Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Eildon Area Partnership being held via Microsoft Teams and outlined how the meeting would be conducted and how those both in the meeting and watching via the Live Stream could take part.

Menti meeting evaluation from meeting held on 11 November 2021. (Copy attached).

Minute from meeting on 11 November 2021. (Copy Attached).

The Minutes of the meetings of the Eildon Area Partnership held on 11 November 2021 were noted.

Papers sent in advance of meeting. (Copy attached).

Hannah Macleod to provide information on the Common Good Consultation.

Mr Harrow explained that the additional information document included reference to a wide range of useful information and links. In the absence of the Principal Solicitor, Mr Harrow provided a brief outline of the ongoing Common Good Consultation.

Mr Harrow introduced Sharon Renwick, Community Place Planning and Regeneration Officer, to give an update on Place Making.  Ms Renwick began her role before Christmas 2021, had been involved in place plans and place making and the role had come about from the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019.  The Community Place Planning and Regeneration Officer advised that place plans were to be prepared in a bottom-up approach and be representative of the community.  Place Making workshops were to be held across Area Partnerships in March, with dates to be confirmed.  A facilitator was to be appointed to lead workshops so they were not led by Scottish Borders Council.  A procurement brief was published in January 2022 with responses invited and due by 4 February.  Responses were to be evaluated and a facilitator would be appointed.

Consider report by Director of Infrastructure & Environment. (Copy attached).

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Director, Infrastructure and Environment providing the Area Partnership and the local community an opportunity to consider and comment on the proposals submitted by event organisers of the Jim Clark Rally to hold a rally on closed road in the Scottish Borders on the weekend of the 27 to 29 May 2022. Revised legislation was introduced in 2019 to allow motor sports events to take place on closed public roads. The new regulations built upon previous experience through the Jim Clark Rally and other events and were intended to introduce increased rigor to the procedure for organising and running such events. The 2019 regulations introduced a two stage procedure where organisers must first successfully apply to an “authorised body” for a permit before applying to the local roads authority for a Motor Sports Order. In determining whether to make a Motor Sports Order Scottish Borders Council, as local roads authority, must consider a number of factors that were laid out in the regulations. The report outlined those factors and provided an opportunity to examine the proposals submitted by the rally organisers in respect of the routes and timings for the rally on 27 and 29 May 2022. Brian Young, Network Manager, joined the meeting and gave an outline of the report. The event organisers, Dan Wright and Frances Renton, were present in the meeting and answered questions from those in attendance. The organisers also indicated their intention to travel to the Community Councils in the relevant areas to gauge opinion and listen to suggestions from the local community. Members expressed their hope that the event would go ahead and their excitement at closed public road rally driving returning to the Scottish Borders. 

            DECISION

            NOTED the application by the organisers of the Jim Clark Rally to run an event on the weekend of the 27 to 29 May 2022.

Mr Harrow provided an update on the low and slow pilot project, an initiative that aimed to help provide families with cheap, nutritional meals.  Changeworks, NHS Borders Joint Heath Improvement Team and the Burnfoot Community Hub had worked together on a 6 week pilot project to provide 12 participants with a slow cooker.  The participants used ingredients from Fareshare and Morrisons and followed menus and recipes provided by the Joint Health Improvement Team to cook healthy food at home.  The use of a slow cooker was chosen as it compared extremely favourably in cost versus a conventional oven.  Additionally, all 12 participants had received a visit from Changeworks or Home Energy Scotland to assess methods they could use to help reduce their home energy bills. The pilot project had reached its conclusion, with an evaluation to be undertaken.  Those in attendance praised the project for its relevance and goals.

Mr Harrow advised the meeting that there had been a useful series of workshops with SCDC and that there would be ongoing sessions.  Mr Harrow invited any interested party to contact the Communities and Partnership team for further information.

Mr Coltman provided an outline of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Fund.  The fund was not limited to the Eildon area, with £2.5k the maximum amount a group could apply for.  Applications would be assessed by the Communities and Partnership Team, with a final decision made by the Director, Resilient Communities, Mrs Jenny Craig.  Applications would be decided within three weeks.  23 Applications had been awarded, with £47k remaining in the fund. 10 applications totalling £17k were under consideration.  Mr Coltman encouraged any interested party to submit their application.  Regarding the Build Back a Better Borders (BBBB) Recovery Fund, the opening balance had been £153,633, with a total of £109,000 awarded to date, resulting in a remaining balance of £44.5k.  7 applications were under consideration, totalling £40,478.  Mr Coltman drew attention to the fact that changes had been made to applications since the funding table had been issued with the agenda resulting in differing figures.

Consider funding recommendations from the Eildon Assessment Panel. (Recommendations attached).

9.1       Jenny Mushlin, the Chair of the Eildon Assessment Panel presented the Community Fund recommendations. Ms Mushlin advised that should Members accept the recommendations then the fund would be fully subscribed and consequently closed to new applications until the new financial year.

9.2       Scott’s Selkirk

The application from Scott’s Selkirk was for £5k to help purchase 10 gazebos to be used at Selkirk market and for use in the wider community. The panel praised the community benefit of the application, but felt that as the group had alternate gazebos that could still be used it was reasonable to agree to half the requested amount. The panel recommended to fund 5 gazebos at a cost of £2.5k.

9.3       PND Borders

PND Borders were applying for £15k of funding to cover staffing costs to help provide support and therapy for mothers with postnatal depression and anxiety across the Borders. The panel recommended not to fund the project, as the funding was to cover future costs. The group had sufficient funding in place for the year. The Communities and Partnership team would work with the group to explore future funding options and opportunities.

9.4       Lauder Primary School Parent Council

Lauder Primary School Parent Council had requested £4,940.40 to help raise levels of literacy attainment by improving and increasing the quality and diversity of books available in the school library, as well as organising visits to local literary events.  The panel recommended not to fund the project as concerns existed regarding wider community access to the resources outside of the school setting. The local book festival trips would also take place in the June, consequently the group was encouraged to submit a new application in the new financial year.

9.5       The Lavender Touch

The application from the Lavender Touch was for £6.8k to assist in the upgrade of its shop and hub in Galashiels. The panel recommended to fund £1,579.79 to help make the shop more environmentally friendly by covering the costs of various in-shop energy improvements.

9.6       Brighter Blainslie

Brighter Blainslie had applied for £4,598.12 to help improve the village by planting flower displays, creating environmentally green spaces, providing outdoor seating and improving access to the village pathway. The panel recognised the important of communal spaces open to all, and recommended to provide the requested sum.

9.7       St Peter’s Primary School Parents Association

The Parents Association of St Peter’s Primary School had applied for £2,718 to support the continuation of a breakfast club within their school. The funding would pay for staff to continue the club. The group had initially applied for a higher sum, but had subsequently received additional funding from the SBC Community Welfare Trust. The Panel recommended to grant funding of £2,718.

9.8       Borders Talking Newspaper

The group were seeking £4k to cover running costs to continue a talking newspaper service to residents across Eildon. The funding request was a proportion of running costs. There were currently 230 registered listeners, with 73 in Eildon.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

      Consider 7 applications for funding:

• (a) Go Wild Scotland - £4,883
• (b) Riddle Fiddles - £2,160
• (c) Borders Disability Sport - £6,554.97
• (d) Roxburgh Reivers - £5,265.22
• (e) Abbotsford Bowling Club - £15,000
• (f) Café ReCharge - £8,070
• (g) Transform Arts - £3,762

(Assessments attached).

Photos of BBBB funded projects: BBBB Fund Awards 2021/22 | Flickr

10.1     The Chairman asked Mr Harrow and Mr Coltman to give an outline of each of the applications to the BBBB fund.

10.2     Go Wild Scotland

The application from Go Wild Scotland was for £4,883 to assist in the creation of a digital and physical nature trail for use by local youth groups.  The group also planned to use it as a demonstration project for other community groups in the Borders.  They had already acquired the physical nature trail elements and educational materials.  The funding applied for would cover the labour costs of creating the trail, the illustration and map of the newly created trail and QR code metal plates.

10.3     Riddell Fiddles

            The application for funding from Riddell Fiddles was for £2,160 to engage with young people to create a soundscape of a local woodland.  The funding applied for would cover the cost of recording/mixing by a specialist producer; two music tutors for fiddle/guitar; woodland guide walk staff; a transform art workshop; and venue costs for the workshop.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Jardine declared an interest in the item below and did not take part in the discussion.

10.4     Borders Disability Sport

            Borders Disability Sport had applied for £6,544.97 that would allow the group to provide individuals with the opportunity to take part in and experience the positive impact of various sporting activities.  The group planned to deliver a new sporting opportunities programme throughout the year with sessions expected in Tweedbank and Galashiels.  The funding would allow a variety of archery equipment; cycling helmets; a racing wheelchair and two disability trikes to be purchased. Funding would also cover the expenses associated with venue and pool hire, and coaching costs.

10.5     Roxburgh Reivers Orienteering Club

            The application from the Roxburgh Reivers Orienteering Club was for £5,265.22 to allow the group to provide a package of 21 specialist maps and equipment to enable the introduction and development of orienteering among targeted groups in the Eildon locality.

10.6     Abbotsford Bowling Club

            Abbotsford Bowling Club had initially applied for £15k but following discussions with the Communities and Partnerships team had revised their application to £9,793.  The application was to help cover the costs of refurbishment of the clubhouse and delivering a two-phase project to benefit the local community.  The two phases of the project would engage with older and younger people in a variety of exercise and bowls-based events.

10.7     Café ReCharge

The application from Café Recharge was for £8070 to meet the salary costs of a volunteer co-ordinator, the provision of a laptop for that co-ordinator and food hygiene training for volunteers.  Employing a paid volunteer co-ordinator/café supervisor would allow the café to open at least one day on weekends and to harness the enthusiasm for volunteering present in the area.

10.8     Transform Arts CIC

            Transform Arts CIC had applied for £3,762 to host two participatory arts event during the summer, one in the Philliphaugh area of Selkirk and one in the Ettrick/Yarrow valley.  Each event would be a day of varied  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Mr Coltman provided an outline of work that had gone into evaluations across the Community and BBBB funds.  He explained that as part of the agreement when groups are granted funding they are required to complete an evaluation of their project.  A group could not apply for any additional funding until they have completed their evaluation.   Mr Coltman advised that all of the projects from the Localities Bid Fund 1 had been evaluated, 80% of the evaluations had been received from projects from the Localities Bid Fund 2, and 73% of the evaluations had been received from the 2019/20 Community Fund.  Reminders had been sent to all of those with outstanding evaluations. 

Are there any items you would like to propose for the agenda? 

Please contact your local councillor or the Communities & Partnership Team

The next full meeting of the Area Partnership was scheduled for 30 March 2022 and the Chairman asked for further agenda item suggestions to be submitted.

At the discretion of the Chairman it was agreed that the Principal Solicitor, who had joined the meeting, would discuss the Common Good Consultation in more detail than discussed at paragraph 3.  The Principal Solicitor, Mrs Hannah Macleod explained what was happening within Scottish Borders Council with regard to Common Good Fund owned property and assets.  Common Good Funds were created from the former Burghs of Scotland, managed by local Councillors who act as trustees.  Councillors also meet to provide grants.  Under the Community Empowerment Act, the Council is obligated to publish and maintain a list of assets, land and art/artefacts, owned by the Common Goods.  The consultation on the aforementioned list of assets had opened and would run until at least 31 March 2021.  Mrs Macleod invited members of the public to suggest any item or area of land that they thought may be owned by the Common Goods in the area – Galashiels, Lauder, Melrose and Selkirk.  Mrs Macleod advised the meeting that should there be a flurry of activity then the consultation would be extended to allow the full consideration of any item suggested to be Common Good owned. Following the consultation, the representations received would be brought back to each specific Sub-Committee to discuss the comments and evidence received.   It was stressed that legal tests would be used to verify ownership.  Mrs Macleod advised everyone in attendance that the list would be published once the process was completed, but that it would be open to review – new items could be considered and added.  Mrs Macleod circulated her email address and advised attendees that she was happy to send out paper copies to any interested party wishing to make a representation.  In response to a question regarding the use of the phrase “former burghs” it was clarified that whilst, as result of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, Burghs were legally abolished, it remained common and acceptable in everyday speech to continue to refer to the former burghs as royal burghs.

Mr Coltman shared a link to the meeting evaluation using Menti, and the Chairman and Mr Harrow asked for feedback on the meeting.