Agenda item

Consider Motion by Councillor Haslam in the following terms:-

“That Scottish Borders Council approves the Administration’s vision “Connected Borders 2017 – 2022” for delivering better communities across the Scottish Borders”.  (Copy document attached.)

4.1       Councillor Haslam, seconded by Councillor Aitchison, moved her Motion as detailed on the agenda in the following terms:-

“That Scottish Borders Council approves the Administration’s vision “Connected Borders 2017 – 2022” for delivering better communities across the Scottish Borders”. 

Councillor Haslam spoke in support of her Motion. Members discussed the Vision document and a number of amendments were submitted by Members of the Opposition as follows:-

              (a)     Councillor Bell, seconded by Councillor H. Anderson, moved as an amendment that on Page 6 a second sentence be added to the end of the last bullet point of the “WE WILL” commitments – “So that the state of the Borders roads, as measured by the national Roads Condition Index, is at least at the average of comparable local authorities”.

              (b)     Councillor Laing, seconded by Councillor Bell, moved as an amendment that on Page 6 a second sentence be added to the end of the second (sub) bullet point of the first item of the “WE WILL” commitments – “We will work with our colleagues in Westminster to lobby Network Rail to ensure that the promises made to deliver Reston Station in control period 6 (2019-2024) will be realized.”

              (c)     Councillor Elaine Thornton-Nicol, seconded by Councillor Bell, moved as an amendment that on Page 6 a new bullet point be added to the end of the “WE WILL” commitments – “Defend the provision of local public bus services in the Borders.”

              (d)     Councillor A. Anderson, seconded by Councillor Bell, moved as an amendment that on Page 6 a new bullet point be added to the end of the “WE WILL” commitments – “Establish a cost effective enforcement solution to act as a deterrent in towns blighted by anti-social on-street parking.”

              (e)     Councillor H. Anderson, seconded by Councillor Bell, moved as amendment that on Page 8 a new section be added – Farming and fishing sectors are a vital component of our local economy, ensuring both food security and the achievement of climate change targets.  Recognizing that the proposed UK exit from the European Union will impact significantly on the economic vitality of both sectors

WE WILL

·                Commission an evaluation of the potential economic impact of withdrawal from the EU on both sectors and of the actions we as a Council can take to ameliorate any detrimental impact

·                Target our Business Gateway function to encourage and support co-operative investments by farmers and fishing interests to ensure as much value from the Borders primary production is processed by local manufacturing and marketing capacity.”

              (f)      Councillor Ramage, seconded by Councillor Bell, moved as amendment that on Page 12 that a second bullet point be added to the “WE WILL” commitments – “Maintain the average rate of the school building programme achieved in the last decade as this is rectifying the years of under investment, by accelerating the programme of repair and maintenance of our current schools, both old and new.”

              (g)     Councillor Drum, seconded by Councillor Bell, moved as an amendment that on Page 15 a new bullet point be added at the end of the “WE WILL” commitments – “Build community engagement so that at least 1% of the Council annual budget is decided by community choices/participative processes.”

              Adjournment

The Convener adjourned the meeting for 30 minutes to allow Members of the Administration time to consider the amendments detailed above.

4.2       Following the meeting being reconvened, Councillor H. Anderson advised that although as a farmer she had no personal interest, given the general nature of the subject matter of her amendment she advised that it would now be moved by Councillor Bell and seconded by Councillor Laing.  Councillor Fullarton advised that he was also a farmer and given the general nature of the amendment did not wish to declare an interest but would not vote on that item.

4.3       Councillor Haslam advised that following consideration of the 7 amendments detailed above she was prepared to accept amendment (c) into her Motion but considered that the remaining 6 amendments were either already incorporated in the spirit of the Vision document, were premature or had significant budget implications.  With regard to amendment (d) she proposed, seconded by Councillor Edgar, that the Parking Working Group be re-established by the Executive Committee and this was unanimously accepted.  Members discussed the amendments and then voted by a show of hands on each as follows:-

              VOTE

              Amendment (a)

              For              -    12 votes

              Against       -    18 votes

              Amendment (b)

              For              -    11 votes

              Against       -    19 votes

              Amendment (d)

              For              -    12 votes

              Against       -    16 votes

              Amendment (e)

              For              -    8 votes

              Against       -    19 votes

              Amendment (f)

              For              -    12 votes

              Against       -    18 votes

              Amendment (g)

              For              -    12 votes

              Against       -    18 votes

              All the amendments accordingly fell.                                                 

              DECISION

              DECIDED:-

              (a)     to approve the Administration’s vision “Connected Borders 2017 – 2022” for delivering better communities across the Scottish Borders, subject to the addition on page 6 of a new bullet point at the end of the “WE WILL” commitments which read “Defend the provision of local public bus services in the Borders.”; and

              (b)     to delegate to the Executive Committee the re-establishment of the Parking Working Group .