Agenda and minutes

Consider a request from the Peebles Callants Club to install a handrail at Raeburn Steps, Haylodge Park. (Copy to follow.)

There had been a request from the Peebles Callants Club for permission to install a handrail along the side of the steps of the Raeburn on the west side of Haylodge Park.  The handrail was to be approximately 84 metres in length and provide assistance to those walking up and down the steps.  A contractor had been appointed and the cost of materials and labour was to be met from community grants and at no cost to the Peebles Common Good Fund.  It was agreed that permission to install the handrail was approved.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the request for the installation of a handrail along the side of the steps of the Raeburn, Haylodge Park.

A discussion on the proposed format, content and venue of the Peebles Common Good Exhibition.

With reference to an open question submitted at the meeting of the Peebles Common Good Fund Sub-Committee on 28 February 2023, there was a proposal from the Chair for an exhibition on the history, assets and work of Peebles Common Good Fund Sub-Committee.  A volunteer fair had been proposed to follow on from the reopening of the Burgh Hall on 23 April 2023.  A date for the event was still to be confirmed though it was thought not to be possible until late June 2023.  The volunteer fair was to provide a focus for the work of local organisations and charities to showcase their work and to recruit potential new volunteers.  The Chair proposed that the Peebles Common Good Fund Sub-Committee attended the event accompanied by two pop up panels, one concerned with information on Common Good Funds in general, and the other to explain the history, assets and work of Peebles Common Good Fund Sub-Committee.  These panels were to be made available for display at other sites around the town after the volunteer event.  There was also to be the facility for the public to leave comments and suggestions during the fair.  It was confirmed that the costs incurred to stage the exhibition had been approved by the Acting Chief Financial Officer as an appropriate use of the Common Good funds.  It was suggested that the alternative locations were well publicised.  The Chair undertook to liaise with the Communications department for advice on how to proceed and to ensure advance promotion of the volunteer fair and the Common Good exhibition panels’ future locations.

DECISION

NOTED the proposal

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 make an early decision or to keep Members informed.

3.1     The Chair informed the Members of the proposed reopening of Haylodge Park toilets from 1 April 2023.

DECISION

NOTED

3.2     The Chair informed Members of a late application to the Peebles Common Good Fund from Iain Gibson for a youth project that was to run from June 2023.  The Chair had agreed to meet with Mr Gibson for further discussion on details of the project and an extraordinary meeting of the Peebles Common Good Fund was to be convened at a future date to consider the funding application in full.

DECISION

NOTED

3.3     With reference to paragraph 9.2 of the minute of the Meeting on 28 February 2023, the Chair informed Members of progress of the event to be held on 1 April 2023 on Tweed Green by Tweed Foundation and Peeblesshire Trout Fishing Association.  The event planning had progressed well and at a recent meeting with Anne Woodcock, the Chair had been able to connect the event up with Go Tweed Valley and the newly formed Retailers Association to further promote Peebles as a visitor destination. The Chair encouraged attendance at this inaugural event.

DECISION

NOTED

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 items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the aforementioned Act.”

DECISION

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.

Consider area for repair and quotes for work to be undertaken, presented by Neil Pringle. (Copies attached.)

Members considered the area for repair and quotes for work to be undertaken.