The Courier can today reveal the ‘shopping list’ of demands which could hold the key to taking control of Angus Council.
Talks to form a coalition majority are continuing but the Lib Dems want commitments on certain issues before entering into any sort of agreement.
They want the closure of the county’s recycling centres — which led to town hall protests — to be immediately halted despite being axed last year in a bid to save over £250,000.
Garden waste collection charges which were controversially introduced in July — amid more public protests outside county buildings — would also be scrapped if the Lib Dems get their way.
The ‘shopping list’ also includes the provision of accessible sports facilities for all and for the council to put more pressure on the SNP Government to make Frank’s Law a reality.
Mobile phone and the internet also feature in the list with a demand to work with telecoms companies to improve the quality of coverage to an “acceptable level”.
Lib Dem representatives met with the SNP on Sunday who listened to their ambitions before they held further talks with the Tories and Independents on Monday afternoon.
The group’s ambitions focus on environmental issues, health and mobile phone and internet coverage.
Monifieth and Sidlaw Lib Dem councillor Ben Lawrie said: “We’ll be seeking a commitment to examine these issues seriously.”
There are 28 councillors in Angus with the SNP and Independents each holding nine seats, the Conservatives with eight posts and the Lib Dems with two positions.
The provost role is the only thing that must be decided on Tuesday and then the meeting could technically be adjourned.
That would give all parties more time to reach the required numbers to form an administration.
The Conservatives and some Independents held several meetings last week in a bid to form an alliance.
They have suggested names for some of the positions, namely Brechin and Edzell councillor Bob Myles for leader and Kirriemuir and Dean member Ronnie Proctor for provost.
The shopping list states:
Environmental issues
All current environmental initiatives be suspended pending a complete review of services and facilities
- Halt the closure of recycling centres in Angus
- Explore the possibilities for recycling points/mini recycling centres in rural communities
- Reinstate food waste collection for households where the service was cancelled under the last administration
- Scrap charges for garden waste collection once the current service period has finished
- Explore possible ways to offset any increase in costs
Health
The council should explore ways to improve the health, both physical and mental, of all residents of Angus
- Provision of health checks in primary schools
- Tackling child obesity through exercise and healthy eating
- Provision of accessible sports facilities for all
- Campaigning for Frank’s Law to be placed on the statute books by the Scottish Parliament and funding to be provided by councils to implement it
- A preventative approach to be taken towards mental illness, focusing on developing resilience and coping mechanisms in children
Mobile phone and internet coverage
The council to campaign for and work with the relevant telecoms companies to provide a consistent standard of mobile phone and internet coverage for all residents of Angus
- Campaign with and through the local MSP to achieve support from Holyrood for improved coverage
- Campaign with and through the local MP to achieve support from Westminster for improved coverage
- Work with the telecoms providers to improve the quality of coverage to an acceptable level for all residents
