Agenda and minutes

Minute of the meeting of the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Forum of 16 February 2016 to be approved. (Copy attached).

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the meeting held on 16 February 2016.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the Minute  

With reference to paragraph 4 of the Minute of 16 February 2016, the Chairman, Councillor Turnbull, advised that Mr Richardson, Asset Manager, had requested the Service Director Commercial Services update the Forum on options to maintain the CCTV system.

With reference to paragraph 7 of the Minute of 16 February 2016, the Clerk was asked to contact Mr Castle and request that plans for Wilton Lodge Park development be displayed at the Town Hall. 

With reference to paragraph 9 of the Minute of 16 February 2016, the Chairman, Councillor Turnbull, reported that Scottish Borders Council (SBC) had highlighted the need for a risk assessment and amendment to public liability insurance in order that volunteers could operate the street cleaning machine.  He was also liaising with 4Earth Solutions to arrange a demonstration of their gum stopping procedure on paving.  An update would be presented to the next Forum.

With reference to paragraph 12.4 of the Minute of 16 February, Mr Grieve, Burnfoot Community Council, enquired if the letter had been received from Paul Wheelhouse MSP.   Councillor McAteer replied, that unfortunately the letter had not been received which was disappointing.

With reference to paragraph 12.1 of the Minute of 16 February, the Chairman advised that the Leader of the Council, Councillor David Parker, had been unable to attend the meeting due to prior commitments.  However, he was looking to attend a future meeting, possibly the Forum in June. 

With reference to paragraph 15 of the Minute of 16 February, the Chairman advised that representatives from SEPA had been invited to attend the Area Forum on 19 April 2016.

DECISION

NOTED.

Updated spreadsheet on the progress of the Neighbourhood and Quality of Life Schemes.  (Copy attached).

With reference to the paragraph 8 of the Minute of 16 February 2016, there had been circulated a spreadsheet by Service Director Neighbourhood Services showing the progress of the Neighbourhood Small Schemes and Quality of Life Schemes.  Mr Dunlop was in attendance at the meeting and advised that the upgrade to the existing woodland walk at Newcastleton Primary school and provision of bench at Ettleton Cemetery had been completed. Erection of fences at Havelock Bank and Escape Youth Centre, Hawick had also both been completed.  A contribution of £205 from the Hawick and Hermitage Quality of Life budget for the supply and installation of a bench at Craik Forest was approved on 11 March 2016.  The remaining balance in the Hawick and Hermitage Quality of Life budget was £5,993.00.  Mr Dunlop clarified that the Council had agreed that the remaining budget could be carried forward to the next financial year and this was welcomed by Members.

The Chairman, Councillor Turnbull, intimated that Avril’s Trust had written to thank the Forum for the Quality of Life grant of £1,185.00.  The grant had enabled roll out of their One Day Emergency First Aid Training course in Hawick. The grant also part funded the installation of two defibrillators in Hawick situated at Burnfoot Hub and Morrisons. 

DECISION

NOTED:-

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

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

Update report by Ms June Smyth and Ms Doreen Steele, NHS Borders.

Ms June Smyth, Director of Workforce and Planning and Mr John McFadden both NHS Borders, were in attendance at the meeting to update on NHS Borders initiatives.  Ms Smyth referred to the briefing by Ms Manion, Chief Officer, Health & Social Care Integration, on NHS Borders’ review of clinical services, presented to the December meeting of the Forum.  She advised that there had been 300 conversations with individuals and groups and they were currently identifying key themes.  To encourage engagement they were utilising social media channels, staff intranet and community groups.  The key themes from the consultation to date were accessible services, clinical outcomes and consultation.   The engagement process would continue until the end of April.  There would then be an analysis of the key themes with a report to the Board in June. 

In answer to a question regarding community hospitals, Ms Smyth explained that community hospitals would remain; however, their role and function might change.  The engagement process was continuing.  With regard to Crumhaugh House, works would commence in October.  An update would be provided at the June meeting of the Area Forum.

DECISION

AGREED to request an update on Crumhaugh House from NHS Borders at the June meeting of the Forum. 

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

There had been circulated copies of a report by Inspector Carol Wood, Police Scotland.  The report highlighted that with regard to the Drug Dealing and Misuse priority, a number of stop and searches had been carried out in January. Of these, three individuals had been reported for possession of drugs.    The Road Safety priority showed that 11 road checks had been carried out in February.  Four conditional offers had been issued for speeding, one for use of a mobile phone whilst driving, three for failing to wear a seatbelt and a further one for the anti-social use of a vehicle.  With regard to the Anti-Social Behaviour there had been six recorded police warnings administered.  The report referred to the parking issues in the town.  A meeting had been held with councillors, officers and police to discuss improvements that could be made on the High Street.  Further actions would be followed up as a result of this meeting. It was advised that there was an ongoing investigation into the fatal accident on the A698, once completed there would be a review of the junction.

Members requested clarification on the format of the Police Scotland reports and why this differed from reports presented to Community Councils?  There was also a request that quarterly crime statistics be presented at the next Forum meeting.

DECISION

AGREED that Police Scotland be requested to provide quarterly crime statistics to the April Area Forum.

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

There had been circulated, copies of a report from Mr Russell Bell, Station Manager, Hawick Fire Station, updating the Forum on Scottish Fire and Rescue activity for the month of February. The report detailed that there had been three house fires, 18 special service incidents and 12 unwanted fire signals.  Members highlighted the four out of hospital cardiac arrest responses and commended the Fire and Rescue Service for this new initiative.

DECISION

NOTED.

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

There were no open questions.

Consider matters of interest to Community Councils.

Ms C Nicol, Denholm Community Council, thanked Councillors McAteer and Marshall for  their support in relation to the Boundary Commission’s proposals.  A community resilience group had been formed.  A first aid course for members of the community had been completed. 

            Mr Grieve, Burnfoot Community Council, advised that they were still working on the Remembrance Garden project and had an engaged an architect.  A meeting with Amey regarding the A7 had taken place that day and had been productive.

Mr Knox, Hawick Community Council, advised that they had received a presentation from Mr McGregor on the national park initiative.  The Borders Street Pastors project would be launched in the Council Chamber next week.  There had been a good response for volunteers to use the street cleaning machine.  Hawick’s Spring Clean would be held on 17 April and commence at 10 am in the Common Haugh.

Mr Griffiths, Hobkirk Community Council, advised that they were developing a community website.  They were carrying out an enquiry into the flooding incident.

DECISION

NOTED the reports.

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

The Chairman, Councillor Turnbull, requested an update and timeline be presented at the next meeting on outstanding flooding works.

DECISION

AGREED to request a report at the next meeting of the Forum on outstanding flooding works. 

The Forum requested that the Executive Member for Roads and Infrastructure, Councillor Edgar,  attend a meeting of the Forum to present a report on the roads review and advise where the additional revenue received for roads maintenance would be spent.

DECISION

AGREED to request that the Forum receive a presentation by the Councillor Edgar on roads maintenance.

Councillors Smith and Turnbull attended the Scottish Timber Transport Conference in Perth on 17 March which had been worthwhile.  Councillor Smith advised that they had been the only two councillors out of 124 delegates.  The conference had been worthwhile, the significance of stakeholder engagement had been emphasised.    It was agreed to arrange a presentation on Timber Transport at a future meeting of the Forum.

DECISION

AGREED to request a presentation on timber transport at a future meeting of the Forum.

Tuesday, 19 April 2016 at 6.30 pm in the Lesser Hall, Town Hall, Hawick.

The next meeting of the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Forum would be held on Tuesday, 19 April 2016 at 6.30 pm in Lesser Hall, Town Hall, Hawick.