Graham Brown

3 days ago | thecourier.co.uk | Graham Brown

Angus Council’s rebel coalition has rejected suggestions that interest in tourism, active travel and economic development has been ditched. The new power group’s decision to drop spokesperson roles in two key areas came under scrutiny as the council met for the first time since the previous SNP administration was toppled in a political coup last month. Thursday’s special meeting in Forfar turned into a seven-hour marathon. It was punctuated by recesses and political infighting.

5 days ago | thecourier.co.uk | Graham Brown

Monifieth residents living with Raac are to be contacted within days in the first step towards ridding their homes of the dangerous material. It comes after councillors unanimously agreed a plan to remove reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) from 25 council houses in Milton Street. New flat roofs will be installed. The move was welcomed as a positive step for residents who discovered in 2023 their homes were affected.

5 days ago | thecourier.co.uk | Graham Brown

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.

6 days ago | thecourier.co.uk | Graham Brown

Today’s generation led Forfar’s tribute to its heroes of the past as the town stood silent on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Pupils from seven local schools were at the heart of the largest Angus commemoration of Germany’s surrender in May 1945. In the early evening calm at The Cross in Forfar town centre, they solemnly laid 116 poppies – one for each name on the town’s Second World War honour roll. The Forfar branch of Legion Scotland organised the event.

6 days ago | thecourier.co.uk | Graham Brown

The first meeting a new coalition-led Angus Council descended into open political warfare amidst a row over committee structures. In the opening stramash since losing minority control of the authority last month, the former SNP administration accused the new ruling group of “gerrymandering” committee numbers to their advantage. It came after a surprise move by new council leader – and former SNP second-in-command – George Meechan to reduce the membership of key council committees from 16 to 15.