Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed attendees to the meeting of the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Partnership which was held via Microsoft Teams.

Consider Minute of the Meeting held on 21 February 2023 for approval and signature by the Chair.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the Meeting held on 21 February 2023.  The Chair advised attendees that following feedback from Newcastleton and District Community Council, on administration support from Scottish Borders Council, community councils would be engaged on their ongoing needs and challenges, and information would be available in due course.  The request for the April Meeting of the Area Partnership to be held on Teams had been actioned and the request for representatives of the Scottish Borders National Park campaign to attend the April meeting had been actioned.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the Minute for signature by the Chair.

The Chair welcomed Community Sergeant Alison Grainger to the meeting to provide an update on policing matters in Teviot and Liddesdale.  Sergeant Grainger introduced herself and explained that she covered the Hawick and Denholm and Hawick and Hermitage wards.  Sgt Grainger advised attendees of resources in the area and explained that there were two community PCs that covered Hawick and Denholm and two that covered Hawick and Hermitage which filled the quota for community PCs for the Hawick area.  A community link officer was being interviewed the day after the Meeting of the Area Partnership.  Sgt Grainger advised that there was an additional PC that covered the Burnfoot area and that alongside Teviot and Liddesdale, Sgt Grainger covered Cheviot and Berwickshire areas.  The Community Action (CAT) team was funded and tasked by Scottish Borders Council and comprised two sergeants and 12 PCs.  Sgt Grainger advised that Police Scotland could attend community council meetings on request.  Attendees were encouraged to email Sgt Grainger and to ensure they were receiving multi-ward reports from Police Scotland.  Concerns related to speeding and parking were raised with Police Scotland.  In 2022, between May to August, there were 180 events in the Scottish Borders with 136 which required a police presence which ranged from two to fifteen officers. Community officers were normally used which placed a high demand on community policing.  Response officers were sometimes used however use of community officers with local knowledge was preferable.  Sgt Grainger was thanked by the Chair.

DECISION

NOTED the update.

Elaine Torrance, National Team for Development and Inclusion (NDTI)

4.1       The Chair welcomed Carol Hayden of the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTI) to present an update on the development of a Health and Social Care Strategic Framework for Scottish Borders.  Ms Hayden was in attendance to gather feedback and comments on the draft framework which set out how health and social care services would be delivered over the next three years.  The aims of the NDTI’s engagement activity were summarised which were to update attendees on work in the development of the strategic framework, to present an outline of the framework and seek further comments and to seek further involvement in the planning, design and monitoring of the framework.  The framework had been informed by the NDTI engaging and listening to communities to understand their expressed needs which the NDTI summarised in their We Have Listened report; understanding the public health needs of the population which was presented in the NDTI Needs of our Communities report; reviewing performance against national health and wellbeing outcomes; and considering current and future challenges.  Attendees were encouraged to read the reports produced by the NDTI.  The key challenges found by the NDTI were summarised with particular emphasis on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Drop-in consultation events highlighted workforce pressures and the importance of attracting and retaining healthcare professionals.  Ms Hayden presented the high level mission, vision and aims of the framework.  These were:

·                Mission: “to help the people of the Scottish Borders to live their lives to the full, by delivering seamless services that place their needs at the heart of everything that we do”;

·                Vision: “That all people in the Scottish Borders will be able to live their lives to the full”

·                Aims: “To improve and continue to support the health and wellbeing of the citizens of Scottish Borders”.

4.2       Ms Hayden presented highlights of what the draft framework sought to achieve including that 85% of adults that were supported at home agree they were supported to live independently which was at 73.1%.  Ms Hayden presented the strategic issues of the framework and the objectives, which detailed what the Health and Social Care Partnership would prioritise the deliver its vision.  Ms Hayden explained to attendees that the NDTI were seeking views on the framework, and if anything was missing; how communities could be involved in developing the framework and actions; and on monitoring the implementation and impact of the framework at community, local and Borders-wide levels.

DECISION

NOTED the update.

Presentation by Mr Malcolm Dickson

5.1       There had been circulated copies of a slide deck from the Campaign for a Scottish Borders National Park.  The Chair welcomed Malcolm Dickson to the meeting to present on the Campaign for a Scottish Borders National Park.  The campaign had been running for approximately 7 years, instigated by a supporters that felt that having a national park could regenerate the economy of the Scottish Borders.  In 2000, the National Parks (Scotland) Act was passed by the Scottish Parliament and two national parks had been created since; the Cairngorms National Park, and the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.  The campaign believed that the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the Borders lent itself to having a national park designated to the area.  The campaign identified that the Scottish Borders was within 90 minutes’ drive for approximately 5.5 million people in Scotland and the North of England.  Further reasons given for support of the campaign included that the Borders had a struggling economy and an aging population and that national parks encouraged young professional and working families to live or visit.  The campaign identified falling reducing tourism trends.  Mr Dickson advised that as national parks crossed multiple local authority areas, this may arise concerns over planning.  However, a Borders national park would be contained within the Scottish Borders Council boundary and would allow for straightforward planning considerations.  The campaign had sought to address concerns around pressure on services, responsible tourists and house prices.  Mr Dickson further advised that farmers within national park boundaries received more subsidies per acre than those outside a national park.  Mr Dickson explained that it was an important step for the campaign to receive political endorsement from Scottish Borders Council and advised that the Campaign for a Scottish Borders National Park may be seen to have a weaker case without support of the Council.  Mr Dickson advised that the process of developing a report for advancing the endorsement of a Borders national park may be too slow and consideration should be given to speeding the process up.

5.2       Attendees discussed the presentation and Mr Dickson answered questions on the campaign.  Mr Dickson advised that windfarms that already existed before national park designation wouldn’t impact the application however future windfarm applications may be affected within a national park area.  It was expected that the procedure of designation of a new national park would continue in light of the change of First Minister.  Governance of national park authorities were outlined in the 2000 National Parks (Scotland) Act.  More than half of the park authority would be local people with other members drawn from Scottish Government experts.  Scottish Borders Council elected members would be amongst the local members of the governing body.  Most national park funding was drawn from an annual funding grant from the Scottish Government, and other funding would be received from park fundraising such as endowments.  Mr Dickson advised that he could circulate further information about elections to the park authority through SBC officers.  It  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Overview from SBC Communities and Partnership Team.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Teviot and Liddesdale Funding Table 2022-23 which showed available funding in the Teviot and Liddesdale area.  The Communities Co-ordinator presented the funding table and advised that the Neighbourhood Support Fund started with £79,039.56 and 22 applications had received total grant funding of £65,397.27.  If the applications presented to the meeting were awarded then this would leave £14,924.90 to carry forward and be split between the Pot A and Pot B funds.

DECISION

NOTED the update.

7.1       There had been circulated copies of Pot A Fund recommendations from Upper Liddesdale and Hermitage Community Council and Denholm and District Community Council.

7.2       Denholm and District Community Council

An application had been received from Denholm and District Community Council for £1,130 to fund the printing and distribution of 2000 maps of the Denholm area showing local features and history for local residents and visitors.  This would fund the second run of maps after the first batch had been exhausted.  Subsequent to the meeting, the cost of printing had been reviewed and the cost of the project was confirmed as £1,012.40.  The panel recommended that the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Partnership approve funding the application for the full amount of the reviewed project cost.

7.3       Upper Liddesdale and Hermitage Community Council

An application had been received from Hermitage Hall for £3,783.23 to fund a Landscape Design Plan.  The Panel recommended Teviot and Liddesdale Area Partnership approve the requested grant amount.

DECISION

AGREED:

(a)       To grant Denholm and District Community Council an award of £1,012.40; and,

(b)       To grant Hermitage Hall an award of £3,783.23.

(i)         Upper Liddesdale and Hermitage Council Pot A panel (Copy attached.)

(ii)        Denholm and District Community Council Pot A panel (To follow.)

8.1       There had been circulated copies of a report from the Teviot and Liddesdale Neighbourhood Support Fund Pot B assessment panel which detailed recommendations for two applications for funding.

8.2       Live Music Hawick

An application had been received Live Music Hawick for £1,653 to fund the pilot of an annual community music festival

8.3       Hermitage Hall

An application had been received from Hermitage Hall for £1,200 to fund the obtaining of a landscape plan for land donated by Buccleuch Estates.  The panel advised that a discussion took place while considering the application which covered the bank balance of the applicant and the progression of associated projects of the applicant.  The panel approved the recommendation to fund the applicant by a majority vote.

DECISION

AGREED:

(a)       To grant Live Music Hawick £1,653; and,

(b)       To grant Hermitage Hall £1,200.

Consider recommendations regarding funding applications from:

·                Hermitage Hall

·                Hawick Music Festival

(Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by Communities Coordinator that proposed arrangements for the 2023-24 Neighbourhood Support Fund.  There was a total of £49,376.39 for the Teviot and Liddesdale Neighbourhood Support Fund (NSF) which would be split 50-50 between a Pot A and a Pot B fund.  The Pot A fund would be split into 10 shares with each rural community council receiving one share totalling £2,123, and Hawick and Burnfoot community councils would receive two shares each totalling £4,246.50.  Any community councils with surplus Pot A fund money would carry forward the surplus into their 2023-24 Pot A fund.  The underspend Pot B money was proposed to be carried forward to the 2023-24 Pot B fund.  No community council had placed an application limit on their Pot A fund.  Newcastleton and District Community Council had placed a limit of one application per organisation for their 2023-24 Pot A fund.  Upper Teviotdale and Borthwick Water Community Council had previously handed over their Pot A funds to Hawick Community Council and were due to decide whether to have their own Pot A fund for 2023-24 which would open on 16 May 2023, the day after the meeting when the decision was due to be made.  It was proposed that if the recommendations were accepted by the Area Partnership, all other Pot A funds would open the day following the Area Partnership meeting.  The £5,000 application limit for Pot B was proposed to be retained with no minimum application amount.  Due to the closeness of the next Area Partnership meeting, it was proposed to open the next Pot B funding round for the September meeting of the Teviot and Liddesdale Area Partnership.

DECISION

(a)       AGREED:

(i)        To approve the £49,376.39 funding split of Pot A and Pot B;

(ii)       To approve the carry forward of surplus 2022-23 Pot A funds to the relevant community council’s 2023-24 Pot A fund;

(iii)      To approve the removal of the minimum application level for the Pot B fund;

(iv)      To open the Pot B fund for the September meeting of the Area Partnership;

(v)       To open a Pot A fund for Upper Teviotdale and Borthwick Water Community Council on 16 May 2023 should the community council decide to operate a Pot A fund for 2023-24;

(vi)      That salary costs would no longer be an eligible cost however sub-contractor and professional costs would be eligible when required for the successful completion of a project; and,

(b)       NOTED the report.

Update on Place Making progress in Teviot and Liddesdale.

10.1     The Chair invited attendees to share with the Area Partnership progress of Place Making within their communities.

10.2     Mr Kerr advised that Southdean Community Council were anticipating the results of neighbouring rural communities to complete their community surveys so that Place Plans covering data zones may be developed.  Mr Kolbe advised that Upper Liddesdale and Hermitage Community Council was proceeding with its survey with was to be concluded by the end of April 2023.  The chair advised that a Moving Hawick Forward Have Your Say event was to take place in Hawick Town Hall on 23 April 2023.

DECISION

NOTED the update.

·      Sharing good practice and current activity from across Teviot & Liddesdale.

·      Update following the energy transitions meeting with Scottish Power.

The Chair invited community council representatives to share activities of good practice and activities in their communities, and also to introduce a discussion following an energy transitions meeting with Scottish Power.  Mr Kerr raised concerns regarding traffic plans related to the Pines Burn windfarm development and subsequent disruption to communities and businesses.  A meeting was due to be arranged to discuss with relevant parties the impact of traffic arrangements and how to better communicate to communities the plans for movements of abnormal loads.  The Chair agreed that a meeting with developers related to the impact wind farm traffic would have on communities should take place.

DECISION

NOTED the update.

Meeting Date: 6 June 2023.

The next Area Partnership meeting was due to be rearranged due to a clash with Hawick Common Riding.

DECISION

NOTED the update.

Mr Kerr advised that Nature Scotland announced that investment to create 185,000 hectares of native woodland was being made.  There may be an opportunity for a presentation to the Area Partnership from Natural Scotland to show how investment could be made into communities and natural capital opportunities.  Mr Kerr would liaise with the Communities Coordinator on this issue.

DECISION

NOTED the update