Scottish Borders Council

Agenda and minutes

Venue: via Microsoft Teams

Contact: William Mohieddeen  Tel: 01835 826504; Email:  william.mohieddeen@scotborders.gov.uk

Link: Live stream link

Items
No. Item

Order of business

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.

1.

Minute pdf icon PDF 126 KB

Consider Minute of Meeting held on 4 October 2021.  (Copy attached).

Minutes:

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the Meeting held on 4 October 2021.

 

DECISION

AGREED to approve the Minute for signature by the Chairman.

 

2.

Storage of temporary flood barriers in Common Haugh pdf icon PDF 451 KB

Consider proposal for storage of temporary flood barriers within perimeter of Common Haugh car park until completion of flood defence works.  (Copy attached.)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed Mike Burns, Senior Project Manager, and Rachael Warrington, Project Manager, to the meeting.  Ms Warrington presented a proposal to store 1000 lineal metres of temporary flood barriers in the perimeter of the Common Haugh car park so that they could be easily deployed upon a future flood event.  Ms Warrington noted the placement of temporary flood barriers would avoid the bus drop-off area.  The proposal had been developed following a ‘lessons learnt’ exercise based on the Hawick flood event on 28 October 2021.  In response to a question from Councillor McAteer regarding aesthetics of the Common Haugh storage of temporary flood barriers, Ms Warrington advised that they would review the storage in spring 2022.  Mr Burns added that the proposal followed undertaking of flood model to understand flood exposure in Hawick which informed the placement of the flood barriers.

 

DECISION

APPROVED the proposal for storage of temporary flood barriers in the Common Haugh car park.

 

3.

Monitoring Report for six months to 30 September 2021 pdf icon PDF 333 KB

Consider report by Pensions and Investments Manager. (Copy attached).

Minutes:

3.1         There had been circulated copies of a report by Director Finance and Corporate Governance providing details of the income and expenditure for the Hawick Common Good Fund for six months to 30 September 2021, a full year projected out-turn for 2021/22, and projected balance sheet values as at 31 March 2022.  Appendix 1 provided the projected income and expenditure for 2020/21 which showed a projected surplus of £25,464 for the year.  Appendix 2 provided projected Balance Sheet value at 31 March 2022 and showed a projected decrease in the reserves of £38,877.  Appendix 3(a) provided a breakdown of the property portfolio showing projected rental income and projected net return for 2021/22 and actual property income to 30 June 2021, which had been reduced by £180 to reflect the amendment of the short-term rental to the Santa Marina Restaurant for six month, as they were unable to use the outdoor space from 5 July 2021 due to flood prevention works.  Appendix 3(b) provided a breakdown of the property portfolio showing projected property expenditure for 2021/22 and actual property expenditure to 30 June 2021.  Appendix 4 provided a breakdown of the property portfolio showing projected property valuations at 31 March 2022.  Appendix 5 showed the value of the Aegon Asset Management Investment Fund to 30 June 2021.  The Pensions and Investments Manager highlighted that there was an allocation of £5,000 pending for Borders Against Racism, however they be unable to meet the requirements of the funding.  There were dividends from the Common Good Fund investment in Aegon Asset Management amounting to £18,965 which was estimated at a 4.5% return.

3.2         Councillor McAteer advised that Borders Against Racism objectives may be taken on by another group to fulfil a new objective and the funding would be allocated them.  Ms Robb advised that emails received from Borders Against Racism would be forwarded to Members.

 

DECISION

AGREED:

(a)          The projected income and expenditure for 2021/22 in Appendix 1 as the revised budget for 2021/22;

 

(b)          To note the projected balance sheet value as at 31 March 2022 in Appendix 2;

 

(c)          To note the summary of the property portfolio in Appendices 3 and 4; and

 

(d)          To note the current position of the Aegon Asset Management Investment Fund in Appendix 5.

 

4.

Financial Assistance pdf icon PDF 4 MB

Consider applications for financial assistance from K. Stuart Family Fun Fair.  (Copy attached.)

Minutes:

There had been circulated copies of an application for use of the Common Haugh from K. Stuart Family Fun Fair for seven dates from 24 March 2022 to 2 April 2022 inclusive.  Members sought clarification that there wasn’t variance from previous years’ applications and the number of appliances to be accommodated.  The Managing Solicitor suggested that the licence be granted on previous years’ dates.

 

DECISION

AGREED to approve the application received from the Stuart Family Fun fair for use of the Common Haugh on confirmation that the application does not vary from dates of previous applications and the number of appliances to be accommodated

 

5.

Common Haugh public conveniences site visit

Consider the site visit to the site visit to the Common Haugh public conveniences on 18 November 2021.

Minutes:

With reference to paragraph 5 of the Minute of 25 May 2021, Members of the Sub-Committee had undertaken a site visit.  Scottish Water had confirmed that the drain could not be used for the sluice and that it be sited nearer the campervan area.  The Sub-Committee was advised that Ian Sharp, Architectural Technologist, would prepare plans to be presented at a later meeting.  Mr Scott would prepare costings at a later date.

 

DECISION

NOTED the update.

 

6.

Private Business

“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.”

 

Minutes:

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 1 of Part I of Schedule 7A to the Act.

 

SUMMARY OF PRIVATE BUSINESS

 

7.

Private Minute

Consider Private Minute of Meeting held on 4 October 2021.  (Copy attached.)

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee considered the Private Section of the Minute of the Meeting held on 4 October 2021.

 

8.

Hawick Golf Club

Consider report of current rental arrangement with Hawick Golf Club.  (Copy attached.)

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee considered the current rental arrangement with Hawick Golf Club.

 

9.

St Leonard's Park Project Update

Consider update on St Leonard’s Park project.

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee considered an update on the St Leonards Park Project.

 

10.

Property Update

Verbal private update from the Estates Strategy Manager.

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee considered an update on property from the Estates Strategy Manager.

 

 

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