Agenda and minutes

.0         APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR

In the absence of the Chair, Councillor Hamilton, seconded by Councillor Scott, proposed that Councillor Weatherston be appointed as Chair.  There being no other nominations, Councillor Weatherston was appointed as Chair. 

DECISION

AGREED that Councillor Weatherston be appointed as the Chair for the meeting of the Cheviot Area Partnership.

2.0       WELCOME

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

2.0       WELCOME

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

3.0       A DEDICATION TO ASSESSMENT PANEL MEMBER, BRAIN BURTON

Prior to the commencement of the meeting, the Chairman made a dedication to Brian Burton, Assessment Panel Member, who sadly passed away on Tuesday the 8th of August 2023. Brian was a dedicated and passionate member of the community and an integral part of the Cheviot Neighbourhood Fund Assessment Panel.  The Chairman went onto thank Brian for his considerable contribution to the assessment panel as well as the place-making work for the Sprouston community. Thoughts condolences were with Brian’s family at this difficult time.

·         Minute – Copy Minute from meeting held on 31 May 2023. (Copy attached.)

·         Menti Feedback from meeting held on 31 May 2023

4.0       Feedback from the Meeting on 29 March 2023

4.1       With reference to paragraph 3 of the Minute of 31 May 2023, the formal consultation of the Local Housing Strategy (LHS) 2023-2028 closed on the 21st of July. A good response had been received to the consultation after attending a wide range of groups and partnership meetings and engagement through social media. Work was being undertaken on a summary report of the consultation which would include the feedback received.  LHS was being updated and would be presented to the Executive Committee in early November.

4.2       With reference to paragraph 4, of the Minute of 31 May 2023, The Community Plan Partnership group had provided an update, as follows;

Following the consultation, the priorities were redrafted to form 11 outcomes and four themes – with changes made to the theme names to make it clearer what they were about, and have been amended to:

• Poverty
• Learning, skills & economy
• Good health & wellbeing
• Place, community & connectivity

Cross cutting issue: A resilient and net zero Scottish Borders by 2045.  Community engagement and empowerment would underpin how we work and being people focused was a core value.  The draft plan went to the CPP Strategic Board on 7^th September 2023 and was available on the SBC website (Modern.gov).

5.0       The Chair welcomed Neil Robertson to the meeting.  Neil engaged with those present on the development of the Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy.  Neil shared the work that was being done to produce the strategy which would be a legal statutory requirement for Local Authorities by the end of 2023.  Local Authorities would be required to develop a Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) which identified what required to be done to change buildings and relevant local infrastructure by 2045 to fulfil the Scottish Government’s objectives and local priorities relating to heat and energy efficiency in buildings. The LHEES would take into account and interact with local and national factors, such as the timing of planned infrastructure upgrades, access to resources and funding, major projects, decisions over the gas grid and community engagement. Covering a period of up to 15-20 years with detailed actions set out in shorter term Delivery Plans. (This builds on SBC’s existing AWHEES). The LHEES would provide a framework and delivery programme for local authorities to reduce energy demand and decarbonise heat supply.  The LHEES would set out the long-term plan for decarbonising heat in buildings and improving their energy efficiency across an entire local authority area.  The number of older houses in a rural area was highlighted, which Neil acknowledged was a challenging and need to understand where these properties were within the community.  In terms of new houses, new technologies needed to be embraced.  In terms of private rentals, there would be legislation requiring landlords to undertake prescribed works for renting in the future.

            DECISION

            NOTED.

Ruth Dickson, Fife, Lothians and Borders, Local Energy Scotland

6.0       COMMUNITY HEAT DVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

The Chair welcomed Ruth Dickenson, Fife, Lothians and Borders, Local Energy Scotland to the meeting.  CARES aimed to support community organisations to decarbonise their buildings with 80% of eligible costs up to a maximum of £80,000 available.   Subject to funding, CARES was open to March 2025, and projects had 12 months to complete following approval. The Fund was open to constituted non- profit distributing community organisations, including organisations with charitable status, which were established and operating across a geographically defined community.  Organisations which were constituted but unincorporated could also apply.  Ruth engaged with those present on Local Energy Scotland’s Community Heat Development Programme explaining that the Government target was to be net zero by 2045 and shared how the programme supported communities to engage with, participate in, and benefit from the energy transition to net zero emissions.  It was noted that Stichill Village Hall and Duns Swimming Pool had received funding.

DECISION

NOTED.

Alison Granger, Community Sergeant, Police Scotland

POLICE REPORT

7.0       The Chairman welcomed Sergeant Alison Grainger to the meeting to give an update on policing in the Cheviot Area.  Sergeant Grainger advised that resources remained unchanged from the previous update   She congratulated the organisers of Kelso Civic Week and the Jethart Callant’s Festival which had been well organised and had gone without incident.  Local Police had been heavily involved with the St Boswells Fair which had seen some incidents but, on the whole, had been good natured.  In terms of rural crime, there had been vehicle checks carried out through the night to try and stop the movement of stolen goods.  Anti-social behaviour youth patrols had also been carried out in town centres.  The focus for October/ November would be Fireworks and Bonfires.  Community Councillor Taylor raised the untidiness outside the Police Station in Jedbrugh and also people congregating in Jedburgh Square on Court days, using bad language and making residents uneasy.  Dean Weatherston raised the parking issues in Kelso, particularly along Bridge Street.

            DECISION

            NOTED.

Pam Rigby, Youth Engagement Worker, Community Learning and Development Services, SBC

8.0       YOUTH ENGAGEMENT UPDATE

            The Chairman welcomed Pam Rigby, Youth Engagement Worker, Community Learning and Development Services who advised on the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) and Election process.  It was explained that the SYP was the young people's parliament, designed by young people and led by young people for the benefit of young people.  They were committed to ensuring young people are heard by the decision makers of Scotland and are determined to campaign on the issues which matter most to Scotland's youth.  The Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament were supported by staff from Scottish Borders Youth Voice to attend sittings and to deliver and develop local and national campaigns.  In the Scottish Borders there were three elected representatives serving as Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs), elected by their peer group to serve for a two-year term.  MSYP's attend three sittings of the Scottish Youth Parliament in each year and can also sit as members or conveners of committee groups.  There are two constituencies covering Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire and Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale and the electronic voting system on the young scot platform using Young Scot cars would be used.  The Candidates for the Youth Parliament would be present at the Community Conversations and would be engaging with Community Councils across the Borders.  As well as the SYP campaigns and consultations, local MSYPs would also be holding consultations and campaigns on issues specific to the Scottish Borders.  If you have any issues, you know are affecting young people in the Borders get in touch. Contact youth@scotborders.gov.uk.

            DECISION

            NOTED.

Overview from SBC Communities & Partnership Team

9.1       Cheviot Funding Tables 2023/24

There had been circulated copies of the Cheviot Funding for 2023/2024 which detailed the funding available together with information on the allocation of the Neighbourhood Support Fund in 2023/24.  The opening balance at 1 April 2023 was £46,383.  Other sources of funding included Local Festival Grant Budget totalling £16,675.00, Annual Support Grant to Community Councils totalling £10,470.00, Common Goods, SBC Enhancement Grant, SBC Welfare Grant and SBC Small Schemes totalled £192,112.69.  There had been two Neighbourhood Support Fund applications awarded since 1 April 2023 amounting to £1,628 and applications assessed and awaiting decision totalled £43,791.77. 

DECISION

NOTED.

NSF recommendations to be presented by the Cheviot assessment panel on the following applications:

(i)          CFA000174 Kelso Football Club

(ii)       CFA000175 Abundant Borders

(iii)          CFA000182 Jedburgh Tourism Alliance

(iv)         CFA000183 Kelso in Bloom

(v)       CFA000184 St Boswells Village Hall

(vi)         CFA000186 St Boswells Christmas Lights Group

(vii)        CFA000187 Kelso Orchard Tennis Club

(viii)       CFA000188 Visit Kelso

(ix)         CFA000189 Morebattle Community Shop

(x)       CFA000190 Association South Scotland Entertainment Tent (ASSET)

Neighbourhood Support Fund

9.2    It was noted that, since the last meeting of the Panel, two young people, R. Flint and E. Chalmers had joined the panel and were supported by the Youth Engagement Worker (Pam Rigby).  There had been 10 applications received for the Cheviot Neighbourhood Support Fund totalling £43,791.77, which was an encouraging number.  There had been circulated copies of a report which provided a brief description of each application received and a recommendation on the sum to be awarded to each project.  As previously reported, projects with a mean score of 80+ in terms of their ability to deliver, clear evidence of need, potential impact, use of public money, innovation and sustainability and therefore would be recommended for approval and those were detailed below:-

9.3    Kelso Football Club

An application had been received from Kelso Football Club in the sum of £5,000 to upgrade their shower room which had fallen into a state of disrepair.  The Group hoped to attract more players and community sport with improved facilities.  The Panel were supportive of the project and recommended that £5,000 be awarded.  In addition, the panel suggested that the group look to address the cause of the issues, i.e., freezing pipes as noted in the application, which would lead to fewer repairs and renovation work in the future.

9.4     Abundant Borders

An application had been submitted by Abundant Borders in the sum of £3,593.00, to create raised bed planters and an outdoor cooking space within the Community Garden space in Kelso. The project continued their work to create a sustainable community food garden in Kelso town centre and was supported by Abundant Borders. The Panel were supportive of the project and recommended £3,593.00. 

9.5     Jedburgh Tourism Alliance

An application had been submitted by Jedburgh Tourism Alliance in the sum of £3,947 to update and print 30,000 copies of their Jedburgh leaflet and specifically distribute them out-with the town in designated tourism locations in Northumberland, East Lothian, and other Borders town in the promotion of Jedburgh. The project aimed to maximise opportunities to build local and regional economy as well as enhance the visitor experience. The Panel were supportive of the project and recommended that £3,947 be awarded.  In addition, the panel ask that the Group consider the environmental challenges in producing single-use paper leaflets and encourage the group to use recyclable papers and online publications where possible.

9.6     Kelso in Bloom

An application had been submitted by Kelso in Bloomin the sum of £4,500, to renew greenspace with a mix of bedding and perennial planting. This would allow more diversity planting, improve sustainability, reduce costs, and create year-round colour to the town. The Panel were supportive of the project and recommended that £3,947 be awarded.

9.7     St Boswells Village Hall

An application had been submitted by St Boswells Village Hall in the sum of £5,000 to support their ambitious 3-part ‘Greening’ Project.  The application was specifically for Part 1 – the installation of solar panels on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

SECTION 3: PLACE MAKING 

9.0       The Community Engagement Officer explained the say Jed Town Team continued to meet and were planning community engagement events before and after Christmas.  Further information on the progress being made across the Borders can be found at Place Programme (arcgis.com).

DECISION

NOTED.

APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR

As there was no vice chair appointed, Councillor Scott, seconded by Councillor Mountford proposed that Councillor Weatherston be appointed as Vice Chair.  There being no other nominations, Councillor Weatherston was appointed as Vice Chair. 

DECISION

AGREED that Councillor Weatherston be appointed as the Vice Chair for the Cheviot Area Partnership.

10.1     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, 22 November 2023 at 6.30 p.m. – Items for Discussion

DATE OF FUTURE MEETINGS

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

          Wednesday, 31 January 2024

          Wednesday, 27 March 2024

         The next meeting would be held on Wednesday, 22 November 2023 at 6.30 p.m. via Microsoft Teams.

MEETING EVALUATION     

Ms Jardine reminded those present about the meeting evaluation form which could be accessed via the link https://forms.office.com/r/HHH1dEcmz3.  She added that feedback about the Area Partnership meetings was really helpful and always appreciated.