Agenda
Venue: Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Newtown St. Boswells and Via Microsoft Teams
Contact: Declan Hall tel: 01835826556 email Declan.hall@scotborders.gov.uk
Link: Teams Live Event
Note | No. | Item |
---|---|---|
Convener's Remarks. |
||
Apologies for Absence. |
||
Order of Business. |
||
Declarations of Interest. |
||
2 mins |
Consider Minute of Scottish Borders Council held on 28 March 2024 for approval and signing by the Convener. (Copy attached.)
|
|
5 mins |
Consider Minutes of the following Committees:-
(a) Executive 12 March 2024 (b) Chambers Institution Trust 13 March 2024 (c) Tweeddale Area Partnership 19 March 2024 (d) Chambers Institution Trust 21 March 2024 (e) Eildon Area Partnership 21 March 2024 (f) Planning and Building Standards 25 March 2024 (g) Eildon Area Partnership 28 March 2024
(Please see separate Supplement containing the public Committee Minutes.)
Additional documents:
|
|
15 mins |
The Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries PDF 169 KB Consider report by Director Corporate Governance. (Copy attached.) Additional documents: |
|
10 mins |
Review of Polling Places and Polling Stations PDF 143 KB Consider report by Director Corporate Governance. (Copy attached.) Additional documents: |
|
15 mins |
Draft Community Engagement Strategy PDF 215 KB Consider report by Director Resilient Communities. (Copy attached.) Additional documents: |
|
15 mins |
Strategic People Plan Review and Refresh 2024 PDF 114 KB Consider report by Director People, Performance and Change. Additional documents: |
|
5 mins |
Committee Membership/Representatives on Outside Bodies PDF 36 KB Consider appointment to various Committees and Outside Bodies to fill vacancies. (Copy attached.) |
|
5 mins |
Motion by Councillor Anderson Consider Motion by Councillor Anderson in the following terms:-
“The Scottish Borders Council acknowledges the negative impact of post office closures on our oldest residents in the region, particularly within the north end of ward 7. We have been in communication with MP John Lammont and MSP Rachael Hamilton regarding the closure of the outreach post office serving this area, and have received concerning information indicating that the service may not be reinstated.
It is not clear if failing to reinstate the outreach service covering the most vulnerable citizens in Berwickshire, the Post Office and Royal Mail could potentially breach the Universal Service Obligation that they are subject to. If so, they could be held accountable for failing to provide the required postal services to those individuals.
Whether or not it breaches that obligation, the failure to reinstate the service will certainly have a continuing negative impact on our area and our residents.
Further, this Council recognises the importance of ensuring proper renumeration for post masters to sustain the postal service and prevent further closures.
This Council therefore agrees to request that the Leader writes: a. to Ofcom making a formal request to enquire into any breach by Post office and Royal mail under the Universal Service Obligation; b. to the Post Office asking it to prioritise reinstating the outreach service that serves our most vulnerable citizens in Berwickshire; and c. to the UK Government urgently requesting a review into the renumeration of post masters nationwide in collaboration with the Post Office.”
|
|
5 mins |
Motion by Councillor Sinclair Consider Motion by Councillor Sinclair in the following terms:-
“Scottish Borders Council agrees that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) inclusive education contributes to how all young people see themselves, their families, and the world around them; and further agrees that this learning should be meaningful, relevant, and part of ordinary learning, rather than exceptional or siphoned into particular calendar months or one-off occasions.
Council celebrates the fact that in 2021 Scotland was the first country in the world to agree to embed LGBT inclusive education across the school curriculum and notes that there is a national expectation that local authorities ensure that all schools are delivering LGBT inclusive education for their learners.
Council reaffirms its commitment to provide support in schools for LGBT+ young people; and its commitment to embedding a proactive educational approach to addressing stereotypes and stigma which can often lead to prejudice or bullying experienced by pupils who are LGBT+, perceived to be LGBT+ or who have LGBT+ family members; and continue to celebrate diversity and strengthen inclusive education across our schools.
Council notes that the charity
Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) provides services and resources
that are co-developed with teachers from across Scotland and
suitable for primary and secondary pupils that include stage
appropriate educational workshops for pupils, professional learning
for teachers, and curriculum materials. This is in addition to
their responsibility for managing the new national platform
lgbteducation.scot on behalf of the Scottish
Government and endorsed by a variety of stakeholders including
those in the education sector. SBC notes that these resources and
training are entirely free and come at no monetary cost to schools
thanks to core funding support from Scottish Government. |
|
5 mins |
Motion by Councillor Thomson Consider Motion by Councillor Thomson in the following terms:-
“Scottish Borders Council acknowledges that, as a Local Authority, it has a duty to ensure that all services it provides, and supports, are compliant with Equalities Legislation, and that in providing or supporting services it ensures compliance with its Public Sector Equality Duty. This applies equally to Committees, Sub- Committees and Officers and therefore includes any decisions made around the dispersal of Common Good funds, or use of Common Good facilities for public events. To this end Scottish Borders Council agrees that the work currently underway to develop a charging regime for use of Common Good open spaces/land be extended to consider how we ensure that in our usage of open spaces/land that we comply with the Equality legislation and the Public Sector Equality Duty placed on us. Said work should of course also be cognisant of any right of freedom of assembly which might also apply.” |
|
5 mins |
Motion by Councillor Begg Consider Motion by Councillor Begg in the following terms:-
“The Health and Safety Executive definition of Violence is: “Any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work”
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety Regulations require employers to ensure an assessment of the risks to the Health and Safety of its staff and others.
Violence
and aggression at work in the Local Government sector is a serious
problem. Incidents include staff being punched, bitten, pushed and kicked while carrying out their jobs. Concerningly, lower-level violence and verbal abuse is seen by some staff as a routine part of their working lives.
Employers already have a legal duty to protect their staff.
UNISON’s
Violence at Work
Charter aims to raise awareness and
encourage best practice in tackling violence at work. It should not
be seen as either a routine or normal part of the job.
This Council believes: • Staff should come to work feeling safe, and not in fear of being abused, threatened or harmed.
• Staff should feel supported by their employer.
• Without the dedication and professionalism of our staff, the council services our residents rely on would not be deliverable. This Council resolves to: • Reaffirm its commitment to partnership and to consult and work collaboratively with trades unions. • Adopt UNISON ’s Violence at Work Charter. •
Encourage all schools to adopt the Charter. |
|
15 mins |
Open Questions |
|
5 mins |
Open Question from Member of the Public Consider question to the Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing from Ms Morrison, Tweeddale East Ward:-
“Internationally there is growing momentum in support of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty as a way to aid the just transition from a fossil fuel-based economy to one based on renewables.
SBC has declared climate emergency and so it is imperative to understand where Council funds are invested and to ensure that they are not supporting the fossil fuel industry.
Peebles Common Good Fund has £500000 invested. Where are these investments placed and can we be reassured that none are supporting the fossil fuel industry?” |
|
Any Other Items Previously Circulated |
||
Any Other Items Which the Convener Decides Are Urgent |
||
10 mins |
Live Borders Update |
|
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.” |
||
1 mins |
Minute Consider private Section of Minute of Scottish Borders Council held on 28 March 2024. (Copy attached.) |
|
2 mins |
Committee Minutes Consider private Sections of the Minutes of the following Committees:-
(a) Executive 12 March 2024 (b) Chambers Institution Trust 13 March 2024 (c) Chambers Institution Trust 21 March 2024
(Please see separate Supplement containing private Committee Minutes.) |