Agenda and minutes

Consider Minute of Meeting held on 23 November 2022 and Action Tracker.  (Copies attached.)

The Minute of the meeting of Peebles Common Good Fund Sub-Committee held on 23 November 2022 and the Action Tracker had been circulated.  With reference to paragraph 7 of the minute of 23 November 2022, it was noted that Councillor Tatler had declared an interest in the item of business in terms of Section 5 of the Councillors Code of Conduct and left the meeting during the discussion.

DECISION

          APPROVED the minute for signature by the Chairman and APPROVED the Action Tracker. 

Note the appointment of George Ramsay from the Peebles Community Council.

Peter Maudsley had indicated his intention to step down from the Sub-Committee since his appointment as Chair of Peebles Community Council.  George Ramsay was nominated by the Peebles Community Council to take his place.

DECISION

NOTED the appointment of George Ramsay to the Peebles Common Good Fund Sub-Committee as the Peebles Community Council representative.

Consider report provided by Acting Chief Financial Officer. (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Peebles Common Good Fund Financial Monitoring Report from the Acting Chief Financial Adviser.  The report provided the details of income and expenditure for the Peebles Common Good Fund for nine months to 31 December 2022, a full year projected out-turn for 2022/23, projected balance sheet values as at 31 March 2023 and proposed budget for 2023/24. Appendix 1 detailed the projected income and expenditure position for 2022/23 and showed a projected deficit of £10,300 for the year which was higher than the previously reported deficit on 23 November 2022 as a result of an increase to the Central Support Charge.  Appendix 2 detailed a projected balance sheet value as at 31 March 2023 and showed a projected decrease in reserves of £81,860.  Appendix 3a detailed a breakdown of the property portfolio, projected rental income and projected net return for 2022/23 and the actual property income to 31 December 2022.  Appendix 3b detailed a breakdown of the property portfolio, projected property expenditure for 2022/23 and actual property expenditure to 31 December 2022.  Appendix 4 detailed a breakdown of the property portfolio and projected portfolio valuations at 31 March 2023.  Appendix 5 detailed the value of Aegon Asset Management Investment Fund to 31 December 2022. The Investment Fund had an 11.43% unrealised loss in market value since investment largely due to continued volatility in investment markets. The cash held by the fund was projected to be £67,704 at 31 March 2023.  Grants and other donations approved and distributed to 31 March 2023 totalled £9,230 with £10,770 unallocated from the 2022/23 budget.

              DECISION

          AGREED to:

(a)        the projected income and expenditure for 2022/23 in Appendix 1 as the revised budget for 2022/23;

(b)        the proposed budget for 2023/24 as shown in Appendix 1;

(c)        note the projected balance sheet value as at 31 March 2023 in Appendix 2;

(d)        note the summary of the property portfolio in Appendices 3 and 4; and

(e)        note the current position of the Aegon Asset Management Investment Fund in Appendix 5.

An update from Tricia Hill to include future bookings on Common Good Land.

The Estates Surveyor advised that the following park bookings had been made for 2023:-

·       Funfair, Victoria Park

·       Cycle event, Tweed Green                                      

·       Tweedlove Bike Festival, Tweed Green

          With reference to paragraph 7 of the meeting of 23 November 2022, the income from commercial bookings in 2022/23 was confirmed as £2424 and was generated from a circus and two funfairs.

          DECISION

          NOTED the update.

Consider the request to site benches and picnic tables in Haylodge and Victoria Parks. (Copy attached.)

          There had been circulated copies of a presentation from the Peebles Callants Club, the purpose of which was to seek the approval of the Committee for the installation of a number of picnic tables and park benches.  The Callants Club had been successful in securing 50% of the necessary funding from the Small Schemes budget to upgrade four benches and install four picnic tables in Haylodge Park, install two benches in Haylodge Hospital garden and install two picnic tables adjacent to the new playpark in Victoria Park. There had been an open question related to the installation of picnic tables which asked for consideration of a table with a disposable barbeque plate to prevent grass damage.  A request was made that the Callants Club consider the inclusion of the barbeque plates.  It was suggested that the Community Payback Team might be considered as a source of labour.  Members approved the installation of the benches and tables.

          DECISION

          AGREED to the installation of six benches and six picnic tables in Haylodge and and Victoria Parks by the Peebles Callants Club.  

A discussion on the following:

(a) Ownership of Kingsmeadows Toilets.

(b) Remarking of parking bays; inclusion in off-street parking review.

          There followed a discussion on the future of Kingsmeadows Car Park Toilets.  A report was to be presented to Scottish Borders Council on public convenience provision across the region.  It was anticipated that provision was to be reduced to one site per town with only the East Station Toilets to be maintained in Peebles by Scottish Borders Council.  The operation and maintenance of Kingsmeadows Car Park toilets was therefore to revert back to the Peebles Common Good Fund Sub-Committee.  It was agreed that an item be added to the next agenda to consider a report on the running costs and regime proposal.

          In addition it was requested that the parking bays be remarked to maximise the use of space.  The need for the retention of bus/coach parking and space for the uplift of bottle banks was noted.  A request was to be made to Roads for a summary of running costs and a regime proposal, to be considered at the next public meeting of the Peebles Common Good Fund Sub-Committee on 24 May 2023.

          DECISION

(a)     NOTED that the Kingsmeadows Car Park toilets were to revert back to the control of Peebles Common Good Fund Sub-Committee;

(b)     AGREED to add an item to the next agenda to consider a report on the running costs and regime proposal for Kingsmeadows Car Park toilets; and

(c)     AGREED to request a report on a plan and summary of costs for the remarking of parking bays to maximise the use of space in Kingsmeadows Car Park.

Consider request for a private ceremony in Haylodge Park.

          There had been a request to hold a private ceremony to scatter ashes in Haylodge Park.  The Committee raised no objections.  It was agreed to add an agenda item to discuss memorials on Common Good land in general to the next in-person meeting of the Committee.

          DECISION:

          AGREED to the holding of a private ceremony in Haylodge Park and to add an agenda item to discuss memorials on Common Good land in general to the next in-person meeting of the Committee.

Discussion on site investigation and relocation of shed to Common Good Land.

          There followed a brief discussion on a request from Peebles Bowling Club to carry out site investigations with a view to installing a silt trap and soakaway and to the re-siting of a store on a small area of Common Good Land.  It was confirmed that this was to be carried out at no cost to the Common Good Fund.  The request to carry out site investigations was agreed and a further private meeting was scheduled to discuss a rental agreement for the land on which the store was to be erected.

          DECISION:

          AGREED to

(a)     Peebles Bowling Club carrying out site investigations with a view to installing a silt trap and soakaway; and

(b)     convene a private meeting of the Peebles Common Good Fund Sub-Committee to discuss a rental agreement for the land on which the store was to be erected.

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

9.1     A request had been received from the Peebles Beltane Committee to plant one of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Trees on Tweed Green, the deadline for which was the end of March.  At the conclusion of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, the trees which had formed part of the event on the Mall in London were earmarked for distribution to counties via Lord Lieutenants.  These 'trees of trees' were to be awarded to groups who had done great work for their communities.  Tweeddale was given one 'tree of trees' and Sir Hew Strachan nominated the Beltane Committee to receive it, a proposal which met the full approval of the organisers of the Queen's Green Canopy.  The rowan tree was currently about 8ft and could grow to 25-30 ft and was to be accompanied by a commemorative plaque.  Members agreed to the preferred site of near the wishing well provided the necessary checks were made for cabling and pipework.  Haylodge Park had been earmarked for the second site if required.

9.2     A request had been received from Anne Woodcock, Communications and Fundraising Officer with RiverTweed.org.uk for permission to stage an event on behalf of the Tweed Foundation and Peeblesshire Trout Fishing Association on Tweed Green on Saturday 1^st April 2023. The event was to celebrate the start of the Trout Season on Tweed. The day was an opportunity to promote the health and wellbeing benefits of fishing; to chat with local anglers and engage with new, lapsed, or inactive anglers and help grow participation within the area; to launch the new Trout & Grayling Logbook which monitored trout and grayling with Citizen Science and to launch the RiverFly Monitoring Initiative for Tweed with an opportunity for local residents to find out more and to get involved. Tweed Foundation biologists were also to discuss the Tweed Trout & Grayling Initiative on the river which included the Trout Acoustic Tracking project.  The applicant was to be directed to the booking form to be completed and emailed to PLACE Bookings to secure the date.  A request was made that the event was used to publicise the Tweeddale area and the Chair undertook to meet with Ms Woodcock to discuss how this might be achieved.

          DECISION

          AGREED:-

(a)     to the Beltane Committee planting the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee rowan tree and commemorative plaque by the wishing well on Tweed Green, provided the necessary checks were made for cabling and pipework;

(b)     to the staging of an event by RiverTweed.org.uk on Tweed Green on 1 April 2023, with the proviso that the event was used to publicise the Tweeddale area

Note

At the conclusion of the formal business the Sub-Committee held a Q&A session with members of the public.  A copy of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.