Agenda item

Consider Motion by Councillor Paterson in the following terms:-

“That the Leader of Scottish Borders Council writes to the UK Government expressing the Council’s concerns about reports that the changes that are being introduced by the UK government in 2019 will lead to a real-term cut in Scottish Government Funding for investment in the railways in Scotland.  It has been announced that there could be as much as a £600 million gap in funding for projects that the Scottish Government has earmarked and these projects may not now happen.  There are real concerns that this may be the death knell for any plans to extend the Borders Railway from Tweedbank to Hawick and then on to Carlisle via Newcastleton; this move by the UK Government may also have a detrimental effect on future rail improvements to the Borders Railway”.

Councillor Paterson, seconded by Councillor Bell, moved the Motion as detailed on the agenda in the following terms:-

“That the Leader of Scottish Borders Council writes to the UK Government expressing the Council’s concerns about reports that the changes that are being introduced by the UK government in 2019 will lead to a real-term cut in Scottish Government Funding for investment in the railways in Scotland.  It has been announced that there could be as much as a £600 million gap in funding for projects that the Scottish Government has earmarked and these projects may not now happen.  There are real concerns that this may be the death knell for any plans to extend the Borders Railway from Tweedbank to Hawick and then on to Carlisle via Newcastleton; this move by the UK Government may also have a detrimental effect on future rail improvements to the Borders Railway”

Councillor Paterson spoke in support of his Motion.  Councillor Rowley, seconded by Councillor Edgar, moved the following amendment:-

“That the Leader of Scottish Borders Council writes to the Scottish Government's Minister for Transport and the Islands, Humza Yousaf MSP, requesting confirmation of his recent "unwavering" commitment to "have the stations built as early in CP6 as practicable and commitment to that objective is unwavering" and to ask him to recognise the significant part which Scottish Borders Council's £2.84 million commitment to Reston plays in delivering sustainable development in one of the lowest income areas of Scotland.

We reaffirm that this Council has the strongest-possible commitment to ensuring the economic and social benefits of the Borders Railway are extended through to Hawick, Newcastleton and on to Carlisle, so the Leader will ask the Minister to make clear that current East Coast Main Line projects and budgets have no connection to future proposals for extension of the Borders Railway and an early meeting will be sought to see how best to progress extension of the Borders Railway to Hawick, Newcastleton and beyond.”

Councillor Laing, seconded by Councillor H. Anderson, moved as an addition to the original Motion that the words “It could also threaten plans to re-open Reston Station” be added after “improvements to the Borders Railway.  Councillor Paterson agreed to accept this amendment to his Motion.

VOTE

On a show of hands Members voted as follows:-

Motion as amended    -           12 Votes

Amendment                 -           17 Votes

The amendment was accordingly approved.

DECISION

DECIDED that the Leader of Scottish Borders Council write to the Scottish Government's Minister for Transport and the Islands, Humza Yousaf MSP, requesting confirmation of his recent "unwavering" commitment to "have the stations built as early in CP6 as practicable and commitment to that objective was unwavering" and to ask him to recognise the significant part which Scottish Borders Council's £2.84 million commitment to Reston played in delivering sustainable development in one of the lowest income areas of Scotland.  We reaffirm that this Council had the strongest-possible commitment to ensuring the economic and social benefits of the Borders Railway were extended through to Hawick, Newcastleton and on to Carlisle, so the Leader would ask the Minister to make clear that current East Coast Main Line projects and budgets had no connection to future proposals for extension of the Borders Railway and an early meeting would be sought to see how best to progress extension of the Borders Railway to Hawick, Newcastleton and beyond.”