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ANGUS COUNCIL
MINUTE of MEETING of the ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Thursday 21 November 1996 at 4.40 pm.
Present: Councillors JOHN GIBB, BRIAN MILNE, GEORGE ALLAN, WILLIAM CROWE, Provost Mrs FRANCES E DUNCAN, Councillors WALLIE LEASK and IAN MACKINTOSH
Councillor GIBB, Convener, in the Chair.
1. MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minute of meeting of this Committee of 10 October 1996 was approved as a correct record and signed by the Convener.
2. UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTICS
There was submitted Report No 922/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development providing various statistics, graphs and charts showing unemployment rates by travel to work areas, numbers and ages of unemployed, duration of unemployment and numbers of vacancies in Angus and neighbouring authorities.
After noting that the unemployment rate in Arbroath had been 11.8% in September 1995 and was also 11.8% in September 1996, and having expressed disappointment at the lack of progress in the year 1995/96, the Committee agreed to note the Report.
3. EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT
There was submitted Report No 1025/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development outlining the outcome of the European Union’s Conference on the future of European Rural Development which was held in Cork from 6-9 November 1996. In recognition of past work on rural issues, the Council’s European Officer had been asked by the Scottish Office to attend the Conference to represent the local authority sector. The cost of the conference had been met by the European Commission and accommodation and travel costs for the European Officer had been met from the European Development Budget of the Planning, Transport and Economic Development Department.
The Report concluded that the Conference had afforded Angus Council an opportunity to promote at European level its rural development objectives and the agencies with which it was proactively involved, namely the UK5b Partnership, the LEADER Network, ESEC and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
The principal outcomes of the Conference were contained in a document entitled "The Cork Declaration" a copy of which was appended to the Report.
After hearing Councillor Mackintosh on the dependence of numerous industries on agriculture, the Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the contents of the Report; and
(ii) to request the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development to promote actively the Council’s own views on rural development policy to ensure that these were taken on board during the emergence of a rural development programme for the European Union.
4. ABERTAY UNIVERSITY - CHINESE SECONDEE
There was submitted Report No 955/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development outlining the background to a request from Dr Cai of Abertay University, Chairman of the Sino Scottish Institute for placement within the Council’s Economic Development Unit for Mr Yishun Cai (no relative), Vice-General Manager of the Beijing Hua-Ken Trade Company for a period of five months. All expenses would be met by his company and the Council would be required to provide only office space and working materials during the visit.
The Report concluded that this placement, which would have no contractual basis, would be of benefit to the Economic Development efforts of Angus Council. On that basis, the Convener of the Economic Development Committee, following consultation with the Chief Executive, Director of Finance and Director of Personnel had offered Mr Yishun Cai a placement within the Economic Development Unit at Montrose.
The Committee agreed to homologate the decision of the Convener to offer Mr Cai a workstation within the Economic Development Unit of the Planning, Transport and Economic Development Department for five months commencing in July 1997.
5. TRADE DEVELOPMENT VISIT TO LA CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE ET D’INDUSTRIE D’ANGOULEME - PROGRESS REPORT
With reference to Article 16 of the minute of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 10 September 1996, there was submitted Report No 957/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development outlining the progress made during a visit to Angouleme by the Economic Development Manager on 21/22 October 1996 and bringing forward proposals for a co-operation agreement between various Economic Development Agencies.
Having noted that the terms of the Report would also be considered by the Policy and Resources Committee, the Committee agreed to recommend that the Council should enter into a Co-operation Agreement between Alava in Spain, Modena in Italy, Angouleme in France and Dundee City Council in accordance with the proposal outlined within Report No 957/96, subject to:-
(i) details of resultant programmes and projects including expenditure being brought back for approval;
(ii) the agreement being made for an initial period of twelve months;
(iii) future renewal of the agreement being dependent upon ongoing monitoring and evaluation;
(iv) investigation being made into the possibility of financial assistance from the European Commission; and
(v) any financial expenditure being contained within the participating Departments revenue estimates.
6. TAYSIDE ECONOMIC RESEARCH CENTRE: FUNDING 1997/98 - 1998/99
With reference to Article 11 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 18 April 1996, there was submitted Report No 929/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development reviewing progress by Tayside Economic Research Centre (TERC) and recommending that, in the interest of continuity of staffing and enhanced performance, Angus Council should contribute to the funding of the Centre for a further two year period subject to monitoring and evaluation being carried out.
The Report concluded that TERC was already providing valuable support to the economic development activity of Angus Council and its partners and detailed in Appendix I the type of work carried out. Joint database development, sectoral studies and specialist enquiry assistance was already contributing to the work of all the partners, and on this basis, it was considered worthwhile to continue funding for the two year period.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the progress made by Tayside Economic Research Centre (TERC);
(ii) to continue funding TERC on a joint basis with Scottish Enterprise Tayside and Dundee City Council for the two year period from 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1999, subject to a commitment from the other funding partners;
(iii) to approve a contribution of £10,350 for 1997/98 and £10,700 for 1998/99 offset by ERDF grant of 25% resulting in contributions of £7,762 and £8,022 respectively; and
(iv) to remit to the Economic Development Manager to review the performance and progress of TERC during the two year period.
7. EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
The Committee resolved, in terms of Standing Order No 27(2) that the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items so as 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 2, 6, 8, 9 and 10.
8. DEMAND FOR AND SUPPLY OF INDUSTRIAL LAND AND PROPERTY IN ANGUS
There was submitted Report No 987/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development outlining current levels of demand and supply of industrial land and property throughout Angus including Arbroath, Brechin, Montrose, Carnoustie, Forfar and Kirriemuir, highlighting the need for investment to improve current supply of industrial land and property and recommending that the Council investigate ways by which this could be achieved.
The Report concluded that the measures identified with respect to improving supply of industrial land in each area would be essential to provide the opportunity for the expansion of local companies and to take advantage of demand for inward investment. The proposed measures would also play a crucial role in the achievement of the Council’s objective of stimulating the Angus economy.
Having heard the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development regarding proposed measures for Monifieth, the Committee agreed to authorise the Directors of Planning, Transport and Economic Development and Property Services to develop further the proposals and report back on each.
9. LEASE OF UNIT 19, ARBROATH BUSINESS CENTRE, DENS ROAD, ARBROATH
There was submitted and noted Report No 968/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development informing of a lease of Unit 19 at Arbroath Business Centre which had been agreed by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development under delegated powers.
10. SUPERIOR’S APPROVAL - NO 2 HOLDING, BARNS OF CLAVERHOUSE
There was submitted and approved Report No 994/96 by the Director of Law and Administration recommending that the Council grant Superior’s Approval in respect of a piece of ground at No 2 Holding, Barns of Claverhouse, on the terms outlined within the Report.
11. ANGUS COUNCIL TRAINING SERVICES - SALE OF PORTACABIN, KEPTIE ROAD, ARBROATH
There was submitted Report No 981/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development advising that Angus Council Training Services had recently vacated a portacabin which was owned by the Council and located on ground leased from Angus College. The Report recommended the sale of the portacabin to the College for the reasons outlined therein.
The Committee agreed to approve the sale of the portacabin to Angus College for the sum of £2,000.
12. ARBROATH ENTERPRISE PARK - PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF BESPOKE UNIT FOR INWARD INVESTOR
There was submitted Report No 982/96 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development advising that a request had been received from a potential inward investor for occupation of a unit of 930 to 1,860 sq m (10-20,000 sq feet) on Kirkton Enterprise Park, Arbroath. The Report recommended that negotiations be entered into with the Company and the developer to explore the possibility of developing a unit to suit the needs of the client with the Council taking a head lease on the property and sub-leasing it to the Company.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to approve in principle the concept of taking a head lease on a new unit to be developed to meet the needs of the inward investor; and
(ii) to remit to the Directors of Planning, Transport and Economic Development, Property Services and Finance to continue negotiations with the developer, Foxdown Properties Limited, and the inward investor and report back to this Committee in due course.