Agenda item

A facilitated discussion on the subject in order to put forward a set of initial outcomes for Tweeddale. Further information on local data and statistics.

4.1       The Chairman advised that the initial presentations would be broken into two parts and he then introduced Margaret Smail from the Community Learning and Development Service and Lisa Denham from Live Borders.  Margaret Smail advised that her service aim was all about improving the quality of life for individuals and communities as a whole.  In a time of limited resources the key was partnership working to help address inequalities.  She also co-ordinated the Tweeddale Community Learning Partnership who were identifying the priorities for the area based on a combination of data and speaking to people.  There were both Youth and Adult learning teams.  There was an officer based at Peebles High School who engaged with young people and helped take learning out into the community.  This was very successful for those who did not respond to traditional learning methods.  In respect of adult learners the main issues being addressed were literacy and IT skills.

4.2       Lisa Denham advised on the work of Live Borders in the Tweeddale Area.  The Tweeddale Arts Strategy was very successful and allowed significant funding to be obtained.  There was a Cultural Forum which met and the next meeting in Tweeddale would be held on 26 November in the Eastgate Theatre.  She also commented on the success of the Peebles Library which had the highest lending rate in the Scottish Borders.  There were a number of other activities run by the Library which included a very successful Code Club for young people.  The Borders Science Festival was running throughout May and events in Tweeddale so far had been well supported.  Live Borders were also working closely with the Eastgate Theatre on their ambitious extension project.  Two new Arts posts were being funded and a consultation with young people was about to be launched as part of the Year of Young People.  She also commented on forthcoming events and the redesign of the Live Borders Website.

4.3       Shona Smith, Communities and Partnership Manager explained how the session would work and that there were information packs on each table.  Those present were invited to discuss and agree at their respective tables an answer to the question “What are the key challenges, issues or opportunities for quality of life in Tweeddale”.  The points identified were to be written down on the post-it notes provided and would be collated at the end of the discussion.  15 minutes was given for this first discussion. 

4.4       The Chairman introduced Inspector Tony Hodges from Police Scotland and Mike Jaffray, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Delivery Manager for the Scottish Borders.   Tony Hodges advised that the fundamental aim was to keep people safe.  The Local Police Plan covered the period until 2020 and contained the seven Local namely domestic abuse, road safety, violent crime, anti-social behaviour, drugs and alcohol misuse, protecting people and acquisitive crime. There was also strong links to the Council’s Safer Communities team. He highlighted the protection of vulnerable people which demanded the greatest part of police resources and commented on the recent search for a high risk missing person.   A new Community Action Team funded by the Council had been set up to specifically address quality of life issues.  To date they had issued 100 parking tickets and were also dealing with drugs and anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of schools. 

4.5       Mike Jaffray commented on the Local Fire and Rescue Plan for the Scottish Borders which included the priority of making people feel safer in their homes and on the roads.  He also highlighted work on community resilience, road traffic collisions and extreme weather such as flooding.  The service also worked with young people to help prevent anti-social behaviour.  Work was being carried out to reduce unwanted fire alarm signals, where there was no fire but an automated fire alarm system was activated which accounted for over 50% of all calls in the Tweeddale area. He concluded by emphasising the importance of partnership working and that the service wanted to work closely with communities.

4.6       A further 15 minutes of discussion time was given and this was followed by a short break.  Shona Smith then highlighted some of the most common points identified with transport being the biggest issue.  Other points raised included care provision, communications, the environment and youth provision.   A copy of the output from the evening forms the appendix to this Minute.  The Chairman thanked the speakers and all those present for their contributions.