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ANGUS COUNCIL
MINUTE of MEETING of the ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Thursday 8 October 1998 at 4.00 pm.
Present: Councillors JACK GIBB, BRIAN MILNE, GEORGE ALLAN, WILLIAM CROWE, IAN MACKINTOSH, GEORGE NORRIE, KATHLEEN RITCHIE, DAVID SELFRIDGE, SANDY WEST.
Apologies Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of PROVOST Mrs FRANCES E DUNCAN and Councillors IAN HUDGHTON, ROB MURRAY and ALEX SHAND.
Councillor GIBB, Convener, in the Chair.
1. EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
The Committee resolved in terms of Standing Order 27(2) that the public and press be excluded during consideration of items 2 to 4 below so as to avoid the possible disclosure of information which was exempt in terms of Part I of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, paragraph 6.
2. LEASE OF UNIT 6, BRECHIN BUSINESS CENTRE
There was submitted Report No 1041/98 by the Chief Executive regarding the lease of Unit 6 at Brechin Business Centre to Keep Heat UK Limited.
The Committee approved the lease of Unit 6, Brechin Business Centre to Keep Heat UK Limited on the terms and conditions outlined in the Report.
3. LEASE OF UNITS 7, 10, 11, 14, 17, 19, 23 AND 24 ARBROATH BUSINESS CENTRE
There was submitted Report No 1035/98 by the Chief Executive regarding the lease of Units 7, 10, 11, 14, 17, 19, 23 and 24 at Arbroath Business Centre, which had been agreed under delegated powers.
The Committee noted the lease of the Units at Arbroath Business Centre.
4. ANGUS LAND AND PROPERTY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
There was submitted Report No 1037/98 by the Chief Executive presenting an Angus Land and Property Strategy and Action Plan for Economic Development, prepared jointly by Officers of Angus Council and Scottish Enterprise Tayside in respect of the acquisition and servicing of land and the development of property which would involve significant capital investment on the part of the Council and Scottish Enterprise Tayside.
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to approve the draft Angus Land and Property Strategy and Action Plan; and
(ii) to remit to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the appropriate Directors to implement the Action Plan, subject to ongoing review and adjustment to reflect committed projects as and when Council approval was given.
5. MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minute of meeting of this Committee of 20 August 1998, was accepted as a correct record and signed by the Convener.
6. ARBROATH SEA FEST 1998 AND 1999
With reference to Article 5 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 4 June 1998, there was submitted Report No 1036/98 by the Chief Executive indicating that the second Arbroath Sea Fest had been a success, despite inclement weather, with 85% of visitors expressing satisfaction with the programme and 52% visiting the Sea Fest for the first time.
The Report set out proposals to establish an Arbroath Sea Fest Company in advance of the next event which was planned to be held during the weekend of 14 and 15 August 1999. The new company would determine the programme for the event, based on successful elements from the previous two Sea Fests.
A draft budget for 1999 had been prepared and commercial sponsorship, as well as additional funding from the public sector, together with European funding under Tayside/Fife PESCA programme would be sought to finance the project. Angus Council would provide services ‘in kind’. It was anticipated that the maximum financial contribution required from the Council would be £4,000, which could be met from the Economic Development Revenue budget for Marketing for 1999/2000.
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to note the outcome of the 1998 Sea Fest as summarised in the Report; and
(ii) to make a financial contribution of £4,000 toward the 1999 event.
7. ATTENDANCE AT OFFSHORE NORTHERN SEAS (ONS) EXHIBITION , STAVANGER, NORWAY
With reference to Article 15 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20 August 1998, there was submitted Report No 1033/98 by the Chief Executive indicating that the Council had been represented on the Dundee and Angus Oil Venture Group stand at the Offshore Northern Seas Conference and Exhibition held in Stavanger, Norway on 25 - 28 August 1998. Local companies attending the exhibition considered it to have been successful, although quieter than in previous years due to the location of the stand within the exhibition. However, significant orders had been obtained and four inward investment leads provided by Locate in Scotland were being pursued.
The Committee noted the terms of the Report.
8. RURAL ANGUS STUDY FINDINGS AND PROPOSED CONFERENCE ON RURAL ISSUES
With reference to Article 16 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20 August 1998, there was submitted Report No 1034/98 by the Chief Executive indicating that the Rural Angus Study undertaken by EKOS had now been concluded and a brief synopsis of the results of that study was appended to the report. A copy of the full study had been made available for reference in the Members' Lounge.
The study findings provided significant indicators of economic activity which would assist in the Council’s work in a number of areas, in particular, in the submission of a case for continued European funding after 1999. The findings had given a special focus to the fragility of the farming sector. The Report also gave details of the progress being made with the organisation of the Rural Angus Conference which would be entitled "Farming on the Brink ? - An Outlook for the Scottish Economy" and would be held in the Royal Hotel, Forfar on Friday 23 October 1998.
After hearing Councillor Mackintosh regarding Lord Sewel’s decision not to participate in the conference, the Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to note the findings of the Rural Angus Study undertaken by EKOS;
(ii) to authorise the Chief Executive to conclude arrangements for the Rural Angus Conference to be held in Forfar on 23 October 1998; and
(iii) to instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Scotland seeking clarification of Lord Sewel’s decision not to participate in the conference.
9. COSLA MEMBERS NETWORK - BRUSSELS - SEMINAR FEEDBACK
With reference to Article 20 of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 8 September 1998, there was submitted Report No 1052/98 by the Chief Executive indicating that the European Services Manager had participated in the COSLA Members Network visit to Brussels from 16 to 18 September 1998, had attended the Committee of the Regions Plenary Session and had liaised with European Commission Desk Officers.
The Report summarised the outcome of the visit and the outlined follow-up action required arising from this liaison work.
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed that the programme of action set out in terms of promoting the case for Structural Funds support during the 2000-2006 funding period be approved.
10. REVIEW OF THE ASSISTED AREAS MAP
There was submitted Report No 1038/98 by the Chief Executive indicating that the Government had announced a review of the Assisted Areas Map of Great Britain in response to new European Commission Guidelines on Regional Aid and had requested responses to consultations by 30 October 1998.
The current Assisted Areas, which included the former Arbroath Travel to Work Area which held Full Development Area Status, and the former Dundee Travel to Work Area which held Intermediate Development Area Status, had been designated in August 1993.
As a consequence of new criteria for Assisted Area coverage, a submission for Assisted Area status for Arbroath alone would not be considered due to a 100,000 minimum population threshold, nor would a submission for Angus as a whole. A third option would be to make a joint submission, with Dundee, for the inclusion of the wards which made up the new Dundee Travel to Work Area (including the current Arbroath Travel to Work Development Area) which was more likely to be successful.
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed to authorise the Chief Executive and the Director of Planning and Transport to work with Dundee City Council in the preparation of a joint submission to the Scottish Office in response to the "Review of the Assisted Areas Map - A Consultation Paper" in respect of the wards which made up the new Dundee Travel to Work Area .
11. REVIEW OF TRAVEL TO WORK AREAS
There was submitted Report No 1050/98 by the Director of Planning & Transport indicating that the Office for National Statistics had concluded a review of Travel to Work Areas (TTWAs) and had now published the final version of 1991-based TTWAs.
Previously, there had been four Travel to Work Areas covering Angus as follows:-
(a) Arbroath Travel to Work Area;
(b) Dundee Travel to Work Area, which included Carnoustie, Monifieth, Sidlaw and part of North East Fife;
(c) Brechin and Montrose Travel to Work Area, which included three wards in Aberdeenshire; and
(d) Forfar Travel to Work Area, wholly within Angus and including Kirriemuir.
The new Travel to Work Areas were:-
(a) Dundee Travel to Work Area, which included Carnoustie, Monifieth, Sidlaw, the present Arbroath Travel to Work Area and part of North East Fife;
(b) Brechin and Montrose Travel to Work Area as existing; and
(c) Forfar Travel to Work Area, which included Kirriemuir, Blairgowrie, Coupar Angus, Alyth and Glenshee.
The Committee noted the terms of the Report and that the Office for National Statistics had concluded its review of Travel to Work Areas and that the new Travel to Work Area boundaries had been finalised.
12. UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTICS
With reference to Article 18 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20 August 1998, there was submitted and noted Report No 1051/98 by the Director of Planning & Transport providing various statistics, graphs and charts showing unemployment rates by Travel to Work Areas, numbers and ages of unemployed, duration of unemployment and number of vacancies in Angus and neighbour authorities for the month of August 1998.
13. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, KEY HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS DURING SEPTEMBER 1998
With reference to Article 13 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20 August 1998, there was submitted Report No 1039/98 by the Chief Executive, identifying key highlights and achievements in the work of the Economic Development Unit during September 1998.
The Committed noted the contents of the Report and congratulated the staff of the Economic Development Unit on their efforts.
14. SCOTTISH ENTERPRISE NETWORK - 1998 STRATEGY REVIEW - CONSULTATION DOCUMENT
There was submitted Report No 1040/98 by the Chief Executive setting out possible comments by Angus Council on the Scottish Enterprise 1998 Strategy Review Consultation Document.
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed that the draft comments set out in Appendix 2 thereto be adopted as Angus Council’s formal response to the Scottish Enterprise 1998 Strategy Review Consultation Document.
15. SUPPORT FOR ANGUS/SCOTTISH COMPANIES
There was submitted Report No 1022/98 by the Chief Executive introducing a discussion paper which had been drawn up jointly by the Chief Executive and the Chairman/Managing Director of Merpro Group Ltd. in the context of increasing concern that the pendulum had swung too far away from the needs of Scottish indigenous companies towards the attraction of inward investment and, as a result, significant job creation opportunities were being lost to Angus and Scotland. A copy of the Discussion Paper was attached to the Report.
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) that the Discussion Paper be forwarded to the Secretary of State for Scotland and that he be urged that the Paper be the subject of detailed discussion with COSLA, the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department, Scottish Enterprise, CBI and the Scottish Council for Development and Industry; and
(ii) that a copy of the Discussion Paper be forwarded to COSLA which should be urged to support its content.
16. ATTENDANCE AT GASTRONOMADES FOOD FESTIVAL IN ANGOULEME, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 1998
With reference to Article 14 of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 27 January 1998, there was submitted Report No 1042/98 by the Chief Executive indicating that it was proposed that the Council participate in the Gastronomades Food Festival in Angouleme in November to promote Angus food products and delicacies.
It was suggested that the Council be represented by the Trade Development Officer accompanied by two pipers from Tayside Police Pipe Band and "Smokie Joe" the costume character who had participated in this year's Arbroath Sea Fest.
The estimated cost of participation, including accommodation, travel, subsistence and road haulage was £5,500 which could be met from appropriate budgets.
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and homologated the decision of the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Convener of the Economic Development Committee, to authorise participation in the Gastronomades Food Festival in Angouleme, France as described in the Report.