Proposals could lead to row

THE stage is set for a row over the Angus budget after a move to force opposition councillors to publish their spending proposals early.

In an unprecedented step in recent times, members of the council’s ruling group have called a special meeting to change council rules so opposition groups have to publish their budget plans 15 working days in advance of a crunch budget meeting.

The ruling group argue this will improve openness and transparency of the budget process with the opposition suggesting they have been strongarmed into making an unnecessary, and potentially wasteful, change.

Councillor Lynne Devine, head of the SNP group in Angus, said administration councillors had used “disappointing” tactics to drive the change through. She said the SNP group had said no to the proposals, only to discover they would be pushed forward at tomorrow’s special council session.

“We can’t see why we need to have this special meeting, with the costs of all of that, just to change standing orders for no reason,” she added. “It is going to mean quite a deal more work for us, and for council staff, to bring a whole budget forward.”

Children and learning convener, Conservative councillor Derek Wann, is one of the seven who requested the meeting. Two other Conservatives and four independent councillors joined him.

Mr Wann said the proposed changes “would mean a better deal for the people of Angus ahead of the key meeting to agree spending priorities and council tax rates”.

He said: “It will allow the people of Angus to see all the budget proposals at the same time.”

THERE was renewed optimism at “tight line” celebrations on the River Tay.

The new salmon season launched in traditional style, with piper-led ceremonies across Perthshire yesterday.

Songwriter Dougie Maclean performed the symbolic first cast at the early morning Meikleour Fishings event, hosted by the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board and Perth and Kinross Council, near Kinclaven Bridge.

Music star Maclean led a singalong at the river

A WOULD-BE thief was caught sitting inside a man’s living room - before claiming he thought he was in his mother’s house.

Ronald Kinmond, 45, initially denied breaking into Martin Bell’s flat on Arklay Street, saying that the front door was already broken when he arrived.

An apologetic Kinmond, who said he was high on Valium, repeatedly protested his innocence and showed Mr Bell an empty rucksack.

A sheriff was prepared to call for social work reports on Kinmond, a prolific offender, but he refused and asked for a prison sentence.

At the time of the incident the victim asked Kinmond: “So you’re telling me someone broke in but didn’t take anything and you came in later?” To which Kinmond replied: “That’s correct.”

Dundee Sheriff Court heard Mr Bell returned home from work at 5pm to find Kinmond on his couch.