Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting and advised that there would be a presentation on the Introduction of Food Waste Collections by Fiona Munro, Waste Strategy Assistant. 

Minute of the meeting of the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Forum of 16 June 2015 to be approved. (Copy attached).

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the meeting held on 16 June 2015.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the Minute.

Councillor Cranston declared an interest in the following item of business in terms of Section 5 of the Councillors Code of Conduct and left the hall during the discussion.

Presentation by Fiona Munro, Waste Strategy Assistant.

The Chairman welcomed Fiona Munro, Waste Strategy Assistant, from Neighbourhood Services, Scottish Borders Council (SBC).  Ms Munro referred to the background which led to the decision to introduce this new service.  The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 required food waste collections to be introduced by 1 January 2016.    Food waste was seen as a valuable resource and a way of diverting more waste from landfill and could be used as a valuable recycling resource.   In accordance with the regulations and Scottish Government urban versus rural classification, the collection service in the Scottish Borders would involve approximately 24,500 households and businesses.  Phase 1, weekly kerbside food waste collections in Galashiels, Tweedbank, Selkirk and Peebles had commenced in May 2015.  Phase 2, involved Jedburgh and Hawick, and would start during the week commencing 7 September.  Ms Munro advised how to participate in the scheme and had brought along an example of the caddies, together with biodegradable liners and guidance leaflets, which would be delivered to households during the week prior to the start of collections. Each household would have a 5 litre silver kitchen caddy and liners, in which to deposit daily food waste.  The tied bags of waste should then be transferred from the kitchen caddy to outdoor brown caddies of 23 litre for a single household or 140 litre for communal household. It was emphasised that the food waste collection service also came under animal by-product legislation and as such would be closely regulated. There would be no effluent or waste produced during handling.  Purpose-built collection vehicles would transport the waste to central skips from where it would be taken to the nearest food waste management site at Levenseat Ltd., Midlothian. Following an animal by-product process at the site, material would be shredded and heated to kill bacteria, food waste would then be turned into compost like material.  Ms Munro concluded by stating that Phase I participation had been encouraging and it was hoped that Phase II would be positive.   Following the presentation Ms Munro answered questions, and explained that the food waste collection service was a legal requirement; the garden waste service had been a mandatory service.   Scottish Government had set the classifications as to size of area based on economic viability.   The Chairman thanked  Ms Munro for the informative presentation.

DECISION

NOTED the presentation.

Consider report by Service Director Neighbourhood Services. (Copy attached).

There had been circulated copies of a report by Service Director Neighbourhood Services updating the Forum on previously approved Neighbourhood Small Schemes and seeking approval for the refurbishment of railings at Lothian Street, Hawick and provision of a street name plate at East Stewart Place, Hawick.  Mr Finnie reported that replumbing of the existing railing fence at Riverside Walk would be completed by the end of September and the upgrading of the footpath at Waverly Walk by the Winter. A trial for regrouting the footpaths would be carried out at the front of the Town Hall and this should be completed by end of September.   The cost for this trial section would be monitored to enable consideration of further sections in the future.   Mr Finnie clarified that it was the aim to have the Billy Goat machine operational in the town two half days per week, however this was dependent on weather conditions.  The machine was now stored in the toilet block at the Common Haugh which allowed for easier access by the operator.   It was noted that Hawick and Denholm councillors were engaging with local community councils regarding appropriate schemes for funding.

DECISION

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

(i)            Refurbishment of railings at Lothian Street, Hawick                £1,539

(ii)          Provision of street name plate at East Stewart Place, Hawick   £350

(b)          NOTED

(i)            the updates on previously approved Neighbourhood Small Schemes as detailed in Appendix A to the report; and

(ii)          the updates on previously approved Quality of Life Schemes as detailed in Appendix B to the report.

Update report by Police Inspector detailing ongoing work and initiatives in the Teviot and Liddesdale area – To follow.

There had been circulated, copies of a report from Inspector Carol Wood, Police Scotland, updating the Forum on Police Scotland performance, activities and issues for the period up to 31 July 2015. Sergeant Cranston was in attendance and highlighted that recorded crime had increased slightly over the same period last year.  The solvency rate had decreased and this was due to the difficulty in detecting vandalism of which there had been a reported increase.   It was requested that a breakdown of when and where the vandalism occurred be included in future reports.   Sergeant Cranston stated that there had been a change in the way reported crime was dealt with; when a crime was reported, it was now subject to a screening process, if there was no witness(es) or cctv, police did not attend immediately, in some instances if might be up to a week later when an officer attended the crime scene, by which time evidence might have been lost.  The Forum requested that the number of stop /searches carried out be recorded in relation to the six number of individuals charged for possession of drugs, and this information be included in future reports.  There was discussion on the five reported break-ins in the Newcastleton area and it was requested that when the ward priorities were reviewed again, that rural crime be reinstated as a ward priority.

DECISION

NOTED.

Update report by Russell Bell, Station Commander, detailing ongoing work and initiatives in the Teviot and Liddesdale Area – To follow.

There had been circulated, copies of a report from Russell Bell, Station Manager, Hawick Fire Station updating the Forum on Scottish Fire and Rescue activity for the month of  June and July 2015. Service delivery activity showed four house fire occurrences, two open fires, eight special services, which included one casualty and 22 unwanted fire signals of which 10 were from sheltered housing.  The summer thematic plan was still in operation. 

DECISION

NOTED.

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

A member of the public asked for clarification in respect of funding for the erection of a disabled ramp at Silverbuthall.   Permission for the ramp had been received from Scottish Borders Council (SBC).  Funding for the ramp was still required, the estimated cost for the work being in the region £36 - £40k. The member of the public understood that £5,000 had been committed to the project from Quality of Life funding and asked Councillor Cranston for clarification and also for details of other funding sources that would be appropriate.   Councillor Cranston confirmed that he would advise of the action he had taken following the meeting.

A member of the public asked if spraying of weeds in the town had been carried out. Mr Finnie clarified that the contractor had begun the first treatment on 15 May, the second treatment was due to be started this week.  However, one of the problems was that residual weedkiller was no longer permitted to be used.  Mr Finnie would raise with the contractor the complaint and also investigate the tree growing on the bridge. 

DECISION

NOTED.

Consider matters of interest to Community Councils.

(a)          Mr Stevenson advised that Mr John Hepburn had been appointed as the new Chairman.   Tenders for refurbishment of the village hall were being requested.  The issue of rural crime was also a concern.

(b)          Mr Roberts advised that there had been a special meeting of the community council last week to consider the changes to the 120 bus route.  The community were concerned at the 50% reduction in the service which was affecting a number of people; SBC would be contacted with a request for data on the historical use of the service.  It was recognised that there had to be economies but the manner in which the changes had been implemented was a concern.  It was hoped that the Passenger Transport Strategy would recommend the restoration of the full service.

(c)        Mr Griffiths advised that there had been an increase in the number of visitors this summer.  The issue of the lack of signage and the damage to the bridge was raised again.  A small amount of money spent on signage now could avoid a significant amount when repairs to the bridge were required.  Mr Finnie would investigate.

DECISION

NOTED the report.

Tuesday, 15 September 2015 at 6.30 pm in the Room 205, Tower Mill, Hawick  Hawick.

The next meeting of the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Forum would be held on Tuesday, 15 September 2015 at 6.30 pm in Room 205, Tower Mill, Hawick.

DECISION

NOTED.

The meeting concluded at 7.40 pm