Agenda item

Consider report by Executive Director.  (Copy to follow.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Chief Executive seeking approval for the establishment of a Convention of the South of Scotland, the setting up of a South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership (REP); and to show how the REP would link into the Scottish Borders Community Planning Partnership.  The report explained that in March 2019 the Leaders of Scottish Borders Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council and the South of Scotland Economic Partnership met with Fergus Ewing MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy.  At that meeting, it was agreed that a Convention of the South Scotland be formed to act as the national interface between key public sector partners in the South of Scotland and Scottish Government Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers.  This followed the established practice in the Highlands and Islands.  The setting up of the Convention was highlighted by the Scottish Government in announcing its Programme for Government (2019/20) published on 3 September 2019.  The South of Scotland Alliance (comprising Scottish Borders Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Scottish Enterprise and representation from the private sector) had led the development of the proposals for both a Convention and a REP.  As part of this task, the Alliance had worked with Scottish Government to understand the role that the Convention of the Highlands and Islands played in ensuring alignment across all the key public sector partners.  The South of Scotland Alliance discussed and supported detailed proposals for the establishment of a Convention of the South of Scotland and a Regional Economic Partnership at its meeting on 20 September 2019.  It was intended the REP would build on the work of the South of Scotland Alliance and be co-chaired by Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders Councils.  It was proposed the REP would comprise local public sector partners, and representatives from business, and the third sector.  The REP was where strategic interactions between the local partners and the Agency would take place.  The REP’s most important role would be to develop, agree and oversee delivery of the South of Scotland Regional Economic Strategy. It was considered that the establishment of the REP would necessitate changes to the structure of the Scottish Borders Community Planning Partnership.  This was because joint partnership working on economic development would now be taken through the REP and its wide ranging membership taken from both the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.  It was proposed that the REP would replace the current Scottish BordersEconomy and Low Carbon Delivery Team and its associated sub groups and link directly into the Scottish Borders Community Planning Partnership.  Mr Dickson advised that recommendation (c) should have also included the appointment of 2 members to the Convention.  Members supported the proposals.  Councillor Haslam, seconded by Councillor Bell, moved the appointment of Councillors Haslam and Rowley to the Convention of the South of Scotland and Councillors Bell, Haslam, Miers and Rowley - with Councillor Robson as a substitute - to the South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership.  This was unanimously approved.

DECISION

AGREED:-

(a)     the South of Scotland Alliance’s proposals for the establishment of the Convention of the South of Scotland as set out in the report;

(b)     the South of Scotland Alliance’s proposals for the setting up of the South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership as set out the report;

(c)     the appointment of Councillors Haslam and Rowley to the Convention of the South of Scotland and Councillors Bell, Haslam, Miers and Rowley (with Councillor Robson as a substitute) to the South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership;

(d)     that the South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership should replace the current Scottish Borders Economy and Low Carbon Delivery Team, and its associated sub-groups, and link directly into the Scottish Borders Community Planning Partnership; and

(e)     that these proposed changes to the Community Planning Partnership were presented to the Partnership’s Strategic Board for approval.