A detailed stocktake of assets across Angus is to be taken in a bid to build an exact common good register for local burghs.
The district has funds in five burghs – Arbroath, Brechin, Forfar, Kirriemuir and Montrose – largely comprising property gifted by Royal Charter which generates income available for use in the respective towns.
New rules have placed a responsibility on councils to compile a register of common good property and the area’s longest serving councillor said he hopes the exercise will finally resolve the long-standing issue of little-known local assets being forgotten.
Council legal chiefs said the new requirement had been introduced as part of the Community Empowerment Act 2015, which came into force at the end of June.
The authority started work on a common good register as far back as 2010, beginning with Arbroath assets.
“Work was also done on some of the Brechin assets. It was decided not to complete the audit of Brechin and other burghs on the basis of time and cost but the work undertaken then will assist in preparing the list,” said legal team leader Freyja Guild in a report to policy and resources committee councillors.
The council hopes to publish an updated list next spring before offering it out for consultation.
“Once the common good register is established it will be reviewed and updated if property is reclassified.
“The register will be reviewed at least every five years,” added the report.
Arbroath West and Letham SNP councillor Alex King said: “Common good registers have been a difficulty ever since Angus District Council was formed from the previous burghs.
“There have been frequent comments that we don’t have this or that on the register of assets.
“Once this list is prepared, can I suggest that the burgh councillors get a look at it to see if there are any assets missed out that they know about.
“Let’s get all the details, bring them together and put this to be for once and for all.”
Figures for the common good balances in the five burghs from the end of March showed Forfar’s revenue total to be the highest at more than £620,000, with Arbroath also above £600k, followed by Brechin (£550k), Montrose (£370k) and Kirriemuir (£7,382 cash only, no property).
