Agenda and 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 paragraph should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency, in view of the need to make an early decision.

A request had been received from the Royal Regiment of Scotland to access Lauder Common land on 5 March 2016 to conduct a navigational exercise and other small activities between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm.  The exercise would involve 30 troops in total along with two vehicles and a small tent.  Sergeant Brian Hyslop was in attendance to explain the request and provide an update plan of the land to be used.  Mr Morison confirmed that Mr and Mrs Taylor of Lauderhill had no objections to the request and Sgt Hyslop advised Members that he was in the process of contacting owners/occupiers of properties that were not part of Lauder Common Good land in order to obtain authorisation for access.  In discussion, Members suggested that Sgt Hyslop contact the Council's Communications Team to discuss the possibility of generating some publicity following the training event.

DECISION

AGREED that consent be granted to the Royal Regiment of Scotland to access Lauder Common land on 5 March 2016 to conduct a navigational exercise and other small activities between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm.

Minute of meeting held on 30 September 2015 to be noted and signed by the Chairman.  (Copy attached.) 

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of 30 September 2015.

DECISION

NOTED for signature by the Chairman.

With reference to paragraph 3 of the Minute of 30 September 2015, Mr Morison confirmed that the payment of £120 from Alba Seeds in relation to the Millennium Wood had now been received and advised that as the collection season was now past, it was unlikely that any further payments would be received at this time.

DECISION

NOTED.

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

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Chief Financial Officer giving details of the income and expenditure for the Lauder Common Good Fund for the 9 months to 31 December 2015, including the full year projected out-turn for 2015/16 and the projected balance sheet values at 31 March 2016.  Appendix 1 to the report detailed the income and expenditure position and Mrs Robb explained that this showed a projected surplus of £47,017 for the year and included payment of a £400 grant to Lauderdale Horticultural Society.  Appendix 2 contained the balance sheet value to 31 March 2016 showing a projected increase in reserves of £35,524 and a projected balance of £1,304,767 as at 31 March 2016.  Cash deposited with SBC would increase by £160 (£120 from Alba Seeds and £40 in payment of a way leave).  The Property Portfolio performance was detailed in Appendix 3 and listed the actual income and expenditure to 31 December 2016.  Appendix 4 listed the Newton Fund investment and this showed a balance of £240,000 at 31 December 2015, and a projected increase of £1,538 from the total cash investment.  Discussion followed and Members asked for clarification on a number of points.  Members were advised that investment markets continued to be volatile due to the uncertainly of the Chinese and US economies and this had impacted on the return from investment in the Newton Fund, currently projected at 2.5% for the year.  Mrs Robb advised Members that the next dividend from the Newton Fund was due on Monday 29 February 2016 but it was not possible to forecast what that might be due to the market volatility.

DECISION

(a)     NOTED the report and detail in Appendices 2 to 4 to the report.

(b)     AGREED the projected income and expenditure for 2015/16 in Appendix 1 to the report as the revised budget for 2015/16.

Consider request by the Scottish Kennel Club to use Lauder Common from 23 to 27 November 2016.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of correspondence from the Scottish Kennel Club requesting permission to use Lauder Common for the Championship Working Trials as had been done in previous years.  These trials would take place between 30 November and 4 December 2016. 

DECISION

AGREED that consent be granted to the Scottish Kennel Club to use Lauder Common for the Championship Working Trials between 30 November and 4 December 2016.

Verbal update.

With reference to paragraph 11 of the Minute of 30 September 2015 and following a recent exchange of emails, Members were advised that following investment of the Lauder Library Fund in the Newton Fund, the sum of £865 had been generated in income.  On the advice of the Capital and Investment Manager, it had been agreed that £85 be returned to the Library Fund and that the remaining £780 be passed on the Library to cover the running costs.  The annual running costs of the Library were approximately £1,000 and Members acknowledged that, on this occasion, a small top-up request for financial assistance might be submitted to Lauder Common Good Fund Sub-Committee.  It was the expectation, however, that Lauder Library would be self-funding in future years and it was further noted that financial reports on Lauder Library Fund would be presented to the Sub-Committee on an annual basis in subsequent years. 

          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 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 contained in the following items on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 9 of part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Act.

Private Section of Minute of 30 September 2015 to be noted and signed by the Chairman.  (Copy attached.)

SUMMARY OF PRIVATE BUSINESS

Minute

The Sub-Committee noted the Private Minute of the meeting of 30 September 2015.