Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting and advised that there would be a presentation on the Local Access and Transport Strategy (LATS) by Graeme Johnstone, Lead Officer, Passenger Transport, Scottish Borders Council.

Minute of the meeting of the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Forum of 18 August 2015 to be approved. (Copy attached).

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the meeting held on 18 August 2015.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the Minute.

With reference to paragraph 8(a) of the Minute of 18 August 2015, Councillor Cranston advised that he was pursing funding for the project.

DECISION

NOTED.

The Chairman welcomed, Graeme Johnstone, Lead Officer, Passenger Transport, Scottish Borders Council who was present at the meeting to provide Members with an update on the Local Access and Transport Strategy (LATS).    Mr Johnstone summarised the previous work undertaken and advised that the existing Strategy developed in 2008 was now out of date.  Given that access and transport were key issues across the Scottish Border, the Strategy provided strategic direction and was very important for the area.  The Strategy was used as a bidding document and linked with the Scottish Government National Strategy, Regional Transport Strategy (SESTRAN) and the Local Development Plan.   Mr Johnstone went on to detail some of the main issues to be considered within the Strategy document, including the route to markets; public transport; walking, cycling and horse riding; road maintenance; forestry; road safety; parking; and low carbon levels.  To put this into context, Mr Johnstone advised that within the Scottish Borders, there were approximately 1,900 miles of roads and 1,250 bridges requiring maintenance and that one fifth of the area was covered by forestry.  In respect of the Teviot and Liddesdale area, local communities were affected by forestry transportation and it was therefore important to receive their views on how they considered this should be managed.  Mr Johnstone highlighted that parking issues had taken on a higher profile since the cessation of the Traffic Warden Service provided by Police Scotland and the measures in place to assist in achieving low carbon levels included electric vehicle charging points.  Mr Johnstone concluded his presentation by advising that he was actively working on the extension of the Borders Railway to Hawick and Carlisle.   Members were advised that the consultation period would end on 23 October 2015.  An electronic questionnaire was available for completion and the consultation document had been publicised in libraries, contact centres, Council offices, and via presentations at Area Forum meetings.   All responses to the consultation would be considered during the development of the main Strategy document.  The Strategy would then be presented to Committee prior to finalisation by the end of 2016.   Responses to the online questionnaire could be submitted at www.scotborders.gov.uk/haveyoursay; by email to localplan@scotborders.gov.uk or by post to the Planning Policy and Access, Scottish Borders Council Headquarters, Newtown St Boswells TD6 0SA.   Councillor Smith advised that all Community Councils had received a copy of the draft Strategy and it was important to receive as much feedback as possible.  It was not necessary for completion of all questions but it was important for them to highlight issues most relevant to their community.   A question was raised in relation to the availability of electric vehicle charging points, Mr Johnstone advised that he would circulate, via the Chairman, the locations and charging strengths of all electric charging points in the Scottish Borders.  The Forum commended Mr Johnstone for the comprehensive consultation process and

The Chairman thanked him for the informative presentation.

DECISION

AGREED to request the Lead Officer, Passenger Transport, circulate to the Chairman the locations and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Chairman referred to the SESplan’s Main Issues Report Consultation, 21 July to 30 September and it was noted that the document would be circulated to Members

DECISION

NOTED.

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 provision of parking bays within McLaren Court and Fairhurst Drive, Hawick; installation of handrails to steps at Silverbuthall Road, Hawick and supply and installation of football goals at Green Terrace, Hawick.  Mr Finnie, Neighbourhood Area Manager, informed that replumbing of the fence along Riverside Walk and the re-grouting of the small setts as a sample area in front of the Town Hall had been completed.  He hoped that the Waverley Walk footpath works, being carried out by Criminal Justice, would be completed before the Winter period.  Mr Finnie advised that the Neighbourhood Operations Review on delivery of services was underway.  Stage 1 of the process, meeting Members, had been completed.  Stage 2 was to meet with Community Councillors to seek their views on the proposals, a Focus Group was also being considered.  The final stage of the process would be for the Area Forum to approve before taking forward.  The Forum requested any Neighbourhood Small Schemes and Quality of Life Schemes be progressed for consideration as soon as possible.   There followed a discussion on road signage and Mr Finnie requested that Members advise him of any signage that was no longer relevant and he would inform the Traffic Section. 

 DECISION

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

(i)            Line markings of parking bays within McLaren Court, Hawick  £550

(ii)          Line marking of parking bays within Fairhurst Drive, Hawick    £500

(iii)         Install handrail to steps at Silverbuthall Road, Hawick               £410

(iv)         Supply and install football goals at Green Terrace, Hawick    £1,090

(b)          NOTED

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

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

(iii)         To request that Members inform the Neighbourhood Area Manager of any road traffic signage no longer relevant or requiring updating. 

Ms D Steele, Non Executive Director will be in attendance.

Mr Warwick Shaw, Head of Delivery Support, Estates and Facilities, NHS Borders, was in attendance.  Mr Shaw advised that the Community Hospital consultation had been completed and consideration of the input from local residents and politicians was taking place concurrently with the development of options for service improvements.  There would be a further update to the Forum in the near future.   The ward relocation from Galavale to Crumhaugh House had been approved by the Board on the 6 August and would now progress through planning and delivery.  An NHS representative had been appointed to liaise with local residents and there had been meetings to answer questions.    Mr Warwick acknowledged that NHS Dentistry has been problematic in the Borders for quite some time, NHS Borders had invested significant resources, both capital and revenue in establishing the NHS Dental Centres in Hawick and Coldstream.  They were looking at ways of maximising services from the Dental Centres and they hoped to be able to make an announcement in the near future.  Mr Shaw concluded his report by advising that 98% (502) attending A&E for treatment in the past week had received treatment within four hours, the national target.  The Chairman thanked Mr Shaw for his informative report.

DECISION

NOTED.

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

Sergeant Noble was in attendance and advised that the August report was presented in a new format which focused on ward priorities; the report also detailed planned local and national activities. Sergeant Noble began by advising that Police Scotland was undergoing a test phase on a new stop and search database which had gone online on 1 June 2015.  Statistical information would be provided to the local scrutiny board.  Sergeant Noble highlighted that with regard to the Drug Dealing and Misuse ward priority, 13 individuals had been reported for possession of drugs and two for cultivation of drugs.   A number of youths had been admitted to hospital after they had ingested tablets, a 19 year old male had been charged with possession and supply of prohibited substances.   The Road Safety priority showed 11 road checks had been carried out; nine conditional offers had been issued for speeding offences, one for failing to wear a seatbelt and two for anti-social use of a vehicle. Sergeant Noble went on to discuss the Violent Crime priority and advised that during the period, there had been one serious assault, a 25 year old female had been charged with this offence.  With regard to the Anti-Social Behaviour priority, Sergeant Noble intimated that a group of youths had smashed windows, damaged vehicles and destroyed one of the flowerbeds.  Following enquiries two males were charged with a total of seven vandalism as well as other offences.   Sergeant Noble concluded his report by advising that a parking initiative had been carried out during August, as a result 31 parking tickets had been issued.   Members thanked Sergeant Noble for his report but expressed disappointment that the Police Scotland report no longer detailed crime solvency rates.  The Forum requested that Police Scotland reinstated the crime solvency statistics on future reports presented to the Forum. 

DECISION

AGREED to request that Police Scotland reinstated the crime solvency figures in the reports presented to the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Forum. 

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 June and July 2015.  Service delivery activity showed four house fires, eight open fire occurrences, one special service and 10 unwanted fire alarm signals.  Mr Bell advised that 40 firefighters would be trained in the use of a defibrillator and 16 October would be the launch of the 'out of hospital cardiac arrest' trial which included Hawick Fire Station.   On that day also, was the national 'start a heart' day where a number of fire stations around Scotland would open their doors to the public to facilitate PR/defibrillator training. 

DECISION

NOTED.

Consider matters of interest to Community Councils.

Mr Grieve, Burnfoot Community Council, advised that a By-Election was being held for seven vacancies.   The Carnival had raised £1,000.00.  The Hub was scheduled to open next October. 

DECISION

NOTED the report.

Tuesday, 17 November 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, 20 October 2015 at 6.30 pm in Lesser Hall, Town Hall, Hawick.

DECISION

NOTED.