Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting.

Presentation by Mr Alasdair Pattinson – General Manager, NHS Borders and Ms Katie McWilliam – National Programme Manager, Scottish Government.

(a)     The Chairman welcomed Mr Alasdair Pattinson, General Manager NHS Borders to the meeting to give a presentation on the Health and Social Care Integration agenda.  Mr Pattinson explained that as part of the Health and Social Care Integration, NHS Borders and SBC were attending a number of public engagement events to give an overview of the progress of the Integration agenda and went on to explain what had happened so far.  The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 required all 32 Local Authorities and 14 Health Boards across Scotland to develop Integration arrangements for each Council area; to establish a Joint Integration Board to manage the integrated services and it was noted that Susan Manion held the post of Chief Officer Health and Social Care Integration in the Scottish Borders.  Mr Pattinson also explained that Integration plans would necessarily pay cognisance to the Christie Commission recommendations.  He went on to mention some of the challenges facing an Integrated Service, including public spending and the provision required to meet the needs of an ageing population.  The timetable for the process was well established and following closure of the public consultation period on 5 June 2015, the 2nd draft Strategic Plan would be published by the end of June 2015 with the next key date being finalisation of the Plan on 31 October 2015.  The Forum was advised that comments would be considered beyond 5 June should any be submitted.  A Strategic Planning Group (SPG) was set up, the membership of which included users and carers of users of social and health care services; commercial and non-commercial bodies providing health and social care; health and social care professionals; non-commercial and social housing providers; and third sector bodies that carried out activities related to health and social care.  The SPG had held one meeting and it was noted that full membership was yet to be confirmed.  Mr Pattinson explained that the Strategic Plan covered a three year period and was subject to an annual analysis and review.

(b)     Mr Pattinson explained the aims of the Health and Social Care Partnership and the scope and funding for the Integrated Service, the details of which were included in the presentation handouts.  The objectives of the Health and Social Care Partnership were directly related to the National Health and Wellbeing Outcomes which were also included in the presentation handouts.  Mr Pattinson gave an example of how the new Strategy was expected to improve the experience and outcomes for an imaginary service user by using health and social care professionals in the best way possible.  He went on to advise that in terms of locality arrangements, there were five locality areas in the Scottish Borders and these areas would be key to the effective engagement of local stakeholders in the design and delivery of services.  The presentation included a number of graphs and tables which demonstrated a range of profiles comparing Berwickshire with the Scottish Borders and Scotland.  In terms of population, Berwickshire  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Minute of the meeting of Berwickshire Area Forum of 5 March 2015 to be noted.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of 5 March 2015.  With reference to paragraph 6, it was agreed that additional information be added as follows – "There was discussion about the redesign of Podiatry Services.  Forum members expressed concerns at the centralisation of these services, which had involved removing provision from Duns to Kelso, and at the conduct of consultation on the proposal.  Ms Cameron and Dr MacDonald acknowledged that they were not fully briefed on this issue.  They would need to seek guidance and return to the Forum with clear information on the points raised.

DECISION

APPROVED the Minute for signature by the Chairman, subject to the above amendment.

Quarterly update report and Multi- Member Ward Operating Plan for Berwickshire by the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service.  (Copy attached.)

(a)     There had been circulated copies of a report by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and Group Manager Andrew Girrity was present at the meeting to give an update on activity in the Berwickshire area since the previous report on 5 March 2015.  The report detailed that over this reporting period, there had been 7 house fires; 4 open fires; 5 special service calls covering a range of activity; and 22 non-deliberate unwanted fire alarm signals.  Group Manager Girrity highlighted the ongoing activity carried out by the SFRS within the Berwickshire area, including Home Fire Safety Visits, Firesharp, Fire Safety Audits and phased intervention work relating to Unwanted Fire Signals.  In relation to the SFRS Safeguarding Policy and Procedure for Protection of Children and Adults at Risk of Harm, the report advised that 8 adults had been referred during this accounting period.  Members were advised that the Community Action Team (CAT) had delivered read safety awareness session to secondary schools across the Scottish Borders and had also been involved in the multi-agency Violence Against Women Conference at Tweed Horizons alongside colleagues from the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) and from the local Domestic Abuse Advocacy Service (DAAS).  This work, along with other partnership events, contributed to a strengthening of the partnership between SFRS and their external stakeholders and contributed to the delivery of outcome 6 of the Local Fire Plan.  The report noted that the Spring Thematic Action Plan was now complete and that sessions on wildfire/grassland; rubbish/refuse; and derelict property safety awareness had been delivered to the general public.  The Summer Thematic Plan which lasted from June through until August, would include fire-related anti-social behaviour; holiday safety; and countryside and outdoor safety.

  (b)   Group Manager Girrity provided an update on the current Retained Duty System (RDS) recruitment situation in Berwickshire.  Members were advised that following the campaign which began in March 2015 and which had succeeded in recruiting for stations in Eyemouth, Duns and Coldstream, a national campaign stage 2 had been launched in May 2015 for firefighters in the Scottish Borders East and specifically for Eyemouth and Duns, each of which still had a vacancy.  Applications closed on 1 June.  Members also noted the continuation of the local initiative which had been launched previously to assist in the recruitment of retained duty firefighters in the Borders.

DECISION

NOTED the report.

Scottish Fire & Rescue Service. 

A presentation on the Development of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Strategic Plan for 2016 /19 was delivered to the Forum by Group Manager Andrew Girrity who emphasised that this was part of the community engagement and consultation that the SFRS was currently undertaking.  He explained that the 2015/16 resource budget for the Service was £259.221m, an 11% reduction on the budget in 2013/14 and the capital budget for the current financial year was £25.3m.  In terms of human resources, 8,315 people were employed in a range of roles – 3,875 whole-time operational staff, 2,952 staff within the Retained Duty System, 229 control employees, 864 in support roles and 395 volunteers – operating from 357 stations across Scotland.  Group Manager Girrity explained the operating context within which the SFRS functioned, including supporting delivery of the Government's programme, Public Sector Reform and the Community Empowerment Bill.  He also explained the process undertaken in the development of the SFRS Strategic Plan, noting the key timelines for this.  The stakeholder consultation period would conclude in June 2015 and the draft Strategic Plan would be presented for full consultation from October to December 2015.  The Plan would then be laid before Parliament in March 2016.  The presentation gave details of how the SFRS was moving forward and explained how this included a stronger outcome focused service that would be more integrated around partnership and public service reform, would provide a more effective and flexible national and local service with the focus on prevention, responsiveness and enhanced engagement.  Group Manager Girrity emphasised that the Strategic Plan was about providing equitable access to resources for those who required the service the most while operating under the current financial constraints.  The SFRS was not only a blue-light service, it had developed into a service which focused on prevention and not just intervention, with its key emphasis on people, public service, prevention and partnership.  Discussion followed and the Forum was advised that within the Scottish Borders, there were 80 whole-time and 150 retained personnel, the national figure for retained duty staff being 85%.  In terms of community events, Members noted that it was not always possible to provide personnel to attend summer fetes etc due to competing priorities although it was recognised that the SFRS attended a number of community safety events.  With regard to road safety, Members were advised that 19 motorcyclists had attended the SBC supported driver safety and awareness course and that further information would be circulated to Community Councils in due course.  The Chairman advised the Forum that a meeting had been arranged with Transport Scotland and Amey (see paragraph 19 below) at Reston on 23 June 2015 to discuss issues relating to the A1 and A1 junctions and that he would contact SFRS, Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service to notify them of the meeting.

DECISION

NOTED:

(a)     the report; and

(b)     that SFRS, Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service be notified of the  meeting at Reston on 23 June  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Quarterly update report by Police Scotland.

(a)     CPO Suzanne Jacobs presented a report to the Forum updating Members on Police Scotland activity in the Mid and East Berwickshire Wards up to 31 May 2015.  The report advised that 21 crimes had been reported in the year to date within Mid Berwickshire, demonstrating a decrease of 9% with a solvency rate of 47.6%.  The figures for East Berwickshire showed that 35 crimes had been reported in the year to date showing an increase of 25%; the solvency rate for East Berwickshire was 60%.  Members were advised that the statistics contained in the report presented to this meeting of the Forum were in relation to the previous set of Priorities and that the report to the next meeting would link into the new Multi Member Ward Priorities which had now been agreed and published following a period of public consultation.  With reference to Ward Priorities in East Berwickshire, it was noted that 41 drivers in Berwickshire had been stopped and charged with speeding between 1 March 2015 and 31 May 2015, 17 drivers had been issued with tickets for using a handheld device while driving and 3 drivers had been arrested for drink driving.   In terms of drugs misuse, during this report period 44 people had been stopped and searched for drugs in the ECPA (which included the Cheviot Area), the vast majority being in Berwickshire.  There were 15 positive searches, mostly relating to class B drugs.  Youth Anti-social behaviour continued to be a priority and a total of 10 tickets had been issued during the reporting period and these related to Breaches of the Peace, Licensing issues and vandalism. 8 youths had been searched for alcohol and there were 14 ASBOs in the advanced stages of being issued.  Rural thefts continued to be an area of concern in isolated areas close to main arterial routes and that home security surveys were available through the Safer Communities Team when premises met the required criteria.  Operation RAC, an anti-housebreaking initiative, continued to be a focus and members of the public were encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour.

(b)     Mid Berwickshire continued to have problems relating to indiscriminate parking and in response to these concerns, police officers carried out dedicated parking patrols to tackle this issue. The Duns Community Officer, assisted by other Ward Community Officers, carried out a parking initiative in Duns Square. 16 dedicated patrols were undertaken during a 2 week period and received a positive response from the public. Further initiatives were planned for other Berwickshire towns.  Again, youths and anti-social behaviour was a high priority for Mid Berwickshire, 10 tickets had been issued in Berwickshire regarding ASB compared with 12 in the previous period and 8 youths had been searched for alcohol compared with 7 in the previous period. 14premises were in advanced stages of being issued ASBO’s and further premises were being monitored.

DECISION

NOTED the report.

Report by Service Director Commercial Services.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Commercial Services seeking approval to introduce enforceable disabled parking bays within the Berwickshire are to be included in the Scottish Borders Council (Disabled Persons Parking Places) Order 2015. The Chairman welcomed Gary Haldane and Samantha Elliot who were present at the meeting to explain the detail of the Order.  The Disabled Persons Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009 required the provision of advisory on-street disabled parking for disabled persons. The report presented to the Forum proposed to include those bays lying within the Berwickshire area in a region-wide Traffic Regulation Order to make the existing bays enforceable, omitting those which were no longer required since the beginning of consultation.  Members noted that there were a number of bays which had been struck through in Appendix A and Mr Haldane confirmed that these were to be deleted from the Order.  Two objections had been received during the consultation relating to bays at Marchmont Road, Greenlaw and Windrum Road, Chirnside.  In respect of Marchmont Road, the local Community Council had raised concerns about road safety and visibility due to the bay being used by a high vehicle.  A site visit by Traffic Section officers considered that although visibility was obstructed to a degree, the vehicle type was required to accommodate the disabled person's needs and the bay was required to allow access to the specially adapted vehicle.  With regard to the bay at Windrum Road, Chirnside, it had been confirmed via the Blue Badge database that the resident for whom the Disabled Parking bay had been allocated no longer held a badge and it was therefore proposed that the bay would be omitted from the TRO.  Discussion followed and Mr Haldane confirmed that the TRO could be amended annually, with line removal being carried out as required.  Mr Haldane also encouraged the public to inform the Transport Section of any changes required to allocation of Disabled Parking bays.

DECISION

APPROVED the inclusion of disabled parking places in the Berwickshire Area listed in Appendix A (as amended by removals) in The Scottish Borders Council (Disabled Persons Parking Places) Order 2015 and attached to this Minute.

Report by Service Director Commercial Services.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Commercial Services proposing to amend the Traffic Regulation Order for Duns.  Mr Haldane explained that since the previous amendment to the Order in 2013, a number of issues relating to traffic management in Duns had been brought to the attention to the Traffic Section.  Following a public consultation period in February/March 2015, one comment had been received from Perryman's Buses in relation to the taxi rank being made permanent at Easter Road.  There was a bus stop at the same location and the comment was in relation to the potential conflict at times when often two buses would be using the bus stop simultaneously as taxis using the rank.  Following a site visit and discussions with local Elected Members, it was agreed that the proposals should be progressed.  The proposals were published from 30 April 2015 and a further comment was received from Duns Community Council regarding the proposal for Black Bull Street and concerns relating the public safety.  Mr Haldane advised the Forum that consideration had been given to the comment by the Community Council and that it was proposed that the waiting restrictions should continue at this time, with a one-way option proposal to be developed and presented for public consultation in a future amendment to the Order.   Discussion followed and in response to a question from the Chairman, Mr Haldane explained that TROs were normally reviewed every 2 to 3 years.  The proposed amendments to the Order were detailed in Appendix A to the report.

DECISION

APPROVED the proposed amendments to The Scottish Borders Council (Borders Regional Council (Various Streets, Duns) (Regulation of Traffic) Order 1996) as contained in Appendix A to the report.

Report by Service Director Neighbourhood Services.  (Copy attached.)

(a)     There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Neighbourhood Services seeking approval for the proposed new Neighbourhood Small Schemes.  The report advised that £48,200 was available for small schemes within the Berwickshire Area during 2015/16 financial year and that an additional £20,000 was available for Quality of Life schemes, bringing the total to £68,200.  Should all the proposed schemes be approved, the remaining Small Schemes budget would be £477.   In response to questions from Members, Mr Silcock advised on the process for Small Schemes to be brought forward for consideration, and it was noted that Members, Community Councils and members of the public could highlight schemes which they felt would benefit the community.  These schemes were then costed and presented to the Area Forum for approval.  Discussion followed in relation to how the Small Schemes budget and locally-raised funds could be used to maximise the available resources.  The report explained that the following schemes had been requested for consideration by the Berwickshire Members and local Community Councils:  Install play equipment at play park Ayton; purchase stone and build rockery at East End, Chirnside; repair wire fence at the Common Good Park, Chirnside; purchase plants for village enhancement group, Ayton; delineate parking spaces in town centre, Duns; purchase and plant hedge and trees at play park, Hutton; purchase and install net at Home Park, Coldstream; purchase small goals, shrubs and benches for public park, Duns; purchase plants for enhancement group, Westruther; removal of trees at Parish Churchyard, Duns; purchase plants for enhancement group, Eyemouth; repair steps and footway at Village Hall, Allanton; install drainage at core path, Hume; repair entrance stones at Burnmouth; install rural bench, Bluestane Ford, Chirnside; purchase and install play equipment at play park, Hutton; install drainage at two locations at Lamberton, Mordington and Foulden; install 2 benches at Old Greenlaw; purchase and install Gallipoli floral bedding; Coldstream; manufacture and erect two picnic tables and no dumping sign, Reston; purchase trailer for transporting barriers in Berwickshire; manufacture and erect two picnic benches at play park, Haymons Cove, Eyemouth; purchase and install five barrels and planters/soil for Swinton; manufacture and erect perimeter fence at cemetery, Hutton; repaint tennis courts at Foulden; supply soil box and water butt at the cemetery in Eyemouth; purchase 100 litter pickers for communities in Berwickshire; install new fence at the cemetery in Greenlaw; repair gates at Home Park War Memorial, Coldstream; repair the Home Park gates next to the War Memorial, Coldstream; and purchase plants for two flower beds in Duns.  A query was raised in relation to the amount of Small Schemes budget being spent during the first quarter of the financial year and Members were reminded that the Quality of Life budget still had a balance of £20,000 for schemes yet to be brought forward.

(b)     In addition, the report also sought approval for a change to the Scheme of Delegation to the Service Director Neighbourhood Services to approve Neighbourhood Quality of Life Schemes which occurred between  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Opportunity for members of the public to raise any issues not included on the agenda.

There were no Open Questions.

DECISION

NOTED.

Consider matters of interest to Community Councils. 

Borders Sport and Leisure Defibrillator Training

The Border Sport and Leisure Trust were delivering training on how to use defibrillators on 7 July 2015.  The sessions were scheduled for 7.00pm, 7.30pm and 8.00pm in Eyemouth and all communities were invited to participate.  Further information and enrolling was available by contacting Eyemouth Town Community Council.  A discussion followed in relation to the lack of any mapping of defibrillators and Members were advised that the Scottish Ambulance Service was undertaking work at the moment to try to do this.  It was suggested that contact be made with Mr Jim Fraser and Mr Martin Wanless of Scottish Borders Council to discuss what information could be made available using systems currently in place at SBC.

DECISION

(a)     NOTED.

(b)     AGREED that contact be made with Mr Jim Fraser and Mr Martin Wanless of Scottish Borders Council to discuss what information could be made available using systems currently in place at SBC.

13.     Civic Society Awards

          Members were informed that Berwickshire Civic Society (BCS) was currently inviting nominations for innovative buildings which had been built within the past two years.  Anyone wishing further information should contact BCS directly.

DECISION

NOTED.

14.     Britain Beautiful

          With regard to the Britain Beautiful campaign, Mr Silcock thanked all the local communities for their recent help undertaking litter picking.

          DECISION

          NOTED.

15.     Migrant Communities Event

          Councillor Greenwell highlighted a joint NHS/SBC event taking place on Sunday 7 June 2015 in Eyemouth on Migrant Communities.

          DECISION

          NOTED.

          Community Council Spotlight

16.     Following a request from the Community Councils, it was agreed that an item entitled Community Spotlight be included on Berwickshire Area Forum Agenda and that Community Council Spotlight would no longer be included.  This was to allow non-Community Council related items to be raised under this heading.

          DECISION

          AGREED that future Agendas would include an item entitled Community Spotlight and that Community Council Spotlight would no longer be included as an Agenda item.

Open discussion to consider future agenda items.

Discussion took place regarding the number of Forum meetings scheduled in any one year and a number of options were discussed.  It was confirmed that there were currently 4 meetings held per year and after consideration of the benefits of holding 5 meetings annually, it was agreed that the number of meetings scheduled in the formal Calendar of Meetings would remain at 4 and additional meetings could be called should the Chairman consider this necessary.  The Forum was also reminded to submit subjects for consideration at future meetings.

DECISION

AGREED that the number of meetings of the Berwickshire Area Forum would remain at 4 per annum and that extra meetings would be called by the Chairman as necessary.

The dates of future meetings of the Berwickshire Area Forum were noted as follows:-

3 September 2015;

3 December 2015;

3 March 2016; and

2 June, 2016.

It was noted that these dates would be subject to change should an additional meeting of Berwickshire Area Forum be added to the Calendar.

DECISION

NOTED.

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 and in orders to make an early decision.

          A1 JUNCTIONS

20.     With reference to paragraph 17(iii) of the Minute of 5 March 2015, the Chairman informed the Forum that a meeting had been arranged with Transport Scotland and Amey to discuss the A1 and A1 junctions.  The Chairman extended a welcome to all the Berwickshire Community Councils to attend the meeting which had been scheduled for 2.30pmon 23 June 2015 and asked anyone interested in attending to let him know directly.

          DECISION

          NOTED.

21.     PROPOSED CLOSURE OF THE ST ABBS LIFEBOAT STATION

          The Chairman advised the Forum of proposals by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to close the lifeboat station at St Abbs.  He went on to explain that following a well-attended public meeting to address this matter, there had been a very clear desire to respond to the RNLI in relation to this proposal.  It was noted that St Abbs Community Council and Scottish Border Council had written to the RNLI  to raise their concerns.  Discussion took place around the very recent rescue of an unconscious diver from the sea at St Abbs the previous weekend.  The rescue had taken just over 4 minutes to complete and demonstrated the importance of a lifeboat station in that vicinity, especially when time was crucial.  Further points of concern raised were in relation to the difficulties in access to and from Eyemouth Harbour in severe weather conditions, the placing of all resources in one location, the imminent removal of the helicopter search and rescue service from RAF Boulmer, health and safety considerations given the large number of visitors to that area of coastline, the planned downgrading of lifeboat services at Berwick-upon-Tweed in 2018 and the replacement of the St Abbs lifeboat with a less capable vessel at Eyemouth.  It was agreed that the Chairman write to the RNLI on behalf of the Forum to voice its serious concerns at the proposals to close the lifeboat station at St Abbs.

          DECISION

          AGREED that the Chairman would write to the RNLI to:

(a)     express the profound concerns of the Berwickshire Area Forum at the proposed closure of St Abbs Lifeboat Station;

(b)     demand that a proper consultation be carried out with stakeholders, including the local community and local authority; and

(c)     demand that a hold be placed on the proposed closure of St Abbs Lifeboat Station until a proper consultation had taken place.