Scottish Borders Council

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Memorial Hall, Leithen Road, Innerleithen

Contact: Kathleen Mason Tel: 01835 826772  Email:  kmason@scotborders.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Minute pdf icon PDF 65 KB

Minute of Meeting held on 26 January 2017 for noting.  (Copy attached.)

Minutes:

The Minute of Meeting of the Innerleithen Common Good Fund Sub-Committee held on 26 January 2017 had been circulated.

 

DECISION

NOTED.   

 

2.

Clock - Cleikum Mill - update by Solicitor

Minutes:

With reference to paragraph 1.2 of the Minute of 26 January 2017,  the Principal Solicitor  advised that on 2 March 2017 she had written to the owners of the residential properties at Cleikum Mill advising the Council wished access to their properties to  maintain the clock. 

 

DECISION

NOTED.

 

3.

Former Provosts' Chain

(i)  update by Capital and Investments Manager on insurance arrangements; and

 

(ii) update by Curator, Tweeddale Museum on repairs to the Chain. 

Minutes:

         (i)       Pendant

                   With reference to paragraph 1.3 (c) of the Minute of 26 January 2017, Ms Rosemary Hannay, Curator, Tweeddale Museum  issued copies of photographs of the former Innerleithen Provosts’ Pendant showing the damage together with a copy of a quotation from Hamilton and Inches.   The part which had been dislodged was previously attached to the pendant  with little pins which would require replacement.  Owing to the enamel work, heating would cause issues and the only way to re-attach the scroll was to use glue/resin, the cost of this repair was £85.00 (inclusive of VAT).   The quotation to fully refurbish – dismantle, repair all hand paintings, supporters, flags, bottom scroll, central crest, and filigree, re-solder new “St Ronan” Scroll, solder new fastening wires to each part and re-assemble, was  £5,585.00  (inclusive of VAT). Ms Hannay explained that part of the problem was that there was much movement within the pieces which made up the pendant.    Members were minded to have the pendant fully refurbished and agreed to that  in principle,  subject to receiving funding from perhaps the neighbourhood small schemes or quality of life and that a report on funding the repairs be prepared for consideration by the Common Good Fund-Sub Committee following the Local Government Election in May 2017.       In the meantime, the Chairman of St Ronan’s Games Committee should be reminded when wearing the chain / pendant  that it should be handled with care  because of its delicacy.    Mr McGinn opined that the community might like to contribute towards the repair.

 

                   DECISION

                   AGREED:-

 

                   (a)          in principle, to make arrangements for the badge to be fully refurbished  at a cost of £5,585.00 (including VAT), subject to the Capital and Investments Manager preparing a report on funding the repair for consideration by the Common Good Fund Sub-Committee  at their next meeting  following the Local Government Election in May 2017; (noting that some funding might be available from the local community); and

 

                   (b)         that the Chairman of the St Ronan’s Games Committee be reminded  that when wearing the chain / badge that it be handled with care because of its delicacy.

 

         (ii)      Insurance

                   The Capital and Investments Manager confirmed she had liaised with the St Ronan’s Games Committee and advised that they were making arrangements for insurance to be in place while the Chain and pendant were being used by their Chairman during Games Week. 

 

                   DECISION

                   NOTED.

 

4.

Memorial Hall - Condition Survey pdf icon PDF 46 KB

Consider report by the Estates Officer on the Memorial Hall.  (Copy to follow.)

Minutes:

4.1    With reference to paragraph 1.4 of the Minute of 26 January 2017, there had been circulated copies of a report prepared by Mr S.  Mawson, Property Officer advising that in August 2011, Scottish Borders Council Cultural Services commissioned CBRE to undertake condition surveys of Cultural Services assets within the Scottish Borders Estate to ascertain the overall condition of this part of the Estate.   This included Innerleithen Memorial Hall and following a site survey by CBRE a building summary report was published in August 2011.   The survey reports were not made available to Property Services until 2014 when a Community Group was seeking to have the asset transferred to them at that time.

 

4.2    In October 2014, Property Services were requested to “sense check” the CBRE report using their professional judgement and a pragmatic approach to recommend repair/remedial works to enable an informed business case to be produced by the Community Group.   These works were categorised into 3 categories.      Category 1:- Immediate works (within 1 year), Category 2:- 1 – 5 years; and Category 3:- 6 – 10 years.   It should be noted that the Scottish Borders Council  report was released to the Community Group on the basis that the works and costs identified within the report were to be used to assist with producing a business case but not committing the Council to undertake the works if the Asset was not transferred.   A summary of works undertaken to date was detailed in the report.   Most  of the works highlighted were  classified as Category 2 ( 1 – 5 years), and consisted of internal and external painterwork items and the replacement of floor coverings in the Villa (office area) of the building.   The Innerleithen Memorial Hall was one of the assets leased to LiveBorders as part of the service transfer in April 2016.   Under the terms of the agreement LiveBorders were responsible for maintenance of the buildings;  however SBC Property Services were employed by Live Borders (via a Service Level Agreement (SLA)) to undertake the maintenance of the buildings.  The budget for maintaining the status quo remained with SBC Property Services.   Any enhancement/upgrade of the asset could be carried out by prior agreement between LiveBorders and Scottish Borders Council    A summary of works proposed to be undertaken during financial year 2017/18 was detailed in the report.   The works would be prioritised and should be completed by the start of Innerleithen Games Week.    Owing to current budget constraints, there was very limited budget available for internal re-decoration works and flooring replacement was generally only undertaken on a priority health and safety basis.    The report detailed future works items for 2017/18 which were not deemed a priority.   

 

4.3    The Principal Solicitor advised that under the terms of the SLA it was the responsibility of Scottish Borders Council to ensure the Memorial Hall was wind and water tight.   Improvements were the responsibility of LiveBorders.  

 

4.4    Mr Mawson presented the report and advised that the roof of the building was not in a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Open Question

Minutes:

In response to a question raised by Mr McGinn, the Principal Solicitor advised that the Common Good Fund would be happy to receive money from the estate of someone who had died.

 

DECISION

NOTED.

 

6.

Date of Next Meeting - 17 August 2017

Minutes:

It was noted that the next meeting was scheduled to take place on 17 August 2017, however an earlier meeting would be held to further consider the funding of repairs to the pendant of the Former Innerleithen Provosts’ Chain as recorded in Item 3 above.

         

DECISION

NOTED.

         

 

 

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