Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairman welcomed those present and introduced Station Manager Don MacNeil and his colleague Group Manager Andrew Girrity from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

The Chairman varied the order of business as shown on the agenda and the Minute reflects the order in which the items were considered at the meeting.

Quarterly update report by Police Scotland.  (To follow.)

There were circulated at the meeting copies of a report by Community Inspector John Scott updating the Locality Committee on Police Scotland performance, activities and issues across wards for the period up to 9 November 2017 and to look at events linking in with the ward priorities in the coming months.  There had been no significant incidents relating to Halloween or Bonfire Night and planning was in place for the annual Remembrance Parades, including Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders allowing for road closures.  There had been a number of complaints over the summer months in relation to speeding vehicles and Inspector Scott advised that speed checks and use of the mobile camera unit were utilised both for education and enforcement purposed across the area.  Police Scotland continued to target drug offences, anti-social behaviour and rural theft.  A month long campaign by Police Scotland to prevent livestock worrying was being promoted by the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime, a multi-agency partnership which included Police Scotland, National Farmers Union of Scotland and Scottish Land & Estates, was working with Scottish Natural Heritage, the Kennel Club and the National Sheep Association (Scotland) to promote responsible dog walking in the countryside.  Police Scotland would robustly enforce the existing legislation, ensuring all reported cases of livestock being attacked by dogs were thoroughly investigated and offenders reported to the Procurator Fiscal.  With winter approaching, drivers were being reminded to be attentive to road conditions and Operation Jingle would address drink driving over the Festive Season.  Inspector Scott responded to questions in relation to drink driving and advised that he was not in possession of any information in relation to a merging of Police Scotland and British Transport Police.  The Chairman thanked Inspector Scott for his attendance.

DECISION

NOTED the report.

Minute of the meeting of Berwickshire Locality Committee of 7 September 2017.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of 7 September 2017. 

DECISION

NOTED the Minute for signature by the Chairman.

Ratification of the Note of the Informal meeting of the Berwickshire Locality Committee held on 12 October 2017.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Note of the Informal Meeting of the Berwickshire Locality Committee held on 12 October 2017 to consider the operation of the Locality Bid Fund in Berwickshire.  It was noted that guidance about the Bid Fund was available from Scottish Borders Council and on the SBC website, and that clarification was awaited on the format of voting and the mechanisms which would be used.

DECISION

AGREED to ratify the following:-

(a)       the Localities Bid Fund in the Berwickshire Area be organised into 2 funding rounds as suggested in the model within the report to Council, the first release being from the launch of the fund on 15 October 2017 to the close of applications on 1 December 2017;

(b)       the first funding allocation be in the sum of £45k and the second release be in the sum of £46k  ;

(c)       the allocation be aligned to all themes contained within the Community Plan with the addition of ‘Community Transport’ as a local priority;

(d)       that no additional marketing of the Fund be undertaken for the Berwickshire Area over and above that provided on a Borders-wide level by the Council; and

(e)       a decision was still to be made as to whether it would be appropriate to hold a ‘voting event’ as part of the public voting process after the closing date for bids on 1 December 2017.

Note the report to full Council on 2 November 2017.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report on proposals for the functions, framework and initial core membership and future operation of Area Partnerships which had been considered by Scottish Borders Council on 2 November 2017.  The recommendations in this report had been agreed and were presented to the Locality Committee for information.  Discussion took place and Community Councils raised a number of concerns relating to the operation of the Area Partnership in Berwickshire; the role of Community Councils and the Berwickshire Community Council Forum; and the differing status of the Community Council representatives on the Area Partnership and those who attended in the public galleries.

DECISION

NOTED the report and concerns of the Community Councils.

Quarterly update report by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.  (To follow.)

7.1       There had been circulated copies of a report by Scottish Fire and Rescue informing the Locality Committee of activity in the area since 7 September 2017.  SM Don MacNeil was in attendance to highlight the main points of the report.  In summary, there had not been any occurrences of fires in houses/buildings;4 other fire incidents had been recorded with no casualties; 2 Special Service incidents resulting in 2 casualties; and 29unwanted fire alarm signals involving commercial/industrial premises.  Station Manager MacNeil advised that Members of the continued activity which had occurred and which was currently taking place in Berwickshire and the measures being taken to address issues identified within the area.  Crews had been and continued to be engaged in the delivery of fire and general safety information and had facilitated Crucial Crew events for 1,500 P7 children during September and October 2017.  Other activity continued in the locality as detailed in the report.  With reference to recruitment of firefighters, the report advised that this continued to progress well across Berwickshire with firefighters having taken up post in Duns and Eyemouth.  There were still vacancies in other areas and further information could be accessed either at local Station training nights or on the My Job Scotland website.

7.2       GM Andrew Girrity was in attendance to explain the SFRS Transformation Programme and advised Members that, as the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service continued to move forward through the transformation agenda, there were a number of challenges to be met.  The transformation from eight to one service for the whole of Scotland had been positive and had reduced operational costs by over £50m.  There were still new financial challenges and a funding gap of £3.2m for 2018/19 had been identified.  The work delivered by the Service was diverse and SM MacNeil highlighted some aspects of a firefighter’s role in the SFRS today and how this was changing to meet the needs of communities.  A number of developments that were currently being considered were also highlighted which would improve the operational function of the service.  A video about the SFRS and the Transformation Programme was shown and this was available at http://www.firescotland.gov.uk/transformation.aspx   The Community Fire and Rescue Plan was currently being consulted on, with the closing date set for 18 December 2017 and the public were encouraged to access this Plan on the SFRS website.  In response to questions raised, Members were advised that there was no indication at the present time of any Stations closures in the Scottish Borders and in terms of the Cheviot Pilot, the Service was looking at how this could be expanded across the area.

DECISION

NOTED the report and video link to the SFRS website.

7.1       Berwickshire Community Council Forum

            The Annual General Meeting of the Berwickshire Community Council Forum would take place in Duns on 16 November 2017 at 7.00pm and would include a training session on Community Council Roles and Responsibilities.

            DECISION

            NOTED.

The schedule for future meetings of the Berwickshire Area Partnership was still to be confirmed and the dates would be published as soon as they were available.

DECISION

NOTED.