Agenda and minutes

Minute of Meeting held on 14 June 2017 for noting and signature by the Chairman.  (Copy attached.)

The Minute of the Meeting of Peebles Common Good Fund Sub-Committee held on14 June 2017 had been circulated.

DECISION

APPROVED. 

Consider report by Chief Financial Officer.  (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 three months to 30 June 2017 and full year projected out-turn for 2017/18 and projected balance sheet values as at 31 March 2018.  Appendix 1 to the report provided a projected Income and Expenditure position which currently showed a projected deficit of £313 for the year.   Appendix 2 to the report contained a projected Balance Sheet to 31 March 2017 and projected a decrease in the reserves of £37,754.  Appendix 3 to the report detailed the breakdown of the property portfolio showing projected rental income for 2017/18 and actual property expenditure to 30 June 2017.   Appendix 4 to the report showed the value of the Newton Fund to 30 June 2017.     The Capital and Investments Manager advised that following an evaluation by KPMG on the performance of the Newton Fund a report would be submitted to Council seeking approval to undertake a procurement exercise to appoint new investment managers.  In response to a question she advised that there would be no penalties involved in changing the investment manager but there would be costs relating to the procurement exercise.

DECISION

AGREED:-

 a)        the projected Income and Expenditure for 2017/18, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report as the revised budget for 2017/18;

            (b)       to note the projected Balance Sheet value as at 31 March 2018,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; and

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

Consider applications received from the following:-

          Peeblesshire Archaeological Society

          There had been circulated copies of a request for funding in the sum of £823 towards the cost of funding a new laptop, software, digital projector and screen for use at lecture meetings and other events.  Members considered the application and agreed that it be approved.

          DECISION

          AGREED that a grant of £823 be given to Peeblesshire Archaeological Society.

4.       Peebles Scout Group

          With reference to paragraph 7(b) of the Minute of 25 May 2016, there had been circulated copies of a request for funding in the sum of between £8,000 and £12,000 to cover the cost of fire resistant cladding which had been omitted from the original quotation for the building works.  Members considered the application and expressed the view that this was surely a contractual issue with the builders who they felt should not have provided a quotation for a building which did not meet building warrant requirements.  It was noted that the total cost of the cladding works was £25,415.75 but it was unclear if this formed part of the original estimated cost of £193,348.  Members agreed that in the first instance the application should be refused and that the Scout Group should take this matter up with their building contractor.  However, if further information became available this would be considered.

          DECISION

          AGREED that the application be refused.

5.       Inchorus

          There had been circulated copies of a request for funding in the sum of £2,000 towards the cost of making two professional music videos.  Two representatives of Inchorus were present at the meeting and the Sub-Committee Members questioned them on the purpose of the videos.  Members discussed the application and agreed that if the videos did not have a wider purpose than to promote the choir that funding should not be given.  However, if the group could demonstrate that the videos would have a wider community benefit then funding could be given.

          DECISION

          AGREED to defer consideration of the application to allow Inchorus to provide additional information on the wider benefits of the videos.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Anderson declared an interest in the following item of business in terms of Section 5 of the Councillors Code of Conduct and left the room during the discussion.

6.       Peebles Community Trust

          There had been circulated copies of a request for funding in the sum of £3,600 to cover the first 6 months rental of an office and work space for the Trust.  Mr Crick Carlton, Trust Co-ordinator was present at the meeting and explained the need for the funding.  Members discussed the request and noted that an application for funding had been made to the Community Choices Fund but the outcome was not yet known.  Concern was expressed regarding how the Trust would fund the rental after the first 6 months.  Councillor Chapman, seconded by Councillor Bell, moved that the application be refused at present as insufficient detail and evidence had been provided.  Councillor Haslam, seconded by Councillor Tatler, moved as an amendment that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

          AGREED that this matter be considered under private business.

Members discussed moving the meetings of the Common Good Fund Sub-Committee to a different date than those of the Locality Committee.

DECISION

AGREED that the dates of the Common Good Fund Committee be changed so that they no longer coincided with meetings of the Locality Committee.

Under Section 50B(4)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the Chairman was of the opinion that the items dealt with in the following paragraphs should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency, in view of the need to keep Members informed and to make an early decision.

          With reference too paragraph 3 of the Minute of the Minute of 1 March 2017, the Chairman advised Members that he had been contacted by Mr John Falla of the Callant’s Club regarding issues around the future maintenance of the trees to be planted.  Ms Kubala advised that she had been in touch with the Callant’s Club and the Council’s Landscape Architect and, if the correct tree types were chosen, the maintenance regime should not be onerous.

          DECISION

         AGREED that the Chairman, Councillor Bell and appropriate officers meet with the Callant’s Club to agree a way forward.  

The Chairman advised that Mr Mike Pearson wished to attend the next meeting of the Sub-Committee regarding Victoria Park which was part owned by Scottish Borders Council.

DECISION

AGREED that Mr Pearson be invited to the next meeting and that he be asked to bring forward a specific proposal..  

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.”

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 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A to the Act.

SUMMARY OF PRIVATE BUSINESS

Private section of Minute of meeting held on 14 June 2017 for noting and signature by the Chairman.  (Copy attached.)

The Private Section of the Minute of the Meeting of Peebles Common Good Fund Sub-Committee held on14 June 2017 was approved.

Declaration of Interest

Councillor Haslam declared an interest in the following item of business in terms of section 5 of the Councillors Code of Conduct and left the room.

The Estates Surveyor briefed Members on the current position regarding the lease of the Old Corn Exchange, Peebles.