Agenda and minutes

The Forum was not quorate until paragraph 2.3 of the Minute as there was not an elected Member present from each Ward at the beginning of the meeting.  The Chairman therefore varied the order of business as shown on the agenda and the Minute reflects the order in which the items were considered at the meeting.

2.1       Raising concerns about alcohol in your community

Licensing Standards Officer, Mike Wynne, and Senior Development Officer, Alcohol and Drugs Partnership, Susan Walker, were in attendance to give a presentation on behalf of the Scottish Borders Licensing Forum.  The presentation was in support of the publication of the Toolkit Resource for communities, copies of which were provided at the meeting.  The toolkit was designed to help anyone who would like to have a say on how alcohol impacted on their community.  It explained how the licensing process worked in Scotland and provided some practical tips to help people who wanted to get involved.  In response to the question ‘Why is alcohol licensed?’ Mr Wynne advised that due to the harm associated with the product, alcohol was deemed a high risk product and therefore subject to regulation.  The licensing system existed to regulate the sale of alcohol to minimise harm.  There were three types of alcohol license: permanent (premises); temporary (occasional); and personal in respect of managers/supervisors that managed the sale of alcohol.  The Licensing Board was made up of 10 elected Councillors but also involved in the process of deciding who could sell alcohol were the Licensing Standards Officers, Police, Health Board, Community Councils, Local Licensing Forum and members of the Community.  The presentation went on to summarise the licensing application process and how Community Councils could raise concerns, if they wished, about alcohol in the community.    Community Councils could report problems to the Police or Licensing Standards Officer; input to the planning process; get involved with the Local Licensing Forum; comment on alcohol licence applications; and speak to their local Councillor.  Further details and advice about how to raise concerns were outlined in the toolkit booklet.  Parties putting in an objection or representations in respect of an application would be invited by the Licensing Board to attend the hearing at which the license would be considered. For reference Ms Walker drew attention to the Alcohol Profile 2014/15, copies of which were also available at the meeting.  This was the third report by the Local Licensing Forum which aimed to collectively present information relating to evidence of alcohol-related harm in the Scottish Borders based on national research as well as local data from Police Scotland, NHS Borders, Scottish Borders Council and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.   Mr Wynne and Ms Walker concluded the presentation by answering questions from those present.

MEMBER

Councillor Aitchison joined the meeting.

2.2       Earlston Locality Learning and Youth Work Partnerships

In attendance to give a presentation about the work of the Earlston Learning Community Partnership was Susan Law, Earlston Voluntary Sector Manager.  Handouts relating to the presentation and a profile of the Earlston Learning Community were provided at the meeting in addition to a sheet summarising Voluntary Youth Services in the Earlston catchment area. It was explained that there were currently 2,328 young people in the Earlston catchment area with a High School roll of approximately 1050.  The figures for deprivation in Earlston were relatively low.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Verbal update by Neighbourhood Area Manager.

Neighbourhood Area Manager, Craig Blackie, gave a verbal update on the progress of schemes and projects under the Small Schemes and Quality of Life budgets.  It was noted that details continued to be circulated to Members for approval by email. Mr Blackie also gave an update about the work of the environmental wardens who were introduced from the end of May 2016 to specifically address litter and dog fouling issues.  A total of 31 fixed penalty notices had been issued in the area, two of which were for dog fouling and the remainder for litter.  Apprehension of dog fouling incidents was mainly intelligence-led and Mr Blackie pleaded for information about habitual offenders to be passed to him via the Council website. He stressed that the environmental wardens were being employed as part of a year’s trial following which a report would go back to Council on how effective they had been.  Although it was not currently the Council’s policy to advertise where, in the Borders, the wardens would be operating Members believed that it would be effective to release advanced information about where they were patrolling to raise awareness and reduce dog fouling and litter offences.

DECISION

NOTED the update.

4.1       NHS Borders

Employee Director John McLaren gave a verbal update.  He reported that a recent NHS Borders Annual Review had been well attended.  The main issue for discussion at the Annual Review and at the Integrated Joint Board meetings was the financial challenge facing the services in the forthcoming year and beyond.  In this respect, Mr McLaren confirmed that he would keep the Area Forum informed of any issues which involved public engagement.  He concluded his update with confirmation that WiFi would be available in the dining area and in some wards at the Borders General Hospital from early September. 

4.2       Police Scotland

Inspector Mike Bennett was unable to attend the meeting but his report had been circulated and he asked that any issues raised be passed on to him.  In an introduction, the report advised that a new Divisional Commander had been appointed for the Lothians and Scottish Borders area.  Chief Superintendent Ivor Marshall took up his role on 18  May 2016 and said “It is a pleasure and a privilege to have been appointed as the Police Commander for The Lothians and Scottish Borders – my local division. Building upon all the good work of my predecessors and drawing upon the ongoing commitment and hard work of all officers and staff, I am confident that the Division will deliver positive outcomes in keeping with agreed local plans. We will be relentless in our prevention and detection of crime, we will be resolute in protecting citizens from harm, and we will be proactive in promoting the wellbeing of everyone who lives in or visits the Lothians and Scottish Borders. Having the support of local communities is vitally important to our work so we will ensure that our values of integrity, fairness and respect sit at the heart of all that we do so that we maintain the trust and confidence of the people we serve.”  The report went on to give details of the focus of police work in the Multi Member Ward areas of Galashiels and District, Selkirkshire and Leaderdale and Melrose.  With regard to the Local Festivals, police had been involved with committees in the organisation and delivery of the local common ridings and festivals.  This year’s events had been a great success with very little in the way of disorder.  This was due largely to the good communication and planning that went into these events, most of which the public were not aware of.  Police Scotland would like to thank the organisers for working in partnership to deliver these events.  The report concluded with a reminder that Police Scotland’s public consultation process was online and would be open all year.  The consultation, which would be a completely transparent process, would shape the way that policing was coordinated across Scotland and in local communities.

4.3       Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

Station Manager, Keith Langley, had circulated his report but sent apologies for his absence.  The report summarised response and resilience activity in the Eildon Area since  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Consider matters of interest to Community Councils

Lilliesleaf, Ashkirk and Midlem Community Councillor, Tom Cotter, gave information about a coffee morning being held in Midlem Village Hall on 24 September from 10 am – 12 pm, at which a Pensions Adviser from the Citizens Advice Bureau would be in attendance to give advice.

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

There were no open questions.

DECISION

NOTED.

Minute of the meeting of 12 May 2016 to be approved (copy attached).

7.1       There had been circulated copies of the Minute of 12 May 2016.

DECISION

APPROVED for signature by the Chairman.

7.2       With regard to paragraph 2.2 of the Minute, Councillor Aitchison gave some clarification about consultation in relation to the review of the school estate provision and to rural schools in particular.  Views had been put forward in the pre-consultation that the Council should engage with communities at an early stage when school rolls were dropping, to look at what sustainability actions could be taken.  Letters would therefore be sent shortly to parents and guardians of pupils in those schools with rolls of less than 50 to explain how this would be taken forward.  

DECISION

NOTED

Consider future agenda items

The following would be on the agenda of the next meeting:-

(a)        Community Empowerment Bill

(b)        TD1 Youth Hub Exhibition ‘Youth Poverty and Homelessness’

The Chairman expressed his disappointment at the low turnout of Community Council representatives and advised of his intention to contact Community Councils prior to the next meeting to encourage better attendance.

DECISION

NOTED

Thursday 8 December at 6.30 pm.

The next meeting would be held on Thursday 8 December 2016 at 6.30 pm at the Transport Interchange, Galashiels.