Agenda and minutes

Minute of Meeting of Tweeddale Area Forum of 2 September 2015 for noting.  (Copy attached.)

1.      There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the Meeting held on 2 September 2015. 

         DECISION                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

         NOTED.

1.1.    With reference to paragraph 12 (b) of the Minute, Members discussed the membership of the Working Group to be set up in relation to the A72.   Members agreed that Councillors Bell and Cockburn, Community Councillor R. Tatler (representing the Royal Burgh of Peebles and District Council) would be members of the Group.   The following Community Councils would be asked if they wished to appoint a representative to serve on the Working Group – (a) Lamancha, Newlands and Kirkurd, (b) Manor, Stobo and Lyne, (c) Innerleithen and District, and (d) Walkerburn and District.  The Working Group would come back to the Area Forum with key issues and terms of reference.

          DECISION

          AGREED that

          (a)     Councillors Bell and Cockburn and Community Councillor R. Tatler (representing the Royal Burgh of Peebles and District Community Council) be appointed to serve on the Working Group; and

          (b)     the Democratic Services Officer contact the following Community Councils to ask if they wished to  appoint a representative to serve on the Working Group – (a) Lamancha, Newlands and Kirkurd, (b) Manor Stobo and Lyne, (c) Innerleithen and District, and (d) Walkerburn and District.

1.2    With reference to paragraph 15(b) of the Minute, Inspector Bennett confirmed he had updated Members in respect of the vandalism at Kerfield Park, Peebles.

         DECISION

         NOTED.

1.3    With reference to paragraph 13 of the Minute, Councillor Garvie advised that at a meeting held on 7 October 2015, Council had agreed to the recommendation from the Area Forum that representations be made to the Scottish Government asking if, following the resignation of the Chief Constable, consideration be given to reviewing Policing in this area and in Scotland in general with a view to ensuring greater accountability.     

         DECISION

         NOTED.

Presentation – Scottish Historic Buildings Trust.

Una Richards, Director and Audrey Dakin, Project Officer, Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT)  were in attendance.   Mrs Richards gave background information relating to SHBT whose aim was to save important historic buildings and bring them back into use in support of communities.    Mrs Dakin advised that Scottish Borders Council had asked SHBT to undertake a community consultation exercise to understand how the people of Peebles and the Borders currently used the Chambers Institution as well as learning how they might wish to use the building in the future.  The questionnaire was the first stage in the process, the aim of which was to identify a potential draft vision for the building.  The next stage would be stakeholder workshops followed by wider consultation.    The survey could be completed on-line at www.shbt.org.uk/events.     Mrs Dakin explained the work which had taken place to date and gave feedback on specific points coming out of the community consultation process.    Following the consultation, findings would be presented as a report which would set out options for the future service delivery/uses for the building and it was the aim of SHBT to seek a potential draft Vision for the building.  The key to the   starting point for the community consultation were the terms of William Chambers’ bequest.   It was a condition of the bequest that the building should deliver the social, moral and intellectual improvement of the Peeblesshire community in perpetuity, and the key question was to ask the community to consider William Chambers’ vision for the building and whether it was still applicable in the 21st century.  It was clear from the consultation process the affection for the iconic premises and the high value local people placed on its continuing operation.   SHBT recognised the proximity of other buildings in the town, particularly the Community Centre (Drill Hall) and the Eastgate Theatre, where there was the possibility of duplicating provision and the need to ensure that each provided complementary facilities.   Almost 90% of respondents to the questionnaire considered the Chambers Institution very important to the history of Peebles; no-one considered the building unimportant.  Mrs Dakin advised on suggestions received so far and gave statistical information relating to use of different parts of the building.  During the discussions which followed concerns regarding duplicity with the Eastgate Theatre and the Community Centre were expressed.   In response to questions raised regarding engagement with the younger population, Mrs Dakin advised that SHBT employed a learning officer and it was hoped to engage with primary schools through the curriculum for excellence; engagement had started with Head Teachers.   In relation to youths, engagement might take place with Peebles High School or through some of the youth groups.  In discussing widening the stakeholder consultation suggestions were made that this could be done using electronic media and face book pages through survey monkey.    Mrs Dakin advised she was happy to visit Community Councils in the area if invited to do so.

DECISION

(a)     NOTED the presentation.

(b)     THANKED Mrs Richards and Mrs  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Mrs  Evelyn Rodger, Director of Nursing and Midwifery and Interim Director of Acute Services, NHS Borders was present and gave a briefing on the Draft Integrated Children and Young People’s Plan in the Scottish Borders 2015-2018.  The Plan was currently out for consultation on the Council’s website with consultation events taking place.

 DECISION

NOTED.

Susan Manion, Chief Officer, Health & Social Care Integration, will attend to answer any questions on the Health & Social Care Partnership Draft Strategic Plan which can be accessed by clicking on the following link:

http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/downloads/file/9708/integration_strategic_plan_2016-19-draft

The consultation questions and the web form can be accessed via

https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/site/xfp/scripts/xforms_form.aspx?formID=451&language=en

The Strategic Plan Summary 2016-19. (Copy attached).

With reference to paragraph 8  of the Minute of 4 March 2015,  Mrs Evelyn Rodger, Director of Nursing and Midwifery and Interim Director of Acute Services, NHS Borders (NHS Borders), then gave a presentation on the second draft of the Health and Social Care Integration Strategic Plan which was currently out for consultation.   Copies of the Draft Strategic Plan and a shorter summary of the Plan were available at the meeting.  Mrs Rodger explained that the Draft Strategic Plan set out why there was a need to integrate health and social care services; how this would be done; and what was expected to be seen as a result.  The way in which health and social care services were delivered needed to change due to the increasing demand for services; increasing pressure on limited resources; and the desire to improve services and outcomes.  Mrs Rodger further commented that the integration of services was potentially the biggest change in health and social care since the formation of the NHS in 1948.  It was explained that by shifting just 1% of the total spend of approximately £250m from Unplanned Inpatient Care and Institutional-Based Social Care towards Community-based NHS and Social Care and Planned Inpatient Care, resources would be used more effectively.  This would help investment in new integrated ways of working particularly in terms of early intervention, reducing avoidable hospital admissions, reducing health inequalities, supporting unpaid carers and independent living.  The presentation went on to list the Plan’s local objectives.  One of these objectives ‘to improve support for unpaid carers to keep them healthy and able to continue in their caring role’ was added as a result of responses to the last round of public engagement earlier in the year.  Following the local objectives a list of key priorities was developed for 2016/17 based on what had been learned from listening to local people, service users, carers, staff and partner organisations.  These priorities included the development of integrated accessible transport; the integration of services at a local level; coordination to provide a single point of access to local services; and work with communities to develop local solutions.  The presentation highlighted six questions as part of the current consultation and which were set out in the consultation document.  Responses to these questions could be submitted through the Scottish Borders Council website or by post.  In outlining the timescales Mrs Rodger advised that the public engagement period would end on 11 December with a final draft of the Strategic Plan being finalised in February 2016.  Health and Social Care Integration would come into operation on 1 April 2016.    Community Councillor A. McGregor as a carer referred to category 9 which referred to improving support for unpaid carers to keep them healthy and able to continue in their caring role.   He advised that his complaints remained unanswered and Mrs Rodger undertook to liaise directly with him. 

The Chairman thanked  Mrs Rodger for her attendance and presentation.

DECISION

NOTED the presentation

Chief Financial Officer, David Robertson, was in attendance to give a presentation about a consultation currently taking place on Financial Planning for the Council over the period 2016/17 to 2020/21. Copies of a leaflet about the consultation were handed out at the meeting.  Mr Robertson highlighted the many financial challenges facing the Council. He explained that the forthcoming financial year 2016/17 represented the 4^th year of the original 5 year Financial Plan established in 2013/14.  Around £1.3 billion in revenue budgets would be spent between 2016/17 and 2020/21.  The Council also had a capital budget of £352m for the next ten years to invest in infrastructure.  The longer term approach to financial planning had allowed significant pressures to be managed and delivered solutions to bridge these gaps in ways which were least damaging to services. Across the first 3 years of the 5 year Financial Plan the Council was on track to deliver £15.6m in savings.  Over the period the Council could demonstrate significant performance improvements in some areas.  However due to ongoing pressures on public funding the financial challenge would be there for several years to come.  If the Council were to continue delivering services in the same way there would be a funding gap of approximately £27.8m over the next 5 year period.  To help meet the funding gap, a Corporate Transformation programme was underway with the aim of transforming the way the Council worked to become more efficient and effective.  There were 17 areas of work that had been identified as part of the programme, each being led by a member of the Council’s Corporate Management Team. Essentially the budget was about priorities, meeting the challenges faced and spending taxpayers’ money in the most efficient and effective way possible.  To assist the process the views of the Borders public were being requested about where resources should be prioritised or whether the Council could do things differently to save money.  Mr Robertson explained that a new way of engaging with local people had been launched.  This was a community engagement tool, known as ‘Scottish Borders Dialogue’, which could be accessed through the Council’s website.  This was a quick and easy way to submit views and ideas.  However responses to the consultation could also be submitted by post, email, Twitter and by telephone.  All the feedback received would be put forward to the Council’s Administration Budget Working Group for consideration as part of the financial planning process.

DECISION

NOTED the presentation

Consider proposed dates  for 2016.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the proposed local public holiday dates for 2016 in the Tweeddale Area.

DECISION

AGREED to determine the Public Holidays for the Tweeddale Area as detailed in the report. 

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

There were no open questions.

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

Community Councillor Taylor advised of road safety measures now in place in Eddleston and expressed his appreciation.

DECISION

NOTED.

Update by Inspector Bennett.  

Inspector A. Bennett advised that it had been announced earlier todaythat Phil Gormley QPM had been appointed as  Chief Constable of Police Scotland.   Mr Gormley would take up the post on 5 January 2016 on a three-year contract.  The appointment was made on the recommendation of the SPA and was approved by Scottish Ministers.  In the interim period, Deputy Chief Constable Neil Richardson, in his capacity as DCC Designate, would  carry out the Chief Constable’s functions until Mr Gormley formally took up his post.   In regard to National Security following the tragic events in Paris on Friday 13November, local measures had been put in place to reassure the public, ensuring an effective policing response in relation to community tensions and Hate Crimes and Incidents.   In regard to Multi Member Ward Plans for Tweeddale East and Tweeddale West the policing plan update for 2016 would outline the priorities the community identified during their most recent consultation and would inform how Police Scotland planned to address them throughout the year.  On Monday 26 October, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and NFU Scotland held a Farm Fire Safety and Crime Prevention Event at Whitsome East Newton Farm, Duns.   Peeblesshire would host the next event in the new year.  Open to all farmers, this free, informal, “walk and talk” event aimed to promote continued engagement with the local farming community and would provide an opportunity to discuss current rural crime and fire-related issues.   Police Scotland continued to promote and support the Cold Calling Zones initiative to target those affected by bogus caller crimes. Since the pilot project in 2011 there were now over fifty No Cold Caller Zones in the Scottish Borders and communities continued to contact the police wanting to set them up.   A recent addition was the community in Cardrona.  Through intelligence gathered, Police Scotland had carried out operations against people and premises involved in drug dealing and misuse, and where appropriate reported them to the Procurator Fiscal.   Inspector Bennett concluded his report by advising on festive initiative operations.

DECISION

NOTED.

Update report Keith Langley.

Mr Keith Langley advised on the activities which were ongoing within the Tweeddale Area.   Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS)  staff in all local stations provided Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSV) all year round.   SFRS was currently working with partners within Scottish Borders Council on a project to adapt the HFSV to incorporate unintentional harm in the home. All stations were participating in the British Heart Foundation initiative – Call Push Rescue.  This was launched on 16 October, European Heart Start Day, and over 150 people in the Scottish Borders received training that day.  Stations were providing free CPR training to the public on a monthly basis to build resilience in the community and to drive down the numbers of people who died from cardiac arrest.   All stations would soon be involved in the SFRS Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) project.  This would see SFRS resources being deployed along with ambulance crews to deal with cardiac arrests.  The project was aimed at reducing the number of people who died from OHCA in Scotland by 1,000 by 2020.  The figure was currently 3,400 per year.   Four pilots were being carried in the Scottish Borders at this time.   Fire safety audits provided a targeted examination of a business premises and their relevant documents to ascertain how the premises were being managed regarding fire safety.  The enforcement officer also engaged with members of staff to confirm their level of fire safety awareness.   SFRS Safeguarding Policy and Procedure for Protection of Children and Adults at Risk of Harm was implemented to link into adult and child protection.  The policy had created closer ties with Social Services within the Scottish Borders and ensured those people and families which fire crews identified as at risk were brought to the attention of Social Services.  This had resulted in crews within the Scottish Borders referring over 50 times in the last year, with the aim to reduce risk to shoes occupiers. 

DECISION

NOTED.

Under Section 50B(4)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the Chairman 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.

The Chairman referred to a recent email from Mr John Henderson, Road User Engineer seeking views on the siting of a street trader in Kingsmeadows Road Car Park, Peebles.  Following discussion, Councillor Bhatia and Cockburn supported the use of Kingsmeadows Road Car Park, Peebles by a street trader.   Councillors Archibald, Bell and Garvie were not in favour of the use of Kingsmeadows Road Car Park, Peebles by a street trader.

DECISION

NOTED.