Scottish Borders Council

Agenda and minutes

Venue: ROOM 305, TOWER MILL, HAWICK

Contact: Judith Turnbull Tel No.: 01835 826556  Email:  judith.turnbull@scotborders.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Minute pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Minute of the meeting of the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Locality Committee of 19 September 2017 to be approved.  (Copy attached).

Minutes:

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the meeting held on 19 September 2017.

 

DECISION

AGREED to approve the Minute of the Meeting held on 19 September 2017.

 

2.

Matters Arising

Minutes:

With reference to paragraph 3(a)(i) of the Minute of 19 September 2017, the Neighbourhood Area Manager, Mr Dunlop, advised a meeting had been arranged with the Asset Manager to discuss the installation of road texturing; the Chairman would circulate details to Members and invited their attendance.

 

DECISION

NOTED. 

 

3.

Locality Bid Fund - Ratify Note of Informal Meeting pdf icon PDF 61 KB

Minutes:

With reference to paragraph 5 of the Scottish Borders Council Minute of 28 September 2017, there had been circulated copies of a note of an informal meeting of Teviot and Liddesdale Area Locality Committee held on 11 October 2017.  The purpose of the meeting was for Members to discuss and propose arrangements for the management of the Localities Bid Fund for the Teviot and Liddesdale area.  

 

            DECISION

            AGREED to ratify the following:-

 

(a)        That £38,000 be the allocation from the first release of the Teviot and Liddesdale Localities Bid Fund;

 

(b)       That the £38,000 be aligned to all themes of the Community Plan;

 

(c)        That no additional marketing was required; and

 

(d)       There would be no maximum amount set for constituted groups.

 

4.

Locality Bid Fund - Communities and Partnership Manager

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed Ms Shona Smith, Communities and Partnership Manager, who was in attendance to outline how the new Locality Bid Fund would operate.  Ms Smith explained the criteria for the bids and that the Teviot and Liddesdale Informal Meeting had agreed to allocate £38,000 for the first tranche of funding.  Members had also agreed to set no maximum for constituted groups; non-constituted groups had been capped at £5k.  Ms Smith clarified that applications should be for new projects which would improve the lives of people living in the Scottish Borders and align to a theme from the Community Plan.  Existing projects were not eligible and there were funds available to assist such projects, for example Quality of Life funding and the Community Grant Scheme.   Ms Smith confirmed that the first phase had opened on 28 October and would end on 1 December.  Following the closing date, the Assessment Panel would consider the applications and, if the application successfully met the criteria, it would be taken forward to a community vote.   Details of projects would be available on the Council’s website and promoted prior to the public vote. Any funding not allocated in the first tranche would be rolled over to the second allocation, which would commence in Spring 2018.

 

4.2       In response to questions, Ms Smith advised that with regard to the level of interest, there had been a number of enquiries but only a small number of applications had been receivedso far.  With regard to concerns that smaller communities would be disadvantaged when projects were put to a community vote, Ms Smith advised that work with the Democratic Society had shown that voting patterns did not always turn out as expected and also smaller communities tended to have more communitycohesion than larger towns.  However, there would be an assessment of the first round which would inform any changes needed for the second round; this might include ring-fencing part of the funding.  Ms Smith then clarified the voting process: anyone over 16 who lived, worked or studiedin the Scottish Borders would be eligible to vote.  There would be various methods available, to make voting as accessible to as many people as possible, including online or postal voting and voting at local contact centresetc.  There would only be one vote allocated to each individual.   Sustainability of projects was then discussed and Ms Smith advised that guidance could be given for ongoing projects, andthat there might be opportunities for partnership working and match funding.

 

4.3       There followed a discussion regarding suitable projects, Ms Smith advised that schools were not eligible for funding but community groups, parent councils or pupils over 16 could apply.  Reference was made to improving the promotion of the scheme and Ms Smith welcomed the feedback received.  The team would consider inserts into local newspapers and redesigning promotional material, including incorporating links to the community plan.   Ms Smith concluded her briefing by advising that the Communities Partnership Team would be pleased  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Neighbourhood Small Schemes and Quality of Life pdf icon PDF 158 KB

Consider report by Service Director Neighbourhood Services (Copy attached).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

With reference to paragraph 3 of the Minute of 19 September 2017, there had been circulated a report by Service Director Assets and Infrastructure seeking approval for the following new Neighbourhood Small Schemes from the Locality Committee:  relocation of Burnfoot sign to the grassed area opposite Wilton Cemetery main entrance; and, the installation of three road gullies on the D66/3 at Langraw Cottage, Hobkirk.   The following Quality of Life Scheme was also requested for approval:  Provision and installation of two benches, one opposite Hermitage Village Hall and one at Hermitage Castle lay-by. 

 

5.2       Members were also asked to consider which, if any, of the four options for play equipment at the Moat Park, detailed in the appendices to the report, should be approved.  After consideration, Members unanimously agreed on the Kompan roundabout as the most appropriate.   Mr Dunlop clarified that installation of the play equipment would take place in Spring 2018.  However, preparatory work to level the area could be carried as soon as practicable.  

 

5.3         In response to questions, Mr Dunlop advised that with regard to the installation of road gullies, it had not been possible to install the gullies at the time of other work being undertaken at the location, within the allocated budget.  With regard to Southdean War Memorial, Mr Dunlop would discuss this potential Neighbourhood Small Scheme with Ward Members.   Mr Dunlop then updated Members on the progress of schemes since the report had been published: he confirmed that grass cutting to the Moat and painting of the handrail had now been completed.  The parking bays at Silverbuthall Road and Chay Blythe Place had been installed. The parking bays at Fraser Avenue would be marked when the line marking equipment was in Hawick. 

 

DECISION

AGREED

(a)        The following new Neighbourhood Small Schemes for implementation:-

 

(i)           Relocate the Burnfoot sign to the grass area

opposite Wilton Cemetery main entrance                                       £120                                        

                                                                                                           

(ii)         Install 3 road gullies and associated pipework on the

D66/3 at Langraw Cottage, Hobkirk                                               £2,950                                     

 

(b)       AGREED the following new Quality of Life Scheme for implementation

 

            (ii)        Provision and installation of two benches, one opposite

                        Hermitage Village Hall and one at the Hermitage Castle lay-by    £420

           

(i)         Provision and Installation of a Kompan Roundabout

at the Moat Park, Hawick                                                                 £5,456

 

(c)        NOTED

(i)         The updates on previously approved Neighbourhood Small Schemes in 2017/18 as detailed in Appendix A to the report;  and

 

(ii)        The updates on previously approved Quality of Life Schemes in 2017/18 as detailed in Appendix B to the report.

 

 

6.

Police Scotland pdf icon PDF 125 KB

Update report by Police Inspector detailing ongoing work and initiatives in the Teviot and Liddesdale Area.

Minutes:

There had been circulated a report from Inspector Carol Wood, Police Scotland, updating the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Locality Committee on performance and activities in the area since the last meeting.  Inspector Wood began by referring to the tragic road accident that had taken place on 9 November at Denholm and appealed for witnesses.

 

6.2       Inspector Wood referred to the Ward plan priorities; in summary, with regard to the Drug Dealing and Misuse Priority, four individuals had been charged with possession of  Class C drugs; two persons were charged with the supply of a controlled substance, four individuals charged with possession of a Class B drugs and a male charged with the production and possession of a controlled substance.   In terms of the Road Safety priority, four people had been charged with driving without insurance and one of these drivers had also been charged with driving without a license.   A number of individuals had also been charged with a variety of road traffic offences, including a cyclist found to be under the influence of alcohol and reported accordingly.   With regard to the Violent Crime priority, there had been a serious assault when a 14 year old female was reported to have sustained a head injury, enquiries were continuing into this incident.   Also during the reporting period, ten police warnings had been issued for antisocial behaviour as well as five fixed penalty notices.    Inspector Wood then went on to advise that a commemoration wreath had been set alight at the war memorial within Wilton Park, two 14 year old males had been charged with fire-raising. 

 

6.3       Inspector Wood also advised that Police Scotland were running a month long campaign to prevent livestock worrying.  Any incidents reported would be thoroughly investigated and offenders reported to the Procurator Fiscal.  Farmers and those who used the countryside were urged to report all incidents of livestock worrying to police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.     In response to a question regarding reports of intimidation through social media, Inspector Wood advised that in order to investigate, Police Scotland required exact information.  If anyone was concerned the Police would be pleased to give personal safety advice.   With regard to an antisocial issue in Newcastleton, Inspector Wood would advise the community council secretary outwith the meeting.  The Chairman thanked Inspector Wood for her attendance and report.

 

DECISION

NOTED the report.

 

 

7.

Scottish Fire & Rescue Service pdf icon PDF 256 KB

Update report by Russell Bell, Station Commander, detailing ongoing work and initiatives in the Teviot and Liddesdale Area.

 

Minutes:

There had been circulated a report from Station Manager Russell Bell, Hawick Fire Station, presenting service delivery activity in the Teviot and Liddesdale Area for the month of November 2017.  In summary, the report detailed that during the period of the report there had been one deliberate house fire; two special service occurrences and 10 unwanted fire signals.  Mr Bell was also pleased to report that there had been no issues in the Hawick area on bonfire night.

 

7.2       Mr Bell went on to advise that unfortunately, the Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest trial had been suspended, until national negotiations with the Fire Brigades’ Union had been concluded.  Firefighters in the region were disappointed with this decision, the trial’s aim was to dramatically increase patients’ survival chances and they had already assisted in saving a number of lives. It was hoped that the service would be reinstated as soon as possible.   It was noted that at the Police, Fire & Rescue and Safer Communities Board meeting on 10 November, the Board had expressed their disappointment with this decision to the Chair of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board who was in attendance at the meeting.  Members agreed that the Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, should also write to the Chief Officer of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service expressing disappointment at the decision and that it was hoped this valuable service would be reinstated as soon as possible.

 

DECISION

AGREED that the Chairman write to the Chief Officer of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service expressing concern that the Out of Hours Cardiac Arrest trial had been suspended.

 

 

8.

Local Public Holidays 2018 pdf icon PDF 37 KB

Proposed local public holidays for 2018 for consideration. (Copy attached).

Minutes:

There had been circulated copies of the proposed public holidays for 2018 in Teviot and Liddesdale.

 

DECISION

NOTED the local public holidays for 2018 in Teviot and Liddesdale

 

9.

Community Council Spotlight

Consider matters of interest to Community Councils.

 

Minutes:

Mrs Elborn, Newcastleton Community Council, advised that with regard to Newcastleton primary school, a meeting with the Service Director Children and Young People had been positive.   The communities’ concern at the lack of communication and understanding of local issues had been addressed.   There had also been a discussion on the school being recognised as an early learning service.   Ms Elborn highlighted to Ward Members that the school bus could not be used as there was no appropriately trained drivers.   With regard to repairs to pavements in private ownership, a process was now in place which had been welcomed.  Ms Elbron further advised that the community council had co-opted Mr Greg Cuthbert as a new member.  Mr Cuthbert would be the community council’s representative on the Borders Railway Support Group and would advocate for the line being extended to Carlisle, via Newcastleton.  In support, Newcastleton would prepare a feasibility study, which would focus on the importance of freight transportation for the economic growth of the local region.  Ms Elborn concluded by advising that the problem with lack of broadband still remained and asked that Members continued to support the need for broadband to be actioned.   The Chairman made reference to a recent presentation by Openreach at Southdean Community Council which might be of assistance to Newcastleton.   

 

8.2       Mrs Knight, Burnfoot Community Council, informed that a total of £10k has been donated to the Remembrance Garden project; the architect had now been contacted to prepare plans.   Mrs Knight advised that the community council was in the process of holding a by-election which they hoped would attract new members.  Mrs Knight further advised that on the 7 December, the Burnfoot Christmas lights would be switched on, there would be carols from the school and Father Christmas might make an appearance.  Father Christmas would also be at Burnfoot on Christmas Eve.

 

8.3       Mrs Crew, Denholm Community Council, advised that the community council had hosted a ‘drop-in” night on 12 October to highlight the impact of windfarm proposals on the area.  A large scale map had proved useful in identifying the location of windfarms, and many attending had expressed concern at the expanse and amount of turbines proposed for the area.    Ms Crew then went on to advise that there had also been a Folk Festival in the village at the beginning of November, culmination on the Sunday evening with a firework display.  Mrs Crew highlighted that the community council continued to work with the resilience group, numbers had dropped but they were trying to maintain and improve interest in the scheme.  They had also carried out a recent survey of grit bins and drainage around the village.  To conclude the report, Mrs Crew advised that on the 10 December, the village Christmas tree lights would be switched on and there would also be carols around the tree. 

 

8.4       Mr Curtis, Hobkirk Community Council, advised that on the agenda for discussion at the following week’s meeting were items on the burial ground, windfarms, community council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Date of next Teviot and Liddesdale Area Locality Committee

Tuesday, 12 December 2017 at 6.30 pm in the Lesser Hall, Town Hall, Hawick

Minutes:

The next meeting of the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Locality Committee would be held on Tuesday, 12 December 2017 at 6.30 pm in the Lesser Hall, Town Hall, Hawick.

 

DECISION

NOTED.

 

 

 

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