Scottish Borders Council

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Lesser Hall, Town Hall, Hawick

Contact: Judith Turnbull Tel No. 01835 826556  Email: Judith.Turnbull@scotborders.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Presentation

Update and progress of Bellwin Scheme by SBC and SEPA Officers.

Minutes:

Scottish Borders Council (SBC) officers: Colin Ovens, Infrastructure Manager, Ewan Doyle, Project Management Team Leader, Duncan Morrison, Flood and Coastal Management Team Leader and David Richardson, Asset Manager were in attendance at the meeting to give a presentation on the Bellwin Scheme, particularly in relation to Hawick.  Ruth Ellis and Angela Floss, representing the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), were also present to answer questions.

 

Mr Ovens began the presentation by referring to the recent storms: Desmond, Frank and the flooding in 2015/16 which had been widespread across the Scottish Borders and had caused extensive damage to buildings, bridges, road, drainage channels and embankments, particularly in Hawick, Jedburgh and Peebles.  Responding to the initial aftermath of storm damage, SBC had implemented a programme of repairs to infrastructure.  Mr Ovens explained that damage which could be claimed from the Bellwin scheme was prescriptive and related to recovery and emergency works following immediate storms.   Within the Bellwin timeframe, repairs to roads were required to be completed by 30 June 2016 and to bridges and river banks by 30 September 2016.    Mr Ovens went on to explain that officers met weekly to discuss the programme of works which was in excess of 300 plus projects, 50% of which had been completed at a cost of £2m.  The final spend was anticipated to be in excess of £4m. 

 

Mr Doyle continued that the Hawick Flood Protection Strategy was a three phased strategy: the short term strategy was measures to increase the level of protection to 1 in 10 year.  The medium term strategy was the Hawick Flood Protection project to deliver direct 1 in 75 year defences within the town.  The longer term strategy was upstream management to increase the level of protection created by the medium term, phase two, direct defences.  Mr Doyle further advised that the Executive Committee had that day, agreed to deliver stability improvements to the wall at the Post Office Sorting Office as a priority.  The Executive Committee had also recommended that the Chief Financial Officer consider accelerating funding from 2017/18 to 2016/17 to deliver the remainder of the Priority 1 works including, 1 in 10 protection to the Common Haugh Car Park; increase the length of 1 in 10 kerb protection at Mansfield Road; 1 in 10 protection in Laidlaw Terrace and formation of a 1 in 10 ramp footpath at Glebe Mill.

 

Members expressed their concern over the level of gravel on riverbeds and the possibility of localised gravel removal as a measure to alleviate flooding risks.  Mr Doyle advised that this was not a practical solution.  The Council had carried out analysis of gravel removal and also historical mapping of Hawick had indicated that dredging the riverbed had little impact on reducing flood risk, particularly on large rivers moving at pace, which could move and deposit materials downstream. Any dredged sections being filled to their original levels very quickly.    Analysis had also been carried out on a model which showed that removal of 1 metre of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Minute pdf icon PDF 79 KB

Minute of the meeting of the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Forum of 15 March 2016 to be approved. (Copy attached).

Minutes:

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

 

DECISION

AGREED to approve the Minute.  

 

3.

Matters Arising from the Minute

Minutes:

With reference to paragraph 5.2 of the Minute of 15 March 2016, it was noted that Police Scotland provided crime statistics to SBC.  The Clerk was asked to find out if these could be circulated to the Area Forum.

 

With reference to paragraph 11 of the Minute of 15 March 2016, the Chairman advised that as the Roads Service was not specific to geographical areas. Until the business case had been developed, there was no other information that could be shared with Members than what had already been briefed to all political groups prior to the Executive on the 8 March 2016.

 

With reference to paragraph 12 of the Minute of 15 March, Councillors Smith and Turnbull would raise at a meeting on 20 May and report back to the Forum.

 

DECISION

NOTED. 

 

4.

Street Cleaning Machine

Verbal update by Chairman

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that 4earch Solutions Ltd had demonstrated their gumstopper machine on the pavement at Stampers, North Road.  The machine was extremely effective at removing chewing gum.  It was suggested that specific jobs be priced and be brought back to the Area Forum for consideration of funding from the Quality of Life budget. 

 

            DECISION

            NOTED.

 

5.

Neighbourhood Small Schemes and Quality of Life pdf icon PDF 55 KB

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

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

With reference to the paragraph 3 of the Minute of 18 April, 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 electronic signs for The Hub, Burnfoot had been delivered and would be installed as soon as possible.   The remaining budget in the Quality of Life schemes budget was £3,019 (Hawick and Hermitage) and £190 (Hawick and Denholm).  Remaining in the Neighbourhood Small Schemes budget was £5,032 (Hawick and Hermitage) £4,676 (Hawick and Denholm).

 

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.

 

 

6.

Police Scotland pdf icon PDF 133 KB

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

Minutes:

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 houses had been searched in Hawick, as a result of these searches five people were charged with drug offences.  The Road Safety priority showed that six road checks had been carried out in March.  One conditional offer was issued for speeding and a warning was administered for the anti-social use of a vehicle.  Four different drivers were charged with driving without insurance and one driver arrested and charged with drink driving. With regard to the Violent Crime priority, following an incident within a property in Millport, a male had been charged with assault and robbery.  Inspector Wood further advised that following a disturbance in Elm Court a male had been arrested for possession of an offensive weapon and breach of the peace.  Police had also attended an altercation in the High Street and a female was charged with serious assault.  Police Scotland continued to monitor closely all anti-social behaviour incidents and a number of individuals were at various stages of the process.  Police Scotland worked in partnership with Scottish Borders Council and Registered Social Landlords in dealing with those people who cause a nuisance for their neighbours and in the wider community.  During March one fixed penalty ticket was issued and four recorded police warnings were administered. 

 

Inspector Wood further advised that following an incident, two 14 year old youths had been charged with reckless discharge of a firearm.  A report on the circumstances had been sent to the Children’s Reporter.  The Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 came into effect on 1st July 2016 at which time the public would begin to apply for licences.  Enforcement for this act would commence on 1st January 2017.  This legislation would tighten up on processes and be similar to current firearms legislation.  These new procedures should assist in reckless incidents, reducing and introducing stricter controls for the possession of air weapons and dealing with offences that occurred.

 

Inspector Wood concluded her report by advising that a public survey entitled ‘Your View Counts’ was launched on 7 April.  Information on this could be found on the Police Scotland website.  The survey would take about 15 minutes to complete and she encouraged all members of the public to participate as it would help inform policing priorities throughout the country for the year ahead.  The web address was www.scotland.police.uk/yourviewcounts.  The Chairman thanked Inspector Wood for her informative report.

 

DECISION

NOTED. 

 

7.

Scottish Fire & Rescue Service pdf icon PDF 960 KB

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

Minutes:

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 March. The report detailed that there had been one house fire, three open fires, two special service incidents and seven unwanted fire signals.  Mr Bell advised that the Chief Officer of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Mr Alasdair Bell had visited Hawick Station along with Mr Paul Wheelhouse MSP.  The purpose of the visit was to thank Hawick crews for their endeavours during the recent floods.  Also in attendance was Mr Wight, the ‘Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest’ trial being pivotal in saving Mr Wight’s life following his cardiac arrest in January.   The Chairman thanked for Mr Bell for his informative presentation.

 

DECISION

NOTED.

 

8.

Open Questions

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

Minutes:

There were no open questions.

9.

Community Council Spotlight

Consider matters of interest to Community Councils.

Minutes:

Mr Grieve, Burnfoot Community Council, advised that work was still ongoing with the Garden of Remembrance.  The Carnival Committee met regularly and had raised over £200 at Sainsbury’s.  Mr Grieve further advised that the Community Council had arranged a litter pick the previous weekend.  On the 12 May 2016 they would be taking part in the Coronet’s night.

 

            Mr Griffiths, Hobkirk Community Council stated that defibrillator was now in place, four volunteers would be delivering training.  Potholes were still an issues and becoming more apparent.  The Community Council would be meeting about the abundance of wind farm applications in the area.

 

Mr Knox, Hawick Community Council, advised that there had been an enthusiastic band of volunteers for their annual spring clean.  The Community Council would again be taking part in the Flora Gateway Competition.  Mr Knox continued that they were hosting a hustings session on the 25 April for the Scottish Parliamentary election.  Mr Knox further advised that an energy sub group had been established to investigate the possibility of harnessing water from the River Teviot

 

            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.

 

 

10.

Date of next Teviot and Liddesdale Area Forum Meeting

Tuesday, 17 May 2016 at 6.30 pm in the Lesser Hall, Town Hall, Hawick.

Minutes:

The next meeting of the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Forum would be held on Tuesday, 17 May 2016 at 6.30 pm in Lesser Hall, Town Hall, Hawick.  

 

 

 

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