Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the in person meeting, which included Elected Members, Community Council representatives, Community Organisations and guests attending within the meeting.  She outlined how the meeting would be conducted.

·                     Minute – Copy Minute from meeting held on 23 November 2022.  (Copy attached.)

·                     Menti Feedback from meeting held on 23 November 2022

The minute of the meeting of the Cheviot Area Partnership held on 23 November 2022 had been circulated with the Agenda.    There were no specific actions to follow up from the last Area Partnership meeting and Katy Jackson would continue to keep the Area Partnership informed as the new coast to coast cycle route was prepared for opening.

          Last summer elected members and senior SBC Officers toured the Borders to meet with communities to discuss the issues important to them. 11 community conversations were held in total, two of which were in Cheviot.  A summary of the feedback from these conversations was included in the Agenda Pack and overall people seemed to like the format of these sessions and another round of conversations was being planned for later in the year.  The issues raised so to date were to be considered as part of SBC’s budget process and should feed in to local planning.  Observations from those who had attended the conversations were that they required to be publicised better, with a more targeted approach and not all questions had been answered.  The Community Engagement Officer requested that matter wishing to be raised be forwarded to her by e-mail on GJardine@scotborders.gov.uk.  It was also highlighted that there had been a difference of opinion as to what was expected and other partners to be invited to future conversations.  

DECISION

NOTED.

The Chairman welcomed Harry Whitmore, Community Led Housing Co-coordinator with SOSCH who support community organisations to consider solutions to local housing issues and deliver community led housing projects.  It was explained that Community Led housing was delivered by and for local communities, rather than relying on traditional providers, it was a way for local people to produce place-based solutions to local problems through a process of participation and empowerment.  There were many types of community led housing, but in Scotland it typically took the form of housing developed and owned by a community organisation such as a Community Development Trust.  As a result of Scotland’s land reform legislation and the Community Development Trust model, there was a vibrant landscape of community-led housing.  The Scottish model allowed for not only housing, but for community trusts to own other assets like shops and renewable energy sources.  There were 612 assets in community ownership across Scotland in December 2020.  Mr Whitmore went onto to explain the benefits of community ownership and community led housing which included – sustaining communities, regenerating places in decline, a flexible approach to housing, providing affordable homes for local people and a reliable source of revenue for community organisations.

3.3     Mr Whitmore then went onto explain that SOSCH was a community-led housing enabler established in 2006 in order to address a shortfall in rural housing supply in South West Scotland.  SOSCH support community organisations to deliver affordable community-led housing within the context of community ownership of land and assets and Land Reform.  SOSCH had a long track record of project delivery across South West Scotland and were engaged with 35+ communities in southern Scotland.  They operated on a fee-based system which were included where possible in funding packages so communities were not paying out of their pockets.    SOSCH worked with community organisations at an early stage to set themselves up to deliver community led housing, either supporting a group to constitute itself properly, or direct them towards partners to help.  The two key requirements to setting up your voluntary or community organisation correctly were an open membership, and a defined geographical area, in order to use certain legal powers and access to certain funding.  By working with SOSCH, the capacity of your organisation was increased by reducing the burden on the organisation. The amount of involvement SOSCH had in the project varied depending on the confidence and ability of the group to deliver a project. SOSCH could increase a community’s capacity by helping them hire a member of staff, such as a development officer to manage the day to day delivery of the project, which could be included as part of the feasibility funding, and could be either short term, or long term. SOSCH could also help increase a community’s capacity to deliver community housing by working in partnership with other groups, such as housing associations, to deliver projects. This may be a good option for large-scale projects, where a community lacked confidence to deliver it themselves.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Councillor Mountford left the meeting prior to consideration of the following item.

Overview from SBC Communities & Partnership Team.

Cheviot Funding Tables 2022/23

There had been circulated copies of the Cheviot Funding for 2022/2023 which detailed the funding available together with information on the allocation of the Community Grant Fund in 2022/23.  The Community Co-ordinator advised that the two applications from Jedburgh Community Council and the Rural Space Agency’s application had been withdrawn.    The opening balance at 1 April 2022 was £80,268.39 plus underspend from the Community Fund in 2021/22 of £28,640.65, underspend in the Local Festival Grant in 2021/22 of £2,953.00 and underspend in the Community Fund 2019/20 of £2,175, which resulted in an overall budget of £114,037.04.  Other sources of funding included Local Festival Grant Budget totalling £16,675.00, Annual Support Grant to Community Councils totalling £11,100.00, Common Goods, SBC Enhancement Grant, SBC Welfare Grant and SBC Small Schemes totalled £197,882.69.  Neighbourhood Support Fund applications awarded since April 2022 totalled £19,209.71 and application assessed and awaiting decision totalled £28,237.56. 

DECISION

NOTED.

NSF recommendations to be presented by the Cheviot Assessment Panel on the following applications:-

(i)            Perfect Harmony

(ii)           QME Care

(iii)          Ancrum Community Council

(iv)          Jedburgh Community Council – Perennial Plants Project

(v)           KCC Walking Festival Committee

(vi)          Kelso Heritage Society

(vii)        Art at Ancrum

(viii)       Jedburgh Community Council – Railings around Playpark, Abbey Place

(ix)          Jedburgh Community Council – Painting of lampposts in Abbey Place

(x)           Kelso Camera Club

(xi)          Rural Space Agency

(xii)        St Boswells Primary School

(xiii)       Kelso Skatepark

(xiv)       Thomas Maconochie KHS Trust

Neighbourhood Support Fund

4.2     There had been 14 applications received for the Cheviot Neighbourhood Support Fund which was a significant increase on previous rounds and very encouraging that more community organisations were coming forward.  There had been circulated copies of a report which detailed the recommendations of the Cheviot Community Fund Assessment Panel. The report provided a brief description of each application received and a recommendation on the sum to be awarded to each project. 

4.3     Perfect Harmony 

An application had been received from Perfect Harmony requesting £1,350 to fund an additional 5 concerts per year throughout Cheviot care facilities.  The concert engaged local musicians with the purpose of enhancing the lives of the recipients.   The application scored an average of 80+ in terms of their ability to deliver, evidence of need, potential impact, use of public money, innovation and sustainability.  The Panel were supportive of the project and recommended that £1,350 be awarded.

4.4     QME Care

An application had been received from QME Care in the sum of £2,250 to offer a subsidised meal during their Sunday Lunch Club as well as a contribution to resources for additional activities, e.g. music, games, crafts, group discussion and reminiscence, and cognitive stimulation, within their existing Place and Space Day Service. The Panel were supportive of the project and recommended that £2,250 be awarded.

4.5     Ancrum Community Council 

An application had been received from Ancrum Community Council in the sum of £468.98 towards the erection of signage to encourage responsible dog ownership, and disallow dogs on the village green.  The Panel were not supportive of the project.

4.6     Jedburgh Community Council

Applications had been received from Jedburgh Community Council requesting £1,251 to replace all floral displays throughout Jedburgh with perennial plants to move to a more sustainable model and reduce the use of bedding plants.  The application scored an average of 80+ in terms of their ability to deliver, evidence of need, innovation, sustainability, potential impact and use of public money.  The Panel were supportive of the project and recommended that £1,215 be awarded.

4.7     Kelso Walking Festival Committee

An application had been received from Kelso Walking Festival Committee in the sum of £5,000 to deliver the Annual Scottish Borders Walking Festival.  The Funds would be used to support the rental of the Community Centre as well as design and publication of marketing material to promote the event.  The application scored 80+ in terms of their ability to deliver, evidence of need, potential impact and use of public money.  The Panel were supportive of the project and recommended that £5,000 be awarded. 

4.8     Kelso Heritage Society

An application had been received from the Kelso Heritage Society in the sum of £989 to support the purchase of updated software and equipment to be used throughout their programme of monthly talks of local and Scottish historical interest.  Kelso Heritage Society’s application scored an average of 80+ in terms of their ability to deliver, evidence of need, potential impact, use of public money, innovation and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Update on Place Making progress in Cheviot.

            SECTION 3: PLACE MAKING 

5.1       It was reported that the Cheviot Place Making Working Group had recently met withSarah McDonald, Selkirk BIDS to hear about the two community engagement events which had been delivered in Selkirk.  This was in anticipation of Cheviot communities planning their community engagement activities.  It had been agreed that Alison Grainger, Police Scotland be invited to attend the Jedburgh Place Making workshop scheduled for March 2023.

Sharing good practice and current activity from across Cheviot.

            Community Council Updates:-

  Jedburgh CC  -  Working with SOSE and SBC and looking at

·      Hydro Poll with in Swimming pool Building

·      Asset Transfer of Town Hall

·      Energy from water

·      Working with Harry Whitmore in respect of 50 Vacant Buildings

·      Pedestrian Walkway re-installed    

·      Streetscape

·      National Park

Kelso CC  - Update

·      Old Kelso High School    

·      Trinity Church

The Community Engagement Officer reported that three applications had been received for the Warm and Well Fund – 2 applications had been funded and one application had been withdrawn.

DECISION

NOTED.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DOCUMENT

The Chairman advised that additional information was included in the agenda pack which contained information on current consultations and links to useful information.

DECISION

NOTED.

Wednesday, 29 March 2023 – Venue to be confirmed

          DATE OF FUTURE MEETINGS

          Future Meetings of the Cheviot Area Partnership would be held on the following dates:

          Wednesday, 31 May 2023

          The next meeting would be held on Wednesday, 29 March 2023 and the venue was to be confirmed.