Agenda and minutes

Consider Minute of meeting held on 17 August 2021.  (Copy attached),

There had been circulated Minutes of the meeting held on 17 August 2021.

DECISION

APPROVED the Minute for signature by the Chairman.

Update on proposed layout of the Hawick Common Haugh.  (Copies attached.)

2.         HAWICK COMMON HAUGH LAYOUT

2.1     There had been circulated copies of a report outlining a proposed layout of the Hawick Common Haugh.  The report requested that the Sub-Committee endorse the proposed layout to go forward for a planning application.  Connor Price, Project Director explained that through extensive consultation with the land owner, and users at the Common Haugh, it had been identified that a new layout of the carpark was desired - to provide an ‘enhanced’ campervan location and details of the proposed layout were circulated with the report.  The report explained that the Hawick Flood Protection Scheme (FPS) was approved in December 2017 under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 (the FRM).  This ‘approved’ Scheme was then mapped into ‘Construction Drawings’ via the Detailed Design Process which was undertaken in partnership with the town.  The ‘Detailed Design’ and thereby the actual product constructed on the ground must be within the legality of the Scheme’s approvals.

2.2     As the Common Haugh area the Scheme required to re-configure the existing space with new flood walls and a modified parking area.  Part of the green space over towards the Cobble Cauld/Victoria Road was changed to a hard surfaced area to offset the loss of parking alongside the river in the historical layout.  All of this was included in the ‘approved Scheme’.  This reconfiguration allowed for the ‘like for like’ relocation of campervan parking from the corner of Albert Bridge over to the new corner by Victoria Road.  It did not allow for increasing the number of campervan spaces or providing an ‘enhanced’ campervan location – which was what was now being proposed, and which had been developed further through extensive consultation with the people of Hawick and the Councillors/Common Good Committee.  As such the Scheme needed to ensure that full legal authority was in place for this ‘enhanced’ campervan location.

2.3      Under the FRM a Scheme was allowed to manage change which would inevitably occur when a Scheme was being constructed.  This was managed through a Change Management process by the Scheme’s Project Board under the FRM.  The terms ‘material change’ and ‘non-material change’ are terms that are used within this process and relate specifically to the consideration of that change from a planning perspective.  The processes have determined that the new proposed layout for the Common Haugh was a ‘material change’ and thus a stand-alone Planning Application was required.  Permission to proceed to obtaining such a Planning Permission had been determined by the Scheme’s Planning Working Group, reviewed and approved by the Scheme’s Project Board, reviewed and noted by the elected members.

2.4      Through the review and consultation process, the new proposed layout was the preferred     option identified by all consulted parties and if not approved, the Scheme would revert to the layout detailed in the initial approved Scheme.

2.5      During discussion, members noted that the car park had been laid out in Zones and included areas for car parking, electric vehicles, disabled parking, school buses,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Consider matters raised by Hawick Community Council with regards to signage.

2          WILLIESTRUTHER LOCH

The Hawick Community Council had raised concerns about water safety at the Williestruther Loch due to the increase in wild swimming, canoeing etc. by members of the public and the Property Officer presented pictures of warning signage currently displayed at Williestruther Loch.  It was noted that people couldn’t be prevented from accessing Willistruther Loch due to Right to Roam legislation.  Members discussed the dangers presented at Williestruther Loch, alongside what individuals could do to ensure their safety and that further signage erected at the Car Park and Waters Edge would clearly explain the risks of participating in water activities.  The Property Officer advised that the annual inspection had been carried out on the lifebelts provided and these were deemed appropriate and sufficient. 

DECISION

AGREED that the Estates Strategy Manager and Managing Solicitor work with the Property Officer to draft wording for signage and to gather costings for design and erection to be presented to the next meeting of the Sub-Committee.

Private Business

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 the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the aforementioned Act.”

2          PRIVATE BUSINESS

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 the appropriate paragraph of Part I of Schedule 7A to the Act.

Consider Private Minute of meeting held on 17 August 2021. (Copy attached)

The Sub-Committee considered the private minute of the meeting held on 17 August 2021.

Consider enquiry from interested party.

The Sub-Committee considered a presentation on Hawick Market.