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ANGUS COUNCIL
MINUTE of MEETING of the ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Thursday 18 April 1996 at 4.25 pm.
Present: Councillors JOHN GIBB, BRIAN MILNE, WILLIAM CROWE, Provost Mrs FRANCES E DUNCAN, WALLIE LEASK and IAN MACKINTOSH.
Apology: An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor GEORGE ALLAN.
Councillor GIBB, Convener, in the Chair.
1. MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minute of meeting of this Committee of 28 February 1996 was approved as a correct record and signed by the Convener.
2. UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTICS
There were submitted various statistics, graphs and charts relating to unemployment in the Arbroath, Brechin/Montrose, Forfar/Kirriemuir and Dundee travel to work areas in respect of the 14 month period to February 1996.
The Committee noted the figures and the problem of obtaining meaningful figures for Monifieth and Carnoustie within the Dundee TTWA.
3. PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT TAYSIDE LIMITED - REPRESENTATION
There was submitted Report No 228/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development seeking a nomination for Council representation on the Board of Product Development Tayside Limited which the Council had agreed to co-finance during 1996/97.
The Committee agreed that the Economic Development Manager be appointed to represent the Council on the Board of Product Development Tayside Limited.
4. THE BUSINESS SHOP, ANGUS - COUNCIL REPRESENTATION ON BOARD
There was submitted Report No 229/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development seeking three nominations for Council representation on the Board of the Business Shop, Angus which the Council had agreed to co-finance during 1996/97.
The Committee agreed that the Convener of the Economic Development Committee, the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development and the Economic Development Manager be the Council’s representatives on the Board of the Business Shop, Angus.
5. PROMOTIONAL BROCHURE AND UPGRADE OF COMPUTER DISK
With reference to Article 13 of the minute of meeting of Angus Council held on 4 April 1996, there was submitted Report No 236/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development on the production of a four page brochure promoting Angus as a location for new oil projects as a first step in producing a range of promotional material for the new Angus Council and seeking authority to upgrade an existing computer promotional disk.
Having noted that the four page brochure had cost approximately £2,000 to produce, and that upgrading the computer promotional disk would cost £1,500, the Committee agreed to both the proposals set out in the Report.
6. TRAINING SERVICES - CORPORATE POLICY
There was submitted Report No 231/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development detailing a Policy Statement setting out the corporate goals and objectives of Angus Council’s Training Services Unit, and the basis on which Council Departments would participate in government assisted training programmes.
The Committee agreed to adopt the corporate goals and objectives outlined in Appendix 1 to the Report which would be used to guide the operation and development of Angus Council’s Training Services.
7. TRAINING SERVICES - PROPOSED SKILL SEEKERS RADIO TAY CAMPAIGN
There was submitted Report No 232/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development outlining a proposal to advertise Angus Council Training Services (ACTS) to prospective Skillseekers using a Radio Tay campaign at an estimated cost of £3,200. It was intended that the proposed advertising campaign would establish a clear impression of the services available from ACTS and would target potential Skillseekers who would be attracted to take up a wide range of opportunities available on the programme.
The Committee agreed to proceed with a Radio Tay campaign to advertise Angus Council Training Services to prospective Skillseekers as set out in the Report.
8. EUROPEAN ACTIVITIES - STAFFING STRUCTURE
There was submitted Report No 235/96 prepared jointly by the Chief Executive and the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development proposing an additional post of European Services Manager within the Economic Development Unit.
After noting the financial implications of such an appointment and the potential benefit of such a post in view of the importance of European matters, the Committee agreed:-
(i) that a post of European Services Manager be created on salary scale SCP 42-45, reporting to the Economic Development Manager and having responsibility for the supervision of the European Officer;
(ii) that recruitment for this post be commenced as soon as possible; and
(iii) that the Personnel and Property Services Committee be asked to approve the proposal for its interest.
9. BSE - POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE ANGUS ECONOMY
There was submitted Report No 234/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development analysing the potential impact on the Angus economy arising from the severe slump in beef sales as a result of the possible link between Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jackob Disease.
After noting the Director’s overview of employment in Angus beef related industries and having heard Provost Mrs Frances E Duncan and Councillor Mackintosh on the subject, the Committee noted the information in the Report and that officials would continue to liaise with the NFU and other appropriate bodies to establish whether there was any scope for a locally based scheme to promote the quality of Angus beef by way of support to the local farming community.
10. EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
The Committee resolved that the public and press be excluded during consideration of the following items to avoid the disclosure of information which was exempt in terms of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, Paragraphs 6, 8 and 9.
11. TAYSIDE ECONOMIC RESEARCH CENTRE
There was submitted Report No 230/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development highlighting the need for good quality economic intelligence to guide the Council’s economic strategy and recommending that the most efficient and cost effective means of achieving this aim was through joint participation with SET and Dundee City Council in the proposed Tayside Economic Research Centre (TERC).
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to participate in a joint venture partnership with Scottish Enterprise Tayside and Dundee City Council to establish an economic research centre;
(ii) to contribute £10,000 per annum (offset by a European Regional Development Fund Grant of 25%) towards the project resulting in a net Angus Council contribution of £7,500; and
(iii) to remit to the Economic Development Manager to negotiate details of the structure and operation of the Centre within the framework of the TERC Steering Group.
12. GOLF STEERING GROUP - MARKETING PLAN 1996
There was submitted Report No 237/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development outlining the Golf Steering Group’s Marketing Plan for 1996 and the cost thereof.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the programme of advertising planned for 1996; and
(ii) to contribute £19,800 towards the Golf Steering Group’s Marketing Plan for 1996, subject to the contributions outlined in paragraph 4.1 and 4.2 of the Report, being committed by the other partners.
13. ANGUS GLENS SHEEP HEALTH ASSOCIATION - REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE
There was submitted Report No 238/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development on a request from the Angus Glens Sheep Health Association for financial assistance for a marketing campaign to promote Angus breeding sheep as a high quality product free from disease, etc.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to acknowledge the significance of promoting the excellence of the Angus brand; and
(ii) to provide a grant of £4,792 to the Angus Glens Sheep Health Association, phased over three years as illustrated in the Report, to assist the Association with its marketing programme, subject to SET contributing 50% towards the initiative.
14. UNIT 5, CUMBERLAND CLOSE, KIRRIEMUIR - APPLICATION TO LEASE
There was submitted Report No 240/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development on an application received by the Council from a company to lease Unit 5, Cumberland Close, Kirriemuir for manufacturing and retail purposes.
The Committee agreed that an offer of lease be made to the applicant for an initial period of three years at a rental of £1,000 per annum, subject to the rental being paid in advance by an initial six month payment and monthly thereafter.
15. ARBROATH ENTERPRISE PARK - PROPOSED FACTORY DEVELOPMENT
With reference to Article 10 of the minute of the meeting of the Economic Development Committee of 28 February, there was submitted Report No 239/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development on progress made with regard to the proposal to provide premises at Arbroath Enterprise Park through the Council taking on a head lease and seeking approval to incur expenditure on the construction of a section of adoptable roadway to serve the premises and adjoining sites.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to seek tenders for the construction of an adoptable access road to the factory, with the cost of the road construction being met from 75% of the capital receipts from the sale of Site 4; and
(ii) to produce 1,000 copies of a colour marketing information sheet on the factory, with the cost being met from the sinking fund being set up in connection with the development.
16. ARBROATH BUSINESS CENTRE
(a) Refurbishment
There was submitted Report No 255/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development highlighting the problems currently being faced with the roof and electrical infrastructure of the Arbroath Business Centre and outlining a programme of works to resolve the problems.
After noting the finance available and the works authorised by the former District Council, the Committee noted the position.
(b) Re-roofing - Tender Report
There was submitted a Report by the Director of Property Services (Chief Quantity Surveyor) on tenders received for the re-roofing of the Business Centre.
The Committee agreed that the tender from Northern Techtonic Limited, Forfar amounting to £88,048.40, be accepted.