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ANGUS COUNCIL

MINUTE of MEETING of ANGUS COUNCIL held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Wednesday, 28 June 1995 at 5.30 p.m.

Present: Councillors Mrs FRANCES E DUNCAN, BRIAN M C MILNE, ALEX KING, ALEX W SHAND, HELEN ANGUS, Mrs SHEENA WELSH, IAN J ANGUS, Mrs RENATE LAMONT, JOHN C GIBB, Mrs GLENNIS MIDDLETON, WILLIAM MIDDLETON, IAN HUDGHTON, WILLIAM G CROWE, SANDY WEST, Mrs KATHLEEN M RITCHIE, WILLIAM DOIG, IAN MACKINTOSH, STEWART N MOWATT, THOMAS I N YOUNG, FRANK ELLIS and ROBERT J MURRAY.

Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors RICHARD B SPEIRS, GEORGE LAMONT, GEORGE NORRIE, GEORGE ALLAN and WALLIE LEASK.

Councillor Mrs DUNCAN, Convener, in the Chair.

1. ADJOURNMENT

In view of the fact that interviews for the post of Director of Recreation Services (Client) had only just been concluded, it was agreed that the meeting be adjourned.

The Council re-convened at 6.00 pm.

At this stage the Convener welcomed Mr Alex Anderson (Director of Planning) and Mrs Sheona Hunter (Head of Legal Services - Client) who were attending a meeting of the Council for the first time in these capacities.

2. MINUTES

(1) Angus Council - Previous Meeting

The minute of meeting of the Council of 14 June 1995 was approved as a correct record and signed by the Convener.

(2) Interim Executive Committee

The minutes of meetings of the Interim Executive Committee of 14 and 17 June 1995 were submitted and approved.

With reference to Article 2(4)(c) of the minute of meeting of 17 June regarding the re-advertisement of the post of Head of Central Services in the Department of Law and Administration, the Council agreed that a meeting of the Interim Executive Committee be held on 4 July 1995 to consider applications and draw up a short leet and that thereafter it be delegated to a five member interview panel to conduct interviews and make an appointment.

(3) Interview Panels

The minutes of meetings of the six interview panels which had been held on 19 and 20 June 1995 were submitted and noted.

With reference to the minute of meeting of the interview panel held on 19 June to interview for second tier posts in the Information Technology Department, the Council noted that Councillor Murray had been present and not Councillor Mackintosh as recorded in the minute.

3. COMMITTEE CONVENERS AND VICE-CONVENERS

With reference to Article 2 of minute of meeting of Angus Council of 14 June 1995 there were submitted and approved the undernoted nominations for Conveners and Vice-Conveners of various standing Committees.

Committee Convener Vice-Convener
Policy and Resources Councillor Ian Hudghton Councillor Rob Murray
Personnel & Property Services Councillor Rob Murray Councillor William Middleton
Finance & Information Technology Councillor Alex King Councillor Jack Gibb
Social Work Councillor Helen Angus Councillor Glennis Middleton
Education Councillor Brian Milne Councillor Wallie Leask
Housing Councillor Frank Ellis Councillor Ian Angus
Roads Councillor Sandy West Councillor George Allan
Recreation & Cultural Services Councillor Ian Angus Councillor Sheena Welsh
Planning & Transport Policy Councillor Alex Shand Councillor Sandy West
Environmental & Consumer Protection Councillor Stewart Mowatt Councillor Kathleen Ritchie
Economic Development Councillor Jack Gibb Councillor Brian Milne
Licensing (Civic Government) Councillor Bill Crowe Councillor George Lamont
Development Control Councillor Kathleen Ritchie Councillor Stewart Mowatt

4. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES

With reference to Article 2(i) of minute of meeting of Angus Council of 14 June 1995 it was agreed that the political balance for Committees be as under:-

Committee of - 15 members - 12 members of the Administration

3 other members

Committee of - 13 members - 11 members of the Administration

2 other members

Committee of - 7 members - 6 members of the Administration

1 other member

and that the political groups should submit names of members to be appointed to various Committees to the Director of Law and Administration.

5. SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY ALLOWANCES

With reference to Article 2(v) of minute of meeting of Angus Council of 14 June 1995, there was submitted Report No AC 29/95 by the Chief Executive and Director of Finance on special responsibility allowances.

The Council resolved:-

(i) to adopt the scheme of special responsibility allowances for 1996/97 as detailed in the Report; and

(ii) to adopt the same scheme for 1995/96 subject to the following restrictions:-

(a) that the Council Convener’s and Depute Convener’s allowance be restricted in line with the COSLA recommendation;

(b) that the Leader, Depute Leader, Council Convener and Depute Convener should be eligible for a full year’s allowance from the date of their appointments but payment of all other SRAs should be on a pro rata basis from 1 July 1995; and

(c) that the transitional restriction outlined in the COSLA scheme be adopted.

6. TAYSIDE COMBINED POLICE AREA AMALGAMATION DRAFT SCHEME

With reference to Article 7(1) of minute of meeting of Angus Council of 17 May 1995 there was submitted Report No AC 30/95 by the Chief Executive containing a suggested response to the Scottish Office on the Tayside Combined Police Area Amalgamation Draft Scheme.

The Council approved the Chief Executive’s response and agreed that it be issued to the Scottish Office Home and Health Department as this Council’s views on the draft scheme.

7. THE MID-EASTERN COMBINED FIRE SERVICES AREA ADMINISTRATION SCHEME

With reference to Article 7(2) of minute of meeting of Angus Council of 17 May 1995, there was submitted Report No AC 31/95 by the Chief Executive containing a suggested response to the Scottish Office on the Mid-Eastern Combined Fire Services Area Administration Scheme Consultation Document.

The Council approved the Chief Executive’s response and agreed that it be issued to the Scottish Office Home and Health Department as the Council’s views on the document.

8. COMPETING FOR BETTER ROADS: THE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE

There was submitted Report No AC 32/95 by the Chief Executive on the Government’s response to public comment on the Consultation Paper "Competing for Better Roads". A copy of the Government’s response was attached to the Report from which it was noted that the Government had not accepted the plea by Angus District and Tayside Regional Councils that the A92 road through Angus be re-trunked.

The Council agreed:-

(i) that the Report be referred to the Roads Committee for its interest; and

(ii) that the Director of Roads and Transport and the Economic Development Manager should set out the detailed case for the re-trunking of the A92 through Angus, that the Chief Executive write to the Minister of State at the Scottish Office requesting that he reconsider his decision in this regard, and that the Council participate in a meeting being organised by Andrew Welsh, MP, with the Minister.

9. STRUCTURE PLAN ARRANGEMENTS

There was submitted Joint Report No AC 33/95 by the Directors of Planning of Angus District Council and Tayside Regional Council on the Government’s proposal for the establishment of a combined Angus and Dundee Structure Plan area.

The Council resolved that the Scottish Office be advised that this Council’s preference would be that Angus be designated as a Structure Plan area and that should this view be unacceptable, the present Tayside Structure Plan area be retained.

10. LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION - TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

There was submitted a set of guiding principles agreed by the COSLA/Trade Union Joint Forum on transitional arrangements during the reorganisation of Local Government.

The Council agreed that the guiding principles be adopted.

11. ANGUS AND THE CITY OF DUNDEE TOURIST BOARD SCHEME - COUNCIL REPRESENTATION

With reference to Article 4 of minute of meeting of Angus Council of 31 May 1995 when it was agreed that Councillors King, Doig and Suttie serve initially on any Angus and City of Dundee Tourist Board Controlling Body, there was considered a letter dated 19 June 1995 from the Scottish Office drawing attention to the fact that it was the Secretary of State’s intention to appoint only representatives of the new unitary authorities to the new Board and that as Councillor Suttie was not such a member, the Council might wish to review the matter.

The Council resolved not to amend its representation meantime but to review the matter at a later date.

12. EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

The Council resolved that the public and press be excluded during consideration of the item recorded below to avoid disclosure of information which was exempt in terms of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, Paragraph 6.

13. PROPERTY IN FORFAR

There was submitted Report No AC 35/95 highlighting the problem envisaged in providing headquarters accommodation for some 210 additional staff who would transfer to Angus from Tayside Regional Council..

The Council instructed the Chief Executive to bring forward, as a matter of urgency, costed options and funding proposals for the provision of permanent accommodation in Forfar to allow the creation of an effective Angus Council Headquarters, including offices, meeting rooms and adequate car parking, and that the Report should also include proposals for any temporary arrangements which might be required to accommodate the staff concerned until permanent accommodation was available.