Agenda and minutes

The Vice Convener advised that the Convener had sent congratulations on behalf of the Council to TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the recent birth of their son.

DECISION

NOTED.

Presentation by Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament on their campaign “Right Here Right Now” which seeks to promote the rights of young people in Scotland.

The Vice Convener welcomed Sanna Aziz and Tanya Thomson, members of the Scottish Youth Parliament to the meeting.  They outlined the background to the setting up of the Youth Parliament and advised that the topic for the campaign had been chosen following a survey of 5000 young people across Scotland, including 800 from the Scottish Borders.  The campaign focussed on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and European Convention on Human Rights.  The key messages were to ensure that young people were aware of their rights and empowered to take action to defend them.  Decision makers were being asked to keep young people right at the heart of all decisions.  The objectives of the campaign were to influence law, policy and practice and improve the links between the Scottish Youth Parliament and other national bodies.  There were 3 themes, namely:  Advocacy, Action and Awareness, with Advocacy being the overarching theme.  In terms of awareness raising, people were being encouraged to sign a pledge stating what they were doing for the young people of the Borders.  Councillors were asked to consider children’s rights, seek the views of young people and encourage schools to work towards bronze, silver or gold level of “Right Respecting Schools” awards.   Sanna and Tanya answered Members’ questions.  Councillor Marshall thanked Tanya for her involvement in the Teviot & Liddesdale Area Partnership.  Sanna advised that she was holding a joint surgery with Councillor Chapman at Peebles High School and was happy to be invited to other Councillors’ surgeries.  It was noted that MSYP elections were held every 2 years.  Councillor S. Hamilton advised that Sanna had received the “One to Watch” award from the Scottish Youth parliament.  The Vice Convener thanked Sanna and Tanya for their informative presentation.

DECISION

NOTED the importance of this campaign for young people and agreed that Councillors be photographed at the end of the meeting with their signed pledge forms.

Consider Minute of Scottish Borders Council held on 29 March 2018 for approval and signing by the Convener.  (Copy attached.)

The Minute of the Meeting held on 29 March 2018 was considered. 

DECISION

AGREED that the Minute be approved and signed by the Convener.

Consider Minutes of the following Committees:-

(a)     Eildon Area Partnership                                     8 March 2018

(b)     Berwickshire Area Partnership                          15 March 2018

(c)     Audit & Scrutiny                                                 19 March 2018

(d)     Hawick Common Good Fund                            20 March 2018

(e)     Civic Government Licensing                              23 March 2018

(f)      Planning & Building Standards                           26 March 2018

(g)     Executive                                                           17 April 2018

(Please see separate Supplement containing the public Committee Minutes.)

The Minutes of the following Committees had been circulated:-

Eildon Area Partnership                                     8 March 2018

Berwickshire Area Partnership                          15 March 2018

Audit & Scrutiny                                                 19 March 2018

Hawick Common Good Fund                            20 March 2018

Civic Government Licensing                              23 March 2018

Planning & Building Standards                           26 March 2018

Executive                                                           17 April 2018

DECISION

APPROVED the Minutes listed above subject to paragraph 4 below.

Consider the recommendations made by the Executive Committee on 17 April 2018.  (Copy attached.)

4.1       Executive Committee

         With reference to paragraph 6 of the Minute of the Executive Committee held on 17 April 2018, it was recommended that an elected Member from the Selkirkshire Ward represent the Council on the Selkirk Town Centre BID Board.  Councillor Thornton-Nicol, seconded by Councillor Turnbull, moved that Councillor Penman be appointed and this was unanimously approved.

DECISION

AGREED that Councillor Penman be appointed to the Selkirk Town Centre BID Board.

4.2       With reference to paragraph 7 of the Minute of the Executive Committee held on 17 April 2018, it was recommended that the new Hawick and East Berwickshire Member Working Groups be established as soon as possible and business people and local stakeholders be co-opted onto these groups in line with local member expectations.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the recommendations relating to the setting up of the two Working Groups.

4.3       With reference to paragraph 8 of the Minute of the Executive Committee held on 17 April 2018, regarding the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal it was recommended:-

(a)     to delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and Executive Member for Business and Economic Development, to accept the terms of the Draft Memorandum of Understanding as set out in Appendix 2 to the report;

(b)     that the Council contribute a further £50,000 towards the joint pre-Deal development costs, to be allocated from existing budgets in the Economic Development service; and

(c)     that further progress reports be presented during 2018 as the development stages of the deal proceed; and

(d)     that Council should approve the final proposition of the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal prior to submission to the UK and Scottish Governments.

          DECISION

          AGREED to approve the recommendations detailed above.

Councillor H. Scott raised a point of order in terms of Standing Order 39 and expressed the view that questions he had submitted should have been answered and he did not agree with the reasons for disallowing them.  The Vice-Convener advised that while he respected the Councillor’s view, he was accepting the advice of officers and that the questions could not be asked.  The questions submitted by Councillors Robson, Laing and S. Hamilton were answered. 

DECISION

NOTED the replies as detailed in Appendix I to this Minute.

Consider report by Service Director Children and Young People.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Children and Young People advising that following the completion of a public consultation process as set out in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 (as amended), Members were asked to approve the proposal to close St Margaret’s RC Primary School, Hawick and for the children currently attending the school to be offered a place at a catchment school. The report explained that at its meeting on 7 November 2017, the Executive Committee agreed to the commencement of a statutory consultation regarding the proposed closure of St Margaret’s following a sustained drop in pupil numbers.  This statutory consultation was undertaken from 22 November 2017 to 22 January 2018 and a consultation report in respect of the proposals was prepared and published on 8 March 2018.  The Consultation Report, a copy of which formed Appendix 1 to the report, was advertised in the press, with all interested parties given a three week period until 29 March 2018 to raise concerns or pose alternative solutions through written or electronic submissions.  No concerns or alternative solutions were submitted during this period.  Members agreed that, with sadness, they had to accept the closure of this school.  The quality of the consultation process and the support from parents and the community was commended.

DECISION

AGREED that:-

(a)     St Margaret’s RC Primary School, Hawick was closed; and

(b)     the children who currently attended the school were offered places within a catchment area primary school based on their home address.

Consider report by Service Director Children and Young People.  (Copy attached.)

The Chief Executive advised that consideration of this report was to be deferred until the next Council meeting on 31 May to allow an updated position to be presented.

DECISION

NOTED.

Consider report by Service Director Children and Young People.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Children and Young People providing Members with a summary of the assessment process that had been undertaken regarding the condition, suitability and capacity of each of the secondary schools in Galashiels, Hawick, Peebles and Selkirk.  The report also contained a summary of the engagement that Council officers had undertaken with pupils, staff, parents, Parent Councils and the community in each of the school clusters regarding the future vision for learning provision in each of the areas.  Recommendations had been made regarding the creation of a Secondary School Individualised Strategic Plan regarding the future of each of these schools.  The proposed Secondary School Individualised Strategic Plans would contribute significantly to the vision and priorities set out in the Council’s Connected Borders Strategic Plan. The Secondary School Strategy had the opportunity to contribute to: connected communities by providing improved opportunities for learning; enterprising communities with regard to workforce; communities of well-being by providing opportunities for intergenerational learning; communities of caring by providing a place where communities could come together to support families.  Members welcomed the involvement of young people in the consultation process.  In response to the timescale for the proposed investment and concerns expressed by some Members, Councillor Chapman proposed that the Group Leaders should join him in writing to John Swinney, MSP requesting additional funding.  The other Group Leaders agreed to support this proposal.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the creation of a Secondary School Individualised Strategic Plan regarding the schools in Galashiels, Hawick, Peebles and Selkirk; which would enable Council officers to develop a bespoke strategy for each of these schools in line with the principles of the School Estate Review and the pillars of the Christie Commission, with an update report brought back to the Council in October 2018.

Consider draft terms of reference for Member/Officer Group to monitor the Police Community Action Team.  (Copy to follow.)

There had been circulated copies of the proposed terms of reference for the Police Community Action Team Member/Officer Oversight Group.  The Chief Social Work Officer outlined the proposed remit of the Group and advised it was hoped to have an early meeting. 

VOTE

Councillor McAteer, seconded by Councillor Turnbull, moved that 2 members of the Opposition be added to the membership of the Group. 

Councillor Bell, seconded by Councillor Thornton-Nicol, moved as an amendment that there be 3 members from the Opposition

On a show of hands Members voted as follows:-

Motion             -           18

Amendment     -           12

It was accordingly decided that there be 2 members of the opposition on the group

The Vice-Convener allowed a short recess to allow Members to discuss nominations.

Councillor Miers, seconded by Councillor A. Anderson, moved that Councillor Drum be appointed but he declined to be nominated.

Councillor Bell, seconded by Councillor H. Anderson, moved that Councillor Moffat be nominated and Councillor S. Scott, seconded by Councillor S. Hamilton, moved that Councillor Brown be nominated.  There being no other nominations Councillors Moffat and Brown were accordingly appointed.

DECISION

AGREED:-

(a)     to approve the proposed terms of reference for the Member/Officer Oversight Group, including the addition of 2 members of the Opposition to the membership of the Group; and

(b)     that Councillors Brown and Moffat be added to the membership of the Group.

Consider Motion by Councillor Jardine in the following terms:-

"The elected members, would like to pay tribute and congratulate all the athletes and coaches from our region, that have competed in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia. It shows the strength and depth of sport, in our small region. That twelve representatives from all over the Scottish Borders, were chosen to compete in several sports as part of the most successful overseas Scottish Commonwealth Games Team. It is hoped that the performances of our homegrown athletes, on the Gold Coast of Australia, will also encourage the next generation of Scottish Borders sporting stars."

Councillor Jardine, seconded by Councillor Haslam, moved his motion as detailed on the agenda in the following terms with a slight amendment to the number of athletes:-

"The elected members, would like to pay tribute and congratulate all the athletes and coaches from our region, that have competed in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia. It shows the strength and depth of sport, in our small region. That thirteen representatives and one coach from all over the Scottish Borders, were chosen to compete in several sports as part of the most successful overseas Scottish Commonwealth Games Team. It is hoped that the performances of our homegrown athletes, on the Gold Coast of Australia, will also encourage the next generation of Scottish Borders sporting stars."

Councillor Jardine spoke in support off his motion which was unanimously approved.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the Motion as detailed above.

Before proceeding with the private business, the following motion should be approved:-

“That under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the aforementioned Act.”

DECISION

AGREED under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the business detailed in  Appendix II to this Minute on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 6, 8 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A to the Act.

      SUMMARY OF PRIVATE BUSINESS

Consider private Section of Minute of Scottish Borders Council held on 29 March 2018.  (Copy attached.)

The private section of the Council Minute of 29 March 2018 was approved. 

Consider private Sections of the Minutes of the following Committees:-

(a)     Hawick Common Good Fund                            20 March 2018

(b)     Executive                                                           17 April 2018

(Please see separate Supplement containing private Committee Minutes.)

The private sections of the Committee Minutes as detailed in paragraph3 of this Minute were approved.