Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting and advised that there would be a presentation on Health and Social Care Integration by Ms J Douglas, Principal Assistant, Social Care & Health.  Mr R Bell, Station Manager, Hawick Fire Station would also give a presentation on the Fire Service Strategic Plan. 

Minute of the meeting of the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Forum of 19 May 2015 to be approved. (Copy attached).

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the meeting held on 19 May 2015.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the Minute.

With reference to paragraph 4 of the Minute, Councillor Paterson reported that he had received complaints from residents at Crumhaugh regarding the relocation of the Ward.  The complaints had been referred to NHS Borders.

3.1       With reference to paragraph 8(a) of the Minute, Councillor Turnbull advised that he had received a statement from the Clerk to the Council, Ms J Wilkinson.    In summary, the Council had submitted a formal response to the 20-part consultation from the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland and the closing date for the consultation had closed.  The Area Forum had no remit to seek a change to the Council’s response, the decision on both responses being taken at the full Council meeting involving all councillors.  When the Boundary Commission opened up the consultation again, probably in July, then other community groups/organisations as well as the public would have the opportunity to submit their responses to the Commission’s proposals.   The Review had been carried out in two stages; the first stage being the reduction of Councillor numbers from 34 to 32, the Council, at its meeting on 24 April 2014, opposed the proposed reduction and requested retention of the present number.  The Boundary Commission had then opened the consultation up to members of the public and community groups.   On 5 March 2015 the Council received the Local Government Boundary Commission’s proposals which presented an electoral arrangement of 32 Councillors (a reduction of two councillors) and a reduction in the number of wards in the area. 

3.2         The Chairman opened up the discussion to the public and there followed anacrimonious debate in which Councillor McAteer raised two Points of Order, both of which were disregarded by the Chairman.  In summary, the consensus reached was that the status quo should remain, Teviot and Liddesdale should retain all six elected members and that both Denholm and Newcastleton should remain within Teviot and Liddesdale.  It was also requested by a member of the public, that the submission included  reference to Hawick being in an area of deprivation.  The Chairman advised that the Boundary Commission had already made their decision on the reduction on the number of councillors from 34 to 32.  The consultation process would now be on The Local Government Boundary Commission’s proposals for changes to the Ward boundaries.  It was agreed that the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland be asked to attend a public meeting in Hawick to discuss their proposal and to take into consideration the communities’ views in determining their recommendations for changes to the Ward boundaries.   For clarification, elected members were asked how they voted at the Council meeting: Councillor Turnbull, Paterson and Smith had voted for an amendment for the Boundary Commission to review their proposals for both Wards. Councillor McAteer and Marshall voted for an amendment to include Denholm and Hornshole within the Hawick and District Ward.  Councillor Cranston had abstained as he was in favour of community consultation.

DECISION

AGREED to request that the Local Government Boundary Commission  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

(a)          Health & Social Care Integration (Ms J Douglas, Principal Assistant Social Care & Health/Group Manager).

(b)          Scottish Fire & Rescue Service (Mr R Bell, Hawick Station Manager).

The Chairman welcomed Russell Bell, Station Manager, Hawick Fire Station. Mr Bell explained that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service came into being on 1 April 2013, when eight services merged into one.  The Service employed 8,315 staff: 3,875 operational, 2,952 retained duty, 229 control staff, 864 support and had 395 volunteers.  The Service operated from 357 stations across Scotland.  For 2015/16 the resource budget was £259.221m which was an 11% reduction on the 2013/14 budget. The national fire and rescue framework set the Scottish Government priorities and targets for the Service the Strategic Plan direction was then set by this and agreed.    In the future the Service priorities would be: a stronger outcome focused service; integration around partnership/public service reform agenda; be an efficient service provider; be an effective and flexible national and local service,  delivery focused on prevention and responsiveness and enhanced engagement. The formal consultation on the draft Strategic Plan would take place in October – December 2015 with the final Plan laid before Parliament in March 2016.     In answer to questions Mr Bell advised that their reduction targets were on a rolling period and the reduction figure in respect of dwelling fires was 3% each year, to an accumulative 10% over 3 years. This would be achieved by enhanced education focussing on prevention, partnership working and continued home fire safety visits.  Hawick Station would become a water rescue station which would enhance the capability of the Service to waterborne incidents. All fire stations in Scotland would be subject to a fire cover review in the future. This review would examine risk areas/populations in relation to the positioning and capability of the fire stations.  All fire stations, including those on the retained duty system, would be part of the review.   The Chairman thanked Mr Bell for the informative presentation.

DECISION

NOTED.

The Chairman welcomed Ms Jane Douglas, Principal Assistant Social Care & Health, NHS Borders to the meeting to give a presentation on the Health and Social Care Integration agenda.  Ms Douglas explained that as part of Health and Social Care Integration, NHS Borders and SBC were attending a number of public engagement events to give an overview on the progress on the Integration agenda. The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 required 14 Health Boards and all 32 Local Authorities across Scotland to develop integration arrangements for each Council area, to establish a Joint Integration Board and by April 2016 develop a three year Strategic plan covering the commissioning of adult care and health.  Ms Douglas referred to some of the challenges facing an Integrated Service, including public spending and the provision required to meet the needs of an ageing population.  The second draft Strategic Plan would be published by the end of June 2015 with the next key date being finalisation of the Plan on 31 October 2015.  A Strategic Planning Group (SPG) had been set up, the membership of which included users and carers of social and health care services; commercial and non-commercial bodies providing health and social care; health and social care professionals; non-commercial and social housing providers; and third sector bodies that carried out activities related to health and social care.    Ms Douglas went on to state that with an ageing population, with more chronic conditions to support, there would be a rising demand for services.  There was a need to deliver better outcomes – improving joint working, better communication, reducing duplication and sharing information.   Ms Douglas gave an example of how the new Strategy was expected to improve the experience and outcomes for an imaginary service user by using health and social care professionals in the best way possible.    In terms of locality arrangements, there were five locality areas in the Scottish Borders, including Teviot and Liddesdale,  these areas would be key to the effective engagement of local stakeholders in the design and delivery of services.  The presentation included a number of graphs and tables which demonstrated a range of profiles comparing Teviot and Liddesdale with the Scottish Borders – there had been 397, per 1,000 population, emergency admissions to the hospital for people over 75 in the Teviot and Liddesdale area, compared to 382 in the Scottish Borders as a whole.   It was also highlighted that  in 20 years’ time there would not be the number of people to care for the ageing population.   Other health issues such as dementia and multi-morbidity were also likely to increase across the country as a whole and would present further challenges which the Health and Social Care Integration Strategic Plan would seek to address.   Ms Douglas concluded the presentation by advising that they were still taking comments on the Strategy.  The second draft would be published at the beginning of July with a further consultation period ending on the 22 September.  In answer to questions, Ms  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

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 upgrade to the footpath along Waverley Walk under the under Neighbourhood Small Schemes.

DECISION

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

(i)            Upgrade footpath at Waverley Walk                                                        £725

(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.

There had been circulated, copies of a report from Inspector Carol Wood, Police Scotland, updating the Forum on Police Scotland activity up to 16 June 2015.  Inspector Wood reported that the Teviot and Liddesdale Ward had recorded a 51.46% solvency rate a slight reduction from the rate for the same period last year of 51.65%.  The report highlighted that had been three seizures of alcohol and four positive drugs searches.  Controlled substances were recovered from four addresses searched under drugs warrants.  Two conditional offers were issued for speeding offences and one for failing to wear a seatbelt.  A male had been assaulted and robbed in Havelock Place, Hawick.  A positive line of enquiry was continuing into this incident.  Inspector Wood continued that Violent Crime had been added as a Ward priority.  There had been very little disorder at Hawick Common Riding celebrations.  Inspector Wood concluded by advising that the Police would be hosting a rural crime event on 1 July 2015. 

DECISION

NOTED.

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

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 April 2015.  Mr Bell referred to his earlier presentation and explained that the thematic action plans were important in meeting the target for a reduction in the number of fires.  The summer season period focussed on: fire related anti-social behaviour, holiday safety and countryside and outdoor safety.  Service delivery activity in the month of May showed one fire occurrence, three special services and nine unwanted fire signals.

DECISION

NOTED.

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

The Borders Railway Tourism Audit had highlighted that Hawick would benefit from increased footfall with the introduction of the railway.  However, there was no detail as to how this would be achieved.  Would a shuttle bus be introduced?  Councillor Paterson stated that he would refer the question to the portfolio holder Councillor Edgar.

DECISION

NOTED.

Consider matters of interest to Community Councils.

7.1         Mrs Crew, Denholm & District Community Council, reiterated the concern by the community at the Boundary Commission’s proposals.  It was important the Community Council and the public made representations and urged that local Councillors supported the views of the public.   There had been an enjoyable Common ride out to Denholm, most visitors respecting the village.

7.2         Mr Stevenson, Upper Teviot and Borthwick Water, advised that their Annual General Meeting would be held in July.

10.3     Mr Grieve, Burnfoot Community Council, reported that the Common ride out to Denholm and passed through Burnfoot and over 60 people had attended the event.  The Burnfoot Carnival would be held on 4 July 2015.

10.4     Mrs Short, Hawick Community Council, reported that the Willestruther project was nearing completion and would be opened in July.  The Hawick in Bloom planters had been repositioned and SBC were thanked for their assistance. They had joined the Community Resilience project.    The Annual General Meeting would be held on 13 July 2015. 

DECISION

NOTED the reports.

Tuesday, 18 August 2015 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, 18 August  2015 at 6.30 pm in Lesser Hall, Town Hall, Hawick.

DECISION

NOTED.

The meeting concluded 8.20 pm