Scottish Borders Council

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Assembly Hall, Kelso High School. Angraflat, Kelso

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome and Introductions

Minutes:

1.0     WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

1.1     The Chairman welcomed everyone to the Cheviot Area Partnership and thanked the Community Councils, Partners and local organisations for their attendance, and for participating and putting forward ideas. 

 

2.

Consumption of Alcohol in Public Places

Consultation to help inform the Council in considering if there are areas in the Scottish Borders where drinking alcohol in a public place should not be allowed.  (Further information can be found at https://scotborders.citizenspace.com/)

Minutes:

2.0     CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL IN PUBLIC PLACES

2.1     The Chairman welcomed Mr. Brian Frater, Service Director Regulatory Services and Mrs Nuala McKinlay, Chief Legal Officer to the meeting.  Mr. Frater explained that consideration had been given to the introduction of bye-laws prohibiting the consumption of alcohol in public places in certain communities back in 2013.  It was considered that the responses to the consultation at that time, of which there had been very few, were no longer relevant so it would not be appropriate to proceed to implement the draft bye-laws and a new consultation process was to be undertaken.  The consultation document went live on the Council’s website on 27 March 2019 and the volume of responses was encouraging with 300 responses in 2 weeks and Mr Frater encouraged everyone to take part.  It was important that a wide range of groups and communities gave their views so that the responses were representative of the views of everyone across the Borders.  He asked communities to consider whether there was a problem in their area which could be helped by bye-laws and emphasised that they were not designed to impact on local festivals or “café culture” but to help prevent anti-social behaviour.  The first part of the consultation would close on 1 June and if there was a desire for bye-laws then a second consultation would be held to ascertain exactly where they should be implemented.  A final report would be taken to Scottish Borders Council in November 2019.

 

2.2     In response to questions about comparative information, Mr Frater advised that Scottish Borders Council were the only Authority in Scotland not to have byelaws.  He emphasised that the byelaws were not to tackle underage drinkers.  In relation to what was a public place, Mrs McKinlay explained and highlighted when an occasional licence would be required.  Mrs McKinlay explained that the byelaws, if approved  would be an additional tool for Police to use.  Mr Frater reiterated that no decisions had been made and the results of the consultation would decide whether the introductions of byelaws were to be pursued.

3.

Feedback from Meeting on 30 January 2019 pdf icon PDF 103 KB

(Copy Minute attached.)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

3.0     Feedback from meeting on 30 JANUARY 2019

3.1     The minute of the Area Partnership had been circulated which included a summary of the discussion output as an appendix.  The Locality Development Co-ordinator referred to the general concerns, issues, challenges and opportunities raised at that meeting.   Feedback from each theme would then be drawn together to inform the Cheviot Locality Plan.

 

3.2     The Chairman referred to the main item on the agenda – discussion around the theme ‘Our Quality of Life’ - and introduced the key speakers who each gave a brief summary of the work, relevant to the theme, being carried out by their organisation/section.

4.

Draft Cheviot Locality Plan pdf icon PDF 388 KB

A facilitated discussion on the Locality Plan for Cheviot.  (Copy draft Plan attached.) 

 

Discussion to consider:

  • Whether you agree with the priorities you have raised through Area Partnership meetings? Has anything been missed?
  • What would success look like?
  • How can we work in partnership together to achieve this?
  • How do I get involved?

 

Further information on local data and statistics can be found at  https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/info/20015/your_council/472/area_partnerships/3

Minutes:

4.0     DRAFT CHEVIOT LOCALITY PLAN

4.1     There had been circulated copies of the Draft Cheviot Locality Plan.  The Chairman explained that the aim of the plan was to reflect the priorities and needs of Cheviot people and the draft had been prepared taking account of the feedback provided at all the previous themed meetings.  There were 4 themes within the plan and the top priority for Cheviot under each theme had been identified and the views of those present were being sought to check that the plan had what people wanted.

 

4.2     Colin Banks explained how the evening would work.  There was a facilitator at each table and each table would discuss one of the themes for 20 minutes with the facilitators moving round. 

 

4.3     There followed some very constructive discussion and a copy of the main points raised are appended to the Minute.

 

5.

Localities Bid Fund Update

Minutes:

5.0     LOCALITIES BID FUND UPDATE

5.1    Colin Banks advised that flyers had been placed on each table and applications could be submitted until the end of the month.  He was happy to assist any group with their    application.  The Chairman commented on the changes to the criteria and encouraged people to apply.

 

6.

URGENT BUSINESS

Minutes:

URGENT BUSINESS

Under Section 50B(4)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the Chairman was of the opinion that the item dealt with in the following paragraph should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency, in view of the need to make an early decision or to keep Members informed.

 

6.0     NEIGHBOURHOOD SMALL SCHEMES 

6.1     There were circulated at the meeting copies of a note by the Service Director  Asset and Infrastructure which sought approval from Members for delegated powers for future applications for Small Schemes.  The report explained that to ensure applications for Small Schemes are dealt with timeously, Members were asked to delegate authority to the Service Director Assets and Infrastructure to approve future applications in 2019/20 subject to conditions.

 

DECISION

          AGREED that authority to approve future applications in 2019/20, be delegated to the Service Director – Assets & Infrastructure subject to the following:

 

 

(a)     Application(s) for projects to be carried out from Small Schemes are received, assessed and costed by Council Officers;

 

 

 

(b)     Officers will then send details of the project(s) to Elected Members along with a recommendation for their consideration;

 

(c)     Elected Members will advise appropriate Council Officers of their support or otherwise for a particular project – support will be required from a majority of Elected Members for a project to proceed;

 

(d)     Should support by the majority of Members not be given for a project, this application will be refused; and

 

(e)     Details of projects funded from the Small Schemes budget will be presented to the Cheviot Area Partnership as part of any future updates on Grants and Funding. 

(f)    Any application for Community Fund funded projects should be directed to the Communities and Partnership Team.

 

7.

Date of Next Meeting

To be confirmed.

Minutes:

7.0    DATE OF NEXT MEETING

7.1     The next meeting would be held on Wednesday, 19 June 2019 in Jedburgh at 6.30 p.m.   The theme of the meeting would be confirmed in due course.

 

 

The meeting closed at 8 p.m.

 

 

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