Agenda and minutes

Minute of the meeting of 19 February 2015 to be approved (Copy attached).

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of 19 February 2015. With regard to the second sentence of paragraph 9 Mr McLaren, NHS Borders, advised that the ‘National Annual Review’ referred to was in fact a ‘Local Annual Review’ and that the Minute should be changed to reflect this.

DECISION

APPROVED for signature by the Chairman subject to the above amendment.

MEMBER

Councillor Aitchison joined the meeting.

Presentation.

The Chairman welcomed Julie Rankine and Fiona Munro, from Neighbourhood Services, to give a presentation on the introduction by Scottish Borders Council of a Food Waste Collection service.  Ms Munro referred to the background which led to the decision to introduce this new service.  The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 required food waste collections to be introduced by 1 January 2016.    Food waste was seen as a valuable resource and a way of diverting more waste from landfill.  There was an anticipated increase in recycling rate of 1.5 – 2% in the Scottish Borders, based on an average of £1.5kg food waste presented per household.  In accordance with the regulations and Scottish Government urban versus rural classification the collection service in the Scottish Borders would involve approximately 24,500 households and businesses.  Phase 1 would see weekly kerbside food waste collections start in Galashiels, Tweedbank, Selkirk and Peebles during the week commencing 25 May.  Phase 2, involving Jedburgh and Hawick, would start during the week commencing 31 August.   Ms Munro had brought along examples of the caddies, together with biodegradable liners and guidance leaflets, which would be delivered to households during the week prior to the start of collections. Each household would have a 5 litre silver kitchen caddy and liners, in which to deposit daily food waste.  The tied bags of waste should then be transferred from the kitchen caddy to outdoor brown caddies of 23 litre for a single household or 140 litre for communal household. It was emphasised that the food waste collection service also came under animal by-product legislation and as such would be closely regulated. There would be no effluent or waste produced during handling.  Purpose-built collection vehicles would transport the waste to central skips from where it would be taken to the nearest food waste management site at Levenseat Ltd., Midlothian. From 1 January 2016, also under the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012, there would be food waste collections from an estimated 140 businesses producing over 50 kg waste per week and from an estimated 520 businesses producing over 5 kg per week.  Following the presentation officers were asked questions, particularly in relation to how the service would be monitored.  Ms Munro advised that through communications and guidance members of the public would be strongly encouraged to take up the service and use it as intended.  There would be monitoring through kerbside checks and, particularly in the early stages and if thought necessary, householders may be visited to be given further advice. The Chairman thanked the officers for the presentation.

            DECISION

            NOTED the presentation.

Presentation.

3.1       James Lamb from Scottish Borders Council and Alasdair Pattinson of NHS Borders were welcomed to the Forum to given a presentation on the Integration of Health and Social Care and the consultation currently taking place.  It was explained that in accordance with the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 the 14 Health Boards and 32 Local Authorities were required, by April 2015, to develop integration arrangements for each area and to establish a Joint Integration Board, Chief Officer and Joint Body.  By April 2016 there required to be developed a 3 year Strategic Plan covering the commissioning of adult care and health services.  The membership of the Borders Strategic Planning Group had come from all areas of Health and Social Care including service users, health and social care professionals, carers, related commercial and non-commercial organisations and from the third sector. The Group would be involved in all stages of developing and reviewing the Strategic Plan.  Copies of the initial Draft Strategic Plan were given to members of the Area Forum, and feedback was invited as part of the current consultation which would run until

5 June.  Consultation on a second draft, produced by the end of June, would end on 22 September, with a final draft by the end of October 2015 and new arrangements scheduled to be fully implemented by April 2016.

3.2       With reference to the Draft Strategic Plan, the presentation went on to look at the vision and aims of the Health and Social Care partnership.  Doing nothing was not an option. The case for change included an ageing population; rising demand for services; the cost of services; and the need to deliver better outcomes through improved joint working, better communication, reducing duplication and sharing information.  Lists were given of the current NHS and SBC services that would come within the scope of Integrated Services.  The objectives included making services more accessible; improving prevention and early intervention; reducing avoidable admissions to hospital; providing care close to home; optimising efficiency and effectiveness; and seeking to reduce health inequalities.  A case study was provided in the Plan giving a before and after scenario and demonstrating how the experience of the client, and efficiency, should be improved by the integration of services.  The presentation also looked at a profile of the Scottish Borders and some comparative statistics relating to the Eildon area.  Also shown were proposed locality arrangements within the Scottish Borders model which would be based on the existing five areas.  In the ensuing discussion, Members welcomed the presentation and recognised the importance of the public engaging with the consultation by submitting their views.  Officers confirmed that the Borders Strategic Planning Group was liaising with similar rural authorities and working with the Joint Improvement Team to share best practice.  The Chairman thanked officers for the informative presentation and encouraged members of the forum to take part in the consultation.

            DECISION

NOTED the presentation

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

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Commercial Services proposing the introduction of enforceable disabled parking bays within the Eildon area to be included in The Scottish Borders Council (Disabled Persons Parking Places) Order 2015. 

The report explained that The Disabled Persons Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009required the provision of advisory on-street disabled parking for disabled persons. This report proposed to include those bays lying within the Eildon area in a region-wide Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to make the existing bays enforceable.  A schedule of disabled parking bays was attached as Appendix A to the report. Since the TRO was prepared and advertised, it had been brought to the Council’s attention that a number of disabled bays were now not required.  Details of two bays, about which objections had been received, were given within the report and location plans for these included as Appendix B to the report.  These bays would not be included in the final TRO. Members discussed the parking bays included in the TRO, expressing concern that some were no longer needed.  It was confirmed that a disabled parking place was for the use of any disabled person and it did not belong to the person for whom the original application was made.  However members of the forum were asked to notify officers should there be evidence that a disabled parking place was no longer being used.

            DECISION

AGREED to APPROVE the inclusion of disabled parking places in the Eildon Area listed in Appendix A (as amended by removals) in the Scottish Borders Council (Disabled Persons Parking Places) Order 2015.

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

            There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Commercial Services seeking approval to publish a Traffic Regulation Order to modify the speed limit of a section of Tweedbank Drive, Tweedbank from 30 mph to 40 mph.  The report explained that the reopening of the Borders Railway would bring about changes in road traffic movements, not only at strategic level, but also at a local level in the areas around the stations. In an effort to influence drivers’ route choice to the new Tweedbank Station, avoiding the residential section of Tweedbank Drive, there was a proposal to increase the speed limit on Tweedbank Drive from its easternmost junction with the A6091(T) (Melrose Bypass) to the new roundabout forming the access to Tweedbank station.  The proposal was shown on the drawing in Appendix A and the Draft Schedule in Appendix B to the report. The Council would provide a directional signing arrangement which would direct traffic via the easternmost junction. Members agreed that this was a solution to prevent traffic passing through Tweedbank and had no objections to the proposal.

            DECISION

            AGREED to APPROVE the amendment to the following Traffic Regulation Orders to increase the speed limit on Tweedbank Drive from its easternmost junction with the A6091 to the access to Tweedbank station:-

·                     The Scottish Borders Council (Restricted Roads) Orders 1985; and

·                     The Scottish Borders Council (Various Roads) (40mph speed limit) Order 2004

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

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Commercial Services seeking the making of a Stopping-Up Order for part of the D11/4  public road at Lowood Mains, Melrose.  The report explained that part of the road known as Lowood Mains, Melrose (D11/4) would become redundant due to the realignment of this road as a result of the Borders Railway project. Should the report be approved, the solum and maintenance responsibilities, of the road included within the order, would vest with the relevant title holders.  A plan showing the area in question was attached as Appendix A to the report.

            DECISION

            AGREED:-

(a)          to approve the stopping-up of an area of the D11/4 Lowood Mains, Melrose from a point 43 metres south of the southern gable of the property known as Lowood Mains, in a south easterly direction for a length of approx. 90 metres; and

(b)          that, subject to there being no substantive objections, to delegate authority to confirm the Order to the Council’s Chief Legal Officer.

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

7.1       There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Neighbourhood Services seeking approval for proposed new Neighbourhood Small Schemes.  The following schemes had been put forward for consideration by the Eildon members:-installation of two dropped kerbs, Overhaugh St, Galashiels; purchase of defibrillator cases and contribution to installation, Ettrick & Yarrow area; extension of the footpath, Annay Road, Newstead; and the construction of a link footpath at Gunknowe Loch, Tweedbank.  The Neighbourhood Manager (Eildon) also asked for an additional scheme to be considered.  This was the extension of the existing gravel footpath in the Killie Holes area of Tweedbank  to complete the final 150 metres.  The cost would be £500 for materials and the work carried out by the Criminal Justice Team. With regard to the Small Schemes budget Members agreed to the proposal todelegate authority to the Neighbourhood Manager (Eildon) to allocate funds from the Small Schemes budget for suitable schemes, subject to consultation with and approval by at least five Members of the Eildon Area Forum by email. It was clarified that if agreement could not be reached by email the scheme(s) would be taken forward for discussion and a decision at the next meeting of the Area Forum. 

7.2.      With regard to the Quality of Life budget it was agreed that, as in 2014/15, the funding should be split equally, £6,666 each, between the 3 Wards – Galashiels and District, Leaderdale and Melrose, and Selkirkshire.  It was further proposed that, to allow projects to be approved between meetings of the Area Forum, Councillors could put forward schemes or projects, and authority to approve such schemes/ projects would be delegated to the Service Director Neighbourhood Services or a nominated officer from that section, once all Members of the relevant Ward had been consulted and indicated their agreement.    Should agreement not be reached, then the matter would be referred to the Area Forum for approval.  A list of schemes/projects approved under delegated authority would be provided to each meeting of the Area Forum.  If all Funding had not been spent/ committed in each Ward by the end of January 2016, then a report on any balance of Funds remaining would be brought to the Area Forum meeting scheduled for 18 February 2016, and consideration given at that meeting by all Ward Members of the Area Forum on how this money would be spent.  This was unanimously agreed.

DECISION

            AGREED:-

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

(i)            install two dropped kerbs, Overhough St, Galashiels;                £1800

(ii)          purchase five defibrillator cases and contribution to the

installation costs, various locations in the Ettrick and

Yarrow valleys;                                                                                 £1775

(iii)         extension to footpath, Annay Road, Newstead;                           £4050

(iv)         construct a link footpath, Gunknowe Loch, Tweedbank;           £3900

(v)          extend the existing gravel footpath in the Killie Holes area of Tweedbank.                                                                                         £ 500

(b)          to delegate authority to the Neighbourhood Manager (Eildon) to allocate the funds for the current  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.1       Police Scotland

Inspector Hodges advised that his report would focus on three topics relevant to the Eildon area. With the beginning of the Common Riding and local festival season Police Scotland, along with the Council’s Emergency Planning Team, were pleased that all the main events in the Eildon Area had been subject to the Safety Advisory Group or SAG process. This not only allowed all services to provide support and assistance to event organisers but also went a long way to ensuring that our local events were held with public safety at the forefront.

Police Scotland Licensing Officers were working closely with the Council’s licensing section and Licensees to ensure that all licensed events during festivals were run in a professional and safe manner.  Police Scotland would continue to support events and try to blend into the background to allow the events to be enjoyed in a safe and trouble free environment.  Inspector Hodges went on to talk about rural crime and the fact that the nature of the Borders increased the risk of criminals travelling into our areas to target isolated premises and the farming community.  These crimes were difficult not only to detect but to deter. Police Scotland had recognised this and saw rural crime as an area in which partnership working and tactics should be developed. To this end Inspector Hodges was part of a group, which now met regularly with colleagues from Mid, East and West Lothian to share best practice and work together regarding ongoing issues that affected our rural communities. Stronger links were being developed with the National Farmers Union.  Local community schemes such as CCTV being funded by Oxton Community Council demonstrated the willingness for communities to assist in prevention of crime and as such would be supported by Police Scotland.  With regard to drug misuse in our communities, in the efforts to disrupt the supply of controlled drugs in the Eildon area proactive officers recently executed six warrants under the Misuse of Drugs Act in the Scottish Borders, four of which were in the Eildon area. This had resulted in four individuals, believed to be involved in the organised supply of drugs locally, being charged and reported to the Procurator Fiscal. This was an ongoing battle but good headway was being made and Police Scotland would continue to disrupt and deter these individuals to reduce the impact drug misuse had across the area.  Inspector Hodges answered questions from members of the Forum.  In response to concern about alleged consistently dangerous parking on double yellow lines on the approach from the north into Galashiels on the A7, he advised that checks had been made and tickets issued but, as the vehicles involved appeared to belong to local residents, a letter drop in the area would also be carried out in attempt to dissuade residents from parking in this manner.

8.2       Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

The Chairman welcomed Keith Langley, recently appointed Galashiels Station Manager, to his first meeting.  Mr Langley referred  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

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

Mr Roger French referred to the issue raised at a previous Area Forum meeting about the accumulation of signs in Channel Street, Galashiels and asked whether any action had been taken.   The Chairman advised that the group, Energise Galashiels, had taken some action to address this problem.  As a result some signs were now less prominent, being displayed flat to the buildings concerned.  An audit of all shops in Galashiels was in progress in order to identify those which needed attention.  There had been recent improvements in terms of additional shops being occupied.  It was pointed out that although there was a small business rate scheme which could assist small retail businesses to become established the level of rents set by private landlords was a factor that worked against the uptake of shop premises.   

DECISION

            NOTED

Consider matters of interest to Community Councils

.           Mr Tom Cotter, of Lilliesleaf, Ashkirk and Midlem Community Council, drew the Forum’s attention to a walking festival taking place in Midlem over the weekend of 23/24 May.

DECISION

            NOTED

Consider future agenda items

It was agreed that, for the next meeting, new ScotRail operator Abellio be invited to present the proposals for the Borders Railway.

            DECISION

            NOTED

The next meeting would be held on Thursday 20 August 2015 at 6.30 pm.  In accordance with the agreement to move meeting venues around the Eildon Area, it was suggested that the August meeting be held in Melrose, the exact venue to be confirmed.