A move to turn the former Access office in Kirriemuir into a hub for a community group that works with people with dementia has been described as “good news”.
The office will be a hub for the Kirriemuir and Dean Area Partnership until the council’s lease on the premises at 5 Bank Street expires in July 2020.
Communities convener Craig Fotheringham said: “This is a good news story and is an example of this council working with community groups to achieve their ambitions and goals.
“The premises are currently run as a Kirrie Connections community hub providing support to people who are living with dementia, including drop in and training sessions for carers.”
As part of the office rationalisation programme the Access office was moved to Kirriemuir Police Station.
The council subsequently received a request from the Kirriemuir and Dean Area Partnership to be allowed to use the building as an information hub.
The move was approved by the council’s communities committee which will now seek the permission of the landlord to make the change.
The arrangement will be in place until the £24,000-a-year lease expires.
Kirriemuir and Dean Area Partnership is a registered charity which promotes citizenship and community development and assists voluntary organisations, charities and other civic bodies.
As part of its remit the Partnership implemented the Dementia Friendly Kirriemuir initiative, which Angus Council supported by providing a lease of the ground at Rosefield Gardens, Kirreimuir to provide a dementia friendly garden for a nominal rental figure.
The former Access Office was also made available to the group under the licence to occupy on a rent free basis with Angus Council continuing to be responsible for repair and maintenance of the ground floor premises.
A council report about the proposal states: “As part of the licence to occupy the council will continue to pay and be responsible for any repairs and maintenance to the property.
“There will be ongoing repair/maintenance costs. These amounted to approximately £15,000 in 16/17, although this did include additional works to resolve damp issues.
“The partnership will continue to pay all rates, taxes, assessments and other charges which may be levied in respect of the occupied subjects and pay all charges for electricity, gas and other services consumed or used.
“If the property had remained empty an element of these charges would have had to be met by the council, although there may have been an opportunity to terminate the lease early.”