Agenda and minutes

The Chair advised Members of an item of business to be heard under Any Other Business and in Private Business.

(a) Consider the Minute of 24 May 2023. (Copy attached.)

(b) Consider the Minute of 27 June 2023. (Copy attached.)

(c) Minute of 28 February 2023 for noting only. (Copy attached.)

(d) Action Tracker. (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the Meeting held on 23 May 2023 and 27 June 2023 and the updated Action Tracker.

DECISION

AGREED the Minutes for signature by the Chair and Action Tracker.

3.1     </AI3>

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There had been circulated copies of a report by Director Finance and Procurement, the purpose of which was to provide details of the income and expenditure for the Peebles Common Good Fund for the three months to 30 June 2023, a full year projected out-turn for 2023/24 and projected balance sheet values as at 31 March 2023.  Gordon Reid, financial analyst presented the report.  Appendix 1 showed the projected income and expenditure position for 2023/24 with a projected surplus of £47,752 for the year.  Appendix 2 provided a projected balance sheet value as at 31 March 2024 with a projected decrease in reserves of £132,756.  Appendix 3a provided a breakdown of the property portfolio with projected rental income and projected net return for 2023/24 and actual property income to 30 June 2023.  Appendix 3b provided a breakdown of the property portfolio with projected property expenditure for 2023/24 and actual property expenditure to 30 June 2023.  Appendix 4 provided a breakdown of the property portfolio with projected property valuations at 31 March 2023.  Appendix 5 showed the value of the Aegon Asset Management Investment Fund to 30 June 2023.

3.2     With reference to paragraph 4.5 of the report, Mr Reid undertook to update the status of grants that were approved but not yet paid; the payments to the Peebles Pensioners Association and Peebles Christmas Lights had been recently disbursed.  The Chair requested that the matter of income due to Peebles Common Good Fund from SBC for parking charges be resolved as soon as possible.  It was confirmed that work to refurbish the Jedderfield property was complete, and most payments had been settled.  With reference to paragraph 4.11 of the report, there was a suggestion that a portion of the opening cash balance of £31,2564 and projected surplus for the year of £47,752 in Peebles Common Good Fund be reinvested in the Aegon Investment Fund once anticipated property expenditure was identified. The matter of reinvestment was to be discussed at a future meeting given current market volatility.

DECISION

APPROVED the recommendations as follows:

a)      Noted the actual income and expenditure for 2022/23 in Appendix 1;

(b)     Noted the projected balance sheet value as at 31 March 2024 in Appendix 2;

(c)     Noted the summary of the property portfolio in Appendices 3 and 4;

(d)     Noted the current position of the Aegon Asset Management Investment Fund in Appendix 5.

The Chair reported that the lack of secure bike loops in Kingsmeadows car park was raised at a community council meeting.  It was agreed to request a briefing paper from Robert Reid on the costs of installing bike loops and bike cages for consideration at the next meeting of the Peebles Common Good Fund in November.  The remarking of parking bays had been scheduled for October/November 2023.

DECISION

AGREED to request a briefing paper on costs associated with installing bike loops and cages at Kingsmeadows car park for consideration at the next meeting on 22 November 2023.

Consider an application for funding from Interest Link. (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a funding application and impact report submitted by Interest Link.  Andrew Findlay, Project Co-ordinator and Mary Mouat, Tweeddale Branch Co-ordinator, were in attendance to answer questions.  Interest Link currently supported 20 members in Peebles.  The application requested £2k to fund volunteer costs and those costs associated with running groups.  Peebles Common Good Fund had made a grant award in 2021.  There followed a brief discussion where it was confirmed that Interest Link was open to all of Tweeddale with the 20 members in Peebles in line to benefit from any funding awarded at the meeting.  Mr Findlay reported that Interest Link operated within a straitened funding environment with the bulk of their awards granted by national funds.  Support had been provided by Community Engagement Officers to access localities funding.  There was a suggestion that Interest Link contact the Peebles Abbeyfield Charitable Trust to investigate further funding opportunities.  Members unanimously agreed to approve the funding application.

DECISION

AGREED to award £2,000 to Interest Link to fund volunteer and group programme costs.

(a) Feedback from Peebles Pensioners Association to be noted

(b) Victoria Park Funfair: 14- 16 September 2023

(c)   Future arrangements for removal of portaloos from Victoria Park

6.1     The Chair reported that the Peebles Pensioners Association had extended their thanks to Members following the purchase of their laptop. 

6.2     There had been an enquiry from Stuarts Family Funfair concerning the upcoming booking at Victoria Park 14-16 September 2023 with a proposal that extra security was engaged in the light of anti-social behaviour and an assault at the last event.  There followed a brief discussion where it was agreed that extra security was to be provided by Stuarts Funfair along with Police Scotland support.  An earlier finish time of 9pm was also agreed.

6.3     Following recent vandalism in Victoria Park, the prompt removal of event portaloos was discussed.  While it was acknowledged that removal of the units within 24 - 48 hours was preferred, this was not always achievable.  There was general agreement that a clause was to be inserted into future lease agreements with stipulation regarding removal of portaloos.  The Chief Legal Officer and Estates Surveyor undertook to investigate the matter further and return to the next meeting with advice on the wording of an additional clause in Common Good land lease agreements in relation to the removal of portaloos.

6.4     The Chair informed Members of an approach from a number of Peebles residents in response to the Common Good information panels that were on display during the Volunteer Fair at the Burgh Hall in May 2023.  The Chair proposed that he meet with individuals to gather feedback to bring back to the next meeting in November.

DECISION

AGREED:

(a)     to extra security provision and Police Scotland support during Stuarts Funfair on 14-16 September;

(b)     to consider the wording of an additional clause in Common Good land lease agreement in relation to the removal of portaloos at the next meeting; and

(c)     that the Chair meet with individuals to discuss their feedback on the Common Good information panels and to add an item to the agenda of the next meeting to update Members.

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.”

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

(a) Consider Private Minute of 23 May 2023. (Copy attached.)

(b) Consider Private Minute of 27 June 2023. (Copy attached.)

Members considered the Private Minutes of 23 May 2023 and 27 June 2023.

Consider quote for boiler replacement.  (Copy attached.)

Members discussed the replacement of the boiler and considered a quote.

(a)  Briefing paper for the lease of the Old Corn Exchange.  (Copy attached.)

(b)  Application form – S. Tait (Copy attached.)

(c)   Application form and supporting documents – TYA (Copy attached.)

Members discussed applications for the lease of the Corn exchange.

Consider quote for Haylodge Path repairs. (Copy attached.)

Members considered a quote for repairs to sections of Haylodge Path.

The next meeting of the Peebles Common Good Fund was scheduled for 22 November 2023 at 5pm.

 The meeting concluded at 6:30 pm