Scottish Borders Council

Agenda and minutes

Venue: via Microsoft Teams

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

Link: teamsliveevent

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome

Minutes:

1.0      WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the Cheviot Area Partnership held remotely via Microsoft teams, which included elected Members, guests attending within the meeting and those watching via the Live Stream.  He outlined how the meeting would be conducted.

2.

Feedback and Evaluation from meeting on 27 January 2021 pdf icon PDF 160 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

1.0      Feedback from meeting on 27 JANUARY 2021

1.1      The minute of the meeting of the Cheviot Area Partnership held on 27 January 2021 had been circulated and was noted.

 

1.2      With reference to paragraph 5 of the Minute of 27 January 2021, Mr Kirk advised that in terms of the Sex Entertainment Venues, the consultation had now closed and the responses had been overwhelmingly in favour of the Council adopting a Resolution to licence SEV’s.  The Council would prepare a SEV Policy statement and a further stage 2 consultation would be required on the content of the policy.

 

3.

Place Making Approach

John Curry, Service Director Assets & Infrastructure and James Lamb, Portfolio Manager

https://scottishborders.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s49976/Item%20No.%2011%20-%20Place%20Making%20Report.pdf

 

Minutes:

SECTION 1: SERVICE & PARTNER UPDATES

1.0      PLACE MAKING APPROACH 

Portfolio Manager, James Lamb, gave a slide presentation to provide an overview of the Place Making Approach.  The aim of this initiative was to facilitate a more joined-up, collaborative and participative approach to services, land and buildings, across all sectors within a place.  This should enable better outcomes for everyone and increased opportunities for people and communities to shape their own lives. The intention was to build on learning from the operation of the Community Assistance Hubs and Resilience Teams which had worked effectively during the Covid-19 pandemic.  The presentation slides set out the scope of the Place Making approach in terms of links with relevant strategies, reviews, programmes and frameworks which were operating in the Scottish Borders and South of Scotland.  Phase 1 of the programme, Preparation and Planning, had already started with initial awareness raising taking place in March and April through forums such as the Area Partnerships. Work would be carried out in June to shape the framework with Phase 2 taking place late summer to develop initial High Level Locality Place Briefs through workshops and identification of priorities and needs.  Phase 3 in the autumn would focus on agreeing and developing Place Programme work streams with delivery being started in Phase 4 at the end of the year and on into 2022.  Mr Lamb was looking for views and invited feedback which could be sent to him via the email address communityengagement@scotborders.gov.uk

 

4.

Fit for 2024: Review of Area Partnerships & Community Fund

Update on the Area Partnerships Review including the proposals for Cheviot Community Fund.

Minutes:

          FIT FOR 2024: REVIEW OF AREA PARTNERSHIP & COMMUNITY FUND 

With reference to paragraph 7 of the Minute of 27 January 2021, the Chairman advised that the working Group had met again to refine some of the initial proposals around the Assessment Panel,  available Grants, criteria for applying for Grants, the process and support to be provided.  In terms of the Assessment Panel the following had been agreed:-

 

       Maximum of 10

       One SB Councillor from each ward

       Two Community Councillors from each ward, to include Jedburgh and Kelso CCs and a rural CC

       Other members recruited from across the locality

       Membership will alternate over time

       Each member of the Panel to have a deputy

       Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary to be chosen by the Panel from its membership

 

4.1     It had been agreed that the purpose of the Cheviot Community Fund would be to start groups on their funding journey and the size of grants would be lower than previously awarded as the size of the funding ‘pot’ was expected to be lower.  The maximum of £1,000 was suggested, although this could be amended once the size of the ‘pot’ was confirmed.  The maximum for a Fast Track applications would be set at £500.  There would be four funding tranches across the year and the support element of the fund would be kept but the size of the grant would be limited.  In terms of the criteria, guidance notes for each question on the application form would be developed, with applications required to meet a least one of the Fund outcomes and at least one of the four priority themes.  It was proposed that in terms of process, Officers would check the applications met the eligibility criteria and the Funding Panel would assess application against an agreed scoring matrix.  These scores and assessments would then be shared with the Area Partnership with a recommendation from the Panel for the Area Partnerships agreement.  In terms of support, it was envisaged that groups would be supported by officers and The Bridge, although mentoring by other groups working in the same field would be explored i.e. working with children and young people.

 

4.2     Pam Rigby highlighted the possibility of Young People getting involved and the Chairman advised that they could apply and he hoped that Young People would get involved.  

 

            DECISION

            NOTED.

 

5.

Locality Plan Priority: Improve public transport services/delivery models, including accessibility to them, and explore offering free transport for young people

Update from Dan Cathcart, SBC Localities Transport Officer

 

Minutes:

            SECTION 2: LOCAL PRIORTIES 

            IMPROVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES/ DELIVERY MODELS

A key priority identified for the Cheviot Local Plan was to improve public transport services/ delivery models, including accessibility to them and explore offering free transport for young people.  Mr Dan Cathcart, Localities’ Transport Officer was present at the meeting and advised that Local Bus services were operating at 80% of the pre-covid timetable, subject to CSGR payments from Transport Scotland.  There was a review of all Public Service contract underway at present.  Mr Cathcart highlighted the NHS and Care Support ticket discount which was available on all bus services to anyone leaving the Borders General Hospital.  The School bus service was on a phased return as announced by the Scottish Government. 

 

DECISION

NOTED.

 

6.

Locality Plan Priority: Reduce our impact on the local (and global) environment by raising awareness of what local communities can do in terms of their homes, their businesses, their schools, their travel etc.

Presentation from Youth Ambassadors for Sustainability

 

Minutes:

REDUCE OUR IMPACT ON THE LOCAL (AND GLOBAL) ENVIRONEMNT BY RAISING AWARENESS OF WHAT LOCAL COMMUNITIES CAN DO

Youth Ambassadors for Sustainability, represented by Liberty Barber Senor Pupil at Jedburgh Grammar and Pam Rigby, Youth Engagement Worker had made a short video which was shared with the Area Partnership entitled “A Climate Emergency – our future in the Borders”. The video gave examples of how the Scottish Borders was not yet equipped to deal with global warming and challenges to address such as litter damaging local green spaces, too many diesel and petrol vehicles, too few public transport links and too few electric charging points.  There were also a lack of jobs, particularly green jobs, to keep people living in the Borders.  What was needed was a community not reliant on fossil fuels, an efficient transport system, green jobs and shared resources. The presentation referred to several initiatives and groups in the Borders already working towards zero carbon and zero poverty, such as  Café U; Greener Melrose; Plastic Free Borders; Sea the Change; Peebles CAN; Greener Hawick; Peebles Biodiversity & Ecology group; Selkirk Community Shed and many more. With reference to the Council’s declaration of a Climate Emergency, the presentation called for more electric charging points, more community places, improved transport links, re-wilding, creation of more green jobs and change from fossil fuels to renewables. Youth Ambassadors for Sustainability were launching a new campaign named “Our promise to the planet” which asked for everyone who lives in the Borders to make one promise to the planet.  Members of the Area Partnership thanked Liberty for showing the video and welcomed the messages conveyed.  Many made a commitment to join the campaign by agreeing to make a promise to the planet as requested.  Anyone wishing to record and share their pledge should send a photograph to Pam Rigby, Youth Engagement Worker, at  pam.rigby@scotborders.gov.uk who would add this to the social media site.  The link to the short video could be found at https://youtu.be/STdz7jRrzf4.

 

7.

Locality Plan Priority: Support the development of (multi-agency) approaches to tackle local community issues

Cheviot Community Assistance Hub: Update from Clare Malster, Locality Development Co-ordinator

 

Minutes:

SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF (MULTI-AGENCY) APPROACHES TO TACKLE LOCAL COMMUNITY ISSUES

The Locality Development Co-ordinator gave an overview of the work on the Cheviot Community Assistance Hub which had been in operation since 26 March 2020 and had been busy since day one working in partnership with NHS Borders and Third Sector organisations.  During the first Covid lockdown Resilience Groups had emerged to help communities with shopping, deliveries of prescriptions and other vital services.  The Cheviot Hub had received 842 referrals during the first year and continued to offer support 5 days per week, although many of the resilience groups were standing down as the country continued to move towards removing restrictions.  Further feedback would be presented to the Area Partnership later in the year.

 

            DECISION

            NOTED.

 

8.

Cheviot Community Fund 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 81 KB

There are no applications to the Cheviot Community Fund be considered.  (Cheviot Funding Table attached.)

 

Minutes:

SECTION 3: COMMUNITY FUND

8.       CHEVIOT COMMUNITY fUND 2020/21

There had been circulated copies of the Cheviot Funding for 2020/2021 which detailed the funding available and the payments made, resulting in a potential underspend of £1,529.43 .  The Locality Development Co-ordinator advised that there were no applications for the Community Fund, however there were Community Fund Fast Track applications which were awaiting assessment.

 

 

DECISION

NOTED.

 

 

9.

Current Consultations pdf icon PDF 57 KB

Minutes:

OTHER INFORMATION AND NEWS FOR NOTING

9.1     The Chairman drew attention to the current consultations and other items for noting which were included in the Agenda and in particular highlighted the survey that was collecting views on a new skate park/pump track in Jedburgh.

 

9.2    There were also 3 consultations which had opened since the publication of the agenda as follows:-

 

    i.       Consultation on the asset transfer application received by Peebles Common Good for a lease on Jedderfield Farm in Peebles – closes 11 April 2021

   ii.       Access and using Scottish Borders Council Services – closes 18 April

  iii.       Anti-Poverty Consultation – open until 16 May 2021

 

9.1        Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 – There were currently no formal Participation Requests or formal Asset Transfer requests being considered within the Cheviot area.  Further information can be found in the useful links section.

 

10.

Next Meeting

Next Area Partnership 30 June 2021, Agenda issued 16 June 2021 – are there any items you would like to propose for the agenda?  (Please contact your local councillor or the Communities & Partnership Team)

 

Minutes:

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

            The next meeting would be held on Wednesday, 30 June 2021 at 6.30 p.m. via Microsoft Teams when there would be a presentation on winter maintenance.

 

 

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Scottish Borders Council

Council Headquarters Newtown St. Boswells Melrose TD6 0SA

Tel: 0300 100 1800

Email:

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