|
ANGUS COUNCIL
MINUTE of MEETING of the ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Thursday 7 October 1999 at 4.30pm.
Present: Councillors JACK GIBB, JOY MOWATT, IAN ANGUS, BILL CROWE, IAN MACKINTOSH, The Hon R J LESLIE MELVILLE, GEORGE NORRIE and SANDY WEST.
Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Provost Mrs FRANCES E DUNCAN, Councillors STEPHEN LESLIE, BRIAN MILNE, ROB MURRAY and PETER NIELD.
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 2-7 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, paragraphs 4, 6, 8 and 9.
2. LEASE OF UNITS 3, 16 & 22, ARBROATH BUSINESS CENTRE
With reference to Article 3 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20 August 1998, there was submitted Report No 969/99 by the Chief Executive with regard to the lease of Units 3, 16 and 22 at Arbroath Business Centre which had been agreed by the Chief Executive under delegated powers.
The Committee noted that Units 3, 16 and 22 had been leased to MacPherson Electrical Services, MacLean & Nuttall Ltd and Jack & Jills, respectively.
3. LEASE OF UNITS 6 & 11, BRECHIN BUSINESS CENTRE
There was submitted Report No 968/99 by the Chief Executive with regard to the lease of Units 6 and 11 at Brechin Business Centre.
The Committee homologated the action of the Convener and the Chief Executive in authorising the lease of these units to Craigallan Ltd, trading as Champers Direct, under the Council’s standard terms and conditions.
4. ANGUS AHEAD - MILLENNIUM MARKETING OPPORTUNITY
There was submitted Report No 1019/99 by the Chief Executive with regard to a request from the Peter Pan Gateway Trust for assistance in underwriting some of the development and promotional costs of a project planned to take place in the summer of 2000.
The Committee agreed that a sum of up to £30,000 be authorised in order to underwrite bona fida costs incurred by the Trust in developing the project subject to:-
(i) an agreement being made with the Trust to guarantee a lawful refund of the funding on receipt of charitable proceeds from the project; and
(ii) written confirmation from the various organisations involved that they were committed to the project.
5. REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE - HYDROCARBONS RE-SKILLING PILOT PROJECT
There was submitted Report No 975/99 by the Chief Executive which detailed a request received from Montrose Scota Training International Ltd for financial assistance towards a pilot project which aimed to retrain oil and gas sector employees, resident or employed, within Angus.
The Committee agreed that a contribution of up to £15,332 be made towards the re-skilling pilot to be delivered by Montrose Scota Training International Ltd and submitted under the Scottish Objective 4 Programme, the cost to be spread over the financial years 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 and met from the Economic Development Revenue Budget payable as and when beneficiaries received training.
6. TAYSIDE ECONOMIC RESEARCH CENTRE (TERC) CONTRACT RENEWAL
With reference to Article 7 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 4 March 1999, there was submitted Report No 970/99 by the Chief Executive proposing that, following a review of partnership funding and monitoring arrangements of Tayside Economic Research Centre, the Council should agree to contribute to a three year funding package for the period 1999-2002.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) that the outcome of a review into the activities and performance of Tayside Economic Research Centre and the adjustment to the main contract between Scottish Enterprise Tayside and Abertay University to secure firmer guarantees of quality of service be noted; and
(ii) that the first annual contribution (of a three year contract) of £7,863 be made towards the core operating costs of the Centre and a contribution of up to £2,000 per annum be made in respect of additional costs.
7. MONTROSE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION - REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR MONTROSE INTERNET SITE
There was submitted Report No 1044/99 by the Chief Executive containing details of a request from Montrose Business Association for financial support towards the operational costs of the recently launched Montrose Internet Site.
The Committee agreed that a one-off grant of £500 be made to the Association towards the running costs of the site, it being noted that the expenditure could be contained within the 1999/2000 revenue budget for "Local Area Initiatives".
8. MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19 August 1999 was approved as a correct record and signed by the Convener.
9. CONSULTATION DOCUMENT: A NEW STRATEGY FOR SCOTTISH TOURISM
There was submitted Report No 1020/99 by the Chief Executive advising members of the response to the Scottish Executive’s consultation on a new strategy for Scottish Tourism. In view of the tight timescale for comments, officers had submitted views and had also contributed to COSLA’s response on this issue.
The officers’ response, which was in accord with the COSLA submission, was that, in general terms, there was support for a strategy which should exploit Scotland’s strengths through partnership. This approach had been pursued by the Council and its partners since 1996, particularly in areas where there was a lack of focus, direction or strategy at the national level, such as in golf tourism. Also, in light of Scottish Tourist Board representations that all public sector revenue funding be centralised to the Board thereby removing the local authorities core funding role, it had been necessary for the Council and COSLA to strongly oppose the centralisation of funding with the Scottish Tourist Board.
The Committee agreed to note the responses made by officers on the matter.
10. OFFSHORE EUROPE 1999
With reference to Article 5 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19 August 1999, there was submitted Report No 973/99 by the Chief Executive which detailed the presence of Angus Council and various companies and organisations from the Angus area at Offshore Europe 1999.
The event had attracted over 1,800 exhibiting companies from approximately 40 countries and the various Angus companies and organisations who had been represented had stressed that, in their view, the event had proved to be very worthwhile in establishing new contacts and gaining useful publicity. The Council had also received a number of property and development enquiries which were being followed up.
The Committee agreed to note the contents of the Report.
11. ARBROATH SEA FEST 1999
With reference to Article 10 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 4 March 1999, there was submitted Report No 976/99 by the Chief Executive which summarised the outcome of the third Arbroath SEA FEST held during the weekend of 13, 14 & 15 August 1999.
The festival had proved to be a complete success with visitor numbers estimated at approximately 20,000. Good weather, increased community involvement and new features helped to overcome the poor tidal configuration and the lack of Classic Boats due to the Tall Ships Race being held in Shetland. The participating organisations had collected over £12,000 for local charities and a copy of the full evaluation of the 1999 festival had been made available in the Members' Lounge.
Three years of success had established this festival as a significant event in the tourism calendar. The Arbroath SEA FEST Company would be able to continue to develop this as a community based project which brought benefit to Arbroath and Angus. The structure provided continuity and the opportunity to build skills in the local community. The financial contribution of £4,000 from Angus Council was a draft figure at this stage, and would enable leverage of more substantial funds.
The Committee noted the contents of the Report and agreed that a contribution of up to £4,000 be made in respect of the Year 2000 event.
12. ROAD SIGNAGE FOR PICTAVIA
With reference to Article 5 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 4 March 1999 there was submitted Report No 972/99 by the Chief Executive advising on interim signage measures taken prior to Pictavia’s formal opening, together with proposals for permanent signage on the Brechin By-Pass and other approach roads. It was emphasised in the Report that high profile "brown" signs on the A90(T) and secondary roads were essential to ensure that Pictavia’s trading position was not adversely affected.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) that the requirement for permanent signage for the Pictavia Visitor Centre be noted;
(ii) that, where possible, and within a reasonable timescale, Pictavia road signage be implemented as part of wider, integrated signage package being pursued by Brechin Business Association;
(iii) that the Director of Roads should assume the co-ordination, contract placement and management role to secure implementation of the scheme prior to next year’s tourist season; and
(iv) that in the absence of partner agreements and funding on the wider scheme, the Council should proceed with the implementation of signage required for Pictavia at a cost of £10,000.
13. TAYSIDE FILM INITIATIVE
With reference to Article 6 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20 November 1997, there was submitted Report No 971/99 by the Chief Executive outlining proposals to establish a Tayside Film Commission Office which would co-ordinate responses to film enquiries made by Scottish Screen and other media sources and aim to attract more commercial and production companies to film in the area.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) that the importance of potential film work to the local economy and the benefit which could accrue to the profile of Angus be noted;
(ii) that the establishment of a Tayside Film Commission Office be supported in principle for a three year period, subject to adequate partnership funding being in place; and
(iii) that a contribution of £6,000 be made towards this initiative to be met from the current year’s "Angus Ahead" Policy Led budget.
14. BRECHIN BUSINESS PARK: PROMOTION STRATEGY
With reference to Article 3 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19 August 1999, there was submitted Report No 995/99 by the Chief Executive which contained an update on the preparation of a publicity strategy for Brechin Business Park and sought authority to appoint an advertising agency to handle promotion of the development for three years in order that the site be marketed as widely as possible to attract business projects from throughout North East Scotland. The cost of this proposal would be £29,700 which could be contained within the Economic Development revenue budget for financial years 1999-2002.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) that an advertising agency be appointed to promote Brechin Business Park; and
(ii) that it be remitted to the Chief Executive, in conjunction with the Convener, to appoint an advertising agency, through a process of open tender.
15. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, KEY HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD 19 AUGUST TO 7 OCTOBER 1999
With reference to Article 10 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19 August 1999, there was submitted and noted Report No 974/99 by the Chief Executive identifying key highlights and achievements in the work of the Economic Development Unit for the period 19 August to 7 October 1999.
16. UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTICS
With reference to Article 12 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19 August 1999 there was submitted and noted Report No 977/99 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 number of vacancies in Angus and neighbouring authorities, for the month of August 1999.
17. CLOSURE OF H L FOODS LTD. FOOD PROCESSING CANNERY, FORFAR
There was submitted Report No 1043/99 by the Chief Executive which provided background to the public announcement made on 24 September 1999 on the closure of the cannery in Forfar by H L Foods Ltd. and made recommendations with regard to the establishment of a Task Group to co-ordinate a response to the closure and appoint consultants to undertake an impact assessment and research alternative markets for local growers.
The Committee noted the significant implications of the closure, as outlined in the Report and agreed:-
(i) that a Task Group be established to oversee a response to the closure and to co-ordinate liaison with H L Foods Ltd.;
(ii) that consultants be appointed to assess the full economic impact of the closure on the local economy and investigate alternative markets for local growers, subject to Scottish Enterprise Tayside contributing 50% of the costs involved, with the Council’s share of this cost being met from the Economic Development Financial Assistance To Business budget contained within the current capital programme; and
(iii) that authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Convener, to arrange for appointment of consultants.