Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair varied the order of business as shown on the agenda and the Minute reflects the order in which the items were considered at the meeting.

The Chair welcomed attendees to the Eyemouth Community Centre and thanked Giacopazzi’s for providing attendees with complimentary ice-cream.

Consider Minute of the Meeting held on 1 June 2023 for signature by the Chair.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the Meeting held on 1 June 2023.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the Minute for signature by the Chair.

Consider update by Community Sergeant Alison Grainger.

The Chair introduced Sergeant Ali Grainger and PC Chris McLeod to deliver an update on policing matters in Berwickshire.  Sergeant Grainger PC McLeod’s work covered Mid Berwickshire while Sgt Suzanne Jacobs covered East Berwickshire.  There were two Community Action Team (CAT) officers for Berwickshire that were funded and tasked by Scottish Borders Council (SBC) and the constables were Stuart Little and Luke Francois.  There was policing activity for summer events in Berwickshire including the Eyemouth Herring Queen, Duns Summer Festival and the Coldstream Civic Week.  The police noted that marshalling of the events were of a high standard that supported the work of the police.  Response policing was supported when a backfill was required for reactive work.  For August 2023, there were 175 mental health calls in the Scottish Borders, 20 missing persons enquiries and 81 domestic incidents.  Community policing had worked with Berwickshire Housing Association to help residents, promote the Crimestoppers service and offering advice for communities.  Work had been undertaken with Berwickshire and Eyemouth high schools to support vulnerable children.  An American football initiative was delivered at Eyemouth High School which received good feedback.  Intelligence was required for action on drug dealing.  To support this, attendees were provided with information cards for Crimestoppers.  It was advised that a community traffic speeding pilot would be initiated in Allanton, Stow and Innerleithen for members of the community to support monitoring of the speed of vehicles.  Information on speeding vehicles would be forwarded to Police Scotland who would send letters to drivers.  In response to questions from attendees, it was advised that monitoring of parking was a major part of CAT tasking and that it would be directed to where there was a higher degree of danger.  Incidents related to the junction on the A1 that served Reston were raised and that PC McLeod would follow-up with information related to the site.  It was confirmed that cycling on pavements was not legal and that the police approach to cycling was that there had to be an approach that balanced road and pavement safety.

DECISION

NOTED the update.

Consider overview of funding available in Berwickshire.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Berwickshire Funding Table which showed available funding in the Berwickshire Area.  Gillian Jardine presented the table which included an overview of Neighbourhood Support Fund applications and other sources of funding in Berwickshire.

DECISION

NOTED the update.

Consider report by the Berwickshire Neighbourhood Support Fund panel on recent activity and recommendations for funding.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a summary by the Berwickshire Neighbourhood Support Fund panel which detailed recent activity and recommendations for funding.  Keith Dickinson presented the paper and advised that there was approximately £50,000 available to distribute and the panel assessed 25 applications.  The panel welcomed two new members – Nicky Seed and Bob Hope – and advised that there were opportunities for additional members.  While there were no restrictions on membership, it was noted that there were seven applicants for membership from the same community council area.  The assessment panel agreed to distribute approximately £35,000 to ensure that approximately £15,000 would be available in the second round of applications.

DECISION

(a)       AGREED:

(i)        To award Berwickshire Swap a grant of £3,131.72,

(ii)       To award Abundant Borders a grant of £913.00,

(iii)      To award ReTweed a grant of £4,941.00,

(iv)      To award Leitholm, Eccles and Birgham Community Council a grant of £2,664.00,

(v)       To award Swinton and Ladykirk Community Council a grant of £400.00,

(vi)      To award Allanbank Arts Via Umbrella Group AHFD a grant of £2,250.00,

(vii)    To award Cockburnspath After School Club a grant of £5,000.00,

(viii)   To award Foulden, Mordington and Lamberton Community Council a grant of £2,100.00,

(ix)      To award Eyemouth Museum Trust a grant of £5,000.00,

(x)       To award Eyemouth Harbour Trust a grant of £5,000.00,

(xi)      To award Paxton House Trust £4,401.00; and,

(b)       NOTED the update.

Consider presentation by Berwickshire Swap.

The Chair welcomed Lianne Drummond and Anna Forrest to deliver a presentation on Berwickshire Swap.  Berwickshire Swap is a charity that organised clothing swaps for children from birth to 12 years old.  The charity was established in Reston and has subsequently moved to new premises in Eyemouth.  There was recognition that there was not many accessible places for children’s clothing in rural Berwickshire and demand was identified for swapping clothes and other children’s items.  When a family had a need, they would contact Berwickshire Swap to ask about availability.  The organisation had grown and in 2021-22 it had obtained a van through National Lottery funding.  The Neighbourhood Support Fund had previously awarded money towards the running of the van.  Storage capacity of the organisation had increased while funding from SBC was important to ensure the running of the organisation to meet demand.  The constitution of the organisation was recently changed to cover the whole of Scotland, and all 15 Scottish TD postcodes had received the services of Berwickshire Swap.  Attendees were encouraged to challenge stigma on second hand clothes and to help promote Berwickshire Swap.

DECISION

NOTED the update.

Consider presentation by Gordon Grant, Scottish Borders Council Principal Transport Officer followed by a discussion on transport challenges and potential solutions.

The Chair invited Mr Gordon Grant, Scottish Borders Council Principal Transport Officer, to present on public transport matters in Berwickshire.  The work of Mr Grant incorporated school transport, community transport and the Pingo service.  In Autumn 2022, it was noted that bus services had not reached pre-pandemic levels of service and so a network review was taken forward in September 2022.  80% of the bus services in the Scottish Borders were supported by SBC with the non-supported services included the 253 and 235, the X62 Gala-Peebles-Edinburgh service and the X95.  Data had shown that the frequency of the Duns to Berwick service needed to be higher.  Mr Grant answered attendees’ questions on transport matters in Berwickshire covering disability access and affordability of Pingo.

DECISION

NOTED the update.

8.1       The Chair invited Beth Landon to introduce herself to attendees.  Attendees were encouraged to attendees to ask any questions they had on Place Making matters in Berwickshire.

8.2       Helen Laing of Sea the change was invited to present their work to attendees.  Ms Laing advised that Sea the Change encouraged people to think about sustainability, education and accessibility.  The organisation runs a beach wheelchair project and there were 3 available at Coldingham beach; 2 wheelchairs for adults and one for a child.  SBC funded the expansion of a boardwalk at Coldingham beach.  The S3ea the Change hut at Coldingham bay was run by volunteers to supply the wheelchairs for those that had made bookings.  A hoist was also available to support people to use the wheelchairs.  Sea the Change also ran community cleanups and had organised an electric vehicle information day at Ayton Castle.

DECISION

NOTED the update.

Attendees asked about the shortage of drivers affecting SBC refuse collection services.  It was advised that the issue of refuse vehicles being replaced was being resolved however there was a difficulty in recruiting drivers and getting them trained.