Agenda and minutes

The Chairman 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.

Consider Minute of meeting held on 28 May 2019. (Copy attached),

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the meeting held on 28 May 2019.

DECISION

APPROVED the Minute of the Meeting held on 28 May 2019 for signature by the Chairman.

With reference to paragraph 3(a) of the Minute of 28 May 2019, the Managing Solicitor, Mr Kirk, advised that a Heritable Common Good Asset list was in course of preparation for all Common Goods.   The definitive list would be circulated when finalised.  With regard to Paragraph 3(b) of the Minute, the plan was still awaited from the Hawick Flood Protection Scheme’s Senior Project Manager.

With regard to paragraph 4 of the Minute of 28 May, it was noted that the Will H Ogilvie Memorial Trust had been unable to obtain insurance for the bronze sculpture.  Live Music Hawick had returned the £1,000.00 grant as their event had been cancelled.  Hawick & Wilton Cricket Club had withdrawn their application for funding.

With reference to paragraph 7 of the Minute of 28 May, it was noted that the James Wilson Statue had been repaired.

DECISION

NOTED:

That a Heritable Common Good Asset list would be circulated when finalised;

The plan showing boundaries of Hawick Common Good land was still awaited; and

The update on Hawick Common Good applications for financial assistance.

Consider report by Chief Financial Officer. (Copy attached).

With reference to paragraph 5 of the Minute of 28 May, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Chief Financial Officer providing details of the income and expenditure for the Hawick Good Fund Sub-Committee for the three months to 30 June 2019, a full year projected out-turn for 2019/20 and projected balance sheet values as at 31 March 2020.   Appendix 1 to the report provided the projected income and expenditure position. This showed a projected surplus of £56,713 for the year which included a proposed increase to the budget for grants and donations.  Appendix 2 provided a projected balance sheet value as at 31 March 2019 and showed a projected decrease in reserves of £17,122.  Appendix 3 provided a breakdown of the property portfolio showing projected rental income for 2019/20 and actual property expenditure to 30 June 2019.  The Pensions and Investments Manager, Mrs Robb, highlighted the dividends from Kames Capital which were in line with the 5% target.  Mrs Robb went on to advise that the sale of timber had generated £60k additional income from that contained in the report, this would be reflected in the next monitoring report.

DECISION

AGREED the projected income and expenditure for 2019/20 in Appendix 1 to the report, as the revised budget for 2019/20.

NOTED within the appendices to the report:-

(i)         The projected balance sheet value as at 31 March 2020 in Appendix 2;

(ii)        The summary of the property portfolio in Appendix 3; and

(iii)       The current position of the Kames Capital Investment Fund in Appendix 4.           

Consider verbal update by Estates Strategy Surveyor.

With reference to paragraph 4.4 of the Minute of 19 March, the Estates Strategy Surveyor, Mr Curtis, advised that the logistics of the Hawick Flood Protection scheme on the Common Haugh was still being discussed.  A report on the long and short term impact of the works would be presented at the next meeting.  

DECISION

NOTED that a report on the long and short term impact of Hawick Flood Protection works on the Common Haugh would be presented at the next meeting

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 the Minute on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act. 

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 Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the aforementioned Act”.

Members approved the Private Minute of the Hawick Common Good Fund Sub-Committee held on 28 May 2019.

The Sub-Committee discussed the use of Common Good land.

Consider verbal report by Property Officer.

The Sub-Committee discussed the use of Common Good land.

The Sub-Committee noted that the Transfer had been completed. 

The Sub-Committee received a verbal update from the Estates Strategy Surveyor and Property Officer.

The Chairman asked if ownership of the Civic Space Car Park could be clarified.

The next meeting is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, 10 December 2019 in the Borders Textile Towerhouse.

The next meeting of the Hawick Common Good Fund Sub-Committee was scheduled to be held on Tuesday, 10 December 2019 at 4.00 pm in the Borders Textile Towerhouse.