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ANGUS COUNCIL
MINUTE of MEETING of ANGUS COUNCIL held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Thursday, 5 November 1998 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, IAN HUDGHTON, ALEXANDER KING, Mrs RENATE LAMONT, STEWART McGLYNN, IAN MACKINTOSH, GLENNIS MIDDLETON, WILLIAM MIDDLETON, ROB MURRAY, GEORGE NORRIE, Mrs KATHLEEN RITCHIE, ALEXANDER SHAND, RICHARD SPEIRS, SHEENA WELSH, SANDY WEST and THOMAS I N YOUNG.
Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors JACK GIBB, STEWART MOWATT and DAVID SELFRIDGE.
Provost Mrs FRANCES E DUNCAN in the Chair.
1. COUNCIL MINUTES
(a) Angus Council
The minute of meeting of the Council held on 17 September 1998 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 29 September 1998 was submitted and approved.
(c) Environmental and Consumer Protection Committee
The minute of meeting of the Environmental and Consumer Protection Committee held on 29 September 1998 was submitted and approved.
(d) Civic Licensing Committee
The minute of meeting of the Civic Licensing Committee held on 29 September 1998 was submitted and approved.
(e) Development Control Committee
The minute of meeting of the Development Control Committee held on 1 October 1998 was submitted and, except as noted hereunder, approved.
Planning Application No 01/98/0374- Outline consent for the erection of a dwellinghouse at Priestfield, Inverkeilor by Mr A McEwan (Article 2(iv) refers)
It was reported that a request to be heard by the Council in connection with the above application had been received from Mr K W Robertson, Town Planning Consultant on behalf of the applicant.
Slides were shown and Mr Robertson was heard.
THEREAFTER COUNCILLOR RITCHIE, SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR KING, MOVED THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTE - (IE THAT THE APPLICATION BE REFUSED FOR THE REASONS SET OUT IN REPORT NO 1003/98 BY THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND TRANSPORT).
As an amendment Councillor West, seconded by Councillor Shand, moved that consent be granted.
On a vote being taken the members voted:-
For the motion:-
Councillors Milne, Allan, Helen Angus, Ian Angus, Crowe, Doig, Hudghton, King, Mrs Lamont, Glennis Middleton, William Middleton, Murray, Norrie, Mrs Ritchie, Mrs Welsh and Young (16).
For the amendment:-
Provost Mrs Frances E Duncan, Councillors Ellis, McGlynn, Mackintosh, Shand, Speirs and West (7).
The motion was thereupon declared carried.
(f) Social Work Committee
The minute of meeting of the Social Work Committee held on 6 October 1998 was submitted and approved.
(g) Economic Development Committee
The minute of meeting of the Economic Development Committee held on 8 October 1998 was submitted and approved.
(h) Recreation and Cultural Services Committee
The minute of meeting of the Recreation and Cultural Services Committee held on 8 October 1998 was submitted and approved.
(i) Education Committee
The minute of meeting of the Education Committee held on 13 October 1998 was submitted and approved.
(j) Planning and Transport Policy Committee
The minute of meeting of the Planning and Transport Policy Committee held on 15 October 1998 was submitted and approved.
(k) Roads Committee
The minute of meeting of the Roads Committee held on 15 October 1998 was submitted and approved.
(l) Personnel & Property Services Committee
The minute of meeting of the Personnel & Property Services Committee held on 20 October 1998 was submitted and approved.
(m) Finance and Information Technology Committee
The minute of meeting of the Finance and Information Technology Committee held on 20 October 1998 was submitted and, except as hereinafter noted, approved.
Funding for Citizens Advice Bureau (Article 15 refers)
On the reading of this item, Councillors Glennis Middleton, Speirs and Mrs Ritchie declared their interests as members of the Board of the Citizens Advice Bureau.
(n) Development Control Committee
The minute of meeting of the Development Control Committee held on 22 October 1998 was submitted and approved.
Planning Application 98/01/011 Glaxo Wellcome Operations
On the reading of this item Councillor Norrie declared an interest in the above application.
(o) Policy and Resources Committee
The minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 27 October 1998 was submitted and approved.
Rural Issues Conference: "Farming on the Brink" (Article 17 refers)
On the reading of this item Councillor Hudghton expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the conference on rural issues held in the Royal Hotel on 23 October 1998 and confirmed that the Chief Executive would be submitting to the Economic Development Committee on 19 November 1998 a Report setting out proposals for the establishment of the Angus Agricultural Task Group. It was hoped that this Group would eventually prepare an action plan capable of delivering local solutions.
2. MOTION - JUBILEE 2000
The Council approved the following motion which had been proposed by Councillor Kathleen Ritchie in terms of Standing Order No 24 and agreed that COSLA be urged to seek the support of all Councils for the proposal.
"Angus Council resolved:-
(i) to support the aims of the Jubilee 2000 Coalition, which was urging the G8 countries to celebrate the Millennium by cancelling the debts of the world’s poorest countries by the year 2000;
(ii) to call upon Central Government to commit itself seriously to international development and the just treatment of developing nations by taking all possible steps to ensure international co-operation to cancel the debts of the world’s poorest countries; and
(iii) to make the Jubilee 2000 Coalition petition available in appropriate Angus Council buildings to which the public had access."
The following motion was, on the determination of the Provost, treated as a matter of urgency in view of the imminent Government decision on this matter.
3. TERRITORIAL ARMY CUTS
The Council, after hearing Councillors Frank Ellis and Ian Hudghton, approved a motion in the following terms:-
"Council notes with severe concern the contents of the recent letter from Donald Dewar MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, to George Robertson MP, Secretary of State for Defence, regarding the future of the TA in Scotland.
Council further expresses its alarm at the comments of Donald Dewar that the cuts would mean "TA ability to respond and support local communities in the event of a major civil incident will be severely affected at a time when millennium bug problems pose a potential threat to key services such as electricity and telecommunications and then, therefore, emergency preparedness should, if anything be enhanced."
Council re-states its concern that the proposed cuts in the TA in Angus will have a devastating effect upon local communities, economies and particularly on the ability of the TA to respond to local emergency situations.
Council therefore instructs the Chief Executive to write to Mr George Robertson MP, Secretary of State for Defence, to seek an urgent meeting to express the concerns of this Council about the future ability of the TA in Angus to respond to large scale civil emergencies particularly given the uncertainties of the Millennium problem."
4. ARBROATH HARBOUR DEVELOPMENT BRIEF
There was submitted Report No 1130/98 by the Director of Planning and Transport presenting for consideration a development brief for Arbroath Harbour, designed to strengthen the visitor appeal of the Harbour whilst retaining support for its existing uses. The development brief had been prepared to highlight the development opportunities at the Harbour and would form the basis of a marketing brochure to be widely circulated to the private sector through the Council's agents.
The Council approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to approve the development brief appended thereto;
(ii) to authorise consultation with the Arbroath Fishermen's Association and other interest groups within the Harbour on the terms of the brief;
(iii) that, subject to the outcome of these negotiations, the production and distribution of a marketing brochure based on the development brief be approved at an estimated cost of £5,000; and
(iv) to note that a further report on the outcome of the marketing exercise would be submitted in due course.
5. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP AT CARNOUSTIE - JULY 1999
There was submitted Report No 1126/98 by the Chief Executive advising the Council of the arrangements which were being put in place to deal with issues arising from the return of the Open Championship to Carnoustie in July 1999 and seeking authority for appropriate decisions to be delegated to officers.
The Council approved the terms of the report and agreed:-
(i) that the operational arrangements put in place to facilitate the Council's response to the Open Championship at Carnoustie in July 1999 be noted;
(ii) that full delegated authority be granted to the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Convener of the Policy and Resources Committee and in conjunction with appropriate Chief Officers and the Carnoustie 1999 Steering Group, to deal with, and determine, all matters arising from next year's Open Championship which were functions of the local authority; and
(iii) that reports on any significant decisions taken under (ii) above be submitted at an appropriate stage.
6. REPORT TO MEMBERS ON THE 1997/98 AUDIT OF ANGUS COUNCIL
There was submitted Report No 1131/98 by the Director of Finance regarding the Audit Commission's Report to members on the 1997/98 Audit of Angus Council. A copy of the Auditor's report was attached as Appendix I to the Report. It was noted that, due to the delays in closing and auditing Tayside Regional Council accounts for 1995/96 and its consequent effect on the surrounding balances inherited by Angus Council, the Audit Certificate for 1997/98 had been qualified. It was noted also that the Council had already addressed the Auditor's findings in respect of Council DSOs and a copy of the DSO's report and accounts for 1997/98 was attached as Appendix II to the Report.
After hearing Councillor King regarding the delays in the preparation of Tayside Regional Council's final year accounts and noting that the Auditor's report raised no issues which required to be specifically addressed by the Council, the Council approved the terms of Report No 1131/98 and agreed:-
(i) to note the content of the Accounts Commission's Report to members on the 1997/98 Audit for Angus Council;
(ii) to note the 1997/98 audited accounting statements for Angus Council as set out in pages 40 to 66 of the Council's Annual Report and Accounts (copies of which had been previously circulated to all members); and
(iii) to note the 1997/98 Direct Services Organisation's Reports and Accounts for 1997/98.
7. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
The Provost reported that she had agreed that a special meeting of the Council take place in Arbroath on Thursday 10 December 1998 immediately following the special meeting of the Development Control Committee called for that day to deal with applications which were of major land use significance and not delegated to that Committee. The position was noted, and it was agreed that all members of the Council who were not members of the Development Control Committee be invited to attend the Development Control Committee but not to vote thereat.
8. ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS
Housing - Closing Orders
(a) Making
With reference to Article 4(b) of the minute of meeting of the Housing Committee of 29 September 1998, the Council agreed to make Closing Orders on the properties listed in the minute since they were unfit for human habitation and failed to meet the "tolerable standard" as prescribed in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.
(b) Revocations
With reference to Article 4(a) of the minute of meeting of the Housing Committee of 29 September 1998, the Council agreed to revoke the Closing Orders on the properties listed in the minute, as the necessary works had been undertaken to bring them up to the "tolerable standard" as prescribed in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.
9. VILLAGE HALL DEVELOPMENTS - MEMUS
There was submitted Report No 1170/98 by the Chief Executive indicating that Memus village Hall was one of the halls which had been surveyed by the Property Services Department some months ago when it became apparent that it was in a dangerous condition, and that it had been closed since that time.
During the past 12 to 18 months, the residents from the Memus area had worked closely with officers of the Council to draw together a package of grant applications to enable the Village Hall to be rebuilt. A financial package had been put in place with contributions from the community, the Scottish Office, Angus Council, 21st Century Halls (Lottery) and European ERDF Funding. Angus Council's contribution would be £11,520 which could be contained in the money set aside through Local Challenge Funding to support significant development of Village Halls.
The Council approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to note and welcome the financial package which had been drawn together with regard to the proposal to rebuild Memus Village Hall;
(ii) to congratulate the community on the considerable efforts made to deliver both a local cash contribution to the package and the development of the overall initiative; and
(iii) to approve a grant of £11,520 to Memus Village Hall.
10. EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
The Council resolved its terms of Standing Order 27(2) that the public and press be excluded during consideration of the following matter so as to avoid the possible disclosure of information which is exempt in terms of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, paragraph 5.
11. CARNOUSTIE OPEN 1999 - LEASE OF COUNCIL PROPERTY
There was submitted Report No 1128/98 by the Director of Property Services indicating the outcome of negotiations with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews for the lease of land and buildings in Carnoustie for use during the Open Golf Championship in 1999.
The Council approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to approve the lease of land and buildings in Carnoustie to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews on the provisional main terms and conditions contained in the Report and such other conditions as were deemed necessary by the Director of Property Services and the Director of Law and Administration to protect the Council's interest; and
(ii) to authorise the Director of Property Services to conclude negotiations with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews for the additional area of Kinloch Primary School in Carnoustie which might be required for use during the Open Golf Championship.
12. BEST VALUE PRESENTATION
At the conclusion of the meeting of the Council, Sandy Watson, Chief Executive, and Ian Robertson, Policy Officer, gave a presentation to members on Best Value.