Scottish Borders Council

Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Transport Interchange, Galashiels

Contact: Fiona Walling Tel: 01835 826504  Email:  fwalling@scotborders.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Minute pdf icon PDF 85 KB

Minute of the meeting of 22 June 2017 to be approved and signed by the Chairman (copy attached).

Minutes:

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of 22 June 2017.

 

DECISION

APPROVED the Minute for signing by the Chairman.

 

MEMBERS

Councillors Aitchison and Parker joined the meeting during the partner updates below.

 

2.

Partner Updates pdf icon PDF 446 KB

(Copy of Scottish Fire & Rescue Service report attached).

Minutes:

1.1         Police Scotland

Inspector Tony Hodges was in attendance to present his report and answer questions. He confirmed that, as agreed at the last meeting, he had contacted Elected Members prior to the meeting to gauge the issues they wished him to cover.  The majority of matters had been dealt with directly but he wished to raise several issues at the meeting which had a bearing on the whole of the Eildon Locality.  With regard to this year’s Festivals/Common Ridings and Sevens in the Eildon Locality, Inspector Hodges reported that these had passed without significant incident.  Working in partnership with Event Organisers and partner agencies, through the SBC Safety Advisory Group (SAG) process, had helped to ensure that these events were safer for participants, spectators, motorists and residents.  In relation to next year’s events Police Scotland would like to see a real focus on the traditions which made these events the envy of other areas in an effort to avoid alcohol being the main driver for many.  In an effort to tackle the issue of youth drinking and related Anti-Social Behaviour, which has become more prevalent in certain communities recently, Inspector Hodges had met with partner agencies and agreed to run a local campaign towards the festive season in relation to parental supply of alcohol to teenagers.  This would be pulled together under the stewardship of the Council’s Safer Communities Team.  A similar campaign in Lanarkshire had seen a dramatic reduction in alcohol-related youth issues.  Inspector Hodges went on to talk about Unauthorised Travellers Encampments which were a regular cause for concern across the Eildon Locality.  The onus for these encampments lay with the landowner but Police Scotland would provide support and respond to reports of criminal behaviour.   Often residents were reluctant to come forward to make reports but, as seen recently in Selkirk, they could refer the matter to Elected Members who in turn could report to the police.  The Local Community Policing Teams were more than willing to assist with any crime prevention projects communities may wish to consider.  Inspector Hodges concluded his report by raising again the issue of drug supply.  Police Scotland were currently running a Proactive Enforcement Operation – ‘Operation Spray’ throughout the Scottish Borders which targeted those who supplied controlled drugs.  This work relied on information from the community and Inspector Hodges encouraged Members to advise residents to report any activity either via 101 or confidentially to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.  In response to a question from Stow Community Council representative, Jack Mackenzie, Inspector Hodges advised that there had been no reports of underage drinking at the      Stow Sports event in the Summer.  However as this was growing in size it would be added to the list of events and police would engage with the organisers for the 2018 event.   In relation to an issue raised by Newtown and Eildon Community Council representative Roger French about reports of drugs and cantankerous dogs in the neighbourhood, Councillor Thornton-Nicol advised that this matter was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Request for the Making of Stopping-Up Order for part of Public Road at Rose Court, Galashiels (DG88/2) pdf icon PDF 159 KB

Consider report by Service Director Assets & Infrastructure (copy attached).

Minutes:

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Assets and Infrastructure regarding a Stopping-Up Order for part of the DG88/2 public road at Rose Court, Galashiels.  Senior Roads Planning Officer, Alan Scott, explained that parts of the road and footway known as Rose Court, Galashiels (DG88/2) would become superfluous when the redevelopment recently approved by the Council, subject to conclusion of legal agreement, was completed due to being incorporated within the proposal.  The section of road concerned was detailed in an appendix to the report.  The solum of roads included within the order would transfer to the ownership of the developer and the area incorporated within the new development.  All new roads within the development must be constructed to the relevant standard approved via the planning application and would remain private upon their completion.  Any new road or footway constructed during the development which was to become publicly maintained must be to an acceptable standard to the Council. The proposed Stopping-Up Order for the roads in question would be advertised following consultation with Ward Members.

 

DECISION

AGREED to the making of the Stopping-Up Order for that section of the DG88/2 public road at Rose Court, Galashiels and to delegate approval to confirm the Order to the Council’s Chief Legal Officer subject to there being no substantive objections.

 

 

4.

Various Streets Stow - Traffic Regulation Order pdf icon PDF 967 KB

Consider report by Chief Officer, Roads (copy attached).

Minutes:

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Chief Officer, Roads regarding the proposed amendment of the Traffic Regulation Order for Stow as well as related footway improvements.  Road Safety Technician, Samantha Elliot, was in attendance to present the report.  She explained that the Council had been working with Stow community to improve facilities for pedestrians, in particular children on the route to and from school.  The improvements included widening existing narrow footways on Station Road and constructing a safer area at the bell-mouth of the junction of Mill Road with the A7.  It would only be possible to introduce these improvements by amending the existing Traffic             Regulation Order to include additional no-waiting (no parking) in the form of double yellow lines in the area. The footway improvements and amendments were shown in Appendix A to the report.  New no-waiting restrictions would be required on a section of Station Road            as well as the Mill Road/A7 bell-mouth. In addition to the footway improvements described above, a request had also been received for no-waiting restrictions in the vicinity of Craigend Road.  This proposal was shown in Appendix B to the report.  Local residents and businesses that would be affected by the introduction of the proposed build-outs        had been letter-dropped and no comments had been received by the Council to date. Statutory consultation on the proposals would begin at the earliest opportunity.  The local Elected Members and representative from Stow Community Council welcomed the amendments proposed within the report.

 

DECISION

AGREED to approve the amendments to The Scottish Borders Council (Various Streets, Stow) (Traffic Regulation) Order 2009 assuming no adverse comments or objections were received.

 

5.

Neighbourhood Small Schemes pdf icon PDF 125 KB

Consider report by Service Director Assets and Infrastructure seeking approval for the proposed new Neighbourhood Small Schemes (copy attached).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Assets and Infrastructure seeking approval for two proposed new Neighbourhood Small Schemes and giving an update on spend and projects to date in the Eildon Locality.  Neighbourhood Area Manager, Craig Blackie, gave further details of the schemes put forward for consideration.  The first was to replace the existing boundary timber fence on Ormiston Terrace, Melrose with a timber fence, 60 metres in length at a cost of £1,950.  This request was received by an Elected Member and resident.  The other request, received from the local community, was for a new timber bench at Lilliesleaf at a cost of £200.  Members noted that £14,130 had been allocated to date on projects in the Eildon Area as detailed in Appendix  A to the report. 

 

DECISION

 

(a)            APPROVED the following new Neighbourhood Small Schemes for implementation:-

 

 

(i)            Replace the boundary timber fencing (60m) at Ormiston Terrace, Melrose;

 

£1,950

 

(ii)           Provide a new timber bench at Lilliesleaf

 

£200

 (b)

NOTED the position to date on spend and projects in the Eildon Area for Neighbourhood Services Small Schemes, as detailed in the Appendix to the report.

 

 

6.

Dealing with Winter pdf icon PDF 731 KB

Presentation by Neighbourhood Area Manager (copy attached).

Minutes:

            PRESENTATIONS

Copies of the slides accompanying the following presentations had been circulated with the agenda and were available on the Council’s website with the agenda papers.

 

 

6.1       Dealing with Winter

Mr Blackie gave a presentation on the provision of a Winter Service by Neighbourhood Operations.  He explained that the Council produced a Winter Service Plan, which described what steps would be taken to maintain the local road network free from ice and snow as far as the Council considered ‘reasonable’, as required under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. The Service was provided over the entire 2,947 km road network, with a total of 1,090 km (37% of the network) being designated as primary salting routes – 28 primary routes in total.  The Service was also provided over the entire footway network with currently 20 designated primary footway routes in the main towns and villages.  In addition there were 1052 salt bins distributed in towns, villages and rural areas.  There were seven operational depots across the Council with three Climatic Domains for decision making. Decisions on appropriate treatment were made by the seven operational managers depending on the Met Office weather forecasts received.  If warranted, depots carried out pre-treatment in the early evening, ‘call-out’ as required overnight and checks in the morning.  The presentation went on to give details of equipment held by the Council to provide the Winter Service and resource systems used to determine when and where treatment was required.  Eight separate salt storage facilities were maintained with a total capacity of 19,000 tonnes.  Mr Blackie compared the number of planned actions over each of the past three winters, referring to the fact that there was no such thing as an ‘average’ winter to assist planning and budgeting.  In response to questions Mr Blackie explained that manpower for the Winter Service was internal and involved roads personnel and park staff within Neighbourhood Services.  With regard to the order of treatment of the road network, the 28 primary salting routes treated as a priority were listed on the Council’s website.   If adverse conditions continued after 9 am the secondary routes would be treated followed by the tertiary routes.  However there was no guarantee when the latter would be treated as conditions may require resources to return to the primary routes.

 

7.

Health and Social Care Integration pdf icon PDF 191 KB

Presentation by Strategic Planning & Development Manager (copy attached).

Minutes:

Strategic Planning and Development Manager, Jane Robertson, was in attendance to give a presentation on the Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership.  Also present was Stuart Barrie, Locality Co-ordinator for Tweeddale and Teviot.  Mrs Robertson explained the background to Health and Social Care Integration and that legislation required partnerships to produce Locality Plans.  In the Scottish Borders these were co-produced by five Locality Working Groups, chaired by Locality Co-ordinators, with membership of the groups including representatives from the community, the 3rd sector and officers.  Key priorities and an action plan were developed for each locality and there had been public consultation on the Locality Plans over the past three months. The Plans were available to view on the Council’s website and the consultation period would end on 16 September 2017.   Mrs Robertson referred to the specific Eildon priorities within the Eildon Plan which were listed in the presentation.  She went on to highlight projects being carried out under the Health and Social Care Transformation Programme, for example:  the Matching Unit, operational in Hawick, Peebles, Galashiels and Kelso reduced the care at home waiting list in Tweeddale from 12 to 3 on the first day of operation.  Another project, linked to community-led support, was the ‘What Matters’ Hubs, up and running in Hawick, Ettrick and Yarrow, and Galashiels.  These aimed to improve access to services, reduce the need for formal care services, improve customer satisfaction and improve staff morale and motivation.  A Transitional Care Facility was currently provided at Waverley Care Home in Galashiels with plans to roll out the project to other areas and extend to those living at home.  This aimed to enable people to return to their own homes following hospital admission and to prevent further hospital admissions in the future.  In response to a question, Mrs Robertson confirmed that, with regard to the aim to reduce multiple visits to the Borders General Hospital, the focus was not on visits associated with long-term conditions but to use early intervention to reduce multiple unscheduled visits.  It was recognised that effective communication to the public and service-users about any change in ways to access services was a big challenge.  Mrs Robertson confirmed that, as part of the communications plan, the Locality Plans and Posters had been distributed to all GP surgeries.  She concluded by highlighting the email address integration@scotborders.gov.uk  for responses to the consultation and for further information.

 

8.

Local Development Plan Main Issues Report pdf icon PDF 134 KB

Presentation by Lead Officer Plans and Research (copy attached).

Minutes:

Charles Johnston, Lead Officer Plans and Research, was in attendance to draw attention to public events and workshops being held as part of the preparation of the Local Development Plan Main Issues Report (MIR). Mr Johnston referred to the 5 year cycle to produce a Local Development Plan and confirmed that the Council was commencing work on a new Local Development Plan.  The first component part of the new plan was the MIR and the process would begin with public engagement to discuss and identify any issues interested parties would wish to see included in the MIR.  Issues may include: housing allocation (new sites/removal of longstanding allocations); regenerating town centres; employment land provision; protection of greenspace; promotion of placemaking and design; wind farms; and changes to planning policies.  The MIR was due to be prepared by Spring 2018 and be subject to consultation through Summer 2018 with the final adopted Local Development Plan being published in Spring 2021.  Mr Johnston highlighted the dates of public events/workshops being held in the Eildon area to discuss the MIR over the next few weeks. Afternoon drop-in sessions (2pm – 5pm) would be informal to discuss general issues and provide leaflets/questionnaires.  Evening sessions (6pm – 8 pm) would take the form of a workshop with participation and discussion of issues in more detail. In Galashiels on 27 September there would be an afternoon event in the Tesco foyer and a workshop in the evening at the Transport Interchange.   In Selkirk on 10 October there would be an afternoon drop-in event at 1 Tower Street and an evening workshop at Community Connections, Back Row.  A workshop would also be held on 12 October from 2pm – 4pm at Council HQ in Newtown St Boswells. Community Councils had already received letters about the MIR with details of the public engagement process.

 

            DECISION

            NOTED the presentations.

 

9.

Open Questions

Opportunity for members of the public to raise any issues not included on the agenda

Minutes:

There were no open questions.

 

DECISION

NOTED.

 

10.

Community Council Spotlight

Consider matters of interest to Community Councils.

Minutes:

In response to a question from Mr French about the Locality Bid Fund, Councillor Aitchison advised that a report on amendments to the Scheme of Administration and the details of the Locality Bid Fund would be considered at the Council meeting on

28 September 2017.  Until that time nothing had been confirmed in respect of Area Partnerships and the Locality Bid Fund.  Hopefully, with the opportunity for greater participation from the community there should be more public interest in the area meetings in future.

 

DECISION

NOTED.

 

11.

Date of Next Meeting

Thursday, 7 December 2017

Minutes:

The next scheduled meeting would be on Thursday 7 December 2017, however the Chairman advised that a meeting may be arranged at an earlier date to take forward the Locality Bid Fund process in the Eildon area following the Council meeting referred to above.

 

DECISION

NOTED.

 

 

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Scottish Borders Council

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