Agenda and minutes

Minute of Meeting of 31 August 2016 for noting.   (Copy attached.)

1.1    The Minute of Meeting of Peebles Common Good Fund Sub-Committee of 31 August 2016 had been circulated.

         DECISION

         NOTED. 

1.2    With reference to paragraph 7 of the Minute, Community Councillor Hayworth advised that the Royal Burgh of Peebles and District Community Council was setting up a working group in regard to an audit of the sports and leisure facilities in Peebles and the use of parks and open spaces would fall into this.   A series of questions would be drawn up including parks and public spaces and it was hoped that a public engagement event would be held in the Burgh Hall.  

         DECISION

         NOTED.

Consider report by the Chief Financial Officer providing the details of the income and expenditure for the Peebles Common Good Fund for the six months to 30 September 2016 and full year projected out-turn for 2016/17 and projected balance sheet values as at 31 March 2017.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Chief Financial Officer providing  details of the income and expenditure for the Peebles Common Good Fund for the six months to 30 September  2016 and full year projected out-turn for 2016/17 and projected balance sheet values as at 31 March 2017.  Appendix 1 to the report provided a projected Income and Expenditure position.  This showed a projected surplus of £7,110 for the year.   Appendix 2 to the report provided a projected Balance Sheet to 31 March 2017.  It showed a projected decrease in the reserves of £30,330.    Appendix 3 to the report provided a breakdown of the property portfolio showing projected rental income for 2016/17 and actual property expenditure to 30 June 2016.   Appendix 4 to the report showed the value of the Newton Fund to 30 June 2016.    The Senior Finance Officer highlighted the main points in the report and answered Members’ questions.   Members unanimously agreed to add to the recommendations that a further £52,000 be invested in the Newton Fund, and there would be a corresponding transfer of the same amount between revenue and capital reserves. This would leave a projected cash balance invested with Scottish Borders Council of £25k at the end of the year.

DECISION

AGREED:-

(a)          the projected Income and Expenditure for 2016/17  as detailed in  Appendix 1 to the report as the revised budget for 2016/17;

(b)          to note the projected Balance Sheet value as at 31 March 2017 as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report;

(c)          to note the summary of the property portfolio as detailed in Appendix 3 to the report;

(d)          to note the current position of the investment in the Newton Fund as detailed in  Appendix 4 to the report; and

(e)          that a further £52,000 be invested in the Newton Fund, and there would be a corresponding transfer of the same amount between revenue and capital reserves.

Consider the following applications:

Councillor Garvie 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.

There had been circulated copies of an application for financial assistance from Peebles Golf Club in the sum of £5,000 to be used to fund the buildings costs of a proposed 3 bay driving and swing studio which would include floodlighting.  Members discussed the application in detail and the Estates Surveyor advised that a planning application lodged by Peebles Golf Club was being processed.   In general Councillors were supportive of the application and Councillor Bell advised that this was a visitor asset and was disappointed that the encouragement for visitors to use the facility was not mentioned and he asked that this comment be passed on to the Golf Club.   Community Councillor Hayworth advised he had sought the views of community councillors on the application and some concern had been expressed bearing in mind that most of the grant  funding set aside for this year had been spent and because of the reserves and assets the Golf Club had.  Members were minded to grant the application.

DECISION

AGREED to grant the sum of £5,000 to Peebles Golf Club towards the building costs of a proposed 3 bay driving and swing studio which would include floodlighting,  subject to (a) appropriate planning consents being in place; and (b) all other funding applications being successful.   

There had been circulated copies of an application for financial assistance from Peebles Lawn Tennis Club in the sum of £10,000 towards the court/floodlighting project.   It was noted that the Club planned to replace 3 old blaes courts and install new floodlighting.   Members of the Tennis Club’s Sub-Committee for the court development project, Mr Gordon Russell and Mr Adrian Moir were present and they gave background information into the Tennis Club’s plans, in particular they discussed problems and answered Members’ questions relating to flooding, other sources of funding, and floodlighting issues.   It was hoped that the provision of an all-weather facility would see an increase in club membership and it was noted that the courts would be playable between October and April.   Members were minded to approve the application.     

DECISION

AGREED to grant the sum of £10,000 to Peebles Lawn Tennis Club towards the court/floodlighting project, subject to (a) appropriate planning consents being in place; and (b) all other funding applications being successful.   

With reference to paragraph 6 of the Minute of 31 August 2016, the Solicitor advised in relation to the Kingsmeadows Road car park that the relevant Traffic Regulation was 40 years old and that there was not a specific provision to prevent overnight parking of camper vans.  However the Traffic Regulation did enable vehicles to be removed if they were unmoved for more than 2 days in the car park.     When asked where the information had come from about people staying in caravans/camper vans overnight, Community Councillor Hayworth advised that a note expressing concern about the issue had been sent to the Community Council’s public access box.   Members agreed that this was not a problem at the moment and agreed that meantime no action be taken, however a request was made to ascertain clarification from the Legal Department on the current position in relation to existing the Traffic Regulation Orders within car parks in Peebles.

DECISION

AGREED that the Legal Department  be asked to prepare a report for consideration at a future meeting on the current position in relation to the existing Traffic Regulation Orders within car parks in Peebles.