Agenda and minutes

Minute of Meeting held on 31 August 2021 to be approved and signed. (Copy attached).

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the meeting held on 31 August 2021.

DECISION

APPROVED the Minute for signature by the Chairman.

Consider report by Director – Finance and Corporate Governance.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Executive Director Finance & Regulatory providing details of income and expenditure for the Selkirk Common Good Fund for three months to 30 September 2021, a full year projected out-turn for 2021/22 and projected balance sheet values as at 31 March 2022. Appendix 1 to the report provided the projected income and expenditure position for 2021/22. This showed a projected deficit of £22,067 for the year, which was less than the surplus figure reported at 31 August 2021 due to the approval of repair works at Smedheugh and Linglie farms. Appendix 2 to the report provided the projected balance sheet value as at 31 March 2022 and showed a projected decrease in reserves of £132,148. Appendix 3a to the report provided a breakdown of the property portfolio and a projected rental income and projected net return for 2021/22 together with actual property expenditure to 30 September 2021. Appendix 3b to the report provided a breakdown of the property portfolio and a projected property expenditure for 2021/22 and actual property expenditure to 30 September 2021. Appendix 4 of the report provided a breakdown of the property portfolio detailing projected property valuations at 31 March 2022.  Appendix 5 to the report showed the value of the Aegon Asset Management Investment Fund to 30 September 2021.

DECISION

(a)       AGREED the projected income and expenditure for 2021/22 in Appendix 1 to the report as the revised budget for 2021/22;

(b)       NOTED:

(i)        the projected balance sheet value as at 31 March 2022 in Appendix 2 to the report

(ii)        the summary of the property portfolio in Appendices 3 and 4 to the report; and

(iii)      the current position of the Aegon Asset Management Investment Fund in Appendix 5 to the report.

Consider report by Principal Solicitor.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Principal Solicitor seeking approval of the draft Common Good Registers for the former Burgh of Selkirk and to advise on the next steps in the process for consultation and publication under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. The report explained that under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 the Council was required to establish and maintain a register of property which was held by the authority as part of the Common Good (“a Common Good Register”). Before establishing a Common Good Register, the Act required the Council to publish a list of property that it proposed to include in the Register and consult the public on this list.  Council approved the process for compliance with the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 on 31 January 2019, and since that date work had been ongoing in consolidating all information held in respect of heritable and moveable Common Good assets. From the work carried out, a draft list of assets considered to be a complete list of heritable and moveable assets held by the Selkirk Common Good had been prepared, and was appended to the report.  Two additional assets had been identified and included on the list, the Fletcher Memorial and Selkirk swimming pool. Mrs MacLeod advised that although the consultation would commence before Christmas, the 12 week consultation period would be calculated from January 2022 and the consultation would be widely publicised. Mrs MacLeod expected that the focus would primarily be on art and artefacts and welcomed the wider community having an input into the consultation regardless of the nature of the asset.  Mrs Macleod stressed that once the list had been finalised and published it would still be open to future review.

DECISION

(a)          APPROVED the:-

(i)               contents of the draft list of heritable and moveable property assets held by the Council within the former Burgh of Selkirk;

(ii)             publishing of the draft list to be made available for public consultation for a period of at least twelve weeks;

(b)          NOTED:-

(i)                  that following the period of consultation all comments would be brought to the Common Good Fund Sub-Committee for their consideration; and

(ii)                that the Section 95 Officer would amend the Common Good accounts to include the additional assets identified as Common Good.

Consider update from Estates Surveyor.

Ms Tricia Hill, Estates Surveyor, provided a verbal update on Common Good property matters, advising that a scheme of works had been produced for the repairs required at Buxton Bridge. Quotes on the costs involved and a timescale for completion of the works would be provided at the next meeting. Regarding the LiveBorders move from the municipal building, Ms Hill advised that the move was expected to be completed over the winter and she was uncertain about the buildings future use. . Ms Hill undertook to request access to the old fire station to allow the inspection of Common Good owned assets stored there.

            DECISION

            NOTED the verbal property update.

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 paragraphs should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency, in view of the need to make an early decision or to keep Members informed.

With reference to paragraph 3.3 of the Minute of the meeting held on 2 July 2020, where an application in the sum of £1,500 towards the cost of the February 2021 production had been considered and agreed in principle, subject to covid restrictions.  The production had been unable to proceed in 2021 and the funding was being sought for the 2022 production.  Mr Kirk advised that if the finances were available then the grant could be approved.

DECISION

AGREED that funding in the sum of £1500 be granted to the Selkirk Musical Theatre Company towards the costs for the 2022 production.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Cochrane declared an interest in the following item of business in terms of Section 5 of the Councillors Code of Conduct and took no part in the discussion.

With reference to paragraph 5 of the Minute of the meeting held on 19 February 2020 an update was provided on a previous application for funding from Selkirk BIDS. Mr David Anderson joined the meeting via Microsoft Teams and explained that the initial application for £9995 had been granted in principle, subject to the provision in writing of certain information to satisfy concerns raised by the Sub-Committee.  Mr Anderson explained that the application had been for a contribution towards the replacement of the town’s existing CCTV cameras.  Meetings had subsequently been held with Police Scotland, who were supportive of the replacement of the cameras.  Regarding planning matters, planning permission was required for 3 sites and this was being sought prior to an application for funding being submitted.  The matter of data protection and access was still outstanding and being discussed.  In terms of ownership of the system once BIDS had reached the end of its lifespan, Mr Anderson advised that a clause existed that stipulated that assets would transfer to the Community Council or the Chamber of Trade and that a destruction policy also existed.   Members thanked Mr Anderson for his update and advised that once the outstanding areas of concern had been addressed an application for funding would be considered at a future meeting.

DECISION

NOTED the update.

“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 it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as Public Document Pack defined in the relevant Paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the aforementioned Act.”

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 the Appendix to this Minute on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 7A to the Act

SUMMARY OF PRIVATE BUSINESS

Private minute of 31 August 2021 to be approved and signed. (copy attached).

The private section of the Minute of 31 August 2021 was approved.

Consider updated from Estates Surveyor.

Members considered a briefing note by the Estates Surveyor giving an update on repair and maintenance issues relating to Common Good property.