Agenda item

With reference to paragraph 4 of the Minute, Councillor Paterson reported that he had received complaints from residents at Crumhaugh regarding the relocation of the Ward.  The complaints had been referred to NHS Borders.

3.1       With reference to paragraph 8(a) of the Minute, Councillor Turnbull advised that he had received a statement from the Clerk to the Council, Ms J Wilkinson.    In summary, the Council had submitted a formal response to the 20-part consultation from the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland and the closing date for the consultation had closed.  The Area Forum had no remit to seek a change to the Council’s response, the decision on both responses being taken at the full Council meeting involving all councillors.  When the Boundary Commission opened up the consultation again, probably in July, then other community groups/organisations as well as the public would have the opportunity to submit their responses to the Commission’s proposals.   The Review had been carried out in two stages; the first stage being the reduction of Councillor numbers from 34 to 32, the Council, at its meeting on 24 April 2014, opposed the proposed reduction and requested retention of the present number.  The Boundary Commission had then opened the consultation up to members of the public and community groups.   On 5 March 2015 the Council received the Local Government Boundary Commission’s proposals which presented an electoral arrangement of 32 Councillors (a reduction of two councillors) and a reduction in the number of wards in the area. 

3.2         The Chairman opened up the discussion to the public and there followed anacrimonious debate in which Councillor McAteer raised two Points of Order, both of which were disregarded by the Chairman.  In summary, the consensus reached was that the status quo should remain, Teviot and Liddesdale should retain all six elected members and that both Denholm and Newcastleton should remain within Teviot and Liddesdale.  It was also requested by a member of the public, that the submission included  reference to Hawick being in an area of deprivation.  The Chairman advised that the Boundary Commission had already made their decision on the reduction on the number of councillors from 34 to 32.  The consultation process would now be on The Local Government Boundary Commission’s proposals for changes to the Ward boundaries.  It was agreed that the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland be asked to attend a public meeting in Hawick to discuss their proposal and to take into consideration the communities’ views in determining their recommendations for changes to the Ward boundaries.   For clarification, elected members were asked how they voted at the Council meeting: Councillor Turnbull, Paterson and Smith had voted for an amendment for the Boundary Commission to review their proposals for both Wards. Councillor McAteer and Marshall voted for an amendment to include Denholm and Hornshole within the Hawick and District Ward.  Councillor Cranston had abstained as he was in favour of community consultation.

DECISION

AGREED to request that the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland attend a public meeting in Hawick to discuss their proposals and to consider the views of the community prior to making their recommendations for boundary changes.

3.3         There had been circulated to Members, a report from 17 March 2009 regarding the one way system in Hawick.  The Chairman referred to the survey of traders on the High Street which had revealed that of the 39 traders who were surveyed 84.8% were in favour of retaining the scheme permanently.  The Chairman advised that the issue was that there was no traffic warden to police the one way system.  A discussion followed and it was agreed that the benefit of the one way system was not in question.  However, it was acknowledged that the recent survey highlighted that traders felt that the traffic flow was in the wrong direction.  It was agreed to request Technical Services carry out a further survey on the traffic flow direction. 

DECISION

AGREED to request that Technical Services carry out a further consultation on the traffic flow direction of the one-way system in Hawick.