Agenda and minutes

Due to the submission of apologies from elected Members, the meeting was not quorate.  Attendees proceeded with the meeting on the understanding that decisions were not able to be made.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Berwickshire Area Partnership and to Cockburnspath Village Hall.

Consider Minute of Meeting held on 9 February 2023 for approval and signature by the Chair.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the Meeting held on 9 February 2023.  Mr Andrew Mitchell of Duns Community Council advised that he had also been in attendance at the Meeting.

Update from PC Suzanne Jacobs.

The Chair welcomed PC Suzanne Jacobs to provide an update on policing matters in Berwickshire.  PC Jacobs provided an overview of resources in Berwickshire and explained that there were two community officers based in Eyemouth, one community officer based in Duns and a school liaison officer based in Eyemouth which covered the Berwickshire area.  PC Jacobs explained that Police Scotland endeavoured to attend community council meetings when they were invited.  Complaints in Berwickshire tended to address parking and speeding.  Speeding cameras normally focused on schools and particular ‘hotspots’.  Community councils were reminded to check that they received Police Scotland multi-ward reports.  Attendees discussed speeding vehicles and adherence to 20 mph speed limit in towns.  PC Jacobs advised attendees when speeding vehicles were identified to inform the police.  Councillor Anderson encouraged attendees inform councillors of concerns so that they may be raised with Police Scotland.

Update from Group Commander Douglas Tait.

The Chair welcomed Commander Gail Coates to provide an update on fire and rescue matters in Berwickshire.  Fire incidences in the Berwickshire area were summarised and attendees were advised that there had been call-outs to seven road traffic accidents and nine incidents to assist other agencies.  There were nine incidents of flooding and two other non-fire incidents.  With regards to unwanted fire alarm signals, there were 36 recorded as ‘good intent’ and two recorded as ‘malicious’ from incidents in schools.  51 home fire safety visits had taken place.  Scottish Fire and Rescue had visited Eyemouth High School to talk to S6 pupils about fire safety while living alone.  CPR visits were to take place in Eyemouth Primary School on 8 June which all were welcome to attend.  Specialist PPE had been received in Coldstream with training in its use due to take place.  Duns station had seen success in recruiting double its number of on-call firefighters.  In discussion of fire alarms in public buildings, attendees were advised to ask for an alarm inspector to demonstrate how to properly use fire alarms in public halls.

Update from Elaine Torrance, National Team for Development and Inclusion.

5.1       There had been circulated copies of a slide deck from Elaine Torrance of the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTI).  The Chair welcomed Ms Torrance to present an update on the development of a Health and Social Care Strategic Framework for Scottish Borders.  Ms Torrance was in attendance to gather feedback and comments on the draft framework which set out how health and social care services would be delivered over the next three years.  The aims of the NDTI’s engagement activity were summarised which were to update attendees on work in the development of the strategic framework, to present an outline of the framework and seek further comments and to seek further involvement in the planning, design and monitoring of the framework.  The framework had been informed by the NDTI engaging and listening to communities to understand their expressed needs which the NDTI summarised in their We Have Listened report; understanding the public health needs of the population which was presented in the NDTI Needs of our Communities report; reviewing performance against national health and wellbeing outcomes; and considering current and future challenges.  Ms Torrance explained that the We Have Listened report included information specific to Berwickshire.  85 responses were received to the NDTI survey of what was important about health and social care, and a community event took place in Duns. Ms Torrance presented the high level mission, vision and aims of the framework.  These were:

·                Mission: “to help the people of the Scottish Borders to live their lives to the full, by delivering seamless services that place their needs at the heart of everything that we do”;

·                Vision: “That all people in the Scottish Borders will be able to live their lives to the full”

·                Aims: “To improve and continue to support the health and wellbeing of the citizens of Scottish Borders”.

5.2       Ms Torrance presented the strategic issues of the framework and the objectives, which detailed what the Health and Social Care Partnership would prioritise the deliver its vision.  Ms Torrance explained to attendees that the NDTI were seeking views on the framework, and if anything was missing; how communities could be involved in developing the framework and actions; and on monitoring the implementation and impact of the framework at community, local and Borders-wide levels.  In discussion of the draft framework, Ms Torrance advised that the framework would be approved by the Integrated Joint Board (IJB) which consisted of NHS officers and elected Members, and would be presented to the Scottish Government.  Attendees discussed how the consultation of the framework would operate alongside place making, that communities may feel ‘consultation fatigue’ and that duplication should be avoided.  It was noted that previous place making exercises had highlighted concerns about a lack of nursing home places.

5.3       Councillor Anderson led attendees in advising what would be priorities for health and social care in each of their communities.  Issues raised during the exercise were

Overview from SBC Communities and Partnership Teams.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Berwickshire funding table which outlined available funds and grant opportunities in Berwickshire.  The Community Engagement Officer presented the paper and advised that the opening balance for the Neighbourhood Support Fund was £99,997.19 and that 56 applications had been received which requested a total of £208,719 in grant funding.  The Berwickshire Area Partnership had approved 25 applications for a total of £95,497.19 in grant funding.  £4,500 of the carried forward funds had been reserved by the funding panel for Horse Time dependent on receipt of a satisfactory evaluation report.  Attendees noted the information in the funding table.

Confirmation of budget available and assessment panel recommendation.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a paper outlining a recommendation for the assessment panel to undertake to source external funding to supplement the Neighbourhood Support Fund.  It was advised that the 2023-24 Neighbourhood Support Fund would total £50,153.  The assessment panel recommended that the Area Partnership delay opening the 2023-24 Neighbourhood Support Fund until June, so that other funding opportunities are explored, and to have three rounds of funding which would take place in September and December 2023 and March 2024.  Attendees discussed the recommendation and considered feedback on the proposal.  Further information was sought from attendees on how external funding would affect the funding requirements.  Concern was also raised that the Neighbourhood Support Fund had been significantly oversubscribed.  Attendees advised that the assessment panel should meet to consider submitting a report to the Area Partnership outlining an approach to seeking additional funding and how the requirements of the Neighbourhood Support Fund may be affected.  Attendees noted that the fund should be opened in June regardless of the proposal to seek additional funding for the Neighbourhood Support Fund.  Attendees further noted that additional mapping should be outlined for available funding for communities in Berwickshire.

8.1       The Chair invited attendees to provide updates on place making in local communities.  Ms Amaral advised that funding had been awarded for the pilot of a Berwickshire place making toolkit and that further information would be provided at the next meeting of the Area Partnership.  A Vision for Eyemouth meeting was to take place in April, to be delivered by BAVS.

8.2       Ms McNeill presented feedback to the Area Partnership on place making activity and advised that meaningful community engagement had taken place in communities which included Duns, Greenlaw, Chirnside and Coldstream.  Ms McNeill advised that engagement should be led by those that live and work in the community and not by those with an outside interest.  Ms McNeill further advised that the role of Scottish Borders Council should be to facilitate and support the place making process and not to lead.  However resource and capacity were a challenge faced by communities reliant on volunteers dedicating time to place making which should be addressed.  Attendees noted the update.

Next meeting Thursday 1 June 2023 at Volunteer Hall, Duns.

It was confirmed that the next meeting of the Berwickshire Area Partnership would take place on Thursday 1 June at the Volunteer Hall, Duns.