Agenda and minutes

Consider Minutes of Meetings held on:-

(a)     9 May 2018; and

(b)     30 July 2018

(Copies attached.)

1.      MINUTE         

         The Minutes of the Meeting of Peebles Common Good Fund Sub-Committee held on 9 May and 30 July 2018 had been circulated.

1.1    With reference to 4 of the Minute of 9 May 2018, the Capital Investments Manager advised that work on a single grant application form was continuing and she would check when a draft copy would be available to circulate to members.

1.2    With reference to recommendation 2(b) in the Minute of 30 July 2018, it was reported that a letter had been received from the Eastgate Theatre Board advising that they would not need to take up the option of a loan as they had now obtained sufficient match funding for their project and thanked the Sub-Committee for their assistance.

         DECISION

         (a)      AGREED to approve the Minutes.

         (b)     NOTED:-

                   (i)      the position regarding a single grant application form; and

(ii)     that Council would be advised that the recommendation regrading a loan to the Eastgate Theatre  would no longer be required.

Consider report by Chief Financial Officer on financial monitoring for the 3 months to 30 June 2018.  (Copy attached.)

2.      MONITORING REPORT FOR 3 MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2018

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 2018 and full year projected out-turn for 2018/19 and projected balance sheet values as at 31 March 2019.  Appendix 1 to the report provided a projected Income and Expenditure position which currently showed a projected surplus of £24,111 for the year.   Appendix 2 to the report contained a projected Balance Sheet to 31 March 2019 and projected a decrease in the reserves of £13,330.  Appendix 3 to the report detailed the breakdown of the property portfolio showing projected rental income for 2018/19 and actual property expenditure to 30 June 2018.   Appendix 4 to the report showed the value of the Kames Investment Fund to 30 June 2018.     The Pension and Investments Manager commented on the presentation given by Kames the previous day which had indicated they were on track to achieve a 5% return for the year.  Members discussed the conversion of part of their cash reserves to capital.  Councillor Bell, seconded by Councillor Haslam, moved that a sum of £24k be converted to capital and invested in the Kames Investment Fund and this was unanimously agreed.  Community Councillor Hayworth asked if a map showing the location of all common good assets was available as he felt such a map would be helpful to the Sub-Committee.  The Estates Surveyor undertook to report back at the next meeting if such a map existed or how much work it would require to produce.

          DECISION

AGREED:-

           (a)      the projected Income and Expenditure for 2018/19, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report;

          (b)     to note the projected Balance Sheet value as at 31 March 2019, 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 Kames Investment Fund, as detailed in  Appendix 4 to the report; and

(e)     to convert £24k of excess revenue funding to capital for investment in the Kames Investment Fund.

Consider report by Service Director Assets and Infrastructure on request from Peebles Lawn Tennis Club to extend an existing tarmacadam path in Victoria Park to provide wheelchair access to their courts.  (Copy attached.)

3.       VICTORIA PARK – APPLICATION BY PEEBLES LAWN TENNIS CLUB

          There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Assets and Infrastructure requesting permission to extend an existing tarmacadam path in Victoria Park to provide wheelchair access to their courts.  The report explained that the courts were located some distance below the clubhouse on Springhill Road, and the current access was by way of two short, steep flights of steps making wheelchair access impossible. The proposal would enable wheelchair access to the rear courts by using the entrance to Victoria Park adjacent to the clubhouse and the existing tarmacadam path, which sloped gently down from Springhill Road to the courts.  The existing lease would be varied to extend the tennis club’s demise and allow a newly built short section of path across the grass to be incorporated in it.  All costs associated with the building and future maintenance/repair of the path would be borne by the club.  Members were happy to support the request but asked that the Estates Surveyor write to Mr. Mike Pearson, representing the Friends of Victoria Park advising them of the proposal.

          DECISION

AGREED to approve the application by Peebles Lawn Tennis Club to extend the existing Tarmacadam path in Victoria Park subject to the following conditions:-

(a)     the cost of the path extension was paid for by the Tennis Club;

(b)     the path design and specification was to be approved by the local authority;

(c)     the existing lease of the Tennis Club was amended to include the future maintenance of the path to a standard approved by the local authority; and

(d)     that no costs or liability would be met by either the Peebles Common Good Fund or the local authority.

4.       URGENT BUSINESS

          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 paragraph 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.

5.      TREE SURVEY REPORT

          The Chairman advised that a recent Tree Survey report included the felling of some trees which were located on Common Good land and it was suggested that the Sub-Committee should ask for further details before any work was carried out.  Community Councillor Hayworth supported this proposal as four of the trees were located in the Victoria Park avenue so were likely to raise issues locally.

          DECISION

         AGREED that the Chairman raise this matter with Neighbourhood Area Manager.  

The meeting concluded at 5.20 p.m.