Agenda and minutes

Consider Minutes of meeting held on 14 November 2017 and 7 February 2018. (Copies attached).

There had been circulated copies of the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2017 and 7 February 2018

DECISION

AGREED to approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 November 2017 and 7 February 2018.

Consider applications for financial assistance from:-

(a)  Future Hawick

There had been circulated copies of an application for financial assistance from Future Hawick.   Mr Tait, Chairman of Future Hawick, was in attendance.  Mr Tait explained that following the decision of the Hawick Welcome Initiative to cease trading, Future Hawick had agreed to take on the organisation of the Hawick Welcome Hosts, as part of their commitment to promoting the town and its attractions.  He advised of their fund raising initiatives including a coffee morning and a forthcoming Scotia Concert.  However, due to the short timescale, financial assistance of £5,000.00 was being sought this year, from the Common Good to finance the employment of additional Welcome Hosts.   Mr Tait provided clarification in response to questions regarding Future Hawick’s constitution, meetings, projected income and sustainability. 

2.2       Following discussion Councillor Marshall, seconded by Councillor McAteer, proposed that Future Hawick be awarded a grant of £5,000.00 to fund the employment of additional Hawick Welcome Hosts.

2.3       Councillor Paterson moved as an amendment, that the application be refused until Future Hawick provided detail of their meeting quorums.  There was no seconder for the amendment and the motion was accordingly carried.  

DECISION

AGREED to award a grant of £5,000.00 to Future Hawick to fund the employment of additional Hawick Welcome Hosts.

(NB: Following the meeting, Mr Tait circulated to Members, information detailing that all Future Hawick meetings at which the Welcome Hosts had been discussed, had been quorate).

2.4       (b)  Hawick Pantomime Group

There had been circulated copies of an application for financial assistance from Hawick Pantomime Group.  Mr Hill, a representative from Hawick Pantomime Group, was in attendance.   In response to questions, he explained that the Group had been raising funds by coffee mornings, bag packing and encouraging sponsorship.  However, they were requesting the Sub-Committee’s assistance to pay for storage facilities for their costumes and props.  As the storage facility cost £12.00 per week it was agreed to award Hawick Pantomime Group £624.00 which would fund one year’s storage.

DECISION

AGREED to award a grant of £624.00 to Hawick Pantomime Group to fund on year’s rental of a storage facility for costumes and props.   

Consider report by Chief Financial Officer. (Copy attached)

With reference to paragraph 3 of the Minute of 14 November, there had been circulated a report by the Chief Financial Officer providing details of the income and expenditure for the Hawick Common Good Fund for nine months to 31 December 2017, a full year projected out-turn for 2017/18 and projected balance sheet values as at 31 March 2018.  Appendix 1, to the report, provided the projected income and expenditure position and showed a projected deficit of £2,761 for the year.  Appendix 2, to the report, provided a projected balance sheet value as at 31 March 2018 and showed a projected decrease in the reserves of £42,353.  Appendix 3, to the report, provided a 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 December 2017.    Mr Yallop highlighted that the deficit referred to in Appendix 1 was due to ongoing renovation works and loss of rental income at St Leonard’s Cottage.  In terms of the Newtown Fund he advised that the transfer of investment to Kames had been completed in February 2018.   Monthly dividends from Kames were in line with the benchmark and it was expected that this would continue. 

DECISION

(a)        AGREED the projected income and expenditure for 2017/18 in Appendix 1, to the report, as the revised budget for 2017/18;

(b)       NOTED:

(i)         The projected balance sheet value as at 31 March 2018 in Appendix 2 to the report; 

(ii)        The summary of the property portfolio in Appendix 3 to the report; and

(iii)       The current position of investment in the Newton Fund in Appendix 4 to the report.

To consider request from Royal Bank of Scotland, verbal report by Estates Surveyor.  

Mr Curtis advised that following the announcement that several Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) branches were to close, he had received a request from RBS for permission to utilise part of the Common Haugh Car Park, to park their mobile bank.  The bank would be in situ twice a week on Mondays from 1325 hrs to 1410 hrs and Fridays from 1400 hrs to 1445 hrs.  Mr Curtis clarified that the Council had agreed, in 2014, that RBS could utilise any car park owned and managed by the Council for their mobile banking service, free of charge. However, the Sub-Committee’s agreement was required for the Common Haugh Car Park as it was owned by Hawick Common Good.  The Sub-Committee discussed the request and Mr Curtis clarified that RBS would be able to utilise any Council owned car part in Hawick.   The Sub-Committee, although disappointed at the decision of RBS to close the local branch, considered that the mobile unit would provide a necessary service for the community.

4.2         Councillor Marshall, seconded by Councillor Turnbull, moved that the Royal Bank of Scotland’s request be granted. 

4.3         Councillor Paterson moved as an amendment, that the Royal Bank of Scotland be charged for use of the Common Haugh.  There was no seconder and the motion was accordingly carried. 

DECISION

AGREED that the Royal Bank of Scotland use the Common Haugh Car Park, at no charge, to site their mobile bank on Mondays from 1325 hrs to 1410 hrs and Fridays from 1400 hrs to 1445 hrs.

Verbal update from Property Officer.

Mr Scott advised there was no property update under public business, other than to note ongoing, general winter maintenance repairs.Harry1234567!

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 paragraphs 4 and 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 the Minute on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

SUMMARY OF PRIVATE BUSINESS

Consider Private Minute of the meeting of 14 November 2017. (Copy attached).

Members approved the private minute of the Hawick Common Good Fund Sub-Committee held on 14 November 2017.

To consider enquiry from representatives from the Showman’s Guild.

The Sub-Committee received a verbal enquiry from the Showman’s Guild and made a decision. 

Under Section 50B(4)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the Chairman was of the opinion that the item 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. 

The Sub-Committee received an enquiry regarding a proposed wayleave, further information was required.  

Verbal update by Managing Solicitor.

The Sub-Committee noted a verbal update from the Managing Solicitor.

Consider briefing note by Property Officer (Copy attached).

The Sub-Committee considered a briefing note by the Property Officer and agreed the necessary repairs to the statute.

Verbal update by Estates Surveyor.

The Sub-Committee received a verbal report from the Estates Surveyor.

Verbal update from Estates Surveyor.  

Officers updated the Sub-Committee on private business relating to Common Good properties.