Agenda and minutes

Minute of Meeting held on 19 June 2019 to be noted and signed by the Chairman.  (Copy attached).

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of 19 June 2019.

DECISION

NOTED for signature by the Chairman.

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

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Chief Financial Officer, detailing income and expenditure for the three months to 30 June 2019 including a full year projected outturn for 2019/20 and projected balance sheet values as at 31 March 2019.  Ms Robb highlighted the main points of the report and appendices.  Appendix 1 to the report provided the projected income and expenditure for 2019/20.  This showed a surplus of £3,900 for the year, compared to the budgeted surplus of £10,648 approved on the 19 June 2019.  Ms Robb advised on the grants and other donations distributed and committed to 30 June 2019 and the recommended increase of £7,000 to the grants budget to allow for the possible approval of further grant applications.  It was also reported that Lauder Leisure Centre had now signed their lease and the approved grant had been released.  Appendix 2 to the report provided a projected balance sheet as at 31 March 2019.  This showed a projected decrease in reserves of £7,593.  A breakdown of the property portfolio showing the projected rental income for 2019/20 and actual property expenditure to 30 June 2019 was shown in Appendix 3.  Appendix 4 provided details of the value of the Kames Capital Investment Fund to 30 June 2019.  The fund had a 5.17% unrealised gain in market value since investment, largely due to continued volatility in investment markets.  Overall, however taking account of the income received the fund had achieved a return of +12.61% since investment in February 2018.  Ms Robb also advised that a Kames Seminar on common and trust funds was due to be held on 20 August 2019.  Members discussed the report and received answers from Ms Robb to their questions.

DECISION

(a)     AGREED the projected income and expenditure for 2019/20 as shown in Appendix 1 to the report.

(b)     NOTED in the appendices to the report:-

          (i)      the projected balance sheet value as at 31 March 2020 in Appendix 2;

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

(iii)    the current position of the investment in the Kames Capital Investment Fund in Appendix 4.

Consider report by Service Director, Assets and Infrastructure.  (Copy herewith.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Assets & Infrastructure seeking consent to proceed with the next stage on the Woodland Planting at Lauder Common and to instruct a land agent to undertake preparations for grant aid.  Estates Surveyor, Annabelle Scott, explained that in early 2017 proposals of woodland planting at Lauder Common was first put forward.  In order to draw up a final planting design and costings a land agent needed to be appointed.  The work the land agent was required to undertake included drawing up a final planting design, community consultation of the final design and to provide an indicative cashflow for the planting scheme.  The proposed planting design was shown in Appendix 1 to the report.  Public consultation was carried out through the Lauder Community Council at a meeting on 15 April 2019 and the feedback had been mainly positive but highlighted that native species would be preferred.  Further responses had been received from the community and these would be addressed in the final planting design.  In order to draw up the final planting design and costings a land agent had been identified to be appointed with a figure of the cash flow submitted for the costs.  The next stage would be to draw up the plans and provide timescales for the project with a proposed start date for planting of Spring next year.  Once the woodland had been planted the Lauder Common Good Fund would be responsible for the planting and future maintenance of the woodland and access would be with agreement from the occupier, Lauderhill Sheep Company.  Ms Scott further advised that grant application process and any consent would be produced by the common good.  The scheme would be community led and the common good would be in full control of the grant and any spend.  Members discussed the report and were supportive of the project and agreed for the agent to be appointed and once the final plans were completed further consultation would be carried out through the Community Council.

            DECISION

            AGREED to approve the appointment of a land agent and the preparation of the planting design so that final proposals would be presented to the community and grant application would be taken forward.

“That under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant Paragraphs  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 this Minute on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant Paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 7A to the Act.

SUMMARY OF PRIVATE BUSINESS

Private Minute of Meeting held on 19 June 2019 to be noted and signed by the Chairman.  (Copy attached).

The private section of the Minute of 19 June 2019 had been circulated.

DECISION

NOTED for signature by the Chairman.