Agenda item

(a)        Consider an application for financial assistance from Melrose Festival Committee.  (Copy attached.)

            There had been circulated copies of an Application for Financial for Assistance on behalf of Melrose Festival Executive.  Mrs Evelyn Oliver, Honorary Secretary and Mrs Helen Chisholm, Honorary Treasurer of Melrose Festival Executive, were in attendance in support of the Application which explained that the Melrose Festival was a historical pageant that had taken place since 1936 and now provided a range of activities for the whole community, including the appointment of the Melrosian and associated events.  Any events within the Melrose Abbey and its grounds were now subject to requirements by Historical Environment Scotland (HES) to protect both the Abbey and its grounds.  Melrose Festival hosted a number of the ceremonial events at Melrose Abbey and now, due to the age and condition of the chairs which were currently used to seat guests and members of the public at these events, the Festival Executive was unable to comply with the requirements laid down by HES.  In particular, HES required that all seating must sit on frames which protected the ground and the current chairs did not fit these frames.  Due to the age and construction of these chairs, they were also extremely difficult to store and transport and the Festival Executive relied heavily on volunteers to assist with this.  Further restrictions in respect of access by the public to certain areas of the Abbey grounds had made it necessary to increase the amount of seating and number of frames to accommodate the audiences at these events.  Further replacement of decorative bunting was also included in the Application as the current stock was faded and potentially unsafe and could no longer be used.  Mrs Oliver explained that the Melrose Festival Executive was a voluntary organisation and as such, raised thousands of pounds each year through the efforts of its members, Patrons and fund-raising events.  It also received a grant from Scottish Borders Council to fund public protection measures and could not be used to purchase new or replacement equipment such as chairs.  Mrs Oliver advised the Sub-Committee that no previous Application had been submitted to the William Hill Trust for Financial Assistance and that the amount requested would cover the replacement seating, frames, trolleys and bunting.

5.2       The Chairman thanked Mrs Oliver and Mrs Chisholm for their attendance and explanation given in support of the Application.  In answer to questions from the Members, Mrs Oliver advised that the Festival Executive was currently in possession of 400 chairs and were able to borrow a further 60 from Melrose Abbey.  Those owned by the Festival Executive were available for other events however the total number would not now be sufficient given the requirements by HES as detailed in paragraph 5.1 above.  The Festival Executive had considered other possibilities and had identified what was considered to be the best value option at this time.  Mrs Oliver did not have the information available at the meeting on the cost for each item but would submit this to the Sub-Committee within the next day or two.  The Chairman indicated that the Sub-Committee would notify the Festival Executive of its decision in writing following the meeting.

            DECISION

            AGREED that the Melrose Festival Executive would be notified of the decision of the William Hill Trust Sub-Committee in writing following the meeting.