Latest news with #GeorgeMeechan
The Courier
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
New council power team to hold on to £1m SNP fighting fund for Angus rebuild
Ousted SNP councillors say they will be 'watching closely' how a million-pound fund to rebuild Angus is used by the group which dumped them from power. The £1 million Angus infrastructure fund was revealed when the council set its budget in February. It was a surprise announcement by the then SNP-led administration. And the fund was the key difference between its budget and opposition proposals. Ex-leader Bill Duff planned to use it to unlock around £20m of extra borrowing capacity. He said it would 'restore basic infrastructure that has suffered from underinvestment and climate-related damage for some time.' Rebuilding Brechin after Storm Babet and combating the threat of coastal erosion at Montrose were given as examples. But it proved to be the SNP's last big move before they lost control of Angus Council. A new multi-party coalition grabbed power in April after securing a vote of no confidence in the ruling group. It is led by one-time stand-in SNP chief George Meechan and Arbroath Conservative Derek Wann. Kirriemuir councillor Mr Meechan confirmed the seven-figure fund will stay in the spending plans. 'The administration group have no plans to change the overall concept of the infrastructure fund,' he said. Former leader Mr Duff said: 'I very much welcome that the incoming administration recognise the value of the innovative infrastructure fund introduced in February's budget by the SNP/Independent administration. 'This offers over £20m of additional capital resource. 'This initial investment will start to address Angus's serious infrastructure requirements. 'Specifically, we were very conscious of the need to spend capital on dealing with the aftermath of Storm Babet and the reconstruction required in Brechin, and the impacts of coastal erosion in Montrose, both impacts of global warming. 'As the public will know, neither the then opposition budget nor the non-aligned budget addressed these two critical issues.' 'We will be watching carefully how this fund is used.'
The Courier
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
VIDEO: Angus provosts past and present clash over £32k salary
The new Provost of Angus has been embroiled in his first political scrap with a predecessor over a £5,000 pay rise. Monifieth Conservative Craig Fotheringham was voted into the role as a coalition administration appointed its top figures this week. It followed last month's successful vote of no confidence in the previous SNP ruling group by a Conservative/Independent/Labour alliance. However, a special meeting of the full council to decide key posts turned into a seven-hour marathon. It was peppered with political bickering. The low point was a row over claims of 'gerrymandering' by the new administration regarding committee changes. Council standing orders were suspended for business to continue beyond the usual three-hour limit. And at 7pm – five hours after it started – the meeting was adjourned for an hour as Forfar's VE Day 80th anniversary commemoration was held outside the Town and County Hall. When it resumed, Monifieth Conservative councillor Mr Fotheringham clashed with former Provost Brian Boyd. It came as elected member salaries were agreed – including the Provost's remuneration of £32,540. Councillors' pay was recently increased following a national review, including a £50,000-a-year wage for new Angus leader George Meechan. Mr Boyd told Mr Fotheringham: 'I do note you have actually increased your salary by £5,000. 'When I was the Provost of Angus, I took a normal convenership role because I wanted to look after the people of Angus. 'And as I said once before, I managed to get the expenses down to £858, whereas under your watch they were up at £17,000.' Mr Fotheringham interjected: 'Right, that's enough, that's quite enough, that's quite enough. 'The reason I think that you took less money was the previous administration appointed two deputy leaders. 'The Provost is entitled to 75% of the leader's salary.' However, he was corrected by former SNP administration leader Bill Duff and officials that there is no link between the wages of the Provost and deputy council leaders. 'Okay, my apologies, that was a misunderstanding by me,' said Mr Fotheringham. Conveners of the authority's key committees were appointed during the special meeting. Opposition councillor David Cheape secured the chairmanship of the area's planning committee after winning a cut of the cards for the development standards role against administration nominee Gavin Nicol. The committee conveners are: Family, Education and Justice – Heather Doran Civic Licensing – Ross Greig Communities – Tommy Stewart Development Standards – David Cheape Housing – Jill Scott Policy & Resources – George Meechan Scrutiny & Audit – Bill Duff
The Courier
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Courier
Spanish sunshine break delays new Angus Council power meeting
The meeting to firm up Angus Council's new power coalition is on hold while one of its main protagonists holidays in the Mediterranean. A special full council meeting must be called to set the new administration structure after an opposition vote of no confidence secured the overthrow of the SNP ruling group last week. Former SNP group deputy leader George Meechan will head the Conservative-dominated coalition. He assumes the top post from former nationalist colleague Bill Duff. The council coup came just three weeks after a 17% wage rise took the council leader's salary past £50,000. Arbroath councillor Derek Wann has already been confirmed as the deputy leader of the Tory/Independent/Labour alliance. However, Mr Wann is currently holidaying in Tenerife. He jetted off to the Mediterranean just a few days after the no confidence vote. The Courier understands his absence is one of the reasons behind the delay in the special full council meeting taking place. Mr Meechan and Mr Wann did not respond to a request for comment on the matter. An Angus Council spokesperson said: 'We are looking to confirm the date for the special meeting to set the new administration roles as soon as diaries allow. 'A date will be confirmed this week.' The special full council will decide who will take charge of council committees. It is likely that all 13 members of the new administration will find themselves in a convener or vice-convener role. Also up for grabs is the £32,540 role of Provost. Former Provost Ronnie Proctor and one-time depute Craig Fotheringham are considered likely contenders for the post. The new administration also declined to comment on its nomination for the role of civic figurehead. The change of power has already hit the council meetings calendar. A housing committee scheduled for April 24 – two days after the no confidence vote – was dropped. It was due to consider an options report into Raac-affected housing in Monifieth behind closed doors. The April 29 policy and resources committee will also be rescheduled. The next programmed meeting is a full Angus Council on May 8.
The Courier
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Courier
Readers react as council coup overthrows SNP in Angus
Angus Council is in the grip of new power after the latest political machinations in the authority's turbulent history. Midway through its five-year reign, the minority SNP administration has been felled by a vote of no confidence. It was sunk by a single vote at a specially requisitioned full council meeting on Tuesday. A 13-strong coalition of eight Conservatives, four Independents and one Labour councillor has assumed control. It will be led by Kirriemuir and Dean member – and former SNP group deputy – George Meechan. Mr Meechan said: 'By coming together we can pool our collective ideas and expertise to create more effective solutions that directly benefit the people we represent.' His deputy leader, Arbroath Conservative Derek Wann vowed: 'There will be no more hectoring from the administration.' But what has been the reaction to the latest twist in the frequently fractious existence of Angus Council? Judging by the response, locals are becoming increasingly fed-up of the town hall soap opera. On The Courier website, the Sentinel said: 'Oh what does it matter who's in charge? 'SNP/Tories/Labour etc. none of them could run a bath. 'They're more concerned with their own egos, petty party politics, in-house fighting and backstabbing than running a cost-effective council that benefits the general public as a whole.' POV100 added: 'Hokey Cokey. Same old, same old. 'Nothing has changed. Musical chairs. 'Playing at politics…At expense of taxpayers. 'Shame on each and everyone of them regardless of the colour of their party hats.' Voter commented: 'Hopefully they will remember that they are there to serve the electorate and put the interests of the electorate first and foremost.' Arbroath's controversial £14 million active travel scheme did not escape criticism. Barkley said: 'Hopefully they realise that virtually no one is happy with the 'place for everyone' and that bridges need to be built with the ordinary people in the streets.' Meanwhile, on The Courier Facebook page, Eric Nicoll said: 'Any councillor who is elected with a party affiliation on their voting slip that swaps parties or leaves a party to become independent should resign and force a by-election, and then stand as an independent. 'I know when you vote you vote for an individual but many people are swayed by the party policies. 'If the candidate is so sure what they are doing is correct then stand as an independent and put their case forward.' Another comment said: 'Doesn't matter who's in 'charge' it's the residents of Angus that will suffer.'
The National
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
SNP lose control of Angus Council to Tory-Labour coalition
A special meeting of Angus Council held on Tuesday saw councillors vote 14-13 to remove the SNP from power. A new Scottish Conservative, Scottish Labour and Independent coalition – totalling 13 councillors – will now take control of the 28-member local authority. Former SNP deputy leader George Meechan, who stepped down from the post and became an independent councillor earlier this month, is set to become the leader of the new administration. READ MORE: SNP MP tears into Labour Cabinet in fiery Scottish independence exchange at PMQs Conservative councillor Derek Wann will serve as deputy leader. Another special council meeting will be set to decide other senior posts. Until then, all scheduled committee meetings are to be delayed. During Tuesday's meeting, councillor Wann accused the administration of "faltering" and focusing on the wrong priorities. He also criticised councillor Bill Duff of "accelerating" its decline. READ MORE: Decline of Scotland's last venomous snake sparks conservation fears However, Duff defended the SNP administration and cited the new £66.5 million Monifieth High School campus and Arbroath's Places for Everyone project as major achievements. Following the decision, Meechan said: "Today went as well as to be expected. "It's not something we were looking forward to, but something we think was needed. "We hope moving forward we will be more aligned to what the people of Angus want."
