Angus council leaders deny "top issues" for parking fees

The managing director and deputy head of the Angus Council sought to annul the claims that there is a rift between the administration in power and senior officials for parking fees.

The move comes a few minutes after a meeting of the Kirriemuir community council, according to which the deputy head of the council, the conservative councilor Angus Macmillan Douglas, said he "fought" for changes to the unpopular parking rate regime, including the addition of cash payment options.

However, this was considered an operational issue for councilors rather than for elected members.

The report adds that Macmillan Douglas had been "threatened" with being reported to the Commission for standards, which was denied by the local authority.

© DC Thomson

The document also reports that the managing director of the Angus Council Margo Williamson, had written to the community council stating that "on no occasion would anyone be reported".

Commenting on the report, Macmillan Douglas said: "A number of board members, including myself, have been working hard since the beginning to try to get paid coin parking machines installed as an option for drivers. .

"I certainly didn't lie to the community council as a member claimed, and this claim was not supported by anyone else."

Brian Boyd, independent district councilor and Carnoustie, stated that the incident showed that "problems at the top" had entered the public domain due to the dispute caused by parking fees.

He said: "I fully agree with the general manager that he should not be involved in this political fiasco.

"This incident and the fact that the Council's management of parking fees have been presented on national television is a new low in the process and shows that it is not going away.

"The fact is that this administration is absolutely dysfunctional, and a report that will soon be published on the process of parking fees will leave a number of board members with the egg in their face."

© Paul Reid

An Angus Council spokesman said: "At no stage did the letter of reply from the Director General to the Kirriemuir Community Council refer to any single elected member.

"It states clearly and simply that any member in violation of a code of conduct can be reported to the Ethics Standards Commission by anyone.

"He further declares that the managing director is not aware of the position of an official of any proposal or suggestion that one of our elected members was at risk of violating the directors' code or being reported to the committee in relation to # 39. ; introduction of parking fees.

"There is no problem or schism between the administration and senior advisers.

"They enjoy solid relationships essential to providing effective local government, particularly during times of extreme financial challenges."