Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairman, Councillor Richards, welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Partnership and thanked Community Councils, Partners and local organisations for their attendance.    Councillor Richards explained that the theme for this evening’s discussion was ‘Our Place’ and there would be a series of short presentations to facilitate discussion.   

Copy minute from meeting on 19 June 2018. (To follow).

The Minute of the meeting of the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Partnership held on 19 June 2018 had been circulated along with a summary of the discussion attached as an appendix to the Minute.  The theme for the meeting had been ‘Our Health, Care and Wellbeing’ and concerns, issues, challenges and opportunities raised at that meeting were referred to during discussion.  The theme that had been identified as the next priority for further detailed discussion was ‘Our Place’ and this would therefore be the focal point for consideration at this evening’s meeting.

A facilitated discussion on the subject in order to put forward a set of initial outcomes for Teviot and Liddesdale.  Further information on local data and statistics..

The Chair provided an introduction to the theme for the meeting  – Our Place – and introduced Charles Johnston, Lead Planning Officer, SBC.  Mr Johnston talked about the Main Issues Report (MIR) which was a forerunner to the next Local Development Plan.  He explained that the MIR focused on the main planning issues, identified a number of options including regeneration oftown centres and suggested housing/affordable housing sites.   The MIR proposed more housing land than was required and the final decision on the housing land supply would lie with Scottish Ministers.   A 12 week consultation on the MIR was about to begin and would involve officers holding a series of drop in sessions and workshops across the Scottish Borders, as well as a formal consultation process.    Mr Johnston encouraged everyone to put forward their views on what they considered were the main issues.  They could do this by attending one of the sessions, or via the website or by phone.  Feedback would then be reported back to Council and fed into the process for preparation of the Local Development Plan.  The Local Development Plan covered a five year cycle, the next was due in 2021.   In response to a question regarding the longer term aspirations for Hawick, Mr Johnston advised that the Hawick Action Plan, regeneration measures within the town centre and the allocation and servicing of business/industrial land would help the longer term development of Hawick.  With regard to the extension of the Borders Railway to Newcastleton, Mr Johnston advised that the Council would continue to promote the extension of the rail link towards Hawick and beyond. 

3.2       Mr Andy Tharme, Ecology Officer SBC then made reference to the Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBDP) which had last been updated in 2001, so it was time for a review.   Feedback from the 12 week consultation would be included in the Local Development Plan.  The Local Biodiversity Action Plan was based on an ecosystem approach with a strong emphasis on climate change, pollution and land use.  The document was available on the Council’s website and people were asked to participate in the consultation by providing comments.  The consultation was open until 30 November 2018 and could be assessed through the Citizen Space online system.

3.3       Ms Donna Bogdanovic, Senior Housing Strategy Officer, SBC, then discussed the Local Housing Strategy.   Ms Bogdanovic explained that the Council did not hold any housing stock, having transferred all its housing stock to be managed by local housing associations.  However, the Council was the strategic housing authority and was required to produce a Local Housing Strategy every five years.  The Strategy was developed with a wide range of partners, including Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA) and covered a wide range of issues and solutions to the challenge of increasing housing supply across the Scottish Borders.  The Strategy also covered energy efficiency of homes, condition of properties in the rental sector, homelessness, empty properties and enabling people to stay in their own homes as long as possible.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Ms Gillian Jardine, SBC Locality Development Co-ordinator reminded everyone that the Locality Bid Fund was now open for application until the end of September 2018.  Anyone requiring advice and guidance on submitting an application were asked to contact the Communities and Partnership team.

Tuesday, 13 November 2018

The next meeting of the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Partnership was scheduled for Tuesday, 13 November 2018 and the theme for the meeting would be ‘Quality of Life’.  The venue for the meeting would be confirmed in due course.   The Chairman thanked those present for their attendance.