Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Berwickshire Area Partnership.  The meeting was held via Microsoft Teams and the Chairman outlined how the meeting would be conducted and how those both in the meeting and watching via the Live Stream could take part.

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

(a)     Minute of meeting held on 4 March 2021.  (Attached)

(b)     Minue of Special meeting held on 22 April 2021.  (Attached)

The Minutes of the meetings of the Berwickshire Area Partnership held on 4 March and 22 April 2021 had been circulated and were noted. 

Philippa Gilhooly, SBC Team Leader – Traffic and Road Safety

Ms Philippa Gilhooly, SBC Team Leader - Traffic & Road Safety Management, gave an update to the Area Partnership on the pilot 20mph speed limits as they applied in Berwickshire.  Full funding of £1.2m had been received through the Scottish Government’s Spaces for People programme to roll out 20mph speed limits on a temporary trial basis for streets in the Borders which were usually 30mph.  Community Councils had been kept updated via emails over the last few months on the progress of the project.  Currently work was underway to introduce buffer speed limits before coming into 20mph zones; Eyemouth and Duns had had cycle routes put in place; and electronic messaging signs were being deployed in some communities.  A public consultation had been started through Citizen Space and Ms Gilhooly gave some examples of questions and also some responses received from the Berwickshire area.  Of the 5,700 responses received to date, 913 related to Berwickshire.  Initial responses had been received from people who were opposed to 20mph in general and also from those who were very supportive.  Ms Gilhooly confirmed that it was not necessarily the case that emissions from vehicles increased at 20mph, as while there was an increase from 0 to 20mph, from 20mph it levelled out.  The following questions/comments and responses were made:

(a)       Question – How do you take into account using only on-line questionnaires which would more likely be completed by younger people?

Response – A large number of responses had been received from the 50 – 60+ year old age group.  It was unfortunate that Contact Centres were not open but older people were really well represented online.  The questionnaire responses would give information which would be taken into account when preparing recommendations for Councillors.

(b)       Question/comment – How well do the people offering an opinion understand the implications?  Reductions in speed reduce accidents.  While there may not be a dramatic difference in journey time through a village, the degree of injury inflicted should there be an accident at higher speed would be greater so the report needed to reflect this as well as public opinion.  Opposing views would be expressed in the responses to any questionnaire.

Response – Napier University would be carrying out the evaluation.  Traffic speed and volume dashboard showing average speed would be included, and the impact of an accident at 30mph on an older person or a child which would likely be life changing if not fatal.

(c)       Comment – Birgham area, on the Coldstream side, near the bus shelter, needs to have speed monitors as a lot of complaints had been received over the years for this particular site.   Unless the public adhered to and accepted speed limits then the trial would not work.

(d)       Question – Why were cycle lanes put in Eyemouth?

Response – Eyemouth probably had the widest roads in the Borders.  These were advisory cycle lanes which meant that drivers could drive in them when they were not being used by cyclists. The aim was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Gordon Grant, SCB Passenger Transport Team Leader

Unfortunately, the SBC Officer due to present this item was absent from work so the item was deferred.  The Chairman was happy to pass on any questions anyone had to the relevant section of the Council.

Pam Rigby, SBC Youth Engagement Worker

Pam Rigby, SBC Youth Engagement Officer, showed a film which had been made by young people on “A Climate Emergency – Our Future in the Borders.”  (Link:  version 2 - Sustainable Development in the Borders - YouTube).  The Youth Ambassadors, representing the 5 localities across the Borders, were committed to making sure young people’s voices were heard on these issues and finding ways that could help educate and engage with local communities on climate change.  Each had made a promise (as part of their “Our Promise to the Planet” campaign) to take a minimum of one action during 2021 that would contribute to tackling climate change and as part of the wider campaign, were issuing a challenge to people across the Borders – individuals, communities, businesses and organisations – to do the same.  If everyone did some small thing, this would add up to a big thing.  The Chairman asked Ms Rigby to pass on the thanks from the Berwickshire area to the Ambassadors for their work and encouraged everyone to participate.

Gillian Jardine, Locality Development Co-ordinator, gave an update on the consultation currently underway on the future of Area Partnerships.  People were invited to submit comments on how the Area Partnerships could develop and be of interest and relevance to more people and how meetings could become more accessible.  The online consultation was open until 1 August 2021 and was available at https://scotborders.citizenspace.com/customer-communities/area-partnerships-next-steps

Update from Norrie Tait, SBC CLD Youth Work Team Leader

Mr Norrie Tait, CLD Youth Work Team Leader, gave an update on the working of the Community Assistance Hub which was focussed on social care and would start to look at children and families.  Work was underway to consider locality social care packages, a Berwickshire magazine like “Gala Life” as part of a communications plan for Berwickshire.  Input was being sought on transport for Berwickshire with a health and social care focus to get people to appointments, care visits, etc.  A whole systems approach was being used e.g. what we eat, exercise, etc.  Workshops had been delivered in Eyemouth, with a mapping system with 3 main priorities:  green spaces, food preparation and purchases of good quality food and budgeting, and good family involvement.  A draft vision statement “Eyemouth – Gateway to Good Health” was being put together and Mr Tait could provide further information.  Flyers had gone out to all community groups locally and details of the workshops had been in local press, as well as through word of mouth, with 25 people in both sessions of training, so it had been really successful. 

Trust Housing

Ms Elspeth Ward and Ms Susan Black from Trust Housing joined the meeting and gave a presentation on the new care housing development at Duns, which had 30 extra care flats and 19 amenity bungalows.  Both types of housing were designed for later years’ living, with tenants supported to live independently and extra care housing tenants had a care and support team on site.  Tenants also benefited from home made meals and a range of social and community opportunities.  The first tenants had moved in to the amenity bungalows in January, with those for the extra care flats moving in from April.  Trust Housing’s Extra Care Housing was a registered service with the Care Inspectorate and had been graded excellent for the last 3 years.  The Trust promoted a happy community and post-Covid there would be an opportunity for regular social activity, to meet other tenants, form links with the wider community, start inter-generational working, and bring a sense of togetherness and community by developing friendships.  There were a number of extras:  wi-fi, storage for a mobility scooter, family and friends could stay over in guest rooms, pets were allowed, and there were lounge and dining areas, as well as an on-site laundry.   A meal service provided light lunches and evening meals which were balanced and nutritious, prepared on site using high quality ingredients all year round.  This was hassle free living, with an emergency repair service, maintained gardens, and cleaned windows and communal areas.  Safety and security was provided with staff on site 24/7, each flat having a call system for emergencies, the use of telecare to ensure tenant safety and a single secure entry to the development, all covered by CCTV.   Over 90% of Trust Housing residents had said it had improved their quality of life, with their independence being promoted, and staying connected with their local community.  There were experienced staff on site and a great team in place in Duns.  In terms of the impact of Covid, Ms Ward explained that staff had been very anxious as their ultimate goal was to keep tenants safe.  Older tenants had been impacted with social isolation as the dining rooms had been closed so the social aspect of people dining together had been lost.  Everyone was really keen to get tenants back into social dining and interacting.  There were still properties available on site for tenants for extra care housing and referrals to these could be made through Social Work.  The Chairman thanked Ms Ward and Ms Black for their presentation on such an asset to the local community.   

Update including recruitment to the Assessment Panel.

With reference to paragraph 2 of the Minute of the special meeting held on 22 April 2022, the Clerk to the Council gave an update on the steps needed to get the Community Fund Assessment Panel in place.  The Clerk had discussed matters with the Chief Legal Officer and there were a number of matters for the Area Partnership to consider, including having SBC Elected Members as voting members of the Assessment Panel (there was potential for a breach of the Local Authority Councillors Code of Conduct); the process for making appointments to the Assessment Panel; and procedural rules for meetings of the Assessment Panel.  A report with those details would need to be prepared and Ms Wilkinson suggested that a special meeting of the Area Partnership could be held in 3-weeks time to consider and agree these matters.  Ms Wilkinson confirmed that this would not hold up the recruitment process for membership of the Assessment Panel which could continue in parallel.  The special meeting of the Area Partnership was agreed for 10 June 2021 at 6pm. 

Funding table update.  (Attached)

With reference to paragraph 5 of the Minute of 4 March 2021, copies of the Berwickshire Funding Table had been circulated.  Ms Gillian Jardine, Locality Development Co-ordinator, explained that there was currently £57,260 available in the Community Fund, with no applications received to date.  The maximum amount for a grant was £5,000.

Update from Eyemouth Community Council on Eyemouth’s BMX Track.

Mr James Anderson, Chair of Eyemouth Community Council, gave a presentation on the BMX Track project which had received Community Grant funding.  Mr Anderson explained that a survey of Eyemouth High School students in 2018 had shown that for young people to have a place to call their own they favoured a skate park and a BMX dirt track.  A group of students had been brought in by the Community Council to design the track, producing a plan and drawing to show adults exactly what they wanted.  A site was leased next to Eyemouth allotments and the High School, and this had taken a year to negotiate the planning permission and required SEPA exemptions, so had proven very tricky.  A lot of help for the project had been received from the community, including donations.  An advert had been placed asking for support to do the work on site and D.R. Collins had come forward and provided equipment and manpower to get the bulk of the work done.  In winter 2019 it was discovered that the entire site flooded and while that happened, further funding was found to fence off the site and reduce the risk.  The project had involved training for young people on using equipment, which was a good chance to get them in the open.  The Community Fund grant had been used to provide aggregate for the site and that had been delivered in early 2020.  Due to Covid restrictions the last 2 months work had been completed by adults and it would take a while for the landscaping to flourish, with wildflowers sown to create biodiversity.  Jumps on the track would evolve and could be changed to suit the age/ability of children.   The cycle lane connecting one end of the town to the other which would give safe access.  The track was due to be opened the following week.  Looking forward, the project had no end as the dirt track was designed to be changed with time and the needs of the people using it; with tools on site so people could change jumps; and the track would grow with the community.  Following the opening it was hoped to have BBQs, track days, etc. but the main thing was the community would take ownership of the track and get involved in how it developed in future.  With regard to the skate park which the young people had also requested, Mr Anderson confirmed that green space in the centre of town was currently being investigated although much would depend on the location of the new Primary School.  A meeting had been held recently to consider the proposed destination play park and a skate park could be adjacent to or part of that.  On behalf of young people, Councillor Hamilton thanked the Community Council for their hard work and perseverance in difficult circumstances to bring the community together and this great project to fruition. 

Are there any items of business you would like to propose for the agenda?

Please note that items can be submitted after the meeting through your local Elected Member or the Communities & Partnership Team.

It was confirmed that the next meeting of the Area Partnership would be held on 10 June 2021 to consider the appointment process and procedural rules for the Community Fund Assessment Panel, with the next scheduled meeting taking place on 1 July 2021.  A request was made that the more substantive items for discussion should be placed at the beginning of agendas and this could be followed by any updates.  Officers confirmed that this would be taken forward.

No other items of business were raised.

Ms Gillian Jardine, Locality Development Co-ordinator, advised that the Building Back a Better Borders Fund had received approval at Council the previous week.  The Fund was due to open on 1 June and Ms Jardine would circulate details round the Area Partnership.