Scottish Borders Council

Agenda and minutes

Venue: via Microsoft Teams

Contact: William Mohieddeen  Tel: 01835 826504; Email:  william.mohieddeen@scotborders.gov.uk

Link: Live stream link

Items
No. Item

1.

Minute. pdf icon PDF 121 KB

Consider Minute of Meeting held on 24 August 2021.  (Copy attached.)

Minutes:

There had been circulate copies of the Minute of the Meeting held on Tuesday 14 December 2021.

 

DECISION

AGREED to approve the Minute for signature by the Chairman.

 

2.

Monitoring Report for Six Months to 30 September 2021 pdf icon PDF 300 KB

Consider Report by Finance and Corporate Governance.  (Copy attached.)

Minutes:

There had been circulated copies of the report by the Director Finance and Corporate Governance that detailed the income and expenditure for the Lauder Common Good Fund for six months to 30 September 2021.  Appendix 1 to the report provided the projected income and expenditure position for 2021-22 which showed a projected surplus of £2,684 for the year.  Appendix 2 provided a projected balance sheet value as at 31 March 2022 which showed a projected decrease in reserves of £23,649.  Appendix 3 (a) provided a breakdown of the property portfolio showing projected rental income and projected net return for 2021-22 and actual property income to 30 September 2021.  Appendix 3 (b) provided a breakdown of the property portfolio showing projected property expenditure for 2021-22 and actual property expenditure to 30 September 2021.  Appendix 4 provided a breakdown of the property portfolio showing projected property valuations at 31 March 2022.  Appendix 5 showed the value of the Aegon Asset Management Investment Fund to 30 September 2021.  The Pensions and Investments Manager summarised the main points of the report and advised that the investment with Aegon Asset Management was performing at a return of 4.5%, below the target of 5%.

 

DECISION

AGREED to:

 

(a)          Note the projected income and expenditure for 2021/22 in Appendix 1;

(b)          Note the projected balance sheet value as at 31 March 2022 in Appendix 2;

(c)          Note the summary of the property portfolio in Appendices 3 and 4; and

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

 

3.

Consultation on Heritable and Moveable Asset Registers for former Burgh of Lauder pdf icon PDF 174 KB

Consider Report by Principal Solicitor.  (Copy attached.)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

1.1          There had been circulated copies of a report by Principal Solicitor seeking approval of the draft Common Good Registers for the former Burgh of Lauder and to advise on the next steps in the process for consultation and publication under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.  Following such approval, the list would be published on Citizen Space, together with a consultation survey.  The intention was to publish the consultation survey before the end of December 2021.  In addition to the electronic survey, the proposed lists of Common Good assets were to be published on the Council’s website and paper copies were to be made available, free of charge, on request.  Notification advising of the publication of the lists and the consultation period were to be made on the Council’s website and social media.  The Council was to make all of the Community Councils and other community bodies aware of the publication of the proposed Common Good Asset lists and invite those community bodies and the public to make representations in respect of these lists.  The statutory minimum period for consultation was twelve weeks.  However, it was suggested to extend this period until the start of April 2022.  After the consultation period, the Council was to publish all representations received.  The Common Good Fund Sub-Committee would then reconvene to consider any representations made, and to agree the finalised Asset Register.  The finalised Asset Register would then be published within six months from the end of the consultation period.  It was possible that following this process, further assets may be identified as being Common Good, and where that was the case, the Council would update the Common Good Asset Registers.  The Registers would similarly be updated if existing property was disposed of or reclassified.  The Council would also ensure that the Common Good Asset Registers were reviewed on a regular basis, and at least every five years.

1.2          The assets contained in the list reflected the assets contained in previous Financial Monitoring Reports, with the addition of the Public Hall and Public Conveniences and the Lauder Pavilion.  It had previously been noted that the land at these locations was Common Good land.  However, it had not previously been noted that the buildings were themselves Common Good assets.  In recognising the principle of law that land and buildings could not be owned separately, these buildings should properly be classified as part of the Common Good.

1.3          Members discussed moveable assets that were stored by the Bank of Scotland in Galashiels noting that there may be a charge for accessing artefacts.  Common Good assets were moved to Bank of Scotland Galashiels upon the closure of Bank of Scotland Lauder.  Mr Smith advised they had requested for Common Good assets to be stored in a safe by Scottish Borders Council.

 

DECISION

AGREED to:

 

(a)          Approve the contents of the draft list of heritable and moveable property assets held by the Council within the former Royal Burgh of Lauder;

(b)          Approve the publishing of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Urgent Business

Minutes:

Under Section 50B(4)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the Chairman was of the opinion that the item dealt with in the following paragraph should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency, in view of the need to make early decisions and to keep Members informed.

 

5.

Property Update

Minutes:

5.1       The Estates Surveyor provided a Property Update for Members.

5.2       Lauder Football Club
SB Contracts had estimated £4,440.50 to remove the final area of concrete pavement and replace it with tarmac as the final stage of works.  Three new benches would be installed by the football club.  Members were happy to approve this spend from the Lauder Common Good Fund.

5.3       Storm Arwen
Ms Stewart was liaising with woodland contractors for work on key areas with Michael Middlemiss.  Mr Middlemiss represented Lauder Hill Sheep Company and had taken immediate action necessary for their business which was estimated at £300 to £400.  There was an underbudget on fencing which would allow Mr Middlemiss to proceed with the necessary works.  There may be additional costs but this wouldn’t be clarified following assessment by the forestry contractor, some of which might be offset by the value of the wood.  The Estates Surveyor advised there may be an opportunity to harvest or to replant with trees or other plants.

5.4       Tree Planting
Ms Stewart advised that the planting by Tweed Forum would not be impacted by Storm Arwen. With regard to The Queen’s Green Canopy Project, the provision of trees from the Crown, had been confirmed for March 2022.  It was noted that the planting at Lauder Burn was on track.

5.5       Asbestos on Stow Road
With reference to paragraph 3.1 of the Minute of 24 August 2021, Ms Stewart reported SB Contracts had paid for the collection of asbestos due to its proximity to the road so there would be no impact on the Common Good Fund Budget.

5.6       Whitlaw Farm
It was noted that Tricia Hill, Estates Surveyor was liaising with the owner of Whitlaw Farm regarding their felling proposals.

5.7       Lauder Public Hall
With reference to paragraph 3.3 of the Minute of 24 August 2021, it was noted that there had been no further feedback from Live Borders on progressing with a sublease.  Councillor Parker and Mr Smith advised that there had been a change of personnel in the Leisure Centre Committee and they were unlikely to pursue proposals for the Public Hall.

 

5.8       Lauder Town Hall Electrics

Ms Stewart advised that Jonathon Jones, Property Officer had visited the hall and had advised that the electrics could be changed but the cost would fall to the Common Good Fund.  In response to a request by Mr Smith for 2 LED lights, Ms Stewart advised that these could be provided.  It was agreed to delegate authority to Ms Stewart in consultation with Members to install these lights subject to the provision of costings.

5.9       Lauder Golf Club
Members agreed to delegate authority to Ms Stewart in consultation with Members for the installation of a kissing gate at Lauder Golf Club.

5.10     Lauder Cycling Club
With reference to paragraph 7 of the Minute of 2 February 2021, Ms Stewart advised that there had been further contact regardinga lease of land adjacent to the fire station.  She had been trying to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

 

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