Agenda and minutes

Councillor Edgar, Chairman, welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the Eildon Area Partnership and referred to the Community Councils, Partners and local organisations who were represented.

To set the scene for how the new Area Partnership will develop.

https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/info/20015/your_council/472/area_partnerships

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods and Locality Services, Councillor Aitchison, set        the scene for how the new Area Partnership would develop. He explained that Area Partnerships would bring together key organisations, groups, businesses and individuals from across the public, private and third sectors and from within the local communities to collectively work together. The first meeting of the Eildon Area Partnership, would be used to introduce the new format of meeting, provide some context to both community planning and locality planning, as well as an overview of grants and funding.  Future Area Partnership meetings would be themed to help discuss and debate issues in a more manageable way.

An overview of the new Scottish Borders Community Plan and the development of the Eildon Locality Plan.

https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/yourcommunityplan

Jenni Craig, Service Director for Customer and Communities, explained that the introduction of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 had seen the Scottish Borders Community Planning Partnership publish a Community Plan to address Borders-wide challenges and opportunities.  Copies of the Community Plan were provided in the information packs on all the tables at the meeting.  At a local level Area Partnerships would take forward the development of Locality Plans; so the meeting was an opportunity to participate in an informal discussion about the challenges and issues affecting the Eildon area.  There were four main themes of the Community Plan, namely: our Economy, Skills & Learning; our Health and Wellbeing; our Quality of Life; and our Place.  An additional theme of Transport had been suggested by the local Members as a priority issue for the Eildon area.

Discussion looking at emerging issues in Eildon across the themes of the Community Plan and setting priorities for future Area Partnership meetings.

The Chairman invited those present to discuss at their tables the emerging issues in Eildon           across the themes of the Community Plan and to write these down on the post-it notes provided. 30 minutes was given for this activity.  The Chairman also asked those present to complete meeting evaluation forms which had been provided.  From the feedback it was clear that the debate had included issues, challenges and opportunities across all five themes, with ‘Economy Skills and Learning’ emerging as the priority theme for discussion at the next meeting of the Eildon Area Partnership.  The feedback was summarised as shown in the appendix to this Minute.

An overview and update on what grants and funding streams are available to local communities, as well as an update on the Localities Bid Fund.

Shona Smith, Communities and Partnership Manager, summarised the grants and funding streams available to local communities and introduced the Scottish Borders Council team of officers who could provide information and assistance.  She also gave an update on the Localities Bid Fund in the Eildon Area where there were 17 projects being put forward to a public vote between 1 and 28 February.  In response to questions, Ms Smith explained how multiple voting by members of the public should be flagged up by the voting system being used and that future adjustments in terms of funding allocation may be made if it was found that projects from communities with a low population were at a significant disadvantage in the voting process. 

8 March 2018

10 May 2018

VENUES AND TIMES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

There was a general discussion about where Area Partnership meetings would be held and about the start time which would be the most convenient for those attending.  There was also a question about this on the evaluation forms.  It was agreed that the next meeting   would again be held at Galashiels, starting at 6.30, but that arrangements for future          meetings may be changed depending on feedback on the evaluation forms.

It was noted that the next meetings were scheduled for:-

Thursday 8 March 2018 at 6.30 pm in Galashiels (exact venue to be confirmed)

Thursday 10 May 2018 (time and venue to be confirmed)