Scottish Borders Council

Agenda and minutes

Venue: CHMABER, NEWTOWN STREET, DUNS

Items
No. Item

1.

Minute. pdf icon PDF 58 KB

Minute of Meeting of Duns Common Good Fund Sub-Committee of 23 September 2013 to be noted.  (Copy attached.)

Minutes:

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the Duns Common Good Fund Sub-Committee of 23 September 2013. 

 

2.

Outturn Report for 2013/14 and Budget for 2014/15 pdf icon PDF 150 KB

(Copy attached.)

Minutes:

There had been circulated a report by the Chief Financial Officer which set out the details of transactions on the Duns Common Good Fund for 2013/14 and the budget for income and expenditure for the year to 31 March 2015.  Appendix 1 to the report detailed the actual Income and Expenditure for 2013/14 and showed a deficit of £1,611 for the year.  It was noted that no grants to local bodies had been approved or paid in the year and none had been budgeted for in 2014/15.  Appendix 2 to the report showed the Balance Sheet position at 31 March 2014 and noted that the cash balance was £22,616.  Mrs Mirley explained that the presentation of this report had recently been reviewed and it was hoped that the new presentation would provide Members with the information they required in a clear and user friendly format.  It was noted that the format of the report could be reviewed again should Members request this.  The report went on to explain that Duns Common Good Fund had not invested any funds into the Newton Fund and Members were advised that this was mainly because the future cash requirements of the shop at South Street in Duns had yet to be determined.  Members also noted that ownership of the South Street property was also still subject to validation.  Discussion followed in respect of how matters were proceeding with regard to this property and Mrs McKinlay, Chief Legal Officer provided some additional information.  It had not been possible to establish any proper Title for the property at South Street.  The solicitors acting on behalf of two families who appeared to have an interest in the property had been contacted and it had been established that the last person who had claim to the Title had died.  The Council's Legal Services had therefore made application to the Office of the Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer (QLTR) and had been instructed to place an advert searching for anyone who might have a claim to the Title.  A four week advert had been placed in the Scotsman following which the Council would then make application to the Office of the QLTR at the end of April 2015 to request Title for the property.  Members noted that the advertising costs would be charged to Duns Common Good Budget.  Members also noted that a claim for costs incurred by the Council could be made against any party who had claim to the property.  The Democratic Services Officer was requested to contact Mr Morison, Estates Surveyor, to establish the current situation with regard to the condition of the property and progress made in respect of essential repairs.  The Chair would also contact Mr Iain Lothian to ascertain whether there had been any changes to the current position at South Street.  Further discussion followed and it was noted that the Council did not have a duty of care in relation to the property and did not, therefore, have any responsibility in terms  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Monitoring report for 9 months to 31 December 2014. Consider report by Chief Financial Officer. pdf icon PDF 148 KB

(Copy attached.)

Minutes:

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Chief Financial Officer detailing the transactions on the Duns Common Good Fund for the 9 months to 31 December 2014, projecting full year Revenue Income and Expenditure for 2014/15 and balance sheet values at 31 March 2015.  Appendix 1 provided a projected income and expenditure position and showed a projected deficit of £1,996 for the year.  Appendix 2 provided a projected Balance Sheet to 31 March 2015 and showed a projected cash balance of £20,620 at 31 March 2015.  In relation to non-property related income, the report explained that the projected outturn included an estimate for the interest receivable on cash deposited with the Council, the details of which would not show as actual income until the end of the financial year as it was dependent on interest rates and the average cash revenue balance invested over the full financial year.  Members noted that the annual rate of interest was likely to be around 0.4%.  The report highlighted that property expenditure on the South Street property in Duns continued to erode the resources of the Duns Common Good Fund, with costs for the year to date amounting to £1,461 and further explained that that the property was currently due for revaluation.

 

DECISION

(a)     NOTED the projected balance Sheet as detailed in Appendix 2; and

 

(b)     AGREED the projected outturn in Appendix 1 as the budget for 2014/15.

 

 

4.

Urgent Business

Minutes:

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 paragraphs should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency, in view of the need to keep Members informed.

 

 

5.

Update on Charities Register

Minutes:

Mrs Mirley, Corporate Finance Manager advised Members that a report on the Proposals for Governance of the new Charities was being presented to Full Council on 2 April 2015.  Further updates would be provided to Duns Common Good Fund Sub-Committee in due course.

 

DECISION

NOTED.

 

 

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