Scottish Borders Council

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Assembly Hall, Kelso High School, Angraflat, Kelso

Contact: Fiona Henderson Tel: 01835 826502  Email: fhenderson@scotborders.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome and Introductions

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. 

 

2.

Feedback from Meeting held on 12 September 2018 pdf icon PDF 100 KB

Copy Minute and Feedback attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

2.0     Feedback from meeting on 12 SePTEMBER 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.   The theme for the focus for debate for the remainder of the meeting was Council Budget – Engagement with Communities 2019/20.

3.

Theme: Council Budget - Engagement with Communities 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 202 KB

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

Minutes:

3.0     Theme:  COUNCIL BUDGET – ENGAGEMENT  with  communities  2019/20 

3.1     The Chair presented the theme for the meeting – Council Budget – Engagement with Communities 2019/20 – and introduced David Robertson, SBC Chief Financial Officer, who was in attendance to give a presentation on the preparation of the Budget and to answer questions.  He firstly gave the context to the Budget, explaining that in the 5 year plan 2013/14 to 2017/18 permanent recurrent savings of over £35 million had been delivered and a further in year savings of £8.8 million.  Easy reductions had been made and future savings would rely on greater use of technology to reduce costs and redesign of services.  The Council could not continue to deliver everything presently provided in the same way and the scope and scale of delivery may need to be reduced.  Over the next 5 years it was estimated that the Council’s projected spend would be £1.3 billion.  2019/20 would be the 2nd year of the 5 year plan first agreed in 2018/19 which required savings of £32 million over 5 years to balance the books.  The Council had planned for reductions over the longer term, invested in transformation and avoided the need for the levels of cuts seen in other authority areas.  However there were greater challenges ahead which required innovation and the delivery of an ambitious change programme.

 

3.2     Mr Robertson went on to show slides to illustrate the source of Council Revenue Funding, and to project estimated budget gap over the next 5 years.  The current incremental gap for 2019/20 was £2,557,000.  Charts disclosing the allocation of revenue by Department demonstrated that the highest proportion (43%) of spend was on Children & Young People followed by Health and Social Care (18%). In the 10 year capital spending plan the highest proportion (67%) was on Assets & Infrastructure.  There was less money available to fund public services and demand on services was growing – particularly in respect of care for older people.  The presentation referred to ways for the Council to modernise and become more efficient.  In terms of services, over the next 5 years it was planned to maximise the use of digital technology; drive out waste and inefficiency; and invest in assets and infrastructure in a planned and sustainable way.  Also summarised, as part of the 5 year plan, were ways the Council proposed to promote independent achieving people; support a thriving economy with opportunities for everyone; and facilitate empowered vibrant communities.

 

3.3     The use of digital technology was welcomed, however concern was expressed that those not on-line were being forgotten.  Co-location of Council Services was highlighted as beneficial, particularly for those with mobility issues.  It was highlighted that Kelso High School would have 150 less pupils in 5 years, an illustration of the ageing population within the Borders and work with Young People was required to encourage them to remain in the Borders.  The point was made about the importance of investment in roads and economic contributions from those using  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Localities Bid Fund Assessment Panel

Consider the following decision by Council:-

 

that membership of the assessment panel be proposed by each Area Partnership, up to a maximum of 2 members per locality, with a view to improving gender balance.”

Minutes:

4.0     LOCALITIES BID FUND ASSESSMENT PANEL

4.1     With the agreement of the Chairman, this item was withdrawn from the Agenda due to the fact that the meeting was inquorate.  The matter would be considered at a future meeting.

 

DECISION

NOTED.

 

5.

Localities Bid Fund - Update on Current Funding Round

Minutes:

5.0     Localities Bid Fund - Update on Current Funding Round

5.1     Ms Smith gave an update on the Localities Bid Fund (LBF).  She explained that in the first round the funding allocation for the Cheviot area was £35,000 and 3 projects to the value of £49,596 went forward to the public vote.  The second round of LBF had been launched on 1 July 2018 with £50,568.20 available for Cheviot, with a funding cap of £5,000 for non-constituted groups and £15,000 for constituted Groups.  However the Assessment Panel had agreed that there were not enough sustainable bids to go forward to the public vote in all five areas.  It was therefore proposed to request that Council revise the criteria. If this was approved the LBF would be re-launched in January 2019 with public voting to be carried out in April 2019.  All those groups who submitted applications for the second round would be notified about the revised criteria and offered support to re-apply.

 

          DECISION

          NOTED.

 

6.

Date of Next Meeting

Date and Venue to be confirmed.

Minutes:

6.0    DATE OF NEXT MEETING

6.1     The next meeting would be held on Wednesday, 30 January 2019 in Jedburgh at 6.30 p.m.   The theme of the meeting would be confirmed in due course.

 

 

The meeting closed at 8 p.m.

 

 

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