Arbroath Community Council makes its position clear on Common Good fund review
Arbroath Community Council has waded into the Angus Common Good funding row.
Arbroath Library.
- By Graeme Bletcher
- Published in the Courier : 12.09.11
- Published online : 12.09.11 @ 06.43pm
The group has written to Angus Council chief executive Richard Stiff seeking assurances that Arbroath Library will not be removed from the control of the town's Common Good fund.
Fears have been raised that the building might become the first victim of a review, which could lead to it being transferred to the council's general account.
That followed a more widespread concern that all Angus Common Good funds could be merged into one pot.
Although the council's finance spokesman Councillor Mark Salmond moved quickly to rule out that option, he failed to provide assurances that assets within burgh funds, such as libraries and other facilities, will stay put.
Chairwoman of Arbroath Community Council Pat Millar copied her letter to Mr Stiff to all burgh councillors, to ensure their position was well known ahead of the review which is set to be the subject of a report to councillors this week.
She said: "We decided as a community council that we would write to the chief executive of Angus Council to voice our concern at what has been said regarding Arbroath Library.
"There is a prospect that it is to be taken out of the Common Good fund and put into a more general fund. Like everybody else, we will have to wait for the report to come out on September 15 before we see any clarification on what is going to happen, but I think it is important that no Common Good funds are taken away from the towns that have them."
It was Angus independent Bob Spink who set the row running after he issued a 'hands-off' warning to council officials over the prospect of Arbroath Library being transferred out of the town's Common Good budget (link).
Continued...
07.11pm - 12.09.2011 Is this the democracy we fought for? - Dundee, UK Report This
At least Arbroath can get a community council. Dundee City Council quashed all of the attempts of the residents of Maryfield to start up a ward community council. How is it possible the city centre of Dundee has NO community involvement in the decisions made for people who live and work in the ward
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