Agenda and draft minutes

Consider appointment of Chair.

Councillor Hamilton, seconded by Councillor Anderson, moved that Councillor Orr be appointed as Chairman.  There being no other nominations, Councillor Orr was unanimously appointed as Chair and took the Chair.

DECISION

AGREED that Councillor Orr be appointed as Chair.

Consider appointment of Vice Chair.

Councillor Hamilton, seconded by Councillor Anderson, moved that Councillor Hamilton be appointed as Vice Chair.  There being no other nominations, Councillor Hamilton was unanimously appointed as Vice Chair.

DECISION

AGREED that Councillor Hamilton be appointed as Vice Chair.

Consider Minute of the Special Meeting held on 6 April 2022.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the Meeting held on 6 April 2022.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the Minute for signature by the Chair.

Consider Report by Principal Solicitor.  (Copy attached.)

With reference to paragraph three of the Minute of the Meeting held on 13 December 2021, there had been circulated copies of a report by Principal Solicitor that advised on the outcome of the recent consultation under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, and to seek approval of the final Common Good Register for Eyemouth.  The Eyemouth Common Good Sub-Committee a draft asset register of Common Good property, required by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, and agreed to the commencement of the public consultation on the register.  The consultation ran from December 2021 to 31 March 2022.  There were 65 responses to the consultation, three of which related to Eyemouth.  The proposed final register was presented in Appendix 2 of the report.  The Principal Solicitor summarised the report and answered Members’ questions, explaining that the High Street toilets were property of the Eyemouth Common Good but were maintained by agreement by Scottish Borders Council.   The Pensions and Investment Manager further explained that it was agreed that Scottish Borders Council would maintain current property, but any additionally acquired property would be the responsibility of the Common Good to arrange maintenance.  With regards to The Loaning, the Principal Solicitor advised that it was not able to be ascertained where the Loaning was.  Councillor Anderson advised he would send on maps to the Principal Solicitor to assist with identifying the status of the Loaning.  In response to a question from Councillor Anderson regarding the Old Cemetery and Watchhouse, the Principal Solicitor advised that the only available information was the listed building status of the Watchhouse and its previous use but not any available information on the ownership.

DECISION

(a)       NOTED the consultation responses and officers’ comments thereon, as set out at Appendix 1 to this report;

(b)       AGREED

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

(ii)       To recommend to Council the final asset list for publication as a completed Common Good Register for Eyemouth.

Before proceeding with the private business, the following motion should be approved:-

“That under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the aforementioned Act.”

DECISION

AGREED under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the business detailed in the Appendix to this Minute on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A to the Act.

Consider Private Section of the Minute of the Special Meeting held on 6 April 2022.  (Copy attached.)

The Sub-Committee approved the Private Section of the Minute of the Meeting held on 6 April 2022.