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ANGUS COUNCIL
MINUTE of MEETING of the ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Thursday 20 November 1997 at 4.00 pm.
Present: Councillors JACK GIBB, BRIAN MILNE, GEORGE ALLAN, WILLIAM CROWE, Provost MRS FRANCES E DUNCAN, IAN HUDGHTON, IAN MACKINTOSH, ROB MURRAY, GEORGE NORRIE, KATHLEEN RITCHIE, DAVID SELFRIDGE, ALEX SHAND and SANDY WEST.
Councillor GIBB, Convener, in the Chair.
1. EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
The Committee resolved that the public and press be excluded during consideration of items 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 below 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, Paragraphs 4, 6, 8 and 9.
2. LEASES
(a) Unit 6, Pitskelly Industrial Estate, Carnoustie
There was submitted Report No 1199/97 by the Director of Law and Administration seeking Committee approval to take court action to remove the lessee of Unit 6, Pitskelly Industrial Estate, Carnoustie and recover the arrears of rent under the lease.
After noting the extent of the arrears; the Committee agreed to approve the raising of court action to remove the lessee from Unit 6, Pitskelly Industrial Estate, Carnoustie and to recover the rent arrears.
(b) Unit 8 - Montrose Road Industrial Estate, Brechin
There was submitted Report No 1196/97 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development seeking authorisation to lease Unit 8, Montrose Road, Brechin to a local firm.
The Committee agreed to lease the unit to the firm on the terms and conditions set out in the Report.
(c) Unit 4, Dens Road, Arbroath
There was submitted Report No 1192/97 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development seeking authority to incur expenditure to render Unit 4, Dens Road, Arbroath wind and water tight prior to leasing the unit.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to approve expenditure of approximately £1,500 reinstating the roof of Unit 4 to ensure that the property was wind and water tight prior to being let; and
(ii) to lease Unit 4, Dens Road, Arbroath to the company detailed in the Report.
3. TENDERS
(a) Advance Factory Unit - Brent Avenue, Montrose
With reference to Article 5(a) of the minute of meeting of this Committee held on 29 May 1997, there was submitted Report No 1197/97 by the Director of Property Services on tenders received for the construction of a new advance industrial unit at Brent Avenue, Montrose.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to approve the acceptance of the tender from Muirfield (Contracts) Limited, Dundee for the several works in the amount of £1,324,919.68;
(ii) to approve the estimated total cost of £1,519,094 (at outturn prices);
(iii) to note that provision for this project, which included funding from the Government’s Central Challenge Fund, had been made in the composite capital programme for 1997/98 and beyond; and
(iv) to note the revenue implications detailed in the Report.
(b) Industrial Unit - Baden Powell Road, Arbroath Enterprise Park
With reference to Article 22 of the minute of meeting of this Committee held on 27 February 1997, there was submitted Report No 1191/97 by the Director of Property Services on tenders received for the construction of an advance factory unit and associated offices, associated services and external works.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to approve the acceptance of the tender from Derek McNaulty, Joiners, Arbroath for the several works in the amount of £202,601.18;
(ii) to approve the estimated total cost of £336,409 (at out turn prices);
(iii) to note that provision for the project had been made in the composite capital programme for 1997/98 and beyond;
(iv) to note that the project had been granted an award from the European Union at 40% of the estimated total cost; and
(v) to note the revenue implications for the project as set out in the Report.
4. PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT TAYSIDE LIMITED - FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
With reference to Article 17 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 30 April 1996, there was submitted Report No 1188/97 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development recommending a contribution towards the finances of Product Development Tayside Limited, a publicly funded company which provided a service to both individuals and companies to develop innovative product ideas.
After hearing the Economic Development Manager on the respective roles of Product Development Tayside Limited and the Business Shop and moves to achieve closer co-operation between the two, the Committee agreed to make a contribution of £6,000 towards financing Product Development Tayside Limited for the period until 31 March 1998.
5. ORCHARDBANK INDUSTRIAL ESTATE - ROADWORKS
With reference to Article 12 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 16 January 1997, there was submitted Report No 1189/97 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development seeking approval to proceed with the design of road alterations at Orchardbank Industrial Estate, Forfar aimed at complementing private sector development proposals, improving access within the estate and extending roads and services to its boundary.
The Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development spoke on the Draft Local Plan and how this development was consistent with that document and, in response to Provost Mrs Duncan on the lack of car parking facilities within Orchardbank Industrial Estate, he indicated that this matter would be addressed in due course.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to approve the virement of £20,000 from the Economic Development 1997/98 Capital Programme Fund for Clearance and Redevelopment Non-programme for Partnership Area, Arbroath, to meet the cost of the road design works described in the Report;
(ii) to instruct the Directors of Planning, Transport & Economic Development and Roads to proceed with the necessary road design works; and
(iii) to instruct the preparation of a Report for the next Committee cycle on the development proposals for the employment land allocation for Forfar contained in the Angus Local Plan Consultative Draft.
6. ANGUS VIDEO MEDIA CENTRE AND FILM COMMISSION OFFICE
There was submitted Report No 1194/97 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development identifying the potential for Angus to improve its tourism and economic development profile by the establishment of an Angus Video Media Centre and integral Angus Film Commission Office. The Report identified that many areas of Scotland had "Film Commission Offices" which liaised with Scottish Screen and assisted in the attraction of lucrative commercial film productions to their localities. It was recommended that a study be commissioned to identify the scale, costs, partners and sources of funding for the initiative.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the potential for improving the Angus profile through the development of an integrated facility encompassing a Video Media Centre with Film Commission Office; and
(ii) to the appointment of consultants to provide advice on the requirements of the project, costs and funding sources.
7. MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minute of meeting of this Committee held on 9 October 1997 was approved as a correct record and signed by the Convener.
8. UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTICS
There was submitted and noted Report No 1130/97 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 for the month of September 1997.
9. 1998/99 REVENUE BUDGET
There was submitted Report No 1198/97 by the Director of Finance on the latest position with regard to the preparation of the Planning, Transport and Economic Development 1998/99 Revenue Budget and associated issues. The Report included a summary of the Department Provisional Base Budget for 1998/99 as submitted to the Director of Finance.
The Committed agreed:-
(i) to note the contents of the Report for its interest; and;
(ii) to note that a more detailed Report with specific recommendations would be brought forward later in the budget cycle.
10. PROPOSED TRADE DEVELOPMENT VISIT TO LA CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE ET INDUSTRIE D’ANGOULEME, FRANCE
With reference to Article 5 of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 10 December 1996 (when it was agreed that the Council should enter into a co-operation agreement between Alava in Spain, Modena in Italy and Angouleme in France), there was submitted Report No 1193/97 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development seeking approval for the Economic Development Manager to attend a meeting in Angouleme, France during the Gastronomades 1997 Food Festival on 28/30 November 1997. The purpose of the visit was to develop an action plan in order to progress the economic co-operation agreement between the areas and to assess the potential for participation in Gastronomades 1998 by local firms etc. The Economic Development Manager outlined previous participation and indicated that trade links in the area would be actively pursued.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the lack of progress made in terms of developing the economic co-operation agreement and to authorise the agreement to be extended for another period of twelve months, subject to a detailed action plan being prepared for agreement of the partners;
(ii) to authorise the Economic Development Manager to attend a meeting in Augouleme, France on 28/30 November for the purpose of:-
(a) preparing a detailed action plan required to progress the economic co-operation agreement entered into with Angouleme in France, Alava in Spain and Modena in Italy; and
(b) assessing the potential for future participation in the Gastronomades Food Festival by local firms and students engaged in the food sector; and
(iii) to request that the detailed action plan and costs involved be brought back for approval in due course.
11. ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE UK OBJECTIVE 5B PARTNERSHIP
There was submitted an amended copy of Report No 1015/97 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development summarising the content of the third annual conference of the UK 5(b) Partnership held in Wales in July 1997 which had been attended by Councillor Shand and the European Officer.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the content of the Report and, in particular, the conference conclusions; and
(ii) to support Angus Council’s continued participation in the Partnership as a means for lobbying for continued European Union Funding for rural Angus.
12. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, CARNOUSTIE 1999 - ADVANCE BOOKING OFFICE
There was submitted Report No 1195/97 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development identifying the requirement for an advance booking facility to be operated by Angus and Dundee Tourist Board for the period February 1998 to end July 1999.
The Report outlined the work of the Carnoustie 1999 Officer Group and Angus and Dundee Tourist Board’s proposals, together with the proposed funding package which included assistance from the ERDF, for an Advance Reservations Office to be located in Carnoustie.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the requirement for an efficient and responsive advance booking facility for the Open in 1999;
(ii) to note that an ERDF application under the Eastern Scotland Objective 2 Programme had been submitted; and
(iii) that an Angus Council contribution of up to £4,800 be made towards the operational costs of the facility.
13. NEW DEAL - WELFARE TO WORK - ENVIRONMENT TASK FORCE
With reference to Article 11 of the minute of meeting of the Economic Development Committee held on 21 August 1997, there was submitted Report No 1229/97 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development seeking Committee approval for the Council to contract with Employment Services for the New Deal - Environment Task Force option on behalf of an Angus Consortium comprising Angus College, M I Technologies, Angus Housing Association, Tayside Recyclers Limited, D J Laing and Angus Council.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to approve Angus Council’s participation in the New Deal - Environment Task Force, Angus Consortium; and
(ii) that appropriate officials prepare a bid on behalf of Angus Council to contract, as lead agency, with the Employment Service on behalf of the Consortium.
Councillor Allan declared an interest in the following item and took no part in its consideration.
14. CLOSURE OF McKINNON KNITWEAR FACTORY IN ARBROATH
On the determination of the Convener, the Committee considered this item as a matter of urgency in view of recent newspaper reports on the closure of an Arbroath factory.
The Committee noted with regret the closure of McKinon’s Knitwear Factory in Arbroath with the loss of 26 jobs. Concern was expressed at discussions which had allegedly taken place between the Company’s management and SET, of which Angus Council was unaware.
After noting the effect the strong pound had on companies who export, the Committee agreed that representations be made to the Government that, when considering initiatives to boost employment in disadvantaged areas, Angus be not ignored at the expense of other high profile areas such as Lanarkshire, etc.