The move came after none of his colleagues would give backing in his bid to obtain some form of compensation for council house tenants whose normal life is disrupted by modernisation of their homes.
The entire subject was, to say the least, contentious, because as committee chairman, councillor Douglas Black pointed out, over 1,000 properties had already been upgraded.
He asked: "If we decide to make an ex gratia payment now, then it should be made retrospective?"
Councillor Ian M Frain replied that it would be "illogical" to do so and lead to "all kinds of hassle".
But Councillor Emslie retorted that because recompense had not been paid in the past, it did not mean it should not be paid in the future.

50 Years Ago

Friday, January 24, 1958

FUNDS at credit in the Stonehaven branch of the Aberdeen Savings Bank are now well over a million pounds.
This was disclosed at Monday's annual meeting of the local committee in the Bay Hotel, Stonehaven, over which Mr A. E. P. Gardner presided.
Mr Gardner welcomed Mr A. J. Miller, who was attending his first meeting in Stonehaven since his appointment as actuary of the Bank.
Submitting his annual report, Mr John McDonald, agent of the local branch said: "On the first day of November last year, a historic event took place.
"For on that day, the total funds of the Stonehaven Office passed the million pounds' mark.
"A million pounds is perhaps nothing spectacular in an age of colossal figures, but nevertheless it represents a milestone in the history of Stonehaven Savings Bank."

100 Years Ago

Thursday, January 23, 1908

THE attempts of the Town Council to provide more lavatory accommodation in the town have met with so many rebuffs that one wonders why they go so far afield to secure suitable sites.
They have the very best sites in the town under their on control and yet they ask for other sites, meeting with refusals at every turn.
In the first place they have the piazzas of the Market Buildings, a portion of one of which could be easily converted to such a use.
They are little used except as a shelter in rainy weather for the corner men, who could still have a portion of the arch for their use.
Such a site would be the most centrical in the town.
Then again, what of the Town Hall Buildings?
There are at present three WCs there which are open to all and sundry.
Could not an urinal be erected either in the hall or beyond the north of the hall, and in order to contribute to the upkeep of these conveniences, the penny in the slot be introduced as it is in every other place.
With such suitable sites of their own, no wonder others refuse to grant the Council ground.