Angus Council turns to the public to sort out Common Good Fund row
Angus Council will turn to the public to establish the controversial ownership of Arbroath Library.
- By Graeme Strachan
- Published in the Courier : 22.09.11
- Published online : 22.09.11 @ 04.38pm
The library's future is still up for debate following the findings of the recent Arbroath Common Good Fund audit.
At a recent council meeting it was agreed that the public have the chance to look at the details of the audit, which will include the original library disposition and deed of gift document, and to submit any evidence to support or contest these findings.
In particular, public help is being sought to find out whether anyone holds, or knows of, evidence to prove that the Arbroath Library property should not be classified as being held on the Common Good account.
The review had concluded that the library, along with offices at Gravesend and the Queen's Drive recreation area, should be transferred from the common good fund to the general fund.
The authority believes the 1898 library, a gift to Arbroath by David Corsar, should be part of the general account, having been acquired for a statutory purpose. Officials say it has been wrongly on the common good account for half a century.
Arbroath member Bob Spink has led the library campaign. At a full meeting of the council in Forfar he won overwhelming support for a motion that places emphasis on gathering evidence as to why it should not remain on the common good.
The official recommendation to councillors was to agree that information should be sought as part of a public consultation which might prove the property should be classified as common good.
Mr Spink had sought the advice of Lord Fraser of Carmyllie, who served as both solicitor general and lord advocate, and another prominent legal figure and they both shared his view that the library had been gifted to Arbroath for the good of the town.
Assets which the review concluded should be transferred to the common good fund were part of Elliot Golf Links, Inchcape Park, the Rest Gardens in Cairnie Loan and the land on which the Ruxton Memorial stands.
The public consultation will begin in early October with last submissions probably admitted at the end of the calendar year.
As well as being on the Have Your Say section of the council's website (link), the consultation will be publicised via local media and posters in public Arbroath buildings.
Council law convener Councillor Mark Salmond said: "I hope that residents of the Arbroath area will assist the council in this consultation exercise, particularly in relation to Arbroath Library building.
"The outcome of the consultation will be reported back to the council in due course."
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