Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the special meeting of the Eildon Area Partnership.

Consider report by Service Director Customer & Communities.  (Attached)

With reference to paragraph 6 of the Minute of 24 June 2021, copies of a report by the Service Director Customer & Communities on the Eildon Community Fund Assessment Panel had been circulated.  The report proposed details of how members would be appointed to the Panel and how that Panel would operate with regard to meetings.  In terms of appointments of applicants from the Eildon area public to the Assessment Panel, it was proposed that this decision would be delegated to the Service Director Customer & Communities, in consultation with the Chair of the Eildon Area Partnership and the Executive Member for Community Development and Localities.  The names of the successful candidates would be notified to the next available meeting of the Area Partnership.  Suitable training would be provided to all members of the Assessment Panel.  Details of the proposed constitution and procedural rules for the Assessment Panel were contained in the Appendix to the report.  The Locality Development Co-ordinator, Mr Kenny Harrow, presented highlights from the report.  The Area Partnership discussed the number of community members and the quorum for the Panel but agreed to keep them as 6 and 4 respectively for the time being.  All were very supportive of the approach being proposed.  With regard to the SBC Councillors to be appointed to the Panel, Councillor Anderson, seconded by Councillor Parker, nominated Councillor Jardine to represent the Galashiels & District Ward; Councillor Parker, seconded by Councillor Edgar, nominated Councillor Linehan to represent the Leaderdale & Melrose Ward; and Councillor Edgar, seconded by Councillor Parker, nominated Councillor Cochrane to represent the Selkirkshire Ward.  Mr Harrow advised that there had been a positive response to date for recruitment to the Assessment Panel and there was still time for others to apply.

DECISION

AGREED to:

(a)        delegate authority to the Service Director Customer and Communities, in consultation with the Chair of the Area Partnership and the Executive Member for Community Development and Localities, to appoint members of the Eildon community to the Eildon Community Fund Assessment Panel, following a suitable recruitment process;

(b)        approve the constitution and procedural rules for the Assessment Panel as detailed in the Appendix to this Minute; and

(c)        appoint SBC Councillors Jardine, Linehan and Cochrane as non-voting members of the Assessment Panel.

Consider application from Melrose Scout Group.  (Attached)

With reference to paragraph 9 of the Minute of 24 June 2021, copies of an assessment of an application by Melrose Scout Group to the Building Back a Better Borders Fund had been circulated.  The Scout Group currently had 60 members but wanted to expand and start new Scout Groups in St Boswells and Newtown St Boswells where there was currently no provision; within these groups the focus would be on outdoor activities.  In order to expand the outdoor activity, funding of £10,921.13 was sought to purchase more tents, camping and cooking equipment, canoes and safety equipment, and a heavy duty canvas tent and tables to enable sessions to be held outdoors in the winter months.  The Area Partnership was highly supportive of the application.

DECISION

AGREED to award Melrose Scout Group £10,921.13 from the Build Back a Better Borders Fund.

No other items of business were raised.

The next scheduled meeting of the Area Partnership is due to take place on Thursday 9 September 2021 at 6:00pm and will be held via Microsoft Teams.  The meeting will also be livestreamed.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Area Partnership would be held on Thursday 9 September 2021 at 6:00pm via Microsoft Teams.