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Planning and Transport Policy Committee

MINUTE of MEETING of the PLANNING AND TRANSPORT POLICY COMMITTEE held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Thursday 22 November 2001 at 4.00 pm.

Present: Councillors DAVID SELFRIDGE, JOHN HENDERSON, Provost Mrs FRANCES E DUNCAN OBE, Councillors ALISTAIR GRAY, ALEX KING, IAN MACKINTOSH, ROBERT MYLES, GEORGE NORRIE MBE, HELEN OSWALD, KITTY RITCHIE, RICHARD SPEIRS and SANDY WEST.

Also present: Councillor FRANK ELLIS.

Apology: An apology for absence was intimated on behalf of Councillor STEWART McGLYNN.

Councillor SELFRIDGE, Convener, in the Chair.

1. MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 11 October 2001 was approved as a correct record and signed by the Convener.

2. BROTHOCK BRIDGE, ARBROATH

With reference to Article 2 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 16 October 1997, there was submitted Joint Report No 1333/01 by the Director of Planning and Transport and the Acting Director of Roads which recommended that the proposed gateway project at Brothock Bridge, Arbroath, did not proceed and advised on how the Council funds could be re-allocated.

The Report indicated that the approved Arbroath Economic and Environmental Strategy had been commissioned by Scottish Enterprise Tayside in consultation with the Council and contained a rolling programme of co-ordinated projects, capable of addressing the problems of Arbroath's central area. The only remaining project of significance was the creation of a gateway into Arbroath town centre at Brothock Bridge, involving the re-introduction of two-way vehicular entry and exit to and from the town centre; the removal of the current light controlled junction and its replacement with a small roundabout. Environmental improvements were also envisaged to create a welcoming gateway.

Both the Roads and Planning and Transport Financial Plans had allocated funds for the improvements. However these, coupled with a contribution from Scottish Enterprise Tayside, were insufficient to meet the cost of the roundabout and a light controlled junction would have had to be retained, bringing into question the value of the project.

The Report concluded that the proposed gateway project at Brothock Bridge recommended by the consultants in the Strategy, would be difficult to justify at the present time both on traffic management and environmental grounds.

The Committee agreed:-

  1. that the proposed gateway project at Brothock Bridge, Arbroath, not proceed; and
  2. that the allocation of £28,000 within the Planning and Transport Financial Plan for 2001/02 be re-allocated to the resurfacing of the section of Abbey Street, Arbroath, as detailed in the Report.

3. 2002/03 REVENUE BUDGET

There was submitted Report No 1334/01 by the Director of Finance advising the Committee of the latest position with regard to the preparation of the Planning and Transport Department 2002/03 revenue budget and associated issues. Appended to the Report was a summary of the departmental provisional base budget for 2002/03 as submitted to, and subsequently reviewed by, the Director of Finance.

The Committee agreed:-

  1. to note the contents of the Report for its interest at this stage in the budget process; and
  2. to note that more detailed Reports with specific recommendations would be submitted later in the revenue budget cycle.

4. 2001/2005 FINANCIAL PLAN AND 2002/03 CAPITAL BUDGET

With reference to Article 7 of the minute of meeting of the Finance and Information Technology Committee of 13 June 2000, there was submitted Report No 1335/01 by the Director of Finance which detailed the latest position with regard to the preparation of the 2001/05 Financial Plan (incorporating the 2002/03 capital budget) for the Planning and Transport Department. Appended to the Report were the departmental Financial Plan submissions for 2001/2005 as returned to the Director of Finance and subsequently reviewed by the Capital Budget Sub Group.

The Committee agreed:-

  1. to note the contents of the Report for its interest at this stage in the Financial Plan process; and
  2. to note that more detailed Reports with specific recommendations would be submitted later in the Financial Plan cycle.

5. CYCLING, WALKING AND SAFER STREETS FUND

PROGRAMME OF PROJECTS ­ PROGRESS UPDATE

With reference to Article 8 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 23 August 2001, there was submitted Joint Report No 1336/01 by the Acting Director of Roads and the Director of Planning and Transport which updated the Committee on the progress of the programme of projects to be funded through the Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets Fund during the current financial year.

The Committee, for its interest, agreed:-

  1. to note the progress being made on the programme of projects being undertaken during the current financial year, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the Report;
  2. to note the deletion, for technical reasons, of the scheme for the provision of a footway between Bucklers Croft and Wellbank; and
  3. to note the revised estimated costs based on detailed investigation and design work carried out to date.

6. RAIL STATIONS IN ANGUS ­ PUBLIC TRANSPORT FUND AWARD

With reference to Article 10 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 23 August 2001, there was submitted Report No 1337/01 by the Director of Planning and Transport which advised the Committee of the Council's success in securing funding for access, interchange and car parking improvements at Angus Rail Stations. The Report also confirmed that funding had been awarded for the joint Tay Estuary Rail Study.

The Report indicated that the Scottish Executive had announced awards for projects commencing in 2002-2003 and had made available the sum of £1.754m for the Angus Rail Stations Interchange Project. The award of funding support had been secured in competition with bids to the Public Transport Fund from authorities throughout Scotland.

The Report welcomed the Public Transport Fund awards for the Angus Rail Stations Interchange Project and for the Tay Estuary Rail Study which would help to implement proposals and targets set out in the Angus Local Transport Strategy. Significant further detailed development work would be required to deliver the various measures which made up the projects, including works at the Angus Rail Stations over a three year period commencing 2002-2003.

The Committee agreed:-

  1. to note and welcome the award of £1.754m from the Public Transport Fund in response to the Council's bid for funding support towards access, interchange and car parking improvements at Montrose, Arbroath and Carnoustie Rail Stations, and at Arbroath Bus Station;
  2. to authorise the Director of Planning and Transport to prepare an action plan, in consultation with rail industry partners and Scottish Executive officials, to take forward relevant components of the project;
  3. to authorise the Director of Planning and Transport to appoint suitable consultants, if necessary, to assist with project development and supervision;
  4. to note the award of £60,000 from the Public Transport Fund to progress preparatory work on the Tay Estuary Rail Study, and authorise the Director of Planning and Transport to participate in the Steering Group to manage the study; and
  5. to note that further Reports on progress on relevant issues arising from the projects would be brought forward in due course for consideration and agreement by the Committee.

7. REMOVING THE SPECIAL PROTECTION OF PRIME QUALITY AGRICULTURAL LAND ­ A CONSULTATION PAPER FROM THE SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

There was submitted Report No 1338/01 by the Director of Planning and Transport which detailed the Council's proposed response to the Scottish Executive Consultation Paper on the proposal to remove special protection from new development that the planning system gave to prime quality agricultural land.

The Report indicated that the Scottish Executive had circulated a consultation paper on a proposal to remove, at national level, the special protection from new development that the planning system currently accorded to prime quality agricultural land. Under the proposal, local authorities, in consultation with local communities, would be required to determine the appropriate degree of protection to apply to prime quality land locally.

The Report concluded that the Scottish Executive believed that the retention of prime quality agricultural land could no longer be justified on agricultural grounds alone. Whilst this view reflected current national circumstances, it failed to reflect the precautionary approach which was a necessary pre-requisite of a longer term commitment to sustainable development. This did not mean that prime quality land should never be utilised for development, but did reinforce the current approach that the use of such land should be properly considered as part of the plan led system at National and Local levels.

Councillor Ellis, followed by members of the Committee, welcomed the Report.

The Committee agreed:-

  1. to forward a copy of the Report to the Scottish Executive as Angus Council's response to the Consultation Paper, drawing attention to the issues highlighted in parts 4 and 5 of the Report; and
  2. to advise the Scottish Executive that Angus Council was of the strong view that:-
  1. prime quality agricultural land should continue to be afforded national protection under the planning system; and
  2. the removal of national protection for prime quality agricultural land would be contrary to the wider objectives of sustainable development where a precautionary approach to the irreversible use of this finite natural resource remained essential.

8. FIRTH OF TAY AND EDEN ESTUARY ­ PROPOSED SPECIAL AREA OF CONSERVATION

There was submitted Report No 1339/01 by the Director of Planning and Transport which outlined proposals by Scottish Natural Heritage to promote the Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary as a Special Area of Conservation as the first step in a designation to cover the wider Tay river system.

The Report indicated that Scottish Natural Heritage, on behalf of the Scottish Executive, were formally consulting on proposals that the Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary be classified as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). In addition to the current formal consultation, a further future series of consultations would be undertaken to extend the proposed SAC to cover all of the main stem of the River Tay, together with the main tributaries which comprised the very wide area of the river system. This future consultation would include the Dean Water and River Isla within Angus.

The proposal to designate the Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary as a Special Area of Conservation was to be viewed in the context of the wider Tay river system which was also likely to be proposed for SAC designation in due course. The proposed designation had potential implications for the discharge of planning and other functions of the Council, not only in the immediate vicinity of the site, but extending over a wider catchment area. The Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary was one of three Scottish estuaries being considered for SAC designation, the others being the Dornoch Firth and Solway Firth.

The Committee agreed:-

  1. to note the terms of Scottish Natural Heritage's proposal that the Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary be classified as a Special Area of Conservation because of its importance for common seals and estuarine habitats;
  2. to advise Scottish Natural Heritage that Angus Council supported, in principle, the scientific case for the proposed designation of the Firth of Tay as a Special Area of Conservation, and to request Scottish Natural Heritage to provide continuing advice and guidance on:-

    (a) a schedule of operations or developments likely to affect the proposed Special Area of Conservation and the area over which they applied;

    (b) the likely implications of proposed developments within or likely to affect the proposed Special Area of Conservation.

  3. to take account, where appropriate, of the proposed designation, together with views from Scottish Natural Heritage, in discharging various relevant land use planning and other responsibilities of the Council, including Development Plan and Development Control responsibilities;
  4. to note that the current proposal was part of a phased consultation programme proposing the designation of the entire River Tay and main tributaries as a Special Area of Conservation which had potential implications for development activity in the wider catchment of the river system; and
  5. to express concern to Scottish Natural Heritage, that the phasing and timing of possible future consultation, covering various parts of the wider Tay river system, might raise possible confusion and result in difficulties in taking full account of issues which might arise in the later phases, which included some areas of Angus.

9. FREE TRAVEL CONCESSION SCHEMES FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED PERSONS

With reference to Article 9 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 9 March 2000, there was submitted Report No 1340/01 by the Director of Planning and Transport which informed members of progress on the arrangements being put in place for the introduction of free Travel Concession Schemes for elderly and disabled passengers from October 2002.

The Report indicated that the free travel concession arrangements for elderly and disabled persons were to be welcomed, with individuals greatly benefiting from the new concessions that would help towards addressing issues of social inclusion. Negotiations with operators in respect of implementing the revised Travel Concession Schemes were underway and it was hoped that these would be successfully concluded in time to meet the end of January deadline set by the Scottish Executive. Members would therefore be informed of the outcome of the current negotiations with operators in respect of levels of reimbursement. Updates would also be given on the progress in implementing the free travel arrangements.

The Committee agreed:-

  1. to welcome the proposed introduction of free Travel Concession Schemes for elderly and disabled persons from 2 October 2002;
  2. to note the intention to enhance the Angus Schemes beyond the minimum national requirement in order to maintain the current area of validity of passes and not to impose any time restrictions on travel, subject to the availability of financial resources;

    to welcome the proposals to extend free travel to men aged 60-64 from October 2002, subject to the necessary Parliamentary approval;

    to note that Travel Concession passes were to be issued free of charge from October 2002;

    to note the ongoing negotiations with local bus operators to agree reimbursement arrangements for the new travel scheme;

    that a Report be placed before a future meeting of this Committee detailing the travel concession arrangements to be put in place to deliver the provision of free travel for elderly and disabled persons in Angus; and

    that the Director of Law and Administration write to the Scottish Executive urging that the Travel Concession Schemes be extended and funded to provide free bus and rail travel across the whole of Scotland.

10. PUBLIC TRANSPORT UPDATE

There was submitted Report No 1341/01 by the Director of Planning and Transport which updated members on recent and proposed changes to local bus services in Angus. Details were also given of the proposed level of local bus service provision over the Christmas and New Year holiday period. In addition, a number of service enhancements were planned to meet passenger needs that had been identified.

The Committee agreed:-

  1. to note the revisions to local bus services, as outlined in the Report;
  2. to note the arrangements for local bus service provision over the Christmas and New Year holiday period; and
  3. to implement the service enhancements as outlined in the Report.

11. TAYSIDE LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN ­ CONSULTATIVE DRAFT

With reference to Article 10 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 12 October 2000, there was submitted Report no 1342/01 by the Director of Planning and Transport which advised members of the publication of the Consultative Draft Tayside Local Biodiversity Action Plan and proposed continued commitment to the process.

The Report indicated that the Tayside Biodiversity Partnership had made considerable progress in the last year towards compiling a Local Biodiversity Action Plan for Tayside. This had involved numerous individuals from various agencies including a range of officers from Angus Council. A consultative draft document had been recently launched and widely distributed.

The Committee agreed:-

  1. to note the considerable work undertaken and progress made towards producing a Tayside Local Biodiversity Action Plan (TLBAP);
  2. to authorise officers of the Council to continue to contribute to the Tayside Local Biodiversity Action Plan process with a view to negotiating and finalising the proposals in the Action Plan; and
  3. to approve a contribution of up to £5,000, towards production of the final Tayside LBAP in 2002-03.
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