Agenda and minutes

Councillor Moffat, seconded by Councillor Greenwell, moved that Councillor Greenwell be appointed as Chairman and this was unanimously approved.

DECISION

AGREED that Councillor Greenwell be appointed as Chairman.

Note Minute of Meeting held on 8 December 2021.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the Meeting held on 8 December 2021.

DECISION

NOTED for signature by the Chairman.

Consider report by Director Finance and Corporate Governance.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Director Finance and Corporate Governance providing the details of the assets held by the Coldstream Common Good Fund as at 31 March 2022, a full year revenue out-turn for 2021/22 and projected balance sheet values as at 31 March 2023.  Appendix 1 to the report provided an Income and Expenditure account for the year to 31 March 2022.  Appendix 2 provided an actual balance sheet value as at 31 March 2022 and showed a decrease in the reserves of £10,117, which was due to the annual release from Revaluation Reserve.  Members noted the report.

DECISION

AGREED:-

(a)       to note the actual income and expenditure for 2021/22 in Appendix 1 to the report;

(b)       the proposed budget for 2022/23 as shown in Appendix 1 to the report;

(c)       to note the final balance sheet value as at 31 March 2022, and projected balance sheet value as at 31 March 2023 in Appendix 2 to the report; and

(d)       to note the summary of the property portfolio in Appendix 3 to the report.

Consider report by Principal Solicitor.  (Copy to follow)

With reference to paragraph 3 of the Minute of 8 December 2021, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Principle Solicitor advising on the outcome of the recent consultation under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, and seeking approval of the final Common Good Register for Coldstream.  The report explained that under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 the Council was required to establish and maintain a register of property which was held by the authority as part of the Common Good (“a Common Good Register”). Before establishing a Common Good Register, the Act required the Council to publish a list of property that it proposed to include in the Register and consult the public on this list.  Following approval by the Sub-Committee consultation on the draft asset register ran from December 2021 to 31 March 2022.  The responses received were contained in Appendix 1 to the report.  The4 Principal Solicitor reminded Members what criteria an asset required to meet to be included in the Register and highlighted the two items which were to be added.  In response to a question from Community Councillor Campbell regarding the Welfare Trust, Mrs Robb outlined how this had been set up and undertook to send details regarding applications to the Trust to Mrs Campbell.  Mrs MacLeod was asked why Henderson Park was not on the list and confirmed it had been purchased by the Burgh for a statutory purpose, in terms of the Burgh Police Act.  Accordingly it did not fall under the Common Good.  She further advised that if Members approved the draft list the next step would be to take a report to Council in September to approval of the final Register to be published for all Common Good Funds.  It was confirmed that publication of the final Register did not prevent the addition of further assets that might be identified in the future.

DECISION

AGREED to:-

(a)     note the consultation submissions and officers’ responses thereto, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report;

(b)     approve the contents of the final list of heritable and moveable property assets held by the Council within the former Burgh of Coldstream, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report; and

(c)     recommend to Council the said final asset list for publication as a completed Common Good Register for Coldstream.

MEMBER

Councillor Rowley joined the meeting during the following item.

Consider principle of use of land at Home Park for car parking.

The Estates Strategy Manager advised that a request had been received to use part of Home Park to increase parking provision in Coldstream.  There were a number of issues which would need to be considered, namely were there any title restrictions which would prevent the use of the park for car parking, what it would cost and how this would be funded.  A public consultation on the change of use would also be required.  Mrs Campbell advised that the Community Council had sent a questionnaire to all residents in Coldstream and lack of parking was the main issue for all age groups.  In response to a query by Mr Curtis on the number of spaces required the Chairman advised that around 20-25 were needed.  Mrs MacLeod advised that as the park was an unalienable asset she would require to carry out further investigation to ascertain if there were any title restrictions and if consent of the Court was needed in addition to a public consultation.  Members agreed in principle to the use of part of Home Park for car parking subject to officers ascertaining if and how the proposal could be progressed and that they would report back in due course.

DECISION

AGREED to approve inprinciple to the use of part of Home Park for car parking subject to officers ascertaining if and how the proposal could be progressed and that a further report would be provided by September.