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ANGUS COUNCIL
MINUTE of MEETING of ANGUS COUNCIL held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Thursday, 18 December 1997 at 4.00 pm.
Present: Provost Mrs FRANCES E DUNCAN, Councillors BRIAN MILNE, GEORGE ALLAN, HELEN ANGUS, IAN ANGUS, WILLIAM CROWE, WILLIAM DOIG, FRANK ELLIS, JACK GIBB, IAN HUDGHTON, ALEXANDER KING, Mrs RENATE LAMONT, STEWART McGLYNN, IAN MACKINTOSH, GLENNIS MIDDLETON, WILLIAM MIDDLETON, STEWART MOWATT, ROB MURRAY, GEORGE NORRIE, KATHLEEN RITCHIE, DAVID SELFRIDGE, ALEXANDER SHAND, RICHARD SPEIRS, SHEENA WELSH and THOMAS I N YOUNG.
Apologies: An apology for absence was intimated on behalf of Councillor SANDY WEST.
Provost Mrs FRANCES E DUNCAN in the Chair.
1. MINUTES
(a) Angus Council
The minute of meeting of the Council held on 6 November 1997 was submitted, approved as a correct record and signed by the Provost.
(b) Housing Committee
The minute of meeting of the Housing Committee held on 11 November 1997 was submitted and approved.
(c) Environmental and Consumer Protection Committee
The minute of meeting of the Environmental and Consumer Protection Committee held on 11 November 1997 was submitted and approved.
(d) Civic Licensing Committee
The minute of meeting of the Civic Licensing Committee held on 11 November 1997 was submitted and approved.
(e) Development Control Committee
The minute of meeting of the Development Control Committee held on 13 November 1997 was submitted and approved.
(f) Social Work Committee
The minute of meeting of the Social Work Committee held on 18 November 1997 was submitted and approved.
(g) Economic Development Committee
The minute of meeting of the Economic Development Committee held on 20 November 1997 was submitted and approved.
(h) Recreation and Cultural Services Committee
The minute of meeting of the Recreation and Cultural Services Committee held on 20 November 1997 was submitted and approved.
(i) Education Committee
The minute of meeting of the Education Committee held on 25 November 1997 was submitted and approved.
(j) Planning and Transport Policy Committee
The minute of meeting of the Planning and Transport Policy Committee held on 27 November 1997 was submitted and approved.
(k) Roads Committee
The minute of meeting of the Roads Committee held on 27 November 1997 was submitted and approved.
(l) Personnel and Property Services Committee
The minute of meeting of the Personnel and Property Services Committee held on 2 December 1997 was submitted and approved.
(m) Finance and Information Technology Committee
The minute of meeting of the Finance and Information Technology Committee held on 2 December 1997 was submitted and approved.
(n) Development Control Committee
The minute of meeting of the Development Control Committee held on 4 December 1997 was submitted and approved.
(o) Policy and Resources Committee
The minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 9 December 1997 was submitted and approved.
With reference to Article 18 regarding single parent benefit, the Council agreed that the terms of the motion be referred to COSLA.
3. GENERAL BUSINESS
(a) Executive Sub-Committee of the Roads Committee - Extended Delegation
The Council was advised that, in order to meet various Roads programmes, it would be necessary for urgent decisions to be taken with regard to acceptance of tenders.
The Council agreed that the remit of the Executive Sub-Committee of the Roads Committee be extended to enable the Sub-Committee to decide, at any time, any matter relating to tenders, including acceptance thereof, which could not conveniently be submitted to the Roads Committee.
(b) Education Committee - Roman Catholic Church Representative
It was reported that the Roman Catholic Church’s representative on Angus Council’s Education Committee, the Reverend Michael Milton, had received a new appointment out with Angus and that the Bishop of Dunkeld had nominated the Reverend Mark Cassidy, St Annes, 100 Dundee Street, Carnoustie as the new Roman Catholic Church representative on the Education Committee in place of Reverend Milton.
The Council agreed:-
(i) to approve the appointment of the Reverend Mark Cassidy as a member of the Education Committee; and
(ii) that a letter be sent to the Reverend Michael Milton thanking him for his contribution to the work of the Education Committee.
(c) Area Forums - Appointment of Chairpersons
With reference to Article 3(d) of the minute of meeting of the Council held on 6 November 1997 regarding the development of further Area Forums, the Council considered the appointment of members to chair these additional Area Forums and agreed:-
(i) to remit the appointment of the Chairman of Arbroath and Landward Area Forum to Leader of the Administration in consideration with relevant members; and
(ii) to appoint Chairpersons of other Area Forums as under:-
| AREA | CHAIRPERSON | |
| Carnoustie and Landward Area | - | Councillor Selfridge |
| Brechin and Landward Area | - | Councillor Mowatt |
| Kirriemuir and Landward Area | - | Provost Mrs Duncan |
| Forfar and Landward Area | - | Councillor Hudghton |
| Newtyle/Birkhill and Sidlaws | - | Councillor Ellis |
(d) Management of Sports and Leisure Facilities
With reference to Article 2 of the minute of meeting of the Local Services Contracts Sub-Committee of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 25 November 1997, there was submitted Report No 1275/97 by the Director of Law and Administration.
It was noted that the contract for the Management of Sport and Leisure Facilities was due to terminate on 31 December 1997 and that in terms of statutory regulations it was necessary to provide for the continuation of the service.
The Sub-Committee had agreed to the submission of a bid from Angus Contract Services for the Management of Sport and Leisure Facilities for the period 1 January until 1 October 1998, (being the end of the current CCT moratorium), however it was now possible that the exemption period might be extended depending upon the Council’s progress on Best Value. In addition, due to the tight timescale within which the Contract required to be accepted, it was also suggested that authority be delegated to certain officials to consider the bid.
The Council agreed:-
(i) to the submission of a bid for the Management of Sport and Leisure Facilities Contract from Angus Contract Services for the period from 1 January 1998 until the termination of the exemption period in terms of the Local Government (Exemption from Competition) (Scotland) Amendment Order 1997; and
(ii) to delegate to the Director of Law and Administration, in consultation with the Chief Executive, Director of Finance and Director of Recreation Services (Client), authority to accept a bid for the Management of Sport and Leisure Facilities Contract.
(e) North of Scotland Water Authority - Meetings 1998
The Council noted the dates and locations for meetings of the North of Scotland Water Authority in 1998.
(f) A92 Project - Affordability and the Way Ahead
There was submitted Report No 1267/97 prepared jointly by the Director of Roads, Director of Finance and Director of Law and Administration providing details of the affordability issues regarding the dualling of the A92 between Dundee and Arbroath with associated links. In particular, it explained how, based on the current PFI "notional" loans charges methodology, it was considered that the project could be affordable to the Council. The Report also discussed possible extensions of the scope of the project, including Arbroath to Montrose A92 improvements, the replacement of Montrose Bridge and improvements to the A935 Montrose to Brechin route along with an inner relief road for Brechin linking to the A90.
In accepting that a Private Finance Initiative was the only feasible way to achieve the Council’s aims for the A92, the Council agreed:-
(i) to note the significant progress which had been achieved to date in the advancement of the A92 project;
(ii) that option 1, consisting of the A92 dualling between Dundee and Arbroath together with a single carriageway link between the A92 and the A930, including A930 improvements, represented an affordable opportunity to secure the project via the PFI method of procurement and should therefore be progressed;
(iii) to delegate to the Directors of Roads, Finance and Law and Administration to:
progress the staffing arrangements described in the Report;
progress to the procurement phase of the project, assuming a PFI methodology;
consider means of dealing with the shortfall in the funding provision for the preparatory costs and report back to the Council at an early date;
further develop consideration of the delivery of the additional service packages contained in options 2 and 3 outlined in the Report and report further to the Council when appropriate;
(iv) to authorise the Director of Property Services, Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development, the Director of Law and Administration and the Director of Roads to take all necessary steps to obtain planning consent, to negotiate and acquire all the necessary land for the project by compulsory purchase, or other means, and to undertake the requisite procedures to enable the Council to make all necessary orders for the purpose of stopping up and diverting side roads and accesses and where necessary providing substitute roads and accesses to land affected by the project; and
(v) to send a copy of Report No 1267/97 to Dundee City Council for their consideration.
(g) Third Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements
The Council was reminded that the General Purposes Sub-Committee of the Policy and Resources Committee had, at its meeting on 22 April 1997, noted the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland’s provisional proposals for a scheme of representation for the Angus Council area based on 29 Electoral Wards, each returning one Councillor. Following public consultation, only one small amendment had been agreed involving the boundary between Wards 7 (Forfar Central) and Ward 9 (Brechin Southesk) involving 7 electors.
The Council agreed:-
(i) to note the position; and
(ii) to note that a copy of the Commission’s formal Report to the Secretary of State for Scotland was available for inspection in the Members’ Lounge.
(h) Property Services Department Budget - Request to Vire Excess Fee Income to Supplies and Services
There was submitted Report No 1268/97 by the Director of Property Services seeking the approval of the Council to vire excess fee income to the supplies and services element of the Property Services Department budget for the purchase of computer hardware and software.
After noting that the extent of the excess fee income arising from increased work on the capital programmes amounted to £65,000 and how it was proposed that this would be spent, the Council agreed that the excess fee income to the Property Services Department be vired to the supplies and services element of the Department’s budget for the purchasing of computer hardware and software as outlined in the Report.
(i) Appointments to Outside Bodies etc - Cairngorm Partnership
The Council appointed Provost Mrs Duncan to replace Councillor Shand on the Cairngorm Partnership.
4. ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS - REVOCATION OF CLOSING ORDERS
With reference to Article 10 of the minute of meeting of the Housing Committee of 11 November 1997, the Council revoked the Closing Orders on the six properties listed in the minute, because works had been undertaken to bring the houses up to the tolerable standard as described in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.
5. SCOTTISH AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY
The following motion by Councillor Angus, seconded by Councillor Mowatt was, on the determination of the Provost, dealt with as a matter of urgency in view of the currency and seriousness of the subject matter.
"Angus Council recognises the importance of agriculture to the local and Scottish economy and acknowledges the Scottish Agricultural Industry’s deserved reputation for high quality produce.
Angus Council calls on the Government to take positive and immediate action to address the current crisis in the Scottish Agricultural Industry and secure its long term future."
Various members, including Councillors MacIntosh, Selfridge, King, Speirs and Allan spoke to the motion, after which the Council agreed:-
(i) unanimously to adopt the motion; and
(ii) to instruct the Director of Law and Administration to write to Lord Sewel, the Scottish Office Minister for Agriculture, in pursuance of the terms of the motion.
6. EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
The Council resolved that the public and press be excluded during consideration of the following items so as to avoid the possible disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, Paragraph 9.
7. TENDERS
(a) Refuse Collection Vehicles
There was submitted Report No 1269/97 by the Director of Environmental and Consumer Protection on tenders received for the purchase of two refuse collection vehicles/cabs, two 22 cubic metre bodies and two automatic bin lifters.
The Council agreed:-
(i) to approve the acceptance of the tender for the supply of two 6 x 2 Link Steer vehicle chassis/cab from Central Motors, Airdrie amounting to £58,049 each;
(ii) to approve the acceptance of the tender for the supply of two 22 cubic metre refuse collection bodies from P D E Geesink, Pontyclun, West Glamorgan, amounting to £50,700 each; and
(iii) to approve the acceptance of the tender for the supply of two automatic bin lifters from Zoeller of Reddich, amounting to £16,550 each.
(b) A930 Monifieth - Traffic Calming
There was submitted Report No 1283/97 by the Director of Roads on tenders received, and recommendations for acceptance, for the A930 Monifieth Traffic Calming proposals.
After noting the work to be included in the scheme, the Council agreed to authorise acceptance of the tender submitted by Land and Building Services in the sum of £84,352.12 for the construction of A930 Monifieth Traffic Calming proposals.
8. ADVANCED FACTORY UNIT - BRENT AVENUE, MONTROSE
This item was, on the determination of the Provost, dealt with as a matter of urgency, in view of the stage of the negotiations with the prospective tenant.
With reference to Article 3(a) of the minute of meeting of the Economic Development Committee held on 20 November 1997 regarding acceptance of the tender for the construction of a new advanced factory unit in Montrose, there was submitted Report No 1282/97 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development seeking approval to amend the specification of the factory to suit the requirements of a prospective tenant.
After noting the views of officers and the stage which negotiations were at, the Council agreed to authorise the addition of two 10 tonne cranes to the contract specification for the advanced factory unit at Brent Avenue, Montrose at an additional cost of £60,000.
9. RETIRAL OF MR A D THORNTON
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Provost referred to the forthcoming retiral of Mr Sandy Thornton, Principal Committee Officer in the Law and Administration Department, after over 30 years service with the former Dundee Corporation; Tayside Health Board; Angus District Council and latterly Angus Council. She paid tribute to the dedicated contribution which he had made to the smooth administration of these organisations and offered, on behalf of the Council, her best wishes for a long and happy retirement.