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ANGUS COUNCIL
MINUTE of MEETING of ANGUS COUNCIL held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Thursday, 6 November 1997 at 4.00 pm.
Present: Provost Mrs FRANCES E DUNCAN, Councillors BRIAN MILNE, GEORGE ALLAN, HELEN ANGUS, IAN ANGUS, WILLIAM CROWE, FRANK ELLIS, JACK GIBB, IAN HUDGHTON, ALEXANDER KING, Mrs RENATE LAMONT, IAN MACKINTOSH, GLENNIS MIDDLETON, WILLIAM MIDDLETON, STEWART MOWATT, ROB MURRAY, KATHLEEN RITCHIE, ALEXANDER SHAND, RICHARD SPEIRS, SHEENA WELSH and THOMAS I N YOUNG.
Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors WILLIAM DOIG, STEWART McGLYNN, GEORGE NORRIE, DAVID SELFRIDGE and SANDY WEST.
Provost Mrs FRANCES E DUNCAN in the Chair.
1. MINUTES
(a) Angus Council
The minute of meeting of the Council held on 18 September 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 30 September 1997 was submitted and approved.
(c) Environmental and Consumer Protection Committee
The minute of meeting of the Environmental and Consumer Protection Committee held on 30 September 1997 was submitted and approved.
(d) Civic Licensing Committee
The minute of meeting of the Civic Licensing Committee held on 30 September 1997 was submitted and approved.
(e) Development Control Committee
The minute of meeting of the Development Control Committee held on 2 October 1997 was submitted and approved.
(f) Contract Services Committee
The minute of meeting of the Contract Services Committee held on 7 October 1997 was submitted and approved.
(g) Social Work Committee
The minute of meeting of the Social Work Committee held on 7 October 1997 was submitted and approved.
(h) Economic Development Committee
The minute of meeting of the Economic Development Committee held on 9 October 1997 was submitted and approved.
(i) Recreation and Cultural Services Committee
The minute of meeting of the Recreation and Cultural Services Committee held on 9 October 1997 was submitted and approved.
(j) Education Committee
The minute of meeting of the Education Committee held on 14 October 1997 was submitted and approved.
(k) Planning and Transport Policy Committee
The minute of meeting of the Planning and Transport Policy Committee held on 16 October 1997 was submitted and approved.
(l) Roads Committee
The minute of meeting of the Roads Committee held on 16 October 1997 was submitted and approved.
(m) Personnel and Property Services Committee
The minute of meeting of the Personnel and Property Services Committee held on 21 October 1997 was submitted and approved.
(n) Finance and Information Technology Committee
The minute of meeting of the Finance and Information Technology Committee held on 21 October 1997 was submitted and approved.
(o) Civic Licensing Committee
The minute of meeting of the Civic Licensing Committee held on 21 October 1997 was submitted and approved.
(p) Development Control Committee
The minute of meeting of the Development Control Committee held on 23 October 1997 was submitted and approved.
(q) Policy and Resources Committee
The minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 28 October 1997 was submitted and approved.
With reference to Article 17 regarding Tertiary Education - Tuition Fees, the Council approved the terms of the motion approved by the Committee and agreed that this be raised at the next meeting of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
2. MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF JOINT BOARDS/COMMITTEES
(i) Tayside Fire Board
The minute of meeting of the Tayside Fire Board held on 20 May 1997 was submitted and noted.
(ii) Tayside Joint Police Board
The minutes of meetings of the Tayside Joint Police Board held on 20 May 1997 and 27 June 1997 were submitted and noted.
(iii) Tayside Valuation Joint Board
The minute of meeting of the Tayside Valuation Joint Board held on 20 May 1997 was submitted and noted.
(iv) Tayside Contracts Joint Committee
The minute of meeting of the Tayside Contracts Joint Committee held on 20 May 1997 was submitted and noted.
(v) Tay Road Bridge Joint Board
The minute of meeting of the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board held on 9 June 1997 was submitted and noted.
3. GENERAL BUSINESS
(a) Appointments and Nominations to Committees, Sub-Committees, Outside Bodies, Etc
(i) Environmental and Consumer Protection Committee
Following the resignation of Councillor Kathleen Ritchie as Vice-Convener of the Environmental and Consumer Protection Committee, the Council appointed Councillor Stewart McGlynn as Vice-Convener.
(ii) Tayside Valuation Joint Board
The Council appointed Councillor Stewart McGlynn to the Joint Board, thus completing the Council’s representation.
(iii) Tayside Contracts Joint Committee
The Council appointed Councillor Stewart McGlynn as a substitute member of Tayside Contracts Joint Committee.
(iv) Tayside Post Office and Telecommunications Advisory Committee
Following the resignation of Councillor Crowe as a Council representative on the Tayside Post Office and Telecommunications Advisory Committee, the Council appointed Councillor McGlynn as a replacement.
(b) Community Resource Centre Developments - Forfar Draft Outline Business Case
There was submitted Report No 1147/97 prepared jointly by the Chief Executive, the Director of Law and Administration and the Director of Social Work on the vision for the future of community care services in Angus based on the integration of health and social care services within a number of Community Resource Centres. The Report outlined the concept of the project, the proposed functions of the first Community Resource Centre in Forfar and the significant capital implications of the project.
The Council agreed:-
(i) to approve the contents of the Draft Outline Business Case as a basis for public consultation;
(ii) to participate in a programme of public consultation relating to the proposals in the Draft Outline Business Case;
(iii) to participate in the editing of the final document to be submitted to the Scottish Office;
(iv) to note that there should be no additional financial implications to the Council arising from this initiative; and
(v) that the Social Work Committee receive a presentation on the project at its next meeting.
(c) Flood Prevention and Land Drainage (Scotland) Act 1997 - Reporting
There was submitted Report No 1146/97 prepared jointly by the Director of Roads and the Director of Law and Administration on a proposed Report to be published for public information on the measures which the Council considered it required to take in terms of the Flood Prevention and Land Drainage (Scotland) Act 1997. The Report gave details of the assessment which had been carried out of water courses within Angus, together with the proposed programme for their maintenance.
The Council agreed:-
(i) to note the requirement of the Act to publish a Report prior to 26 November 1997;
(ii) to approve the draft Report for publication; and
(iii) that a public notice alerting the public to the publication of the Report be published in "The Courier and Advertiser" with copies of the Report itself being made available at various Council Offices, Monifieth Access Office and at Council Libraries.
(d) Development of Further Area Forums
There was submitted Report No 1144/97 by the Chief Executive on a proposal to extend the Area Forum concept.
The Report outlined the process undertaken to evaluate the known success of the two pilot Area Forums in Montrose and Monifieth and identified the Chief Officers to lead the proposed six new Forums.
The Council agreed:-
(i) to note the positive outcome of the evaluation of the pilot Area Forums in Montrose and Monifieth;
(ii) to the introduction of Area Forums with designated Lead Officers to serve the following areas:-
| AREA | LEAD OFFICER | |
| Carnoustie and Landward Area | - | Director of Personnel |
| Brechin and Landward Area | - | Director of Cultural Services |
| Kirriemuir and Landward Area | - | Director of Environmental & Consumer Protection |
| Arbroath and Landward Area | - | Director of Housing |
| Forfar and Landward Area | - | Director of Social Work |
| Newtyle/Birkhill and Sidlaws | - | Director of Education |
(iii) that a further Report on the matter be submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee on 9 December.
(e) Wildcat Stage Productions Limited
There was submitted a letter from Wildcat Stage Productions Limited seeking the Council’s support for the Company’s representations to Sam Galbraith MP, Minister for the Arts and to Magnus Linklater, Chairman of the Scottish Arts Council against the cessation of Arts Council funding for Wildcat Theatre.
The Council agreed to support the Company’s attempts to obtain continued funding from the Arts Council.
(f) "Developing an Integrated Transport Policy" - The Government’s Consultation Document
There was submitted Report No 1134/97 prepared jointly by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development and the Director of Roads setting out the Council’s draft response to a Government Consultation Document on "Developing an Integrated Transport Policy".
During consideration of the Report, which was endorsed, mention was made of additional comments to be included in the response, including the benefits of motorcycles, especially in towns; the need to encourage coastal shipping in order to remove large volumes of goods traffic from the road network; the disadvantages Scotland faced with regard to air links to many European and international destinations; and the need for public transport interchanges.
The Council agreed:-
(i) to note the terms of the document "Developing an Integrated Transport Policy" for its interest;
(ii) that the Report be forwarded to the Scottish Office as Angus Council’s view on the consultation document, together with the four additional topics referred to above;
(iii) that the Report, together with the additional issues raised, be forwarded to COSLA for consideration in formulating a corporate local authority response to the consultation document; and
(iv) to urge the Scottish Office to note that in a rural area such as Angus, additional funding (perhaps via new and innovative means) would be required for both the existing roads network infrastructure and any development of public transport in order to successfully implement an integrated approach to transport policy.
4. ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS
(a) Closing Orders - Housing (Scotland) Act 1987
(i) Making of Closing Orders
With reference to Article 9 of the minute of meeting of the Housing Committee of 30 September 1997, the Council made the four properties referred to in the minute the subject of Closing Orders, because they failed to meet the tolerable standard described in the Act.
(ii) Revocation of Closing Orders
With reference to Article 10 of the minute of meeting of the Housing Committee of 30 September 1997, the Council revoked the Closing Orders on the sixteen properties listed in the minute, because works had been undertaken to bring the houses up to the tolerable standard as described in the Act.
(b) Montrose Basin Local Nature Reserve - Amendments to Byelaws
With reference to Article 7 of the minute of meeting of the Recreation and Cultural Services Committee held on 9 October 1997, the Council resolved to amend the Byelaws relating to the Montrose Basin Local Nature Reserve as detailed in Report No 1024/97 considered by the Recreation and Cultural Services Committee and to submit the proposed amendments to the Secretary of State for Scotland for approval.
The Provost ruled that the undernoted item of business be considered as a matter of urgency because of the need to raise the issue at the next meeting of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
5. COLD WEATHER PAYMENTS - EMERGENCY MOTION
The Council unanimously adopted the undernoted motion and agreed that it be raised at the next meeting of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
"Angus Council deplores the failure of the Government to take into account wind chill effects in the triggering of cold weather payments.
The Council notes the previous support given by present Government Ministers to Early Day Motion 235 (96/97) "Wind Chill Effect on Pensioners" and the admission by Social Security Minister, John Denham, that any improvements to the provision of the scheme were being ruled out on the grounds of cost.
This Council calls on the Government to urgently reconsider its position taking account of the differential costs of heating homes in Scotland and to give a commitment to introduce a comprehensive cold weather allowance scheme which will apply automatically throughout the winter months."
6. LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE SETTLEMENT 1998/99
There was submitted Report No 1169/97 prepared jointly by the Chief Executive and Director of Finance on the Local Government Finance Settlement for 1998/99 setting out the current position following a recent meeting of Council leaders.
Councillors Hudghton and King amplified a number of points in relation to the Report, following which the Council agreed as follows:-
(i) to endorse the desirability of achieving stability in grant distribution;
(ii) to accept the position adopted by Council Leaders on 4 November 1997, and call on the Secretary of State to:-
(a) allow for flexibility in respect of capping limits;
(b) provide as new money the sum required (£20 m) to implement this option;
(c) confirm that savings accruing to changes in respect of debt repayment would be retained within Scottish local government;
(iii) to stress that the main issue for the Angus public was that the Government’s adherence to the previous Government’s expenditure targets would lead to increases in Council Tax and reductions in services;
(iv) to note that this proposal was only one factor in determining the level of Council Tax for 1998/99;
(v) to note that the final level of Council Tax for 1998/99 was dependent on numerous factors, including the total level of Government grant, capping limits and decisions yet to be made by the Council on spending priorities; and
(vi) to press the Secretary of State independently for flexibility in the Angus Council capping limit.
7. EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
The Council resolved that the public and press be excluded during consideration of the following item 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.
Councillor Ritchie left the meeting at this stage.
8. MONTROSE SEAFRONT CAFE DEVELOPMENT
There was submitted Report No 1020/97 prepared jointly by the Director of Property Services and the Director of Recreation Services on the outcome of negotiations in respect of the redevelopment of the Montrose Seafront Cafe and outlining the provisional terms and conditions agreed for various property transactions connected with the redevelopment.
The Council agreed:-
(i) to dispose of an area of land measuring 45 sq m or thereby at the Links, Montrose to H and G Entertainment on the provisional terms and conditions contained in the Report;
(ii) to lease an area of ground measuring 763.8 sq m or thereby at the Links, Montrose to H and G Entertainment on the provisional terms and conditions contained in the Report;
(iii) to grant a Minute of Waiver to H and G Entertainment to enable the Seafront Cafe to be used in part as an amusement arcade on the provisional terms and conditions contained in the Report;
(iv) to an extension of the period for the removal of the existing amusement arcade to enable the storage of machines until the Cafe redevelopment was complete; and
(v) to the inclusion of a sole trading clause in both the proposed disposal and proposed lease.