Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the following meetings to be approved and signed by the Chairman:-

1.1         There had been circulated copies of the minutes of 10 June 2015 and the special meeting of 25 June 2015.

DECISION

APPROVED the minutes for signature by the Chairman

1.2       With regard to paragraph 4(a) and in response to a point raised by Councillor Davidson, the Chairman agreed to raise with the Chief Financial Officer the issue of the comparative level of Central Support Charge applied to Selkirk Common Good Fund over the past few years.

            DECISION

            NOTED

Consider report by Chief Financial Officer (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Chief Financial Officer providing the details of the income and expenditure for the Selkirk Common Good Fund for the 3 months to 30 June 2015 and full year projected out-turn for 2015/16 and projected balance sheet values to 31 March 2016.  Appendix I to the report provided detail of income and expenditure for the 2015/16 financial year.  The projected net position for the year was a deficit of £3,699 assuming full expenditure of the grants and donations budget of £10,000.  A projected Balance Sheet, shown in Appendix 2, indicated a projected decrease in the reserves of £80,026. With regard to the grants and donations budget the Corporate Finance Manager advised that the additional information required from the Christmas Illuminations Group had still not been received so the conditionally approved donation of £1,500 was unpaid.   The payment to the Hill Management Group of £10,000 would be authorised once the Annual Accounts and report had been received.   The Corporate Finance Manager went on to refer to the current position of the investment in the Newton Fund.  Current uncertainties in financial markets worldwide had resulted in an average downturn across financial markets of 5%.  Newton showed an overall performance reduction of 2.76% indicating a reduction in assets value but a lower level of relative performance reduction compared to the wider market over the quarter.  The projections included an unrealised profit of £3,379 for the Newton Fund investment as at 30 June 2015.  Appendix 4 to the report showed the performance of the fund since inception. 

DECISION

(a)          AGREED the projected Income and Expenditure for 2015/16 detailed in Appendix 1:-

(b)          NOTED:-

(i)            the projected Balance Sheet value to 31 March 2016 in Appendix 2;

(ii)          the summary of the property portfolio in Appendix 3; and

(iii)         the current position of the investment in the Newton Fund in Appendix 4

Update by Estates Surveyor

3.1       An update on matters relating to property, owned by Selkirk Common Good, was given by Estates Surveyor, James Morison.  With reference to paragraph 3 of the Minute of 10 June 2015, confirmation had been received that the current tenant wished to continue to rent the grazing on Selkirk Hill and would be putting on up to 100 sheep during the  autumn and early winter.  Mr Morison advised that at South Common work had been carried out by the tenant to install a water tank near the new shed to meet fire regulations.  With regard to the Selkirk Flood Protection Scheme, and the possible new access road along the riverside on Common Good land, Mr Morison explained that a report would be prepared for presentation to the Sub Committee once further details were available.

3.2       With reference to paragraph 2 of the Minute of 25 June 2015 and to the decision not to grant formal access rights over Victoria Park to a new property on Buccleuch Road,  Mr Morison advised that an email  had been received to request the Common Good Fund Sub Committee to provide written confirmation of informal rights of access to the property. After discussion Members agreed that, although unauthorised, informal and occasional access was being taken over Victoria Park no informal rights of access could be confirmed to any part.

DECISION

(a)          NOTED the update

(b)          AGREED not to grant informal rights of access over Victoria Park

Consider application from Ettrick Forest Archers (copy attached)

There had been circulated copies of an application for financial assistance from Ettrick Forest Archers, a longbow archery club who offered traditional archery to members of the community currently from 12 to 82 years of age.  It was explained that the club provided tuition on the basic art of archery and arrow making and took part in national and international contests.  The application was for between £2000 and £4000 to help the club build a log cabin style secure store and shelter for archery equipment and archers at Thirladean. The total projected cost was £25,685 with £18,044 already raised.  It was also confirmed that £4,673 had been awarded from the Community Grant Scheme.  Members discussed the application and agreed to grant £3000 towards the project providing the remaining funding was in place. 

DECISION

AGREED to grant £3000 to Ettrick Forest Archers towards the project to build a store and shelter, subject to the remaining funding required being in place

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 item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant Paragraphs  of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the aforementioned Act.”

PRIVATE BUSINESS

                   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 Paragraph 6 of Part I of Schedule 7A to the Act.

        SUMMARY OF PRIVATE BUSINESS

            Minute

6              Members approved the private sections of the Minutes of 10 June 2015 and

25 June 2015.

Tenancy of Smedheugh Farm

7              Members considered a letter sent on behalf of the tenant of Smedheugh Farm.

Private sections of the following minutes to be approved and signed by the Chairman:-