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ANGUS COUNCIL

MINUTE of MEETING of ANGUS COUNCIL held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Wednesday 30 June 1999 at 4.00 pm.

Present: Provost Mrs FRANCES E DUNCAN, Councillors IAN ANGUS, WILLIAM CROWE, FRANK ELLIS, MRS KAY ELLIS, JACK GIBB, ALISTAIR GRAY, JOHN HENDERSON, ALEXANDER KING, THE HONOURABLE RUTH LESLIE MELVILLE, STEPHEN LESLIE, DAVID LUMGAIR, IAN MACKINTOSH, STEWART McGLYNN, GLENNIS MIDDLETON, WILLIAM MIDDLETON, BRIAN MILNE, MRS JOY MOWATT, PETER MURPHY, ROB MURRAY, ROBERT MYLES, PETER NIELD, GEORGE NORRIE, KITTY RITCHIE, WILLIAM ROBERTON, DAVID SELFRIDGE, RICHARD SPEIRS, SHEENA WELSH and SANDY WEST.

Provost Mrs FRANCES E DUNCAN, in the Chair.

1. COMMUNITY POLICING

Chief Superintendent Scott Robertson, Divisional Commander and Sergeant Neil McLeod, Community Safety Unit, both Eastern Division, Tayside Police, gave members a short presentation and update on community policing in Angus.

Following questions by a number of members, the Provost thanked Mr Robertson and Mr McLeod for their presentation and the Council noted the information which had been given.

2. DEPUTATION - STRACATHRO HOSPITAL

The Council agreed to receive a deputation from Brechin and District Patients' Association in connection with Stracathro Hospital.

Mr Stewart Mowatt (Chairman) and Mr Ronald McDonald (Committee member) put the Association’s case in favour of the retention and expansion of services at Stracathro Hospital and circulated a paper which set out their causes of concern, the reasons why the Association considered that the Hospital should be maintained and expanded, including the economic arguments, and the consequences of closure or further reduction in the level of services currently provided there.

The deputation explained that Stracathro Hospital was the only District General Hospital within Angus and therefore the only such facility within the area for which Angus Council was responsible. The Association believed therefore that it was incumbent on the Council, in its community representative role, to seek to retain the maximum possible level of Stracathro services for the benefit of the large rural and urban population which it served. The alternative, especially for many rural dwellers and those without transport, involved lengthy journeys and long periods of absence for patients and visiting friends alike.

After the deputation had been heard, they withdrew to the public benches. Councillor Glennis Middleton, as Social Work Convener, indicated that the Council had already noted the Association's points of concern. These had been raised at a recent meeting of the Angus Health and Community Care Liaison Group and she fully expected that any changes proposed by either the Health Board or the NHS Trusts would be discussed fully in that forum before decisions were taken. Accordingly, she had already asked the Chief Executive to write to the Minister for Health and Community Care pointing out the importance of Stracathro and the economic as well as health implications of closure or significant reduction in services. This letter had been copied to the Minister for Rural Affairs, pointing out that any change to the status of Stracathro's services would adversely affect the large rural population of Angus and constitute a reduction in service provision as well as increasing health risks and having a huge economic impact. Further, the Director of Social Work had already met Professor Jung who had been given the remit to undertake a review of Tayside Acute Services and the Health Board's Chief Executive had agreed to consider the involvement of professionals from the Council's Social Work Department in any Working Groups being established, particularly in relation to care of the elderly and community hospitals.

The Council agreed to note and endorse the action which had been taken by the Social Work Convener.

3. COUNCIL MINUTES

(a) Angus Council

The minute of the meeting of the Council held on 4 May 1999 was submitted, approved as a correct record and signed by the Provost.

(b) Angus Council (Statutory Meeting)

The minute of the meeting of the Council held on 13 May 1999 was submitted, approved as a correct record and signed by the Provost.

With reference to Article 8 , the Council agreed to note that the Education Committee meeting scheduled for 12 October would now take place on 19 October, following the meeting of the Finance and Information Technology Committee on that date.

(c) Environmental and Consumer Protection Committee

The minute of meeting of the Environmental and Consumer Protection Committee held on 25 May 1999 was submitted and approved.

(d) Housing Committee

The minute of meeting of the Housing Committee held on 25 May 1999 was submitted and approved.

(e) Policy and Resources (Special Meeting)

The minute of the special meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 25 May 1999 was submitted and approved.

(f) Finance Committee (Special Meeting)

The minute of the special meeting of the Finance Committee held on 25 May 1999 was submitted and approved.

(g) Civic Licensing Committee

The minute of meeting of the Civic Licensing Committee held on 25 May 1999 was submitted and approved.

(h) Development Control Committee

The minute of meeting of the Development Control Committee held on 27 May 1999 was submitted and approved.

(i) Contract Services Committee

The minute of meeting of the Contract Services Committee held on 1 June 1999 was submitted and approved.

(j) Social Work Committee

The minute of meeting of the Social Work Committee held on 1 June 1999 was submitted and approved.

(k) Economic Development Committee

The minute of meeting of the Economic Development Committee held on 1 June 1999 was submitted and approved.

(l) Recreation and Cultural Services Committee

The minute of meeting of the Recreation and Cultural Services Committee held on 3 June 1999 was submitted and approved.

(m) Education Committee

The minute of meeting of the Education Committee held on 8 June 1999 was submitted and approved.

(n) Planning and Transport Policy Committee

The minute of meeting of the Planning and Transport Policy Committee held on 8 June 1999 was submitted and approved.

(o) Roads Committee

The minute of meeting of the Roads Committee held on 8 June 1999 was submitted and approved.

(p) Personnel and Property Services Committee

The minute of meeting of the Personnel and Property Services Committee held on 15 June 1999 was submitted (with an amended page 364) and approved.

(q) Finance and Information Technology Committee

The minute of meeting of the Finance and Information Technology Committee held on 15 June 1999 was submitted and approved.

(r) Civic Licensing Committee

The minute of meeting of the Civic Licensing Committee held on 15 June 1999 was submitted and approved.

(s) Development Control Committee

The minute of meeting of the Development Control Committee held on 17 June 1999 was submitted and approved.

(t) Policy and Resources Committee

The minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 22 June 1999 was submitted and approved.

4. MOTION

The Council considered a motion on the recent amendment to the fishing ground boundary in the North Sea between Scotland and England, notice of which had been given in terms of Standing Order 24.

COUNCILLOR SELFRIDGE, SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR ANGUS, MOVED AS FOLLOWS:-

THAT THIS COUNCIL:-

1. CONDEMNS THE UK LABOUR GOVERNMENT FOR ROBBING THE SCOTTISH NATION OF 6,000 SQ MILES OF FISHING GROUND IN THE NORTH SEA WITHOUT PRIOR CONSULTATION OF ANY KIND WITH THE SCOTTISH PEOPLE AND WITHIN DAYS OF THE OPENING OF THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT;

2. SUPPORTS THE SCOTTISH FISHERMEN’S FEDERATION IN THEIR CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE THE PRE-EXISTING BOUNDARY LINE;

3. INSTRUCTS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE TO WRITE TO THE MINISTER FOR RURAL AFFAIRS DEMANDING THAT HE TAKES WHATEVER STEPS NECESSARY TO REPEAL STATUTORY INSTRUMENT NUMBER 1126; AND

4. INSTRUCTS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE TO WRITE TO COSLA AND ASK THAT THE MATTER BE INCLUDED ON THE MOST APPROPRIATE COSLA AGENDA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Councillor Murphy, seconded by Councillor Speirs, moved as an amendment that Part 1 of the motion be amended, with Parts 2, 3 and 4 being unchanged, as follows:-

1. Regrets recent Government legislation which has resulted in the transfer of 6,000 sq m of Scottish fishing grounds to English jurisdiction.

On a vote being taken, members voted as follows:-

For the motion:-

Provost Mrs Duncan, Depute Provost Milne, Councillors Angus, Crowe, Frank Ellis, Kay Ellis, Gibb, Gray, Henderson, King, Leslie Melville, Leslie, McGlynn, Glennis Middleton, William Middleton, Mowatt, Murray, Myles, Ritchie, Roberton, Selfridge, Welsh and West (23).

For the amendment:-

Councillors Murphy, Nield and Speirs (3).

No vote:-

Councillors Lumgair and Mackintosh (2).

The motion was declared carried and became the finding of the meeting.

5. ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS

(a) Housing - Closing Order

With reference to Article 10 of the minute of meeting of the Housing Committee of 25 May 1999, the Council resolved to make a Closing Order on the property listed in the minute because it failed to meet the "tolerable standard" as prescribed in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.

(b) Roads - Angus Council (West High Street/Myre Park, Forfar) (Public Footpath) (Stopping-Up) Order 1999

With reference to Article 13(d) of the minute of meeting of the Roads Committee of 8 June 1999, the Council resolved to confirm the above Order.

6. APPOINTMENTS TO OUTSIDE BODIES ETC

(a) Representation on Joint Boards, Joint Committees and Outside Bodies

With reference to Article 6(a)(i) of the minute of meeting of the Council held on 13 May 1999, there was submitted Report 681/99 by the Director of Law and Administration reminding the Council of the appointments which had been deferred from its previous meeting and listing nominations which had been received for particular organisations.

The Council resolved to appoint the following members as its representative(s) on the bodies/ organisations listed below:-

(b) Chairs of Area Forums

The Council appointed the following members as Chairs of the undernoted Area Forums:-

(c) Member/Officer Groups

The Council appointed the following members to the undernoted Member/Officer Groups:-

(d) Nominations to SEPA and SCRA Boards

The Council homologated the action of the Convener of the Policy and Resources Committee in nominating Councillors Selfridge and Glennis Middleton to COSLA for potential appointment as Board members of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Scottish Children's Reporters Administration respectively.

(e) Third Church Member of the Education Committee

With reference to Article 5(d)(l) of the minute of meeting of the Council held on 13 May 1999, it was reported that only one nomination had been received for the position of third church representative to serve on the Education Committee, namely Rev Kenneth Gibson, Rector, Holy Rood Scottish Episcopal Church, Carnoustie.

In the circumstances, the Council appointed Rev Gibson as the third church representative on the Education Committee.

(f) Central Consultative Committee

The Council appointed Councillors Glennis Middleton and Selfridge to the Central Consultative Committee, the other members being the Convener and Vice-Convener of the Personnel and Property Services Committee and the Convener and Vice-Convener of the Education Committee.

7. ANGUS CHILDREN'S SERVICES PLAN - 1999 DRAFT ANNUAL REVIEW

With reference to Article 7 of the minute of meeting of the Social Work Committee held on 1 June 1999, and Article 6 of the minute of meeting of the Education Committee held on 8 June 1999, there was submitted Joint Report No 548/99 by the Chief Executive, Director of Social Work and Director of Education advising members of the completion of the draft of the First Annual Review of the Angus Children's Services Plan.

The Council resolved to approve the recommendations for its interest.

8. ARBROATH ABBEY DEVELOPMENT

With reference to Article 12 of the minute of meeting of the Planning and Transport Policy Committee held on 8 June 1999, there was submitted Report No 682/99 by the Director of Planning and Transport advising of the draft revised proposals for the development of visitor facilities at Arbroath Abbey and recommending how the project could be taken forward. Assuming the draft proposals for the Abbey were acceptable in principle, it was recommended that a public meeting be arranged as soon as possible in Arbroath to present the draft proposals and that a special Committee be established, with full delegated powers, to progress the project over the summer months.

The Council resolved as follows:-

(i) to note the draft revised proposals for the development of visitor facilities at Arbroath Abbey as outlined in Report No 682/99 and the presentation drawings displayed at the meeting;

(ii) to approve public consultation being undertaken prior to the revised proposals being considered in detail by means of a public meeting in Arbroath (provisionally set for the evening of 7 July 1999); and

(iii) to appoint a special Committee with delegated authority to progress the project over the summer months, comprising the Convener and Vice-Convener of the Policy and Resources Committee, the Convener of the Planning and Transport Policy Committee and the seven Councillors whose wards fell within Arbroath.

The following matter was, on the determination of the Provost, treated as a matter of urgency because of the need to submit the 1998/99 Accounts to the Accounts Commission no later than 30 June.

9. ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 1998/99

There was submitted Report No 688/99 by the Director of Finance informing members that the Accounts for 1998/99 had been completed and were now being audited. It was also a requirement that the Annual Accounts were submitted to the Accounts Commission no later than 30 June in each year.

Councillor King referred to the General Fund Balance and the Housing Revenue Account Balance which were £6.318m and £1.697m respectively as at 31 March 1999. He asked the Council to note that, overall, departmental operations had come within budget and this confirmed that generally the discipline of working within cash limited budgets had been maintained. He acknowledged the effort put in by Finance Department staff and colleagues in other departments in order to achieve the 30 June time requirement.

The Council resolved to note the contents of Report No 688/99.

If you have any questions or comments please contact Angus Council
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