Agenda and minutes

In the absence of Councillor Tatler, Councillor Anderson chaired the meeting.

Consider Minute of meeting held on 7 March 2018.  (Copy attached.)

The Minute of the Meeting of Peebles Common Good Fund Sub-Committee held on 7 March 2018, had been circulated.  With reference to paragraph 4.3, the Democratic Services Team Leader undertook to check if any other sources of funding had been identified by the Twinning Association.  With reference to paragraph 7, Councillor Anderson advised that 3 potential sites had been identified for the Peebles Men’s Shed and she was in contact with the Estates Surveyor regarding this matter.

DECISION

APPROVED the Minute. 

Consider:-

(a)     Report by Chief Financial Officer on financial monitoring for the 12 months to 31 March 2018.

(b)     Information on previous grants issued. 

(Copies 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 year 2017/18 including the balance sheet values as at 31 March 2018 and proposed budget for 2018/19.  Appendix 1 to the report provided an actual Income and Expenditure for 2017/18 which showed a surplus of £2,828 which varied from the previously reported position largely due to lower than anticipated grant expenditure.   Appendix 2 to the report contained a projected Balance Sheet to 31 March 2017 and projected a decrease in the reserves of £51,941.  Appendix 3 to the report detailed the breakdown of the property portfolio showing projected rental income for 2017/18 and actual property expenditure to 31 December 2017.   Appendix 4 to the report showed the value of the Newton Fund to 31 March 2018.  The Chief Financial Officer highlighted the main points in the report and confirmed that invested funds had now been transferred to Kames with the first month dividend being received at the end of March. It was noted that the fixed assets were due to be revalued as part of the normal 5 year cycle, Mr Robertson answered Members questions and agreed to provide some further details in respect of “Receipts in Advance” and the movement in the “Revaluation reserve” both detailed in Appendix 2.  In response to a request by Community Councillor Hayworth that the grants budget be increased to £30k Members agreed that this be reviewed in 6 months’ time.  With regard to grant payments it was noted that the account for the PA system for Remembrance Day Service had now been paid and that the grant of up to £2350 to the Peebles-Hendaye Twinning Association approved at the last meeting needed to be included under “approved but not yet paid”.

DECISION

AGREED to:-

(a)     note the actual Income and Expenditure for 2017/18, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report;

(b)     the proposed budget for 2018/19 as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report:

(c)     note the final Balance Sheet value as at 31 March 2018, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report;

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

(e)     note the current position of the Kames Capital investment, as detailed in  Appendix 4 to the report; and

(f)      that the level of funding for grant applications be reviewed in 6 months’ time.

PREVIOUS GRANT ASSISTANCE

With reference to paragraph 5 of the Minute of 7 March 2018, there had been circulated copies of a list detailing all grants made by the Sub-Committee over the previous 10 years.  The Chief Financial Officer advised that work on a single application form for all grant funding was progressing.  Members asked that this be brought to their next meeting.

DECISION

AGREED that a new application form be presented at the next meeting of the Sub-Committee.

Consider the following applications:-

(a)     Peeblesshire Youth Trust – funding to purchase projector

(b)     Peebles Community Council – funding for Peebles Parkrun

(c)     Peebles Archaeological Society – funding for production of booklet

(Copies attached.)

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Community Councillor Hayworth declared an interest in the applications received from Peebles Community Council and Peebles Archaeological Society as he was a Member of both organisations.  He did not take part in the discussion on these applications.

5.1       Peebles Youth Trust

There had been circulated copies of a request for funding in the sum of £300 towards the purchase of a projector to assist with the delivery of training for volunteers and the delivery of children’s workshops.  Members agreed that the application be approved

DECISION

AGREED to approve a grant of £300 to Peebles Youth Trust.

5.2.      Peebles Community Council on behalf of Parkrun

With reference to paragraph 3 of the Minute of 7 March 2018, there had been circulated copies of a request for funding in the sum of £3,000 to commence Parkrun in Peebles.  Graham Mackie from Peebles Community Council and Susan Morrison, Parkrun Event Organiser were present at the meeting and spoke in support of the application and also answered Members questions.  Members discussed the application and agreed that while the Sub-Committee were very supportive of the proposal they felt some level of match funding should be obtained.  Councillor Haslam, seconded by Councillor Chapman, moved that a grant of £2000 be made and this was unanimously approved.  Councillor Haslam undertook to put organisers in touch with Councillor Jardine, Executive Member for Culture and Sport who would be able to assist with other avenues of funding.

DECISION

AGREED that the a grant of £2000 be made to Peebles Community Council towards the setting up of Parkrun in Peebles.

5.3       Peeblesshire Archaeological Society

There had been circulated copies of a request for funding in the sum of £1500 towards the production of a leaflet “A Walk in the Park: The Archaeology and History of Hay Lodge Park and its Environs.”  Members were disappointed that there was no representative of the Society present to answer questions but agreed that the application be approved.

DECISION

AGREED that a grant of £1500 be made to Peeblesshire Archaeological Society.