Scottish Borders Council

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Via Microsoft Teams

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

Link: link to live meeting

Items
No. Item

1.

Convener's Remarks.

Minutes:

The Convener congratulated the following:-

 

(a)   A72 Dirtpot Corner Scheme winning a GE (Ground Engineering) Award.  The scheme was designed and managed by Scottish Borders Council, alongside SBc Contracts, Albion Drilling Group, MHB Consultants and Maccaferri; and

 

(b)   the SBC and Supplier Development Programme winning in the Government Opportunities (GO) Excellence in Public Procurement Awards Scotland 2020.  SBC were 1 of 3 finalists in ‘Best Procurement Delivery’ category won on Friday, 6 November 2020.  SBC worked with 117 local businesses in the framework from a total of 141 companies.

 

DECISION

AGREED that congratulations be passed to those concerned.

 

2.

Minute pdf icon PDF 144 KB

Consider Minute of Scottish Borders Council held on 5 November 2020 for approval and signing by the Convener.  (Copy attached.)

 

Minutes:

The Minute of the Meeting held on 5 November 2020 was considered. 

 

DECISION

AGREED that the Minute be approved and signed by the Convener.

 

3.

Committee Minutes pdf icon PDF 25 KB

Consider Minutes of the following Committees:-

 

(a)     Peebles Common Good Fund                           7 October 2020

(b)     Local Review Body                                            19 October 2020

(c)     Audit & Scrutiny                                                 22 October 2020

(d)     Civic Government Licensing                              23 October 2020

(e)     Planning & Building Standards                          2 November 2020

 

(Please see separate Supplement containing the public Committee Minutes.)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Minutes of the following Committees had been circulated:-

 

(a)   Peebles Common Good Fund                    7 October 2020

(b)   Local Review Body                                     19 October 2020

(c)   Audit & Scrutiny                                          22 October 2020

(d)   Civic Government Licensing                       23 October 2020

(e)   Planning & Building Standards                   2 November 2020

           

DECISION

APPROVED the Minutes listed above.

 

4.

Scottish Borders Council Economic Development Priorities pdf icon PDF 160 KB

Consider report by Executive Director, Corporate Improvement & Economy.  (Copy attached.)

Minutes:

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Executive Director, Corporate Improvement and Economy, recommending refreshed Economic Development priorities for the Council.  The report explained that identifying the Council’s Economic Development priorities was essential to the Council being able to allocate resources effectively to deliver on its priorities, and in identifying also the responsibilities of partners throughout the South of Scotland in a shared ‘Team South of Scotland’ approach, which optimised collective efforts. The report acknowledged both the challenging economic environment and the alignment of a number of new opportunities, which provided the Council and its partners with opportunities not only to seek to respond to those challenges, but to respond also to longstanding structural challenges in the economy of the Scottish Borders and to make good on ambitions for the region.  To ensure that the Council’s efforts were as effective as possible, it was appropriate to clearly identify and pursue a number of specific economic development priorities, and these priorities must now sit within a “Team South of Scotland” approach in which the Council sought to optimise outcomes by working collaboratively with partners.  Five priorities were proposed and these were each supported by a rationale. Members welcomed the report and the priorities it contained which were needed at a time of major challenges and opportunities for the Borders. .

 

DECISION

AGREED the following Economic Development Priorities for Scottish Borders Council:-

 

(a)   Development and delivery of the Regional Economic Strategy for the South of Scotland through close working within the Regional Economic Partnership and partners more widely, particularly SoSE and Dumfries and Galloway Council;

 

(b)  Securing and delivering The Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal;

 

(c)   Delivering The Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal;

 

(d)  Addressing Employability, Skills, Training and Transitions;

 

(e)   PLACE, including support for our communities, increasing the adaptability and resilience of our town centres, building community capacity and promoting culture and creativity through events and tourism.

 

5.

Proposed Strategic Partnership Protocol between Scottish Borders Council and South of Scotland Enterprise pdf icon PDF 111 KB

Consider report by Executive Director, Corporate Improvement & Economy.  (Copy attached.)

Minutes:

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Executive Director, Corporate Improvement and Economy, proposing that Scottish Borders Council entered into a Strategic Partnership Protocol with South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) to assist both bodies to work collaboratively together to achieve their joint aims and for the benefit of the economy in the area.  South of Scotland Enterprise formally commenced its operations on 1 April 2020. Its creation represented a major change in the economic development landscape across the South of Scotland and offered opportunities to take different and innovative approaches to the delivery of economic development across the South of Scotland.  Scottish Borders Council retained economic development amongst its functions and it was considered vital that both bodies work together in a collaborative way to achieve their joint aims.  In recent years, the Council had entered into partnership protocols with its strategic partners - such as Live Borders and CGI.  As this had proved to be an effective tool, it was considered that it would be helpful and consistent with that approach to enter into such a protocol with the new Agency.  The Convener welcomed Professor Russell Griggs, Chairman of the SoSE Board, and Karen Jackson, SoSE Director of Strategy, Partnership and Engagement, to the meeting.  Professor Griggs explained the work that SoSE had been involved in with the start of the Agency being somewhat different to what had been anticipated due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.  The Agency started with 10 members of staff and this had now increased to 70 with further growth over the next 3 years expected to bring this number up to between 120 and 130.  The budget would also grow over this period until it reached the same per capital level as Highlands and Islands Enterprise.  He advised that a permanent Chief Executive, Jane Morrison-Ross, had just been appointed and she would take up post in February 2021.  He highlighted the importance of partnership working which was vital to delivering growth for the South of Scotland and emphasised the need to ensure that the South of Scotland’s voice was heard in a positive way.  Councillor Bell welcomed the protocol but proposed an amendment to add a further recommendation in the following terms to ensure elected Member oversight:-

 

Council asks officers to come to an agreement with South of Scotland Enterprise, and communicate back to this Council

 

-        about how Elected Members will be kept informed and given the opportunity to discuss on at least an annual basis the progress of this partnership; and

 

-       about all other relevant and governance aspects of an effective and continuing working relationship.”

This amendment was unanimously accepted.  Councillor Rowley welcomed the news regarding the new Chief Executive of SSOE and thanked Nick Halfhide for his work as Interim Chief Executive.  The Convener thanked Professor Griggs and Ms Jackson for their attendance and looked forward to welcoming them back to future meetings.

 

DECISION

AGREED:-

 

(a)   to enter into a Strategic Partnership Protocol with South of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Open Questions pdf icon PDF 48 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The questions submitted by Councillors H. Anderson and Bell were answered. 

 

DECISION

NOTED the replies as detailed in Appendix I to this Minute.

 

7.

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:

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 II 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

 

8.

Minute

Consider private Section of Minute of Scottish Borders Council held on 5 November 2020.  (Copy attached.)

Minutes:

The private section of the Council Minute of 5 November 2020 was approved. 

 

9.

Committee Minutes

Consider private Sections of the Minutes of the following Committees:-

 

(a)     Peebles Common Good Fund                           7 October 2020

(b)     Civic Government Licensing                              23 October 2020

 

(Please see separate Supplement containing private Committee Minutes.)

Minutes:

The private sections of the Committee Minutes as detailed in paragraph3 of this Minute were approved.

10.

Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal - Business Case Submissions

Consider report by Executive Director, Corporate Improvement & Economy.  (Copy attached.)

Minutes:

Members approved a report by the Executive Director, Corporate Improvement and Economy, detailing three business cases and two strategic business propositions to be included in the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.

 

 

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Scottish Borders Council

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