationale for the alteration to the establishment of ICT Services as detailed in the report; and

(2)   that agreement be given to the deletion of two vacant posts of Web Development Officer (post numbers 20042/20050,) at Salary Grade AP1-AP4 (£15,441 – £23, 610) to be replaced with one post of Project Manager at Salary Grade PO5/6 (£30,279 – £33,447).

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 items on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the respective paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act as are set opposite each item.

Item                                                                                                Paragraph(s)

Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive                 6 & 8

Finance Management System – Future Options                   6, 8 & 9

  807

Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive

807

There was submitted a report by the Head of Legal & Administration advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive (1) to invite tenders from specialist diving contractors for the sea wall repairs at East India Harbour, (2) to invite tenders from Building Services Engineering Consultants for the mechanical and electrical design packages for the Wemyss Bay Primary School extension and refurbishment contract and (3) to approve the award of a contract for the procurement of the WebLabs Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) as the preferred solution for the redevelopment of the Council’s website.

Noted

808

Finance Management System – Future Options

808

There was submitted a report by the Head of Finance (1) on possible options in respect of the Finance Management System and (2) seeking approval to enter into contractual arrangements in this regard,  which was agreed, all as detailed in the appendix.