Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Eildon Area Partnership held via Microsoft Teams. 

Copy attached.

There had been circulated copies of an additional information document with the agenda. 

Minute of Meeting held on 16 November 2023. (Copy attached.)

The Minute of the meeting of the Eildon Area Partnership held on 17 November 2023 had been circulated and was noted. 

Elke Fabry (Scottish Borders Council Project Manager)

The Chair welcomed Elke Fabry, Project Manager with Scottish Borders Council to the meeting to provide an update on Day Services in Eildon.  Ms Fabry explained that a project had been undertaken in conjunction with the Integrated Joint Board to examine how Day Services were delivered in the Eildon Locality, with a view to provide alternative, community based, services rather than the traditional day centre model.  A number of day centres had been decommissioned following a review in 2019, one of which was the Teviot Day Centre, the closure of which had subsequently been declared unlawful.  A needs assessment had been undertaken by the IJB in early 2022 which had received 245 responses. 28% of those responses were from the Eildon Locality.  A task force, involving the NHS, third sector partners, SBC, and unpaid carer representatives, had been set up to drive progress.  A survey had gone live on 2 October 2023, with the closing day extended due to the low volume of responses received.  Ms Fabry explained that the focus of that exercise was to reach individuals and groups that were hard to reach.  The pyramid of need was presented, and it was highlighted that in day centres once an individual had personal care needs such as assistance with medication, they were not typically able to continue to attend the service.  Some other groups were active in the region for people with dementia, however, once personal care was required it was usually not possible for people to continue to attend those services.  Further engagement, research and information gathering exercises were underway, with drop-in sessions planned to understand the issues faced by service users across the Locality.  Ms Fabry highlighted that within Eildon there were a number of services available in Galashiels, and that it would be important that future service provision did not become too focused on that town alone.  The Chair highlighted that the geographic spread of Eildon was considerable, and that being too Galashiels focused was problematic.  It was suggested that Ms Fabry consider contacting various groups such as the Alzheimer’s Borders and St John’s Dementia Group in Selkirk for insight into the issues faced by people across Eildon.  The importance of ensuring that effective transport links were in place was highlighted.  Anyone could provide their views through the consultation which was hosted at Daytime opportunities for older adults with advanced care needs based in Eildon -2024 - Scottish Borders Council - Citizen Space. 

Alex (Member of SYP)

The Community Engagement Officer, Mr Erin Coltman, provided a summary of the recent Scottish Youth Parliament elections.  The elections had been planned for November 2023, however, due to technical difficulties with the voting platform, had taken place in December.  The candidates had been recruited in May 2023, and had undergone training and subsequently undertaken campaigning.   Scottish Borders Council’s’ Youth Engagement Officer, Ms Pam Rigby, had reported that the candidates had been patient and resilient throughout the process.  The Scottish Youth Parliament was a non-political platform focused on legal and social justice issues. Three new Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) had been elected to represent their peers at a national level.  Mr Coltman introduced Alex, one of the newly elected MSYPs to the meeting.  Alex explained that she had campaigned on three issues that tended to be overlooked in the Scottish Borders, transport, youthwork, and health and wellbeing.  Effective public transport was particularly important to young people given the rural nature of the region.  Alex highlighted that youth work had the potential to provide many benefits, particularly related to the mental health of young people.  Regarding health and wellbeing, Alex stressed that more should be available to people of all backgrounds.  Attendees thanked Alex for attending the meeting, expressed their congratulations on being elected, and suggested that more needed to be done to ensure that the voices of young people were heard at Council meetings.  Members encouraged Alex to get in touch with any of the Elected Members if she had an issue to raise. 

Kenny Harrow ( Scottish Borders Council – Community Co-ordinator.)

The Community Co-ordinator, Mr Kenny Harrow, highlighted that Heriot Watt University were undertaking a survey on speed limits across the Scottish Borders.  The conversations would take approximately 40 minutes and were focused on the 20mph speed limit introduced across the region.  Mr Harrow encouraged any interested party to reach out and undertake the survey. 

An opportunity to breakout into separate Microsoft Teams rooms with Councillor Euan Jardine (Council Leader) and Councillor Elaine Thornton-Nicol (Opposition Leader) to discuss the upcoming Scottish Borders Council budget and the priority themes within the live consultation.

It was highlighted that a consultation on Scottish Borders Council’s 2023/24 budget was live. The budget was due to be set at a meeting of full Council on 29 February 2024.  Attendees were encouraged to complete the survey.  It was highlighted that some attendees could find the format of the survey problematic, and that it was difficult to suggest how a problem could be addressed without knowing its full extent.  Members highlighted that the survey went beyond seeking ideas for savings and asked the residents of the region to provide their feedback on what was most important to them.  A further consultation was also ongoing to determine the priorities of young people. 

Erin Coltman (Scottish Borders Council Community Engagement Officer)

(Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Eildon Funding Table for 2023/24.

Jenny Mushlin (Chair – Eildon Assessment Panel Chair)

Eildon Assessment Panel to present funding recommendations for the following NSF applications:

·       Recovery Coaching Scotland

·       Melrose Imagination Library

·       Borders Chamber Choir

(Copy attached.)

8.1       There had been circulated copies of the recommendations of the Eildon Assessment Panel with the agenda.  Mr Coltman provided a summary of the three applications. 

8.2       Recovery Coaching Scotland

            The application from Recovery Coaching Scotland was for £4,255 to create a breakfast club as a pilot project.  The club would support individuals and families affected by substance abuse, social isolation, poor mental health, and poverty in the Eildon Locality.  The Group was already providing weekday support, however there was no support available at weekends.  The Assessment Panel had recommended to approve the project in full.  Mr Rod Anderson of the Group was present to answer questions.  In response to a question regarding links between Street Soccer and LiveBorders, Mr Anderson explained that discussions had been held and it was hoped that 2 coaches could be supported to acquire the appropriate qualifications and lead sessions in the area.  The Chair clarified that whilst Recovery Coaching Scotland was a national charity, Borders in Recovery was entirely based in the Scottish Borders.  It was unanimously agreed to approve the application in full. 

8.3       Melrose Imagination Library          

Mr Coltman explained that Melrose Imagination Library was a brand new, local organisation, keen to utilise the Dolly Parton’s “Dollywood Foundation” Imagination Library which gifted a book to every child in a designated area (Melrose and District), every month from birth until their fifth birthday.  Funding was sought from the Eildon Neighbourhood Support Fund to cover the first year of expenses, namely the purchases of books, with funding in future years to come from local fundraising events and other funders.  Gabrielle Deehan of the Group was present and responded to questions. Regarding the financial sustainability of the project, Ms Deehan explained that the project was based on a five-year pilot with decreasing reliance on grants.  It was led by local parents, and it was hoped that local fundraising efforts would ensure that the project remained viable.  It was confirmed that the group was in communisation with Borders Community Action. The application for funding was unanimously approved. 

8.4       Borders Chamber Choir

The application from Borders Chambers Choir was for £4,820 to help Borders Chamber deliver a performance of Bach’s St. John Passion on Easter Saturday, 30 March 2024 in Melrose Parish Church. The performance would bring together 55 performers alongside the Borders Chamber Orchestra. The application to the Eildon Neighbourhood Support Fund was primarily for solo performers, travel costs and marketing/publicity.  Mr Coltman clarified that the Borders Chambers Choir was a new organisation which had been created following the success of the previously held Waverly concert.  Members discussed the application and expressed concerns regarding the legacy element of the project and the wider benefit to the people of Eildon.  Councillor Jardine, seconded by Councillor Sinclair, proposed that the application be refused.  The motion was unanimously approved and the application for funding was rejected.

Thursday, 21 March 2024. Agenda Issued: 7 March 2024.

It was agreed that the next meeting of the Area Partnership be held via Microsoft Teams.