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ANGUS COUNCIL
MINUTE of MEETING of the ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Tuesday 12 May 1998 at 4.15 pm.
Present: Councillors BRIAN MILNE, GEORGE ALLAN, WILLIAM CROWE, PROVOST Mrs FRANCES E DUNCAN, IAN MACKINTOSH, ROB MURRAY, GEORGE NORRIE, KATHLEEN RITCHIE, DAVID SELFRIDGE, and SANDY WEST.
Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors JACK GIBB, IAN HUDGHTON and ALEX SHAND.
Councillor MILNE, Vice-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, 6 and 14 below so as to avoid the disclosure of information which was exempt in terms of Part I of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, Paragraphs 4, 6, 8 and 9.
2. REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: TRADE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES BY A LOCAL COMPANY
With reference to Article 20 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 27 February 1997, there was submitted Report No 510/98 by the Chief Executive seeking homologation of the decision of the Convener of the Economic Development Committee and the Chief Executive, to grant financial assistance to a company who had requested assistance towards the costs of an overseas trade visit.
The Committee agreed to homologate the decision of the Convener and the Chief Executive to offer 50% grant assistance (up to a maximum of £1,000) towards the costs of travel and accommodation borne by the company referred to in the Report, in relation to their overseas trade visit.
3. TRADE DEVELOPMENT - SUPPORT FOR SMALL FIRMS - LUNAN PRODUCTS LIMITED
With reference to Article 20 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 27 February 1997, there was submitted Report No 514/98 by the Chief Executive informing the Committee of an award of grant assistance to a local business to attend an exhibition, in accordance with the Council's policy on subvention to small firms. The Report indicated that assisting this company to exhibit at the Nursing and Care Home Exhibition at Wembley Exhibition Centre, London, might lead to export business in the long term and was likely to lead to business coming from outside Angus.
The Committee agreed to note the decision of the Convener of the Economic Development Committee and the Director of Planning and Transport to award a grant of £221 to Lunan Products Limited, towards the cost of attendance at the Nursing and Care Home Exhibition at Wembley Exhibition Centre, London from 24-26 March 1998.
4. CENTRAL CHALLENGE FUND (EDZELL AREA REGENERATION STRATEGY): LEASE OF ADVANCE FACTORY UNIT - BRENT AVENUE, MONTROSE
With reference to Article 2(d) of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 5 March 1998, there was submitted Report No 515/98 by the Chief Executive seeking homologation of a decision by the Convener of the Economic Development Committee and the Chief Executive to authorise a minor amendment to the terms of the lease of the advance factory unit at Brent Avenue, Montrose to ABB Vetco Gray.
The Committee agreed to homologate the decision taken by the Convener of the Economic Development Committee and the Chief Executive to authorise a minor amendment to the terms of the lease of the advance factory unit at Brent Avenue, Montrose to ABB Vetco Gray, as detailed in the Report.
5. PREMISES AT OLD BRECHIN ROAD, FORFAR: PROPOSED SALE
With reference to Article 3 of the minute of meeting of the Executive Sub-Committee of 24 July 1997, there was submitted Report No 507/98 by the Chief Executive indicating that Andrew Shepherd (Holdings) Limited wished to exercise its right to purchase premises at Old Brechin Road, Forfar from the Council. The Report further indicated that the lease contained a clause stating that the firm would have the right to buy the premises from the Council, at any time, at a valuation to be determined by the District Valuer. A valuation had been obtained from the District Valuer by the Director of Property Services and Shepherds had now indicated they wished to purchase the building, in line with the option contained within the lease.
The Committee agreed to the request from Andrew Shepherd (Holdings) Limited to purchase the property at Old Brechin Road, Forfar, for the sum detailed in the Report.
6. LEASE OF UNIT 7, BRECHIN BUSINESS CENTRE
There was submitted Report No 508/98 by the Chief Executive seeking authorisation to lease Unit 7, Brechin Business Centre to Select Homes (Tayside) Limited. The Report indicated that Brechin Business Centre had been completed in June 1997, with four of the Centre's offices and four of its workshops already leased. The letting of a ninth unit at Brechin Business Centre, within one year of the development's completion, was to be welcomed as further proof of the growing strength of the Brechin economy, and the fact that the Business Centre filled an otherwise unmet gap in the Brechin property market.
The Committee agreed to lease Unit 7, Brechin Business Centre, to Select Homes (Tayside) Limited on the terms and conditions detailed in the Report.
7. MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minute of meeting of this Committee of 5 March 1998 was approved as a correct record and signed by the Convener.
8. RURAL ANGUS STUDY
With reference to Article 25 of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 10 February 1998, there was submitted Report No 512/98 by the Chief Executive concerning the appointment of consultants to undertake the Rural Angus Study. The Report indicated that five consultancy firms had tendered and presented their submissions for the work on the study. EKOS Limited had been chosen as the preferred consultant, together with the Scottish Agricultural College as the sub-contractor, in regard to the agriculture related businesses.
The Committee agreed to note that EKOS had been appointed to conduct the Rural Angus Study.
9. UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTICS
With reference to Article 9 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 5 March 1998, there was submitted and noted Report No 350/98 by the Director of Planning and Transport 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 February 1998.
10. ARBROATH SEA FEST
With reference to Article 5 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 5 March 1998, there was submitted Report No 513/98 by the Chief Executive indicating that the consultant, Margaret Matthew of Platform Tourism & Arts Management had taken up full-time employment as Perth Town Centre Manager and was unable to continue to act as assistant co-ordinator for the Arbroath Sea Fest. Alternative support arrangements were therefore needed, and delegated authority had been obtained from the Director of Personnel to appoint the Event Management Team on fixed term temporary contracts. Market research, which was required to gauge the economic impact of the festival, both from visitor numbers, and business activities, would be handled by an outside consultancy.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to employ an Event Management Team on fixed term contracts, to help run the festival this year; and
(ii) to appoint a consultant to undertake the market research to evaluate the impact of the festival.
11. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, KEY HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS, MARCH/APRIL 1998
There was submitted Report No 509/98 by the Chief Executive which identified key highlights and achievements in the work of the Economic Development Unit over the months of March and April. It was anticipated that subsequent reports would form part of the process of monitoring and evaluating the outcomes of the Economic Development and European Strategies, in accordance with the Council's corporate priority to enhance the image of Angus as a best value local authority service provider. In addition, a booklet entitled "Angus - The Key to Opportunity", published by the Economic Development Unit was circulated to members of the Committee, along with a recent publication of "Scotland Business", which featured an article on Angus Council.
The Committee agreed to note the contents of the Report.
12. MARKET ENTRY SUPPORT GRANT
With reference to Article 20 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 27 February 1997, there was submitted Report No 511/98 by the Chief Executive, proposing the adoption of an intervention policy to regularise the basis for Council assistance to companies seeking to develop new markets for their products or services. Since the adoption of the policy in August 1996, only 6 applications for assistance had been processed. It was therefore considered that, in order to increase awareness of the assistance available, to ensure consistency in approach, to control the upper level of assistance for budgetary purposes and to ensure feedback on its effectiveness, a formalisation of the assistance process was required.
The Committee agreed to approve the terms and conditions of the Market Entry Support Grant outlined in the Report, and to authorise publicity and promotion of the scheme to prospective applicants.
13. BRECHIN INDUSTRIAL LAND
With reference to Article 7 of the minute of meeting of the Planning and Transport Policy Committee of 30 April 1998, there was submitted Report No 469/98 by the Director of Planning and Transport, outlining proposals for the provision of employment land in Brechin, contained in the Angus Local Plan Consultative Draft. The Report identified the main points arising from the consultation, and made recommendations regarding an employment land allocation to the west of Brechin and north of the A935.
The Committee, for its interest, agreed:-
(i) to note the level and range of responses to the proposals for employment land at Brechin, contained in the Angus Local Plan Consultative Draft;
(ii) to the allocation, in principle, of employment land to the west of Brechin, north of the A935 and south of the A90T; and
(iii) to note that further consideration would be given to the detailed location of the proposed site and the requirements to protect the amenity of the approach to Brechin.
14. BRECHIN INDUSTRIAL LAND - NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DEVELOP
With reference to Article 7 of the minute of meeting of the Planning and Transport Policy Committee of 30 April 1998, and Article 13 above, there was submitted Report No 522/98 by the Chief Executive outlining proposals for a new industrial park for the Brechin area, which was currently the subject of consultation, as part of the Angus Local Plan consultation process. The Report appraised the Committee of changes which had been made to the proposed development, as a result of the consultation process and made recommendations on the presentation of these proposals.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the significant changes which had been made to the proposed industrial park plan, as a result of the input from the Local Plan public consultation process;
(ii) to remit to the Chief Executive, in conjunction with the Convener of Economic Development, to finalise negotiations regarding site layout, landscaping and land acquisition with the landowner;
(iii) to remit to the Chief Executive, in conjunction with the Director of Planning and Transport, Director of Recreation Services and Director of Property Services, to prepare a comprehensive site development brief, including proposals for landscaping the Industrial Park;
(iv) to present the revised proposals to a public meeting in Brechin, in advance of the next Committee meeting; and
(v) to instruct officials to bring forward a report to the next meeting of the Economic Development Committee with recommendations on the way forward.
15. THE BUSINESS SHOP - ANGUS
(a) The Convener referred to the Council’s representation on the Angus Business Shop Board and proposed that, as a result of the transfer of the Economic Development Unit to the Chief Executive’s Department, the Chief Executive replace Mr Alex Anderson on the Board.
The Committee agreed that the Chief Executive be appointed to the Angus Business Shop Board, as replacement for the Director of Planning and Transport.
(b) Mr Tony Simpson, Manager of the Business Shop - Angus gave a short presentation on the work of the Business Shop, summarising the services it offered and its recent achievements.
After Mr Simpson had answered a number of questions from members, the Convener thanked Mr Simpson for his presentation.