Agenda and draft minutes

(a)       Consider Minute of the Meeting held on 25 August 2022 for approval and signature by the Chairman.  (Copy attached.)

(b)       Consider Minute of the Special Meeting held on 12 September 2022 for approval and signature by the Chairman.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the Meeting held on 25 August 2022 and the Special Meeting held on 12 September 2022.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the Minute for signature by the Chair.

Consider application for financial assistance from Burnfoot Community Council.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of an application for financial assistance from Burnfoot Community Council for £4,576.00 to fund a remembrance garden in Wilton Cemetery.  The application was presented by Ms Mandy McGuigan, Burnfoot Community Council who advised that £10,000 had been secured from the National Lottery alongside funding from Pot A and Pot B of the Teviot and Liddesdale Neighbourhood Support Fund and that funding from the Common Good Fund would help reach the funding target.  Members expressed support for the funding application and that the project would be of benefit to the people of Hawick.

DECISION

AGREED to award Burnfoot Community Council a grant of £4,576.

Consider application for financial assistance from Silverbuthall Community Development Trust.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of an application for financial assistance from Silverbuthall Community Development Trust for £7,000 to conduct a Village Poll to seek community views into use of the former Wilton South and St Margaret’s Church site.  Mr Andy Maybury, Silverbuthall Community Development Trust presented the application and explained to Members that a mechanism to bring the land into community ownership was sought and that the funding application was to capture feedback from people across Hawick into use of the land.  It was intended that the land would be used primarily as a public space for anyone to access and that there was potential to raise revenue from electric vehicle (EV) charging where profits would be used for community benefit.  In response to Members’ views, Mr Maybury explained that Silverbuthall Community Development Trust would be adaptable to the views of the people of Hawick based on feedback from the consultation and that the Village Poll platform was developed by an organisation based in Cockburnspath.

DECISION

AGREED to award Silverbuthall Community Development Trust a grant of £7,000.

Consider application for use of Common Haugh Car Park from K. Stuart Family Fun Fair.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of an application for use of the Common Haugh Car Park by K. Stuart Family Fun Fair from 19 March to 2 April 2023.  The Estates Strategy Manager presented the application and explained that the event was regularly held at the time of year set out in the application form.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the application received from K Stuart Family Fun Fair for use of the Common Haugh Car Park on the dates provided from 19 March to 2 April 2023.

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

There had been circulated copies of a report by Acting Chief Financial Officer that provided details of the income and expenditure for the Hawick Common Good Fund for the six months to 30 September 2022, a full year projected out-turn for 2022/23, and projected balance sheet values as at 31 March 2023.  Appendix 1 of the report provided the projected income and expenditure position for 2022-23 which showed a projected surplus of £55,459 for the year, which was less than the previously reported surplus on 25 August 2022, as a result of an increase in the property repairs budget.  Appendix 2 of the report provided a projected balance sheet value as at 31 March 2023 which showed a projected decrease in reserves of £8,882.  Appendix 3a of the report provided a breakdown of the property portfolio which showed projected rental income and projected net return for 2022-23 and actual property income to 30 September 2022.  Appendix 3b of the report provided a breakdown of the property portfolio showing projected property expenditure for 2022-23 and actual property expenditure to 30 September 2022.  Appendix 4 of the report provided a breakdown of the property portfolio showing projected property valuations at 31 March 2023.  Appendix 5 of the report showed the value of the Aegon Asset Management Investment Fund to 30 September 2022.  The Treasury Business Partner presented the report and advised that the unit price of the Aegon Asset Management Investment Fund had dropped and asked the Sub-Committee to consider whether an investment of cash should be made to the Investment Fund to take advantage of the lower price.  Members discussed the report and noted that the monthly performance of the fund was positive.  In response to the outlay in works to Pilmuir Farm Cottage, the Estates Strategy Manager advised that the standard of the property was high and that a return of the works could be expected from rental of the cottage.

DECISION

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

(b)       NOTED

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

(ii)       the summary of the property portfolio in Appendices 3 and 4; and,

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

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.”

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.

(a)       Consider Private Section of the Minute of the Meeting held on 25 August 2022.  (Copy attached.)

(b)       Consider Private Section of the Minute of the Special Meeting held on 12 September 2022.  (Copy attached.)

Members considered the Private Section of the Minute of the Meeting held on 25 August 2022 and the Private Section of the Minute of the Special Meeting held on 12 September 2022.

Consider update from Estates Strategy Manager.

Members considered an update from the Estates Strategy Manager on the Hawick Moor Racecourse and Buildings.

Consider update from Estates Strategy Manager.

Members considered an update from the Estates Strategy Manager on Common Good leases.

Consider update from Property Officer.

Members considered an update on Common Good property from the Property Officer.