Scottish Borders Council

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Newtown St. Boswells

Contact: Louise McGeoch Tel 01835 825005  email  lmcgeoch@scotborders.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Conveners Remarks

Minutes:

The Convener congratulated Fiona Riddell, an Additional Needs Support Assistant from Stow Primary School who had received the award of Quality Improvement Champion at the Quality Improvement Awards for her work in improving the lives of local children.

 

The Convener advised that with regard to the Scottish Borders Council Christmas Card it was his intention to ask a Primary School from a different locality each year to hold a competition to design the card.  Kingsland Primary School in Tweeddale had been chosen this year and the winning design had been produced by Ailsa Jarvis from P6.  He intended to choose a school in Teviot & Liddesdale next year.

 

DECISION

AGREED that congratulations be passed to those concerned.

 

2.

Shared Chief Auditor Post between Midlothian Council and Scottish Borders Council pdf icon PDF 153 KB

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

Minutes:

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Regulatory Services asking the Council to consider the benefits and potential challenges of sharing a Chief Auditor/Audit Manager Post between Midlothian and Scottish Borders Councils and to consider progressing with a pilot arrangement which would also create the opportunity for a wider exploration of joint working activities and benefits.  The report explained that the opportunity had arisen to develop joint working to sustain and deliver Internal Audit and Corporate Fraud Services between Midlothian Council and Scottish Borders Council.  Initially this would involve Scottish Borders Council’s Chief Officer Audit & Risk leading both the Midlothian and Scottish Borders Internal Audit teams on a strategic level supported operationally and on a day to day basis by Senior Auditors in each Council.  It was proposed that this arrangement be piloted over a 12 month period, with a 6 month review of the arrangement.  The shared post would provide a platform for continuous improvement, leadership and direction to both teams.  The proposed 12 month pilot would also allow information to be gathered to support the analysis of the potential benefits and challenges of further partnership working in these areas.  Members supported the proposal and agreed that the report following the 6 month review would be submitted to the Audit & Scrutiny Committee.

 

DECISION

AGREED to:-

 

(a)     approve proceeding with an interim appointment of a shared Chief Internal Auditor post between Midlothian and Scottish Borders Council with effect from 1 December 2017;

 

(b)     progress with a pilot arrangement to share management resource for a period of 12 months, commencing on 1 December 2017;

 

(c)     the development of a wider exploration of joint working activities and benefits on the proposals set out in the report following the appointment of a shared post;

 

(d)     instruct the Service Director Regulatory Services to develop a detailed programme for developing and implementing the joint arrangements set out in this report including wider staff and trade union consultation; and

 

(e)     that the Audit & Scrutiny Committee receive a further report from the Service Director Regulatory Services after an initial 6 month period.

3.

Supplementary Guidance & Simplified Planning Zone Scheme: Central Borders Business Park, Tweedbank pdf icon PDF 115 KB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

With reference to paragraph 15 of the Minute of 22 December 2016, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Regulatory Services seeking approval of Supplementary Guidance (SG) and a Simplified Planning Zone (SPZ) Scheme relating to the Central Borders Business Park at Tweedbank, as contained din Appendix 1 to the report.  The report explained that the purpose of the Supplementary Guidance was to provide a framework vision for the future development of the sites which were allocated within the Scottish Borders Local Development Plan 2016.  The purpose of the Simplified Planning Zone was to enable development to take place without the need for planning consent, provided the development complied with development parameters and conditions.  It would create an employment led redevelopment, providing choice and quick delivery for businesses considering locating in this part of Scotland.  The report detailed in Appendix 2 all of the representations received following a 12-week public consultation on both documents, the proposed response and any changes which had been made to the recommendations as a result.  The Chief Planning Officer sought delegated powers to make any minor amendments to the plans and Members supported the proposals.

 

DECISION

AGREED to:-

 

(a)     approve the Supplementary Guidance, as detailed in Appendix 1 (Part I) to the report:

 

(b)     approve the Simplified Planning Zone Scheme, as detailed in Appendix 1 (Part II) to the report;

 

(c)     note the representations received and responses within Appendix 2 to the report; and

 

(d)     note that the Simplified Planning Zone Scheme shall cease to have effect at the end of the period of ten years beginning with the date of adoption and that the Council would monitor and review the document periodically as considered necessary.

4.

Private Business

Before proceeding with the private business, the following motion should be approved:-

 

“That under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the aforementioned Act.”

Minutes:

Private Business

DECISION

AGREED under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the business detailed in  Appendix I to this Minute on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 6, 8 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A to the Act.

 

      SUMMARY OF PRIVATE BUSINESS

 

5.

Central Borders Business Park - Tweedbank

Consider report by Executive Director.  (Copy attached.)

Minutes:

Members considered and approved a report by the Executive Director on a programme of work to deliver the Central Borders Business Park at Tweedbank.

6.

Urgent Business

Minutes:

Under Section 50B(4)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the Convener was of the opinion that the item dealt with in the following paragraph should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency, in view of the need to make an early decision.

 

7.

Bordercare Monitoring

Consider report by SB Cares Managing Director.  (Copy attached.)

Minutes:

Members considered and approved a report by the Managing Director, SB Cares on an alternative service delivery model for BorderCare monitoring.

 

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Scottish Borders Council

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