Agenda and minutes

1.0              WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

1.1              The Chairman welcomed everyone to the Cheviot Area Partnership and thanked the Community Councils, Partners and local organisations for their attendance, and for participating and putting forward ideas.

Copy Minute from meeting on 6 June 2018 (Copy to follow.)

2.0              Feedback from meeting on 6 JUNE 2018 

2.1              The minute of the Area Partnership had been circulated which included a summary of the discussion output as an appendix.  The Locality Development Co-ordinator referred to the general concerns, issues, challenges and opportunities raised at that meeting and confirmed that the theme identified as a priority to take forward for more in-depth discussion was Our Place.  This theme would therefore be the focus for debate for the remainder of the meeting.

A facilitated discussion on the subject in order to put forward a set of initial outcomes for Cheviot.  Further Information on local data and statistics can be found at  https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/info/20015/your_council/472/area_partnerships/3

3.0     Theme:  our place

3.1     The Chair presented the theme for the meeting – Our Place – and introduced Ian Aikman SBC Chief Planning Officer, who talked about the Main Issues Report (MIR) which had been approved by Council the previous week for a 12 week public consultation, likely to begin at the beginning of October 2018.  The MIR was to all intents and purposes the forerunner to the Local Development Plan which came in 2 volumes:  the first volume of the Development Plan contained policies which were applicable across the Borders and the second volume contained details applicable to each of the 80 different settlements in the Borders e.g. conservation areas, housing allocations, etc.  The consultation would involve officers holding sessions in various places with local people encouraged to come to afternoon sessions and evening workshops to give feedback.  The MIR asked a series of questions and Mr Aikman gave some examples.  With regard to town centres, how could they be regenerated and made more dynamic and vibrant.  What sites should be designated for housing, what type of housing was needed.  Finding sites could be difficult and the MIR was trying to identify a lot more sites than would be required, so not all sites would be taken forward.  People were invited to comment on proposed sites and suggest other sites.  With regard to industrial land, where should that be located, how would sites be serviced, how would they be funded.  Existing housing in the countryside policy required any new property to be part of an existing building group - should consideration be given to allowing single dwellings in more isolated areas.  Officers would be available to listen to what local people’s suggestions and everyone was encouraged to put forward their views either at one of the consultation sessions, or via the website or by phone.  In response to a question about whether Scottish Government could overrule a Local Plan, Mr Aikman advised that planning was never black and white, and there were grey areas, but decisions had to be in line with national planning guidance.

3.2     Ms Liz Hall, SBC Ecology Officer, then gave details of the Local Biodiversity Action Plan which was currently out for consultation.  The Plan had last been updated in 2001 and was due for a review.  Officers had looked at the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and based the themes of the Local Biodiversity Plan on this.  While there were global targets to be achieved by 2020, any actions needed to work on the ground.  One theme was eco system restoration which involved replanting trees and hedgerows; another was greenspace for health, both mental and physical health and wellbeing; another was marine and coastal eco-systems.   People were asked to participate in the consultation and provide comments, letting officers know if priorities were correct or if something else should be included.  The consultation was open until 30 November 2018 and could be accessed through the Citizen Space online system.

3.3     Mr Gerry Begg, SBC Housing Strategy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Wednesday, 5 December 2018 – venue to be confirmed.

4.      DATE OF NEXT MEETING

          The next meeting would be held on Wednesday, 5 December 2018 in Jedburgh at 6.30 p.m.   The theme of the meeting would be confirmed in due course.

The meeting closed at 8.20 p.m.